I'm seperating the Vernon Reid discussion from the worst solo discussion...that thread won't die!!!
Dude, I couldn't disagree more. Being black and playing "rock" music means being totally overlooked. Look at Fishbone. Right off, my favorite band in the universe. Totally BRILLIANT musicians and totally ignored by the mainstream since they split from their major label in the 90's. The greatest live band in existence IMO, and currently stuck playing in front of small audiences on the club circuit. Look at Bad Brains. Low record sales, and not getting much shows in large venues. Look at 24-7 Spyz. Stuck in less than packed clubs. Rocky George of Suicidal Tendencies (and now Fishbone), AWESOME soloist. When was he last in a guitar mag?
What black rockers are getting press right now? Hardly any, Lenny Kravitz seems to be the only one and his rock is pretty sad compared to his early albums.
I look at Vernon as a jazz head who dabbles in rock, and I think his solos make much more sense if you've listened to him playing with Ronald Shannon Jackson. Vernon's "Mistaken Identity" album is one of my favorite fusion records evern made. Living Colour's latest album got 5 stars in Rolling Stone but has gotten little airplay. I think if Vernon was white and the music toned down he would have gotten a lot more fanfare, to this day. Mainstream america just isn't as willing to listen to black people play rock as they are for white rock bands, and is more willing to black people rap than play distorted guitars. Vernon's playing is descended in a lot of ways from the late great Sonny Sharrock, who has played this style of guitar with Pharoah Sanders, Elvin Jones, Herbie Mann, etc.
There's a new movie out called "Rock and Roll N-----" that is specifically about the tribulations faced by black rock musicians in the music industry.
Pinky said:And yes, Vernon Reid can play - but he's very overrated. Probably because he's black and playing in a rock band, and black is cool, right? BTW, I'm a Living Colour fan so I say that with a sense of objectivity. They milked the whole "Look at me, we're black folk playing white people genre music". Aside from Hendrix there haven't been many popular black rock artists. Guess african americans have higher standards, rap and hip hop. lol [That's a joke of course, look at Jazz]
Dude, I couldn't disagree more. Being black and playing "rock" music means being totally overlooked. Look at Fishbone. Right off, my favorite band in the universe. Totally BRILLIANT musicians and totally ignored by the mainstream since they split from their major label in the 90's. The greatest live band in existence IMO, and currently stuck playing in front of small audiences on the club circuit. Look at Bad Brains. Low record sales, and not getting much shows in large venues. Look at 24-7 Spyz. Stuck in less than packed clubs. Rocky George of Suicidal Tendencies (and now Fishbone), AWESOME soloist. When was he last in a guitar mag?
What black rockers are getting press right now? Hardly any, Lenny Kravitz seems to be the only one and his rock is pretty sad compared to his early albums.
I look at Vernon as a jazz head who dabbles in rock, and I think his solos make much more sense if you've listened to him playing with Ronald Shannon Jackson. Vernon's "Mistaken Identity" album is one of my favorite fusion records evern made. Living Colour's latest album got 5 stars in Rolling Stone but has gotten little airplay. I think if Vernon was white and the music toned down he would have gotten a lot more fanfare, to this day. Mainstream america just isn't as willing to listen to black people play rock as they are for white rock bands, and is more willing to black people rap than play distorted guitars. Vernon's playing is descended in a lot of ways from the late great Sonny Sharrock, who has played this style of guitar with Pharoah Sanders, Elvin Jones, Herbie Mann, etc.
There's a new movie out called "Rock and Roll N-----" that is specifically about the tribulations faced by black rock musicians in the music industry.