Archiving Live Options

[thefunkyredcaboose]

I'm glad that Live has an extensive archive, but it doesn't mean a whole lot to the fans if we never hear or see any of that stuff. Of course there's red tape and money to get through, but man, the band is a lot more generous to the fans when Ed isn't around.

[Hoodstock]

the band is a lot more generous to the fans when Ed isn't around.

No doubt, if the band hadn't broken up Churchbox would still be buried.

[thefunkyredcaboose]

No doubt, if the band hadn't broken up Churchbox would still be buried.

Yep, they were more generous in distributing stuff and they spent a lot of time with fans too. Those fun experiences I had during TGF and the Chris Shinn period really don't match up with them taking an entire album off the internet.

[Bremang]

It's called anonymous leaking. Easy to do, nobody gets hurt, legacy glorified.

[LiveForNow]

Yep, they were more generous in distributing stuff and they spent a lot of time with fans too. Those fun experiences I had during TGF and the Chris Shinn period really don't match up with them taking an entire album off the internet.

I think a lot of it has to do with Live's management company, Hardin Bourke Entertainment. They repped Live before the split and Ed during it. They now rep Live again, and Chad as a producer. They seem extremely traditional and don't seem like the type to allow a taping or anything outside the box.

[dangum]

Not interested in their legacy...? I will instantly shoot down that theory. You can have that opinion, of course, but I know it to be false from first-hand knowledge. After spending days in their archives at Think Loud, I am actually shocked with my jaw-dropped at the vast amount of minutia that has been saved and stored. Music, photos, video, original artwork, prototypes, merchandise, memorabilia, awards... I have worked with many, many artists and bands and Live's archives surpass many.

Oh, how wonderful that Live has such an extensive collection. Unfortunately it's not much use to fans if we don't get to see or listen to it.

How is it a legacy if the only people who get access to it are the band members themselves and their friends?

Why doesn't Live start scanning all these items and put them up on a web site? They have numerous live concert recordings on DAT and cassette, why don't they capture them and post online?

Why wasn't Live a pro-taping band when it actually mattered? It's easy to say 'go ahead and tape' in 2011 when everybody is carrying their phone to shows and video and audio is omnipresent. It would have taken courage to allow tapers to bring in their gear in the 90s.

[jcs420x365]

Yes, I tried pre the social media explosion but also since. Here are a couple of examples.

2010. I started a thread on this forum asking whether fans would like to see an open taping policy for The Gracious Few.
Would you like to see an open taping policy?

2012. I Tweeted to Kevin Martin and Sean Hennesy asking whether they would be cool to have concert recordings hosted at LMA (Candlebox is listed there). I didn't get a response from Kevin but did get one from Sean. He said " i give no amount of fucks. It depends on the other guys"
https://twitter.com/FansOfLive/status/246900440703328256

2012. Kevin Martin frequented the Fans of Live forum so I sent him a PM asking him about getting TGF added to the LMA. No response. He hasn't logged in since so he wouldn't have seen it.

2014. When Live was promoting The Turn, they were selling experiences on Pledge Music.
https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/live/exclusives
I paid $100 for a "30 minute guitar lesson via Skype with Chad Taylor".
My intention was not to have a guitar lesson nor to spend 30 minutes on Skype with Chad but rather ask Chad a few questions about audience taping and the LMA. In 2015 I received an email from Lisa Lonabaugh (ThinkLoud) who was organising the session. I asked if I could send Chad some questions via email in lieu of the Skype call and she said that would be fine. I sent through the questions. This is part of her reply: "I reviewed your questions and notified Chad but unfortunately those type of questions have to be answered from LIVE's management, agent and lawyer. Chad is not permitted to personally answer on that subject."
So, I used the message system Chad was spruiking at the time (Cyberdust) and contacted him directly. Chad replied saying that it wouldn't be possible due to the record label (I'm paraphrasing as Cyberdust deletes messages within 30 seconds of reading them).

Chad Taylor and Chad Gracey have both said yes. Lots of posts on Facebook. This was during TGF and The Turn eras.

In my opinion, Live is not interested in their legacy. They are sitting on mountains of material yet it stays unreleased. Their two 25th anniversary re-releases have been sub-standard. They are doing the bare minimum and just enough to get their name out to the casuals and the mainstream.

I have a vast collection of concert recordings that I have collected over the years. I do my best to share them on this forum and upload them to Mediafire so that they remain active (as long as I keep paying for my account).

Wow! You sure did try - I'm impressed by the guitar lesson attempt. Thanks for your efforts.

I agree re Live not being interested in their legacy and disagree with the subsequent commenters that have suggested the decision is all on the record label. It'If the band was interested in including a disc of demos with the Throwing Copper package, why would the label stand in their way when there's no money involved? It's not like the demos have to be remastered and if the cd manufacturing cost is prohibitive, just include them in the digital version. In addition, if Ed went to the label and told them that he wanted LMA to host audience recorded live shows, why would they say no unless there was an official live release forthcoming that it would siphon profits from? The label wants to keep the band happy and if anybody felt strongly and pushed back, the stuff would be out there.

Oh, and LiveForNow: the management company works for the band. They can certainly advise re issues like this but it's ultimately not their decision.

[jcs420x365]

I would have loved to purchase a stand alone 2 CD set with the remasters and Woodstock but it wasn't offered. Instead, I'm only getting the remaster CD and shirt combo. Do you know why they didn't offer the 2 CD option?

$$$$$$$$$$$$

instead of skipping the purchase, you just paid more to get the shirt.

[Voodoo Lady]

Oh, how wonderful that Live has such an extensive collection. Unfortunately it's not much use to fans if we don't get to see or listen to it.

How is it a legacy if the only people who get access to it are the band members themselves and their friends?

Why doesn't Live start scanning all these items and put them up on a web site? They have numerous live concert recordings on DAT and cassette, why don't they capture them and post online?

Why wasn't Live a pro-taping band when it actually mattered? It's easy to say 'go ahead and tape' in 2011 when everybody is carrying their phone to shows and video and audio is omnipresent. It would have taken courage to allow tapers to bring in their gear in the 90s.

I’ve been thinking about this today. First, a disclaimer... I’m not a collector of live performances as other fans are. Sure, I love to watch whatever Līve shows end up on YouTube. As for going as far to collect video or audio performances of shows to listen to, ehh, no thanks. I’ll leave that to y’all. Don’t see anything wrong with it, and am in fact quite impressed with the multi-media that has been shared/linked here on this board. Props to dangum, and all collectors who have shared. When it comes to Līve’s legacy, I’m personally more interested in merchandise, photography, collectibles. Chad T. “Instagram Storied” some of that stuff earlier this year.- That was sharing some with the fans. I dunno... I decided today that I don’t think I’d really want to know or see everything stored away in the vault at Think Loud. What fun would it be, then? It’s kind of like Christmas being more fun, due to the anticipation and wondering what’s wrapped up in the box. Once it’s open and all over, it’s kind of “meh.” I always say, I think Līve could share a little more with fans. I follow another fave 80’s band closely, and a member will post or tweet almost monthly memorabilia he runs across in storage, or put a never seen before picture on social media. That would be cool of Chad T. to keep doing now and then. Do I think he or Līve should scan everything onto a website? As said, no. I’d rather keep wondering what else is there.

Lastly, in my opinion, Līve’s legacy is meant for them. Saying “what good is it if they don’t share it with fans” is silly, no offense. I think wanting to have it or see it all is verging on fan entitlement, which is a huge can of worms. I’m not bashing anyone in making the mistake of feeling entitled as a fan. I’m 100% guilty of it in other situations (setlists!), and it happens because we are so emotionally invested in this band. -We aren’t your run-of-the-mill “normal” fans. When we disagree with something Līve has done, or hasn’t done, it’s like a kick in the nuts, or since I don’t have nuts, like an insult to my mother, or something.

Hope this makes sense.

[Bremang]

I decided today that I don't think I'd really want to know or see everything stored away in the vault at Think Loud.

denial