Prince fans will have a chance to party like it’s 1999 in the very Minnesota house made famous by Purple Rain as the movie celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
The white, two-story Minneapolis home looks unassuming from the outside, but it is a sign o’ the times as the newest limited-time Airbnb Icons rental – properties created and run by Airbnb and designed to give guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It marks the first time the residence, which Prince purchased in 2015, has been open to the public.
“Not to brag, but we really outdid ourselves,” Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, members of the Revolution who co-starred with Prince in the film and serve as the house’s hosts, said in the listing for the property. “The place is jammed with epic memorabilia that will give you a rare perspective into Prince’s creative process during his Purple Rain era.”
The pair have curated a unique experience so that devotees of the musical icon will have a chance to go crazy immersing themselves in his cultural legacy incorporating real-life elements, unreleased tracks, memories and authentic pieces from The Purple One’s own collection.
Though Prince never resided in the home, his character in the 1984 movie – The Kid – was a musician and band leader with a rocky life in the home featured on screen. Some rooms have been restored to capture its big-screen likeness, while others have been converted into museum-like exhibits of Prince memorabilia.
In the home’s basement, guests can sleep in a replica of The Kid’s bedroom from the film, down to the lavender pillows on the bed and even a 1980s-style cassette player with which to play Prince’s personal tape collection – including one of his demo recordings.
There’s a lounge where guests can play guitar, drums or an upright piano or simply have the opportunity to solemnly perform the opening lines to When Doves Cry. QR codes throughout the house link visitors to commentary from the hosts.
“It really is meant to immerse you in The Kid’s world,” said Ali Killam, an Airbnb spokesperson.
And, of course, as a tribute to Prince, his career and influence, there’s plenty of his signature color, purple. There’s a large piece of wall art depicting purple bananas, which Killam said was a reference to Let’s Go Crazy.
Upstairs, a big closet with paisley wallpaper and leopard-spotted floor displays signature outfits worn by Prince behind glass and has other outfits (and accessories and makeup) available to give guests the chance to be the beautiful ones.
“And then what guests will be able to do themselves is actually play around with a selection of really iconic 80s outfits and looks and styles that they can kind of engage their inner rock star themselves,” said Killam. No word on whether a raspberry beret is included in the wardrobe.
The bathroom, decorated to replicate the one in the music video When Doves Cry, complete with clawfoot tub, was a tribute from Coleman and Melvoin.
“We were lucky enough to be a part of the music scene in Minneapolis during such a pivotal era for rock music, playing with Prince in one of the most successful bands of our generation and starring alongside him in the Purple Rain film,” Coleman and Melvoin added in a statement. The pair, who had played with Prince in the backing band the Revolution in 1984, later went on to launch their own album as Wendy & Lisa in 1987.
The stays are within reach for fans who don’t own diamonds and pearls – just $7 a night per person for up to four guests. The price is based on Prince’s favorite number and there will be a total of 25 nightly stays available over seven weeks from 26 October to 14 December.
If U would die 4 Prince, you can request a booking online, starting at 6am Pacific time on 2 October and through 11.59pm Pacific on 6 October. Airbnb, who collaborated with Prince’s estate and Paisley Park for this experience, says a pool of potential guests will be chosen at random, and the final invitations to rent will be based on fans’ answers for why they want to stay there.
Guests are responsible for their own travel to Minneapolis, but rolling up in a little red Corvette would be encouraged.
The movie Purple Rain, along with the hit album of the same name, made Prince a multifaceted superstar. The album was the artist’s first to top the Billboard 200 list where it stayed for 24 consecutive weeks. Songs from the album such as Let’s Go Crazy, When Doves Cry and I Would Die 4 U became worldwide hits.
Those followed other hits, such as 1999 and Little Red Corvette, and the gender-defying icon sold more than 100m records that similarly defined one label, producing a blend of rock, funk and soul. Prince Rogers Nelson died on 21 April 2016, of an accidental fentanyl overdose at age 57 at his Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
