An Experiment: if The Flood and the Mercy was by Live Options

[LiveFan92]

Over the Easter weekend, I saw some old friends that I used to listen to Live with in high school when we were growing up in the York area. They hadn't really liked anything after V, although they still bought each album and listened a few times with hope, etc. They hadn't even really heard the band had broken up.

So I invited them over to my place to listen to "something cool" and I played The Flood and the Mercy for them. I didn't say it was Live or just Ed, but I could tell they hadn't heard any of it before.

The general reaction was: "Wow, Live is really getting back to good form! If they keep this up, the next album could be amazing."

And then I had to tell them it was just Ed, etc, and explain about the new Live with a new lead singer, etc.

But they really got me thinking... if The Flood and the Mercy had been put out by Live after The Distance to Here or maybe V, how would it have been received?

Any thoughts on that?

[Voodoo Lady]

1. I wish everyone would stop blaming Ed solely for the demise. CC & P were 25% part of the creative process back then too. Ed didn't hold a gun to their heads and make them release V's material.

2. Requesting a lead singer bonus is a creative difference. The person requesting it, in a convoluted way, feels he is contributing more to the band.

3. Personally, change is hard for me, esp. if it's something I love(d) very much. So I am probably way more critical of CS than most LIVE fans. But why should that stop me from listening to CCC & P? Chad, Chad & Pat still are part of my heart and I will continue to support them, even if I feel that their lead singer replacement choice could have been better.

4. I don't know Ed, have never met him, so I have to ask, do we know if he has a huge ego? In my observations over the years I would guess that he is more eccentric rather than egotistical, but that would also be a guess.

5. It is my opinion, LIVE will reunite one day, based on the trends of other rock bands with lead singer issues/ creative differences reuniting (and for other reasons previously stated). Time heals all wounds.

6. Sorry to the original poster of this thread that I derailed your topic. Although, viewing Ed as betraying his bandmates is a choice in your poll and we have ended up talking about that a bit.

[sellingthdrama]

1. I wish everyone would stop blaming Ed solely for the demise. CC & P were 25% part of the creative process back then too. Ed didn't hold a gun to their heads and make them release V's material.

Agreed. CCP weren't "active" in the demise, but they played a passive role.

4. I don't know Ed, have never met him, so I have to ask, do we know if he has a huge ego? In my observations over the years I would guess that he is more eccentric rather than egotistical, but that would also be a guess.

I don't know him, but I'd say yes based on his stage presence. Back in the day, he'd perform the music, emphasis on the music. Today, he just performs - meaning, it's about him and not the music.

5. It is my opinion, LIVE will reunite one day, based on the trends of other rock bands with lead singer issues/ creative differences reuniting (and for other reasons previously stated). Time heals all wounds.

I agree. Someday, somewhere, they'll work together again. Time heals a lot.

6. Sorry to the original poster of this thread that I derailed your topic. Although, viewing Ed as betraying his bandmates is a choice in your poll and we have ended up talking about that a bit.

OP opened the door with that poll choice.