History

Living Colour grew out of the Black Rock Coalition, an organization started by (among others) guitarist Vernon Reid for black musicians interested in playing rock music. Reid, British born but a longtime New York resident, was well known on the downtown New York jazz scenes courtesy of his tenure in Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society. A guitarist of unnerving technique and speed, he assembled a number of bands under the name Living Colour before settling on this quartet - bassist Muzz Skillings, drummer Will Calhoun, who had graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music, and vocalist Corey Glover (who Reid met at a birthday party and was suitably impressed with a rendition of "Happy Birthday"). In Skillings and particularly Calhoun, Reid had a rhythm section with the ability to express themselves in dozens of forms, and in Glover he had a vocalist who could produce depths of soul or rage upon demand. Soon after they became regulars on the touring circuit, including regular gigs at the seminal club CBGB. Aided by a demo produced by fan Mick Jagger (singer of the Rolling Stones), they scored a record deal with Epic records (now Sony), and released Vivid in the middle of 1988. The album gathered sales momentum only when in late 1988 MTV began playing the video for "Cult of Personality." They gained further exposure as an opening act (with Guns N' Roses) for the 1989 Rolling Stones tour of stadiums throughout the USA.

Trivia

Candidates for the bass player position vacated in 1992 by Muzz Skillings and eventually filled by Doug Wimbish included Melvin Gibbs (most known for having spent a long tenure with Rollins Band) and Me'shell Ndegeocello.

EPs

1. Biscuits (1991)

Videos

1. Primer (1989)

Compilations

• Dread (1994)
• Pride (1995)
• Super Hits (1998)
• Play It Loud (1998)
• What's Your Favorite Color?: Remixes, B-Sides and Rarities (2005)
• Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour (2006)

Singles

• Cult Of Personality (1988)
• Glamour Boys (1988)
• Memories Can't Wait (1989)
• Open Letter (To A Landlord) (1989)
• Love Rears Its Ugly Head (1991)
• Solace Of You (1991)
• Pride (1992)
• Fight The Fight (1992)
• Nothingness (1993)
• Ausländer (1993)
• Sunshine Of Your Love (1994)

External link :

Singles