Just over three decades ago, Living Colour released their ground-breaking debut album Vivid. Along with a handful of other late ’80s innovators such as Fishbone, Faith No More and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the New York-based quartet pushed the boundaries of what rock music could sound like with a fusion of funk, metal, hip-hop, punk and other styles and flavours. Lyrically, they explored a wide range of social and socio-political themes from racism to demagoguery, consumerism and gentrification. “I think [Vivid] stands up pretty well today because of the crazy resonance,” says guitarist, band founder and primary songwriter Vernon Reid. “Even though a lot of things have shifted, a lot of the fundamental questions of the album are not just current but the answers are even mo...
