I seriously didn't see this turning into a bitchfest, but what else is new around here. Definately not topics.

This was more along the lines of what I thought I would see replied. Nicely stated!

This post has been edited by Hoodstock: Jul 4 2008, 8:19 am

I think it's a bad idea to base it off of albums owned or concerts attended, because those are dependent on money and that has nothing to do with how much of a fan someone is. The people at SOY own lots of albums and go to tons of shows, and I don't consider the vast majority of them to be the diehard fans they purport to be. The few times I've conversed with the people over there, they can handle the basic small talk about Live's most popular works, but give nothing but blank looks when I bring up any of their unreleased works or anything about serious Live trading. The only real way to separate the true Live fans from the casual ones is to test their knowledge about the music.

Doesn't serious Live trading involve a lot of money too? I don't know why we can't just be Live fans. Why does there have to be "true fans?" I've been following their music and seeing them in concert evey chance I can since 1993. I have countless Live items in my collection from shirts, to setlists, to one of Gracey's sticks...autographs and pictures etc. I LOVE their music...the lyrics...the live concert experience and the friendships that I've made I wouldn't trade for the world! Does that not make me a "true" fan? I would love to know about unreleased tracks and such, but I don't make it a point to find out just so that I'm considered a "true" fan. If I learn about them, great but I won't be upset if I don't.

I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and consider myself a fan of LIVE.

I couldn't agree more with what you have said Tina. I consider myself a true fan I have all the albums, a few collectables, and I've been to 12 concerts, but so what. I love their lyrics and those words have changed my life in so many ways and ultimately have opened my eyes and mind to a different way of seeing this messed up world. The concert experiences are probably the most important aspect of anything that has been listed if you have to pick anything, because the concert changes it all.

This post has been edited by Good_Pain: Jul 10 2008, 9:30 pm

I think that's a serious crock of reeking shit.

I know a bit about their unreleased stuff. Doesn't make me any less of a fan than you or anybody else.

I regard a true Live fan as the listener whose lives are truly affected by this bands music. Those like Shadow storm whose soul was moved by the music. People whose lives have been changed. People who will pay anything to go to a show and check daily to see if the band is coming near them. People who will stop at nothing to promote the band, like Nick for example. People whose knowledge goes way beyond the music.

So sure testing their knowledge MIGHT separate some of the casual fans, but it in no way tells you who is a diehard and who isn't.

I'm not a real fan either... granted I have only been a fan since SFBM... but I was like 7 when I heard TC... I was lucky to be able to remember basic math concepts at that age. Stupid concert thing... They never come to North Texas.

(Oh yeah, I am gone for another month of not posting after this... I am on an archaeology excavation on the Nueces River! )

This post has been edited by Badman: Jul 4 2008, 10:28 pm

Good luck there and have fun !

I don't do memorabilia of any band - it's not my thing. Just because I don't want some shitty replica gold CD at $400 a go doesn't make me less of a fan than someone who feels they simply can't live without it. I do own all the albums and have loved the band since the TC era. That doesn't make someone who only got into them off the the strength of their love for SFBM a wannabe or worse fan than I am. We're also a bit neglected over here in England as far as gigs go, but I have seen them when I've had the chance and they rate as the second best band I've ever seen.

All you need to do is at some point have genuinely felt the music in your heart and soul (and possibly your loins of you're very lucky ). I don't like all of Live's stuff by all means and find the last 3 albums a bit hit and miss, but the ones I do like I absolutely ADORE. They enrich my life and mean so much to me that I can't put into words. How can you put into words a feeling something gives you and make someone understand unless they totally get it too, you both know each of you does and you don't even have to explain it to them verbally? It's like trying to explain being in love to someone who never has been.

But Hoodie, you know what I mean as you're a Live Fan too.

This post has been edited by Senghe: Jul 5 2008, 7:34 am

I think it's simple, anyone who bases their knowledge of Live off Triple M radio here in Australia are not a real, but casual fan. Basically the ones that go to the concerts just to hear the hits and get upset when something that they haven't heard on the radio is played. And unfortunatly these seem to be the people Live are catering towards most of the time.

Fuck I've been to 30 concerts but I dont have Radiant Sea and I'm not sure how you "own" a bootleg so I guess I'm out of the fan running.

This is one of the dumbest threads ever.

That's easy.

A true fan loves the music. It MEANS something to him/her.

Period.

Any other "criteria" as far as what is owned, collected, or how many shows one has attended matters not.

I think this pretty much sums it up.

I've been amused reading this thread (in the middle of the nite)....................and for the most part agree with the masses. To me, it comes down to how passionate you are about the music and whether or not Live's phenomenal catalog (minus a few of the SFBM tunes of course) has seeped into your soul and truly moves you - rocks you - amazes you - mesmerizes you.

One other point. You should never take the bands / artists you like for granted, whether it's Live or whoever, because you never know if the show you're at will be the last (I can cite way too many unexpected examples of this, sadly). This principle drives me to get off of my ass and out the door on say a Tuesday nite even if I'm dragging from working all day. Be loyal, immerse yourself in it and make the effort to get out to the shows - whether it's Live or a local band you're into. You never know when the plug will be pulled and 'they' decide to pack it in.

You buy one of the CDs listed on this site: http://www.joesdiner.com/~drew/

I like The River, dosen't that make me a true Live Fan...or maybe a true idiot