Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Grarnmu winr Liv By College Press Service Since the release of Vivid, their critically acclaimed, multiplatinum debut album, the members of Living Colour have been busy breaking down the barriers. B'oth musically and racially, Living Colour has affected rock'n'roll unlike any artists in the past 20 years, Prince and Michael Jackson included. "We get a lot of letters from kids," drummer William Calhoun said. "Some of them admit to not expecting black people to do something like this. Some of them admit to being racist." At the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards Feb. 20, the band's latest album, Time's Up, was honored in the category of Best Hard-Rock Performance. Living Colour's trademark fusion of hard-rock roots, jazz influence and hip-hop madness has won them a legion of fans and broken down the doors of restricted creativity. You could take a long $1 letting the tap run while< Messag I Take a ( ? C r Spring Cie Tune up $25 I Cleanup $10 Tires/Tubes $45 I I Total Reg. $80 I Valid only w/coupon I Cycle Center I 616 Harden St. in Fi (across from Grouch 256-0557 Service - Bruce Sales - Sid lers revive old ing Co l Its music is a mix of the manic vocals of Corey Glover, guitarist Vernon Reid's six-string prowess and the impressive rhythm section comprised of bassist Muzz Skillings and drummer Calhoun. Living Colour was formed in 1984 when guitarist Reid brought together four musicians from wildly different backgrounds and influences. Born in England and raised in New York, Reid studied with jazz guitarists Ted and Rodnev Dunbar while a teenager. A stint as an apprentice with Ronald Shannon T 1 *_ T~v ! O * - . 1 1 . jauKMjn s lAJtooing society iea 10 session work with the likes of Public Enemy and Mick Jagger. The other members of Living Colour possess equally impressive musical credentials. Drummer Calhoun is a graduate of the Berklee School of Music in Boston. "My mom made us to go to at least one opera a month," Calhoun said of his early musical influence. lower everyday with the w< /ou shave and brush your t je by Students Allied for a Green fW | an Now $19.95 J i Now $ 5.00 J I Now $35.00 Now $59.95 I 1 \ , Exp 3/31/91 I Absolutely the Lift ve Points < io's) sounds lor' br< "This exposure was great" This diversity of musical influences has helped Living Coloui break new ground in the world ol rock'n'roll. "We're basically music lovers. We're not doing it just tc be different but for the art of it' Calhoun said. The band is currendy touring in support of its second album, Time's Up, a bold, hard-rocking and powerful recording, which touches upon a number of social concerns including the environment, racism and the nature ol relationships. "We wanted to make a differeni record, not Vivid II. (Time's Up) is a little more experimental than the other one," Calhoun explained. On Time's Up, the band also recorded with some friends and idols, including rapper Queen Latifah, Maceo Parker and Little Richard. "Little Richard is an inspiration He pulled us to the side, probabl) a year and a half ago, and told us liter vrni minht wricte hv eeth! TURN IT OFF? er Earth into spring w Us on two wh !g It's your choice! best sales and se 3time guarantee on all new I "inp vpar frop cprvirp nnrl la Professional mechanics. Custom wheel building. Service in two days or you don't pay. eaks be that he was the 'Glamour Boy* we were singing about," Calhoun said. 'To have somebody like that tell " you that they like what you're doing and that they support it is ? pretty important It meant a lot to us," he said. While Living Colour's success has not onlv ODened doors for bands such as 24-7 Spyz and the ) Bad Brains, Calhoun thinks popuj lar music is stagnant. "A lot of music today isn't ex' perimental as it was 15 years ago. Things today have become a lot more regimented due to the success of certain types of musi' cians . . . pop stars, or whatever you want to call them. Radio has changed and the signing of the I bands has changed," Calhoun said. Calhoun also finds racism to be a continuing problem in the music industry. , "PpnnlA in tflA KucinAno * vv/^iv a** wiv UUJlllV/OO dlOllV/U ' to say, 'Wow! This medium is go1 ing to explode and we need to 4 'The United Way worl days a year, not just t they take up the mo rith Cycle Cent< ieels! Bike Deals , In novas - city \ Perigee - roac l\ Impactor - kid: m 1 Assorted mt. it / Spring Pea jj Clothes arid ac bags, locks pu rvices in xowni bikes. Cycle C( bor. 2719 Brc (across 1 798-779! Sales an Tom or C irriers angle this at a certain market.' I don't think that black people and black artists were included in this market," he said. Now, "you don't hear about Chuck Berry, you don't hear about Little Richard, these guys don't have record deals and they don't go on tour anvmnrp " hp. said "I was talking to Little Richard and he said, 4hey, the Beatles used to open for me, the Stones used to open for me.' Kids, white or black, don't know about it," Calhoun added. This lack of tradition in rock'n'roll is another barrier Living Colour is working to tear Hnuun "When I was a kid, almost everyone in my neighorhood played (an instrument), whether they wanted to be a musician or not. We loved music. Now, with this technology, Gameboy (the hand-held electronic game) rules!" Calhoun said. ks 365' he day? >ney." 1 5r and get on: bikes i bikes s bikes bikes wr lis on: :cessories, imps, tires 3nter II )ad River Rd torn Rose Talbert) 9 id Service yhris