The
Vernon Reid Website
Interview
with Vernon Reid
Part II
interviewed
over cyberspace by Carl de Souza
C: About Living Colour, do
you still keep in contact with the guys?
V: Yes, we've actually
gotten together to talk. It was cool.
C: Would you help other
members of the band in their solo efforts?
V: Sure.
C: For Living Colour to
reunite, you said that everyone must have a sincere change of
heart. Just what exactly would it take?
V: We would have to
have something overpoweringly compelling to collectively say. Or red rings around a bright green moon. Whichever comes first.
C: What have you taken
with you from the Living Colour days?
V: Be careful of what
you wish for...Other than that a lot of laughs and great RnR
moments.
C: What was your
favourite/most memorable concert?
V: Roseland on the
"Stain" tour. Australia/New zealand 93---almost all of
the Vivid tour---The Stones and some of LaLapalooza.
C: Will we ever see
"The Ambience Guitar Method" by Vernon Reid or other
such books? Will we ever see an autobiography? Do you keep
journals of your tours and experiences?
V: Maybe. Hah. I
manaGED TO KEEP A JOURNAL OF THE MSP TOur. I'm so proud of my
self.
C: Your music reflects
the emotions that a lot of people go through. You said on
MISTAKEN IDENTITY that Soundgarden's "The day I Tried to
Live" kept you going. Is there any advice you would give to
struggling individuals out there? What about struggling
musicians?
V: Never Give Up. Cry
If You Have To. Don't Give Up The Fight. Laugh. A Lot. Listen.
C: Your ideas at the
moment involve being reconnected to freedom. Your life has indeed
involved a lot of struggles, one of those being opening the eyes
of a sleeping America that perhaps didn't want to be woken up
("Rock? n ? Roll is black music and we are its heirs").
What's it like now to be free again? How do you let yourself go?
V: The weight of the
world is not my job. I'm not doing anyone any favors by carrying
it on my shoulders.
C: Getting political,
you have always been on top of the political game. What concerns
you at the moment, and what should we look out for?
V: Environmental
Racism. Everyone is afraid of another viral pandemic like the
influenza disaster of 1918. Dehumanization and emotional
Zombiefication.
C: Do you have any
tours coming up soon? (Personally, any immediate plans for
Australia)?
V: maybe in the
summer...I'd love to come back to the region.
C: Once again, thanks
for everything.