Throwback Artist Bio: Living Colour

Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band currently consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish, who replaced Muzz Skillings in 1992.

The sound that living colour has been able to successfully produce over the years includes Corey Glover blasting cannonball lyrics over gladiator-like melodies on guitars. It would take just four years after they got started to receive worldwide critical acclaim.

The band originally crushed the entire rock universe with Vivid, the debut studio album released in May of 1988. At the time there were not a lot of metal rock groups at the top of the charts but the band was able to reach number 6 in the U.S Billboard chart. A big part of the appeal was the vocals, Glover was able to seemingly dislodge his own jawbone and blow the top off the place.

In 1990 the band’s second full-length album, Time’s Up, had a different sound than the first album, this time the group broadened their scope. The project would include collaborations with Queen Latifa and Doug E. Fresh. Overall the album was received very well by the critics which propelled the work to number 13 on the U. S Billboard chart.

The Break-Up

In 1992, Skillings left the band and was replaced by Doug Wimbish. This new line up released their third full-length album, Stain, in March 1993. The album reached No. 26 in the U.S., a further drop since their debut.

Despite having a hugely loyal fanbase,  Living Colour disbanded in January 1995, after failing to settle on common musical goals during sessions for their fourth studio album. Four of these tracks were included on the compilation Pride. After the breakup, individual band members would go on to work on other projects.

The Make-Up

The band would get back together in December of 2000. Upon settling the creative differences they would go on to release their 4th studio album Collideøscope. This is the first album by the band that would not chart in the United States. A lot of fans, us included think this was a great album by the band, they explored different ways of producing songs that let people get to know what Living Colour sounded like outside the box.

Living Colour would spend the next several years on the road in Europe. The band was a bigger hit overseas and would get their creative juices in gear to complete the fifth project titled The Chair in the Doorway in 2009 while still on tour.

It would take eight more years before the band would record another album. In 2017 they released their sixth full-length studio album called Shade. This album turned out to be well worth the wait. Not only do you get all the rock-hard vibes their fans are used to, but you also get an evolved group with great new lyrics.  The project doesn’t feel recycled, it feels new, it also includes a couple of dope covers like “Who Shot Ya” by Notorious B.I.G and Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues”.

Living Colour is one of the greatest metal bands of all time. A cult favorite that was able to capture the ears and hearts of so many music fans around the world. A truly remarkable journey that is a pleasure to witness. We found a great interview given by Corey Glover in 2017 explaining some of the creative influences of the band.