LIVING COLOUR emerged onto the scene and made the people stop and take notice. Formed in 1984 and spearheaded by guitarist Vernon Reid, their music became a creative fusion influenced by free jazz, funk, hard rock and heavy metal. By 1986, the band started to solidify, with Corey Glover joining on vocals, bassist Muzz Skillings and drummer Will Calhoun anchoring the rhythm section that helped hone their unique blend of music with broad-based appeal. Australian fans can catch Grammy Award winning Living Colour live when they tour with another legendary rock band Extreme this September.
Ahead of their Australian tour Joshua Munday delves deep into guitar nerdery with Living Colour’s guitar icon Vernon Reid, when they chat about his gear and the upcoming Australian tour with Extreme.
Living Colour’s debut album, Vivid was released in 1988 on Epic Records and reached No. 6 on the Billboard Albums chart and eventually became a multi-platinum success. It featured Cult of Personality which was a No. 13 hit on the Billboard Singles chart and went on to earn the band their first Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.
LIVING COLOUR’s follow up album, Time’s Up, was a gold selling release that won them their other Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1991. By the middle of the ’90s, the band had gone on hiatus, and they were re-energised in 2003, and joined by bass player Doug Wimbish. Since then, Living Colour have remained an active unit, released two albums of new material and received raves for their incendiary live performances. Their latest album Shade was released in 2017, charting in the US Top Hard Rock Albums Billboard and receiving critical acclaim.
Multi-platinum hard-rock heroes, EXTREME, are touring Australia in 2023 with their friends, LIVING COLOUR. Their first Melbourne show has sold out and due to huge popular demand, a second and final show has been added on Thursday, 14 th September at The Forum.
With the force of a Boston wrecking ball, EXTREME swings between unapologetic fits of fret-burning hard rock and intimately introspective balladry. This dynamic affirms the iconic multiplatinum Beantown quartet—Gary Cherone (vocals), Nuno Bettencourt (guitar), Pat Badger (bass), and Kevin Figueiredo (drums)—as one of rock’s most unpredictable, undeniable, and unbreakable groups whose songs course through the very fabric of popular culture.
EXTREME is the rare band whose music has appeared in an actual cult series a la Bill & Ted as well as the Netflix juggernaut “Stranger Things.” They’ve sold 10 million records, topped the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1, packed major venues on multiple continents, memorably performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in London, and regularly average over 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
EXTREME has also released their sixth studio album and their dynamic approach hits harder than ever on their 2023 full-length offering, Six – out now via EarMUSIC.
This event is not to be missed, as EXTREME and LIVING COLOUR will take you on a journey with their electrifying performances. Experience these two hugely iconic hard rock bands in one unforgettable show. So, book your tickets now and brace yourself for an epic night of music.
EXTREME & LIVING COLOUR AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2023
Monday 4th September
The Forum, Melbourne
Tickets through Ticketek
***NEW SHOW ADDED***
Tickets on sale now
Wednesday 6th September
Regal Theatre, Perth
Tickets through Ticketek
Friday 8th September
Hindley Street, Adelaide
Tickets through Moshtix
Sunday 10th September
The Forum, Melbourne
Tickets through Ticketek
***SOLD OUT***
Tuesday 12th September
Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tickets through Ticketek
Wednesday 13th September
Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
Tickets through Ticketmaster