Heartland

Which leads on to just why he isn't bothered.

Not up to it, no good songs? Pride and knows it wouldn't do as well as previous albums? (I think this one by the way)

Interesting thread btw, it has kind of just become the accepted truth that The Sisters don't make records any more.

I'm affraid so, ruffers, and very affraid we won't get another album because of that very reason you mentioned...

Anyway, there's still loads of stuff to debate on, new or no new material

Obviousman wrote:I'm affraid so, ruffers, and very affraid we won't get another album because of that very reason you mentioned...

Anyway, there's still loads of stuff to debate on, new or no new material

...and enough stuff to llisten to...

Just....new songs would be nice.....

I seem to recall someone mentioning the term writers' block on here a while back.

When you think about it, nine new songs in the twelve years since Under The Gun was released isn't exactly prolific.

"someone mentioning the term writers' block"

i suspect that would be mik.

I think it was mik, aye.

The one and only reason why there has been no new album is that the boy Eldo has completely, utterly, lost the plot. possibly intentionally.

I very much doubt we'll ever see a new album (it would have happened by now etc.).
I'd even settle for a collaboration with Gorillaz....

Quiff Boy wrote:if sanctuary can make an international-scale comeback for morrisey's last album i'm sure they could handle the sisters quite nicely...

Apparently, Sanctuary records actually LOST money on the recent Moz album, believe it or not, mainly cos they spent squillions of pounds promoting it (it 'only' sold about 2 million copies).
At one point recently, the label even considered dropping him, despite the album being a top 10 hit across the globe.

Think dear Stephen has decided not to take the option he has to release his new album on Sanctuary. Apperently everything came to a head before the Isle of Man festival which dear Stephen refused to do as he was working on his new album for his label Attack. For Sanctuary it all cost too much money with setting up the Attack label and the live discs not selling despite high production costs.

When you think about it, nine new songs in the twelve years since Under The Gun was released isn't exactly prolific.

I'm pretty sure that in an interview about 4 or 5 years ago Von mentioned that he had a load more songs that weren't really suitable for playing live. That seemed a reasonable stetment 5 years ago, as the introduction of new songs to the live set was fairly regular, up to and including Crash & Burn.

Does this mean that the only song that he has written in the last 5 years that is worthy of performing live is Slept?

We're not getting a new album.

He's got enough money already, there's no need for him to be such a tosser and demanding millions for albums which will probably be utterly s**t rock songs.

i dont think the money is the issue per se. i'm sure that he would have ended the east/west thing sooner otherwise.he could have given them any number of live/outtakes/covers/whatever contractual-obligation-filling-product that cost him little in effort,brought a few £'s in,and left him looking less of a pariah in the eyes of major labels. fair play to him for sticking by his principles regardless -but a man who needed the money would have released "summer" independently as soon as he was contractually free. there would have been enough interest among the hardcore -plus its an instant classic- to have won over a reasonably decent label.the dvd (another relatively minimal -effort-involved product) has also never materialised. so-not the money....

its not the songs,surely? we would "settle" for good/bad/any studio versions of the "new" songs;thats an album of mostly strong tracks IMO.

he's not totally disinterested altogether -few and far between they may be but there are still gigs.if its about polishing his ego (and this covers the pride aspect that Ruffers was on about) a nice little independently released album would ensure kudos from the only people who care -us- and any poor sales could be blamed on the evil industry.
if the gigs are an occasional nod to the fans the same goes;and an album wouldn't necessarily need to be that much more effort than even a short tour -the dvd even less so.

which leaves us with "cant" be bothered...which invariably means the gigs will get less and less as well. being used to the idea doesn't make it less depressing.

i wouldnt wish financial hardship on him ...QED well have to kidnap him! bundle him into izzys big machine,fill him full of speed and threaten to take away his animated porn/computer/joanna lumley poster/string vests until he does the vocal tracks for an album.sorted!

Another issue with the new songs is the bootlegs. All of these songs are available as boots, some great quality, some less so.

1. Would Von want these to be the definitive versions or would he rather record them the way he wants them to sound and get them out some way? Does he care?

2. How to release them?
Studio recorded:
Major label, with the power to promote. Isn't going to happen.
Indie label, nice idea.
Internet download album - any thoughts on this? The Sisters could be seen as pioneers?
Freebie giveaway at a gig? Yeah, like we wish!

Live CD included in Live DVD release, haven't we covered this before?

All these different theories that people are coming up with are good, but in the end, they just don't add up! Eldo's probably following along with a snicker.

Kidnap him? That's a great idea! I even know how to do it (Watched King of Comedy last night).

Remember, Eldo's a knob twiddler. A perfectionist. And only he can hear the difference. There are a number of different Vision Thing-era tracks that I can't hear the different between, aside from extended length or a backwards clip from Apocalyse Now.

What I'm saying is, maybe his perfectionism's holding him back as well? That would certainly explain why he doesn't invest in an album himself (cause he can't afford to twiddle for that long), or why he's not so keen on a live recording. Not even a DVD release to finance something larger...

Remember, he always does best for the Sisters; I don't think he'd even be willing to compromise a DVD that's not up to absolute standards for the sake of a later album.

Let the speculations continue! They're sure to change the world! In the meantime, me, Rupert, and Masha will be on the next plane to Hamburg.

Brian

Bootlegs have rarely seemed much of a problem in the past.

They didn't release Good Things because it was bootlegged, but at the same time, Emma was bootlegged long before it appeared on Dominion's b-side.

Bill Hicks wrote:Another issue with the new songs is the bootlegs. All of these songs are available as boots, some great quality, some less so.

1. Would Von want these to be the definitive versions or would he rather record them the way he wants them to sound and get them out some way? Does he care?

2. How to release them?
Studio recorded:
Major label, with the power to promote. Isn't going to happen.
Indie label, nice idea.
Internet download album - any thoughts on this? The Sisters could be seen as pioneers?
Freebie giveaway at a gig? Yeah, like we wish!

Live CD included in Live DVD release, haven't we covered this before?

Considering that Eldritch has been quite vocal about his dislike of C.D.s as opposed to righteous wax, I can't see the download option being a winner. Frankly the idea of a Sissies album that isn't available on vinyl in a lovely 12" sleeve showing off some strikingly minimalist artwork is nauseating

i don't think he'll drop the sisters though...
he's got too big an ego to do so, and for the rest, the sisters is who he is...
the sisters have given him his caracter and formed into the we all "know" today...

if he would drop that he would turn into something he hates himself i think...

and if he wouldn't care he wouldn't bother showing his gratitude towards the fans at certain gigs (cfr. lokeren 2005: "we are the sisters of mercy, thank you for comming, thanx for heaving a good time")
he still loves the attention he gets from "his" fans

he also wouldn't bother changing tracks over the years like he seems to do. .. some tracks have really matured over the years.. so why would he bother doing that if he wouldn't bother at all

i think it's just what's been said above: he's a perfectionist, and he won't release something untill he thinks it is how it should be, and thean he'll release it with a sledgehammer..to see the awe on the face of the musical world...

Ghostrider wrote:(cfr. lokeren 2005: "we are the sisters of mercy, thank you for comming, thanx for heaving a good time")

Are you sure he said that in Lokeren? I was dead sure he said that in Zurich: "Thank you for coming and for having a good time."

Eva wrote:

Ghostrider wrote:(cfr. lokeren 2005: "we are the sisters of mercy, thank you for comming, thanx for heaving a good time")

Are you sure he said that in Lokeren? I was dead sure he said that in Zurich: "Thank you for coming and for having a good time."

Perhaps in Zurich too, but I'm very sure he said something like that in Lokeren, because he said 'Thank you' and I was shouting back 'Thank you'

he says it at the start of Flood II
know for sure, since i have that gig on pc...

I still believe something new will be released. It certainly won't be a live album regarding all the boots. I remember him mentioning this in an interview as well.
A dvd will come one day. I think the shows are still taped. Not for fun I presume.
And to stay positive ( ) it's still on the official site "we are working on an album".

I sometimes wonder what a "Von" day looks like. Sisters every now and then or a lot? Writing songs or just playing games or something?

Just wonder how he spends his days...

we all hope it's writing songs,
but we all know it's playing games..

Ghostrider wrote:we all hope it's writing songs,
but we all know it's playing games..

Sadly enough....I know

We really may have gotten our answer in that 2002 interview where he discusses meeting with all of the major labels and being told that none would sign him, and him mentioning that his lawyer told him to take a deal now (in 2002) because in two years (which would have been last year or so) it would seem like a fortune.

One of the most notable comments in that interview is when he mentions he was 'staggered' to be told that The Sisters are not a major label band. He clearly disagrees. Basically, it's highly unlikely that Eldo and big record companies will ever play nice again. Companies have zero reason to sign a band that 'went on strike' for seven years, shun the genre label they're most closely associated with, have the bulk of their remaining fans in Europe, haven't released an album since Bush (oops), the list goes on...there's really no way a record company will see their money again.

And why would Eldo want to go to 'work' again for a label that will probably ask him to tour some more, put him on a schedule, and have a say in his work. It just won't happen. The industry is still a mess, you have four record companies running the show, people are cynically just grabbing music because they're tired of getting jacked, and labels don't care about nurturing talent, they want money NOW.

So small label it is then. And Eldo's price would have to come down. It's just too unlikely...the band will go on in some form or another, whether it's enlisting his neighbors to play with him, to booking whatever venues he can find, finding a printer to bang out a few shirts, dusting off the Doktor, etc etc. It's a all damn shame, but it's all we have.

What he said,basically..
I find it hard to believe Eldritch was truly "staggered" at being told he wasn't major label material,though.
He's no fool,and is well aware of the ways of the music industry.Did he really think after a strike against his record company,infrequent tours,little output,and his own rather precarious health would have them banging down the doors to sign him?
If I was a record exec,there's no way in hell I'd sign him for a reportedly demanded $3 million.If he seriously wanted to make The Sisters a force again,wouldn't it be more sensible to sign with an Indie label for one album,and then,when the sales figures come out,approach the majors again and say "See?We sold x amount,we're worth a cheque with lots of zero's on it for x amount of albums"?