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[Existentialist]

I thought that Live would debut new songs during last week's shows based on my hearing last summer that they were excited about planning a new album. I had it on pretty good word and they were supposed to be ready to get it done. Since they didn't, I have to wonder why plans changed and what that means for the future of the band? I heard at least two and maybe three of the guys had a major shouting match backstage near the end of last summer, and I also heard that after the Sayreville show last night, Ed left the stage and went immediately into a car and just left. Not to mention the setlists. Anyone have information or speculation?

[CRH]

I thought that Live would debut new songs during last week's shows based on my hearing last summer that they were excited about planning a new album. I had it on pretty good word and they were supposed to be ready to get it done. Since they didn't, I have to wonder why plans changed and what that means for the future of the band? I heard at least two and maybe three of the guys had a major shouting match backstage near the end of last summer, and I also heard that after the Sayreville show last night, Ed left the stage and went immediately into a car and just left. Not to mention the setlists. Anyone have information or speculation?

I was at the Atlantic City and Sayreville shows...if there is anymosity (sp?), it really isn't showing on stage. Ed walked off stage at Sayreville with his arm around Chad T. In Atlantic City, they all ran off the stage at the end getting high fives from the guys back there. I don't have any sources, but I would be surprised if there was something internal going wrong.

Where did you get this information?

[Wambangalang]

i said it ages ago, may this year

[SecretInsomnia]

i said it ages ago, may this year

...the new album??

[SJN1279]

I thought that Live would debut new songs during last week's shows based on my hearing last summer that they were excited about planning a new album. I had it on pretty good word and they were supposed to be ready to get it done. Since they didn't, I have to wonder why plans changed and what that means for the future of the band? I heard at least two and maybe three of the guys had a major shouting match backstage near the end of last summer, and I also heard that after the Sayreville show last night, Ed left the stage and went immediately into a car and just left. Not to mention the setlists. Anyone have information or speculation?

Since Live is no longer on a label, they have to play shows in order to make ends' meat. They no longer have the luxury of waiting to tour between albums. Also, the west coast dates were all make-ups from the tour with Collective Soul, and I figure they just added east coast dates because they always sell well in that area of the country.

Also, now that they are their own bosses, they have no rush on getting a new album out. They can slowly work on one, and wait until they feel ready to record and release it. I also think a concert DVD will come before a new album, and the band's energy will not be focused on releasing a new album until 2009. That is just my hunch and nothing more.

[Pokey]

I wonder what the concert dvd setlist will be like?!

[SecretInsomnia]

Since Live is no longer on a label, they have to play shows in order to make ends' meat. They no longer have the luxury of waiting to tour between albums. Also, the west coast dates were all make-ups from the tour with Collective Soul, and I figure they just added east coast dates because they always sell well in that area of the country.

Also, now that they are their own bosses, they have no rush on getting a new album out. They can slowly work on one, and wait until they feel ready to record and release it. I also think a concert DVD will come before a new album, and the band's energy will not be focused on releasing a new album until 2009. That is just my hunch and nothing more.

hmm, so you think they will remain label-less, or releasing on Action Front in the future??

I don't think they are big enough to release albums and dvd's on their own label ...

This post has been edited by SecretInsomnia: Mar 17 2008, 8:21 am

[Existentialist]

I'm pretty sure they will not go with another label like Nick said. However, they aren't playing shows to "make ends meet." I obviously am not aware of their financial situations, but unless they squandered millions and millions of dollars, I guarantee you that all of the guys are loaded. They've sold almost 25 million albums and have been on three major tours where they made bank each night. I'm sure these shows are just for fun.

[Pokey]

I never understood why people think they're almost broke now, it pops up again and again. like ex said, a band who has sold almost 25 million albums and now going through a lean period are going to be doing a hell of a lot better than some local bands that have sold almost 25 albums .. yet when some people talk about it I'm almost expecting them to set up a fund so we can give them money to buy soup with.

[SJN1279]

I'm pretty sure they will not go with another label like Nick said. However, they aren't playing shows to "make ends meet." I obviously am not aware of their financial situations, but unless they squandered millions and millions of dollars, I guarantee you that all of the guys are loaded. They've sold almost 25 million albums and have been on three major tours where they made bank each night. I'm sure these shows are just for fun.

Even if they are loaded, which they may or may not be, a person gets accustomed to a certain style of living. If checks stop coming in, savings accounts begin to thin out. Very few people work for fun, its usually out of necessity.

[Pokey]

Very few people get a job that is also their absolute passion in life .. Live do have that luxury and I'm willing to bet most of us don't go to work for fun. Any one of the 4 of them probably has more money than all of us here on the board combined or something so I don't think they're doing these shows because they're strapped for cash .. I mean sure they are probably nice little injections of cash to have and all. It seriously pisses me off when people think because celebrities aren't on the cover of every magazine that they must be struggling for cash. It's like South Park says "Britney had to sell her version 4 jet and downgrade to the version 3 which doesn't have remote surround sound". I see that's what you're saying but if they're not earning as much as they used to they just have to adjust their living habits, the rest of us have to.

[SJN1279]

Very few people get a job that is also their absolute passion in life .. Live do have that luxury and I'm willing to bet most of us don't go to work for fun. Any one of the 4 of them probably has more money than all of us here on the board combined or something so I don't think they're doing these shows because they're strapped for cash .. I mean sure they are probably nice little injections of cash to have and all. It seriously pisses me off when people think because celebrities aren't on the cover of every magazine that they must be struggling for cash. It's like South Park says "Britney had to sell her version 4 jet and downgrade to the version 3 which doesn't have remote surround sound". I see that's what you're saying but if they're not earning as much as they used to they just have to adjust their living habits, the rest of us have to.

Adjusting living habits is easier said that done, especially when you have kids. Most Americans earning potential peaks at age 50, but Live's earning potential peaked ten years ago. Being in a rock band doesn't offer free medical coverage either. They are independent contractors and if they don't go out and work, they no longer get paid.

Live has been touring non-stop ever since they were dropped from Epic. Is that a coincidence? I think not. I also do not think Ed would have agreed to open for the Counting Crows, without an album to promote, if money wasn't an issue. So, while I don't think any member of the band is starving, I also don't think they would necessary be comfortable without touring and playing shows.

[Existentialist]

Live had to have made an unbelievable amount of money in the 90s. If they are playing these shows for money, I'd say it's more about milking it for what it's worth than it is about being low on cash. That is of course if Ed didn't give all his money to a cult.

[LiveRoCkS77]

Live had to have made an unbelievable amount of money in the 90s. If they are playing these shows for money, I'd say it's more about milking it for what it's worth than it is about being low on cash. That is of course if Ed didn't give all his money to a cult.

Well, I wouldn't say they are necessarily rich. But the band has toured quite a bit over the years and have had to have made a lot of money. Even playing these smaller venues must net them about 10k apiece per show. That's not peanuts. 25 shows in a year and their raking in a quarter million each.

I imagine back in the nineties, they must've made more considering they were selling out much larger venues. Selling 25 million cd's in itself wouldn't have made them anything. It's fact that bands barely make anything off of cd sales. Less than a buck per cd sold is what I'm told. But that's still in the neighborhood of 20 million dollars which is a lot of money when you add all the world tours they packed in.

Not only that, but i imagine that for most of the guys, the band itself isn't their only source of income. I think they mostly tour to pack money away. They won't be touring forever, especially with the reeking piles of shit they've released lately. Their old hits will only keep them going for so long. Their stagnant setlist and changes in direction have alienated a lot of fans and continue to do so. Even some of the die hards who followed them through every turn. These guys need to put out some real music, or they're finished before a lot of us wanna realize.

This post has been edited by LiveRoCkS77: Mar 18 2008, 10:18 pm

[Pokey]

Adjusting living habits is easier said that done, especially when you have kids. Most Americans earning potential peaks at age 50, but Live's earning potential peaked ten years ago. Being in a rock band doesn't offer free medical coverage either. They are independent contractors and if they don't go out and work, they no longer get paid.

Live has been touring non-stop ever since they were dropped from Epic. Is that a coincidence? I think not. I also do not think Ed would have agreed to open for the Counting Crows, without an album to promote, if money wasn't an issue. So, while I don't think any member of the band is starving, I also don't think they would necessary be comfortable without touring and playing shows.

Wait what, live have been touring non stop? What about all the time off ...? Only a few shows in march 2008, the one before was one show in december, one show in november and before that it wasn't exactly grueling. They're hardly a hardcore touring band that needs to pay to keep the wolves at bay.

I think they're probably more than comfortable since they probably have their hands in a few other money making pies along the way too (as you would). I mean for instance doesn't Gracey own his own business? Aren't some of the wives working too? What makes that any different from your average American family other than the fact that they have millions or at least hundreds of thousands (or should have) still in the bank from yesteryear? If they're having trouble adjusting from a lavish lifestyle where the toilet is made of gold to having to adjust a bit then that's their problem. Bottom line is, I don't think all their tours now are simpley to make ends meet, it'd be to have fun doing your dream job and earning some nice cash along the way, pretty easy living if you ask me, I'd love to be in their position.