Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band is known for being one of the first African American rock bands to achieve mainstream success, winning multiple Grammy Awards in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Living Colour was founded by guitarist Vernon Reid in 1984. Reid assembled a lineup of vocalist Corey Glover, bassist Muzz Skillings, and drummer Will Calhoun, and the band started playing the New York club circuit. They eventually caught the attention of rock producer Mick Jagger, who helped the band secure a record deal with Epic Records.
Living Colour’s debut album, Vivid, was released in 1988. The album included the hit single “Cult of Personality,” which won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. The song’s music video was in heavy rotation on MTV, helping introduce Living Colour’s blend of heavy metal, funk, hip hop, and jazz to mainstream rock audiences.
Early Success and Touring
On the strength of Vivid and “Cult of Personality,” Living Colour embarked on a busy touring schedule to support the album. They opened for bands like The Rolling Stones on massive stadium tours, increasing their exposure and fanbase.
Living Colour released their second album, Time’s Up, in 1990. It spawned the hit “Type,” and built upon the band’s mix of styles. The album earned the band another Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
Between 1990 and 1994, Living Colour extensively toured the world. They performed at festivals like Lollapalooza and Woodstock ’94, headlined their own tours, and opened for bands including Guns N’ Roses and Pearl Jam. Their live show earned a reputation for energy and musicianship.
Mid-1990s and First Breakup
Living Colour’s third studio album, Stain, was released in 1993. It featured their highest-charting single, “Leave It Alone.” However, due to creative differences and commercial struggles, the band broke up in early 1995, right before they were slated to begin work on their fourth album.
During the breakup, Vernon Reid focused on session work and solo projects. Corey Glover pursued an acting career, landing a regular role on the TV drama New York Undercover. Will Calhoun released solo albums and drum instructional materials.
Reunion and Subsequent Tours
In late 2000, Living Colour reunited for a gig at CBGB in New York. The show went well, and in 2001 the original lineup began work on a new studio album, Collideøscope. When it was released in 2003, the band supported it with their first full tour since 1993.
Since then, Living Colour has continued to sporadically regroup for tours and festival performances. Highlights include:
| Year | Tour or Festival |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Summer tour supporting their compilation album Everything Is Possible: The Very Best of Living Colour |
| 2009 | Co-headlining tour with Bad Brains |
| 2011 | Performance at Australia’s Soundwave Festival |
| 2012 | UK and European tour |
| 2016 | Summer tour with Filter and Helmet |
| 2017 | Spring tour supporting their latest album Shade |
While these tours and festival shows have given Living Colour the opportunity to play for dedicated fans, they stopped short of the extensive worldwide touring that the band did in their early years.
Reasons for Limited Recent Touring
There are a few factors that help explain why Living Colour’s touring schedule has been more limited over the past 15-20 years:
- No longer having major label support – Their albums since reuniting have been self-released or on smaller independent labels. This means they lack the wider distribution and promotional budget to support extensive global tours.
- Members’ other commitments – The band members have taken on other projects between Living Colour tours. Vernon Reid has focused more on solo work and session musician gigs. Corey Glover has continued acting, and released solo albums.
- Shifting music industry – As rock music has declined in mainstream popularity, it has become harder for veteran rock bands like Living Colour to book long headlining tours.
- Cost of touring – International tours are expensive to mount. Without the backing of a major label, Living Colour may be unable to fund promotions on the scale of their early tours.
As a result of these circumstances, Living Colour’s recent tours have centered on one-off shows, festival dates, and shorter regional tours of 1-2 weeks. Their days of months-long world tours appear to be behind them.
Potential for More Extensive Future Touring
While Living Colour may never recapture their intense early touring schedule, there are some factors that leave the door open for them to potentially tour more extensively in the future:
- Continued loyal fanbase – Their reputation among rock fans means there is always a sizable audience interested in seeing them live when they do tour.
- Occasional new music – New albums like 2017’s Shade give the band an incentive to tour more heavily for a particular cycle.
- Major festival bookings – If they were invited to reunite or perform at something like Coachella or Lollapalooza, it could drive more touring.
- Milestone anniversaries – Anniversaries of classic albums like Vivid and Time’s Up in the coming years may prompt larger tours.
While it’s unlikely Living Colour hits the road for months on end like they once did, fans still hold out hope they might schedule another extensive worldwide tour at some point if the timing is right.
What Are the Band Members Up to Now?
When not playing sporadic shows with Living Colour, what are the band’s members focused on lately?
- Vernon Reid – Continues to release solo albums, tour with his own band, and appear as a session guitarist. He has guested on albums by artists ranging from Mick Jagger to John Zorn.
- Corey Glover – Recently released a new solo album in 2022 titled Higher. He still acts occasionally, including a recurring role on the TV series Star Trek: Discovery.
- Will Calhoun – Leads his own jazz fusion ensemble and released the album Life in This World in 2020. He is seen as one of the most skilled drummers in rock and fusion styles.
- Doug Wimbish – Although not an original member, bassist Wimbish joined Living Colour in 1992 during their first run. He currently plays in the funk band Jungle Funk alongside Will Calhoun.
The individual band members remain productive with their own projects. This likely provides them with creative fulfillment while Living Colour itself tours only occasionally.
Conclusion
Living Colour made an impact in the late 80s and early 90s with their unique merger of rock, funk, jazz, and hip hop. Their touring schedule was relentless during their initial run supporting major label albums like Vivid and Time’s Up.
Since reuniting in the 2000s, their touring has been more sporadic and centered around one-off shows and short regional tours. While it’s unlikely they can mount a worldwide tour like in their heyday, there remains potential for more extensive touring cycles if the timing and circumstances align favorably.
Even with limited touring, Living Colour’s reputation among both rock critics and fans remains strong. Their catalog continues to inspire young musicians blending rock, funk and hip hop. If the stars align in the future, longtime fans may still get the chance to see Living Colour launch one more major tour.