INTERVIEW: COREY GLOVER, LIVING COLOUR – March 2017

INTERVIEW: COREY GLOVER, LIVING COLOUR – March 2017
By Shane Pinnegar

Last in Perth as part of the 2014 Soundwave tour, where they were a major highlight of the Festival, despite being relegated to a short set on a small side stage, Living Colour are set to make a much-anticipated return to Australia this May.

Living Colour Australian Tour Dates

Friday, 12th May 2017 – 170 Russell, Melbourne
Saturday, 13th May 2017 – Metro Theatre, Sydney
Sunday, 14th May 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane
Wednesday, 17th May 2017 – The Gov, Adelaide
Friday, 19th May 2017 – Astor Theatre, Perth

As four coloured men from New York City playing loud and heavy music that defied genre and racial stereotypes, Living Colour were always a band with something to say. Forthcoming sixth album Shade – 4 years in the making – is no different, and is set to feature a mixture of originals and topical cover versions.

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Shane: Did I read that there were certain problems with perhaps management, or record labels, or whatever, that slowed down the recording process?

Corey: Well there was that as well – but that’s always happening. It happens regardless if you’re making a record or you’re not making a record, [chuckles] you know? Record companies are going to be record companies, and managers are going to be managers – managers come and go, and record companies come and go. And, you know, you just gotta keep at it.

Shane: Is this an important album in the history of Living Colour?

Corey: Oh absolutely. Yeah. Because, you know, it’s us really sort of giving ourselves a chance, to really look at who and what we are. And, never without blinking. Without flinching, you know? And to really take a look at all of it.

Shane: Will the album be out before the Australian tour in May?

Corey: No, it will not… and if you’re asking me when that’s going to be, your guess is as good as mine. But it will be this year. I keep saying it, but I know it will be this year… it better be this year or I’m just going to put it out myself, just going to walk up and down the street and just hand it to people.

Shane: Talking of adversity, I was quite shocked to read that with Middle Man, the song from Vivid, you took the lyrics from a suicide note you had written as a teenager.

Corey: Yep

Shane: What convinced you to not go through with ending it all, at that point?

Corey: That I was more interesting, as I kept writing. That’s the thing about that note, is the more I kept writing, the more it’s like, ‘oh, I’m an interesting cat. I’m not as bad as I thought I was.’ I was doubting myself for being sort of like, middling and not really, you know, not somebody who stood out… somebody who was not at all somebody that people would be interested in. And the more I talked about myself [in the suicide note], like, ‘wow, I am interesting.’ And I’m interesting in the space in which I inhabit. And I’m interesting in the space beyond which I inhabit, and I have the ability to move through that. And, ‘yeah, I’m in the middle of things. I’m smack dab in the middle of things. That makes me integral, that makes me interesting, that makes me somebody that you need to deal with.’

Shane: That’s a powerful message for anyone going through that sort of negativity in their lives, I think.

Corey: Believe me, it’s a powerful message for a sixteen year old going through that.

Shane: Absolutely. What a pivotal moment in your life. Well, like many people no doubt, I’m certainly glad you made the right decision there, Corey.

Corey: So am I. [laughs]

Category: Interviews