Sticking in the same vein as the number 89 entry, Faith No More, Living Colour originated in the mid-80s, is often cited as one of the first funk-metal bands and rose to fame with a big MTV hit. To be honest, it's a stretch to call Living Colour a metal band. When guitarist Vernon Reid started the band, he was playing with a number of fusion and jazz musicians including M-Base pioneers Geri Allen, Don Byron and DK Dyson. But I feel there are enough metal elements in Living Colour to include them in this list. Plus, it's my list. And they're awesome.
"Cult Of Personality", included below, was the first single of the first Living Colour album, Vivid. It took several months to gain attention and momentum, but ultimately became their biggest hit. The distinctive main riff is pretty complex for a repeated rock riff, and instantly recognizable. I love the doubling of it by the guitar and bass, which can't have been easy, and the chasm of silence between its reiterations always on the one, making it simultaneously heavy and funky. Vocalist Corey Glover improvises a bit throughout on the melody, bassist Muzz Skillings and drummer Will Calhoun lay down a monster groove, and Vernon Reid plays a screaming, relentless, jaw-dropping solo a little past halfway through the song that ices it as one of the great rock songs of the 80s. Be sure and stick around for the cool instrumental outro after the JFK quote at 4:35 or so. Listening to this song again makes me smile. :)
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