Chris Shinn on Fronting Live: ‘I’m Just Embarrassed...." Options

[717raised]

Interesting read

Chris Shinn on Fronting Live: ‘I’m Just Embarrassed By the Whole Thing’


https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-fe...zyk-1234621472/

This post has been edited by 717raised: Nov 2 2022, 10:04 am

[Bremang]

The one time I met Chris Shinn - he was hanging out at the railing after a show on the Summerland tour. He seemed like a decent guy. I honestly felt like he was loving every minute of it. It was a cool experience to have a conversation with him.

The first time I heard the debut of Siren's call, I was very excited to see whether Chris could hold a candle to Ed - something that seemed impossible at the time. I'm a fan of The Turn, and I always felt bad for Chris after hearing his podcast about CCP mistreating him during his tenure, and how he was erased from the band's history.



Even with all this, and letting this article soak in, as these new details come to light, I have to re-assess what Chris Shinn was to the band.



I now think a lot of Chris' beef is completely uncalled for.



First off - Chris admits to entering Live by agreeing to exploit Ed, and exploit Live's most beautiful songs - for the sole purpose of a quick cash grab. He was complicit in attempting to place ***re-recorded*** Live hits into commercials, by mimicking Ed's vocals, and by pretending these were the genuine Throwing Copper recordings from the 90's. Talk about slimy, if not sacrilegious! my god.


Could you even imagine, right after the break up, if Ed tried to re-record the songs in the studio just to put them in commercials for quick cash - just to cut out CCP. This board and the fanbase would have had every pitchfork out ready to murder Ed. It would have been mayhem. But when Chris does it, not a single question mark from the collective fanbase?



Chris says these recordings grew into a new Live project, and it raised questions about whether they were doing the right thing. Looking back, I think Chris had no business being the lead singer of Live. We've heard the arguments before - obviously Chris would be seen as an imposter by a large margin of Live fans. The Turn for sure stands as a work of art, but many agree it's just not Live. The other options, from an artistic standpoint, were so much better. It could have been called anything else and this label would have been accepted by the whole fan base. Instead, CCP chose to create division. Even The Gracious Few could have been assigned for The Turn, and it would have made for an ingenious concept. CCP could have been the "few" as they collabed with a new lead singer on each forthcoming album and tour.


Chris admitted to being closer friends with Ed, then he was with CCP. He said he and Ed would go out and have a great time, on a somewhat regular basis there for a bit - and pay for each others drinks etc.

The moment Ed was at odds with CCP, Chris took the opportunity to turn his back on Ed completely. Chris just took over the frontman role of Live without a single word to his "friend." Could you imagine your friend stealing your lifelong band and trying to steal your image for money? Chris admits knowing that Ed would never have been cool with it. Then Chris rationalizes it by saying Ed and CCP were just emotionally stunted because they were famous growing up. Total utter betrayal and narcissistic behavior. This should not go unchecked.




This article also reinforces the idea that Chris did not care deeply about the art that was Live. Sure, Chris had "fun." But Chris was a casual fan of the radio hits. He was not a true fan. He couldn't remember the lyrics to I alone! Cringeworthy. He didn't want to play track 12. He thought that we, the fans, wouldn't even know the song, lol! Chris admits to having no idea who Jerry Harrison was. Chris admits to being the reason that Live had shallow, unchanging setlists! Chris couldn't even sing into the microphone! Absolutely amateurish. He didn't have the stature of a lead singer for an amazing big band. And he was often times awkward in interviews. These traits are collectively deal breakers to anyone who wants to see Live's art honored.





So then what is this complaining from Chris Shinn really about? Chris said that merely hearing Lightning Crashes or a live song on the radio "was the most painful thing. It's the trauma of having all these awesome memories that are now just scars. They bring up massive amounts of pain."

One of Chris's complaints is that he was "gaslit" because he wanted to start a side band and Chad wanted Chris to stay in Live, by saying CCP would be Chris's band for solo projects. How can this be considered gaslighting? Chris literally threatened to leave the band, and then accuses Chad of gaslighting by asking Chris to stay? I mean, the hypocrisy is pretty stark here. Chris even said he always knew Ed would replace him eventually. Where is the deception here? That is not gaslighting. This actually just makes Chris sound pretty stupid.


Another chief complaint is that Chris accuses CCP of removing The Turn from streaming sites. Chris admits that he is perplexed by this decision. However, it's pretty darn obvious that Ed would require removing The Turn as a condition to returning to the band. What should Chris expect after betraying Ed so blatantly?


After winning the Live lottery and having undeservedly been thrust onto the throne for a Live album and a world tour, why is Chris Shinn butthurt even in the slightest? I think we have to notice what Chris has been consistently after his entire career. It seems that Chris has always wanted his songs to become huge and mainstream. Imagine being so close, and instead of Chris, his contemporaries and friends were becoming stars all around him. Blind Melon. Live. Thorne. Chris admits that even his own bandmates would leave him and score big opportunities with other bands and artists.

Chris' career was basically put to sleep after the turn of the millennium, until suddenly he had one more shot at getting big. He hoped Live and The Turn would be a success and was surprised that it flopped. Unrealistic expectations. Once Live hit their stride on tour, Chris was ready to take another stab at stardom with a 2nd record in Live. When he was fired from the band, his dream fizzled out once again, and Chris admits he immediately entered into a depression. Might Chris be the anxious rich kid living in a bubble with delusions of grandeur after all?
The truth is likely that Chris' music was never good enough to make him a huge star. He never wrote a song that was good enough for the world to adore, like his rock star friends managed to do. It's no wonder he has a history of his band mates jumping ship. Everyone wants to be part of a winning team. I say this with full appreciation for his input on The Turn. I also feel happy for Chris' future. He now has Live on his resume, a brand new article in Rolling Stone, and a decent new single with a good music video on youtube, and an album being mastered. If his art is true, I hope he pulls out a grand slam.


I might be alone in my assessment, but if anyone else agrees, we may have a unified theory.

[Gertjan]

I might be alone in my assessment, but if anyone else agrees, we may have a unified theory.

I don't share your view on Chris as frontman. I actually found he put on a very decent and energetic show.

On your other points; I do agree. It's weird that he is surprised that the band (read Ed) prefers to ignore The Turn and his presence with them after betraying the supposed friendship he had with Ed. He took an opportunity and then it costs him.