it had nothing to do with race or quality of music things changed (for the worse) when Nirvana came along and Living Colour was lumped in with the other late 80's metal bands that couldnt get any airplay anymore because of grunge..simple as that

Let's be honest. Living Colour was never really that good and their music never really stood the test of time - in fact they got probably more exposure than they deserved because of being african-americans and standing out that way. Fishbone might be "better" than The Red Hot Chili Peppers, but did they have a song like "Under The Bridge" or all the countless singalong hits the RHCP have irked our ears with for decades? That's what makes bands "big" in the end.

That's not to say I wouldn't love some Vernon Reid's solo material with his band Masque and especially with Don Byron, but Living Colour always had another foot firmly placed on the "suck" factor. But yes, had they sounded like Metallica and would have had songs as "good" as those of Metallica's they still wouldn't have ended up being the most taped/downloaded band by teenage boys in the history of music, because of the race factor. You're right about that. So at least Living Colour didn't have both feet firmly placed on the suck factor as some of that truly embarrassing shit.

novabrkr said:

We totally disagree on this, so there is no consensus. "Sucking" is your opinion not a fact. I can't warrant how much they may sounded like Metallica since I've never checked them out, but I've always found LC's music the most stimulating and intellectually honest music around. I can't explain the taste of others, but anybody who is down with LC is always cool with me.


We might be forgetting that LC got as far as it got by playing the race card. Let's face it: Black Rock Coalition was run by frontman Vernon Reid for the express purpose of getting exposure. A kind of "in-your-face" racism, which I'm totally cool with, except it has a way of turning off people. FWIW, more than half of the contingent I regularly check out LC shows with is only 20 - 30% black. There are plenty of whites and OTHERS in the place.

Xagain said:

I get where you guys are coming from with regard to the overall "type" of "rock" music that those bands were playing. Although, they both could rock as hard as any band when they chose that route. But their musicianship afforded them the ability to be more than a one-trick pony. Still if the type of music that they played was the problem, then how do you explain the success of the RHCP, because they don't fit into any of those categories either. Also, what about King's X, they were more "traditional" rockers, yet mass exposure eluded them.

novabrkr said:

Maybe I am misinterpreting what you are asking here - are you saying that Under The Bridge is a quality song or just a popular one? Because, I think Fishbone has songs that far surpass Under The Bridge. Pouring Rain is one that comes to mind as I type this. Give A Monkey A Brain... is one of the best albums that no one has heard IMHO. If the exposure that LC got came from focusing on race, then Fishbone should have followed suit. Maybe then they wouldn't be so woefully underexposed. It's really a pity because I think they are one of the tightest, most well-rounded bands of all time.

PFunkjazz said:

I have to agree with you there. One thing I wished that black rock bands wouldn't do is that standard black rock anthem "we're a black band playing rock music aha ha ha" kinda a black version to "Play that Funky Music". But as far as the Coalition goes, I guess he was doing what he felt was best. However, I always thought that if more black people would make a stand and support black rock artists then black rock would have made a presence just like hip hop did. I got told for years that I sang "white boy" music and the only ones interested in my singing rock were either black musicians or others. I couldn't get the support of the white rock community because they thought I was a joke and there is NO support that comes from the record labels.

But I've seen on numerous occasions where black rock bands and artists were given little or no attention. Kina, her album was bad and she had some strong material and she should have come out in the 90's when Alanis, Fiona Apple and all the other girl rockers were coming out of the woodwork as well as Cree Summer.

LQ

bellanoche said:

I was just about to mention Pouring Rain!
Btw I found Van Hunt, Martin Luther, Jesse Johnson's Bare my naked soul and the family stand in the rap section of cd stores.

bellanoche said:[quote]

novabrkr said:

Actually Fishbone was out way before Living Colour. VIVID was out in '88 and F'bone was already on its sophomore release TRUTH & SOUL . Their commercial breakthough was in 1991 with REALITY OF MY SURROUNDINGS when the Black Rock thing was in full swing

PFunkjazz said:[quote]

bellanoche said:

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I meant that if, as some folks say, LC's "playing the race card" helped them get exposure then Fishbone should have played it as well, because although they got a little exposure with Reality..., they did not get much overall. Although, at the end of the day, I know in my heart that it would not have mattered. As Blaqueknight said, folks like to see themselves whether people want to admit it or not. This is why the people who run these companies make the decisions they do. It is funny because people like to claim that the entertainment industry is so liberal, but in reality it is not. The music, film, television and porn industries are all racist, sexist and ageist. Yet folks role with it and continue to support them. So why should they change?

BlaqueKnight said:

Fishbone has influenced bands like Infectious Grooves, 311 Porno for Pyros, Sublime, Buck-O-Nine Slightly Stoopid while Living Colour gave nods to Urban Dance Squad, 24-7 Spyz, Rage Against the Machine, Body Count, 311(!), Sevendust, Limp Bizkit. Most of these bands have been opening acts, but now play larger venues or have reversed and let LC and B open.

bellanoche said:

Yeah I thought you got it twisted as to who was out first. Knowing Norwood and the scene out here in LA, the gigs were always racially integrated and deep underground, so it wasn't a matter of seeing one's racial self in the Fishbone Experience. Fisbone revelled in everyone's racial diversity. I think their demise was their own making due to a number of bad decisions as well as disunity and in-fighting

PFunkjazz said:

I always thought "sucking" was a valid scientific term.

bellanoche said:

Merely a popular one, of course. My personal opinion is that "Under The Bridge" is a horrid song. Plus Fishbone was always genuinely funny, which is something RHCP most of the time fails at.

It really is unfortunate. I love the hell out of Time's Up and some other singles I know.

novabrkr said:

but then, in that regard, I think of sexual acts.

Why do you feel sorry for them? They've done better than 99.9% that attempt to make it in the music industry.

If you can make a living playing music, then you've made it. Living Colour has done far more than just make a living with music. They are/were quite successful.

edit
[Edited 5/28/07 2:26am]

abierman said:

BLASPHEMY!

[Edited 5/28/07 5:57am]

PFunkjazz said:

oops!

Xagain said:

then i think it's time u start driving with me cause i will gladly crank up crosstown traffic, hey joe, if 6 were 9, voodoo chile slight return anyday b4 I crank up some bullshit tracks like fergie, akon or any other current pop star.

L4OATheOriginal said:

MAN! XAgain came up with some of the weakest arguments on this entire thread.

rebelsoldier said:

as a person of color, RHCP is a funky ass band and u can tell that they have so much respect 4 p-funk. just look at the dani california video. I will admit that I'm not the knowlegable about fishbone, but there is a reason why i don't own one single tune by them, where as RHCP has tunes of funky stuff.

L4OATheOriginal said:

I completely agree with you. I was just saying why isn't played on the radio more. I totally dig Hendrix.

PFunkjazz said:

Shaddap you

Xagain said:

This is gonna sound real snotty, but there's plenty of Hendrix played on subscription radio outlets.

PFunkjazz said:

Subscription radio. The point was made that Hendrix wasn't played alot on classic rock radio stations the radio and I just gave a possible reason for that. I love Hendrix. "Purple Haze" is I think one of the defining songs of classic rock.

rebelsoldier said:

What are you talking about? Racism doesn't exist, remember?

I think rock & roll's time has passed... I don't see where else it can be taken...

L4OATheOriginal said:

Ok, bruh, your response has me confused whether you want to dig into Fishbone or not. I'm not posting to hate on RHCP, but they got nothing on Fishbone. Their new disc is totally worth the purchase.



I'm sure you'll love the 9 minute spin of "We Just Lose Our minds" it's very solidly in a PFunk vein and the other tunes are good stuff also.

Xagain said:

That's a surprise to me, 'cause here in the NJ/NYC metropolitan area, Hendrix has always been a mainstay of classic rock stations. That's where I got my first hardcore exposure to his music.