Living colour band biography template

Rock band

For the Record…

Assembled First Band in 1983

Assisted by Mick Jagger; Made “Cult” Video

Opened for Stones on Tour

Time’s Up Explored Timely Issues

Selected discography

Sources

The New Yorkrock and roll band Living Colour, with its hard-hitting songs and expert musicianship, had all the ingredients for success when it first approached the music industry. Yet record labels didn’t know what to do with the band, for the simple reason that all four of its members were black. Despite music-business stereotyping, Living Colour proceeded to banish all doubt with their 1988 debut album Vivid, which went gold, and their 1990 follow-up Time’s Up, spearheading a wave of eclectic and critically-acclaimed bands who challenged racial conventions.

Guitarist Vernon Reid, who started the band in 1985, struggled for years to realize his dream of an all-black, all-rock band. An early inspiration was rock guitar giant Jimi Hendrix, whose trailblazing songs remain some of the most popular music of the late sixties. For Reid, Hendrix provided an example of a black musician fusing traditionally black forms like the blues with psychedelia and other new styles. Yet the popular tendency to deemphasize Hendrix’s blackness frustrated Reid. When he was in high school, Reid told Charles Shaar

For the Record…

Living Colour members are Vernon Reid, guitar, born c. 1958 in London; Corey Glover, vocals; Muzz Skillings, bass, born c. 1964; and William Calhoun, drums.

Hard Rock band. Reid played guitar with bands The Decoding Society and Defunkt; Glover did acting work in films and commercials; Skillings and Calhoun worked as session musicians; band played on New York City club and college circuit, signed with Epic records, 1987, released first album, 1988.

Awards: Grammy for best hard-rock performance for “Cult of Personality,” 1989; MTV Video Music Award for best new artist,

Living Colour – Overview

Living Colour. Hailing from New York City, the band “Living Colour” forms in 1984. Their music is a mash-up of funk, hip hop, hard rock as well elements of metal for good measure. Busting into the music scene at the end of the 80s, like gangbusters ready to kick ass while taking names.

Mission accomplished! Because not only did they open the door for generations of up and coming bands like Rage Against The Machine, Sevendust, King’s X and many others with a touch of angst.  But, I think it’s the timing that also works for them.

With the release of “Vivid”, and the subjects they cover on it, people took notice and liked what they heard. Although the formula isn’t new, it appeals to many diverse groups of people. Currently the band consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish. Replacing Skillings in 1992.

A Meeting With Mick Jagger

 Living Colour’s first major engagement came when Mick Jagger saw them performing at CBGB’s. So, he invites them to the studio for his forthcoming solo album. Jagger’s patronage continues as he produces two demos for the band, which secures them a contract with Epic Records. Their 1988 debut, “Vivid”, earns them early critical acclaim and rises to number 6 on the US charts. Their diversity also gives them opportunities by touring with the likes of Cheap Trick, Robert Palmer, Billy Bragg among others. 

Corey Glover – Taking the helm as Lead Singer

For Corey Glover, growing up in Brooklyn New York as the youngest of three kids. Musically, he embraces the music of what his family is listening to but also, what he hears on the radio and the streets of NYC. He states that “Bitches Brew” by Miles Davis is the one album that is a family favorite. That this album is a part of his soundtrack growing up along wit

Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. Led by guitarist Vernon Reid, the bands lineup solidified in the mid-80's w/ Corey Glover (vocals), Will Calhoun (drums) and Muzz Skillings (bass). Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz, funk, hard rock and heavy metal. Their lyrics range from the personal to the political, in some of the latter cases attacking Eurocentrism and racism in America.

The band's debut album, "Vivid," was released in 1988 on Epic Records. The album reached #6 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and was later certified double platinum by the RIAA. It featured "Cult of Personality," a #13 hit on the Billboard 200 Singles chart as well as the Top 40 hit, "Glamour Boys." "Cult of Personality" went on to earn the band their first Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

In 1990 the band's second full-length album, "Time's Up," was released and reached #13 on the Billboard 200 while certifying gold. It won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Album and featured guest appearances by Queen Latifah, Little Richard, Doug E. Fresh, and Maceo Parker.

Living Colour released the 6-song EP, "Biscuits" which coincided with the inaugural Lollapalooza tour in the summer of 1991.

Skillings left the band in the summer of 1992, replaced by session veteran and Sugarhill Records bass player Doug Wimbish.

"Stain," their third LP, was released in 1993 by Epic. Reaching #26 on the Billboard 200, the album had a much heavier and aggressive sound, containing elements of thrash metal and industrial music while receiving a Grammy nomination for 'Leave It Alone'.

After a split in 1995, Living Colour returned in December 2000 and began recording "Collideøscope". Released in 2003, the album featured aggressive lyrics, with many of the songs about the September 11 attacks.

American rock band

This article is about the band. For the television series, see In Living Color. For the 1992 thriller film, see Living Color (film).

Living Colour is an American hard rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish who replaced Muzz Skillings in 1992. Their music is influenced by heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip hop, punk, and alternative rock. The band's lyrics range from the personal to the political, including social commentary on racism in the United States.

Living Colour has released six studio albums. The band rose to fame with their debut album Vivid in 1988. 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. 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, Living Colour reunited in late 2000, 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.

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". Reid assembled several bands under the name Vernon Reid's Living Colour from 1984 to 1986. Reid was well known on the downtown New York jazz scenes because of his tenure in Ronald Sha