Another cache in my Play It Loud Series. Sometimes a song comes along and the first time you hear it, it becomes one of your favorites. Well Cult Of Personality by Living Colour is one of those songs. Cult of Personality was from the band's debut album, Vivid, in 1988. The song won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance and they won a 2nd Grammy for their 2nd album, Times Up in 1990. Living Colour was formed in 1984 by accomplished guitarist Vernon Reid. Corey Glover - Vocals, Muzz Skillings - Bass and Will Calhoun - Drums rounded out the band. Reid's playing caught the eye of Mick Jagger, who produced 2 of their demos and helped them get signed to record deal with Epic Records. After the release of Vivid and as Living Colour gained more popularity they opended for Guns-N- Roses and The Rolling Stones before headlining their own tour.
Their music is influenced by heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip-hop, punk and alternative rock The band's lyrics range from the personal to the political, including social commentary on racism in the United States. The opening chords of Cult of Personality grab you and Reid's staccato guitar holds you through the entire song including a couple screaming solos. Glover's super-charged and passionate singing hammers the song home. Skillings keeps a rhythmic, steady bass line, and Calhoun's driving drums rounds out the excellent song. Cult of Personality was on heavy rotation on MTV, and they performed on SNL, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Arsenio Hall Show and many others. I have attached a link to their high energy performance on The Arsenio Hall Show, as it is my favorite live video of the song. So remember when you go to grab this cache put Living Colour on, especially Cult of Personality and play it loud...
https://youtu.be/j74mxqvxRDQ?si=Ie_WJIHmjdnpsA0g