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Post by flashflood on Dec 30, 2008 17:05:57 GMT -5
It took me about 20 minutes to get through all of the recent posts and wow, fan forums are definitely both a blessing and a curse for a band. Sprinkle-in random band participation and it's bound to get ugly when things become uncertain, as they are now.
The initial "he said/they said" in november certainly didn't help, nor did travis' breakup song that essentially called his former bandmates a bunch of phonies who forced a reunion for money. The issue of reunion credibility was already something supporters had to contend with, whether it was convincing a friend to check out the new album or stomaching a snarky blog review of FMF. At this point it would be hard for even the most diehard fan not to consider throwing in the support towel. Understandable, but why? Please consider this:
Commercial rock music IS, in fact, about money and Blind Melon has always has been a commercial rock band. They played stadiums, rode on tour buses, and had cd's in walmart. That's about as commercial as it comes. But before the credibility police crashes this post... try to accept this as fact for a moment and move forward. The Allman Brothers are commercial, so were the Beatles. Miles Davis signed many a contract to extend his music to a larger audience and pull a paycheck he deserved, and so have most of the other artists you love. And they all love to make money just like you and I our occupations. With all respect to his position in this mess, I think Travis made a poor decision to swing below the belt and insinuate credibility fraud, as if he too wasn’t potentially interested in finally making money in this business as part of Blind Melon.
Having spent many of my younger years judging far too many bands on whether they “sold-out” or not (it was a big thing in the cred-conscious 90’s), I think it really comes down to what bands are out there doing in pursuit of the almighty buck. Self-financing a reunion, producing and releasing your own album, playing numerous gigs in small cities across the country with meet and greets after each show… I personally think Blind Melon is definitely holding up their end of honorability scale… for a commercial rock band.
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tamara
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Post by tamara on Dec 31, 2008 0:58:22 GMT -5
I think it doesn't matter how much money you make...the "sell out" or loss of credibility comes when/if you compromise who you are, your music or what you want to play just to make a buck. I'm NOT saying Blind Melon did this. In fact, I think quite the opposite. I dunno, I read a ton of opinions on here and I personally loved For My Friends. It was totally Blind Melon to me.
I don't feel like they did it for the money but I hope they make tons of cash, they deserve it. An honest connection to music is priceless.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2008 8:59:48 GMT -5
If you love your job, and get paid for it, everyday is like a vacation.
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Post by cloudy on Dec 31, 2008 9:12:41 GMT -5
I think it doesn't matter how much money you make...the "sell out" or loss of credibility comes when/if you compromise who you are, your music or what you want to play just to make a buck. I'm NOT saying Blind Melon did this. In fact, I think quite the opposite. I dunno, I read a ton of opinions on here and I personally loved For My Friends. It was totally Blind Melon to me. I don't feel like they did it for the money but I hope they make tons of cash, they deserve it. An honest connection to music is priceless. Absolutely! And they do have wives and kids to support and their career as Blind Melon was pretty much halted when Shannon died - not fair to them - and look how long it's taken to get BM back again? What they did in the yrs in between, I have a feeling, was not nearly as lucrative.... cloudy
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Post by flashflood on Dec 31, 2008 10:10:21 GMT -5
you're right, tamara. if there is some type of imaginary scale of intent on the part of musicians, i am confident that their hearts and minds were in the right place doing this from day one.
anybody who saw a melon show over the past two years would attest to the fact that the effort put into the music is worth far more than the ticket price. they're not superheroes, stored in boxes until showtime then packed up after the booze is kicked and groupies dance away. travis aside, these are four grown men in their late 30's with families, homes, bills to pay, etc. who decided to dive head-first back into a business that puts them in a tour bus together half the year away from all of those things. it's hard enough to establish a rock band today, forget about re-establishing yourself when it's a game played by young men with far less things to worry about. but the guys have attempted this because it's clear what they have to offer together is of such high quality. hopefully they know this thing (let's call it a brand) puts them in a microscopic percentage of people who attempt to pick up musical instruments and play together. regardless of the vocalist dilemma, i can't see this not continuing to succeed if they still have the passion to write and perform as a band. but i suppose that is the million dollar question....
there's probably a fairly decent chance that tonight is their last show ever. if so, i'd hope that the final word on this reunion was that it wasn't without hazards, but in the end was a success and certainly not pursued strictly "for the money".
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Post by flicky0urbic on Dec 31, 2008 12:03:42 GMT -5
I don't care if they did the reunion for money or dogporn. The bottom line is that I have had a blast seeing them live and I would love to be able to see them live 20++++++ more times.
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tamara
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Post by tamara on Dec 31, 2008 21:07:27 GMT -5
I don't care if they did the reunion for money or dogporn. The bottom line is that I have had a blast seeing them live and I would love to be able to see them live 20++++++ more times. HAHAHAHAHA! FINALLY we get to the bottom of it...it was for dogporn!!! For real though, if you need to make money, and you love music, what's the harm in doing both at once?? There's a big difference between money being one of the reasons, and being the only reason. How will any of us ever know unless the band comes on here and says so. But I'm pretty much in flicky's camp...who cares. Though it would in fact cheapen what I took from the music, especially the new stuff, if it was all manufactured bullshit. But I just don't think it is. And if it is, I don't even want to know.
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~LoveJoy~
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the way it looked before felt better from the window..now that its fadin away...i feel it everyday..
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Post by ~LoveJoy~ on Dec 31, 2008 22:40:04 GMT -5
yeah, if they didnt make money they couldnt tour or put out records....why would anybody want their favorite band to struggle? that doesnt make sense. i think anyone whos ever seen them live can tell that they love what they do. theyre not just some manufactured backstreet boy type of product....which is perfectly fine if you like that kind of thing, they are the real deal. they are a bunch of nice guys with the realest talent your gonna find. anyone who questions their intent should ask themselve if they would be happy working for free. its not a bad thing to like doing the thing that contributes to your financial stability. oh, and one more thing, take a look at any picture of the guys playin at the shows if youve never been......you cannot fake that. (im obviously having a one heck of an exciting new year's eve....cheers)
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yves
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Post by yves on Jan 1, 2009 22:04:28 GMT -5
I'm a firm believer that this wasn't about the money. Rogers has always kept busy, Brad & CT had(have) a good thing going at their studio & Glen had a pretty good career going selling stuff on Ebay. (just kidding Glen, but ya did kinda fall off the end of the earth for a while)
The opportunity to get back together happened and they took a shot at it. Hopefully there's a light at the end of the tunnel pointing them back to stage 1. Alot of people have been lucky enough to see these guys a pile of times over the last few years. Being 32, married with 2 kids and a solid career, I've not been able to leave the country for a rock show in the last while.
I do have a handful of tickets for a show in Toronto that is still up in the air. (maybe ticketmaster is holding me hostage?)
I also think that For My Friends was very much a Blind Melon record. I'd even include Mercy (Abandon Jalopy) as a Blind Melon record. (yes, I know it's Brad's solo record, but to me, it's very much Blind Melon). For me, that record meant Blind Melon could continue on after Shannon if it wanted to. I never thought it would happen...but I'm glad it did.
I will say this though... I'm bummed out that youtube only crept up in recent years. I would have LOVED to have had as much access to live music from bands like Unified Theory & Extra Virgin. I miss both those bands a ton. Everyone knows my undying support for Chris Shinn, EIE & UT. But Extra Virgin doesn't get enough credit anymore. Rene Lopez is awesome (and a very cool dude). Those guys made some amazing music. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that they never got signed or toured beyond the north-east.
I'm getting off-track here...what was my point? Oh yeah...Blind Melon. It wasn't for the money. They've financed everything on their own. It's about music and reconnecting with themselves and their fanbase.
but that...is just my opinion.
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Post by flashflood on Jan 1, 2009 22:36:31 GMT -5
hey yves, i remember meeting you back at EV's rehearsal studio on crosby st. nyc way back when i was working with the band. i remain shocked that extra virgin never got a fair shot from the music biz, though it was an odd time for music where any band without a name preceeded by the definite article wasn't cool. i always told them it should have been "THE extra virgins". i too can attest to not getting out to quite as many shows as i did back then, but i'll be once again ready if melon hits the road in '09. hope you get to use your toronto tix.
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yves
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Post by yves on Jan 2, 2009 0:30:54 GMT -5
hey yves, i remember meeting you back at EV's rehearsal studio on crosby st. nyc way back when i was working with the band. i remain shocked that extra virgin never got a fair shot from the music biz, though it was an odd time for music where any band without a name preceeded by the definite article wasn't cool. i always told them it should have been "THE extra virgins". i too can attest to not getting out to quite as many shows as i did back then, but i'll be once again ready if melon hits the road in '09. hope you get to use your toronto tix. wow...that was a long time ago come to think of it. 2001...the winter before 911. I don't remember your name, but I do remember you as the guy sitting by the beer fridge. am I right? I can't think of anyone else who was there aside from the band and Mike Napolitano. small world!
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Post by flashflood on Jan 2, 2009 10:47:01 GMT -5
ha! my name is matt and i may have been close to the beer fridge at that time. being that the band hired me as rogers' hairdresser, i had a ton of time on my hands.
note that your youtube lament has me going through some of my mini dv tapes from back then to find a extra virgin show i recorded back in early 2002 before they disbanded. i'll chuck a song or two up there this weekend while i have some free time.
by the way, when i was going to college a long time ago out in buffalo, i made a habit of driving up the QEW to toronto pretty regularly for shows or just to party. i have fond memories of the city and the good times i had up there.
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yves
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Post by yves on Jan 2, 2009 14:50:27 GMT -5
SWEEEEEEEEET!!! That'd be awesome if you posted some EV to youtube. Keep me posted on that.
I took some video that day, but I came across like a big nerd so I won't post it. Even Rogers comments on how I was just "wasting tape". Speaking of the QEW, I also remember having a conversation with Pat Sansone about when he lived in Hamilton. Again...small world.
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Vince
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Post by Vince on Jan 2, 2009 17:17:45 GMT -5
ha! my name is matt and i may have been close to the beer fridge at that time. being that the band hired me as rogers' hairdresser, i had a ton of time on my hands. note that your youtube lament has me going through some of my mini dv tapes from back then to find a extra virgin show i recorded back in early 2002 before they disbanded. i'll chuck a song or two up there this weekend while i have some free time. by the way, when i was going to college a long time ago out in buffalo, i made a habit of driving up the QEW to toronto pretty regularly for shows or just to party. i have fond memories of the city and the good times i had up there. hey Matthew! Vince of beemelon.com here! Happy new year to you buddy For those who don't know Matt, this guy was cool enough to give me tons of nice Extra Virgin pictures, flyers and demos with the authorization of Rogers Stevens and Rene Lopez to upload 'em on beemelon.com Everything's here: www.beemelon.com/html/extra_virgin/extra_virgin.html
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Post by flashflood on Jan 2, 2009 21:17:53 GMT -5
vince, hey man, what's up? thanks for the kind words. and yves, i wasn't aware of pat living in hamilton, but i sent the attached photo to rogers the last time i was up near ottawa. he was not aware of this honor bestowed upon him... and finally, enjoy the extra virgin i uploaded to youtube today. i produced this a long time ago but never did anything with it until now:
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