This is one of the best analyses of the band dynamic and how things went awry. Nice goin.

What can I say but I second your opinion.

Queen more successful without Freddie Mercury?? You must be joking right?

Take a deep breath and read the whole sentence.

Thanks. I don't really understand people who are still following this band not fully appreciating the dynamics that gave us Live. They were all on a mission together, Straight Outta York. Ed was a great voice for Live. He penned the lyrics that expressed what they all were experiencing on their journey together. The bond they shared and the journey they took together had a tremendous impact on the music they created. Ed summed it up lyrically quite well, until he went on his own journey. CCP are still on that journey, making movies, making music, rehabbing buildings, raising families, growing old together, sharing all life has to offer. Ed took another direction. Fine. Good for him. CCP are continuing their journey together, which includes making new Live music. It sounds like they have a kindred soul in CS. I'm not even sure if he is the singer, but if so, I think it could be good. To those that just associate Live with Ed go follow him. He's the one who left Live though, so I'm not sure what your beef is with them or their new singer.

I just don't get it. It is a simple observation anyone can make and one you can't screw up.

ED and CCP working together = First 4 Live albums.

ED taking over and CCP being excluded = Everything since.

Now you tell me, which was better?

Now think of TGF v. Alive....which one sounds more like the first 4 albums and which sounds more like everything since?

Exactly.

So is it still cut and dry that Ed was the "driving force"? Or do you think CCP had more to do with it than some think?

It's really quite ironic. Being in Live, being part of something that is bigger than yourself gave him the platform to be who he is today. There is really no excuse for ego, not fame, notoriety, money, whatever. You have a choice to be a certain way and he chose to cut off those that gave him the opportunity to experience the riches that he did. The only ones that don't realize that are EK himself and his ardent followers who think he was the driving force. The driving force was something much bigger than any one individual, something they all helped create, visualize, and materialize as Live.

that is such an obtuse view.

you seem to expect that a rock singer should maintain for 20 years straight with unwavering abilities, and that age, industry, trends, and time in general played no role in Ed's abilities.

Some artists have enough respect for their fellow band mates, and their ability. They don't throw their band mates out like trash, and they treat their music and their voice with respect. They don't rape it to death. If the voice changes, they adapt for the better.

Two very good examples would be Bono and Eddie Vedder.

I also think those guys are smart enough to realize the platform they have as lead singers in those bands. While EK was in Live he treated it with no respect, yet he continues to try to capitalize on being Ed from Live. He really seems to have lost touch with what Live was all about. There doesn't seem to be much distinction for him between what he is doing now and what he did early in his career.

There's just no way this is true. ^^^

sounds like a great dream!!!

CCP went along on that music journey through all that "disrespect." They were entirely complicit in how their music was being treated for 10 years when they signed the dotted line and cashed the check. CCP only cut ties after the lead singer bonus and the hidden contracts....money issues were the real tipping point. Who knows if the music on its own would have ever made CCP split the band.

The point I was making though, was Ed didn't have the ability to adapt to perform at CCP's level. I believe he had to adapt to a level that CCP should not be at, in order for Ed to continue performing.

How so? How did EK show respect to Live, by completely marginalizing them? How is he in touch with what Live was all about. He says the spirit of Live continues in the form of his current band. Really? Sounds out of touch to me. Do Bono and EV not respect the platform they have in their bands? They certainly use their status to forward many of their personal agendas.