Vernon Reid and the Cult Of Personality writing process and guitar lesson

[Dzo826]

This shows us that most great players are also very intelligent... also, since the roots of rock and roll are black, it makes sense that some of the branches should be also....

[JonnyLikesPie]

everyone get that?

[race2thefront]

Those are real pickups, the man is a master!

[race2thefront]

Those are real pickups!

[bondman00794]

My name is Parker.

[ThebirdmanTrainer]

Always thought Vernon Reid was a great guitarist, but my respect for him has increased after listening to him speak.

[leftyzappa]

Vernon - Love the little bit where you threw in Led Boots dude hahaha.

[rockandrant]

Vernon Reid is clearly the most articulate speaker in rock.

A class act

[jclark246]

See how much thought USED TO go into songwriting?

[MrMeatBullet]

Parkers are so amazing

[MrThark01]

I was referring to the description of the song. He was articulate and expressive in his description of the song.

[geoPhaze]

It is really fun to watch a jazz guy try to teach a rock song he never treated like a rock song.... we all expect him to teach exactly the recording and he doesn't really remember it because he played that way once.

[DavePerry2012]

I think he's talking about charisma.

[Kyeb20]

At 3.24 to 3.50.... What the fuck was that?

[Vomitore]

@Kyeb20 Sounds like when I lean over to tie my shoes when I have my guitar in my hands. Haha.

[WarriorOfTheHeavens]

To start the lesson go to 3.10 on the time line!

[crazyguitardude666]

good riff. but he's playing it sloppy

[MrThark01]

Brillant, more insightful than Eddie Van Halen.

[lordadk]

@MrThark01 the lead singer for LC made up the riff so, not really

[meltorment949]

Vary intelligent, just listen!

[EarthGirl1914]

Sweet tone! VR rules!

[NotYourTypicalNegro]

2:56 - "And it's a cool riff..." By far, the most important thing he said in the entire interview. LOL...

[radomu1]

is he a moron?

[Habanaloco]

This man is humble,he's not showing off,the way he speaks and play is honest,I like that

[mossberg451]

sounds kinda hard to play

[mossberg451]

yea that damn guitar they said it was 5 pounds im like what

[mossberg451]

this guy is bad ass and so is that guitar i want it i would rather have it than the kirk hammet sig

[WasabeWan]

HE SAID HITLER AND MOUSILLINI!!!! WTF? I WOULD HAVE FIGURED HES TRIPPIN ON HENDRIX OR SOMETHIN'. HES THINKIN OF HOW MARTIN LUTHER KING AND J.F.K. LOOKED? VERNONS THE BEST! HES SO DOWN TO EARTH... HIS SIGNATURE FLY IS A DREAM TO PLAY. IT'S VERY LIGHT. IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T EVEN FEEL IT... DREAM! >$5000.00<

[deathrider1983]

@WasabeWan

Maybe you mean Mussolini :-D

[WasabeWan]

@deathrider1983 No. I wrote what I mean. He said both. \w/><\w/

[CardDeadInBrighton]

Superb upload. Vernon is a legend, so great to see his thought processes.

[nicolhaidi]

Damn. I found out that I have a different way to play this song.

[IsleyTribute]

Very tight. My Fav Living Color song ... Vernon is awesome playing it!

[KGuy135]

tom morello, vernon reid, paul gilbert - these guys speak/explains much better than the average college professors.

[nickmctrick]

@KGuy135

Agreed. It's nice to see someone with a background in musical theory as well.

[jek21]

Dude clearly knows his theory. props.

[tomworshipsthecrue]

5:09 to 5:13... Jeff Beck!!! :D

Vernon is awesome also

[yiper111]

nice!!!!!!!

[volscho]

and he lives here on Staten Island!

[MultiScoffer]

Vernon Reid as well as Ernie Isley are very under rated guitar players. I guess that there are so many gifted guitar players in America that it must be hard to keep up with them! Props to Mick of The Rolling Stones for discovering Living Colour and assisting them along the way. Thanks Mick!

[kstrat]

@MultiScoffer : I think The term "discovering" is a bit of a stretch. The band existed with a few different line ups since about 1983 IIRC. I read about Vernon, the band and his affiliation with the BRC at least 2 years before Vivid dropped. If I'm not mistaken Vernon's acquaintance with Mick was the result of him doing some session work on Mick's "Primitive Cool" album.

I don't think getting the band heard by the suits that eventually signed them is the same discovering them IMO.

[superlou1s]

I agree with that about leaders. No one's gonna follow someone who looks like frankenstein.

[slaytallicdethrax]

wow i want to see him talking about how he wrote the music not the lyrics

[AraGuitar]

what happened to him in this video?

[sfocata]

@AraGuitar They pointed a camera at him and asked him to talk. It's quite a common thing nowadays.

[eric1love]

Vernon Reid 's Parker Fly Dragon Fly is totally kick-ass, with a V neck and that Roland midi on there, some serious guitar

[cacaface123]

sounds sloppy. ehhh.

[pikudao]

@cacaface123 talk about music is hard, you have to feel it, talk is hard , this is why "ehhhh"

[earllrae1]

No he did not say that!

[6672rock]

So he looks up to that murderous Marxist thug Che Guevara? Che had less than favorable things to say about black people, so maybe Vernon might want to think twice about showering him with praise.

[GtrGeorge]

@6672rock All he was saying is their is/was a cult of personality about Che. I dont think he praised him. He was just sayin how all these people are like "matinee idols" to many. It...sadly..makes sense. And vernon Reid isnt heaping any praise on any of them.

[alecxg]

its not an esp!! its a parker fly

[AngusAlotYounger]

what guitar is that? dont look like an esp :S

[polarenper89]

it a parker Vernon Reid Signature Dragonfly

[pimphatandcoat]

its a Parker i think

[CoreyTB1]

@AngusAlotYounger its a parker fly

[smokedaddyo]

listen to the Willys cover of this tune

[bootryfly]

they should have had a sane person do a voice over.

[tatoo190]

doesnt seem too confident on what he's playin. thought he mighta practiced before a guitar world interview.

[27adry]

la mejor noticia del 2009 que hayan vuelto

[EdTravelingEast]

Vernon you are an awesome guitar player. Che' was a racist and bigot. He hated blacks. Just wanted you to know.

[timesup]

@EdTravelingEast and hitler loved everyone?

[timesup]

and stalin was a nice guy?

[guitarsnmusic123]

Hahah What An Idiot.

[lerxt42]

@EdTravelingEast yes

[stevieVantanna]

Led Boots at 5:10

I find it surprising he doesn't alternate pick the riff.

I actually asked him on Myspace how i should pick it and he really didn't tell me how he did it, which is what I wanted to know.

[levizinhorodrigues]

Living Colour is so damn good.

Wish could see their alive here in Brasil, but im always without money... damn it!

[visionary1detroit]

Awesome! Thx for every lick on every album, ever! lol

[toecutterr6]

Plato was an awful looking man, so was emporer Julian. An altruistic deed supercede's ostensible (good) looks.

[ishancooper]

GREAT LESSON!!! THANKS V!!! :)

[wcoimbra131]

It is really much easier con guitar hero !!! hahaha. Guys, Oct 15th was really a great show here in Brazil. Tks for a great time. I listen to you guys everyday ! The chair in the doorway is a great album ! Come back here soon !

[goodrabbit66]

This Man is a Genius, belive me ! This is the first time i see Mr. V. explaining a Song. Great, he could go on with the whole VIVID Album for hours ! Thanks for posting this !

[Pulver1zer]

He is explaining the riff, and suddenly plays Led Boots. Makes sense >.>

[TheHawkdaddy]

New signature model looks nice.

[justfine77777]

That geetar is expensive, but it looks really neat!

[GtrGeorge]

@justfine77777 yeah..its a great idea for a guitar..but working guys liike me..cant afford it. Not now..not for a looooong time. Dammit!