Another Band Gone or AKA: LIVE has disbanded permanently

I'm bummed out a bit. One of my favorite bands, LIVE, is over. I won't go into the details, as that is not my place to speculate, but I will say that I'm disappointed that the split is far from amicable. I remember how much the album "Throwing Copper" brought me joy. It is the album with what is quite possibly my favorite song, "Lightning Crashes", on it. So much diversity and talent. Yes, I feel the quality of the band's cd's had declined over time, but I seemed to be able to find at least one song on every album that made me smile or feel some kind of emotion, and most bands don't do that for me. I love music, but LIVE made me feel a connection when I listened to their songs. I love it when artists can accomplish that, make me feel the music. I loved "Mental Jewelry", "Throwing Copper" is one of my favorite albums period, "Secret Samadi" was decent, though not a favorite, "The Distance to Here" had some really great music on it (Run To The Water, anyone?), I wasn't that into V, but I liked the song "Simple Creed" and I liked "Overcome" also. "Birds of Pray" was okay, but "Heaven" was really the only song I enjoyed all the way, which had started to become a pattern with me at that point. I was thinking that maybe it was just my tastes changing, but LIVE still held a place in my heart. I then heard "Songs From Black Mountain". The song "The River" is very good, and I liked "Mystery" and "Love Shines" tremendously, in particular when LIVE and Chris Daughtry performed "Mystery" together. That was amazing! LOVED THAT! So, while I find the good in all the CD's that I have of theirs, and I appreciate "Awake-The Best Of Live", I was sensing a change in the chemistry for some time. Unfortunately, my thoughts were confirmed. I found out reading it online.

No matter what occurred within the band, no matter what the recent allegations and issues are, I'll still have fond memories of the band who, back in 1994, reinvigorated my love for music. They were the band I'd been wanting to hear for a long time, and for me, the memories remain intact. I'm grateful to have some very cool songs to hear, and I do hope the reissue of "Throwing Copper" still happens. I mean, irregardless of the drama behind the scenes, there's no denying a record that, to me, still holds up 15 years later, and by many accounts was the one that broke the band into the big time, so to speak. Please do it for us fans who supported you guys through it all. I wish the guys the best in their future endeavors, and I will keep tuned into what the future brings for these musicians. One final note, I'm speaking from a personal perspective, and my opinions are not pertaining to the band as individuals, rather about the music that really defined a time in my life. I don't know any of them, personally, and I'm choosing to focus on happy memories in that respect. The rest of it isn't my business and I'm not going there. Thanks for reading my post today. I just felt I had to write it for my own peace of mind.

Blessings and Love,

Groovitude (Live 1988-2009)