Living Colour is an American hard rock band from New York City, formed in 1984 by British-born guitarist Vernon Reid. The band consists of Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun, and bassist Doug Wimbish, who replaced original bassist Muzz Skillings in 1992. Living Colour is renowned for their genre-blending approach, incorporating elements of heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip hop, punk, and alternative rock into their music.

The band's formation was initially challenging, as Reid assembled several lineups under the name Vernon Reid's Living Colour from 1984 to 1986, featuring various musicians from New York's downtown jazz scene. The stable lineup was established in 1986 when Corey Glover joined as vocalist, along with Muzz Skillings on bass and Will Calhoun on drums. Reid deliberately chose the British spelling of colour for the band name.

Living Colour's breakthrough came with significant support from Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who discovered them at CBGB and produced two of their demos. His endorsement helped secure their recording contract with Epic Records, though Reid later reflected on the bittersweet nature of needing approval from an established white rock icon to gain industry attention.

The band rose to international fame with their 1988 debut album Vivid, which reached number 6 on the Billboard 200. Their signature song Cult of Personality became a massive hit when MTV began playing its video, earning them a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. The song has gained renewed popularity as the entrance theme for professional wrestler CM Punk since 2011.

Their follow-up album Time's Up (1990) showcased their musical diversity even further, featuring collaborations with artists like Queen Latifah, Doug E. Fresh, Maceo Parker, and Little Richard. The album reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and won another Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Living Colour's lyrics often address social and political issues, particularly racism in America, making them pioneers in bringing African American perspectives to mainstream hard rock. After disbanding in 1995, they reunited in 2000 and have continued to tour and record, releasing three more studio albums: Collideøscope (2003), The Chair in the Doorway (2009), and Shade (2017).

The band has been recognized as funk metal pioneers by Rolling Stone and was ranked number 70 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, cementing their legacy as innovative crossover artists who broke racial barriers in rock music.