To a lot of people, the 1980s rock outfit Living Colour is a one-hit wonder.
In a way, that may technically be a fair assessment. Its hit, “Cult of Personality,” from 1988’s Vivid, slammed headfirst into the music scene.
But here’s the thing about that one-hit wonder band: Since then, Corey Glover (vocals), Vernon Reid (guitars), Doug Wimbish (bass) and Will Calhoun (drums) have been making solid and innovative rock ’n’roll records for nearly three decades.
“It was a blessing, really,” says Glover, interviewed from his home in New York in August. “That song put us in some very interesting places as a young band. It got us a lot of exposure [that] not a lot of bands get with their first record.” He continues: “Think about it. It’s almost 30 years old now, and that song still resonates with people today. It is a blessing as it stands the test of time. But in a way, there is a bit of a curse to it, as well. The other material we wrote kind of fell by the wayside — [it gets] looked over in favor of ‘Cult of Personality.’
“We aren’t a band that wants to keep making the same record or song over and over. We want to move forward and keep exploring the vast influences in our lives.”
Pittsburgh fans will get a chance to see Living Colour when the band headlines the Oct. 14 Le Crème Music and Arts Festival, in Allentown. The free, all-day event, presented by Supermonkey Recording Company, will take place in the neighborhood’s business district.
While the band is sure to play songs like “Cult,” attendees will also hear new music. Earlier this summer, the band released its fifth studio record, Shade, which besides original material, also includes a bombastic cover of the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya?”
“I am a big, big fan of Biggie,” Glover says. “The first idea was to do it in a spoken-word form, but that didn’t go over so well. Then we fleshed it out Living Colour style.”
