Blind Melon and Live touring together?, A conversation with Christopher Thorn Options

[icewaterike]

Hey all,

Got some quasi-news last night at the Blind Melon show in Toldeo, OH.

It was an amazing show, by the way. If you get a chance to go see Blind Melon on this tour, they are in fine form and Travis the new singer is humble, gracious and really good for the band. He's not Shannon... but he's doing great and is, according to the band, the reason they got back together. It's really something to see... we caught them in a club of about 300 capacity last night in Toldeo.

Anyway, after the show I caught up with Christopher Thorn outside of the venue, and had a chance to talk about his work with +Live+ on the TDTH record. I asked him if he and the boys from Live still talk, and he said they do and still get along great. I also asked him if he would ever consider doing work with the band again down the road. He responded that he now has a "full time gig" with Blind Melon again, but he would love to tour with Live or guest on some recordings again. He said perhaps playing a bit of lap steel with them might be cool.

So, what do you guys think of a possible tour with Live and Blind Melon? I personally loved the work Chris did on TDTH and would love to see him on upcoming projects. I would also love to see Blind Melon and Live do a theatre tour together, collaborate on stage, etc.

Thoughts?

[Hoodstock]

Isn't Blind Melon's lead singer dead? If yes, then it's really not Blind Melon. That would be like calling Audio Slave shows Rage Against the Machine because the band is the same.

The singer is the band.

[SJN1279]

Hey all,

Got some quasi-news last night at the Blind Melon show in Toldeo, OH.

It was an amazing show, by the way. If you get a chance to go see Blind Melon on this tour, they are in fine form and Travis the new singer is humble, gracious and really good for the band. He's not Shannon... but he's doing great and is, according to the band, the reason they got back together. It's really something to see... we caught them in a club of about 300 capacity last night in Toldeo.

Anyway, after the show I caught up with Christopher Thorn outside of the venue, and had a chance to talk about his work with +Live+ on the TDTH record. I asked him if he and the boys from Live still talk, and he said they do and still get along great. I also asked him if he would ever consider doing work with the band again down the road. He responded that he now has a "full time gig" with Blind Melon again, but he would love to tour with Live or guest on some recordings again. He said perhaps playing a bit of lap steel with them might be cool.

So, what do you guys think of a possible tour with Live and Blind Melon? I personally loved the work Chris did on TDTH and would love to see him on upcoming projects. I would also love to see Blind Melon and Live do a theatre tour together, collaborate on stage, etc.

Thoughts?

Live touring with anyone makes me happy. Blind Melon opening for Live would definitely be worth checking out.

[Badman]

The singer is the band.

Yep, Velvet revolver is not guns and roses If Ed did ever leave live I probably couidn't tell the rest of the band from any other people.

[icewaterike]

Isn't Blind Melon's lead singer dead? If yes, then it's really not Blind Melon. That would be like calling Audio Slave shows Rage Against the Machine because the band is the same.

The singer is the band.

If what you're saying is true than how do you feel about bands like AC/DC, or Van Halen? Did they cease being who they were after their original singers left?

[beau99]

The singer is the band.

That's ignorant.

[Alex]

The singer is the band.

Ridiculous comment.

I suppose you are one of the many who say 'vocals are the most important part of a song'...?


In Blind Melon's case, though, I am dubious- Shannons vocals were very distinctive and from memory he was a big part of the songwriting process too? I'm not sure though. Interested in hearing what the new guy is like.

[Hoodstock]

If what you're saying is true than how do you feel about bands like AC/DC, or Van Halen? Did they cease being who they were after their original singers left?

Besides the fact that they never really existed because they always sucked, yes!

[Hoodstock]

That's ignorant.

Ignorance is bliss! (and I am right)

I guess Dave Matthews Band would be Dave Matthews Band without Dave. Or you'll tell me that Pearl Jam is great without Eddie Vedder. Oh ya, Ed is totally replaceable in Live.

Like Blind Melon, these bands would not exist without the lead singer. Blind Melon, as is today, is in name alone!

But sure, they could open for Live. Collective Soul did, so I guess anybody could.

This post has been edited by Hoodstock: Oct 21 2007, 6:21 pm

[icewaterike]

In Blind Melon's case, though, I am dubious- Shannons vocals were very distinctive and from memory he was a big part of the songwriting process too?

From what I understand, Shannon was as much a part of the process as the rest of them. All their albums credit the whole band as being part of the writing process. "All songs written by Blind Melon as One"

I was skeptical about replacing lead singers in bands too, until I saw Alice in Chains do it last year. I think if it's done in a respectful and dignified way, replacing a band member is something that can be done. In the case of AIC and Blind Melon, they picked a "nobody" to replace the high-powered frontmen that died, and are out there cutting their teeth with the new guys on the road in clubs first. They didn't sign up to do a rockstar INXS sort of thing, where it became a public spectacle and publicity stunt to get back together and get out on the road. AIC especially could have taken this road, but chose not to. I think both of these bands are doing the respectful thing by remembering and respecting their roots, but not giving up on something that they believe has artistic merit. Most bands reunite for the money (see the Police tour from last summer for an example of that!) but the 300 capacity club shows that Blind Melon are currently doing, with a $10 ticket price kind of disproves that in this case. This tour is for the fans, which was clear by the amount of good energy and excitement in the room last friday.

I guess what I'm saying is that I totally understand the inital knee-jerk reaction to say that if a singer leaves a band, the band is done. There is something distinctive about every singer. I would even argue that in most cases, the singer is the most noticeable and obvious part of a band's sound. However, I think if you gave these bands who are out there trying to do it the right and most respectful way they can a chance, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

This post has been edited by icewaterike: Oct 21 2007, 6:59 pm

[beau99]

Ignorance is bliss! (and I am right)

I guess Dave Matthews Band would be Dave Matthews Band without Dave.

That's different.

However Dave isn't even the best part of the band anyway. Carter and Stefan outshine him.

I guess what I'm saying is that I totally understand the inital knee-jerk reaction to say that if a singer leaves a band, the band is done. There is something distinctive about every singer. I would even argue that in most cases, the singer is the most noticeable and obvious part of a band's sound. However, I think if you gave these bands who are out there trying to do it the right and most respectful way they can a chance, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Agreed.

I was skeptical when the original members of Queen (minus John Deacon) reunited with Paul Rodgers singing...

That is, until I saw it for myself. Paul isn't Freddie Mercury, but he's not trying to be. He sings the Queen songs quite well, I think. I've not seen Blind Melon without Shannon, but I'm sure they're doing what they want and are putting on great shows regardless.

This post has been edited by beau99: Oct 21 2007, 11:27 pm

[Godiva]

Blind Melon? They are another one of my favorite bands. I was so sad when Shannon died (and I share his name!). They were my first major rock concert, just a month or so before he died. They were one of my first true loves in rock.

I would love to see the others from Blind Melon with Live touring... but I'm not sure their fanbases have a lot in common. Maybe there's a small segment of us. So if you guys out there in Live's world decide to do it, I'm definitely coming. I encourage it!