Living Colour: Whatever happened to the band behind 'Cult of Personality'

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ส.ค. 2024
  • Living Colour: Whatever happened to the band behind 'Cult of Personality;
    0:00 - Introduction/Early Years
    4:07 - Band's Big Break/First Album
    8:00 - Controversy/Second Album
    12:40 - Later Career
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    #livingcolour #vernonreid #cultofpersonality
    I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.
    Not to be confused with the TV show In Living Colour, which we’ll talk about in a bit, the Vernon Reid led rock group shook up the scene in the late 80’s and early Nineties. All of the band’s members were black. Something unusual at the time in the hard rock space and that led to some unique challenges for the group. Living Colour got caught up in the paradox of being black artists in rock n’ roll, even though rock n’ roll was rooted in blues and soul music. On top of that the band’s success also drew questions about whether having friends in high places led to their success. Today let’s talk about the history of living colour..
    The roots of Living Colour began with guitarist Vernon Reid who was born in london, england before moving to new york city at a young age. By the early 80’s Reid making a name for himself as an accomplished guitar player in both the postpunk and progressive jazz scenes. He would be a member of the group Decoding Society while also forming his own band in 1983 that would eventually morph into Living Colour. By 1985 Reid left Decoding Society choosing to focus on his own group while also forming an organization called the BRC or back rock coalition that was a non profit that fought music censorship, broke down racial stereotypes in rock and promoted black artists. By 1990 the BRC would boast 30 artists and nearly 200 individuals members. The BRC would be instrumental in helping formulate the classic lineup of living colour as we’ll discuss in a bit.
    Rolling Stone would run a profile on the band in 1990 highlighting Reid’s goal with Living Colour stating and i quote“ Reid had a clear idea of what he wanted Living Colour to be: a full-tilt rock band celebrating the continuing vitality and enduring promise of Robert Johnson, Billie Holiday, Bo Diddley, Sly Stone, Ornette Coleman and Bad Brains (to name but a few), with the muscle and volume of Led Zeppelin.”
    The band’s lineup in addition to Reid, would be made up of lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Muzz Skillings. The band’s drummer Will Calhoun was a graduate of Berklee college of music in Boston he had worked with Jaco Postorious and toured with harry belefonte. He would meet Reidd through the black rock coalition. Bassist muzz skillings was from queens and played salsa, jazz and rock in a variety of bands growing up before attending city college studying music. Shortly before joining living colour he led a cover band named Muz and also met Reid through the black rock coalition.. It was during the early days of living colour that skillings contemplated becoming a nyc firefighter but abandoned his plans once the band started to gain some momentum. The band’s vocalist Cory Glover was a student of Dowling college in long island and served as a DJ at the college radio station in addition to some brief acting roles, landing a spot in the oliver stone film Platoon. Reid would offer Glover the opportunity to join his band after the pair attended a birthday party of a mutual friend and heard Glover sing happy birthday. While Glover didn’t join the band through the Black Rock Coalition he could relate the organizations message teling Rolling Stone “ The first time I went down to meet an agent, they had me read some copy, and they said, ‘Too ethnic,’ ” “And my mother was an English teacher at the time. If I spoke any less than perfect, I’d hear about it. Then, about a year and a half later, I did this radio commercial for some allover body scent. The guy came out of the control room and said, ‘It’s just not black enough. Could you make it blacker?’ What do you want me to do, slap it on? That was the rudest thing I’d ever heard.”
    By the time Reid founded Living Colour there was a wide perception that he was the leader of the group with Glover Telling Rollingstone “In New York, people thought of Living Colour as Vernon’s band, which in a way it was,” “And the first video, ‘Middle Man,’ was too disjointed. It didn’t show us as an entity, interacting enough. Long after the first album wa
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  • @rnrtruestories
    @rnrtruestories  ปีที่แล้ว +63

    Living Colour or the show In Living Colour?

    • @SPac316
      @SPac316 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      Both. One is an awesome and underrated band and the other is a hilarious sketch comedy show!

    • @fbomb7184
      @fbomb7184 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      The show hands down. I literally know 2 songs from the band, but the show had soooo many memorable skits and characters. To be fair, I didn’t really expose myself to the content of their albums, they may be great, but the show brought me more joy than the band.

    • @given0fox968
      @given0fox968 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Band for me because it was one of my favorites at the time, and still is in many ways. I play them more often than old show skits 👍👊🇺🇸🤘

    • @joshjacobs3906
      @joshjacobs3906 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Vernon is a beast.....the band had the name before the show.

    • @johannesaxeman4508
      @johannesaxeman4508 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      The band!!!!!

  • @thedogfromraditude5449
    @thedogfromraditude5449 ปีที่แล้ว +521

    A lot of people only know them for Cult of Personality, but they’ve got a lot of other great stuff that goes a bit under the radar. Vivid deserves to be considered a classic album. They were also great for minority representation in hard rock, so I have a lot of respect for them.

    • @jaketheman091
      @jaketheman091 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      I agree. In fact, the very first song by them that I heard, and what inspired me to check them out more, wasn't "Cult of Personality", but "Open Letter To A Landlord." Powerful music and message. Every album they've released has something to offer. Such a great band!

    • @michaelmoorhead762
      @michaelmoorhead762 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      They always gave a shout out for the bad brains 🧠 , too.. I may have never discovered what a great band the bb's were unless it wasn't for living color 🤔... BTW... when they sang Elvis is dead in Orlando for lollapalooza, it was the coolest $hit ever 😎 😄

    • @jaketheman091
      @jaketheman091 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@michaelmoorhead762 Awesome anecdote. One of my favorite songs by them!

    • @Spooky_515
      @Spooky_515 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Wave the flag for virtue signaling rock fans everywhere! Yaaaay

    • @waverlyking6045
      @waverlyking6045 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Stain had some really great deep cuts like “Go Away”, Wall”, “Postman”, and “Nothingness”.

  • @firehouse6226
    @firehouse6226 ปีที่แล้ว +182

    I was in the military when 'Cult of Personality' was released. Everyone in my platoon black or white was completely blown away. A totally iconic song.

    • @StevenMichaelCunningham
      @StevenMichaelCunningham ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Go figure. One's character is their value if any. 🔋

    • @rickchyczewski576
      @rickchyczewski576 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Absolutely. Its up there with Stairway, Gimme shelter,smells like teen spirit. Its one of the greatest songs ever written. Blew me away the first time I heard it. I got spoiled a lot in the late 80s, early 90s.

    • @bff6434
      @bff6434 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Me too. Was in Germany with 1st Armored Division at the time.Was like our whole battalion was jamming to Cult

    • @SWTmel
      @SWTmel ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Agreed! That song is truth telling. The juxtaposition of "evil & good" cult of personalities was brilliantly done.

    • @wiselteats
      @wiselteats 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Vivid broke down some walls musically in the Barracks when black, white, latino- all creeds were jammin tunes and drinkin beers - really awesome band- and was the part of the soundtrack for my first enlistment in the Army.

  • @CoreyG1450
    @CoreyG1450 ปีที่แล้ว +193

    Living Colour are one of those bands that should be known more than just their biggest hit. Very underrated band.

    • @hsatin20
      @hsatin20 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      It is a pretty sick and classic hit though

    • @Chronorust
      @Chronorust ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Along with (A Band Called) Death. Another absolute gem of a rock band.

    • @Dima_Guitar
      @Dima_Guitar ปีที่แล้ว +1

      And King's X

    • @paulmiller4566
      @paulmiller4566 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@Chronorust what a loss it was to lose Chuck so early in life. He had such an amazing impact in such a short time.

    • @ms.hotshot2232
      @ms.hotshot2232 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Very much agree

  • @bornbrit7776
    @bornbrit7776 ปีที่แล้ว +84

    Love LIVING COLOUR. My only complaint was every time Vernon was mentioned by DJs he was referred to as a “great BLACK guitarist.”
    I would always think to myself “ why does he have to be known as a great black guitarist? Why not just a great guitarist?” No one said Hendrix was a great black guitarist. They all said he was a great guitarist

    • @DaveTex2375
      @DaveTex2375 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Sad that too many on the other side are doing the segregation thing instead of appreciating great authors, musicians, actors and have to racialize everything. Let your excellence shine within the wider landscape of talent, not focusing on everyone's ethnicity.

    • @ShnarfKat
      @ShnarfKat ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I agree.

    • @dougodyssey50
      @dougodyssey50 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      That's so annoying. As if race is the significant factor in a guitarist.

    • @LRS905
      @LRS905 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Agreed, as if anyone ever mentions "Hendrix, the greatest afroamerican guitar player", lol. An artist is an artist!

    • @user-vt7it1iy6j
      @user-vt7it1iy6j 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      this is a year old comment. But I feel that if folks actually sat down and listened to Black people, they wouldn't be asking such a question

  • @f.demascio1857
    @f.demascio1857 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I Loved Living Colour. 30 years later, my son's band covered Cult of Personality, and brought down the house.

  • @alanmurdock4319
    @alanmurdock4319 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    They weren't just a rock band. Although Cult of Personality will forever be a classic, they also played music with a jazz and funk style.

    • @jibicusmaximus4827
      @jibicusmaximus4827 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      they played EVERYTHING lol

    • @Metalbass10000
      @Metalbass10000 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      ​@@jibicusmaximus4827...and played it well (IMHO).

    • @alanguages
      @alanguages 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      When they played Cult of Personality, I thought they were heavy metal. They did not try to resemble the transvestite metal hair bands at the time.
      Edit: Unlike the other metal bands at the time, Living Color had legit deep meaning songs. Not glam attempt for commercial success.

    • @paulhems4048
      @paulhems4048 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yeah, I know, I've heard several of their albums and they're all great.

    • @MrRezRising
      @MrRezRising 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Solace of You is awesome.

  • @michaelsimpson398
    @michaelsimpson398 ปีที่แล้ว +106

    one of the best bands i have ever seen live. Corey still hasn't lost a single note and the band is incredibly tight. Still hit hard and their music has aged well. Deserved more than they have received.

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว +2

      100% ...I'm amazed at Corey's voice. You can really hear 50,000,000 years of evolution trying to achieve expressive perfection in his voice. ...Especially for a time when people were really trying for muddy, gravelly, distorted, "barked" vocals in rock...he went the other direction

    • @theoneandonlysoslappy
      @theoneandonlysoslappy ปีที่แล้ว

      Saw them with Bad Brains as the opener. OUTSTANDING show

    • @anthonydavella8350
      @anthonydavella8350 ปีที่แล้ว

      Corey is a whitey hating dude. Never forget what he said about the shooting when a black dude cold blood murdered a white guy and Corey said they were both victims.

    • @sodica81
      @sodica81 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      what year?

  • @davidrpriest
    @davidrpriest ปีที่แล้ว +186

    I remember the first time I heard " Cult Of Personality ." I was totally blown away. I still think it is one of the best songs ever written. It is still relevant and timeless. I though Vernon Reid's playing integrated Jimi Hendrix and EVH styles into something totally unique. The riff sounded like cranked Led Zeppelin. I saw them at the first Lollapalooza and they were great. I had high expectations for their future but it seemed like the future of that band was overshadowed by that one incredible song.

    • @Pinhead101
      @Pinhead101 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "Overshadowed by a great song" what does that mean. You think they made no better music after ?

    • @dwaynestjohn5324
      @dwaynestjohn5324 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@Pinhead101 I think he meant by most people and mainstream only think of that 1 song because it's obviously their biggest hit and in most people's eyes they never put out anything as big as that song but I agree they have more than just this song just most people don't see it that way.

    • @latentsea
      @latentsea ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Cenobyte, he meant that song was so good, every song after it was in its shadow, as in it never reached above it, to its own “light”. Like Zeppelin 2 or Zeppelin 4 had huge songs that reached up into their own light, as well as songs on Iron Maiden killers or number of the beast. They kept growing.. into the light.

    • @Spooky_515
      @Spooky_515 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      And that happens with alot of bands. I think the media constantly centering the band around the issue of race and politics killed any chance they had. People weren’t into the political thing at that time, they wanted to rock and have fun. Plus the scene was about to change as grunge came in a few years later

    • @davidrpriest
      @davidrpriest ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Pinhead101 They could never top it.

  • @bsven6336
    @bsven6336 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    Went to a Living Colour concert back in the day. They kicked ass.
    Some bozo hopped on stage during Cult of Personality, jumping around, trying to steal focus.
    Corey gave a disdainful side eye, said: "It took me a long time to get up on this stage," then gave the dude a surprise vigorous slam, sending the dude flying off the stage.
    It was a glorious moment.

    • @_Pauper_
      @_Pauper_ 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The audacity of someone stage diving at a rock show in the 90’s!

  • @hollyw9566
    @hollyw9566 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Cult of Personality is still completely relevant today. It's a truly classic song. If it comes on the radio when I'm out driving, it gets cranked. Loved these guys.

  • @songsaboutmrbeast
    @songsaboutmrbeast ปีที่แล้ว +30

    That band changed my thinking about rock music. They should have been a stadium band. Pure passion and musicianship.

  • @HatchetMouth
    @HatchetMouth ปีที่แล้ว +65

    For how little critical acclaim Stain got, it is easily their greatest record. Every song hits in a special way. Their 2017 record Shade was incredible as well. Cannot express how incredible of a band they continue to be after almost 40 years in the game.

    • @ferdinand_WS
      @ferdinand_WS ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I'm a big Living Colour fan but it took me years to appreciate Stain for the masterpiece that it is. I think it's too difficult for the average listener

    • @lbr2572
      @lbr2572 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Shade is phenomenal. I’ve seen them live a few times from 90’s till recent, and they still kick serious ass live.

    • @stagecoachrobbery
      @stagecoachrobbery ปีที่แล้ว

      Penultimate means '2nd to last'. They have had 3 albums since Stain. Did you mix up your definition of that word?

    • @HatchetMouth
      @HatchetMouth ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@stagecoachrobbery My apologies for the grammatical error. Either way, it’s my personal favorite. Fixed it.

    • @peekaboo4390
      @peekaboo4390 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I agree...Stain is a gem.

  • @tommymclaughlin-artist
    @tommymclaughlin-artist ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I did a deep dive on their albums last year. Full of bangers. Their catalog absolutely slaps.

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yep. Blessed to be one of those who know this is true

    • @MrRezRising
      @MrRezRising 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Discovered them right when I started paying drums and they were...perfect for that.
      I still tap into my personal Calhoun when needed.

  • @rikkiportner8482
    @rikkiportner8482 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    I saw them open up for 10,000 Maniacs at the Ritz in NYC back in 88. I had never heard of them, and was there to see Maniacs. They completely blew me and my friends away. They were way too good to opening up for a band, especially 10,000 Maniacs. Felt sorry for Natalie Merchant!

    • @sloburnjo
      @sloburnjo ปีที่แล้ว +2

      fire and water lol

    • @gnlout7403
      @gnlout7403 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      10000 maniacs and living color?
      Who'd have thought?
      Love them both, so I guess I'm not alone 😁

    • @leechurchill1965
      @leechurchill1965 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I love both bands, but it would be strange to segue to 10,000 Maniacs after an ear blistering Living Colour set.

    • @phukuhu7310
      @phukuhu7310 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I got lucky. Back in 1993/94 I went to a music venue in Fort Lauderdale named, The Edge, to see the new act, Candlebox. I was a fan of Living Colour but didn't realize that they were the opening act. I was pleased. Good times.

  • @nigel7880
    @nigel7880 ปีที่แล้ว +71

    A 15 minute masterpiece. They inspired me to play guitar, got to meet them on Stain tour in '93. While my contemporaries were into Skid Row and Poison, LC brought depth, political/racial/social commentary, a higher level of expression...in other words, they spoke to me in the same way old blues players spoke to the Stones and their contemporaries. Thanks again for all the great content, you truly earn your views.

    • @twistoffate4791
      @twistoffate4791 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Thank you for your truly intelligent comment. Well-stated & observed.

    • @nigel7880
      @nigel7880 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@twistoffate4791 Thank you. I listened to Vivid and Times UP! over a weekend and made up my mind to play guitar. I owe my musical journey and some of the greatest adventures and times of my life to them.

    • @twistoffate4791
      @twistoffate4791 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@nigel7880 What a wonderful, inspirational, thing. I wish you continued happiness on your musical journey, my friend.

    • @nigel7880
      @nigel7880 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@twistoffate4791 It gets better! My mom was friends with Teenie Hodges who wrote Love and Happiness. LC covered it on Biscuits. Mom setup a meet and greet without me knowing and Vernon called the house looking for her. 15 year old me was starstruck beyond belief: "Hi this is Vernon Reid from Living Colour, is xxx there?" You could have knocked me over with a feather! Teenie came over and we hit the gig together. Vernon was so cool, Doug, Corey and Will were inviting to a fault. Corey held my hand from the stage during Nothingness. That gig was proof of the existence of God. I am forever in their debt. People really have no idea how genuinely cool these guys are. 311 are such dudes too.

    • @twistoffate4791
      @twistoffate4791 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@nigel7880 It sure did get better! What an incredible experience you were given. It makes me happy to learn that these guys were who they seemed to be in real life. It's heartwarming & soul-enriching.

  • @chump3947
    @chump3947 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    Just a great band. A must-see live!

  • @ChampippleD
    @ChampippleD ปีที่แล้ว +55

    It’s nice to hear a RR story about a group of smart, educated, talented musicians who stayed true to their vision.

    • @AbsyntheAndTears
      @AbsyntheAndTears ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Yes. They're a far cry from some of the bands that this channel has covered.

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว

      100% ...and you couldn't meet a nicer guy than Reid

  • @kenshiro_977
    @kenshiro_977 ปีที่แล้ว +36

    My favorite Living Colour song is Open Letter To A Landlord. Such a phenomenal band with rich talent and deep songs 🤘🏼

    • @LaserRanger15
      @LaserRanger15 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Just posted the same

    • @ferdinand_WS
      @ferdinand_WS ปีที่แล้ว +5

      in 2008 Living Colour played in my (then) hometown of Zaandam. I was there early and Will needed to get a simcard to be able to call at local rates in Europe (yeah, those days before whatsapp). So I showed him around and took him to the city centre. Will said "you know this area well" to which I reply "this is my neighborhood, this is where I come from, you call this place a slum, I call this place my home". It was fun

    • @3GPtv
      @3GPtv ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The vocal, melody and guitar in the chorus really put the song over the top for me. Great bass line in the verse.

    • @Caffeine_Club
      @Caffeine_Club ปีที่แล้ว +1

      My second favorite song by them, it is criminally underrated.

  • @bikinggreg
    @bikinggreg ปีที่แล้ว +55

    Living Colour is one of my favorite bands. The first time I saw them was on the first Lollapalooza tour. They are amazing. I've seen him five times since, the last time being on their tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of Vivid. Unlike most lead singers who lose their voices as they age, Corey Glover sounds better than he did on their first albums.

    • @WinterInTheForest
      @WinterInTheForest ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Really? They had the one song which was really good but I've listened to a couple of their albums and there wasn't anything nearly as impressive. I saw Corey solo on the third stage at Ozzfest one year, which was really just the parking lot. I was able to walk right past him during the performance lol

    • @truthrn7975
      @truthrn7975 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Saw them open for The Rolling Stones in 1989. Blew the stones off the stage.

    • @bikinggreg
      @bikinggreg ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@WinterInTheForest Have you listened to Stain? Cory did a stint on Broadway in Jesus Christ Superstar. His voice was noticeably stronger afterward. And doesn't really matter where you see somebody. I saw Santana headline Red rocks, then the next year they're playing for free at Parker days, which is essentially a small town fair. Later that year, Santana's compilation with Rob Thomas came out in the next summer they played they sold out show in Mile high stadium. Careers and popularity and music ebb and flow so I don't really care where you saw Cory Glover sing. You're just lucky you had the chance to hear him at all.

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes...Corey has the most perfect-sounding voice in rock

  • @tonicpop6686
    @tonicpop6686 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    They’re making a big comeback on the live circuit (or at least people are discovering/rediscovering them,) and have been playing some major festivals recently. I saw them a few years ago and they are in my top 5 for live performances.

    • @natehamon8042
      @natehamon8042 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@dalemcmillen5065 ?

    • @artlover1477
      @artlover1477 ปีที่แล้ว

      Is Vernon touring with them?

    • @natehamon8042
      @natehamon8042 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@artlover1477 Yes! The whole gang is still together.

  • @kenterminateddq5311
    @kenterminateddq5311 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Thanks to CM Punk (I can't believe I'm putting him over), "Cult of Personality" is bigger than ever.
    I loved the song way before the former WWE Champion used it for his theme in wrestling and in UFC.

  • @tasjourney7778
    @tasjourney7778 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    As a black classic rock singer. I’ve heard this song and never knew this band was all black until at shows people started asking our band to cover this song. I asked my band members to add it to the set we started learning the song and the guitar and bass player said it was the hardest song they ever had to play. These guys have been playing for over 3 decades. I had new respect for this band and their music since then! They rock!

    • @jibicusmaximus4827
      @jibicusmaximus4827 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      yep, i learnt it in a closed position then with open strings on to the solo now, this been going on for years, for the record i think its been played both ways by them, or maybe the open d string is only in the main riff? even this is hard to work out :D the trick is to learn it in any position, learn the lick not the pattern it makes on the neck, i was taken back when i realised there was structure to the crazy solo too, challenging licks but got most down now, also been learning to sing it, you can learn form this song for decades lol, my favourite band hands down.

  • @redghettosun
    @redghettosun ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I love Living Colour but to anyone in the know, the first true pioneers were The Bad Brains. They truly went up against the establishment playing Punk/Hardcore at their inception in the LATE 70s. They were no slouches musically as they played progressive jazz rock fusion before tuning into punk/hardcore/reggae. Eventually fusing all these elements that resembled what Living Colour brought in Vivid. I also consider HR, the singer of Bad Brains as one of greatest unsung vocalists in Modern Rock.

    • @beandipcartography
      @beandipcartography ปีที่แล้ว +1

      🎯🎯🎯🎯

    • @Dave-vu3yn
      @Dave-vu3yn ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Absolutely the truth. Bad brains don’t get their due.

  • @gxtmfa
    @gxtmfa ปีที่แล้ว +11

    They’re absolutely brilliant musicians. It’s not that they’re lucky to be famous and make it big- we’re lucky they made it big.

  • @jp7963
    @jp7963 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Seen LC quite a few times since their first tour in 1988 but the last time was in 2019 in Manchester, England and some drunk guy was heckling it wasn't loud enough. So Corey got all the band to stop and he sang Open Letter To A Landlord acapella WITHOUT his microphone causing the stunned crowd - and yes drunk guy - to fall silent. "That loud enough?" he winked at his heckler after he'd finished. Stunning!

  • @truthhurtz8517
    @truthhurtz8517 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Living Colour is an amazing band... They won two Grammy Awards during the 1990s...🔥🔥🎵🎵

  • @floydsemlow8253
    @floydsemlow8253 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    1993 album Stain by Living Colour is a banger and were amazing with enormous energy live as well ❤️ would have loved to see them and Fishbone do a tour .💯🔥🍻

  • @artlover1477
    @artlover1477 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I was able to catch them at a free beach concert at the Boardwalk Santa Cruz, CA Summer 2019.
    Seeing legend like Vernon Reid for free will always be a wonderful memory.
    They did a meet and greet between early and late shows. Said hi to Corey and jokingly said, "we're going to high, high. He laughed!

  • @humongousfungusamongus3871
    @humongousfungusamongus3871 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    If people cannot decipher IN Living Color with Living Color...I'm @ a loss. I was there for their debut & instantly fell in love with their music. I immediately went out & bought their 1st album, as time went on..I bought all their albums...ahem..I meant cassette tapes(Stain being my favorite)! I've always been the kind of gal that absorbed hard, fast music. I got into punk rock in the late 70's as well.

  • @justinmanser7525
    @justinmanser7525 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Doug Wimbish is a very good bassist with a unique style of hitting the strings with his fingertips. They are all impeccable in their own discipline of creating music with each other. Phenomenal group...

    • @thestinkydwarf
      @thestinkydwarf ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Always preferred Muzz's sound and style but having seen Doug Wimbish play with the band a few times, he is a fantastic bassist, versatile as hell and his solo sections during the live shows were awesome.

    • @kevinmcc3147
      @kevinmcc3147 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Muzz was my favorite

    • @mitchblank
      @mitchblank ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I never saw LC play, but I was fortunate enough to see Wimbish play as part of Tackhead. Most impressive bass performance I ever saw in person. It’s a whole different instrument in his hands,

    • @justinmanser7525
      @justinmanser7525 ปีที่แล้ว

      Oh yeah I had a tape of that band. They were pretty weird right, doing a cover of 'I wanna be an airport ranger!' which I have no idea who wrote but was sung by Judd Nelson and he runs down the hall in the 80s John Hughes film The Breakfast Club.

    • @justinmanser7525
      @justinmanser7525 ปีที่แล้ว

      As he runs down the hall...flipping autospell, sure that that auto correction software is an MKultra creation like those TH-cam ads of women screaming a high volume when they see their bank account massively boosted by some get rich quick scheme that only a total chemically fluoridated Aspartame memory inhibited Bisphenol-a gender questioning zombie of a person who still thinks every vote matters could ever believe.

  • @oddeagle1968
    @oddeagle1968 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Will Calhoun is an absolute beast on drums, a great inspiration.

  • @cavemanbum
    @cavemanbum ปีที่แล้ว +17

    One of my ABSOLUTE favorite bands of the late 80s. Every single song on their debut album was phenomenal.
    I didn't give a s**t that they were black. They ROCKED!!

    • @casey4602
      @casey4602 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yep back in the day I played this cd to death.

  • @martharunstheworld
    @martharunstheworld ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I saw them live a couple times, great band. This is one of the most complete videos you've done. Many times your vids are very quick and I appreciate this long form very much! Weill done!

  • @jamescone6359
    @jamescone6359 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Was so close to the stage 1991. Lol. Phx Arizona. Such a epic live experience. Sun was setting stage lights came on. Epic multi colors . Man. So much respect and love for these gentlemen

  • @LIBERTYSINCURSION
    @LIBERTYSINCURSION ปีที่แล้ว +5

    It wasn't race or Mick Jaggar that made Living Colour such a successful band. It was the music itself. Especially Vernon Reid's brutal sounding guitar lick and Will Calhoun's perfectly matched drumming on Cult Of Personality. I was 9 years old back then and m Uncle was teaching me to play the drums. We had this huge stereo set up next to our drums and we would hit play on a track and just play along with it. I learned that song on my own before I my Uncle ever even heard it and one night I played it for him. He sat there with his jaw hanging open as I played along and I'm thinking "oh he's super shocked at how good I'm playing this".
    With in the first minute or so he put his hand up waving for me to stop playing. So I stop playing and his jaws still wide open and rocking back and forth with the music. It became clear he wasn't impressed with his 9 year old Nephew playing this song. No, he was impressed with the song itself. Totally sunk my sort of "my Uncle's gonna be super impressed with my skill" vibe I was hoping for.🤣 After that he would play that song constantly. It's one of those memories of him that I'll cherish forever.

  • @MARSHOMEWORLD
    @MARSHOMEWORLD ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Excellent timing here, myself and some bandmates were just reminiscing very fondly about this band. Truly for powerful musicians and really great combination

  • @keithaustinragsdale8182
    @keithaustinragsdale8182 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Still one of my favorite bands to this day. Such a unique sound, and the grooves are always so on point. 🤘♾️🤘

  • @DrProgNerd
    @DrProgNerd ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Saw them on the 'Vivid' tour. Phenomenal live show. Great band.

  • @iceWaterProductions1
    @iceWaterProductions1 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    They still tour all over and I’ve seen them twice in the past five years. They kick more ass as they did in the 80-90s

  • @SynIMPFML666
    @SynIMPFML666 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Vernon is an amazing guy. My guitar teacher from college and him are best friends, and he's a cool guy

  • @keepthemetalflowing
    @keepthemetalflowing ปีที่แล้ว +21

    I recall seeing 'Cult of Personality' on MTV waaay back when and let me tell you: the band being black has nothing to do with the success of that album or how good of musicians they are. The fact that they are black is really just who they are. The band has a STRONG musical presence and are all very seasoned and badass musicians (both Skillings and Wimbish are killer bassists!). If you listen to this video, which by the way, thank you for putting it out, you'll hear over and over it was the MEDIA and CRITICS who kept the whole idea of race at the forefront of the band's identity, not us fans. I saw and still see Living Colour as a seasoned, badass group of skilled musicians who chose more serious (and sometimes whimsical) subject matter (Open Letter to a Landlord is one killer song with lyrics that make ya think, go figure). I tell people at work ALL the time about this band and yes most are black females, and they're like "who?". Regardless, LC is one of my all-time favorite bands because of how good they are, not because they happen to be black.

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Absolutely 💯

    • @cjp1599
      @cjp1599 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Yeah I never cared if they were black or white, Fishbone was also great and again no one cared if they were black or white....

  • @bryanat87
    @bryanat87 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    5 years ago, 2nd row from stage, I could hear Corey sing over the moniter mix...blew my fuckin mind. Also met them afterwards they were so cool and signed andtalked and took pics till our little hearts were content! Long live Living Colour!

  • @KevinniveK2112
    @KevinniveK2112 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Stain is the underrated masterpiece in their catalog. I knew them from Cult of Personality from their first album, but not much else. Then I heard them do Nothingness from Stain on an MTV live performance. Immediately went out and bought the Stain CD and thought it was one of the best things I head heard. Great stuff

  • @mayhem7455
    @mayhem7455 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Nothing happened!!! Just saw them last summer in NJ. Kick-ass set!!!

  • @ankhor9252
    @ankhor9252 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for telling this story again. Rock on RnR Stories!

  • @jtompkins1277
    @jtompkins1277 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great coverage!!! My favorite RNRTS so far! Thank you!

  • @MrAnimal1971
    @MrAnimal1971 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This is one of my favorite bands! The talent of these guys is just off the charts.

  • @insufferableMAYNARDfan
    @insufferableMAYNARDfan ปีที่แล้ว +7

    One of my all time favorites 🖤

  • @HeartBreakHigh
    @HeartBreakHigh 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This was such a treat to watch. 🤩 Thank you!
    Viva Living Colour!
    My favourite band! 🙌🏾

  • @warneverchanges709
    @warneverchanges709 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    So awesome to see a video on one of my favorite bands. Good stuff. I still listen to "open letter to a landlord" regularly. I haven't heard the newer albums though, I gotta get on that!

  • @Freakdog66
    @Freakdog66 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    played a show with them this summer. It was great meeting them and they were still as amazing as ever

  • @jimcurt99
    @jimcurt99 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    "This is the life" is one of my favorite songs ever- love this band

  • @shruggzdastr8-facedclown
    @shruggzdastr8-facedclown ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for this video on one of my favorite bands from the late '80s/early '90s!
    I saw a clip a few/several months ago of their performance at a festival earlier this year in Brazil, I believe, and they were really good!

  • @billyhughes9776
    @billyhughes9776 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Living Colour was in my weekly rotation BACK IN THE DAY for several years.

  • @farmonious420
    @farmonious420 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Cult of personality is still on my playlist today. Living colour is great.
    Keep up the great vids. Stay Happy and Healthy

  • @jules-yi8rn
    @jules-yi8rn ปีที่แล้ว +8

    That guitar solo from Cult is STILL one of the most amazing solos from that era! The song is timeless along with many of their other tunes....I'm so glad you took some time to put them in the spotlight - very underrated and talented.

    • @fumanpoo4725
      @fumanpoo4725 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      No. The tune is great. The solo is mindless atonal wank.

    • @d.j.3568
      @d.j.3568 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@fumanpoo4725 I don't know why people act like it's better than it is.

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Some people just don't get it ...Reid's on a whole different level

    • @fumanpoo4725
      @fumanpoo4725 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@JakeWitmer I dig LV...but atonal cacophony is crap. Ask the singer from RHCP as he cannot sing in key.

  • @JohnORourke.
    @JohnORourke. ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Living Color is my soundtrack to the first half of 2016. Thank you 🙏🏻.

  • @stephenpemberton85
    @stephenpemberton85 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Such talent!.. would loved to have seen and heard A LOT more from these dude's ✌️💛🤘

  • @mikestanislaus1107
    @mikestanislaus1107 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Love this group, been a fan for thirty years now. Stain is my favorite album from them, but everything they do is awesome.

  • @scott9594
    @scott9594 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Wow- I always thought the spoken part in Elvis is Dead was performed by James Brown. Learn something new everyday! Always loved this band and Stain is such an underrated album. Great video- thanks!

  • @jackbedient
    @jackbedient ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I almost didn’t click on this, but figured hey I’ve always like these guys, so threw caution to the wind… glad I did! Great video!

  • @JustinProper
    @JustinProper ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I saw Living Colour in 2014. They didn't do an official signing, but we saw them by the gates of the stage & my best friend got the members to sign is prosthetic leg. Really nice guys from my experience & incredible musicians who put on such a great show!

  • @brandonpage7087
    @brandonpage7087 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    These guys are absolute legends & heroes of mine!!

  • @impayingattention9160
    @impayingattention9160 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Saw them in 2020 at a music festival in Ohio. They sounded great

  • @daynelawless
    @daynelawless ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Still creating great albums and getting even better every tour. Where have YOU been?!!!

  • @operatingfromtheditch
    @operatingfromtheditch ปีที่แล้ว +10

    such an amazing band

  • @cyradragons
    @cyradragons ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Still rocking'...saw them at Riot Fest a couple years ago and they kicked our collective asses!

  • @joeschlicht
    @joeschlicht ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I saw them in Atlanta a few years ago. I got to meet them and they were down-to-earth humble guys who still put on a fantastic show. I actually did a video interview of Will afterward for the magazine Classic Drummer.

  • @rickknutson6540
    @rickknutson6540 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video great band I did a couple of BRC gigs back in the day and their album times up remains one of my favorite albums today Elvis has left the building

  • @jw9737
    @jw9737 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Loved Living Color. They inspired/paved the way for my favorite band Sevendust

  • @arielf361
    @arielf361 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    One of my favorites, if not my favorite, band of all time.

  • @Tonebone721
    @Tonebone721 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Vernon Reid is one of the greatest guitarist of all time 💯

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว

      Maybe the best... Segovia... Salinas... Reid... Hendrix... Page... Richards... Osborne...

  • @TheCondorjc
    @TheCondorjc ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Fishbone
    Living Colour
    Bad Brains

    • @CornbreadEarl
      @CornbreadEarl ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, BB King, Little Richard, Bo Diddly, Big Mama Thornton, Ike Turner, Chuck Berry, Black Murda, Funkadelic, Mandrill, War, Jimi Hendrix, the Isley Brothers, Prince, Fishbone, 24-7 Spies…..

    • @TheCondorjc
      @TheCondorjc ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@CornbreadEarl bro, I’m mentioning 80s Punk/Alt rock dudes.
      Not all of those OG blues, funk, psych rock, soul dudes

    • @TheCondorjc
      @TheCondorjc ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@CornbreadEarl praise to them legends though. I’ve heard all of them.

    • @CornbreadEarl
      @CornbreadEarl ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@TheCondorjc I feel ya. But at a certain point, all those except BB Muddy RJ WERE rock and roll artist and inventors. Just adding to the well put Rock N' Roll true Stories and LC's ironic struggle.
      \m/

  • @mendenos
    @mendenos 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Love this band way ahead of their time!!! Cult of Personality is fantastic and timeless and very relevant today!

  • @81tattooed
    @81tattooed ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I’ve been 36 years old for 2 weeks now, but I was late 35 when I learned for the first time that their hit song is called “cult of personality.” I had been singing it all the way up till then “coked up personality!” 🤷🏼🫢😂🤣

    • @AbsyntheAndTears
      @AbsyntheAndTears ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Love it!! Hahaha!!

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว

      Some of the cults of personality have been coked up...Hitler... ...and prescription modafinil isn't necessarily "better"

  • @labronrobinson3656
    @labronrobinson3656 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    My very first concert was Living Colour with Bad Brains as the opener. Great memories!

  • @jwavada
    @jwavada ปีที่แล้ว +4

    A buddy of mine saw them live in Denver a couple of years ago. He said they were kicking ass the whole show.

  • @grendelum
    @grendelum ปีที่แล้ว +9

    still one of the best live shows i’ve ever seen… crazy energy for the whole set.

  • @Andyanddiana467
    @Andyanddiana467 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    They’re still around and kicking arse. I saw them recently and they sound as good as ever.

  • @kevinevans8370
    @kevinevans8370 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I was a dj on our school's student run station for Kent St. back in 1995, and got to see them in Cleveland. I got our station's top of the hour liner from Corey Glover and Vernon Reid. One of my favorite memories from my first degree at Kent! They were so good live! Thanks for doing this story.

  • @friedpickles342
    @friedpickles342 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    One of the best drummers ever!

  • @incubustimelord5947
    @incubustimelord5947 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Their first big hit Cult Of Personality was the main song that made their career, but personally, in my honest opinion, their song Pride was their best song.

    • @beezer5623
      @beezer5623 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      OMG Pride is so amazing. These guys are timeless the mark of a great band.

  • @JNC1973
    @JNC1973 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Reguardless of what color they are they made a great headbanging song with Cult Of Personality. To this day whenever it comes on the radio I still crank it up and my head automatically starts banging to the music. You can't help it. It's a good headbanging song lol. They really nailed it.

  • @markvitagliano27
    @markvitagliano27 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I love this group. They really rock. The riffs grab you and the music keeps you immediately captivated

  • @isaiahanderson720
    @isaiahanderson720 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I remember thinking Corey Glover was the lead singer for Sevendust when they first came out. 😅❤

  • @johndef5075
    @johndef5075 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    They were amazing live when I saw them! Wil Calhoun is a badass 🥁!

  • @jerrypizzle7433
    @jerrypizzle7433 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    There was a pass around VHS skateboarding video my buddies had in the late 90s with this song. That's how I found, or rather, was introduced to them. RIP Eric, the dude that shared alot with us, good lad.

  • @donprescavage8107
    @donprescavage8107 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Excellent video for a fantastic band.
    Did you ever do a story on fishbone?
    Fishbone and living color were always great bands who imo never got enough recognition.

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว

      Fishbone tugs in more different directions than Living Colour, but are also excellent...every song on "Give a monkey a brain... and he'll swear he's the center of the universe" sounds like it was written by a different band. ...I like most of it, and its worth owning and listening to...but many people don't have the bandwidth to properly appreciate it

  • @mortimerjames218
    @mortimerjames218 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I'm a glamor boy

  • @brentnichols2457
    @brentnichols2457 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I saw them in the late 80’s in a small club in Houston Texas and they ROCKED!!! Best band ever!!!

  • @919Motorsports
    @919Motorsports ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Way way back in the day of radio stations still giving away tickets, I won some to see Living Color in Raleigh NC from 96.1! I was young, and only knew Cult of Personality at the time. But of course they put on a killer show. So I went home and done some more research, and have been jamming them ever since 🤘🤘

  • @mayscough72
    @mayscough72 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Great band, they’ve done some classic stuff

  • @COU51N.Kyle.
    @COU51N.Kyle. ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Saw them in 2014 in AUstin. GOD DAMN they put on a good show. They signed autographs at the merch table and chatted with anybody who wanted to. The floor ticket was only $20 and it was the best concert I've been to. So much energy. Ok, the 10 minute drum solo went a little too long lol.

  • @godstomper
    @godstomper ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I met them once at a sign in. Really nice guys. Really influential in me wanting to play music

  • @ninamc6116
    @ninamc6116 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I saw them live & they kicked ass. I loved them

  • @StarwoodTech
    @StarwoodTech ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This was a very talented band that had a terrific vision of music that was ahead of its time. Very underrated.

  • @tleeg74
    @tleeg74 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Living Colour was a great band. VIVID was an amazing album.

    • @ferdinand_WS
      @ferdinand_WS ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Is, not was. They are still touring and recording

    • @tleeg74
      @tleeg74 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ferdinand_WS they are?

    • @ferdinand_WS
      @ferdinand_WS ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@tleeg74 yes they are.

    • @tleeg74
      @tleeg74 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ferdinand_WS L.C. was a great band back when I used to listen to them. I have no clue if they are still, because I haven't heard any music from them in over 2 decades.

    • @JakeWitmer
      @JakeWitmer ปีที่แล้ว

      You should get all their albums...they're all excellent

  • @mylesbyrne64
    @mylesbyrne64 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I saw living colour in Brixton Academy,London,UK 1991.Fantastic live!!!!!!!

  • @misterx4757
    @misterx4757 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Living Colour, Nirvana, Sound Garden, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam. My '90s youth rock soundtrack. Great content on one of my favorite bands. Can you do one in the future about 24/7 Spyz? Looking forward to more stories. Thanks