Living Colour
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- This article is about the hard rock band. For the television series, see In Living Color.
Image:Living-colour-live1993.jpg 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 punk/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.
The group began as a largely instrumental hardened fusion trio led by Reid in New York City, but with the eventual solidification of the core group to a vocal quartet, began to hit the circuit, including regular gigs at the seminal club CBGB. Helped along by benefactor and fan Mick Jagger, they scored a record deal with Epic records (now Sony), and released Vivid to little fanfare (taking over a year to grab a foothold). They toured relentlessly, including as one of the openers for the Rolling Stones.
Thie sophomore effort, Time's Up, was a sprawling affair that capitalized on the ability of its members to work in numerous musical contexts; thrash, punk, jazz fusion, delta blues, hip hop (cameos by Queen Latifah and Doug E. Fresh), funk, South African township jive, and hints of electronica were all in attendance. Other guests included Maceo parker and Little Richard.
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Both during the active and inactive periods of the band since its inception, the various members have maintained extremely busy and far reaching recording schedules, both as session men and on self-directed projects. All have done at least one solo album, with Reid and Calhoun having three. The current line up have amassed an almost canonical list of recording and production credits over the years in various configurations and contexts:
- Reid -- Tracey Chapman, The Ramones, Spearhead, Public Enemy, Suphala, Elliot Sharp, David Torn, Rollins Band, Eye & I, Santana, Madelaine Peyroux, Defunkt, Geri Allen, Salif Keita, James "Blood" Ulmer, Jack Bruce, B.B. King, Arto Lindsay and also records as a duo with Dj Logic under the moniker of the Yohimbe Brothers.
- Reid & Calhoun -- Marcus Miller, Jack DeJohnette
- Glover -- The Family Stand, Soulive, Ivan Neville, and Lenine
- Calhoun -- David Torn, T.M. Stevens, Santi DiBriano, Fernanda Porto,
- Calhoun & Skillings Caron Wheeler
- Calhoun & Wimbish -- Herb Alpert, David Garza, Dhafer Youssef, and operate as a duo specifically under the name Head>>Fake and as part of Jungle Funk with Vinx and Blackjack Johnson with rapper Mos Def and guitarist Dr. Know of Bad Brains.
- Wimbish -- Depeche Mode, Little Axe, George Clinton, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Rolling Stones, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Madonna, Annie Lennox, [[Tack>>Head]], Seal, Bomb The Bass, Nitzer Ebb, Al Green, Michael Hutchence, Sussan Deyhim, Lil Cease, Bim Sherman and Talib Kweli. He also runs Nova Sound Studios in New jersey.
Contents |
Line-Up
- Vernon Reid -- guitar
- Muzz Skillings -- bass (1988-1992)
- Corey Glover -- lead vocals
- Will Calhoun -- drums
- Doug Wimbish -- bass (1992-present)
Trivia
Persons that have subbed in or auditioned for the bass spot in the band include NYC session man Melvin Gibbs (most known for having spent a long tenure with Rollins Band) and Me'Shell N'degeocello.
Gibbs and Reid were both the Decoding Society led by Ronald Shannon Jackson.
Discography
Albums:
- Vivid (1988) (Glover/Reid/Skillings/Calhoun)
- Time's Up (1990) (Glover/Reid/Skillings/Calhoun)
- Biscuits (album) (1991) (Glover/Reid/Skillings/Calhoun) (an EP in the U.S., but a full collection of rarities and live material in it's Japanese release)
- Stain (1993) (Glover/Reid/Wimbish/Calhoun)
- Collide0scope (2003) (Glover/Reid/Wimbish/Calhoun)
Live Albums:
- Live at CBGB's (2004, recorded live in 1989)
- Instant Live: Avalon, Boston, MA 10/17/04 (2005, recorded live in 2004)
Compilations:
- Dread (1994)
- Pride (1995)
- Super Hits (1998)
- Play It Loud (1998)
- Everything is Possible (2006)
Singles & EPs:
- Cult Of Personality (1988) Single
- Glamour Boys (1988) Single
- Memories Can't Wait (1989) Single
- Open Letter (To A Landlord) (1989) Single
- Love Rears Its Ugly Head (1991) Single
- Solace Of You (1991) Single
- Biscuits (1991) EP
- Pride (1992) Single
- Fight The Fight (1992) Single
- Nothingness (1993) Single
- Ausländer (1993) Single
- Sunshine Of Your Love (1994) Single
Videos:
DVDs:
- Live in Argentina (planned for 2006)
External link :
- Highly detailed "official" discography (MS Excel file)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Modern Rock | |||
| 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] |