By Ian Murphy

Beginning with an excerpt from Malcolm X’s “Message to the Grass Roots” speech, Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality” jumps to life with guitarist Vernon Reid’s scintillating guitar riff. Dripping with the righteousness and spirit of the great Malcolm himself, the main riff just blows your ears out with its power and energy. Like a roaring lion asserting his dominance to the rest of the Animal Kingdom, “Cult of Personality” ranks among the very best of rock riffs.

Not quite metal, but not power-pop either, it stands separate from the typical late 1980s saccharine drivel the filled the airwaves at that time. Fresh and Zeppelinesque in its approach, but all Reid in its execution, this riff is just frigging MONSTROUS! If you are going to listen to this song and do it justice, tap into your inner Nigel Tufnel and “turn it up to eleven!

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