Rock music in the 1970’s and 1980’s was becoming increasingly segregated and predictable and it’s difficult to contextualise the shock waves generated by the emergence of Living Colour. While rock stalwarts like Steve Harris of Iron Maiden and Lemmy of Motorhead were firmly in their corner, many in the metal scene were not. Living Colour challenged the cultural status quo of hard rock music as they were black. The band formed in New York and built a cult following at the legendary lower East side club CBGB. They got their break when Vernon Reid auditioned for Mick Jagger’s solo band. Jagger was so impressed with him he agreed to come and see him play at CBGB. Jagger took them under his wing, produced a demo for them, and convinced Epic Records to give them a deal after no one else was interested. Their debut album ‘Vivid’ went platinum, helped by MTV loving their hit single ‘Cult of Personality’.