It probably comes as no surprise to music enthusiasts everywhere that
First Avenue and 7th Street Entry in downtown Minneapolis are featured by a Gibson Guitar Corp. blog
post that pays homage to 10 world-class rock venues across the globe.
Both stages have hosted many pop icons, including some who started out in the Twin Cities, the blog notes. But when
Prince and the Revolution stepped on to the main stage at First Avenue to perform the music in the film, "Purple Rain," the place was memorialized forever.
Throughout the 1980s, Prince continued to experiment with new songs in front of audiences at First Avenue. At the same time, 7th Street Entry turned out such noteworthy local bands as
The Replacements,
Husker Du, and
Soul Asylum, the blog goes on to say, adding: "One wonders if the Midwest alternative explosion would have occurred at all were it not for this cornerstone venue."
Some other venues that made the list include
Whisky A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, the
Apollo Theater in New York, and the
Marquee Club in London, England.