Prince (July 8,1988) Lovesexy '88 Tour – Opening Night (France)

One of the most exciting and important eras in Prince’s career arrived after the dark, heavy atmosphere surrounding The Black Album. Brimming with renewed inspiration, Prince channelled a powerful spiritual energy into the creation of Lovesexy, an album that radiated positivity, rebirth, and transcendence. The accompanying Lovesexy Tour took the live experience to new theatrical heights, revealing — through staging, narrative, and performance — the deeper reasons behind The Black Album’s cancellation. It was a transformative period that showcased Prince’s ability to reinvent himself completely, turning personal revelation into a vivid, celebratory musical journey.

Prince and the full Lovesexy band deliver a sold‑out 130‑minute show at Paris‑Bercy, blending spiritual intensity with funk precision before 16,000 fans.

SHOW DATA   Venue: Palais Omnisports de Paris‑Bercy City, Country: Paris, France Advertised Start Time / Start Time: 20:30 / ? Length of Show: 130 minutes Attendance / Capacity: 16,000 / sold out Ticket Price: FF 16

BAND LINE‑UP  

Prince (vox, guitar, piano) Sheila E. (drums, vox) Levi Seacer Jr. (bass, vox) Miko Weaver (guitar, vox) Dr. Fink (keyboards) Boni Boyer (keyboards, vox) Eric Leeds (saxophone, flute) Atlanta Bliss (trumpet) Cat (dance, vox) Guest(s): none

SHOW FACTS

- Sold‑out capacity of 16,000 fans - Full Lovesexy band line‑up with Sheila E. and Cat featured prominently - Performance length approximately 130 minutes - Part of the European leg of the Lovesexy Tour - Known for its extended medleys and spiritual themes linking Lovesexy and Sign O' the Times eras

CONTEXT AND NOTES

The Paris show captured Prince at his creative peak - a fusion of theatrical lighting, religious imagery, and tight musicianship. The Lovesexy Tour was noted for its circular stage and symbolic narrative of temptation and redemption. This performance remains one of the tour's most celebrated European dates.

SETLIST

• Erotic City (incl. Escape intro & Sex Shooter instrumental)

• Housequake

• Slow Love

• Adore

• Delirious

• Jack U Off (incl. It Don’t Mean A Thing / Twelve)

• Sister (Adore coda)

• U Got The Look

• I Wanna Be Your Lover

• Head

• When You Were Mine (Blues improvisation & coda)

• Little Red Corvette

• Pop Life

• Controversy

• Dirty Mind

• Superfunkycalifragisexy (Controversy coda)

• Bob George

• Anna Stesia

Intermission

• Eye No No

• Alphabet St.

• Glam Slam

• The Cross

• I Wish U Heaven (part 2 / God Is Alive)

• Kiss

• Dance On (drum solo coda)

• When 2 R In Love (full band arrangement)

• Let’s Go Crazy (incl. Shave And A Haircut)

• When Doves Cry (incl. La, La, La, He, He, Hee instrumental / It coda)

• Purple Rain

• 1999

• Positivity

• Lovesexy (incl. It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night & 80s Medley)

All photographs, tickets, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.