Chris Shinn v Matt Skiba Options

[LiveForNow]

Last night I saw Blink 182 with Matt Skiba and was shocked by how receptive the crowd was to the new singer. Chants of "Skiba! Skiba!" rang all night long. It was as if the original member of the band was back, not the opposite.

Any theories as to why Blink 182 with Skiba went over so well with the fans whereas replacing Ed with Chris was extremely mixed?

[Voodoo Lady]

Very few rock bands can survive a replacement lead singer. When you replace something, you replace it because it's broken or it needs upgrading. A replacement lead singer has to be an UPGRADE on every level, including image/stage presence. Chris Shinn is NOT an upgrade from Ed Kowalczyk. Some bands have pulled it off such as AC/DC, Van Halen & Journey. Maybe Blink 182 has as well? (Sorry, I don't listen to them so I can't judge). Bands it didn't work for: Mötley Crüe, Faith No More, INXS to name a few.

[Jim]

I feel like Live had 2 separate fan-bases for a long time, even before Ed went solo. Basically the 2 fan-bases are pre-V fans, and then V and beyond. The V and beyond fans are probably more likely to now be Ed fans, while the pre-V era fans probably have not enjoyed Ed's style for quite some time. Basically, my theory is that the fans were already kind of split before the band actually split. Add to that the general nastiness and divisive nature of Live's split and it's easy to see why there's been a mixed reaction.

Also, lets be honest here: Ed in his prime had one of the best voices in rock history. It was iconic. Chris Shinn is nowhere near that level.

[ThrowgnCpr]

uggg, Matt Skiba is in Blink 182 now? I used to love the Alkaline Trio, but their last several albums were pop-rock (oh, just like Blink 182...).

[Hoodstock]

Ed has a unique voice that was a key part to Live's success. His voice is why many fell in love with the band.

Blink is more of a punk band that got fans on their specific sound. Plus, when the vocalist is more generic sounding it is easier to switch out.

A few good examples similar to the impact of Ed on Live would be Rush or Maroon 5. Very distinct lead singers that cannot be replicated. You remove them you essentially end the band.

[mfitz804]

Ed has a unique voice that was a key part to Live's success. His voice is why many fell in love with the band.

This is very accurate. Ed's voice definitely lured me in. The band is great but there were a lot of great bands out there, Ed's voice was what distinguished them.

I like Shinn and I like what they are doing with him, but label it however you want, it doesn't "sound like Live". A good example is listening to Shinn's versions of the TC songs they recorded. They sound good, I like them, I would have liked them if that is what we got in 1994, but they just don't compare to the originals.

I do, however, like whatever it is that this version of the band does sound like.

[ThrowgnCpr]

meh, this has been discussed a million times, but current Ed, doesn't sound anything like old Ed either. Live was a complete sound to me, not a single voice.

[mfitz804]

meh, this has been discussed a million times, but current Ed, doesn't sound anything like old Ed either. Live was a complete sound to me, not a single voice.

I wasn't debating current Ed vs. current Shinn, or past Ed vs. Current Ed for that matter.

But there's no question that with Shinn, they sound like a different band. Not for a second to I think anything in The Turn sounds like Live with a different singer, even though that's what it is.

[SJN1279]

Double count-out....

[ThrowgnCpr]

OK, personally, I think the Turn sounds more like Live than V, BOP, or SFBM. No Live album sounds similar to any of the others.

[Bremang]

Double count-out....

What is that supposed to mean, Hogan?

[mfitz804]

No Live album sounds similar to any of the others.

That's why the band doesn't have its own "sound", whereas whenever you hear Ed, you know it's Ed, no matter what the band is playing or who is in the band. You pretty much just made my point.

[ThrowgnCpr]

That's why the band doesn't have its own "sound", whereas whenever you hear Ed, you know it's Ed, no matter what the band is playing or who is in the band. You pretty much just made my point.

no. Even Ed doesn't sound the same across albums.

[mfitz804]

He may not sound EXACTLY the same, but its distinct. You know its Ed. You would have no idea that CCP were CCP just from their playing because its not distinct.

[ThrowgnCpr]

He may not sound EXACTLY the same, but its distinct. You know its Ed. You would have no idea that CCP were CCP just from their playing because its not distinct.

speak for yourself. I think Gracey's drum patterns are pretty diagnostic (I am a drummer myself, so I tend to pick up on that).

If I hadn't heard anything since Secret Samadhi. I don't think I would have recognized Ed's solo material as Ed.