LIVING COLOUR Guitarist VERNON REID - New Album "Is About Your Loves And Regrets And Remembering What You Have Been Taught Along The Way"
August 2, 2009, 15 years ago
LIVING COLOUR guitarist Vernon Reid recently spoke with David Carr at KNAC.com about the band's new album, The Chair In The Doorway. An excerpt is available below.
KNAC.com: Would it be safe to say that the overall theme of the disc harkens back to the tune on Time’s Up, 'This Is The Life'?
Reid: "Yeah totally. I mean this disc is truly about how for better or for worse, with all of our isms and prejudices we are in this life together. It’s about your loves and regrets and remembering what you have been taught along the way. I mean, sometimes when I fly to LA at night I look down at all the buildings as the plane is landing. I wonder to myself, how many people are getting it on right now in those buildings? How many people are breaking up or falling in love or are with someone they should NOT be with! No matter what the circumstance is, all of these scenarios are being played out at the same time and we are all in the mix together."
Go to this location for the complete interview.
As previously reported, Living Colour have announced the complete North American tour schedule in support of their new album, The Chair In The Doorway.
The highly anticipated 28-date run will be bookended by performances at The Highline Ballroom in New York City, as they appear August 10th opening for THE ROOTS at their weekly Tuesday night jam session and then again on October 30th for their own headline performance.
In between, the band will hit 19 states around the US, including a return to The Key Club in Los Angeles on September 24th, The Regency Grand Ballroom in San Francisco on September 25th and The Double Door in Chicago on October 4th. They'll cross the border for a show in Toronto at Lee's Palace on October 3rd.
The Chair In The Doorway, set for release September 15 on Megaforce Records, was recorded at Sono Studios just outside of Prague in the Czech Republic. Renowned producer Count (GALACTLIC,LYRICS BORN, NO DOUBT) was onboard to helm the sessions, while Ron St. Germain (U2, MOS DEF, MUSE) mixed the album.
The 11-track collection is Living Colour's most personal collection of songs yet with razor sharp lyrical observations and kinetic jams that seamlessly weave elements of metal, funk and soul.
Vernon Reid described the album as, "an unintentional concept record about life and how we are all in this thing together."
Living Colour formed out of New York City in the mid-'80s. Their incendiary performances at CBGBs became the stuff of legend. THE ROLLING STONES' Mick Jagger, who witnessed one of these shows, was so impressed that he insisted upon producing a demo for the fledgling band and later helped them score a record deal.
Living Colour's debut album, Vivid went double platinum and garned the band a Grammy Award. Around this same time, the band's founder, Vernon Reid, helped form the Black Rock Coalition to help create opportunities for African-American musicians playing rock music in a largely segregated music business. The results of these efforts paired with Living Colour's own success helped pave the way for artists like BEN HARPER, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and TV ON THE RADIO.
In 2007, Living Colour's hit song 'Cult Of Personality' was selected for Guitar Hero III. The game has gone onto sell over 14 million copies, introducing the band to a new generation of fans.
Upcoming Living Colour tour dates are:
August
10 - The Highline Ballroom - New York, NY (w/ The Roots)September
1 - The Birchmere - Alexandria, VA2 - Bottle & Cork - Dewey Beach, DE
3 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
4 - The Crazy Donkey - Farmingdale, NY
6 - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT
8 - Tupelo Music Hall - Londonderry, NH
9 - FTC @ Stage One - Farfield, CT
10 - Johnny D's - Somerville, MA
11 - Mexicali Live - Teaneck, NJ
12 - Rams Head Tavern - Annapolis, MD
14 - The Loft - Atlanta, GA
15 - HOB Orlando - Lake Buena Vista, FL
16 - Jannus Landing - St. Petersburg, FL
18 - Emo's - Austin, TX
19 - Granada Theatre - Dallas, TX
20 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
23 - Canes Bar and Grill - San Diego, CA
24 - The Key Club - West Hollywood, CA
25 - Regency Grand Ballroom - San Francicso, CA
26 - Berbatis Pan - Portland, OR
27 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
30 - Fine Line Music Cafe - Minneapolis, MN
October
2 - The Magic Bag - Detroit, MI3 - Lee's Palace - Toronto, Ontario
4 - Double Door - Chicago, IL
5 - The Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH
30 - Highline Ballroom - New York, NY
The new song 'Behind The Sun' is streaming at Living Colour's MySpace page.
