Living Colour
Encyclopedia
Living Colour is an American rock
band from New York City
, formed in 1984. Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz
, funk
, neo-psychedelia
, 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.
Living Colour rose to fame with their debut album Vivid
in 1988. Although the band scored a number of hits, they are best remembered for their signature song
"Cult of Personality
", which won a Grammy Award
for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. They were also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards
. After disbanding in 1995, Living Colour reunited in late 2000.
. They grew out of the Black Rock Coalition
, a non-profit organization
founded by (among others) Reid for black musicians interested in playing rock music. Reid was well known on the downtown New York jazz scenes because of his tenure in Ronald Shannon Jackson
's Decoding Society. Reid assembled a number of bands under the name Living Colour from 1984 to 1986.
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 that showed up later on their major 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
.
, bassist Muzz Skillings
, and drummer Will Calhoun
(who had graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music
), and the band hired managers Jim Grant and Roger Cramer. Soon after, the band became experienced at touring, including performing regular gigs at the club CBGB's. Vivid
, released on May 3, 1988, gathered sales momentum only when later that year, MTV
began playing the video
for "Cult of Personality
". The album reached #6 on the U.S. 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, featured songs in numerous musical contexts; jazz fusion
, punk rock, Delta blues
, hip hop (cameos by Queen Latifah
and Doug E. Fresh
), funk, thrash metal, jive, and hints of electronica
were all represented. The album reached #13 on the Billboard 200, and won a Grammy Award
for Best Hard Rock Album. Other guests included Maceo Parker
and Little Richard
.
In 1991, Living Colour joined the inaugural Lollapalooza
tour, and released an EP of outtakes entitled Biscuits.
. This new line up released their third full-length album, Stain
, in February 1993. The album reached #26 in the U.S., a further drop since their debut.
Despite retaining their strong fan base, Living Colour disbanded in January 1995, after failing to settle on a common musical goal during sessions for their fourth studio album. Four of these tracks were included on the compilation Pride
.
Following the breakup, individual band members released a variety of solo efforts.
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.
In 2005, Sony Records released Live From CBGB's
, a live album recorded on December 19, 1989, as well as another best of compilation
, Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour
, with songs from Vivid to Collideøscope.
In August 2006, Glover took on the role of Judas
in a national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar
, touring with Ted Neeley
. Doug Pinnick
, vocalist and bassist of King's X
, filled in for Glover on lead vocals. Glover's tour of the musical ran through June 2008, and he then rejoined the band.
On September 22, 2006, Skillings joined the band for the first time in fourteen years when they played at a private party which drummer Jack DeJohnette
threw for his wife Lydia. Wimbish was unable to come back from his base in London to play for the event, so Skillings agreed to take over as temporary bassist.
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. 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's 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
, 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 #159 on the Billboard 200. This was the band's first album to chart since Stain in 1993. The band is currently touring the world in support of the record.
According to an interview on breakdownroom.net, Glover hopes to release another album with the band next year. "We're going to do something different [for us] and make a real record, right now, right after we've done this one," Glover said with a laugh.
" in the video promoting the induction of Stone Cold Steve Austin
into its Hall of Fame. Current WWE performer CM Punk
once used the song as his entrance theme in Ring of Honor
. CM Punk used other licensed music while working with WWE, but, after feigning a departure from the company in July 2011, he returned with "Cult of Personality" as his entrance theme. In the same week that Punk returned to WWE TV using the song, it jumped into the iTunes Top 200. The YouTube
video of 'Cult of Personality' has gained more than one million more views since CM Punk has used it as his entrance theme.
Living Colour was ranked #70 on VH1
's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
"Cult of Personality
" was part of the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
repertoire of radio songs in Radio X
. It was also the first song to be confirmed for the tracklist of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
.
In October 2006, "Love Rears Its Ugly Head
" was ranked and voted 303 out of 2006 songs featured in the Triple M
Essential 2006 Countdown.
Rolling Stone
have called the band, "funk-metal pioneers."
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, formed in 1984. Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, neo-psychedelia
Neo-psychedelia
Neo-psychedelia is music that emulates or is heavily influenced by the psychedelic music of the 1960s. It began to be revived among British post-punk bands of the later 1970s and early 1980s and was taken up by groups including bands of the Paisley Underground and Madchester scenes, as well as...
, hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, and heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. Their lyrics range from the personal to the political, in some of the latter cases attacking Eurocentrism
Eurocentrism
Eurocentrism is the practice of viewing the world from a European perspective and with an implied belief, either consciously or subconsciously, in the preeminence of European culture...
and racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
in America.
Living Colour rose to fame with their debut album Vivid
Vivid (album)
Vivid is the debut album by the American heavy metal band Living Colour, which was released on May 3, 1988. The band was discovered by Mick Jagger while playing a show at punk club CBGB's in 1987...
in 1988. Although the band scored a number of hits, they are best remembered for their signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
"Cult of Personality
Cult of Personality (song)
"Cult of Personality" is a song by funk metal band Living Colour. It was the first single from their debut album, Vivid, released in 1988. "Cult of Personality" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It also won the Grammy award for "Best Hard Rock...
", which won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. They were also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
. After disbanding in 1995, Living Colour reunited in late 2000.
Early years (1984–1986)
Living Colour was formed in New York in 1984 by English-born guitarist Vernon ReidVernon Reid
Vernon Reid is an English-born American guitarist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader. Best known as the founder and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Living Colour, Reid was named #66 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Critic Steve Huey writes, "[Reid's]...
. They grew out of the Black Rock Coalition
Black Rock Coalition
The Black Rock Coalition is a New York-based artists' collective and non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the creative freedom and works of black musicians....
, a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
founded by (among others) Reid for black musicians interested in playing rock music. Reid was well known on the downtown New York jazz scenes because of his tenure in Ronald Shannon Jackson
Ronald Shannon Jackson
Ronald Shannon Jackson is an American jazz drummer. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas.Jackson is notable for his unusual approach to his instrument, which draws as much inspiration from military and parade bands as from traditional jazz drumming.He is the only person to have recorded and performed...
's Decoding Society. Reid assembled a number of bands under the name Living Colour from 1984 to 1986.
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 that showed up later on their major label recordings. Material from this period included instrumental jazz/funk workouts, politically pointed punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
burners, experimental excursions via Reid's guitar synth, and an early version of the song "Funny Vibe
Funny Vibe
"Funny Vibe" is a song by the New York City band Living Colour from their 1988 debut album Vivid. The song features Public Enemy's Chuck D and Flavor Flav. It is featured on the compilation 1995 Pride without Chuck D's and Flavour Flav's contribution....
", which was reworked for their debut album Vivid
Vivid (album)
Vivid is the debut album by the American heavy metal band Living Colour, which was released on May 3, 1988. The band was discovered by Mick Jagger while playing a show at punk club CBGB's in 1987...
.
Mainstream success (1986–1991)
In 1986 a stable lineup was formed, consisting of vocalist Corey GloverCorey Glover
Corey Glover is an American singer, guitarist and actor. He is best known as the lead singer of the hard rock band Living Colour.-Career:...
, bassist Muzz Skillings
Muzz Skillings
Muzz Skillings is an American bassist, singer, guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for having been the original bassist with Living Colour....
, and drummer Will Calhoun
Will Calhoun
Will Calhoun is an American drummer, who graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music.-Career:...
(who had graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
), and the band hired managers Jim Grant and Roger Cramer. Soon after, the band became experienced at touring, including performing regular gigs at the club CBGB's. Vivid
Vivid (album)
Vivid is the debut album by the American heavy metal band Living Colour, which was released on May 3, 1988. The band was discovered by Mick Jagger while playing a show at punk club CBGB's in 1987...
, released on May 3, 1988, gathered sales momentum only when later that year, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
began playing the video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Cult of Personality
Cult of Personality (song)
"Cult of Personality" is a song by funk metal band Living Colour. It was the first single from their debut album, Vivid, released in 1988. "Cult of Personality" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It also won the Grammy award for "Best Hard Rock...
". The album reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart. On April 1, 1989, the band performed on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
. Four months later, the band gained further exposure as an opening act, along with Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, for The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour
Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour
The Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels Tour was a concert tour which was launched in North America in August 1989 to promote the band's album Steel Wheels; it continued to Japan in February 1990, with ten shows at the Tokyo Dome. The European leg of the tour, which featured a different stage and logo,...
.
In 1990 the band's second full-length album, Time's Up, featured songs in numerous musical contexts; jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
, punk rock, Delta blues
Delta blues
The Delta blues is one of the earliest styles of blues music. It originated in the Mississippi Delta, a region of the United States that stretches from Memphis, Tennessee in the north to Vicksburg, Mississippi in the south, Helena, Arkansas in the west to the Yazoo River on the east. The...
, hip hop (cameos by Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
and Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh
Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
), funk, thrash metal, jive, and hints of electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
were all represented. The album reached #13 on the Billboard 200, and won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Hard Rock Album. Other guests included Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones...
and Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
.
In 1991, Living Colour joined the inaugural Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
tour, and released an EP of outtakes entitled Biscuits.
Second line-up and breakup (1992–1995)
In 1992, Skillings left the band due to creative differences and was replaced by Doug WimbishDoug Wimbish
Doug Wimbish is a bass player, primarily known for his studio work for the rap/hip hop label Sugarhill Records and his membership of the funk metal band Living Colour. He has played for a vast range of artists, including Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Madonna, George Clinton, Paula Cole, Bomb the Bass,...
. This new line up released their third full-length album, Stain
Stain (album)
Stain is the third album by Living Colour. It was released on March 2, 1993, by Epic Records. It is the first album to feature bassist Doug Wimbish. Stain features a much heavier and aggressive Living Colour, containing elements of thrash metal and industrial music...
, in February 1993. The album reached #26 in the U.S., a further drop since their debut.
Despite retaining their strong fan base, Living Colour disbanded in January 1995, after failing to settle on a common musical goal during sessions for their fourth studio album. Four of these tracks were included on the compilation Pride
Pride (Living Colour album)
Pride is Living Colour's 1995 greatest hits album. It contains four rare tracks recorded for the follow-up of their third album Stain. However, this collection is now out of print...
.
Following the breakup, individual band members released a variety of solo efforts.
Reunion and subsequent events (2000–present)
Living Colour reformed on December 21, 2000, at CBGB's as a gig billed "Head>>Fake w/ special guests." Head>>Fake was the current drum and bassDrum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
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
Collideøscope
-Personnel:* Corey Glover – vocals* Vernon Reid – guitar* Doug Wimbish – bass* Will Calhoun – drums...
, in 2003, their first album not to chart in the United States, although it was critically praised.
In 2005, Sony Records released Live From CBGB's
Live From CBGB's
-Personnel:* Corey Glover - vocals* Vernon Reid - guitar* Muzz Skillings - bass* Will Calhoun - drums...
, a live album recorded on December 19, 1989, as well as another best of compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour
Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour
-Personnel:* Corey Glover - Vocals* Vernon Reid - Guitar* Doug Wimbish - Bass * Will Calhoun - Drums* Muzz Skillings - Bass -References:...
, with songs from Vivid to Collideøscope.
In August 2006, Glover took on the role of Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
in a national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
, touring with Ted Neeley
Ted Neeley
Ted Neeley is a rock and roll drummer, singer, actor, composer, and record producer. He is probably best known for performing the title role in the film Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973....
. Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
, vocalist and bassist of King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
, filled in for Glover on lead vocals. Glover's tour of the musical ran through June 2008, and he then rejoined the band.
On September 22, 2006, Skillings joined the band for the first time in fourteen years when they played at a private party which drummer Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He is one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 20th century, due to extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians like Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett and Sonny...
threw for his wife Lydia. Wimbish was unable to come back from his base in London to play for the event, so Skillings agreed to take over as temporary bassist.
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 Stage At World Cafe Live
On Stage Live At World Cafe Live is a live concert DVD from the funk metal band Living Colour performing live at the University of Pennsylvania as part of the World Cafe on Philadelphia's WXPN radio station...
. On July 11, 2008, the band performed at the 1980s hard rock-themed Rocklahoma
Rocklahoma
Rocklahoma is an annual hard rock music festival held in Pryor, Oklahoma...
festival at Pryor, Oklahoma. Once again, Skillings performed with them in August 2008 for a Black Rock Coalition Band of Gypsys
Band of Gypsys
Band of Gypsys was a blues rock band led by Jimi Hendrix and backed by Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. Hendrix formed the band after the dissolution of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Band of Gypsys is also the band's eponymous live album recorded on two separate nights, 31 December 1969 and 1 January...
tribute in Harlem. They performed "Them Changes" and "Power of Soul".
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
recorded at New Morning
New Morning (club)
New Morning is a Parisian music nightclub that opened in 1981, specialising in jazz and blues.Its concerts are often featured on Mezzo TV.-History:The first concert was given on 16 April 1981 by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers....
, in Paris, France, during their 2007 European Tour.
The band released their fifth studio album, The Chair in the Doorway
The Chair in the Doorway
-Personnel:* Corey Glover – lead and background vocals* Vernon Reid – electric, electronic and acoustic guitars; laptop, sound design and background vocals on "That's What You Taught Me"* Doug Wimbish – bass and ambience; guitar, beats vocals...
, on September 15, 2009 on Megaforce Records. The album sold approximately 2,800 copies in its first week and landed at #159 on the Billboard 200. This was the band's first album to chart since Stain in 1993. The band is currently touring the world in support of the record.
According to an interview on breakdownroom.net, Glover hopes to release another album with the band next year. "We're going to do something different [for us] and make a real record, right now, right after we've done this one," Glover said with a laugh.
Acclaim and legacy
In early 2009, WWE used "Cult of PersonalityCult of Personality (song)
"Cult of Personality" is a song by funk metal band Living Colour. It was the first single from their debut album, Vivid, released in 1988. "Cult of Personality" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It also won the Grammy award for "Best Hard Rock...
" in the video promoting the induction of Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
into its Hall of Fame. Current WWE performer CM Punk
CM Punk
Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion....
once used the song as his entrance theme in Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
. CM Punk used other licensed music while working with WWE, but, after feigning a departure from the company in July 2011, he returned with "Cult of Personality" as his entrance theme. In the same week that Punk returned to WWE TV using the song, it jumped into the iTunes Top 200. The YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video of 'Cult of Personality' has gained more than one million more views since CM Punk has used it as his entrance theme.
Living Colour was ranked #70 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
"Cult of Personality
Cult of Personality (song)
"Cult of Personality" is a song by funk metal band Living Colour. It was the first single from their debut album, Vivid, released in 1988. "Cult of Personality" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It also won the Grammy award for "Best Hard Rock...
" was part of the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
repertoire of radio songs in Radio X
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack
The soundtrack of the computer and video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which is set in 1992 in the fictional U.S. West Coast state of San Andreas, required that the game's radio stations reflect the music tastes of the time and area, in addition to covering current events in the state of San...
. It was also the first song to be confirmed for the tracklist of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...
.
In October 2006, "Love Rears Its Ugly Head
Love Rears Its Ugly Head
"Love Rears Its Ugly Head" is a single released by Living Colour in 1990 from their second album Time's Up.It is in the style of most of the group's previous singles, a rock song with touches of R&B, especially in the vocals...
" was ranked and voted 303 out of 2006 songs featured in the Triple M
Triple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
Essential 2006 Countdown.
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
have called the band, "funk-metal pioneers."
Discography
- VividVivid (album)Vivid is the debut album by the American heavy metal band Living Colour, which was released on May 3, 1988. The band was discovered by Mick Jagger while playing a show at punk club CBGB's in 1987...
(1988) - Time's Up (1990)
- StainStain (album)Stain is the third album by Living Colour. It was released on March 2, 1993, by Epic Records. It is the first album to feature bassist Doug Wimbish. Stain features a much heavier and aggressive Living Colour, containing elements of thrash metal and industrial music...
(1993) - CollideøscopeCollideøscope-Personnel:* Corey Glover – vocals* Vernon Reid – guitar* Doug Wimbish – bass* Will Calhoun – drums...
(2003) - The Chair in the DoorwayThe Chair in the Doorway-Personnel:* Corey Glover – lead and background vocals* Vernon Reid – electric, electronic and acoustic guitars; laptop, sound design and background vocals on "That's What You Taught Me"* Doug Wimbish – bass and ambience; guitar, beats vocals...
(2009)
MTV Video Music Awards
- 1989 - Best New ArtistMTV Video Music Award for Best New ArtistThe MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984...
("Cult of PersonalityCult of Personality (song)"Cult of Personality" is a song by funk metal band Living Colour. It was the first single from their debut album, Vivid, released in 1988. "Cult of Personality" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It also won the Grammy award for "Best Hard Rock...
")
Grammy Awards
- 1990 - Best Hard Rock Performance (won) ("Cult of PersonalityCult of Personality (song)"Cult of Personality" is a song by funk metal band Living Colour. It was the first single from their debut album, Vivid, released in 1988. "Cult of Personality" reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It also won the Grammy award for "Best Hard Rock...
") - 1990 - Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (nominated) ("Glamour BoysGlamour Boys"Glamour Boys" is a song by the funk metal band Living Colour and the second single from their 1988 debut album Vivid. It was nominated the Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1990...
") - 1991 - Best Hard Rock Performance (won) (Time's Up)
- 1994 - Best Hard Rock Performance (nominated) ("Leave It AloneLeave It Alone (Living Colour song)"Leave It Alone" is a song by Living Colour off their third album Stain. In 1994, the song was nominated the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.-Chart performance:...
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