The spirit of +LIVE+, Just posted by CT minutes ago Options

[mattyeagles]

My wife is a Live outsider. She knows I am obsessed, but she's not that into it. Her comment, when I said that they are going on without Ed, was "It's not Live without Ed.". I sort of agree with that. It will be the sprit of Live. It will be the music of Live. It will be the nucleus of Live. But it won't be "Live".

Live isn't Apple computer. Steve Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple and Tim Cook succeeded him, and Apple will go on with a successor CEO. But Live, from Mental Jewelry to The Distance To Here, was a creative masterpiece. It was what it was. And you can't pretend that a new invention of it, with a new lead singer, will be what it was. The Mona Lisa is a masterpiece because it all just magically works together. She isn't particularly attractive. That smile is not the happiest smile. But there is something uniquely distinctive and beautiful about the painting that makes it a masterpiece and if you remove any material element from it, it won't be the Mona Lisa anymore. That goes for Ed and Chad and Chad and Patrick. This, by the way, is what Nick doesn't get about classic Live. It wasn't all Ed. Every nuance. Every note. Every influence. It all comes together to make a perfect masterpiece and it requires all the contributions to achieve that result. If classic Live was the Mona Lisa, then new Live will be a new painting. Will it be a masterpiece? Let's see. But with 15 years of growth and experience seperating CCP from the early works of Live, and a new singer, and a new songwriting process, it won't be a clone of classic Live.

What you call it is just semantics. Labels. You can call two different things by the same name - "Live" - but that doesn't make them the same thing. I think everybody gets that, although some of us who resist new Live perhaps are having a hard time getting their heads around the idea.

Anyone who argues that classic Live was what it was not only because of Ed, but also because of CCP, cannot also argue that new Live with a new lead singer will be the same "Live" we saw in the 90's. And I don't think that they are arguing that or will argue that. Yes, it is legally called Live becaause CCP can go on with the name. But they won't be going on like Apple is going on. Because this is music. Art. They will be going on with the name, but it will be a different band under the same name.

Speaking for myself, I am really, really excited to see what new Live can do. It sounds like we are going to hear some deeper cuts from the old albums. More rocking material. And a renewed energy and participation from CCP. I am totally excited about that. It doesn't erase what Live was in the 90's and it doesn't replace it. That will always stand as a monument to the achievement that those four great individuals created. Now let's see what kind of monumental achievement 3 of those 4 original band members make under the banner "Live" in 2011.

I have told many people that Live has gotten back together with a new lead singer and every single person's response has been to laugh; the idea to most people is comical; i am not saying i agree at all but that is definately the outsiders view of the situation...i want the best for all the guys and hope the new phase works out but it is going to be looked out with a lot of skepticism..the last ed "full band" show i went to, my friends didnt even know notice it was a different band until 5 songs in, and i have brought them to a few live concerts

[Pokey]

I have told many people that Live has gotten back together with a new lead singer and every single person's response has been to laugh; the idea to most people is comical; i am not saying i agree at all but that is definately the outsiders view of the situation...i want the best for all the guys and hope the new phase works out but it is going to be looked out with a lot of skepticism..the last ed "full band" show i went to, my friends didnt even know notice it was a different band until 5 songs in, and i have brought them to a few live concerts

It's funny I've had the exact opposite response from people I've told. I've said Live is getting back together there was a bit of eye rolling and a few questions of "whats the point?". But after saying with a new lead singer it seemed to peak their interest more. I wouldn't say excitement was the word, but interested.
Love him or hate him, Ed evokes a reaction, some people have never liked him. For as bland and generic as the music he creates now is, he himself in his prime was far from generic. So I think he either stirred something deep inside you positively, or he was one of the guys in rock music that you wanted to punch in the face. I've always remembered cries of "too preachy".
Whilst the majority of the people who still clung to being a Live fan between 2000 and 2009 (we here are certainly the minority of the larger group out there) won't be happy that Ed is replaced. There is also that large group of fans that dropped off over those years who would welcome the news.

Remember this place in 2006 or so when SFBM came out to a lot of disdain? Even the flak that BOP copped here in 2004? This board had so many more active users, a lot of them sighted Ed as the problem, I don't know how Bremang missed it, but it was well known that the writing credits had shifted to him and CCP had taken a back seat (whether you believed it was against their will or not, it happened). All those people one by one dropped off ... god its hard to even think of names, Tabucky, Alex from New Zealand, MrMcPheezy, that Herzeleid dude etc, there were a lot .. they gave up and walked away. It's only a small sample of what a huge number of fans did, they got sick of being disappointed over and over waiting for some more magic that was the first 4 albums.
The news that Live are reuniting without Ed could evoke a lot of excitement among these people and bring them back (not specifically talking to the board, just back as Live fans all over the world). They might not be expecting the magic of the first 4 albums because who knows what it'll sound like, but knowing that the problem was removed (Ed), they might be willing to give it a chance.

I'll gladly swap out the dead wood that were content with SFBM for the ones who walked away because of V/BOP/SFBM. Those are the like minded fans I'd rather be talking to, sharing the music with. If it doesn't sell well, who cares.

[thefunkyredcaboose]

I haven't told anyone because I am embarrassed that I spend so much time talking about the same band that put out SFBM.

Once the music comes out, if it's awesome, they will know just as they did with TGF.

[+Ed+]

that Herzeleid dude etc

Are you checking the board for people who still are here since then on?

[figure8]

I haven't told anyone because I am embarrassed that I spend so much time talking about the same band that put out SFBM.

Once the music comes out, if it's awesome, they will know just as they did with TGF.

I agree with you. There is a tendency to remember someone, for what they did the last. SFBM was a harror movie come true...

[Pokey]

Are you checking the board for people who still are here since then on?

haha no just working off my own terrible memory.

[mattyeagles]

I agree with you. There is a tendency to remember someone, for what they did the last. SFBM was a harror movie come true...

ha totally agreed---but noone, except for live fans, knows that SFBM came out...the last memory anyone has of live is "heaven but that is pretty embarassing as well

[Bremang]

The Spirit of Live has been castrated in this media clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N93mB7mm3fI&feature=related

This is what they conclude about Throwing Copper:

"Live followed in the guitar heavy footsteps of Garbage." (garbage's first album debuted after TC)

"There are songs like "I Alone" which are like these mad confessions of love. It's almost like Romeo and Juliet, like someone standing outside your window professing their adoration for you"

"Live is like the chick flick of rock and roll"

[Pokey]

"Live is like the chick flick of rock and roll"

Its ironic that this is what Live became, but back in the TC days, these people should have seen them going off on stage with W,D, Waitress or Stage and then says it's a Chick Flick.

But when I see that clip all I can focus on is why is the guy making those rap hand movements when he's simply just talking into the mic..

[Bremang]

But when I see that clip all I can focus on is why is the guy making those rap hand movements when he's simply just talking into the mic..

That was Will I Am at the beginning right? I wonder if he made the connection when he performed with Ed in 08.

[Pokey]

That was Will I Am at the beginning right? I wonder if he made the connection when he performed with Ed in 08.

Was it? he's one of those people I always hear about but don't really know.

I would assume in 08 he'd just have wondered why he was doing something with a former tennis star.

[dancing queen]

when is that youtube clip from?
from a female point of view, I don't think it's quite the insult you might think it is that she says "live is the chick flick of rock"
she meant it as a compliment. Live has done some amazing love songs (I Alone being one of the greatest love songs I've ever heard) and that's not an easy thing to do as a rock band.

[Bremang]

when is that youtube clip from?
from a female point of view, I don't think it's quite the insult you might think it is that she says "live is the chick flick of rock"
she meant it as a compliment. Live has done some amazing love songs (I Alone being one of the greatest love songs I've ever heard) and that's not an easy thing to do as a rock band.

I guess Live could have been more seen as chick flick-y by TDTH. But the segment was reviewing TC. At that point, what did Live really do with TC that could have been considered a love song? All over you, perhaps, kind of a vague love song. Iris? Ed analyzes memories of a blowjob? Lightning crashes, I think a little to serious to be romantic. I definitely don't think Ed was writing about a woman in I Alone. And then you got like Pokey said, WD, Damn at otter creek, stage, TBD, and every other track that pulls Live far away from that image.

This post has been edited by Bremang: Oct 14 2011, 7:40 pm

[T.B.D]

I guess Live could have been more seen as chick flick-y by TDTH. But the segment was reviewing TC. At that point, what did Live really do between MJ and TC that could have been considered a love song? All over you, perhaps, kind of a vague love song. Iris? Ed analyzes memories of a blowjob? Lightning crashes, I think a little to serious to be romantic. I definitely don't think Ed was writing about a woman in I Alone. And then you got like Pokey said, WD, Damn at otter creek, stage, TBD, and every other track that pulls Live far away from that image.

Agreed. Which is why Hold Me Up was pulled. I thought I Alone was a song about God, loving his people, and not listening to televangelists ... Right ?

[thefunkyredcaboose]

I have never once thought of I Alone as a love song. Interesting that it has so many different interpretations.