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#PrinceOnThisDay - Climbing the Ladder in an Empty Arena: The LA Soundcheck Hours before the sold-out Lovesexy Tour show on 6 November 1988 at Los Angeles’ Memorial Sports Arena, Prince and the band ran a soundcheck that has since circulated in rare clips as one of the most quietly powerful moments of the era. The arena was still empty—rows of red seats stretching into the dark—while the multi-level in-the-round stage sat under work lights, a light-blue grand piano centered on the floor amid cables, ladders and equipment. In the available footage, Prince appears in a white shirt and striped vest rather than full stage costume, hoop earring catching the light, moving between guitar and piano. Close-ups show him leaning into a light-colored guitar with a brown strap, fingers working the neck as he sings, then shifting to the piano for the emotional core of the session. Sheila E. is visible behind a large drum kit, sticks moving as she locks in. A bassist in a striped shirt and cap (Levi Seacer Jr.) stands nearby, while other members of the Lovesexy band—Miko Weaver, Dr. Fink, Boni Boyer, Eric Leeds, Atlanta Bliss and Cat—occupy the surrounding platforms. The standout is “The Ladder,” the gospel-tinged closer from Around the World in a Day, co-written with Prince’s father John L. Nelson. In the clip, Prince sits at the blue piano and sings in a warm, grounded voice: “Everybody’s looking for the ladder. Everybody wants salvation of the soul. Steps to take, no easy road. The reward is great, those who wanna go… Everybody’s looking for the answers. What would be right, what it wasn’t, who will go. Give him your all… You so holy.” The delivery is sparse and searching, the empty arena amplifying the intimacy. Eric Leeds’ saxophone responds in the fuller documentary versions of the same session, but even the piano-focused excerpt feels like pure praise. According to Prince Vault, the full soundcheck that day also touched a jam, “Positivity,” “Eye No,” “Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic,” “Superfunkycalifragisexy,” “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker” into “Four,” “Do Me, Baby,” a jazz jam, and “Erotic City.” Portions of this “The Ladder” performance later appeared in the 1989 documentary Prince: A Musical Portrait and the BBC Omnibus The Prince of Paisley Park, giving the public a rare look behind the elaborate production. Cool facts: The clips capture the pre-show reality—Prince directing energy, testing levels, and climbing the song’s spiritual ladder with no audience yet present. By the time the house filled to its 16,075 capacity that night, the band had already rehearsed the search in private. @prince