Heartland

as this topic raises again regularly i wanted to share my thoughts on the current status of the band - it's about attitude.

1) coming to terms: it seems that von doesn't have a positive attitude to the sisters-enterprise anymore. this may be the result of a lot of things, so i will try to keep it simple as i can't judge what was first.

2) music and performing: the lineup since 1996 based on von and adam definitely managed to develope various musical highlights. some tunes have really been very special and prooved the sisters to be a legendary live-rock'n roll band. on the other side performances are based on a set of songs which havent changed significantly for 7 years, neither in sound nor in structure.

especially the "new" songs are all quite the same and imo not more than rough demo tracks - some of them could be great tracks (and i like some a lot) but aren't developed - a major problem!. here we come to the attitude again: it seems that the sisters aren't jamming and rehearsing anymore, aren't having fun while working in the studio/rehearsing room and are not experimenting any longer. these new tracks are based on a simple idea by one of the musicians without adding anything band-specific, multi-dimensional. beside of romeo down all tracks are missing basslines and second guitar lines and it seems that nobody cares for them - but these elemenst used to be the cornerstones of the sisters-sound. without smoke and mirrors these tracks lack depth. it seems that the band itself doesn't feel confident of the material itself - the main reason, why nothing gets recorded in a proper way.

i dont't believe that money is the main reason. if the band wants to get back into the recording-business, they could decide on releasing one single independently as a signal. there are many ways to convince people of a serious ambition. the dvd didn't happen as the material may not have met any quality limits - due to drugs and alcohol - maybe not the most professional way, but a lively gig at least .

as a result performances reflect the uncertainty of the new material. normally these gigs are great, but imo its obvious that the band isn't enjoying it the way it should be. although a weekend hobby the band doesn't spread sereneness and confidence when on stage - its more an unbeloved duty. playing old tracks faster and faster encourages this impression. bring back the epic element

i don't understand why they are playing songs they don't like to play - marian was introduced with "wenn's sein muss" (if it has to be) twice on the last tour - and you guys know how often it was played. i know that many people especially like their new material and even the fast live versions, but this is not what made the sisters a great band.

does anyone know about the atmosphere within the band?

3) communication: as a fan i don't have any right to claim an album or just information about whats going on - i don't have any right for having sex with my girlfriend but still try to get it. imo it's ridiculous that there is no information coming from the band whats going on - or the info is 6 years old (!). i would like to know whats going on, even if all we get is that there won't be any further release (thx to adam). this circumstance also make me believe that the band has lost faith in what they are doing - which is more important than if we get a new album or whatever or not.

their attitude doesn't seem to be really prosperous -

4) expecting the unexpected: yes, i still hope that the band is rehearsing at the moment, writing parts for teir newly hired string quartett and getting the brass section right. maybe madonna doing the female vocal parts and lemmy on bass. maybe it's gonna be a good and warm summer.

cheers, j.

Well, I have sympathy with a lot of what you've said there. Not all of it, but there I can see why a fan could get the sense the band are going through the motions, keeping the pension fund topped up.

I was wondering recently, what is actually the longest pause that a band has made between releasing studio albums? Because the Sisters, if they release another record, will set some kind of record at 15 years, surely? I mean, even old dogs like the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd release albums more frequently than that, don't they? Do we have an in-house statistician to resolve this one?

i must admit that i agree at least on many counts, and those who've read my posts know that i am quite unwilling to say much negative things about Sisters.

Personally, though, the biggest thing i disagree on is the new songs. Perhaps you're right on many points there as well, but the latest song, Slept, is truly fantastic, and ready to be recorded. In my opinion best of the post-VT songs.

dei

jost7 wrote:that the sisters aren't jamming and rehearsing anymore, aren't having fun while working in the studio/rehearsing room and are not experimenting any longer

I think the problem is that any band which consistently fails to produce any new recorded material (I mean studio-recorded rather than live) is that eventually they're going to lose any motivation to write new songs. As it is, the "new" songs number, what, about ten songs in the eleven years since "Under The Gun"? Not exactly promising in terms of productivity is it?

I think that Von still maybe thinks that The Sisters can make it back again, but increasingly, without new studio material, people are going to dismiss him as a has-been living off his former glory. It greatly pains me to have typed that last sentence, and it's not how I see the situation but unless we get some new stuff, more and more people are going to get disillusioned, stop going to the gigs, and, well, then the pay-days dry up for The Sisters.

It greatly pains me, too, that - and I say this through clenched fingers, almost - unless a new record has a big impact, in a couple of years the band will only be able to get gigs booked in the UK or USA under the banner of a novelty 80s revival thang... Ouch, that hurts...

Sad but true. Anyone (including Von) who thinks the glory days can be brought back is probably only fooling themselves. Strong language, but we have to face facts.

If I could identify one point where things could have taken a turn for the better but didn't, I'd say it was the whole mess over the non-appearance of Summer, Mike Varjak's dismissal, and the subsequent farting around doing nothing. Up until then, there was a genuine sense of momentum building up again, then - nothing.

It's genuinely bemusing the amount of control Von gives to Adam, almost as though the Sisters are more Adam's band these days. Like the old Rolling Stones anecdote - "I'm not your ****ing guitarist, you're my ****ing singer!!!"

I've noticed that when I've been wearing Sisters T-shirts, the reaction from people who have heard of the band tends to be, "Oh, whatever happened to them?"

Fair question.

markfiend wrote:I've noticed that when I've been wearing Sisters T-shirts, the reaction from people who have heard of the band tends to be, "Oh, whatever happened to them?"

Fair question.

When I went to M'era Luna to see the Sisters my Mum said 'Oh are they still going ' Bless

MrChris wrote:Well, I have sympathy with a lot of what you've said there. Not all of it, but there I can see why a fan could get the sense the band are going through the motions, keeping the pension fund topped up.

I was wondering recently, what is actually the longest pause that a band has made between releasing studio albums? Because the Sisters, if they release another record, will set some kind of record at 15 years, surely? I mean, even old dogs like the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd release albums more frequently than that, don't they? Do we have an in-house statistician to resolve this one?

Well, ? & the Mysterians had 31 years between their 1966 album "96 Tears" and 1997's self-titled. So, I guess we've a few years yet if Eldritch is hoping for the trophy.

Bugger

Yes, it's painful to have to admit that a fave band is slowly fading away. And yet, the evidence is there that they don't have to. I guess it's the whole playing live every year with no new material thing that just confounds us.

Maybe Von is living in another world where you don't need albums or singles, but you just keep believing people will show up at your shows until they don't. Maybe secretly, that's what he's waiting for, the final confirmation that it's over? I don't know. To make such a massive stink about going on strike for seven year, and then spend another seven years on semi-strike...

I also wonder about them being able to book America anymore at this point. Their last foray here was '99, five years back. I wonder if they can even sell those same halls again, and you know that Von will not play any smaller if they do tour.

I agree with the previous comment on money. Would releasing one or two independent singles be so tough? And first it was Adam's fault for building a house, then last year it was Adam's fault because he doesn't want to release anything for free. What's wrong, afraid someone might come to the shows or even think about buying an album?

But I agree with most of the first post--the attitude is not a good one. By all accounts, it sounded much better in 97 and 98 in all the interviews and the scheduling.

I am also convinced that folks around the record industry have Von's number and feel it's no loss to them if the Sisters never record again.

The thing is.... no matter how much of a Sisters fan I am.... we are facing a cause that is nearly lost. The whole 7 year strike was funny.. at first..... if they would have followed it up with yet another stonking release. But alas... that did not happen. So where did our leader take us after that? Into the land of excuses..... and we have seen every inch of it by now..... The record companies were to blame.... Adam was to blame over and over again.... funny that Von was never the one that did something wrong. I can perfectly understand that one doesn't want to go back from playing Wembley/Reading to playing medium size halls..... but then one also has to keep track of the , by now infamous, masterplan.... You want world domination? Then put your money where your mouth is...... Leaving yer fan base with the same load of sh*te for years in a row isn't going to do you any good. The Sisters have and IMO will always have a hardcore fan base..... the problem is...... that fan base is getting older just like Von and not that many new members are joining.... It's always the same collectors bidding on Ebay.... trading.... doing a full tour.... The impresssion that I have is that if something doesn't happen soon.... Von and co WILL actually be playing at your local Bierstube or wedding.... doing Heino covers and a schlager version of Temple..... Some day the money will run out and Von is going to be standing there empty handed.... at least Adam and Chris have a career on the side.... One might think that Von might end up as a successful producer but then his attitude doesn't help out in that direction either, does it? Things are going down the drain... I'm watching it happen and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it......

Whoa!

That was a good wake up call.

I think Von likes challenges, and lately, there hasn't been much challenge. Why go through the hassle of albums and singles and videos and interviews, etc when you can just finance the comfy lifestyle you have by banging out a few live shows a year?

By now he knows maybe the songs aren't worth three million bucks.

F*ck*As*Goth wrote:Von and co WILL actually be playing at your local Bierstube or wedding.... doing Heino covers and a schlager version of Temple..... Some day the money will run out and Von is going to be standing there empty handed.... at least Adam and Chris have a career on the side.... One might think that Von might end up as a successful producer but then his attitude doesn't help out in that direction either, does it? Things are going down the drain....

I hear you man but, the thing is that we just don't know, unless you've talked to Andrew recently. We don't know what his plans are, and he does have a life outside the band. I think it's important to remember that. Claiming that he will play local pubs and at weddings, as if there were no other choice, is preposterous. It's not like Vons existence depends on wether he blesses us with a new album or not and if he doesn't it won't make him have to choose between being a wedding singer or die. I know it's frustrating and we've been waiting a long time for a new release, but let's face it, there are thousands of 80's and 90's bands that have had their prime and haven't muscled up a comeback and thousands of former rockstars leading 'ordinary lives', as Duran Duran put it.

So, I guess time will tell. Maybe Von will start writing novels, or design clothes, or become a diplomat

Don't forget though, that Von doesn't really give a sh1t what anyone thinks, doesn't give a sh1t whether the band release anything again, and continues to do 'whatever the hell he likes'. ie not much.

Hard though it may be, we've really got no alternative but to stop worrying about it all. If they ever pull their fingers out, ace, if they don't, they don't.

But in the meantime, Frankfurt 03 bootleg is now the gold standard regarding quality of new songs (performance & recording). Go get that. Then play it on 11 with the windows open.

Lets all go and find a new favourite band. We're blatantly wasting our time even discussing this. The man is washed up - hasn't writing truly startlingly good song in 15 years (although I agree Summer/Suzanne/Slept are 'good' songs).
Happy memories, the songs still remain to sing along to but lets not expect. Lets not expect anything then we'll all be happy.

Whether anyone "lives up" to the demands of his audience has hardly much to do with whether he is washed up or not...

And agreed whole-heartedly with Green Lantern.

dei

itnAklipse wrote:Whether anyone "lives up" to the demands of his audience has hardly much to do with whether he is washed up or not...

And agreed whole-heartedly with Green Lantern.

dei

Agreed. But with the evident capability to write such incedible lyrics up until Vision Thing he has shown no, I repeat, no sign of repeating this.
I'm not asking him to live up to my expectations.

MrChris wrote:I was wondering recently, what is actually the longest pause that a band has made between releasing studio albums?

Tim Rose Released album 20 years from the last, and The Who's Last studio album was in 1982 and there should be a new one this year.

But unlike the Sisters, The Who have released many llive Albums and Videos and toured the world many times


best

Matt

Ouch comments on aging fan base...sure struck home to me last nite while at the Alarm gig. Some 20 somthing girl in the toilette asked me if The Alarm were a Real Band or some band doing covers!!



So there I was giving her Craig's history in music, telling her about the Original Alarm... And Mike Peters. stupid girl. God do some research on who you are seeing.

That's a well put comment, and it's true. With the exception of the 20 somethings who come here. You have heard and realized what SOM is/means/etc. So thanks young ones.....

Von....he is an enigma. He obviously likes touring. Or he wouldn't even bother. Really...how much money is he making off these tours? I can't even guess.

New songs...Von has a talent. It is in him, and it's driven by his Muse. You may not even want to acknowledge that...it's so etherial...but it is SO. I know from experience. His Muse may have gone silent...but she's not DEAD. Or he's been scribbling madly for years...and doesn't want to share.

It doesn't matter. We have what we have. That's all we will ever have.

I love him no matter him what...because for me he's always there in the music he has already given us. Yes I want MORE...but I will take what I can get. And I'm like Dei...I really will not speak harsh words against him. It's his life to live...who are we to dictate to him how to live it?????

Love you Von. XXXX always.

BP

Gobsmacked!

Red Sunsets wrote:Gobsmacked!

Understandable from BP. She has just had her first viewing of 'Crotch Shots!' ...
Though I'm sure that had no influence on her comments whatsoever ...

NO the vid had no impact. What had an impact was the vapid girls comments to me. ANd...sigh....Craig smiling...really prettily at the 20 somthing waitresses.

Do they REALLY KNOW WHO HE IS????????????????????

Hey ..no. But when I tell him I think he's great on AurA...oh such the cold shoulder. I am big enough...LOL case in point Von...

But really...I know WHO he is..and where he came from.

I love that.
Why wouldn't He?

I'm still a 20 something

Imagine you're a record company boss

You're offered an act that last had a hit 11 years ago and went on strike till they were released from their contract.

Are you going to get the cheque book out?

Are you A Sisters Of Mercy, Ed?