Living Colour

The Profile

Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City known for a genre-blending crossover of hard rock/metal with funk, soul and other styles, and for socially conscious lyrics. The classic lineup features Corey Glover (vocals) and Vernon Reid (guitar), with Will Calhoun (drums) and bassists including Muzz Skillings and later Doug Wimbish.

Publicly known: formed in New York City in the mid-1980s; breakthrough with the album Vivid (1988) featuring the song “Cult of Personality”; Time’s Up released in 1990; Stain released in 1993; band experienced a mid-1990s split and later reunited, continuing to record and tour.

Across 12 DeBaser reviews, Living Colour are framed as a landmark New York crossover band mixing hard rock/metal with funk, soul, hip hop and more. Vivid and especially Stain are repeatedly treated as peak works, praised for riffs, invention and political bite. Reviewers highlight Corey Glover’s powerful voice, Vernon Reid’s flamboyant guitar, and a high-level rhythm section. Later albums are seen as solid but less revolutionary; live reports stress technique, fun, and audience connection.