Editing Living Colour (section)

==History==

===Early years (1984–1986)===
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>{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Joseph |title=Cult of Personality: An interview with Will Calhoun (Living Colour) |url=https://willnotfade.com/2017/04/30/will-calhoun-living-colour-interview/ |website=Will Not Fade |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616211504/https://willnotfade.com/2017/04/30/will-calhoun-living-colour-interview/ |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |date=April 30, 2017 |quote=Band founder Vernon Reid is English, so made a deliberate choice to spell 'colour' correctly with the 'U' included. But most Americans spell many words incorrectly out of ignorance. It's not much of an issue.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Burgess |first1=Mick |title=We chat to Corey Glover from Living Colour ahead of Newcastle Riverside gig |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/corey-glover-living-colour-interview-13670041 |work=[[ChronicleLive]] |date=September 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109073550/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/corey-glover-living-colour-interview-13670041 |archive-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref> Reid assembled several bands under the name Vernon Reid's Living Colour from 1984 to 1986.<ref name="rs">{{cite magazine|title=Living Colour's Time Is Now|author=David Fricke|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/living-colours-time-is-now-19901101|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=November 1, 1990|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912232142/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/living-colours-time-is-now-19901101|archive-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>  Reid was well known on the downtown New York jazz scenes because of his tenure in [[Ronald Shannon Jackson]]'s Decoding Society.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fricke |first1=David |title=Back in Black |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/back-in-black-2-95063/ |publisher=Rolling Stone Magazine |access-date=20 May 2021 |date=24 Sep 1987}}</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 (Living Colour album)|Vivid]]''.

===Mainstream success (1986–1991)===
[[File:Living-colour-live1993.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|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|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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2013/10/24/living-colours-vernon-reid-on-the-bands-formation-mick-jagger-and-reaching-audiences-through-grand-theft-auto|title = Living Colour's Vernon Reid on the band's formation, Mick Jagger, and reaching audiences through "Grand Theft Auto"| date=October 24, 2013 }}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/5/3/17312688/living-colour-cult-of-personality-vivid-30-years-anniversary|title = How Living Colour Reignited Rock's "Cult of Personality"|date = May 3, 2018}}</ref>

''[[Vivid (Living Colour album)|Vivid]]'', released on May 3, 1988, gathered sales momentum when, later that year, [[MTV]] began playing the [[music video|video]] for "[[Cult of Personality (song)|Cult of Personality]]". The album reached #6 on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''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 (Living Colour 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 (genre)|jive]], and hints of [[electronica]] were all represented.<ref>{{cite web |title= Living Colour Time's Up |author= Greg Prato |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/times-up-mw0000315449 |work= [[AllMusic]] |access-date= August 21, 2015 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150806185836/http://www.allmusic.com/album/times-up-mw0000315449 |archive-date= August 6, 2015 }}</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 (EP)|Biscuits]]''.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

===Second lineup and breakup (1992–1995)===
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 (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 (Living Colour album)|Pride]]''. Following the breakup, individual band members released a variety of solo efforts.

===Reunion and subsequent events (2000–present)===
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>{{cite web |title=Review: Living Colour Collideoscope|author= Davey Boy |url= https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/29750/Living-Colour-Collideoscope/|work= Sputnikmusic |date=March 4, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Living Colour Collideoscope|author=Dave Mount|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/living-colour/collideoscope/13482/|work=Prefixmag|date=March 6, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124749/http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/living-colour/collideoscope/13482/|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> In 2005, Sony Records released ''[[Live from CBGB's]]'', a live album recorded on December 19, 1989, as well as another [[compilation album|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|thumb|Corey Glover and Doug Wimbish (2008)]]
[[File:Living Colour, live, Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA, March 29, 2013.jpg|thumb|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|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 (club)|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>[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268175/living-colour-back-with-fifth-studio-album Living Colour Back With Fifth Studio Album] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423122206/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268175/living-colour-back-with-fifth-studio-album |date=April 23, 2013 }} Billboard.com. Retrieved on July 8, 2009.</ref>

In 2013, Living Colour performed "Cult of Personality" live during CM Punk's entrance at [[WrestleMania]] [[WrestleMania 29|29]] for his match against [[The Undertaker]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mirmina |first1=Graham |title=WWE WrestleMania 33: 5 Most underrated musical performances in the event's history |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/wwe-wrestlemania-33-5-most-underrated-musical-performances-in-events-history |website=Sportskeeda |date=March 29, 2017 |access-date=13 April 2023}}</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 (Living Colour album)|Shade]]'', which was released on September 8, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/living-colour-to-release-shade-album-in-september-cover-artwork-unveiled/|title=LIVING COLOUR To Release 'Shade' Album In September; Cover Artwork Unveiled|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=May 12, 2017|access-date=May 14, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515024742/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/living-colour-to-release-shade-album-in-september-cover-artwork-unveiled/|archive-date=May 15, 2017}}</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>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/living-colour-to-release-mixtape-featuring-reinvention-of-notorious-b-i-g-s-who-shot-ya/|title=LIVING COLOUR To Release 'Mixtape' Featuring Reinvention Of NOTORIOUS B.I.G.'s 'Who Shot Ya'|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=August 19, 2016|access-date=August 22, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822041658/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/living-colour-to-release-mixtape-featuring-reinvention-of-notorious-b-i-g-s-who-shot-ya|archive-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref> It features appearances from Chuck D, Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, Prodigal Sunn, and Kyle Mansa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/67631-living-colour-enlist-chuck-d-black-thought-more-for-notorious-big-who-shot-ya-remake-listen/|title=Living Colour Enlist Chuck D, Black Thought, More for Notorious B.I.G. "Who Shot Ya" Remake: Listen – Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|date=August 18, 2016|access-date=May 5, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122102435/https://pitchfork.com/news/67631-living-colour-enlist-chuck-d-black-thought-more-for-notorious-big-who-shot-ya-remake-listen/|archive-date=November 22, 2017}}</ref> Also in 2016, the band performed "Cult of Personality" on [[The Howard Stern Show]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJXHFNw3fSw|title=Living Colour "Cult of Personality" on the Stern Show (2016)|website=youtube.com|date=May 1, 2021|access-date=August 15, 2023}}</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>{{cite news|url=https://www.albumism.com/interviews/vernon-reid-of-living-colour-navigates-the-shadows-and-light|title=INTERVIEW: Living Colour's Vernon Reid Navigates the Shadows and Light|website=albumism.com|date=October 25, 2017|access-date=February 28, 2020}}</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>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3yDyZrKOV4|title=Living Colour - Cult Of Personality w/ Steve Vai at Rock In Rio 2022|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=August 20, 2023|date=September 15, 2022}}</ref>

The band announced on December 10, 2022 that they had entered the studio to begin recording their seventh studio album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/living-colour-check-in-from-the-studio-video|title=LIVING COLOUR Check In From The Studio (Video)|magazine=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]]|access-date=December 14, 2022|date=December 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/living_colour_is_in_the_studio_album_could_be_out_in_2023.html|title=Living Colour Is in the Studio, Album Could Be Out in 2023|publisher=[[Ultimate Guitar]]|access-date=December 14, 2022|date=December 12, 2022}}</ref>

In 2023, the band embarked on a US tour with [[Extreme (band)|Extreme]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://extreme-band.com/extreme-announce-2023-u-s-tour-with-living-colour-reveal-two-new-songs/|title=Extreme Announce 2023 U.S. Tour With Living Colour, Reveal Two New Songs|website=extreme-band.com|date=April 20, 2023|access-date=August 15, 2023}}</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>{{Cite web |last=Bachar |first=Zach |title=Living Colour Plays 'Cult of Personality' for CM Punk's WWE WrestleMania 41 Entrance |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25188332-living-colour-plays-cult-personality-cm-punks-wwe-wrestlemania-41-entrance |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=bleacherreport.com |language=en}}</ref>