tHE REVOLUtiON CELEBRAtE LifE with A REUNiON

Courtesy of Kare 11


MINNEAPOLIS - Celebrating the one year anniversary of surviving his near-fatal heart attack, Bobby Z, drummer for Prince & The Revolution, will have a rare reunion performance to benefit heart-health awareness.


The Revolution - Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Coleman, Brown Mark, Dr. Fink and Bobby Z - have not played together since 2003 for Sheila E's Family Jamm. 


"Benefit 2 Celebrate Life!" will be presented by Bobby Z and the American Heart Association. It will feature The Revolution, along with heart-health and life-saving information and inspiring stories of survival.


The benefit concert will be at the Legendary First Avenue Main Room on Sunday, February 19 at 8 p.m.


For more information, visit MyPurpleHeart.org or First Avenue Proudly Presents: The Revolution.


Bobby Z was in critical condition after three blocked arteries caused a heart attack in February of 2011. Doctors were able to open his blockages with three stents which has allowed Z to make a full recovery.


(Copyright 2011 by KARE And MYPURPLEHEART.ORG)

Prince Drummer Bobby Z Shares Recovery Story 

“Life is completely different now,” Z said. “Every moment has a new appreciation. I am still overwhelmed by all the thoughts and prayers I received from all over the world. This concert is for the fans. I am so honored and thrilled that The Revolution will join me in this celebration of my recovery. This will be an intimate show with music and stories.”


Wendy and Lisa added, “Our hearts were broken when we heard that our dear friend, and bandmate Bobby Z had had a heart attack. He was the heart, the pulse, the beat of our band. We can't wait to share the stage as one again, and help others in a fight against broken hearts caused by heart disease. The beat goes on!”


“I want to personally thank Prince for his emotional support for me and my family during a very difficult time. That has meant a lot to me,” added Z.


The Revolution is a rock, funk, and new-wave band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. The Revolution rose to international fame in the mid 1980s with Purple Rain, the album sold more than 16 million copies in the United States alone. The band was one of the most successful music acts of the 1980s. The band achieved two number-one Billboard 200 albums (Purple Rain and Around the World in a Day), six top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and won three Grammy Awards. The band officially disbanded in 1986 at the end of the Parade tour.


The Revolution


Wendy And Lisa - Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman are an Emmy® Award winning musical composing duo based in Los Angeles. They both started their careers in one of the most successful rock bands of the 80s, Prince & The Revolution. They continued to work as a duo and released five original albums as well as pursuing a career path in scoring feature films and television.


BrownMark - Mark Brown (BrownMark) spent most of his life in Minneapolis, Minnesota where, in the 80’s, the Minneapolis music scene took America by storm with its unique blend of Rock and R&B. BrownMark grew up with musicians such as Prince, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Morris Day and Alexander O’Neil who laid the foundation for his advancements in his production skills and musical theory.


Dr. Fink - From Berlin dance floors to British airwaves to Grammy Award winning stages in the States, Matt "Dr." Fink's signature sound occupies an irresistible place in music history. Cunningly clad in surgical scrubs as Prince's award-winning keyboardist in The Revolution, this player-turned-producer modestly shrugs when asked if aware of the impact his music has had on the artists and producers of today.


Bobby Z - Robert B. Rivkin, better known by the stage name Bobby Z., is an American musician and record producer, most known as being a member of Prince's band from 1978–1986, and as a member of The Revolution.

BOBBY Z

Drummer Bobby Z from Prince And The Revolution Shares Recovery Story:

Robert Rivkin suffered heart attack in February

Updated: Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 11:18 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 25 May 2011, 11:17 PM CDT

by Maury Glover / FOX 9 News

MINNEAPOLIS - He’s a Minnesota music legend who played drums with other state greats like Prince, but a recent heart attack nearly cost him the beat that keeps him alive.

Robert Rivkin, better known as Bobby Z, was released from the hospital in February after doctors implanted three stints in his chest. Now, after spending the last few months letting his heart heal, he says he’s doing well on the road to recovery.

“My expression is, ‘I’m back in the saddle, but the horse is a little slower,’” he quipped.

It came as a shock for fans to learn that the man who helped Prince keep the beat as the drummer for his backup band, The Revolution, had suffered a heart attack. Yet, Rivkin said there were signs beforehand.

“There was a build-up,” he said. “We do have denial of our bodies -- especially men -- sometimes.”

Rivkin said it began in late January, when the pains he had been feeling in his neck, chest and elbow -- thought to be due to a pinched nerve after years of drumming -- became too much to bear.

Finally, his wife, Vicki, convinced him to go to the emergency room at Fairview Southdale, where he quickly took a turn for the worse.

“They basically said, ‘Goodbye,’” Rivkin recounted. “Sounds like it was pretty heavy duty. I’m glad I was asleep for it, but I’m glad I woke up from it to see everyone ecstatic and happy. I’ve never seen faces like that. Literally, like they’ve seen a ghost.”

As news of his condition spread, Rivkin’s family heard from former bandmates, including the purple one himself.

“He talked to my wife, Vicki, he talked to my son, Joey,” Rivkin said. “I think there is a connection that we had in the beginning that is very strong. I think the emotions tugged on him pretty good.”

In fact, during a series of sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden, the man who one wrote a song called “Condition of the Heart” dedicated one of his most popular numbers -- “Nothing Compares to You” -- to his ailing friend.

“This song is dedicated to Bobby Z,” Prince said at the show. “There are a lot of people who helped me along the way. He’s one of them.”

Rivkin said the outpouring of love from fans around the world was both unexpected and overwhelming, and it helped him recover.

“It was the wind at my back that pushed me out of the hospital,” recalled Rivkin.

Now that he’s been to the brink of death and back, Rivkin said he’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“I wish I could tell you where I went, but I went somewhere and came back -- and that does make you feel like you were part of a miracle or you dodged a bullet,” he said.

Rivkin said he is telling his story to encourage other men his age -- particularly those with a family history of heart disease -- to not ignore those body aches and pains because they could be minor heart attacks.

Rivkin plans to take part in the American Heart Association’s annual heart walk at Target Field a week from Saturday.

Read more: Prince Drummer Bobby Z Shares Recovery Story http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/entertainment/music/artists/prince-drummer-bobby-z-shares-recovery-story-may-25-

BOBBY Z - iN OUR HEARTS, THOUGHTS & PRAYERS

 Bobby Z, 55, the music producer best known as a drummer for Prince And The Revolution (from 1978-1986) is in critical condition in a Twin Cities hospital after a heart attack.

"He had three arteries that were blocked, and the doctors on Sunday night were able to take care of two of them," Adam Rivkin, his son, told me Wednesday. "They wanted him to get stronger in order to go through the final phase and take care of the third one. He's in critical condition and resting. He needs to build his strength so his heart can work on its own. Now they have him on help. That's why he's in critical condition," said Adam, who sounded as if he was holding it together, although clearly shaken up.

On Tuesday I wrote a blind item about a music icon's heart attack.

"We saw it," said Adam. "It was nice. Everyone [in the family] knows already."

Now that text messages are flying around about Bobby Z's heart attack, Adam said it was OK to write something, even though he could not reach his mother, Vicki Rivkin, by phone to discern what she was comfortable with disclosing.

Bobby Z was selected by Prince for his first tour, according to Wikipedia, because he was a white guy and Prince wanted a racially diverse band.

Get well, Bobby Z.

- the startribune - 

________________________________________________________

Prince And The Revolution - AMERiCA

~ Performed live in France ~

~ 1986 ~

"I DID NOT WANT TO POST THIS INFORMATION BUT NOW IT IS IN THE NEWS.
Bobby Z, 55, music producer & drummer for Prince, is in critical condition in a Twin Cities hospital after a heart attack."He had 3 arteries that were blocked, & doctors on Sunday night were able 2 take care of 2 of them. He's in critical condition & resting. He needs 2... build his strength so his heart can work on its own. GOD BLESS U
I LOVE U Bobby Z". 

- Sheila E 

"We are sending big love to bobby z and his family. after hearing that he suffered a major heart attack, we are ready to fly to minnesota to be with our brother. please send your prayers and support. we love you bobby! xoxo 

- Wendy & Lisa (The Revolution)