:''This article is about the hard rock band. For the television series, see
In Living Color''.
'Living Colour' is a
hard rock band formed in
New York City in
1983 by
Vernon Reid. They signed to
Epic Records in
1987 and released their first album ''
Vivid'' in
1988. Stylistically their music is a creative fusion influenced by
guitar-based rock,
funk,
heavy metal,
free jazz,
hardcore punk and
hip hop. They are linked to the
funk metal movement of the late
1980s typified by bands such as
Fishbone,
Jane's Addiction,
Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Faith No More,
Primus, and
24-7 Spyz. They are best remembered for the hits "
Cult of Personality", which won a
Grammy Award for best hard rock performance in 1989, and "Type" - their highest charting single. They were also named Best New Artist at the 1989
MTV Video Music Awards.
Living Colour was ranked number 70 on
VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".
History
Living Colour grew out of the
Black Rock Coalition, an organization started by (among others) guitarist
Vernon Reid for black musicians interested in playing rock music. Reid, British-born but a longtime New York resident, was well known on the downtown New York jazz scenes courtesy of his tenure in
Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society. A guitarist of unnerving technique and speed, he assembled a number of bands under the name Living Colour from 1983 to 1986. Early band members included bassists Alex Mosely, Jerome Harris and Carl James. Drummers Greg Carter, Pheeroan Aklaff and J.T. Lewis. Keyboardist
Geri Allen and vocalists D.K. Dyson and Mark Ledford with Reid occasionally singing (or delivering) lead vocals himself. The band's sound was vastly different than the songs that showed up later on their major label recordings. Material from this period included instrumental jazz/funk workouts, politically pointed punk rock burners, experimental excursions via Reid's guitar synth, and an early version of the song "Funny Vibe," which was reworked for their debut album ''
Vivid''.
In 1986, the lineup became bassist
Muzz Skillings, drummer
Will Calhoun, who had graduated with honors from
Berklee College of Music, and vocalist
Corey Glover (who Reid met at a birthday party and was suitably impressed with a rendition of "Happy Birthday"). In Calhoun and particularly Skillings, Reid had a rhythm section with the ability to express themselves in dozens of forms, and in Glover he had a vocalist who could produce depths of soul or rage upon demand. Soon after they became regulars on the touring circuit, including regular gigs at the seminal club
CBGB's. Aided by a demo produced by fan
Mick Jagger, they scored a record deal with
Epic Records, and released ''
Vivid'' in the middle of 1988, reaching #6 on the ''Billboard 200''. The album gathered sales momentum only when in late 1988 MTV began playing the video for "Cult of Personality." They gained further exposure as an opening act (with
Guns N' Roses) for the 1989
Rolling Stones tour of stadiums throughout the USA.
Their second effort, ''
Time's Up'', was a sprawling affair that capitalized on the ability of its members to work in numerous musical contexts;
thrash metal, punk, jazz fusion,
delta blues, hip hop (cameos by
Queen Latifah and
Doug E. Fresh), funk,
jive, and hints of
electronica were all represented. The album reached at #13 on the Billboard chart and won a
Grammy for Best Hard Rock Album. Other guests included
Maceo Parker and
Little Richard. In 1991 they joined the inaugural
Lollapalooza tour and released an EP of outtakes entitled ''Biscuits''. Bass player
Muzz Skillings left the group soon after due to creative differences and was replaced by
Doug Wimbish. This new incarnation released the album ''
Stain'' in 1993, revealing an emotionally darker, more personal side of the group. The album only reached #26 on the chart. Despite retaining their strong fan base, the band split on January 1995 after failing to settle on a common musical goal during sessions for their fourth full-length album. Four of these tracks were included on the compilation ''Pride''.
Individual members released a variety of solo efforts until the band finally reformed for good on December 22, 2000. The reunion was followed by the release of another dark record, ''
Collideøscope'', in 2003.
Sony Records released ''
Live From CBGB's'' recorded on December 19, 1989 at the legendary
CBGB's as well as another "best of" cd titled ''Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour'' with songs from ''Vivid'' to ''Collideøscope''.
As of
August 2006, Glover is taking on the role of Judas in ''
Jesus Christ Superstar'' touring with
Ted Neeley but has not left the band
[1]. Doug Pinnick, vocalist and bassist for King's X, filled in for Glover on lead vocals. Living Colour is planning to record an album of all-new material for 2007 release.
On September 22, 2006, original bassist Muzz Skillings joined the band for the first time in 17 years. The occasion was a private party drummer Jack DeJohnette threw for his wife Lydia. Current bassist Doug Wimbish was unable to come back from London for the event and Skillings agreed to do it.
Living Colour performed a weeklong European Tour starting December 12, 2006. In May of 2007, the band released their first live DVD - ''
On Stage at World Cafe Live''.
Miscellaneous
★ Candidates for the bass player position vacated in 1992 by
Muzz Skillings and eventually filled by
Doug Wimbish included Melvin Gibbs (most known for having spent a long tenure with
Rollins Band) and
Me'shell Ndegeocello.
★ Gibbs and Reid were both in the Decoding Society led by
Ronald Shannon Jackson, and played together in
Defunkt for a short time.
★ "
Cult of Personality" was part of the repertoire of radio songs, and was also one of the
theme songs used by
professional wrestler CM Punk.
★ In May 2007, "
Cult of Personality" was confirmed on the tracklist of ''. As the master tracks could not be found, the band re-recorded the song specifically for the game, along with a new guitar solo.
★ In
October 2006, "Love Rears Its Ugly Head" was ranked and voted 303 out of 2006 songs featured in the
Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown.
Discography
Albums
★ ''
Vivid'' (
1988, re-released in
2002 with bonus tracks)
★ ''
Time's Up'' (
1990)
★ ''
Stain'' (
1993)
★ ''
Collideøscope'' (
2003)
Live Albums
★ ''
Live From CBGB's'' (
2004, recorded live in
1989)
★ '' (
2005, recorded live in
2004)
EPs
★ ''
Biscuits (EP)'' (1991)
Videos
★ ''
Primer'' (
1989)
★ ''
Time Tunnel'' (
1991)
★ ''
On Stage at World Cafe Live'' (
2007)
Compilations
★ ''Dread (
1994)
★ ''Pride'' (
1995)
★ ''Super Hits'' (
1998)
★ ''Play It Loud'' (
1998)
★ ''What's Your Favorite Color?: Remixes, B-Sides and Rarities'' (
2005)
★ ''Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour'' (
2006)
Singles
External links
★
Living Colour Official Myspace page - official
Band members
★
Vernon Reid’s myspace
★
Will Calhoun’s myspace
★
Corey Glover’s myspace
★
Doug Wimbish’s myspace
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