When you look at the rare Susannah Melvoin and Prince pictures floating around the internet today, you aren't just looking at a rock star and a backing singer. You’re looking at a ghost of a life that almost was. Most people know Wendy Melvoin, the iconic guitarist for The Revolution. But her twin sister, Susannah, occupied a space in Prince’s world that was deeper, stranger, and far more domestic than the stage lights ever suggested.
Prince didn't just date Susannah. He lived with her. He proposed to her. He wrote "Nothing Compares 2 U" and "If I Was Your Girlfriend" about her. Yet, compared to his high-profile relationships with Sheila E. or Mayte Garcia, the visual record of their time together feels intentionally thin. Why? Because during the mid-80s—specifically the Parade and Dream Factory eras—Prince was at his most insular.
The Mystery of the Missing Archives
If you search for high-resolution gallery shoots of the couple, you'll mostly find grainy candids or professional shots taken by Jeff Katz. Katz was Prince’s primary personal photographer starting in 1985. He captured the height of the Under the Cherry Moon era in France. A lot of those Susannah Melvoin and Prince pictures were never meant for us.
Prince was notorious for his "vault" mentality, and that didn't just apply to music. It applied to his image. Susannah has mentioned in interviews—like her deep dive with Touré or her chats with The Current—that their life was surprisingly quiet. Think tube socks and popcorn. Not exactly the "Purple Rain" aesthetic.
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Most of the truly personal photos remain in private collections. Some surfaced through RR Auction, which handled a collection of items Susannah herself eventually let go. These included pre-proposal cards he sent her in July 1986. They had simple, cryptic words: "yes," "no," "guess?"
Why the visual record matters
- The Family: Susannah was the co-lead of this side project. Photos from this era show her in high-fashion, avant-garde outfits that Prince curated.
- The Engagement: They were engaged in Paris at the Hotel de Crillon. Imagine the photos that weren't taken there.
- The Revolution's Expansion: By 1986, the band grew. Susannah moved from the sidelines to a central vocal role.
That Infamous Studio Kiss
One of the most vivid "pictures" we have isn't a photo at all—it's a story Susannah tells about a studio restroom. Prince apparently cornered her, shut the door, and told her he couldn't stop thinking about her. It’s a cinematic moment that defines their early chemistry.
Honestly, the lack of professional "couple" photos makes the ones that do exist feel heavy. You see them on stage together during the Parade tour, Susannah in those iconic cropped tops, her face a mirror image of Wendy’s. It created this bizarre, beautiful symmetry on stage. Prince loved that. He loved the "family" aspect of the Melvoin clan.
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What Really Happened in France?
During the filming of Under the Cherry Moon, things changed. Susannah was originally supposed to play the lead role of Mary Sharon. Prince changed his mind. He told her he didn't want her to be in the movie; he wanted her to be his wife. Kristin Scott Thomas got the part. Susannah got an engagement ring.
The pictures from this era show a Prince who was transitioning. He was moving away from the messy, sweat-soaked rock of Purple Rain into something more sophisticated and jazzy. Susannah was the muse for that transition. If you look at the cover of the Dream Factory jacket (which she helped design), you see her influence.
The Breakup and the Photos Left Behind
When The Revolution was disbanded in late 1986, the relationship fractured too. It’s a messy part of the history. Prince basically "fired" his fiancée along with her sister and Lisa Coleman.
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Years later, we see Susannah in photos at the Grammy Museum or at Paisley Park memorials, looking back at a version of Prince that the public rarely saw. She talks about his tenderness. She describes him as "familial." The pictures we see of them today are often digital scans of old Polaroids or tour program snaps, but they represent the last time Prince was truly part of a "band" in the emotional sense of the word.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to find the most authentic Susannah Melvoin and Prince pictures, don't just stick to Pinterest. You have to look at the specialized archives.
- Check the Jeff Katz Collection: He holds the rights to the most significant professional photos from 1985-1990. Many are being released as limited edition fine art.
- Research the RR Auction Archives: Look for the "Susannah Melvoin Prince Collection." It contains the most intimate items, including personal notes and stage-worn gear that provide more context than a standard photo ever could.
- Listen to the "Prince Official Podcast": While it’s audio, the episodes covering 1986 often release companion photos on social media that feature Susannah in the studio.
- Look for fDeluxe: Susannah and the members of The Family reunited under this name. Their recent promo shots often pay homage to the aesthetic Prince created for them in the 80s.
The history of Prince and Susannah Melvoin is written in the music, but the pictures tell the story of a man who was trying to find a home. Even if that home didn't last, the visual fragments remain a testament to one of the most creative peaks in pop music history.