When did this going into the studio thing go wrong?

[Electrochrome]

If he still really wants $3 million up front from a major label, then we'll be waiting another 15 years, even with no inflation adjustment. What sane label exec (oxymoron?) would fork over that cash to this band?

The Sisters would have to be the beneficiaries of some rich, kind soul who wanted the band to be heard again in some format.

And if Morissey's return cost so much to promote (I have to admit even in the States they got quite the word out so it was a good effort) that his sales of 'only' two million mean he could be dropped, how would anyone consider The Sisters? It would take a massive campaign to get anyone to remember the band, period, let alone market new product. And in the US, forget it, nobody knows and nobody would care, the industry is so brutal and watered down. They're done as a major label band, unless another industry shakeup opens a small crack for Eldo to crawl in. Unlikely.

No, The Sisters really do exist between the opening notes and final bow at the concerts these days, in between they're whispered about and remembered by a few, and obsessed over online.

I'll say it again, every time I see some crap-ass band put out an album, or another crusty outfit get a new deal and a new album, I wonder 'why not The Sisters?'

[Ozpat]

every time I see some crap-ass band put out an album, or another crusty outfit get a new deal and a new album, I wonder 'why not The Sisters?'

That's a fact! And I have been wondering about this for a long time now...

[Ghostrider]

every time I see some crap-ass band put out an album, or another crusty outfit get a new deal and a new album, I wonder 'why not The Sisters?'

That's a fact! And I have been wondering about this for a long time now...

well..maybe can contact the majors with a demo of a new album under another band name, to see what they have to say when they think it's a new band...just to feel them out...

worst thing that can happen is that some lowlife employee of the record company, who has some knowhow of the boot circuit, takes the demo and releases it as a bootleg of the studio recordings of all the new songs..(i know i would keep a copy if i ever got my hands on it)

[Ozpat]

every time I see some crap-ass band put out an album, or another crusty outfit get a new deal and a new album, I wonder 'why not The Sisters?'

That's a fact! And I have been wondering about this for a long time now...

well..maybe can contact the majors with a demo of a new album under another band name, to see what they have to say when they think it's a new band...just to feel them out...

Are there any demo's at all. Or haven't "they" even been in a studio since UTG?

[Eva]

Do you people think that if The Sisters released a new studio album - lets say with the "new" songs we know - they could catch the attention of a larger audience?

For the rest I tend to agree with what you write about The Sisters position in the music industry, and I doubt that AE would like to go through the whole circus of promotion again.

[Ghostrider]

Do you people think that if The Sisters released a new studio album - lets say with the "new" songs we know - they could catch the attention of a larger audience?

well..i must say that they sound more "rock 'n roll" that ever before, with chris and wayne jamming the guitars like that...
must even say that songs like summer, slept, suzanne and even crash & burn could reach a wider audience than the more dark and (excuse me for using this term) "gothic" sounding tracks they did before...
so why not?

i still see a lot of copies of VT and Floodland being sold where i work..so...

[Ozpat]

Do you people think that if The Sisters released a new studio album - lets say with the "new" songs we know - they could catch the attention of a larger audience?

For the rest I tend to agree with what you write about The Sisters position in the music industry, and I doubt that AE would like to go through the whole circus of promotion again.

Yes I do think so.

They now mainly have the attention of the audience that has known them for years. An entire generation has lived without a new Sisters' album. If the Sisters rocked almost 25 years ago and conquered the hearts of many, why not today?

Andy doesn't mind getting exploited even with the circus of promotion. But fact is that he wants this his way and get a large amount of money in advance.

[Ghostrider]

But fact is that he wants this his way and get a large amount of money in advance.

i agree
if it wouldn't be for the money he could sign up easily with a smaller record company, where a name like "the sisters of mercy" would pro'lly get a wild card, as long as they keep a few things staight, like album release and concerts

couldn't some rich bastard put on tryout??
say: you get a contract, but you have to prove yourself before you get the cash

[Eva]

But fact is that he wants this his way and get a large amount of money in advance.

I wish he had a bit more of the "We'll show them (again) and later they'll bleed" attitude... On the other hand: Would I be willing to take up a job for half (or less) the money I've been paid in my last job? - Nope...

[Ozpat]

But isn't he a perfectionist? Will he allow to let his "child" bleed to death?
Do not believe that.

I am convinced to something new will be released.
Why taping almost(?) all the gigs (still!) and why putting Suzanne on the site? But have they been in the studio? Is anything recorded yet. In the BBC6 interview with Andrew Collins he said, and correct me if I'm wrong, that he keeps offering stuff to different labels. So what is he offering? Studio recordings? Live recordings?

Another thing is that November is getting close. In 4 months it's celebration time and there's still silence. So a major tour won't start in February I guess. I do not like this.

[canon docre]

Is anything recorded yet. In the BBC6 interview with Andrew Collins he said, and correct me if I'm wrong, that he keeps offering stuff to different labels. So what is he offering? Studio recordings? Live recordings?

The clean live version of Suzanne was offered as a demo to a german record label last February. This may or may not have been on behalf of the Sisters.

[Ozpat]

Is anything recorded yet. In the BBC6 interview with Andrew Collins he said, and correct me if I'm wrong, that he keeps offering stuff to different labels. So what is he offering? Studio recordings? Live recordings?

The clean live version of Suzanne was offered as a demo to a german record label last February. This may or may not have been on behalf of the Sisters.

I would love to listen to it...

[Eva]

But isn't he a perfectionist? Will he allow to let his "child" bleed to death?
Do not believe that.

How do you mean "bleed to death": Let The Sisters fade away with just occasional gigs until nobody ever books them anymore at all? With "have them bleed later" I meant to release a "low budget"/independent album and have the industry pay shed loads of money again later when - due to that new album - the general attention and interest have risen again, so The Sisters get offered a major deal again.
If you're unto something different though, something along the lines I hinted further above, I can pretty well imagine him letting The Sisters fade away - just doing occasional gigs as long as there's a shrinking crowd of sad old and young diehard fans and a few occasional visitors to fill a smaller and smaller venue with. I know this sounds sad and very cynic, and the only reason why I don't exclude this possibility is that I have great difficulties to figure what's going on in AE's mind. And such a scenario is an option - at least for somebody who has other options (or no need) to earn a living.

I am convinced to something new will be released.
Why taping almost(?) all the gigs (still!) and why putting Suzanne on the site?

I had the feeling that putting Suzanne on the site and starting rumours about a dvd release were just mere hints to tease potential promoters with. Something to make people book them again. But I might be and I hope I am completely wrong with this reckoning.

Another thing is that November is getting close. In 4 months it's celebration time and there's still silence. So a major tour won't start in February I guess. I do not like this.

What do you mean with "a major tour"? I doubt that they can turn up in Germany (besides probably Hamburg and maybe Berlin) yet again. And therefore I am convinced that the only thing we'll get (unless the USA will be graced again, which I strongly doubt) are maybe two weeks in the UK.
And isn't there still plenty of time to announce these gigs? I ask because I can't remember how much in advance we knew about the gigs last summer and the tour in 2003. I can only remember that the dates for the 2001 anniversary tour were announced quite early.

[Ozpat]

You make some good points Eva.

You could be right about "Suzanne". So far I did not see it that way.
But they are still taping gigs. At least in Tilburg a girl was taping the whole show. Can't imagine that this is just for private use.

With bleeding to death I indeed mean to say that it will fade away eventually. Occasional tours or just gigs in venues that become smaller and smaller and not more than that. Cannot imagine that Von will accept this (a perfectionist he is for sure).

The 2005 tour was announced 4 months prior in the programming of the several venues. The 2003 tour was announced late November 2002 and started late March in the next year.
The Sisters site confirmed the 2003 as well as the 2005 tour at about
3 months in advance.
Sure there's enough time but when I know it I can make arrangements in time .

A bit of a major tour for me is at least 15 gigs and if that means mainly the UK only that's a pitty but expected and still fine. But still....I think they can turn up in Hamburg for sureand more south as well. To get a venue in Holland, Belgium "crowded" should not be a problem in my opinion. And what about countries like Spain, Italy, Portugal? No interest at all?
I agree with you that the USA will be graced.

It's a matter of hopes and fears Eva. But I think we all have to agree that it's hard to, as you say as well, figure out what is going on in his mind. Well....at least we can talk about it partly because of that .

A shame also that there were no interviews during the last tour. The last one is 2.5 years old now. Apparently an interview with the German Laut.de was cancelled. I read this somewhere on the Poison Door Forum.

[paint it black]

I had the feeling that putting Suzanne on the site and starting rumours about a dvd release were just mere hints to tease potential promoters with. Something to make people book them again.

*alledgedly* 100% correct eva

the thing i don't get, the site is all done to promote the DVD, the DVD is pretty much done, there are studio tracks down

so i've come to the conclusion, he's getting on a bit, he's having fun, and he really can't be bothered. (which is sad for us)

[Eva]

Cheers, Ozpat, and the same goes for you and other people here. And I don't mean to spoil the party and be the cynical sceptic - as you seem to say, we're just playing a mind game of possiblities... And I'll most certainly be one of the last to loose hope, as long as AE's alive...

You're right about other countries - especially Belgium and The Netherlands, where TSOM still seem to have a rather large reliable fanbase. I don't know about Spain, but forget about Italy - as far as I know TSOM are far too expensive for the Italians' liking. And about Portugal I've heard the rumour that after the supportact fiasco of 2001 promoters aren't keen on booking The Sisters anymore.
The doubts I have about Germany are due to The Sisters' appearance at M'Era Luna this year, and remembering how "half full" some of the venues were in 2003 (especially Magdeburg springs to mind, but that town probably is just too close to Berlin, where they played aswell that year).
Eastern Europe might be another option for next year (Poland, Estonia, if the wishes of some HLers are to come true... ), or at least former eastern Germany, although remembering Leipzig last time I have my doubts...

The general doubts I have about the countries you mentioned are due to the long travelling they'd have to do - lets say between UK and Spain, but if they'd put Spain(/Portugal) at the end of a tour it'd be feasible as in 2001.

As to filming the gigs: Jessica's always there filming, and that leaves me with hope too, on the other hand one of my worst fears is that TSOM will release a "Thank You" DVD and then leave the building for good...

The interview issue is another thing I don't - or just partly - understand. And there was at least one person this year who tried to get one and did get a "yes", but no replies to the email with the questions...

Anyway, as long as I get one or more anniversary gig(s) next year I'll be more than happy....

[canon docre]

Is anything recorded yet. In the BBC6 interview with Andrew Collins he said, and correct me if I'm wrong, that he keeps offering stuff to different labels. So what is he offering? Studio recordings? Live recordings?

The clean live version of Suzanne was offered as a demo to a german record label last February. This may or may not have been on behalf of the Sisters.

I would love to listen to it...

It's surely the same version that was available on the homepage for download, although I can't be bothered comparing them.

[Ghostrider]

With bleeding to death I indeed mean to say that it will fade away eventually. Occasional tours or just gigs in venues that become smaller and smaller and not more than that. Cannot imagine that Von will accept this (a perfectionist he is for sure).

i must say, smaller and smaller venues is not that correct.. where they played in Belgium last summer, "Lokerse Feesten", is quickly becomming one of the biggest festivals of the country (besides rock Werchter, which realy doesn't go for a band like the sisters due to the alternative groups that play there). if you check the other bands at the lokerse recently: Iggy Pop, Simple Minds, and many other big names, who still have full major contracts...

imho the sisters can still fill any given venue, depending on the place ofcourse. if they play 1 gig per country (sisters worth), they should all well be sold out soon enough...

[dtsom]

With bleeding to death I indeed mean to say that it will fade away eventually. Occasional tours or just gigs in venues that become smaller and smaller and not more than that. Cannot imagine that Von will accept this (a perfectionist he is for sure).

i must say, smaller and smaller venues is not that correct.. where they played in Belgium last summer, "Lokerse Feesten", is quickly becomming one of the biggest festivals of the country (besides rock Werchter, which realy doesn't go for a band like the sisters due to the alternative groups that play there). if you check the other bands at the lokerse recently: Iggy Pop, Simple Minds, and many other big names, who still have full major contracts...

imho the sisters can still fill any given venue, depending on the place ofcourse. if they play 1 gig per country (sisters worth), they should all well be sold out soon enough...

I don´t think so, except heineken music hall, summer festivals and maiby a few venues in Germany the sisters plays in small venues...(more o lees for a capacity of 3000 people)

I remember in Madrid in the year 2000 they were able to fill 3000 people or so but the problem is that if you´re not a siters fun like the heartlanders or people that can get bootlegs the people don´t know the new songs and the people that was in Madrid for example expected to hear the clasic songs and they played a lot of new songs like they do in every show.

do you think that they will be able to fill 3000 people in Madrid other time???(I don´t like to say it but In my opinion if they don´t release a new album that the people can hear on the radio NO)
and this happens in other places.
in my case I´ve got a lot of bootlegs and I know all the new songs but a lot of people don´t know those songs) in my opnion the sisters needs a new album RIGHT NOW

[DeWinter]

The only chance I can see of him getting a major's attention is if a younger "in" band covers one of his songs,and quite frankly,out of the European goth scene,I don't hear his name shouted out as an influence much.
Maybe if he hadnt thrown hissy fits over the goth label,he might have had a mild career renaissance a la Bauhaus recently?
Anyway..bottom lining it..I think if he wanted to release new stuff,he could have done so,a long time ago.I really don't buy all this talk of majors,money,or it all being Adam Pearson's fault.I just assume his heart isnt in it anymore.A shame,but that's life.

[Ozpat]

@Eva
Yes Eva that's what I do...going for the gigs. And hoping that one day the great news arrives that something new is released.

Main thing is that the Sisters still exist and that people get excited when they tour wondering how AE looks, if new songs are performed, what the line-up will be, what the tourshirt looks like, wondering how the reviews will be of the gigs you were not able to visit

Yes...when the Sisters are about to play something is starting to happen. We are not spoiled so when anything is happening we get excited. Well....at least a lot of us. And that's something beautiful.

@Ghostrider
I agree that they should be able to fill one descent venue in every country, but I don't think that you can credit the number of visitors at a festival to the Sisters. A lot of them come for other bands or just for fun, being a nice day out.

@dtsom. I agree with you but still....if a band can fill venues that ("small?) size without releasing anything that's not too bad in my opinion.
But you are right. Also in Tilburg I met people wondering what songs they were playing. The fans have known these songs for years but they were never on any radiostation or for sale on a record.

@DeWinter. I do not agree. Sisters songs are covered already by more than enough bands and I do not get your point this being of any influence.
But you are right in my opinion when you are saying that he could have released something if he really wanted to.

[Ghostrider]

@Ghostrider
I agree that they should be able to fill one descent venue in every country, but I don't think that you can credit the number of visitors at a festival to the Sisters. A lot of them come for other bands or just for fun, being a nice day out.

hmm..that depends...i don't think the "fun day out" has much to do with it when an entire town gets filled with over 10000 "black dressed" people, all in leather pants, sisters t-shirts etc.. (i don't think they all dressed up like that for the 2 other bands that evening though...Monza & Vive la Fete??? )

[Ghostrider]

I just assume his heart isnt in it anymore.A shame,but that's life.

if you saw him at some of the gigs last summer you could see he was "gaining intrest" again... maybe he lost it a bit the last few years, but you could see and hear he was heaving fun on stage again...

and if his heart wasn't in it anymore... why would he do "new things" like uptown topranking?

[Eva]

@Eva
Yes Eva that's what I do...going for the gigs. And hoping that one day the great news arrives that something new is released.

Main thing is that the Sisters still exist and that people get excited when they tour wondering how AE looks, if new songs are performed, what the line-up will be, what the tourshirt looks like, wondering how the reviews will be of the gigs you were not able to visit

Yes...when the Sisters are about to play something is starting to happen. We are not spoiled so when anything is happening we get excited. Well....at least a lot of us. And that's something beautiful.

Exactly. I'm very glad that I can still (and hopefully for a long time to come) enjoy Sisters gigs with everything that surrounds such a happening.

@Ghostrider
I agree that they should be able to fill one descent venue in every country, but I don't think that you can credit the number of visitors at a festival to the Sisters. A lot of them come for other bands or just for fun, being a nice day out.

I'm glad for them to get booked for a festival, and Lokeren really was brilliant, although I had the feeling that most of the people there hadn't come for The Sisters, but for Vive La Fete... And I'll never forgive those ignorant morons who said that TSOM sounded like a bad Rammstein copy. However, the atmosphere was great and so was the Sisters show.
As for sizes of venues: Yes, Ghostrider, you're right in a way. The only reason for me to mention smaller and smaller venues was the 2003 experience, where some of the venues weren't anywhere near being filled, let alone sold out. But in other places they did fill the venues. For me, as long as they can fill the Xtra in Zurich (about 2000 people) I'm happy, even if TSOM only play there once in 4 years.

@DeWinter. I do not agree. Sisters songs are covered already by more than enough bands and I do not get your point this being of any influence.
But you are right in my opinion when you are saying that he could have released something if he really wanted to.

They get covered, but the listeners don't give a f*** about who the songs originally are by: "My favorite song by In Extremo is This Corrosion..." Go figure...

@Paint It Black: But if this assumtion is correct (Susanne and a future DVD just being teasers for promoters) it is a bad strategy, as it only works for a few years until the last promoter has stopped believing them... I'd hope for The Sisters to be - er - slightly less - er - "shortsighted" (to avoid the word stupid)....

[Eva]

I just assume his heart isnt in it anymore.A shame,but that's life.

if you saw him at some of the gigs last summer you could see he was "gaining intrest" again... maybe he lost it a bit the last few years, but you could see and hear he was heaving fun on stage again...
and if his heart wasn't in it anymore... why would he do "new things" like uptown topranking?

You're right, Ghostrider, and seeing that was the best thing about the 2005 tour. You could see how much fun the band had and feel the fresh energy they were radiating. - There is still hope for the future...

And besides, they're still the best band there is anyway...