A discussion a long time coming Options

[patrick W BURG]

Hello,

I've been browsing this board for a few years now, just to keep up with the latest on my favorite band, Live. Today, I finally decided to register, so I can actually contribute.

I read in the tour section a few differing opinions about something that may or may not even be that big of deal, but I have an opinion, so I figured I'd share, for sharing's sake.

I personally can't stand when Ed takes his shirt off at shows. I understand he is the artist, and his expression should ideally be unfettered, but still... I think he loses the connection with the audience. I know he's been doing this for years, but maybe we've just grown numb as to how lame he actually looks.

I've been an AVID Live fan since 94, and I still love the band, and I still love the shows. For me, this is something that I have just learned to tolerate. I recently took one of my buddies to a show, and when he started stripping, I couldn't help but cringe inside. Same thing when I took my girlfriend to a show. It just gets awkward. And both my friend and my girlfriend agreed that the stripping made the show much more cheezy and "gay" and much less cool.

You want to get into the songs wholeheartedly, but something just prevents you from doing so.

So, what do you guys think?

[Existentialist]

It has nothing to do with his taking his shirt off. It has to do with his whole gay pop stage persona. LIVE used to be a ballsy band that would put on an energetic show and leave the frills to other bands. Now, Ed is up there fondling himself during AOY, stripping and strutting around like a bitch, sticking his hands down his pants during Show, etc. The shirt is just a part of it all. And Heather is right, he does it at the exact same point in every show, so it's obviously a planned act. That's not what LIVE used to be. I'd sure love to go back in time and tell a 20 year old Ed that in 15 years he'd be planning when and how to take his shirt off, how to fondle himself and stick his hands down his pants during their shows....he'd probably kill himself right then and there.

Also, a big what up to Patrick W BURG, who had the balls to actually register just to post this. A huge from me and welcome to the board!

This post has been edited by Existentialist: Aug 3 2007, 11:12 am

[Godiva]

It has nothing to do with his taking his shirt off. It has to do with his whole gay pop stage persona. LIVE used to be a ballsy band that would put on an energetic show and leave the frills to other bands. Now, Ed is up there fondling himself during AOY, stripping and strutting around like a bitch, sticking his hands down his pants during Show, etc. The shirt is just a part of it all. And Heather is right, he does it at the exact same point in every show, so it's obviously a planned act. That's not what LIVE used to be. I'd sure love to go back in time and tell a 20 year old Ed that in 15 years he'd be planning when and how to take his shirt off, how to fondle himself and stick his hands down his pants during their shows....he'd probably kill himself right then and there.

Also, a big what up to Patrick W BURG, who had the balls to actually register just to post this. A huge from me and welcome to the board!

Now that you mention it, I do remember that. I saw them twice last summer and I think he did that both times during All Over You, and I know he did it both times during Lakini's Juice. Oh well... we do go to be entertained and Ed can make his own choices. Who am I to judge?: I certainly do enjoy it. It may be cheap, but it's still fun.

[tiger]

I hardly ever post here but had to agree on this one. Ed has evolved into and embraced the whole rock star thing. Back in the day Ed never would have done this or acted this way. In fact, when they shot their first video for MTV and were asked to take their shirts off, they all cringed and took issue with it. I've been there since day one and I've seen the evolution. It really kicked in during the V era when he got all into Henry Miller and tantric sex. It's all very cheesy and nothing like the beginning. I remember a show from the Mental Jewelry tour when he came out in his hoodie, stood in one place and sang with such conviction. It was pretty mesmerising and menacing. I'd say things are a little different these days.

[patrick W BURG]

few items

-- for the people who just think, "who cares," I think half the point of having a message board surrounding a band is to fuss over petty issues. It's a little ironic to come to a discussion board and say that something isn't worth talking about.

-- I think Existentialist and sellingthedrama sum up well why exactly the shirt thing is lame. It's just not natural. It's in the vain of, "ok, here's this thing I'm gonna do FOR you guys, cause I know it's sexy." There is a slight air of awkwardness in the crowd whenever he takes his shirt off and tries too hard to be sexy. If you don't feel it, then maybe you're oblivious. There are people who operate with the logic, that, if I don't like the shirt removal, it's because I FEEL gay and get uncomfortable. I think that rationale is very small-minded. Is it possible that I don't like the shirt removal, and yet have no sexuality issues?


--As far as the bigger picture of the entire show being rehearsed, I agree it's a problem, but I try not to dwell on it. It's the reason I don't go to too many shows and overdo it. I only go to a Live show once, maybe twice a year. In that sense, it does hurt the band, because if they varied their "act" more, you'd have people like me willing to go to shows more often.

[LiveRoCkS77]

few items

if I don't like the shirt removal, it's because I FEEL gay and get uncomfortable. I think that rationale is very small-minded. Is it possible that I don't like the shirt removal, and yet have no sexuality issues?

No.

[patrick W BURG]

No.

I hope you are joking. And if you are, it's funny.

[LiveRoCkS77]

I hope you are joking. And if you are, it's funny.

No joke man, you taken the homophobe test?

[patrick W BURG]

No joke man, you taken the homophobe test?

Hmm maybe you're on to something then. I can't possibly dislike Ed's actions for any other reason than being gay huh. That is intelligent.

Funny, I actually agreed with your other points. The ones that were valid, and well-argued, not just name-calling.

[LiveRoCkS77]

Hmm maybe you're on to something then. I can't possibly dislike Ed's actions for any other reason than being gay huh. That is intelligent.

Funny, I actually agreed with your other points. The ones that were valid, and well-argued, not just name-calling.

NO. I'm just of the opinion that anybody who has a problem with it has issues.

If I were hot and sweaty, moving around and drinking beer, I'd take my shirt off too. So what if he does it to appease some of the ladies who happen to like it? It's no wonder women like his body, he's done a lot with it over the years, considering he was once a skinny little hairy squirrel lookin' mofo.

I could care less if he takes his shirt off, it's the energy and the music that matters to me. Your hang ups are your problem.

[patrick W BURG]

NO. I'm just of the opinion that anybody who has a problem with it has issues.

If I were hot and sweaty, moving around and drinking beer, I'd take my shirt off too. So what if he does it to appease some of the ladies who happen to like it? It's no wonder women like his body, he's done a lot with it over the years, considering he was once a skinny little hairy squirrel lookin' mofo.

I could care less if he takes his shirt off, it's the energy and the music that matters to me. Your hang ups are your problem.

If I dislike something that you like, then obviously I must have some underlying psycological issue, right? There can be NO other reason. It can't just be that we have two differing opinions.

Again, it's pretty foolish for you to tell me not to voice my opinion on a discussion board.