September 24, 2016 — Willie is a Vietnam veteran who was part of a Civil War Bugle Corp at the opening of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, on The National Mall in Washington D.C. President Barack Obama spoke, and the Freedom Sounds concert followed. The event featuring a number of indigenous art, culture, and musical displays and performances, ending on a large stage standing in the late afternoon shadow of the Washington Monument. Playing the day out, were, Stanley Clarke, The Roots, Public Enemy, and Living Colour, all exhibits in the museum.
Still Loud.Still Proud. Still Vivid. After nearly 40 years on the Rock N Roll road, from “Cult Of Personality” to “Who Shot Ya?,” Living Colour still delivers its socially conscious and politically active message is as direct, pointed, and viciously honest as ever.
AS ALWAYS, SHARP-TONGUED, SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS, AND NOW, MORE VICIOUSLY HONEST THAN EVER.
•In The Beginning. Vernon Reid’s band Living Colour staked its first musical claim in Downtown New York City. •A New Millennium. After a seven-year hiatus, and a chance meeting at CBGB’s, the band decided to reunite and schedule a 2001 Summer Tour. •The Day The Earth Stood Still. Living Colour was well into its reunion tour when 9-11 brought it, as it did everything, to an abrupt end. •In The Post-Apocalyptic Area. Reenergized, the band went out to finish what it had started. They never had more to say, and with a renewed sense of purpose and a sharpened edge, they went out to deliver their pointed, aggressive, and viciously honest message. • THE DEVIL IS SINGING OUR SONG And Then Came Fox News, Neo Nazis, Domestic Terror, and Domestic Terror, and a child king named Trump, leader of a most insidious “CULT OF PERSONALITY” called the Republican Party.
Living Colour delivered an intense performance, in the shade (long, late afternoon shadow) of the ever present Washington Monument.
September 24, 2016 — Living Colour was invited (with Public Enemy and The Roots) to play the opening of The Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. The FREEDOM SOUNDS concert that included Public Enemy and The Roots, followed president Barack Obama’s speech, dedicating the long awaited opening of Washington’s newest museum.
Moved by the alarming frequency of gun violence in America, and it so often being against young, unarmed black men by an overly militarized police force, Living Colour released “Who Shot Ya?,” a Biggie Smalls cover, recorded for its (yet-to-be-released) Shade.
And Now? Post-Obama? After-Trump? … Living Colour’s first shot across the right-wing bow was the release of Shade. in 2017.his time the band’s own “Freedom of Expression” is a vociferous fight to defend another (1st) Amendment to the United States Constitution that finds itself under a relentless, “Make America Great Again,” sanctimonious attack. IN THE BEST OF WAYS, Living Colour is the same kick-ass, rock n roll band from New York City, Kick-Ass band, that with a little help from fan Mick Jagger, exploded onto the world stage in 1989. The same aggressive band that’s never been shy to howl at the establishment moon. “Back In The U.S.S.R.”
1987 — Mick Jagger Primitive Cool (Columbia) w/ Bernard Fowler, Doug Wimbish, Simon Phillips Australia and Japan, as the Brothers of Sodom, w/ Joe Satriani, Jimmy Rip
1978 — Bruce Springsteen (Darkness On The Edge Of Town), The Police (Reggatta de Blanc) Tom Petty (You’re Gonna Get It!) 1979 —The Eagles (The Long Run), Tom Petty (Damn The Torpedoes) Hip-Hop Happens 1980 — John Lennon, “Miracle on Ice” Olympic Hockey (U.S.A. v. Soviet Union), Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship (John McEnroe v. Bjorn Borg), Mount St. Helen’s eruption, Mariel Boat Lift, Miami (McDuffie) Riots, Skyway Bridge, Rubik’s Cube, Post-It Notes … 1981 — 1982 —No Nukes Concert (New York City) “Faggots Against Killing Men In War.” 1983 — 1984 —“No Sell Out” (Malcolm X), Keith LeBlanc (King of The Beat) & Betty Shabazz (The Queen) v. Sugar Hill Records (Joe and Sylvia Robinson). 1985 — A Momentous Year In Music (MTV) “We Are The World,” “Live Aid,” “Artists United Against Apartheid,” “Farm Aid,” … She’s The Boss, Mick Jagger’s first solo album, after 20 years with the Rolling Stones. On his own, and without his all-time band leader and co-writer Keith Richards, Mick was looking for a band, and he recruited a number of Young Americans to satisfy his need: 1986 —Living Colour (CBGB) 1987 —Prince / Miles Davis (New Year’s Eve) Paisley Park 1988 —Mick Jagger and The Brothers of Sodom: Joe Satriani (guitar) Doug Wimbish (bass guitar) Simon Phillips (drums) Bernard Fowler (vocals) Jimmy Rip (guitar) Phil Ashley (keys) Richard Cottle (saxophones/keys) Susie Davis (keyboards) Australia and Tokyo Tina Turner. 1989 —The Rolling Stones (Steel Wheels) Tour and Studio Album, Chuck Leavell, Tack>>Head Friendly As A Hand Grenade 1990 — 1991 — 1992 — Annie Lennox (Diva) 1993 — Billy Idol (Cyberpunk) 1994 — 1995 — Annie Lennox (Medusa) 1996 — Vernon ReidMistaken Identity 1997 — 1998 — 1999 — Prince 2000 — “Planet Earth, do we have a problem?” International Year for the Culture of Peace , World Mathematical Year, Y2K Mos Def (Black Jack Johnson) Black On Both Sides 2001 —(9-11) 2002 — Change Is In The Air 2003 —Living Colour CollideOscope “Flying,”Head>>Fake“In The Area Of Prague” 2004 —Tack>>Head Reunion at Sully’s Pub (Hartford, Connecticut) 2005 — 2006 — 2007 — Living Colour (Wimbash/Brazil) 2008 — WimBash “In The Area of Hartford” (Little Axe, Jungle Funk, Vinx, Sas Bell, Kevin Gibbs, Adam Falcon, Martha Redbone, Will Calhoun) 2009 —Chair In The Doorway (Living Colour’s sixth studio album, a Summer Tour in the States, and a Return to Forever comparison.) 2010 — 2011 — 2012 — 2013 — 2014 — 2015 — 2016 —“Who Shot Ya?” A summer of police shootings, Black Lives Matter, Donald Trump, and the beginning of the end of America. 2017 — 2018 — 2019 — 2020 — 2021 — 2022 — 2023 — 2024 — 2025 — 2026 —
nVernon Reid (guitar) nCorey Glover (vocals) nWill Calhoun (drums) nDoug Wimbish (bass) AS ALWAYS, SHARP-TONGUED, SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS, AND NOW, MORE VICIOUSLY HONEST THAN EVER. nIN THE BEGINNING, Vernon Reid’s band Living Colour staked its first musical claim in Downtown New York City. nNEW MILLENNIUM After a seven-year hiatus, and a chance meeting ( Christmas Week 2000) at CBGB, Living Colour decided to reunite and schedule a New Millennium Tour … nPOST APOCALYPTIC TIME, Living Colour was prepared to reenter the politically and socially active game. With renewed verve, a sharpened edge, and never more to say, Living Colour was back on the road, speaking out against Fox News, The Rise of White Nationalism, and Donald Trump — The next, most dangerous “CULT OF PERSONALITY.” Living Colour •Vernon Reid (guitar) •Corey Glover (vocals) •Will Calhoun (drums) •Doug Wimbish (bass) LivingColour.Com