Will Calhoun Transcription - "Love Rears It's Ugly Head", Living Colour

by Dan Britt & Stephane Chamberland

Living Colour received massive critical acclaim in 1988 with their album 'Vivid' and the smash single/video "Cult Of Personality". This took the album to number 6 in the US charts, and brought the first of several Grammy Awards. After sweeping the board in several Best New Band awards in such magazines as Rolling Stone, the album 'Time's Up' was released in 1990, resulting in the UK hit single "Love Rears It's Ugly Head". The very talented and versatile Will Calhoun has provided the drumbeat behind Living Colour.

Containing several contrasts between soft funky sections and louder rock phrases, this song offers Will a chance to showcase his expertise in both these styles. Within the soft funk sections, Will holds down a smooth, simple groove marked with 8th notes and 16th note triplets within in a new jack swing feel. Using smaller, swishy hi-hats, Will delves into 4-measure half-time shuffles at both bars 24 and bar 42 (the guitar solos), ending both phrases with syncopated open hi-hat fills. Notice the fluidity of Will's signature two-handed riding patterns in both bar 50 and in bars 68-73. He breaks up 16th notes by playing the ride cymbal and bell with his right hand while playing the hi-hat with his left. The song climaxes at bars 73 and 74, where Corey Glover's vocal instensity is coupled by Will's creation of an up-tempo feel -- a brilliant application of accented 8th notes followed by accented triplets, all within the context of the regular tempo!