Coachella opens its final weekend with Prince in mind
Trees surrounding the Polo field were aglow in purple, a desert tribute to Prince following his death, on opening night of Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio on April 22, 2016.
As dusk fell on opening day of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival’s second, and final, weekend on Friday, the dozens of palm trees that frame the Empire Polo Club began to glow purple.
Regardless of which act was playing on the festival stages, it was hard not to take in the sight of the purple trees blowing in the wind — one of many tributes to Prince, who died Thursday.
As expected, the barrier-breaking icon’s presence was felt across the festival he once headlined.
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During Mavis Staples’ early afternoon set, the revered soul singer briefly paused when she heard the faint sound of the bassline of “Kiss” ring out from a nearby tent. She continued on before deciding to share her memories of the singer.
“Yesterday I lost a dear friend. He was my son … my angel. … I’m talking about Prince,” Staples told the audience. “I was on [his label] Paisley Park for seven years. During that seven years, I adopted him. He was the most beautiful spirit I ever met. He was a gentleman. … He was respectful.”
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Staples then told the crowd a funny story of the first time she met Prince, when he attended a concert of her family’s group, the Staples Singers, at the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
“I told my sister, ‘Look, I’m gonna play it cool.’ [But] here comes Prince coming toward me in a white suit, a Lucite chain and white boots … and I just screamed. Cool went out the window.”
After telling the “kids” in the audience to go look up her Prince-produced records — “The Voice” and “Time Waits for No One” — she led the crowd through a moment of silence for “our dear friend” before singing a few lines of “Purple Rain” a cappella, which opened a rollicking take of “Wade in the Water.”
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The tributes continued throughout the day.
Brooklyn rapper Joey Badass told the audience at his main stage set that Prince was one of his “favorite musicians of all time” as the artist’s unpronounceable love symbol was flashed on a video screen behind the rapper.
Close to the gates of the festival, a planter below the poster for the 2008 event (the year Prince headlined) was turned into a shrine. It was strewn with purple ribbons, purple flowers and a pink-and-purple sign with “Nothing compares to you” written in glitter.
Later in the day, when rising alternative-R&B singer Gallant was joined by surprise guest Jhené Aiko, the duo performed a brief but touching version of “Diamonds and Pearls.” (When we caught up with Aiko later, she told The Times the duet was off the cuff and unrehearsed.) And later, Gallant popped up with Sufjan Stevens to tackle “Purple Rain.”
A planter with the 2008 Coachella lineup poster erected in the center was turned into a shrine for Prince. It was strewn with purple ribbons, purple flowers and a pink-and-purple sign with “Nothing compares to you” written in glitter.
(John Corrigan / Los Angeles Times)
After the palm trees turned purple — they remained that way for hours before slowly transitioning to their usual rainbow hue — the all-white “Tower of Twelve Stories” art instillation, a full-scale section model of a skyscraper, turned a pale shade of purple.
Midway through her set, Ellie Goulding dropped to her knees and with just a slight piano, she sang an arresting take of “When Doves Cry,” which she seamlessly intertwined with her ethereal synth-pop hit “Lights.” Without prompting, the thousands of fans taking in her set joined in on the refrain of the Prince standard song as the vibrant graphics that flashed behind her disappeared, instead capturing her in black and white (the color came back after her tribute).
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Electronic duo Jack U ended its sweltering set with a short Prince mash-up, pumping out “Let’s Go Crazy” loud enough to reach L.A. and sending a burst of confetti over the audience during a frenetic remix of “I Wanna Be Your Lover” as images of Prince flashed on the screen.
Even headliner LCD Soundsystem got in on the tributes, tackling “Controversy” as lights washed the stage in purple.
But the most poignant tribute came in the form of Prince himself.
Before LCD Soundsystem came on, the main stage went dark and Prince’s voice rang out before video of his seminal cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” from his 2008 headlining set at Coachella filled the massive video screens.
Between Prince’s voice echoing across the field and the purple palm trees swaying under the wind, revelers felt his presence. But soon his voice faded, and the lighted trees transformed into a myriad of colors, a reminder that the Purple One is indeed gone.
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Ice Cube performs during the second weekend of the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. He will headline the Hard Summer festival this year, along with Major Lazer.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A mask of presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders was held above the crowd during the performance of rap duo Run the Jewels, during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Ice Cube and Dr. Dre after reuniting N.W.A during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Ice Cube is joined by Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella, from left, as N.W.A reunites at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Killer Mike, left and El-P, who form the rap duo Run the Jewels, perform.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Killer Mike, left and El-P, of Run the Jewels, perform during Weekend 2.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Fashion on the polo field as the sun sets during the second weekend of Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Musicians Diplo, Jillionaire, Walshy Fire of Major Lazer and special guest MØ perform onstage.
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DJ Baauer spins a set.
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Singer-songwriter Alessia Cara performs onstage.
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Frontman Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros performs onstage.
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Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge performs onstage with DJ Baauer.
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Kim Schifino, left, and Matt Johnson of Matt and Kim perform onstage.
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Pete Yorn performs onstage.
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DJ Tukutz of Epik High performs onstage.
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Dave Quackenbush of The Vandals performs onstage.
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Frontman Nathaniel Rateliff performs with his band The Night Sweats.
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Lars Frederiksen, from left, Branden Steineckert and Matt Freeman of Rancid perform onstage.
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Ice Cube on stage at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Ice Cube and Dr. Dre together during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Ice Cube and Dr. Dre hug after reuniting N.W.A at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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La Grande Wheel as the sun begins to set on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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With “Tower of Twelve Stories,” by artist Jimenez Lai at left, the sun sets on the polo field as CHVRCHES finishes its set during Weekend 2 of Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A sign language interpreter, left, during Ice Cube’s performance.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A sign language interpreter during Ice Cube’s performance during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Fashion on the polo field during Weekend 2.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Gary Clark Jr. performs on the Coachella Stage on Saurday at the Coachella Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Gary Clark Jr. performs on the Coachella Stage during the second weekend of the Coachella Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A festivalgoer dances while waiting to be sprayed inside the Do Lab during the second weekend at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Kenyan artist Ngene Maura continues working on his yet-untitled piece inside the Do Lab.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dancers cool off in the Do Lab on April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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The scene inside the Sahara tent while DJ Mustard performs on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
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Inside the Sahara tent April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A man wearing wings walks through the crowd on April 22, the opening day of Weekend 2 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Art installation “Katrina Chairs,” by Cuban artist Alexandre Arrechea, as night falls on April 22, the opening day of Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Brisk afternoon winds made hat wearing an adventure on April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dancers cool off in the Do Lab on April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dancers cool off in the Do Lab on April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A festive umbrella offers a bit of shade on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 22.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dancers cool off in the Do Lab at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dancers cool off in the Do Lab at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Rapper Joey Badass performs April 22 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Security sprays the audience with cooling mist before the start of Joey Badass’s show April 22 on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dancers cool off in the Do Lab at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Model and artist Chris De King walks the grounds on Friday, the opening day of Weekend 2 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Megan Elischer, from west Los Angeles, a member of the Go-Go Hoop Dance Stars in L.A., dances to the sounds of LCD Soundsystem with her LED-lit hoop, on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A man passes through the crowd wearing a pink wig and a tutu on opening day of Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A music fan pauses on the polo field as the sun begins to set on opening day of Weekend 2 at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Gallant performs during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, on April 22, 2016.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Coachella revelers sit inside the art installation “Portals” by Phillip K. Smith III as night falls on opening day of Weekend 2 of the music and arts festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A crowd gathers during the Snakehips show on Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Festival-goers rest inside the Mojave tent before the start of the Snakehips show at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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An art installation “Portals” by Phillip K. Smith III is seen as night falls on opening day of Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Friends, from left, Rio Wilkinson of Australia, Marie Bjoentegaard of Norway and Lindsay Gilbert of Australia dance during the performance of Joe Badass at Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Debbie Savigny, 64, left, from Cool, and her friend since third grade Julie Hamilton, 65, from Bloomington, bring their walkers with seats to better enjoy the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Hamilton, who says she has worked at 10 Coachella events, said she finally decided to enjoy one as a fan and looked forward to seeing Sia.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Alejandro Murcia, left and Wanda Quintero, both from Colombia, at their first Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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People stopped to take pictures at a tribute to Prince.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Rapper ASAP Rocky performs from the middle of the crowd during weekend two of Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Gallant performs during weekend two of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Rapper ASAP Rocky performs from the middle of the crowd during weekend two of Coachella.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A memorial to Prince is seen during the first day of Weekend 2 at the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio.
(Matt Cowan / Getty Images for Coachella)
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A tribute to Prince is seen at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 22, 2016.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Joey Bada$$ pays tribute to Prince during the 2016 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images for Coachella)
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Joey Badass performs a Prince tribute onstage during Coachella Valley on April 22, 2016.
(Matt Cowan / Getty Images for Coachella)
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AJ Whitaker, from Los Angeles, attending her first Coachella, poses in front of “Besame Mucho,” by R & R Studios.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A sign language interpreter, left, during Ice Cube’s performance.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Ice Cube, from left, is joined by Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella.
Gerrick D. Kennedy is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. He covered music and pop culture from 2009 to 2019. In 2012, Kennedy was named Emerging Journalist of the Year by the National Assn. of Black Journalists and in 2014 the Advocate featured him in its annual 40 Under 40 list. He is also the author of “Parental Discretion Is Advised: The Rise of N.W.A and the Dawn of Gangsta Rap.”
