The Psychedelic Furs

The Psychedelic Furs may not have invented rock & roll per se, but their influence since

arriving on the post-punk scorched-earth landscape four decades ago has reverberated

and resonated among all those who cherish the sweet-and-sour spot where rawness and

romanticism meet. Born out of the UK post-punk scene and led by vocalist and songwriter

Richard Butler, and his bass-wielding brother Tim, the Furs quickly developed as one of the

premiere bands at college and alternative radio scoring a flurry of major hits with “Love My

Way,” “Pretty In Pink,” “Heaven,” “The Ghost In You, “And “Heartbreak Beat” in all releasing

eight studio albums, spawning several compilations, a boxed set, a live concert DVD and

inspiring one of the most iconic motion picture soundtracks of all time. Decades later, their

latest release “Made Of Rain” charted in a multitude of countries and became the Furs’

second highest ranked UK Album ever. It was prominently featured in the end of year “Best

Albums” chart roundup in dozens of publications worldwide. But the Furs especially thrive

live in concert having headlined at the U.K.’s famed Glastonbury Festival, and more

recently at esteemed venues including the Hollywood Bowl, London’s Royal Albert Hall,

New York’s Radio City Music Hall, and Nashville’s Grand ‘Ole Opry among others. With a

dazzling live show, they continue to tour quite regularly across the globe

Living Colour

Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. Led by guitarist Vernon Reid, the bands lineup solidified in the mid-80’s w/ Corey Glover (vocals), Will Calhoun (drums) and Muzz Skillings (bass). Stylistically, the band’s music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz, funk, hard rock and heavy metal. Their lyrics range from the personal to the political, in some of the latter cases attacking Eurocentrism and racism in America.

The band’s debut album, “Vivid”, was released in 1988 on Epic Records. The album reached #6 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and was later certified double platinum by the RIAA. It featured “Cult of Personality,” a #13 hit on the Billboard 200 Singles chart as well as the Top 40 hit, “Glamour Boys.” “Cult of Personality” went on to earn the band their first Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

In 1990 the band’s second full-length album, “Time’s Up”, was released and reached #13 on the Billboard 200 while certifying gold, with strong singles “Type”, “Love Rears Its Ugly Head”, “Elvis Is Dead” and “Solace of You”, and featured guest appearances by Queen Latifah, Little Richard, Doug E. Fresh, and Maceo Parker. It also won their second Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

In the summer of 1991, Living Colour released the 6-song EP “Biscuits“, which coincided with the inaugural Lollapalooza tour. Skillings left the band in the summer of 1992 and was replaced by session veteran and Sugarhill Records bass player Doug Wimbish.

“Stain”, their third LP, was released in 1993 by Epic. Reaching #26 on the Billboard 200, the album had a much heavier and aggressive sound, containing elements of thrash metal and industrial music while receiving a Grammy nomination for ‘Leave It Alone’.

After a hiatus in 1995, Living Colour returned in December 2000 and began recording “Collideøscope”.  Released in 2003, the album featured aggressive lyrics, with many of the songs about the September 11 attacks including “Flying”. It also contained cover versions of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows.”

Their first release on Megaforce Records, “The Chair in the Doorway” was issued in 2009 and reached #159 on the Billboard 200 charged by the single “Behind The Sun”

The impetus for Living Colour’s next album came from a performance of Robert Johnson’s “Preachin’ Blues” at the 100th Anniversary Birthday celebration at the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York City. Released on September 8, 2017, “Shade” is the sound of a band coming to terms with its shadows and light,” says founder Vernon Reid. “From the blue pulpit of Robert Johnson to the mean red streets of Brooklyn… “Shade” is the next chapter of a unique American journey” and peaked on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums at #12 with the help from singles “Who Shot Ya”, “Come On”, and “Program”.