Living Colour

Living Colour formed in New York City in 1984, founded by British-born guitarist Vernon Reid. Reid previously led several bands under the name Vernon Reid’s Living Colour between 1984 and 1986. During these early years, the band incorporated elements of instrumental jazz/funk, politically charged punk rock, and experimental guitar synth. Their sound differed from their later mainstream releases, featuring performances by various early members including bassists Alex Mosely, Jerome Harris, Carl James, drummers Greg Carter, Pheeroan akLaff, J. T. Lewis, keyboardist Geri Allen, and vocalists D. K. Dyson and Mark Ledford.

By 1986, a stable lineup was established with Corey Glover on vocals, Vernon Reid on guitar, Muzz Skillings on bass, and Will Calhoun on drums. After securing management, the band gained exposure through regular performances at the club CBGB. Their career received a significant boost when Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, after seeing them perform live, produced two of their demos. This endorsement led to a recording contract with Epic Records. Their debut album, “Vivid,” released on May 3, 1988, gained momentum when MTV began playing the video for “Cult of Personality.” The album reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. In 1989, they performed on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and later opened for The Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour, further increasing their visibility. The band was also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards.

In 1990, Living Colour released “Time’s Up,” their second album, which featured a diverse range of musical styles including jazz fusion, punk rock, Delta blues, hip hop, funk, thrash metal, jive, and electronica. The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. Following the departure of bassist Muzz Skillings in 1992, Doug Wimbish joined the band. This new lineup released “Stain” in 1993, which reached No. 26 in the U.S. After internal disagreements regarding musical direction, Living Colour disbanded in January 1995 but reunited in late 2000. Since their reunion, they have released three more studio albums: “Collideøscope” (2003), “The Chair in the Doorway” (2009), and “Shade” (2017). They continue to perform and are currently working on new material for their seventh studio album.