DAngelo and Vanguard on SNL

R&B singer D’Angelo put his substance abuse and legal problems behind him for a stirring comeback performance on Saturday Night Live.

DAngelo and Vanguard on SNL

D’Angelo and his multi-talented band Vanguard played two songs from their critically acclaimed Black Messiah album.

For the “Black Messiah” track, D’Angelo made a political statement by wearing a hoodie in tribute to 17-year-old Martin, who was gunned down by acquitted neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman.

The band wore “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts and there was a chalked outline of a body on the studio floor — in tribute to Michael Brown and Eric Garner, unarmed black men who were killed by white police officers.

D’Angelo also performed “Really Love,” while dressed in a poncho and cowboy hat. The band Vanguard consists of guitarists Jesse Johnson (of The Time) and Isaiah Sharkey, Prince drummer John Blackwell, The Who bassist Pino Palladino and keyboardist Cleo “Pookie” Sample.

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