Will's Interview with BurnYourEars Webzine

November 2009

Hi, this is www.BurnYourEars.de from Germany. How are you and what are you doing these days?

At the moment, I'm focusing mostly on the new Living Colour CD, Chair in the Doorway, touring, doing press, TV, and live radio performances.

"The Chair In The Doorway" is your first record in six years and the second since your comeback in 2003. Why did it take you so long to release a new recording?

Basically we toured Europe/South America, wrote a bit of music, auditioned the music on International audiences. The music industry was/is in a major change — so we had to re-adjust our original plans to record a new CD.

Most of the band members have other projects. How important is Living Colour for you today?

It's a major priority, however the side projects are great moments of personal freedom and allow us to bring fresh new ideas/material to the Living Colour writing/producer table.

Talking about the new album, people are often not sure what to think of the sound. Those who like it call it underground or back-to-basics, others who do not like it call it over the hill and old-fashioned. I say, I could have used at least a little more force. Was this the sound you wanted to have and why did you chose this kind of sound?

Yes we wanted this sound. This is where the band is now.... The best way to experience Living Colour is live! There isn't a CD that best represents the band. If you want more force, attend a live Living Colour show. I'm accustomed to people feeling ambivalent about our music and sound. We're a unique band, with a plethora of influences, not everyone is going like all of the material.

The sound on "The Chair In The Doorway" is pretty close to the sound of "Collideoscope" with one exception: You did not choose as many effects on the vocals and let the sound more naturally again. Did you want to sound more down to earth or maybe more honest again?

I don't agree with your statement.... Collideoscope and Chair in the doorway do not sound similar to me...... Chair in the Doorway is a more natural sounding disc. We wanted to keep the live/natural element in the mixes. When we perform the music live, it's important the music sounds like the CD, however with room for improvisation.

On your first album "Vivid" you were supported by Mick Jagger, who is synonymous with Rock-N-Roll of european imprint. On your second album "Time's Up" you had guests like Maceao Parker, Little Richard and Queen Latifah, who are legends in different genres like Jazz, Rock-N-Roll and Hip Hop but all figureheads of black culture. Was this a kind of evolutionary process for you as a band?

First off I must correct you, Maceo Parker is a musical genius no matter what genre of music you speak. Little Richard is a pioneer in musical history and one of the many architects of Rock-n-Roll—these men are far beyond "figure heads of Black Culture"—be careful how you use your language. Now to answer your question—No this was not an evolutionary process for the band—you're looking too deeply into this—as I mentioned earlier, we are influenced by many sounds/styles of music. Having a guest on your CD is a combination of people you musically love/respect and the availability of the Artist. I'm certain Living Colour would love to have an assortment of musical guests—from George Clinton to Arvo Part.

Although the people who laid the foundation to rock music were almost all black, there are still very few black musicians in rock or metal music today and even less grew famous over the last decades. Is it more that blacks are not interested in listening to or playing rock music or is the white dominated rock audience not interested in black artists?

It's neither of your two comments. There are plenty of African American Rockers, Rock Bands, Rock Producers, Tour Managers, etc. These artist/people simply don't share the same press, promotion, radio/video play, general exposure and certainly over exposure as many White artist have in the past 50 years. Most of the ignorance in the history and present day knowledge of Rock is based on the political climate in the country or countries where the music exists. America has a major race problem.... this problems bleeds into art, commerce, politics, religion, etc. Once people are exposed to the music on equal terms, let them decide if they like the music or not..... this is also the case for Jazz and Blues.

Living Colour was named one of the main crossover bands in music history. In Germany, crossover was often seen as a mixture of metal and rap but your sound includes much more influences. What is your definition of crossover?

I don't believe in the term "Crossover" however the term represents fair exposure to people, there is no such thing really as styles of music, it's all bullshit for the companies to control the commerce, people and information... there is just music. Besides, people decide on what is great... no matter how the companies, press, arrange/promote the music. Living Colour never crossed anything, we make great music and people either like it or not.... the exposure should have nothing to do with the Country we live, or how we look. Bob Marley makes universal music for the World, we can call it Reggae, Crossover, Pop, etc.... these are jive-ass titles to reduce the art. Bob Marley makes great music period, as well as Miles, Trane, Hendrix, etc.

You have been part of the "Black Rock Coalition". What were the goals of this alliance, did you achieve them and does the coalition still exist today?

My personal opinion I never liked the title of the organization, however I understand why it exists. African Americans created Rock-n-Roll and most forms of American music, however due to the American political landscape, African Americans were overlooked in Rock-n-Roll's true birth, gifts and rewards. Vernon started the organization and this may be a personal question for him. The organization still exist today, you can search online for information.

Is being an crossover act a help or a disadvantage? In Europe we often get the expression, that you have mostly Hip Hop dominated media for black consumers and Rock radio for white listeners. Did your style get you access to both worlds or did it make it harder to gain a following in any scene?

Once again we are not a "crossover act"—we are playing the music of our Ancestors... to say Living Colour is a crossover act is the same as saying "ALL OF GERMAN LANGUAGE, ART, HISTORY, COMMERCE, POLICY, DIET, RELIGION, ENGINEERING, AND EDUCTION COMES FROM ENGLAND." IF YOU BELIEVE THIS, THAN IT'S O.K. FOR YOU TO BE BELIEVE Living Colour IS A CROSSOVER ACT. The information you receive about Hip-Hop-African American consumers and white radio listeners is false. If you look at the numbers in the World, and certainly in America, you will find, many White people, listen to, buy, copy, and promote Rap music..... possibly more than African Americans. The music is marketed to both communities. Living Colour's style creates access to many communities........ we are from New York, I'm personally from the Bronx, NY—the Home of Hip-Hop, so naturally we have access to the rap community. Bassist Doug Wimbish was the house session bass player for Sugar Hill Records.... Rap is our community..... as is Rock, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Rap, Country, Gospel, Drum-n-Bass, World, etc. Our following varies... depending on where we are in the World. You can't put your finger on a Living Colour fan type.

You where always known to be very vocal about your political opinion and one of your main subjects has been the problems of black people. Do you see a progressive change in this matter or at least any kind of development since you first started to adress this issue?

Yes!

Speaking of "change", how important is it to you, that the USA have the first black president and how do you see his role in the USA and with him, the rise of the USA in the world?

President Barak Obama is a great man. More importantly the people of the United States took the time to make change. Whatever Americans were feeling about race, gender, health care, war, commerce, taxes, etc.... we elected the proper Man for these difficult times. I also noticed our President received a record breaking International welcoming in your Country—Germany. His victory hard work, intelligence, and coolness will have a positive impact on the USA and the rest of world. The world can use a change in leadership, not just America.

What are your future plans collectively as a band and individually as solo artists?

Living Colour will make another CD in the next 18 months, we still have material from Chair in the Doorway we didn't complete. Personally I will make another recording similar to my Native Lands CD/DVD, as well as some World Music recordings. Doug Wimbish and I are working together as producers for a few artist you will hear about in 2010/2011. The best thing to do is to keep checking the Living Cololur/and our individual Websites for details........ Thanks for the interview...... Will

Thank you for your time!