helterskelter.ca

LIVING COLOUR
1988 - Vivid.
1993 - Stain.
more LIVING COLOUR.
way more Helter Skelter.

May 2, 1988 - 2023: 35 years of: Vivid.

The full spectrum of colours, the full spectrum of rock.

During the late 80s, a new wave was sneaking in, from the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS to FAITH NO MORE, hip hybrids were mushrooming at a fast pace. And from New-York City, land of disco, punk and then hiphop, would arise a new player ...this is Los Angeles's feared antidote. Once again, the game was about to change, here's the almighty fusion of the senses: LIVING COLOUR.

Ear them and march with them, here's their "Cult Of Personality". Loud and universal, in a language that everybody here can easily understand: music. A now staple in the band's catalog and staple in the genre, this ass-kickin' kickass easily resets the trends to zero with it's sick thumping bass, AC/DC-ish drumming, razor-sharp guitar riffing and the new voice of a generation: Mister Corey Glover.

The face-wash continues with the cool "I Want To Know", the boogie-vibed "Glamour Boys" and fast-metal sharp-shooter of "Desperate People". The funk-element grasps us on "Which Way To America" and "Funny Vibe", while the saturated guitar shuffling of "Middle Man" did found it's way into heavy MTV-rotation.

The unorthodox power-rock of "Open Letter (To A Landlord)" is the other face of "Home Sweet Home", literally. Unequal social justicing done the right way, might not be the flavor of the month, but through blood, sweat and tears, these words still ring true in today's fragile economy.

Hitting hard with clever hardrock without any of it's clichés, LIVING COLOUR would be that breath of fresh air, rocknroll definitely needed in that thick haze of hairspray. Breaking the barriers of colours and sounds, this out-of-the-box unit shook the industry to it's very core. Not by it's decadent demeanors, but by it's high energy stamina, killer calculated hooks and intelligent topic-sense.

RIAA-certified 2x Platinum and for awhile, the alternative to alternative, LIVING COLOUR were the new kids of rock on the block. This lovely gang of smooth criminals would strike again with 1990's Time's Up CD.

Oh and remember this: before John 5 and before Tom Morello ...there was Mister Vernon Reid !

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Cult Of Personality = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0
Open Letter (To A Landlord) = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V5VkMqM07s
Middle Man = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqlVRsA8aFE
Glamour Boys = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7FX6sAL0Zw
Vivid = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0&list=OLAK5uy_ncQta0Oscy4dznXpMlpw4igahjx0cuXpY
Interview on Arsenio Hall in 1989
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QaeNRvlKIc
Live at Roskilde in 1989
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeCQq3ot_Qo
some girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR3f3NpzYD8

March 2, 1993 - 2023: 30 years of: Stain.

New, new-metal.

After the hype of 1990's hip Time's Up CD, the alchemists of LIVING COLOUR regrouped and refocused to form a darker fusion and new eclectic type of cutting-edge rock. And for some more extra extra extra mojo, welcome aboard motherfucking bass-legend: Doug motherfucking Wimbish motherfuckerz !

The grime lifts up off the floor as soon as "Go Away" strikes. The dirty vibe gets deeper underground with the twisted grooves of "Ignorance Is Bliss" and the controversial street-core "Ausländer".

Vernon Reid's always fresh overdriven tone shines on the hardrock / metal single "Leave It Alone" and hardcore offset-beats of "Mind Your Own Business". On the other side of the spectrum, hot on 4-5-6 strings, Wimbish yells out loud on "Postman" and the closing-track "Wall".

Shades of industrial and house-beats makes a cameo on "WTFF", while lounge atmospheres and sensual subjects are fully exxxposed on the dual R-rated MTV-single "Bi" ...not your typical trendbreaker.

Fuck grunge, this unit makes the rules and paints the walls with bright vivid colours. Nothing says openness in the 90s more than these fine gentlemen. Worshipped by their peers, yet sadly the lack of actual commercial response and industry support left the band on a decade-long hiatus, until 2003's millennial Collideoscope return CD.

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Leave It Alone = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6p3Es4TJJA
Ausländer = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYKxa_22BVk
Bi = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMprpu0et9M
Stain = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjjPFe7cKOw&list=OLAK5uy_kkhBarDMpAAlrY1bvusLC07aQ3nGHh4tc
Interview at Pinkpop in 1993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0JrKJBz2Kg
Live in Bologna in 1993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcF6yL4wcJE

more LIVING COLOUR:

Judgment Night