Live Members Talk Unlikely Reunion, Moving Past Mudslinging, Rolling Stone article 2017 Options

[Bremang]

I think CT is simply embarrassed by the Shinn Era. Regardless of how he feels about the actual music, the simple fact is that they alienated the majority of their fanbase to make an album which barely sold any copies, and to play shows in a bunch of half-empty venues, add on top of that CS frequently forgetting lyrics and I think the whole era ended up just being an embarrassment for CT, and I think he's trying to over-compensate by burying it and trashing it.

I don't think he's trying to placate Ed, who hasn't said a single negative thing about the era since the reunion, or the fanbase, who just seem happy they are back together. I think he's trying to placate himself.

What half empty venues? They did Summerland, Festivals, and Def Leppard. I would agree with CS's mistakes though.

[Holy Slime]

What half empty venues? They did Summerland, Festivals, and Def Leppard. I would agree with CS's mistakes though.

I seem to remember them having bad attendance on their last few headlining shows in the US with Shinn. Am I mistaken?

[Pingfah]

I think CT is simply embarrassed by the Shinn Era. Regardless of how he feels about the actual music, the simple fact is that they alienated the majority of their fanbase to make an album which barely sold any copies, and to play shows in a bunch of half-empty venues, add on top of that CS frequently forgetting lyrics and I think the whole era ended up just being an embarrassment for CT, and I think he's trying to over-compensate by burying it and trashing it.

I don't think he's trying to placate Ed, who hasn't said a single negative thing about the era since the reunion, or the fanbase, who just seem happy they are back together. I think he's trying to placate himself.

I'm not sure about that. The band was already done, the fans alienated long ago. SFBM was an unmitigated flop in the US, their one time biggest market. The Turn sold nothing because nobody even knew it existed, they got virtually no press, no airplay, nobody gave a shit.

Why he would be embarrassed that they got their shit together and put out an album that was actually good, unlike the previous 3 turds they shat out, I cannot imagine.

[alexou]

I seem to remember them having bad attendance on their last few headlining shows in the US with Shinn. Am I mistaken?

Yeah...summerlang was good for the most part, AC/TC had a good crowd too, but the later US shows were really not sold out.

[Gertjan]

Chad just posted an explanation of his nasty sounding comment about Chris:


The entire experience of singing and playing the old songs was confusing for all of us (band and fans). Chris no more wanted to stand in Ed’s shoes, than Ed would have wanted to stand in his. When we began writing songs there were no constraints or pressures but as the demos started being created, Chris was suddenly faced with inside and outside pressure to make it a LIVE album. This was easy for PD, CG and me but even Jerry Harrison warned that the walls would/could close in on Chris. We broke this up by doing the Summerland Tour to get in touch with what it felt like to be a band in front of an audience. On this particular night, we were performing in a large amphitheater, the largest of the entire tour. The band were hitting our marks and finding our footing as a quartet, and the energy of the crowd was peaking just about the time we hit Lightning Crashes. These are the special moments where the audience and band merge; and hopefully where the spirit of a songs origination can return; where the crowd sings so loud we can melt into one. As I looked to my left to find my grounding, I saw Chris with his microphone extended to the crowd and my brain was shell shocked, “who is that? What’s happening?”

This a real and honest snapshot of what goes on during a performance for me, and what I experienced during many of the shows I performed with Chris. It doesn’t mean that he’s not a good person, or a great performer, and that I’m not grateful for his partnership. My thoughts are not all pretty and cleaned up, if anything its one big mess. For thirty-years of my life that figure on our stage was Ed, and from the view of my lens it was so surreal and odd to witness someone else in this position.

I doubt any interview would allow for that entire story or sentiment, but I was asked a direct question and shared a small piece of my experience, raw, unfiltered and incomplete. My comment certainly wasn’t meant to detract from the spirit of our collaboration, but I remain wholly happy that Ed is back in his rightful place, and that Chris no longer has to deal with the distractions of being the “replacement guy.” I’m sure I/we fucked this up along the way but there was no easy way to get to where we are today and really that’s all I care about. Yes, egos were bruised along the way, but the music should only benefit from our journey. Chris will find his footing, and the original line-up of the band will produce some inspired tunes and shows. In spirit - CT

[FishOutaWater]

I thought when I read that part that maybe Chad was feeling that way a little closer to the end of Act 3 if you know what I mean. Now this Facebook post reveals that this internal monologue in Chad's head occurred on the Summerland Tour in the Summer of 2013? The Turn wasn't released until October 28, 2014. Basically the band was a fool's errand since 2013. Maybe they should have gone into hiding after Summerland instead of mid-2016.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Feb 1 2017, 6:33 pm

[World Dreamer]

I thought when I read that part that maybe Chad was feeling that way a little closer to the end of Act 3 if you know what I mean. Now this Facebook post reveals that this internal monologue in Chad's head occurred on the Summerland Tour in the Summer of 2013? The Turn wasn't released until October 28, 2014. Basically the band was a fool's errand since 2013. Maybe they should have gone into hiding after Summerland instead of mid-2016.

Chad is fucking lost, bro. He doesn't know who he is or what he wants. He is all over the place.

[SecretInsomnia]

Ah he only thought so in 2013! That explains a lot. They weren't in the band together for years yet, so maybe he sometimes litterally forgot who the new guy was. Happens to the best

This post has been edited by SecretInsomnia: Feb 1 2017, 6:44 pm

[Voodoo Lady]

Chad just posted an explanation of his nasty sounding comment about Chris:

I reiterate, it wasn't a nasty sounding comment to begin with.
Chad should not have had to explain that perfectly logical comment. You think by now he'd learn...there is always a certain number of Live's fans who super overreact to any little thing. In all my years of fandom, I've never seen anything like it.

Stop explaining yourselves and GET ON THE ROAD ALREADY!!

[san_sao]

I reiterate, it wasn't a nasty sounding comment to begin with.
Chad should not have had to explain that perfectly logical comment. You think by now he'd learn...there is always a certain number of Live's fans who super overreact to any little thing. In all my years of fandom, I've never seen anything like it.

Stop explaining yourselves and GET ON THE ROAD ALREADY!!

I wonder if people would have interpreted it less harshly if he'd omitted the f-bomb. Literary tone is a tricky fucker.

[Voodoo Lady]

I wonder if people would have interpreted it less harshly if he'd omitted the f-bomb. Literary tone is a tricky fucker.

Spot on.

[FishOutaWater]

Spot on.

OK, let's try it without the F bomb.

Chad, what was it like to perform and record without Ed in Live?

Chad: "Really messed up, I can't put it any other way."

Chad, how did it feel for you during those years when you were doing Live without Ed?

Chad: "I was standing there on stage before our cheering fans during Lightning Crashes sometime during the Summer of 2013 on the Summerland Tour. And I looked over at Chris Shinn singing Lightening Crashes and I said to myself - 'Who the heck is that guys standing there?' Then I thought 'Boy, I really need to start building this bridge back to Ed!'"

Ed played York in the middle of November 2013. I don't know, but that may have been when the "beer" happened. By the end of November 2013, the lawsuits were settled.

All off that happened more than a year before Live released and promoted The Turn and 3 years before they decided Chris Shinn should leave the band. So after "who the heck is that guy" and "I need to build a bridge back to Ed", they went back into the studio and worked with Chris Shinn and Jerry Harrison and created The Turn, got fans to pledge money for the album, and toured through the United States and Australia and promoted the album.

It certainly devalues what Live was up to over the last few years and sort of seems to make fools out of everyone who loyally supported them at that time.

I get it that they have to do what they have to do. They are back with Ed and they are hoping for big things. But there has to be a way that they can address the reality of the last 6 years without rendering it meaningless. And I can't see how Chris Shinn wouldn't take all of that hard.

This post has been edited by FishOutaWater: Feb 2 2017, 9:21 am

[Gertjan]

My thoughts are not all pretty and cleaned up, if anything its one big mess. - CT

I'm afraid that sums it up. Or should explain the inexplainable.

For me, it makes it hard to really feel for the band. Hey, I'm a techie.

[SecretInsomnia]

Since I read the interview, actually since I sensed that The Turn isn't mentioned at all anymore and since they mostly denying they liked the The Turn-era, I got a bit worried that maybe Chad (and Pat and Chad) will not hold on the the good, solid rock sound they brought with TGF and The Turn.

Since the moment I heard the first few samples of TGF until, let's say 2016, I was convinced that if CCP would play, from now on, it would be their way, their sound, the music that they love.

But now, for the first time in like seven years, I wonder if they wanted to work with Ed again so badly, that their musical taste is not the first priority anymore and looking forward to the new music that's being created, I don't know what to expect anymore from them. But maybe I'm wrong. 'Experimental' can mean very nice but also very wrong. (CT on SFBM: 'A new direction for me and my band...').

I'm happy for them finding back their friendship, but God, don't let it distroy the kick ass sound we enjoyed last few years.

[Voodoo Lady]

OK, let's try it without the F bomb.

Chad, what was it like to perform and record without Ed in Live?

Chad: "Really messed up, I can't put it any other way."

Chad, how did it feel for you during those years when you were doing Live without Ed?

Chad: "I was standing there on stage before our cheering fans during Lightning Crashes sometime during the Summer of 2013 on the Summerland Tour. And I looked over at Chris Shinn singing Lightening Crashes and I said to myself - 'Who the heck is that guys standing there?' Then I thought 'Boy, I really need to start building this bridge back to Ed!'"

Ed played York in the middle of November 2013. I don't know, but that may have been when the "beer" happened. By the end of November 2013, the lawsuits were settled.

All off that happened more than a year before Live released and promoted The Turn and 3 years before they decided Chris Shinn should leave the band. So after "who the heck is that guy" and "I need to build a bridge back to Ed", they went back into the studio and worked with Chris Shinn and Jerry Harrison and created The Turn, got fans to pledge money for the album, and toured through the United States and Australia and promoted the album.

It certainly devalues what Live was up to over the last few years and sort of seems to make fools out of everyone who loyally supported them at that time.

I get it that they have to do what they have to do. They are back with Ed and they are hoping for big things. But there has to be a way that they can address the reality of the last 6 years without rendering it meaningless. And I can't see how Chris Shinn wouldn't take all of that hard.

Well, it's you guys' fault for being the fools and supporting them. You can't blame CCP. While The Turn had a rock sound and for most fans, would rank higher than V, BoP, and SFBM, Chris Shinn was not a good choice. To carry on a band's namesake, a replacement singer has to be just as good or better than the original. Nevertheless, some of you ate it up hook, line & sinker.

I clearly see how the f-bomb would make the comment sound more harsh to Chris lovers. Even without the f-bomb, the comment is still not a negative jab at Chris personally, but rather, the situation. It -was- a messed up situation. No one much cared about The Turn. It didn't get radio airplay, didn't get promotion, didn't get a proper tour, etc. No wonder CT wondered, "Oh God, what have I done?" But then there are those of you who would rather have Chris stay in a non-profitable situation (and not necessarily money, folks) instead of getting Ed back.-->

Personally, I don't think there's any way the Ed reconciliation started in 2013. CT definitely could have been missing him at that time, after all it had been three years. My antenna sensed something when CS/Live cancelled shows, including a festival billing here in my city. That was a year and a half ago. When did Ed say they were taking baby steps to reconciliation in an interview? Was that about a year and a half also? If so, timeline works.