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Living Colour

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984.<ref>These sources refer to Living Colour as a rock band:

Living Colour has released six studio albums. The band rose to fame with their debut album Vivid in 1988.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">Template:Cite book</ref> Although they scored several hits, Living Colour is best known for their signature song "Cult of Personality", which won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990 and has been consistently used as the entrance theme for professional wrestler CM Punk since 2011.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They were named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, and won their second Grammy Award for their follow-up album Time's Up (1990). Their third album, Stain (1993), was also well received by music critics. After disbanding in 1995,<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Living Colour reunited in late 2000,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and has since released three more studio albums: Collideøscope (2003), The Chair in the Doorway (2009) and Shade (2017). The band has been working on new material for the follow-up to Shade.<ref name="newmaterial">Template:Cite news</ref>

HistoryEdit

Early years (1984–1986)Edit

British-born guitarist Vernon Reid had formed several bands in the years before forming Living Colour in New York in 1984, using the British spelling of "colour".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Reid assembled several bands under the name Vernon Reid's Living Colour from 1984 to 1986.<ref name="rs">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Reid was well known on the downtown New York jazz scenes because of his tenure in Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 lead vocals himself. The band's sound was vastly different from the songs later in their significant 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.

Mainstream success (1986–1991)Edit

File:Living-colour-live1993.jpg
Living Colour in 1993

In 1986 a stable lineup was formed, consisting of vocalist/actor Corey Glover, guitarist Vernon Reid, bassist Muzz Skillings, and drummer Will Calhoun (who had graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> After hiring managers Jim Grant and Roger Cramer, the band hired prodigy lighting designer Andy Elias in November 1986 to strengthen their live shows with explosive visual productions.<ref>Panebianco, Julie. "Living Colour Rock The Ritz." East Village Eye, December 1986, p 6.</ref> The band became experienced at touring and performed regular gigs at the club CBGB. Around this time, their career also benefited from Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger's involvement. Jagger's interest in Living Colour was piqued when Vernon Reid auditioned for the album Primitive Cool; Jagger then arranged to see them live at CBGBs. Jagger went on to produce two of their demos. His endorsement encouraged major record labels to renew their interest in Living Colour, resulting in a recording contract with Epic Records.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Interviewed in 2018, Vernon Reid looked back on the deal as a bittersweet triumph; "We had to get the co-sign from a person who literally embodied what rock 'n' roll is, the fact that he had to come see us, and dig us, for us to get at the back of the line is crazy."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Vivid, released on May 3, 1988, gathered sales momentum when, later that year, MTV began playing the video for "Cult of Personality". The album reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. On April 1, 1989, the band performed on NBC's Saturday Night Live. Four months later, the band gained further exposure as an opening act, along with Guns N' Roses, for The Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour.

In 1990, the band's second full-length album, Time's Up, featured songs in a variety of musical contexts; jazz fusion, punk rock, Delta blues, hip hop (cameos by Queen Latifah and Doug E. Fresh), funk, thrash metal, jive, and hints of electronica were all represented.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album reached #13 on the Billboard 200,<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> and won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. Other guests included Maceo Parker and Little Richard.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

In 1991, Living Colour joined the inaugural Lollapalooza tour, and released an EP of outtakes entitled Biscuits.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

Second lineup and breakup (1992–1995)Edit

In 1992, Skillings left the band and was replaced by Doug Wimbish.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> This new lineup released their third full-length album, Stain, in March 1993. The album reached #26 in the U.S., a further drop since its debut.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Despite retaining their strong fan base, Living Colour disbanded in January 1995 after failing to settle on common musical goals during their fourth studio album sessions.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Four of these tracks were included on the compilation Pride. Following the breakup, individual band members released a variety of solo efforts.

Reunion and subsequent events (2000–present)Edit

Living Colour re-formed on December 21, 2000, at CBGB as a gig billed "Head>>Fake w/ special guests". Head>>Fake was the current drum and bass project headed by Calhoun and Wimbish. Glover was on the bill to sing a few songs, and Reid came on after three songs. The reunion was followed by the release of the band's fourth studio album, Collideøscope, in 2003, their first album not to chart in the United States, although it was critically praised.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2005, Sony Records released Live from CBGB's, a live album recorded on December 19, 1989, as well as another best-of compilation, Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour, with songs from Vivid to Collideøscope. On September 22, 2006, Skillings joined the band for the first time in fourteen years when they played at a private party that drummer Jack DeJohnette threw for his wife, Lydia. Wimbish could not come back from his base in London to play for the event, so Skillings agreed to take over for the special private event.

File:Living Colour - Live Madrid 2008.jpg
Corey Glover and Doug Wimbish (2008)
File:Living Colour, live, Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA, March 29, 2013.jpg
Living Colour, San Diego, California, March 2013

The band performed a week-long European Tour starting on December 12, 2006. In May 2007, the band released their first live DVD – On Stage At World Cafe Live. On July 11, 2008, the band performed at the 1980s hard rock-themed Rocklahoma festival at Pryor, Oklahoma. Once again, Skillings performed with them in August 2008 for a Black Rock Coalition Band of Gypsys tribute in Harlem. They performed "Them Changes" and "Power of Soul".

On October 25, 2008, MVD Audio and CBGB Records released CBGB OMFUG Masters: August 19, 2005 The Bowery Collection, a soundboard collection of songs from the Save CBGB's benefit show. On November 25, 2008, Inakustik and MVD released The Paris Concert, a DVD recorded at New Morning, in Paris, France, during their 2007 European Tour. The band released their fifth studio album, The Chair in the Doorway, on September 15, 2009, on Megaforce Records. The album sold approximately 2,800 copies in its first week and landed at #161 on the Billboard 200. This was the band's first album to chart since Stain in 1993. The band toured the world in support of the record.<ref>Living Colour Back With Fifth Studio Album Template:Webarchive Billboard.com. Retrieved on July 8, 2009.</ref>

In 2013, Living Colour performed "Cult of Personality" live during CM Punk's entrance at WrestleMania 29 for his match against The Undertaker.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On July 2, 2014, Living Colour announced on their official website that they were putting the finishing touches on their upcoming sixth album Shade, which was released on September 8, 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "Shade is the sound of a band coming to terms with its shadows and light, From the blue pulpit of Robert Johnson to the mean red streets of Brooklyn to the golden lure of Hollywood, Shade is the next chapter of a unique American journey," Reid stated on the official website. The album includes ten originals and three covers: Robert Johnson's "Preachin' Blues", The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Who Shot Ya?" and Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" available on CD, MP3, and vinyl.

On August 19, 2016, the band released a cover of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Who Shot Ya?" from an upcoming EP entitled Mixtape which was released on September 9.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It features appearances from Chuck D, Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, Prodigal Sunn, and Kyle Mansa.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Also in 2016, the band performed "Cult of Personality" on The Howard Stern Show.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

By late 2018, Living Colour had begun working on new material for a possible EP or seventh full-length studio album.<ref name="newmaterial"/> When asked about a month after the release of Shade if fans would have to wait another four years for the follow-up album, Reid replied, "Well I don't know about all that. It's intriguing to be back in this cycle."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On September 2, 2022 during a performance at Rock in Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, guitarist Steve Vai joined Living Colour on stage for a rendition of "Cult of Personality."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The band announced on December 10, 2022 that they had entered the studio to begin recording their seventh studio album.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2023, the band embarked on a US tour with Extreme.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2025, Living Colour performed "Cult of Personality" live during CM Punk's entrance at WrestleMania 41 for his main event match against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Acclaim and legacyEdit

Living Colour was ranked No. 70 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

"Cult of Personality" was re-recorded for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, with an updated solo, as the original masters could not be used.

In October 2006, "Love Rears Its Ugly Head" was ranked and voted 303 out of the 2006 songs featured in the Triple M Essential 2006 Countdown.

Rolling Stone have called the band "funk metal pioneers."<ref name="RS Living Colour">Fricke, David (November 13, 2003). Living Colour: Collideoscope : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2012.</ref>

In early 2009, WWE used "Cult of Personality" in the video promoting the induction of Stone Cold Steve Austin into its Hall of Fame. Outside of his use of it in professional wrestling.

In 2011, WWE wrestler CM Punk returned with Cult of Personality as his theme song for his highly appreciated Summer of Punk run. Punk had used this song before when he used to perform for Ring of Honor. Upon joining WWE, he didn't try to get the song as his theme because he believed that WWE won't get a song licensed for a mid-card wrestler. He used the song for his AEW run as well between 2021 and 2023. CM Punk also entered to the song for his debut mixed martial arts bout at UFC 203 and subsequently at UFC 225 for his fight versus Mike Jackson.

MembersEdit

  • Vernon Reid – lead guitar, guitar synthesizer, programming, laptop, backing vocals (1984–1995, 2000–present); lead vocals (1984–1985)
  • Corey Glover – lead vocals, occasional rhythm guitar, tambourine (1985–1995, 2000–present)
  • Will Calhoun – drums, percussion, keyboards, samples, loops, programming, backing vocals (1986–1995, 2000–present)
  • Doug Wimbish – bass, drums, guitar, programming, backing vocals (1992–1995, 2000–present)
Former members
  • Alex Mosely – bass
  • Jerome Harris – bass
  • Carl James – bass
  • Greg Carter – drums
  • Pheeroan akLaff – drums
  • J. T. Lewis – drums
  • Geri Allen – keyboards (died; 2017)
  • D. K. Dyson – lead vocals
  • Mark Ledford – lead vocals (died; 2004)
  • Muzz Skillings – bass, backing vocals (1986–1991, one-off show in 2006)
  • Doug Pinnick – lead vocals (2006; substitute)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

TimelineEdit

<timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:400 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:110 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1984 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1984 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1984

Colors = 

id:lvocals      value:red         legend:Lead_Vocals
id:bvocals      value:pink        legend:Backing_Vocals
id:lguitar      value:teal        legend:Lead_Guitar,_Synthesizer,_Laptop
id:rguitar      value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_Guitar
id:aguitar      value:green       legend:Additional_Guitar
id:bass         value:blue        legend:Bass
id:drums        value:orange      legend:Drums
id:perc         value:Claret      legend:Percussion
id:keyboards    value:purple      legend:Keyboards
id:samples      value:lightpurple legend:Samples,_Loops
id:programming  value:lavender    legend:Programming
id:album        value:black       legend:Studio_Album
id:other        value:gray(0.70)  legend:Other_Release

LineData = 

color:other     layer:back
at:01/01/1994
at:01/11/2005
at:02/05/2005
at:10/28/2008
at:03/10/2009
at:11/14/1995
at:01/27/1998
at:04/28/1998
at:04/05/2005
at:01/17/2006
at:06/16/1991
at:09/09/2016
color:album     layer:back
at:05/02/1988
at:08/28/1990
at:03/02/1993
at:10/07/2003
at:09/15/2009
at:09/08/2017

BarData = 

bar:D.K.      text:"D.K. Dyson"
bar:Mark      text:"Mark Ledford"
bar:Doug_P    text:"Doug Pinnick"
bar:Corey     text:"Corey Glover"
bar:Vernon    text:"Vernon Reid"
bar:Alex      text:"Alex Mosley"
bar:Jerome    text:"Jerome Harris"
bar:Carl      text:"Carl James
bar:Muzz      text:"Muzz Skillings"
bar:Doug      text:"Doug Wimbish"
bar:Geri      text:"Geri Allen"
bar:Greg      text:"Greg Carter"
bar:Pheeroan  text:"Pheeroan akLaff"
bar:J.T.      text:"J.T. Lewis"
bar:Will      text:"Will Calhoun"

PlotData = 

width:13
bar:D.K.     from:02/01/1985 till:04/01/1985 color:lvocals
bar:Mark     from:04/01/1985 till:06/01/1985 color:lvocals
bar:Doug_P   from:06/01/1985 till:08/01/1985 color:lvocals
bar:Corey    from:08/01/1985 till:01/01/1995 color:lvocals
bar:Corey    from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:lvocals
bar:Corey    from:08/01/1985 till:01/01/1995 color:rguitar     width:7
bar:Corey    from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:rguitar     width:7
bar:Corey    from:08/01/1985 till:01/01/1995 color:perc        width:3
bar:Corey    from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:perc        width:3
bar:Vernon   from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1995 color:lguitar
bar:Vernon   from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:lguitar
bar:Vernon   from:01/01/1984 till:02/01/1985 color:lvocals     width:3
bar:Vernon   from:01/01/1984 till:08/01/1985 color:rguitar     width:9
bar:Vernon   from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1995 color:programming width:7
bar:Vernon   from:02/01/1985 till:01/01/1995 color:bvocals     width:3
bar:Vernon   from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:programming width:7
bar:Vernon   from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:bvocals     width:3
bar:Alex     from:01/01/1984 till:08/01/1984 color:bass
bar:Jerome   from:08/01/1984 till:04/01/1985 color:bass
bar:Carl     from:04/01/1985 till:01/01/1986 color:bass
bar:Muzz     from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1992 color:bass
bar:Muzz     from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1992 color:bvocals     width:3
bar:Doug     from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1995 color:bass
bar:Doug     from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1995 color:drums       width:9
bar:Doug     from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1995 color:aguitar     width:7
bar:Doug     from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1995 color:programming width:5
bar:Doug     from:01/01/1992 till:01/01/1995 color:bvocals     width:3
bar:Doug     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:bass
bar:Doug     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:drums       width:9
bar:Doug     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:aguitar     width:7
bar:Doug     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:programming width:5
bar:Doug     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:bvocals     width:3
bar:Geri     from:01/01/1984 till:01/01/1986 color:keyboards
bar:Greg     from:01/01/1984 till:08/01/1984 color:drums
bar:Pheeroan from:08/01/1984 till:04/01/1985 color:drums
bar:J.T.     from:04/01/1985 till:01/01/1986 color:drums
bar:Will     from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1995 color:drums
bar:Will     from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1995 color:perc        width:11
bar:Will     from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1995 color:keyboards   width:9
bar:Will     from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1995 color:samples     width:7
bar:Will     from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1995 color:programming width:5
bar:Will     from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1995 color:bvocals     width:3
bar:Will     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:drums
bar:Will     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:perc        width:11
bar:Will     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:keyboards   width:9
bar:Will     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:samples     width:7
bar:Will     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:programming width:5
bar:Will     from:01/01/2000 till:end        color:bvocals     width:3

</timeline>

DiscographyEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

AwardsEdit

MTV Video Music AwardsEdit

Grammy AwardsEdit

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project links

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