Imagine if you'd never made a guitar before - even though you loved the instrument - and you're asked to make a guitar for a famous rock star, who's about to make a movie likely to put your home town on the map. Far from making him nervous, a young guitar technician from the Knut-Kupee music store in Minneapolis - Dave Rusan - decided quickly that it was a fabulously exciting challenge, 'exhilarating' as he describes it. The guitar he went on to make, was Prince Rogers Nelson's iconic white 'cloud' guitar, which was used in the movie Purple Rain (and the subsequent tour) which made him a worldwide star. Join us in part 2 when we hear more from Dave about Prince's guitar spec and design, his thoughts on the work that went into making the white cloud and also Wendy Melvoin's clear body guitar. He tells us about sitting in on the Purple Rain tour rehearsals, we reflect on Prince's passing and his legacy...as well as posing some very guitar specific Qs to him, I ask him about The Prince Estate and the battle to keep the trademark on Prince's famous guitar. Don't miss our next episode!
Intro
2mins - Growing up in Minneapolis and musical background
3mins15s - The Beatles, and early influences
4mins20s - First song Dave learned on the guitar, and favourite music
5mins30s - Father-son relationship and parental support for guitar playing and passions
7mins - Working in the local music store in MPLS, learning about the guitar as an instrument...and a 'sideline for voilin repair-men'
11mins - Starting out as a Luthier, working from home...and supporting local bands
12mins - Bumping into Prince at the Knut-Kupee music store...'we knew about him for a couple of years before the first album...'
13mins - Minneapolis in the late 1970s, black and white musicians playing in different parts of town
14mins45s - Auditioning for Prince's early band, Dave shares his memories...trying out at Dell's Tyre Mart
19mins - What were musicians wearing in the late 1970? 'A lot of spandex was occuring!' MPLS music scene memories...
21mins - An amazing achievement for someone who created an entire scene and became famous throughout the world - Prince putting Minneapolis on the map.
24mins - Working in London in his early 20s and working with famous musicians early on in his career (1981-83)
26mins - Working with Gary Moore, and a guitar inherited from Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac
29mins30s - How did going to London influence your part in Prince's story?
31mins - Coming back to MPLS and Prince is achieving a level of fame...and the initial approach from his people. "He wants a guitar, and you're going to make it..."
33mins30s - "I was exhilarated rather than nervous..." - making Prince's most iconic guitar having never made one before!
36mins - Did you know if the guitar was actually going to be part of the Purple Rain movie??