Living Colour

This article is about the hard rock band. For the television series, see In Living Color.

Living Colour is a hard rock group formed in New York city in 1984 by African American musicians. 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, and 24-7 Spyz. They are best remembered for the hit "Cult of Personality", which won a Grammy Award for best hard rock performance in 1989. They were also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards.

History

Living Colour grew out of the Black Rock Coalition bassist Muzz Skillings, drummer Will Calhoun (both graduates of the Berklee School of Muisc) and vocalist Corey Glover (who Reid met at a birthday party and was suitably impressed with a rendition of "Happy Birthday"). In Skillings and particularly Calhoun, 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. Aided by a demo produced by fan Mick Jagger (singer of the Rolling Stones), they scored a record deal with Epic records (now Sony), and released Vivid in the middle of 1988. 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 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. Despite retaining their strong fan base, the band split in 1994 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 in 2001. The reunion was followed by the release of another dark record, Collideøscope, in 2003.

Sony Records released Live from CBGB's recorded on December 12, 1989 @ 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 Collideoscope.

Trivia

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 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas repertoire of radio songs, and was also one of the theme songs used by professional wrestler CM Punk.

Discography

Albums

1. Vivid (1988) 2. Live From CBGB's (1989, released in 2004) 3. Time's Up (1990)4. Stain (1993)5. CollideØscope (2003)6. Instant Live: Avalon, Boston, MA 10/17/04 (2005, recorded live in 2004)

EPs

1. Biscuits (1991)

Videos

1. Primer (1989)2. Time Tunnel (1991)

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

* Cult Of Personality (1988)
* Glamour Boys (1988)
* Memories Can't Wait (1989)
* Open Letter (To A Landlord) (1989)
* Love Rears Its Ugly Head (1991)
* Solace Of You (1991)
* Pride (1992)
* Fight The Fight (1992)
* Nothingness (1993)
* Ausländer (1993)
* Sunshine Of Your Love (1994)

External link :
* Highly detailed "official" discography (MS Excel file)

Singles

! width="83">| US Modern Rock

Year	Title	Chart Positions	Album
1990	"Type"	#3	Time's Up
1990	"Elvis Is Dead"	#25	Time's Up
1991	"Love Rears Its Ugly Head"	#8	Time's Up
1991	"Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing"	#12	Biscuits [EP]

External links

* Living Colour Official Site
* Living Colour Blog - unofficial
* Living Colour Fan Network - unofficial
* Living Colour on Myspace - unofficial