I tried learning this song years ago and u right its pretty difficult. This band came out at the right time in my life in high school. This all black rock band made me stick my chest out being the only black metal head in school.
Screaming Scarecrow I was the MTV generation. This band was hot. Mtv could ruin you though. The video for the song glamour boys was played ad nauseum. It seemed to turn people off. What’s your opinion?
@@paulmay2990 I hated it then. It was above my head as a youth who desired harder music. I watched the video last week for the first time since. I appreciate the song now and can tolerate the video. Videos can make or break a song a lot of the time. Even back then I felt the Glamour Boys video hurted them.
I saw them just after cult of personality came out in Edinburgh Scotland, absolutely amazing live. That good, I can't even remember who they were supporting haha
Did you hear Kings X? They supported AC/DC when I saw them in Belfast, probably around 2000 or so. They were wonderful and Ty Tabor's guitar playing was sublime.
When this burst onto the radio, not many folks knew they were black. They were a blast of amazing fresh air and electronic, infectious energy. And the lyrics are even more appropriate today. VERY underrated, in my humble opinion.
I mean, I first saw them on MTV, and people couldn't stop talking about the "black rock band" as though folks like Jimi Hendrix or Fishbone hadn't been a thing. I thought it was really cool seeing a bunch of black men take back what was, after all, their cultural heritage, but what really got me was the sounds coming out of Vernon Reid's guitar. No one else in rock could draw on the chromatic notes like Vernon. These days, I get that it was his history with harmolodics that informed his solos, but man, to 13-14 year old who was just starting to try to learn a LITTLE bit about jazz (I might have heard of an altered dominant, but I sure didn't know what it meant!), it sounded like something from another world. It blew my mind HARD.
So true especially the lyrics compliments of Vernon Ried we couldn't see it clearly in our youth but as our ugly politics played out it became clear. Timeless in it's message and a classic in it's musical content.
He plays softer music beautifully too. The whole band was just one huge ocean of talent. Saw them on this tour in Champaign, Il. I had been playing for years and was in a band. I walked away stunned but inspired.
One of my favorite bands of all time. Vernon Reed is actually resting his right hand on the whammy bar for the whole solo. His whammy technique is insane.
A few months (2018) ago I saw Living Colour live. Corey walked onto stage eating a handful of jellybeans from backstage as the band was starting the opening riff to C,O,P. He walks up to the mic right on time and nailed it. The rest of the band was trying to hold their laughter in... Easily, the best band I've ever seen.
Lyrics are spot on for history and today. Band is super tight and their individual skills speak for themselves. I saw their show in support of this album back in the day when they were completely unknown. Really enjoyed the show and the video Fil.
I’m glad you called out how full their sound is. Especially with Vernon’s guitar sound, they sound so much bigger than a three piece instrumental line up
Fil, you're absolutely right! The riff is deceptively difficult, but not impossible. It took me 4-5 months to nail, and I was his guitar tech almost 30 years (I'm actually just off screen here). We've been friends since age 15; we've seen other in various bands coming up. I was working with Living Colour since 1985, before this lineup came into existence. In the solo section, what some would call sloppy, are actually a jazz /avant-garde based technique called Harmolodics, where sometimes you play outside the scale ( some term it as "out"). I believe it began with saxophonist Eric Dolphy and guitarists such as James Blood Ulmer and Sonny Sharrock carried on with it. Vernon is probably one of the first to bring that to the mainstream. The Cult riff itself is played in a four fret, four string position. Some will play it across three strings, jumping up to the higher notes, but it's easier to play the four fret, four string position (actually five frets; the second half of the ends on an E instead of an F). The B section: an octave up (starting at the 13th fret Bb , going down to 8th fret C) Bb/F/C/G/D/A/F/C 2X The solo key center is G. Yep, I purposely left out the extended riff; still in the four frets, but add the B string. Alternative picking and string skipping is a must to play it clean; you can get away with some legato, but it wouldn't sound as strong. Happy shredding!
music man You're right about Ornette; Eric Dolphy came to mind because he mentioned him all the time. I did a couple of gigs with V. in Decoding Society so I got schooled on the Harmolodics concept somewhat... I also toured with his side project Free Form Funky Freqs, which was 100% improvisational, to the point where the compositions were not named, but numbered... Two hours straight; another composition was defined by someone playing a different vibe than the previous one...
i had the first part of the riff down for years, the turn around parts, took watching a few you tube lessons on it and maybe a month of going back and fourth, i just learnt the chords too, didn't find it that tough, but guess i played for years, as for the solo.. well, yeah, then i am out f my depth but i understand its outside jazz playing.. also i now play it in same position as VR i think! it was tough, i guess, because i can remember trying to find a fingering that worked, now, i play nearly whole riff with fingers 2, 3, and 4 which is weird, i use index for, just the e on the d string second fret only.. it's funny actually i used this riff to get my playing up to speed a few days ago, it's one you have to keep going back too every few months or it can start to slip!
bass part is even harder, i had to invent a technique to get it, he pulls a low e and a higher octave on the e note at one point, so your picking hand has to change position and both hands have to do lot of dampening to get it tight and clean.. he hits it twice, the intro part where the e note is played twice instead of once..
Blistering solo, Vernon is an incredible rhythm player as well! A very diverse band! Vivid and Times Up are phenomenal albums, saw them for the first time in Cambridge Ma. in 1988.
Amazing talent! I was blown away when this song came out. The lyrics are just as relevant and meaningful today, if not more so. This still blows me away every time.
I love the way Corey sings the chorus before Vernon’s second solo. I think Vernon Reid gets a lot of unnecessary criticism for being “sloppy” but I think his solos aren’t meant to be these virtuosic compositions. They’re meant to be gritty, dirty and speedy. They’re meant to fit with the feeling of the song, and Vernon fucking nails it perfectly. Plus it lends to a tough solo to learn in Guitar Hero 3 😂
I play guitar. The place I hold in my band is bass. I am trying to reconstruct my melted face from this bass line. This guy is a master at holding his spot. Rock solid.
Brings me back in time! Vernon is one kick ass guitarist! This song brings back a lot of memories! Long live the 80s it was a guitar fest!! Thanks for highlighting these guys Fil! Go Vernon!!!
It all started from a man named Jimi Hendrix, he did things on the guitar that were paranormal. After he passed, a man Edward Van Halen took it to another level. Vernon Reed I can see was a Hendrix fan also.
FIL, THANKS FOR THE VIDEO AND YOUR COMMENTS, THIS BAND HAD IT ALL, THEY ARE UNDERRATED , VERNON RIED IS SUCH A GREAT GUITAR PLAYER , I STILL LISTEN TO THEM ON 10 ON MY STEREO, THE NEIGHBORS KNOW I AM HOME, LOL, JUST A GREAT BAND, MY BEST, COUSIN FIGEL
One my favorite bands. Wil Calhoun was a huge influence on my playing as a drummer. And I prefer Muzz Skillings over Doug Wimbish. No slight on Wimbish, I just think Skillings had tastier licks.
One of the hardest songs I ever had to learn, You really have to pay attention to everything he plays, One of the most underrated guitar players who doesn’t get the credit he deserves
Saw these guys a couple of years ago at a local venue. The best live performance I've ever seen. Master class at every position. Really smart, nice guys, too.
They had such a great hard rock metal sound, the guitars and vocals were excellent. Living Color was late to the rock music scene but made a mark, still enjoying their music today.
Some people have unfairly panned Vernon Reid as being a sloppy guitarist-I think, largely based on his soloing on this song. Open ears can appreciate the technique shown here and hear the evidence of Vernon's and the rest of Living Colour's musical schooling. Vernon clearly grasps what he's doing during the solos-exactly the solos the song needs. He's not shooting in the dark. The song didn't Iend itself to Paco de Lucia, Stanley Jordan, Vinnie Moore or Michael Angelo Batio type guitar leads. Given the song's raunchy sound a sparkling guitar solo wouldn't fit and would probably draw at least a few chuckles. It would be comparable to following an expletive with a term of endearment: bizarre.
Vernon Reid is best understood if you’re familiar with Sonny Sharock, Eddie Hazel, John McLaughlin, and James Blood Ulmer as well as Cornell Dupree, Nile Rogers, and Prince (in addition to all the more typical rock influences guitarists of that era and milieu tended to have). It seems like a somewhat disparate set of influences unless you’re familiar with the circle of musicians Living Colour arose from. My music teachers growing up were all close personal friends with all the band members and grew up with them, so I have a bit of a different understanding of them as individual players. They were basically a group of fusion avant-garde jazz/funk musicians that decided to play metal (very similar to Bad Brains). Another band with a similar mentality is Screaming Headless Torsos. The aesthetic of Living Colour was late 80s early 90s hair metal, but a lot of what was “under the hood” wasn’t as commonplace in popular rock music of that time period. If you compare Vernon to someone like Steve Vai or Kip Winger, his approach to technique seems unorthodox, but he’s not coming from exactly the same place that they were. He wasn’t really a part of the neo-classical shred movement, he was more from the jazz/avant-garde movement with some influence from shred. His note choice and phrasing are a dead giveaway.
Jeez Phil, I never saw this, only the video and while you can hear how Vernon's shreading it, seeing how fast both his hands are playing it was amazing.
I was lucky enough to see & meet these guys after their gig down here in Aussie about 20 years ago. Vernon Reid has been a guitar hero of mine ever since these guys first started, he is one of the greats. When Living Color hit the scene in the 80's we all thought "it had to happen, black guys playing heavy rock" Wow ! Astounding, Outstanding & makes me Upstanding. Corey Glover is not a bad actor either. Check out their other stuff too. Great video as usual, all the best, cheers.
When I first heard this band I thought their songs were great, but that Vernon Reid's playing was gratuitously widdly-widdle (shredding). Now I think his playing just went over my head, or else I didn't make the emotional connection that now comes easily. There's great attitude and grit in his playing here.
The part about Vernon is there us no wasted motion from his hand, this solo from him is one of my favorite of all"-time. Vernon is a true guitar geek and so innovative, in his approach. He has his staples but is willing to try or integrate new technology.
Vernon Reid is one of my top 5 favorite guitarists. I love his rhythm playing and riffs probably more so than his obvious solo prowess. He has a great funk/jazz background that most rock guitarists of the time lacked and that shows in his playing. He seems to effortlessly be able to produce frenzied runs, much like his contemporary: Nuno Bettencourt. The second Living Colour album was a better example of Reid's talents.
They are still touring with 'burnin Vernon', one of the most criminally underrated guitarists. They are coming to Memphis in March, ya'll ❤❤❤ another leader- Lincoln.
I saw these guys open for the Stones in Minneapolis, MN in 1989. We had great seats. I remember two things: 1. Cult of Personality. 2. Mick Jagger throwing a cup of water at the crown. I got a few drops on me :)
I'm glad you covered Vernon. Awesome player. Great analysis, Fil! They made it big late in the 80s (near the end of heavy metal). A few more years, they may have been into grunge (if they started then). Regardless, Living Colour added a lot to the music scene for sure.
Mike McCready, Jon Gomm, Miroslav Tadic (Guitar Player magazine voted Tadic one of the world's thirty most radical and individual guitarists) - he has very unique and versatile style.
Vernon Reid does have an unusual right hand technique, but I love what he does with it. I'm not normally a shred lover, but I always saw the band as playing a kind of fusion jazz/rock where that's allowed :-) Saw them open for the Rolling Stones. It was a shame. They played their hearts out, but the audience was ignoring them. People still slowly filling the stadium.
+paulo carnaxide :-) I don't know about that. Keef and the boys put on a great show that night. But everyone ignoring Living Colour missed a great band.
No no no. It's not a LITERAL shred fest. Shred is a figurative term. Literal shredding would be pushing your guitar through a wood chipper. I do LOVE Living Colour and Vernon Reid so thanks for that, Fil
Fil. Mate you got those guitarists pat down. It's like you tapped my brain and found all my favorites including Focus great Jan Akkerman and Mahogany Rush front man Frank Marino. Rock on.
I'm the guitarist and sing with a bassist and drummer. I'm not a shredder though I can at times make it sound like I am. One nice thing about not having another guitar or keyboard mixed in is if your bass player is adventurous like ours is as well as our drummer I can try things out of the box. I'm not necessarily restricted to doing something standard or expected.
I really enjoy your break down of incredible songs particularly this one and the one you did on Neil peart's drum solo which is mind-boggling.... of all things I was a classically-trained clarinetist and I feel like you would making fantastic guitar teacher or teacher in general lol
I feel there really was ALOT of good GOOD MUSIC of all genres that came out of the 80's. My absolute favorite was Living Colour. Over 30 years later, there's no song that revs me like this song. Living Colour were and are obviously unique, their music, their sound, their look, their stage presence, especially for the time. It all still holds up. All the band members are just EXCELLENT musicians. There are few songs out there, in my opinion, that can't be improved upon in any way by anybody else. Cult Of Personality is one of those rare songs (so is HEART's 'Barracuda') - PERFECT. The video that accompanied COP, amazing too. I saw them on tour again just a few years ago. Love Love Loved it! Thanks a million bazillion times over Fil for your ALWAYS informative, positive reviews! Aren't we lucky to have found you Fil!?☝ ROCK!!!✌
They are still together and still making new albums, amazing live! Check out Shade, their latest album. Tribute to blues, but Living Colour style. I love Bless Those from that album.
I loved this disc back in the day. Also loved the follow up "Times Up". btw,. you win on Sweep Picking. Chet dropped a pharse on Mark that was all i need.
I was floored first time I listened to this album straight though. I was floored the 100th time. I’m still blown away to this day. Vernon’s sound was like nothing before. Corey’s voice can not be ignored. Plus they they had the ability to play in many styles. It was years after this song that I learned the Corey was also in the movie “Platoon” and Danny Glover son. Great point. Vernon’s playing style looked so strange. I’d become so used to to the low slung look that most used.
Something to wrap your head around... this was not the original arrangement. Originally, the bridge (Neon lights, Nobel Prize) was the verses and main riff and vice versa. I've heard them rehearse it that way as they were writing it, and someone suggested switching them around, and it became the version we're all familiar with. I just bought it up because I've lived with that song for about 34 years and I thought that it may be interesting. Also, Desi Serna has a lesson on playing the bridge, which is close; The fingering is correct. The only exceptions are Vernon didn't tap the high note; it's hammered and there's no slides; the vibrato bar is dipped slightly to get the sound. Hope that helps... here's his lesson: ruclips.net/video/IwVYXoaPpEk/видео.html
These guys were from a different planet Fil. I knew you would really like this song.Always loved this song and still do and im over 60.The band kicks the fence all out.Gives me goosebumps and chills how well they get into the groove of this song.The guitar and bass lines thruout the song keep you on edge and are really unique especially for the 1990s.Wow its just a driving song that kicks butt.Lead vocals and guitar playing is so driving and forceful.A great song not many like it.This band was superb! Glenn in N.Y.
What a great band and still performing to this day. I’m pretty sure Reid was involved in a lot of obscure jazz stuff ore Living Colour hence his unusual progressions etc. Love Corey Glover’s voice which still holds up today. Random fact. He had a substantial role in Oliver Stones Platoon!
Reid was very much prior to, during and since, involved in some pretty strange avant-garde stuff. Before LC he did sessions for Public Enemy and was a member of Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society and Defunkt (both bands that also has Melvin Gibbs of Rollins Band in their line ups; both were cross-pollinating groups with very atypical arrangements), and he did some wickedly weird music, including his only recordings of electric banjo. Reid's also got one hell of a wonky CV, having played with Prince, various members of King Crimson, Janet Jackson, The Ramones, Madelaine Peyroux, etc.
@@zeruchofficial His duo record with Bill Frisell is also super representative of the experimental side of his work. I'm convinced Living Colour is the closest experimental improv / free jazz / noise has gotten to prime time cable television.
They're on a 30th anniversary tour for Vivid these days. Muzz Skillings is replaced by another favourite bass player of mine, Doug Wimbish. Sadly no Norway... Seen them twice, but love to see them again though.
I tried learning this song years ago and u right its pretty difficult. This band came out at the right time in my life in high school. This all black rock band made me stick my chest out being the only black metal head in school.
Screaming Scarecrow I was the MTV generation. This band was hot. Mtv could ruin you though. The video for the song glamour boys was played ad nauseum. It seemed to turn people off. What’s your opinion?
🤘👍
@@paulmay2990 I hated it then. It was above my head as a youth who desired harder music. I watched the video last week for the first time since. I appreciate the song now and can tolerate the video. Videos can make or break a song a lot of the time. Even back then I felt the Glamour Boys video hurted them.
I saw them just after cult of personality came out in Edinburgh Scotland, absolutely amazing live. That good, I can't even remember who they were supporting haha
Did you hear Kings X? They supported AC/DC when I saw them in Belfast, probably around 2000 or so. They were wonderful and Ty Tabor's guitar playing was sublime.
When this burst onto the radio, not many folks knew they were black. They were a blast of amazing fresh air and electronic, infectious energy. And the lyrics are even more appropriate today. VERY underrated, in my humble opinion.
I mean, I first saw them on MTV, and people couldn't stop talking about the "black rock band" as though folks like Jimi Hendrix or Fishbone hadn't been a thing. I thought it was really cool seeing a bunch of black men take back what was, after all, their cultural heritage, but what really got me was the sounds coming out of Vernon Reid's guitar. No one else in rock could draw on the chromatic notes like Vernon. These days, I get that it was his history with harmolodics that informed his solos, but man, to 13-14 year old who was just starting to try to learn a LITTLE bit about jazz (I might have heard of an altered dominant, but I sure didn't know what it meant!), it sounded like something from another world. It blew my mind HARD.
So true especially the lyrics compliments of Vernon Ried we couldn't see it clearly in our youth but as our ugly politics played out it became clear. Timeless in it's message and a classic in it's musical content.
@@phillipsantana2633 Perfectly said.
He plays softer music beautifully too. The whole band was just one huge ocean of talent. Saw them on this tour in Champaign, Il. I had been playing for years and was in a band. I walked away stunned but inspired.
One of my favorite bands of all time. Vernon Reed is actually resting his right hand on the whammy bar for the whole solo. His whammy technique is insane.
People are so focused on Vernon, for good reason, but they miss a really kick ass bass line and incredible fills.
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bro that bass player is sick
Everyone in this band plays. They play.
Muzz Skillings is the reason I started playing bass.
The band kicks ass!… the guitar solo… 😅 not so much.
A few months (2018) ago I saw Living Colour live. Corey walked onto stage eating a handful of jellybeans from backstage as the band was starting the opening riff to C,O,P. He walks up to the mic right on time and nailed it. The rest of the band was trying to hold their laughter in... Easily, the best band I've ever seen.
Awesome!
Lyrics are spot on for history and today. Band is super tight and their individual skills speak for themselves. I saw their show in support of this album back in the day when they were completely unknown. Really enjoyed the show and the video Fil.
Everything you said is spot on…. Guitar solos… 😅 nope
Fil that bass is sick in this performance holy crap!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of the great head banging anthems of all time.
I saw these guys open for The Stones in 1989. I was fifth row and they melted my face right off my head.
I’m glad you called out how full their sound is. Especially with Vernon’s guitar sound, they sound so much bigger than a three piece instrumental line up
This guy's a Speed Demon!!!
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Fil, you're absolutely right! The riff is deceptively difficult, but not impossible. It took me 4-5 months to nail, and I was his guitar tech almost 30 years (I'm actually just off screen here). We've been friends since age 15; we've seen other in various bands coming up. I was working with Living Colour since 1985, before this lineup came into existence. In the solo section, what some would call sloppy, are actually a jazz /avant-garde based technique called Harmolodics, where sometimes you play outside the scale ( some term it as "out"). I believe it began with saxophonist Eric Dolphy and guitarists such as James Blood Ulmer and Sonny Sharrock carried on with it. Vernon is probably one of the first to bring that to the mainstream.
The Cult riff itself is played in a four fret, four string position. Some will play it across three strings, jumping up to the higher notes, but it's easier to play the four fret, four string position (actually five frets; the second half of the ends on an E instead of an F).
The B section: an octave up (starting at the 13th fret Bb , going down to 8th fret C) Bb/F/C/G/D/A/F/C 2X The solo key center is G. Yep, I purposely left out the extended riff; still in the four frets, but add the B string. Alternative picking and string skipping is a must to play it clean; you can get away with some legato, but it wouldn't sound as strong.
Happy shredding!
not dolphy,vernon was from ornettes shool,with ronald shannon jackson,great that you brought this up.
music man You're right about Ornette; Eric Dolphy came to mind because he mentioned him all the time. I did a couple of gigs with V. in Decoding Society so I got schooled on the Harmolodics concept somewhat... I also toured with his side project Free Form Funky Freqs, which was 100% improvisational, to the point where the compositions were not named, but numbered... Two hours straight; another composition was defined by someone playing a different vibe than the previous one...
Duude, thanks for all that detail.
i had the first part of the riff down for years, the turn around parts, took watching a few you tube lessons on it and maybe a month of going back and fourth, i just learnt the chords too, didn't find it that tough, but guess i played for years, as for the solo.. well, yeah, then i am out f my depth but i understand its outside jazz playing.. also i now play it in same position as VR i think! it was tough, i guess, because i can remember trying to find a fingering that worked, now, i play nearly whole riff with fingers 2, 3, and 4 which is weird, i use index for, just the e on the d string second fret only.. it's funny actually i used this riff to get my playing up to speed a few days ago, it's one you have to keep going back too every few months or it can start to slip!
bass part is even harder, i had to invent a technique to get it, he pulls a low e and a higher octave on the e note at one point, so your picking hand has to change position and both hands have to do lot of dampening to get it tight and clean.. he hits it twice, the intro part where the e note is played twice instead of once..
I just found this site recently. You know your music bro. I can watch you all day!
Thanks!
I have watched this for many many hours! Great channel.
Vernon is killing it…
Blistering solo, Vernon is an incredible rhythm player as well! A very diverse band! Vivid and Times Up are phenomenal albums, saw them for the first time in Cambridge Ma. in 1988.
Cool!
Great rhythm player!… this guitar solo…. Pure noise 😅
First time I've seen a live performance of this. Damn they really nailed it! Great analysis as always Fil. 👍
Amazing talent! I was blown away when this song came out. The lyrics are just as relevant and meaningful today, if not more so. This still blows me away every time.
Spot on really good to hear the praise not only from the listening pleasure but the technique and skill involved.
I love the way Corey sings the chorus before Vernon’s second solo.
I think Vernon Reid gets a lot of unnecessary criticism for being “sloppy” but I think his solos aren’t meant to be these virtuosic compositions. They’re meant to be gritty, dirty and speedy. They’re meant to fit with the feeling of the song, and Vernon fucking nails it perfectly.
Plus it lends to a tough solo to learn in Guitar Hero 3 😂
Saw these guys live when I was a little thing in Minneapolis. Loved.
Hello 🌹
Cool!
This band has so much to offer and RUclips always goes for this
I play guitar. The place I hold in my band is bass. I am trying to reconstruct my melted face from this bass line. This guy is a master at holding his spot. Rock solid.
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Brings me back in time! Vernon is one kick ass guitarist! This song brings back a lot of memories! Long live the 80s it was a guitar fest!! Thanks for highlighting these guys Fil! Go Vernon!!!
Amen!
It all started from a man named Jimi Hendrix, he did things on the guitar that were paranormal. After he passed, a man Edward Van Halen took it to another level. Vernon Reed I can see was a Hendrix fan also.
The joy in your face. Never seen you smile so much to any video!!
Haha this is my kinda vibe! Solo is a bit ott but love the track!
FIL, THANKS FOR THE VIDEO AND YOUR COMMENTS, THIS BAND HAD IT ALL, THEY ARE UNDERRATED , VERNON RIED IS SUCH A GREAT GUITAR PLAYER , I STILL LISTEN TO THEM ON 10 ON MY STEREO, THE NEIGHBORS KNOW I AM HOME, LOL, JUST A GREAT BAND, MY BEST, COUSIN FIGEL
Look kids! Pay attention, this is what talent sounds like. Soooo ahead of their time. Still holds up today. Love this. Amazing band.
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It took me 3 moths to learn this riff. Cheers. Underrated band
One my favorite bands. Wil Calhoun was a huge influence on my playing as a drummer. And I prefer Muzz Skillings over Doug Wimbish. No slight on Wimbish, I just think Skillings had tastier licks.
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One of the hardest songs I ever had to learn, You really have to pay attention to everything he plays, One of the most underrated guitar players who doesn’t get the credit he deserves
Saw these guys a couple of years ago at a local venue. The best live performance I've ever seen. Master class at every position. Really smart, nice guys, too.
Awesome!
They had such a great hard rock metal sound, the guitars and vocals were excellent. Living Color was late to the rock music scene but made a mark, still enjoying their music today.
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My brother saw them live.. said it was high energy from start to finish ☮️💯
Cool!
Living Colour helped get me through late 80's hair metal with "Vivid" and "Time's Up". Thank you Living Colour🤘
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I saw Living Color in 1988 with my best friend Fred (who has departed) this was a great concert!
One of the best !I've band I've seen, seven times.
Cool!
Man what a great band that was, wish they could have kept going! Definitely a game-changing band. In my opinion.
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Vernon is 60 years old & is still performing, so that's good!
@@bekind6763 That's awesome, I'll have to look for him.
They never went away. They just released a new album "Shade".
I just saw them last week. Haven't missed a beat.
world was not ready for them..
they was like the first seven dust only funky shred and all black..
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My freshman year of high school. I loved this album. Love that they’re still rocking it. 🤘🏻
One of the greatest guitarists of all time Vernon keep rocking
Some people have unfairly panned Vernon Reid as being a sloppy guitarist-I think, largely based on his soloing on this song. Open ears can appreciate the technique shown here and hear the evidence of Vernon's and the rest of Living Colour's musical schooling.
Vernon clearly grasps what he's doing during the solos-exactly the solos the song needs. He's not shooting in the dark.
The song didn't Iend itself to Paco de Lucia, Stanley Jordan, Vinnie Moore or Michael Angelo Batio type guitar leads.
Given the song's raunchy sound a sparkling guitar solo wouldn't fit and would probably draw at least a few chuckles. It would be comparable to following an expletive with a term of endearment: bizarre.
What those critics don't get is that he can play that "sloppy, chaotic solo" exactly the same every time. He knows what he's doing.
vernon reid - used to listen to him so much - what a player
Vernon Reid is best understood if you’re familiar with Sonny Sharock, Eddie Hazel, John McLaughlin, and James Blood Ulmer as well as Cornell Dupree, Nile Rogers, and Prince (in addition to all the more typical rock influences guitarists of that era and milieu tended to have). It seems like a somewhat disparate set of influences unless you’re familiar with the circle of musicians Living Colour arose from. My music teachers growing up were all close personal friends with all the band members and grew up with them, so I have a bit of a different understanding of them as individual players. They were basically a group of fusion avant-garde jazz/funk musicians that decided to play metal (very similar to Bad Brains). Another band with a similar mentality is Screaming Headless Torsos.
The aesthetic of Living Colour was late 80s early 90s hair metal, but a lot of what was “under the hood” wasn’t as commonplace in popular rock music of that time period. If you compare Vernon to someone like Steve Vai or Kip Winger, his approach to technique seems unorthodox, but he’s not coming from exactly the same place that they were. He wasn’t really a part of the neo-classical shred movement, he was more from the jazz/avant-garde movement with some influence from shred. His note choice and phrasing are a dead giveaway.
Yes! Thanks for mentioning one of my favorite guitar players. Eddie Hazel. One of the most under rated and over looked guitarists ever.
Muzz was so great on bass too!
Ha, we do have similar tastes! I was so impressed by them when this came out. Yes!
Jeez Phil, I never saw this, only the video and while you can hear how Vernon's shreading it, seeing how fast both his hands are playing it was amazing.
Such a memorable riff. I wish they could've sustained their popularity. That first album is AMAZING!
I was lucky enough to see & meet these guys after their gig down here in Aussie about 20 years ago.
Vernon Reid has been a guitar hero of mine ever since these guys first started, he is one of the greats.
When Living Color hit the scene in the 80's we all thought "it had to happen, black guys playing heavy rock"
Wow ! Astounding, Outstanding & makes me Upstanding.
Corey Glover is not a bad actor either. Check out their other stuff too.
Great video as usual, all the best, cheers.
they are like the globetrotters from rock and roll !! four prodigies at their craft exponentializing each other
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When I first heard this band I thought their songs were great, but that Vernon Reid's playing was gratuitously widdly-widdle (shredding). Now I think his playing just went over my head, or else I didn't make the emotional connection that now comes easily. There's great attitude and grit in his playing here.
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The part about Vernon is there us no wasted motion from his hand, this solo from him is one of my favorite of all"-time. Vernon is a true guitar geek and so innovative, in his approach. He has his staples but is willing to try or integrate new technology.
Lucky enough to see them at their peak at an outdoor college show the summer this single broke. Even got to talk to Cory a bit after their set. Epic.
Nice!
Vernon Reid is one of my top 5 favorite guitarists. I love his rhythm playing and riffs probably more so than his obvious solo prowess. He has a great funk/jazz background that most rock guitarists of the time lacked and that shows in his playing. He seems to effortlessly be able to produce frenzied runs, much like his contemporary: Nuno Bettencourt. The second Living Colour album was a better example of Reid's talents.
That speed was needed for this song. Just a feeling. I think it’s about actual history and it’s it’s part of the story telling of the song
They are still touring with 'burnin Vernon', one of the most criminally underrated guitarists. They are coming to Memphis in March, ya'll ❤❤❤ another leader- Lincoln.
Has it been 30 years since this song was new??? Damn, I'm getting OLD!!
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My Dad saw several guitar superstars live. He says Stevie Ray Vaughan and Vernon Reid were the very best. :) Thanx for the video!
Cool!
I saw these guys open for the Stones in Minneapolis, MN in 1989. We had great seats. I remember two things: 1. Cult of Personality. 2. Mick Jagger throwing a cup of water at the crown. I got a few drops on me :)
I'm glad you covered Vernon. Awesome player. Great analysis, Fil! They made it big late in the 80s (near the end of heavy metal). A few more years, they may have been into grunge (if they started then). Regardless, Living Colour added a lot to the music scene for sure.
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Oh man. All my music mates n I loved them. We studied them. I think like glen Campbell. They were a musicians band. \m/ rock.
Living Colour was my last mosh pit. Which put me in a great position to watch Vernon tear it up! It's a young man's game, mid-thirties was too old.
Cool!
You're right there is so much great stuff to say about this and it's Giant
Mike McCready, Jon Gomm, Miroslav Tadic (Guitar Player magazine voted Tadic one of the world's thirty most radical and individual guitarists) - he has very unique and versatile style.
Thanks!
Love these guys, saw them during the 80s and seeing them again for a third time this December. Cool stuff
Nice!
There is only one Dimebag, but Vernon has a similar attack as Dime. Tone is obviously different but the southern bends and wammy bar use is similar.
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Vernon Reid does have an unusual right hand technique, but I love what he does with it. I'm not normally a shred lover, but I always saw the band as playing a kind of fusion jazz/rock where that's allowed :-)
Saw them open for the Rolling Stones. It was a shame. They played their hearts out, but the audience was ignoring them. People still slowly filling the stadium.
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These guys are way better than the Stones, but who am I to say...?
+paulo carnaxide :-) I don't know about that. Keef and the boys put on a great show that night. But everyone ignoring Living Colour missed a great band.
You keep on giving my high school flashbacks. You making me feel old LMAO!!!
Haha sorry! It's just a number!
Dudes got a great voice.
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No no no. It's not a LITERAL shred fest. Shred is a figurative term. Literal shredding would be pushing your guitar through a wood chipper. I do LOVE Living Colour and Vernon Reid so thanks for that, Fil
Haha yeah I don't think people want to see that video! 😂
Awesome band with vocals to match
Yeah great vocals all round!
I love Corey in the movie Platoon
Amazing band and very underrated
Fil. Mate you got those guitarists pat down. It's like you tapped my brain and found all my favorites including Focus great Jan Akkerman and Mahogany Rush front man Frank Marino. Rock on.
Cool!
Man what a great video always love rocking out to this song. 🤘
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Great band and tune!
Yeah!
Vernon's lead style reminds me of Reeves Gabrels on "Scary Monsters" with David Bowie.
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I'm the guitarist and sing with a bassist and drummer. I'm not a shredder though I can at times make it sound like I am. One nice thing about not having another guitar or keyboard mixed in is if your bass player is adventurous like ours is as well as our drummer I can try things out of the box. I'm not necessarily restricted to doing something standard or expected.
Fil ,
Great tight band! This song is very catchy and probably thier best! Vernon is fantastic and makes it look easy.
Rock!
Amen!
Love the hair man. I’m serious btw. Like the band itself, Corey’s vocals were always completely underrated.
I really enjoy your break down of incredible songs particularly this one and the one you did on Neil peart's drum solo which is mind-boggling.... of all things I was a classically-trained clarinetist and I feel like you would making fantastic guitar teacher or teacher in general lol
Thanks for the kind words!
🎼👍🙋🤘🎸🎙great video 🤘
Great song & great team work band 🙋🎙🙋🎸🙋🖖🎵🎵🎵🎵
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I feel there really was ALOT of good GOOD MUSIC of all genres that came out of the 80's. My absolute favorite was Living Colour. Over 30 years later, there's no song that revs me like this song. Living Colour were and are obviously unique, their music, their sound, their look, their stage presence, especially for the time. It all still holds up. All the band members are just EXCELLENT musicians. There are few songs out there, in my opinion, that can't be improved upon in any way by anybody else. Cult Of Personality is one of those rare songs (so is HEART's 'Barracuda') - PERFECT. The video that accompanied COP, amazing too. I saw them on tour again just a few years ago. Love Love Loved it! Thanks a million bazillion times over Fil for your ALWAYS informative, positive reviews! Aren't we lucky to have found you Fil!?☝ ROCK!!!✌
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They are still together and still making new albums, amazing live! Check out Shade, their latest album. Tribute to blues, but Living Colour style. I love Bless Those from that album.
I love this band very much. Living Colour is awesome. Thanks for another great analysis video. Cheers Fil!
Amen!
I dislocated my neck when you paused the video.
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They were very humble people also :-')
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Oh yeah,the solo!🔥
These guys kicked ass!!!
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I loved this disc back in the day. Also loved the follow up "Times Up".
btw,. you win on Sweep Picking. Chet dropped a pharse on Mark that was all i need.
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I was floored first time I listened to this album straight though. I was floored the 100th time. I’m still blown away to this day. Vernon’s sound was like nothing before. Corey’s voice can not be ignored. Plus they they had the ability to play in many styles.
It was years after this song that I learned the Corey was also in the movie “Platoon” and Danny Glover son.
Great point. Vernon’s playing style looked so strange. I’d become so used to to the low slung look that most used.
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Urban myth. He's NOT Danny Glover's son, no relation.
Danny Glover is from San Francisco. Corey Glover is from Brooklyn.
Edward Tertechny Wow. Thanks.
Something to wrap your head around... this was not the original arrangement. Originally, the bridge (Neon lights, Nobel Prize) was the verses and main riff and vice versa. I've heard them rehearse it that way as they were writing it, and someone suggested switching them around, and it became the version we're all familiar with. I just bought it up because I've lived with that song for about 34 years and I thought that it may be interesting. Also, Desi Serna has a lesson on playing the bridge, which is close; The fingering is correct. The only exceptions are Vernon didn't tap the high note; it's hammered and there's no slides; the vibrato bar is dipped slightly to get the sound. Hope that helps... here's his lesson: ruclips.net/video/IwVYXoaPpEk/видео.html
Oh yeah.Awesome playing.Love this song.🤟
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These guys were from a different planet Fil. I knew you would really like this song.Always loved this song and still do and im over 60.The band kicks the fence all out.Gives me goosebumps and chills how well they get into the groove of this song.The guitar and bass lines thruout the song keep you on edge and are really unique especially for the 1990s.Wow its just a driving song that kicks butt.Lead vocals and guitar playing is so driving and forceful.A great song not many like it.This band was superb! Glenn in N.Y.
Amen!
They've got so much sound for three instruments. That voice unifies all of it.
What a great band and still performing to this day. I’m pretty sure Reid was involved in a lot of obscure jazz stuff ore Living Colour hence his unusual progressions etc. Love Corey Glover’s voice which still holds up today. Random fact. He had a substantial role in Oliver Stones Platoon!
Yeah he is classed as an actor!
Reid was very much prior to, during and since, involved in some pretty strange avant-garde stuff. Before LC he did sessions for Public Enemy and was a member of Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society and Defunkt (both bands that also has Melvin Gibbs of Rollins Band in their line ups; both were cross-pollinating groups with very atypical arrangements), and he did some wickedly weird music, including his only recordings of electric banjo. Reid's also got one hell of a wonky CV, having played with Prince, various members of King Crimson, Janet Jackson, The Ramones, Madelaine Peyroux, etc.
@@zeruchofficial His duo record with Bill Frisell is also super representative of the experimental side of his work. I'm convinced Living Colour is the closest experimental improv / free jazz / noise has gotten to prime time cable television.
Saw them in the early 80's, they opened for the Stones at the The Oakland Coliseum
Steel wheels tour
Cool!
How do you feel about Vernon's alien fingers? I've played guitar for over 30 years, and I've not seen any fingers longer than Vernon's
Yeah he's got good guitar genetics!
I think Buckethead has him beat.
Robert Johnson.
Steve Vai and Buckethead
And Jimi Hendrix. Long fingers and thumbs.
Marty Friedman has a similar right hand technique
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They're on a 30th anniversary tour for Vivid these days. Muzz Skillings is replaced by another favourite bass player of mine, Doug Wimbish. Sadly no Norway... Seen them twice, but love to see them again though.