Will the Real EK please stand up. Options

[Lerxst]

Time to honor my favorite trolls on here and start a new thread about their favorite person Ed.

Today's little factoid - Ed and the 100k lead singer bonus.

Did it really come to this? You're damn right it did. Now it could be argued that it was a "mischaracterization" and in fact Ed did argue with that exact basis in the interview conducted in this YouTube video series:

Hi - I'm Ed and I'm uncomfortable with this line of questioning

Sure, the request might have been mischaracterized as Ed argues, but could it also be true that the request was based simply out of greed or even a love for money? Yes, one wonders..

Feel free to discuss..
-Jimmy

[Kymra]

Is this Jimmy as in THE Jimmy? The one who introduced me to the wacky world of message boards before there even WERE message boards?

If so.....

So sad the way things went down. Feeling really positive about the new Live though! EK.....um yeah, all set with that!

[Pokey]

Ah the old classic interview. I just love how his response to the lead singer bonus question makes no logical sense, it's just rambling. Basically from what I can gather is that the 100k bonus DID happen, because he didn't deny it, but he justified it by stating he needed it for producing his solo album, this in turn would be something that makes him more money alone. How the hell is that any better than "i needed it because I wanted to buy a sports car" ? So it's a "mischaracterization", which is just the weakest defense that doesn't even mean or explain anything.

So basically in Ed's mind he must think "wow people might think I wanted that money to buy myself nice things, what a mischaracterization, what I actually needed it for was studio budgeting to make myself more money to buy myself nice things, yeah thats better".

[Lerxst]

If so.....

So sad the way things went down. Feeling really positive about the new Live though! EK.....um yeah, all set with that!

Hi Kymra, how the hell are ya? Sad? No, it was a trainwreck with Ed as the conductor and the band relegated to the caboose while he led everything off the edge of a cliff. But you are right, there are plenty of things to feel positive about! Live are making an album while EK continues to cling on to the past (see his recent marketing practices for his solo career). There are some on here (hi trolls! ) who would haven't come to grips with the simple notion that Live could actually go on and exist without Ed. It's the whole adulation thing and hero on the pedestal syndrome.

Oh I hear you on the EK thing - all set with that is about how I feel. Christian contemporary is not Rock and Roll to me, so like you, I'm feeling good about the new Live CD, and even better that they have a new conductor and the train is back on the right track.

-Jimmy

[Lerxst]

Basically from what I can gather is that the 100k bonus DID happen, because he didn't deny it..

Oh it did happen, and yes, notice how there's no denial, just spin .. you are one smart chap Pokey

That interview series is classic. Everyone should watch it, but pay close attention folks!!! Or you'll miss the good bits!

Part 1 - 3:30

"to put it bluntly", had to say that twice.. uh huh. love the reasoning.. well "it wasn't a popular move" my solo career.. and that's why the guys acted the way they did. What? Seriously??? Yeah I don't think that's how it was Ed.
-----
Part 1 - 4:30

"I just told you!"... can we "move on?" "I'm here to talk about my album"..
I mean he's about to kill the interviewer. Uncomfortable questions with a lot of merit will do that to people I guess.

I love also the interviewer presses on with another question about Black Coffee and such... Ed again reminds him to "move on".. evasive to say the least.
----

Part 3 - 4:00

Here we see where the EGO comes out... "well I've always been" driving force, the one behind the music, the lyrics, etc..etc.. take a lot of credit for the success of Live? "I was doing most of it anyways..." I mean I cringe hearing him say this.. if anyone can't identify EGO, it's pretty clear from the clip which big head it comes from.

-----

Part 3 - 5:00

Love that he refers to if he got back with the band it'd be "going backwards." And yet 2 years now? after this clip and the solo effort is not as successful he is now making statements like "want to give the fans what they want. open to the idea of reunion with the guys".. for real.. it's a shame.

---

Part 5 - 1:50

Gotta give it to the interviewer for pressing EK on the tough and honest and "uncomfortable questions". Are you on speaking terms with them? And then Ed with the smirk admits they are not.. "Are Live angry?" I mean I'm sure if it was the anarchy of the old wild wild west, he'd have probably beat up the interviewer for how DARE he not talk about the album but bring up all these issues...

Everything about the whole interview.. the mannerism, the pauses, even at times the way he looks, it shows a beaten guy. Someone who doesn't want to be there but has to... someone who doesn't want to smile but has to put the fake smile on.. The whole thing smells of nervousness, squirmish moments, evasive answers, deception... alas...

EK fans! Discuss!
-Jimmy

[Pokey]

haha yeah "to put it bluntly" and then doesn't put it bluntly cos he's too bust trying to come up with some spin, so he has to restart and say it again to give it another shot. I understand that he was taken off guard by the questioning, and it's clear the interviewer really wanted to push him (notice the camera zoom in the second the interview goes to ask the hard questions), but Ed's answer(s) just were poles apart and were a mess.

If it was totally fine for Ed to ask for a 100k lead singer bonus for his solo project, then I assume he would have been fine with PD asking for a 150k lead bass player bonus to build a rental property to have tenants move in and pay him rent ... both endeavors make the individual more money, both may have been in the pipe line where extra money is needed, both have nothing to do with the other 3 members in the band .. the amount of money is irrelevant, its the fact they want it.

oh yeah and "move on" and focus on the solo stuff, I'm sure it was meant in the context of the interview, he wants to appear like he's moving on, but like we see, clinging to Live any way he can to help himself stay relevant, even SJN had to admit to asking venues to change the billing so people knew who he was. This isn't a man focused on forging his own identity and own career, its a man doing what he can to make a buck.

Considering the fact we have never seen an interview like this since, I bet anything that Ed has people grill interviewers first to make sure these subjects are off limits.

[OutToDry]

Spin doctor Ed. He's got lots of those in his camp. Nick, CCL, et all.

[Pokey]

Spin doctor Ed. He's got lots of those in his camp. Nick, CCL, et all.

Et al!

[Lerxst]

he wants to appear like he's moving on, but like we see, clinging to Live any way he can to help himself stay relevant

And this is the fundamental basis for why the shows are marketed and promoted the way they are. Clinging to Live is about as accurate as it gets. You can see that in all the shows discussed in the thread on Deceptive Marketing practices.

This is the same Ed that says on one hand, he's moving on from that chapter of Live and onto his solo career but then tells newspapers he's open for and working for what fans want - a Live reunion. That is a joke. You have to ask yourself what is the reason for a reunion? Is it because it makes sense or is it money driven? Smart fans will know the answer to that.

This isn't a man focused on forging his own identity and own career, its a man doing what he can to make a buck.

Definitely true and he certainly wouldn't be trying to work for a Live reunion. Clearly evident by the way he feels it's necessary to bill himself as if he's still in the band Live.. or worse - the fact that he is Live. Horrible really and shows no integrity to trying to forge his own identity as you say and make a truly successful solo career.

Considering the fact we have never seen an interview like this since, I bet anything that Ed has people grill interviewers first to make sure these subjects are off limits.

I would love to submit interview questions to Ed:

"Ed, why do you think so many people who used to be close to you are no longer close and are upset with you?"
"Why are a lot of your old friends no longer your friends? What happened to cause all that? What did you do if anything?"
"When you were in Live how did you treat some of the crew who worked hard for you, or tour managers, or even friends who helped in small ways? Did you treat them with respect? What was that relationship like? Do you think some of them liked being treated that way?"
"Not including your old bandmates, How did you treat your lifelong friends? Your childhood friends? Did you ever have a talk with any of them about their feelings? How did they feel about it? Did they like the way you treated them?"
"How did you treat your old band mates? Was their mutual respect for "those individuals"? What happened there? Why are you guys no longer friends? Do you still talk to them? Why is that?"
"Is it true that you showed remorse for your actions recently? Have you shown remorse? Did you convey this? Did you reach out? What happened?"
"Do you think some of the alienation was your fault? And in what way? What'd you do to create that? Anything?"
"Is it really you against the whole world. Could it possibly be that they're ALL wrong? All of them? What is their relationship like win you these days? Do you have one with them?"
"Why are people saying you stabbed your friends in the back? What do they mean by that? What do think is making them say these things? What do they mean by backstabbing?"
"Did you have demands of your band mates that seemed unreasonable? Did you deliver and were there ultimatums? What happened? What'd you say? Why are they no longer friends? Did you do/say hurtful things? Did you make threats about stuff? Help us understand!"
"When is the next song about water?"

-Jimmy

[alexou]

I said it before but we can only think everything CT and the lawsuit say is true because Ed never took the time to really discuss the reasons of the hiatus. You're commited to a band for 20 years and the only reason you give for going solo is that "I wanted to get some fresh air"and get new inspiration." Come on Ed, give details, explain please, maybe I would understand some of your arguments even. But he just avoids the questions for 3 years now and it is not to his advantage.

[SinfulEyes]

I said it before but we can only think everything CT and the lawsuit say is true because Ed never took the time to really discuss the reasons of the hiatus. You're commited to a band for 20 years and the only reason you give for going solo is that "I wanted to get some fresh air"and get new inspiration." Come on Ed, give details, explain please, maybe I would understand some of your arguments even. But he just avoids the questions for 3 years now and it is not to his advantage.

That and his solo stuff is almost impossible to listen to.

[briburge]

Time to honor my favorite trolls on here and start a new thread about their favorite person Ed.

Today's little factoid - Ed and the 100k lead singer bonus.

Did it really come to this? You're damn right it did. Now it could be argued that it was a "mischaracterization" and in fact Ed did argue with that exact basis in the interview conducted in this YouTube video series:

Hi - I'm Ed and I'm uncomfortable with this line of questioning

Sure, the request might have been mischaracterized as Ed argues, but could it also be true that the request was based simply out of greed or even a love for money? Yes, one wonders..

Feel free to discuss..
-Jimmy

Just wondering if Ed leaving hurt you financially?

[Lerxst]

Just wondering if Ed leaving hurt you financially?

Hurt me financially? Not at all, but I can tell you Ed leaving was the best thing ever to happen to +Live+ that's for sure!

Nice of you to join the conversation. How do you feel about Ed? You think he's a stand up guy? You think he's being portrayed unfairly? Do you think people are overly critical of him these days? Do you like his new record? What do you think of his lyrics these days? Do you find the move to Christian Contemporary a good move? What do you make of his new song Rise? Do you find subliminal messaging in the lyrics to that song? When was the last time you saw Ed either solo or with Live in concert? How do you feel about the new lineup for Live? Are you excited or not really?

What is your name if you don't mind me asking?

-Jimmy

[SinfulEyes]

Hurt me financially? Not at all, but I can tell you Ed leaving was the best thing ever to happen to +Live+ that's for sure!

Nice of you to join the conversation. How do you feel about Ed? You think he's a stand up guy? You think he's being portrayed unfairly? Do you think people are overly critical of him these days? Do you like his new record? What do you think of his lyrics these days? Do you find the move to Christian Contemporary a good move? What do you make of his new song Rise? Do you find subliminal messaging in the lyrics to that song? When was the last time you saw Ed either solo or with Live in concert? How do you feel about the new lineup for Live? Are you excited or not really?

What is your name if you don't mind me asking?

-Jimmy

My guess would be Nicki.

[briburge]

Hurt me financially? Not at all, but I can tell you Ed leaving was the best thing ever to happen to +Live+ that's for sure!

Nice of you to join the conversation. How do you feel about Ed? You think he's a stand up guy? You think he's being portrayed unfairly? Do you think people are overly critical of him these days? Do you like his new record? What do you think of his lyrics these days? Do you find the move to Christian Contemporary a good move? What do you make of his new song Rise? Do you find subliminal messaging in the lyrics to that song? When was the last time you saw Ed either solo or with Live in concert? How do you feel about the new lineup for Live? Are you excited or not really?

What is your name if you don't mind me asking?

-Jimmy

Think Ed has been going downhill since I saw them in asbury park, nj show before the release of the distance to here. The demos and that performance were better than what was released. His new songs are ok. Just wondering why u are so so mad. Thought u were involved as a photographer or something so I thought u would be hurt financially by him leaving. Not trying to be a dick just wondering.