Who are your favourite multi-racial bands?
There has long seemed to exist, within the music industry (especially in the U.S.) a tendency to segregate musicians into racial categories. I’m wondering if this tendency has been counter to what the listeners actually want (as proven repeatedly here in the UK). So ,do you have any such groups that you wish to sing the praises of?
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I have never paid attention to people of different races being in a band. I might know what color the lead singer is in a group, but would have no idea what color the rest of the band members are. The only one I can think of is Hootie and Blowfish, and that is because I went to school with one of the guys in the group.
Bloc Party, but I like them for their music and live performances, not because they’re a multi-racial band.
I’m a huge Bloc Party fan.
This band wasn’t multi-racial, but they definitely bucked the stereotypes. Living Color was an all black band, that played hard rock… very well.
…and Sade (for you Adult Contempo fans)
Bloc Party is one of the only ones that come to mind immediately. Rage Against The Machine (and all their spinoffs, One Day As A Lion, Street Sweeper Social Club) are the next few that come up.
Also, Chromeo describe themselves as “the only sucessful Arab/Jewish collaboration since the beginning of time.”
I can’t think of any more off the top of my head, though. It’s not something I regularly think about when listening to music.
Some 80’s Ska – The Specials
Fine Young Cannibals (I’m dating myself).
Incidentally, the U.S has been doing this for a long time. Most of you will know Booker T and the MGs
the Jimi Hendrix Experience
(surprised no one has mentioned Culture Club or Village People)
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
General Public was my favorite back in the day.
@RareDenver I saw Body Count at Lollapalooza in 1991. They put on an awesome show. Especially when Ice T came out to sing with Perry.
Suffocation is one I can think of right now (2 Black members)
I guess you can count Slayer as multi racial as well (Araya is from Chile, Lombardo is from Cuba, and KK and Hanneman are both white)
This Q was inspired by a cd that my daughter gave me for Christmas by this band.
Here are few others from this side of the pond : Thin Lizzy Big Country Level 42 and Skunk Anansie .
And one that might surprise some : Queen (Because the great Freddie Mercury was of Iranian descent)
Thanks for all the responses and pointers everyone.
p.s. This is not knocking mono-racial bands (they are great too), just looking to throw a spotlight on the unifying nature of music.
killswitch, whole wheat bread
Alice in Chains
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (their drummer is African-English)
Eric Burdon & War
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