Living Colour

Since Jimi Hendrix's death in 1970, there were very few black rock bands to hit the mainstream--until Living Colour. Merging socio-political lyrics with music that touched upon a variety of different styles (metal, funk, fusion, etc.), Living Colour enjoyed considerable success in the late '80s/early '90s, on pop, rock, and alternative radio. Blistering anthem "Cult of Personality," in addition to making the U.S. pop top 20, remains a classic rock staple. Though the band was part of a collective called the Black Rock Coalition, none of that organization's other members ever attained Living Colour's level of notoriety.

• rock
• pop
• 1980s