"Live is not the same without Ed", Chad Taylor post - August 30, 2014 (Facebook) Options

[dangum]

Chad Taylor
August 30 at 5:58am

"LIVE is not the same without Ed,” this statement has been written many times of the walls of social media and is a dead-on accurate statement filled with 100% factual truth. And it’s not really much of a statement at all is it?

I think what these authors are really trying to say, is that they want the good feelings and memories of their past to stay in tack. They don’t want the band that created the music to their first kiss, prom dance, getting laid, birthing, or making of their children to change. LIVE touched so many aspects of peoples lives that they simply want to hold on to those moments and “how could these jackass band members be so selfish!”

I get it!

But there is also a completely different message being sent at the same time. What these authors are also saying is that they’d like the band to fake our allegiance and loyalty to each other so that they can feel more comfortable. That we should return our former lead singer to a broken creative process that yielded personal pain, and more importantly produced uninspired music, just so they can have things as they were.

If you read that, you might understand why Chad Gracey would occasionally tell these authors to get the fuck off his Facebook page. Why there could be some hostility in his tone. Either way, there is a self-serving mechanism in all human beings to protect the things we love. In fact, the one and only unifying quality we may have is the band itself. It’s incredible that so many want to hold onto it.

None of us want to see relationships to the things and people we love end but we have to face the reality that this happens hundreds of thousands of times per day. Our creative relationship as a band had devolved to where it had no integrity left and the only value was the substantial income generated by standing on stage with people who stopped caring for each other. To continue forward would have been grossly undervaluing the importance of the art, and of course, vile in that it would be akin to stealing from our fans. To the bands credit we didn't let this happen. We broke it up, broke it down, retooled and rebuilt it from the ground up (I'm hearing Million Dollar Man). The new LIVE simply put, is not the same.

Consider that our primary motivation was to find happiness (I believe we accomplished this), and secondly we wanted to work in a healthy environment (I believe we accomplished this), third we wanted to return to our roots to create passionate music integral to our journey (I believe we accomplished this), and fourth, we wanted an honest, open relationship with our fans (how are we doing?).

I’d like everyone to consider that we’re human and have lived lives filled with all types of perfect imperfection. It’s our connectivity to this push and pull that births our songs. Our journey just happens to include the end of one era, and the beginning of another. I hope our fans will stick around and judge us from our ability to provoke the ‘now’ mind rather than just the distant memories from albums in our past. After all, we’re not called previously recorded but LIVE.

You can preorder the new LIVE album The Turn at http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/live

https://www.facebook.com/officialchadtaylor...726167587419007

[ThrowgnCpr]

[SinfulEyes]

Well fucking' said Mr. Taylor. Well said.

[Bremang]

If someone says "Live is not the same without Ed," I doubt in most cases that they're asking CCP to fake an allegience with Ed. They are probably just sad that the good original Live sound with Ed is gone.

[sellingthdrama]

Well-said Chad, as always. And I agree Bremang, you're correct there, too - for many people, they're just expressing how they feel, not asking for a re-union.

In support of this new direction, I think on the upcoming tour, Live should focus on their new stuff. No more concerts with pretty much the same set list. I say, have the courage to focus on the new stuff and to leave out some of the old favorites. Let's go forward. Maybe revive some of the super-rare old stuff we never hear in concert, since it'll seem new (i.e. Insomnia and the Hole in the Universe).

This post has been edited by sellingthdrama: Sep 4 2014, 10:28 am

[Bremang]

Yeah, how about they start playing "Change" already....

[Voodoo Lady]

Okay, Chad's post made me blubber like a baby.
I so appreciate that he takes the time to let fans know that he understands how we feel. Live was the soundtrack to my college years, some of the best years of my life & YES!-- I want those memories to remain intact. In fact, I've been feeling even more nostalgic of late, watching the good ole days of Live on You Tube & listening to them even more than usual. I even recently put away my ECCP Live shirt to preserve it, as I might never find another one. It is very much like a divorce and it hurts like a bitch. However, when I express that things aren't the same (which I haven't on their wall...yet) I'm sorry Chad, I AM and will NEVER stop hoping for a reunion. I don't see how any Live fan can honestly say that they don't hope for it. And I wish Chad didn't see that as selfish on our part! It's NOT that we don't want to see them all happy and "remarried." I'm happy Chad's happy and feeling rejuvenated and creative. I'm happy to see Ed elated to be doing his crap, although I miss my 90's crazy eyed Ed like the desert misses the rain. I don't think it would hurt so bad if I wasn't subjected to hearing Shinn sing Ed's songs. I think all that has been very disrespectful to Ed. Just as it would be equally disrespectful to Ed if they were to get back together & they asked Ed to sing one of these new Shinn songs.

Even though I retired my favorite Live tshirt, I will never give up the faith that they may one day reunite. I've seen bands apart longer and hating on each other harder be able to forgive and forget.

So be happy Chad... I am stoked he is excited about their new album and I mean that with all sincerity. But angel on one shoulder, devil on the other, the "bad fan" in me also thinks it would be wildly funny for Ed to challenge Shinn to an ice bucket challenge. (All for a good cause, but sarcastic at the same time!)

[mfitz804]

Well-said Chad, as always. And I agree Bremang, you're correct there, too - for many people, they're just expressing how they feel, not asking for a re-union.

In support of this new direction, I think on the upcoming tour, Live should focus on their new stuff. No more concerts with pretty much the same set list. I say, have the courage to focus on the new stuff and to leave out some of the old favorites. Let's go forward. Maybe revive some of the super-rare old stuff we never hear in concert, since it'll seem new (i.e. Insomnia and the Hole in the Universe).

How is playing old songs that Ed wrote "moving forward"?

I'd argue that instead, they should focus on new material. If you ask me, Ed era songs with Shinn singing are ehh. The new material sounds awesome. Moving forward necessarily requires them to keep developing and keep playing new music.

Playing a bunch of songs the old guy wrote kind of defeats the entire purpose of "new Live", no matter how bad you wish they played rare songs in concert.

[dangum]

Yeah, how about they start playing "Change" already....

I would actually prefer that Live didn't play these rare tracks. Why should Chris Shinn get to add his interpretation of these unreleased tracks when the vast majority of Live fans have never even heard the original version.

[mattyeagles]

Nice post, I guess.

I think the point that Chad is missing is that fans want what makes them happy, not a performer/stranger who has made millions of dollars from their money happy. No one is questioning Chad's right to be fulfilled as a person or artist. The majority of fans are in agreement that these are Ed's songs. There are probably ~50 people on the two +Live+ boards who have been arguing that for over 7 years but they are the minority, and thats fine. There was absolutely no reason to rebrand as +Live+ with a new lead singer, the world doesnt need to hear Chris Shinn sing Lightning Crashes in concert. The Gracious Few was a noble attempt at a new start, but keeping the name +Live+ and performing the hits is not something that many can get behind, right or wrong. I dont want to hear the super CCP fans saying they were 3/4 of the band. There is NO questioning that and they have every right to perform the songs, but it is just a weird concept. They said they were going to perform "deep tracks" but they have played the hits. What it boils down to is that Ed and CCP started to dislike each other, the creative process was ruined, Ed's soul searching writing and creative ability dissipated with age and life developments (happiness), CCP had a cushy career living off the funds from touring so stuck around a lot longer than they should have, tried something new with Gracious Few (which I think is a very good album), determined that wasnt enough to ride out to retirement, and sold out by getting a new lead singer to sing the hits because Ed refused to come back due to Chad posting like a teenage girl after 2 beers on social media. Let's not pretend this is some deep need for them to perform I Alone again. I hope the new album has quality music - judging by The Gracious Few album, I am expecting something in line with Unified Theory ( Chris Shinn's former band that I am a fan of) and not Secret Samadhi, which is fine.

I am trying to be fair but you tell ANYONE that +Live+ is moving on without Ed and they think its hysterical. I had 4 friends email me about the recently announced NYC concert and they wanted to go and when I told them it was with a new lead singer, the responses were confused and had no interest in going anymore. I wish CCP success, and again, they have every right to happiness, I just cant get behind a new lead singer performing songs that Ed wrote at an attempt to rebrand +Live+. 75% of the people who will go to this show are casual Live fans who are attending because of nostalgia, who were not properly informed about the change of lead singers, and they will be disappointed. I have no doubt the show will be entertaining because the songs are amazing, because someone else (Ed) wrote them in his prime.

[+AllOverMe+]

Would be nice if they release some tracks like Change and New City. Why not?
I get your point Dangum, but if those tracks are really good they should play it.
Or just release some of the stuff as a present to the fans!

[mfitz804]

Would be nice if they release some tracks like Change and New City. Why not?
I get your point Dangum, but if those tracks are really good they should play it.
Or just release some of the stuff as a present to the fans!

I always wonder about that logic also. They clearly didn't believe the tracks were good enough to be released on their respective albums, NOR as b-sides on various singles, NOR on a Holiday Gift, NOR on the greatest hits compilation.

The band is moving in a new, Ed-free direction. Obviously Shinn will have to sing some of the old material, because people going to a Live concert are going to expect I Alone, etc. But every band I have ever been a fan of has had fans clamoring for the release of unreleased material or for the band to suddenly start playing them in concert despite the fact that the band obviously didn't think those songs were worthy of release.

For Live, it makes even less sense. The new direction with a new lead singer is going to be singing old, unreleased material written by someone else? How does that make sense?

Also, the concept of releasing unreleased songs as a "gift" to the fans doesn't seem to happen too much. Pearl Jam accomplished a little of this by releasing their "Lost Dogs" double album. That album went gold, but was released in 2003 while the band was still very popular (though not as popular as they once were, but both of their prior albums went gold).

Live has nowhere near that kind of following at this point, and while a B-sides collection sounds awesome and I would love it, 1) it would sell very poorly except to super fans, and 2) it would make ZERO sense unless it was the original versions with Ed, which the band isn't about to do.

That being said, can't wait for the NEW album of NEW material with the NEW singer.

[Bremang]

I would actually prefer that Live didn't play these rare tracks. Why should Chris Shinn get to add his interpretation of these unreleased tracks when the vast majority of Live fans have never even heard the original version.

Hmmm....I just want the song to surface somehow. It's been 16 years.

[Bremang]

I always wonder about that logic also. They clearly didn't believe the tracks were good enough to be released on their respective albums, NOR as b-sides on various singles, NOR on a Holiday Gift, NOR on the greatest hits compilation.

Chad mentioned in his response to the FOL letter that he wanted to have the heavier songs like Change and Don't Wait on the TDTH.

But yea, I agree that new Live needs to just play new Live material. But we all know they're going to play the hits, because the majority of the concert goers only bought tickets to hear those hits.

This post has been edited by Bremang: Sep 5 2014, 3:16 pm

[+AllOverMe+]

I hope one day they will release Change, New City etc. for the fans.
But i completely understand if they don't release it. The band has moved on with another lead singer.
And i don't think Chris really likes to play old unreleased songs written by Ed who have never been played before.

Anyway, we want new music. And we will get it very soon!