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jimmyboy
Fourth Love
USA
234 Posts |
 Posted - 23/06/2005 : 10:26:35
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I HATE TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS BUT LOVE'S LONG AWAITED RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO WAS A BIT OF A DISAPPOINTMENT.THE BAND WAS IN TOP FORM WHEN THEY WERE ALLOWED TO PLAY BUT ARTHUR HAD HIS MIND PRETTY MUCH FOCUSED ON SOME ASSHOLE IN THE AUDIENCE...I ARRIVED AT THE VENUE DURING THE SOUND CHECK AND MAN,THEY SOUNDED GREAT!!I REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE A KILLER SHOW BUT IT WAS NOT.HE OPENED WITH A RATHER LISTLESS "SIGNED DC"DURING WHICH HE PLAYED A LOT OF HARP AND
MENTIONED THE DEATH OF DON CONKA,FOR WHOM THE SONG WAS WRITTEN.THAT SEEMED TO DARKEN HIS MOOD.THE SONG WENT ON FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES DURING WHICH THE BAND EXCHANGED A LOT OF NERVOUS GLANCES.I FELT SORRY FOR THEM.IT WASN'T A COMPLETE FEAKOUT LIKE THE 1ST SPACELAND SHOW FROM LAST YEAR BUT IT VERY EASILY COULD HAVE WENT THAT WAY.HE COULDN'T SING WELL AT ALL UNTIL TOWARDS THE END OF THE EVENING AND HAD TO SIT DOWN DURING NEARLY THE WHOLE SET.THAT KNIGHT-IN-SHINING-ARMOR RUSTY SQUEEZEBOX COVERED ARTHUR'S ASS ALOT TONIGHT,SOMETIMES HAVING TO SING ENTIRE VERSES ALONE.I THINK ONLY THE PRESENCE OF JOHNNY ECHOLS KEPT ARTHUR FROM GOING DOWN THE DARK ROAD COMPLETELY.THEY DID DO FOREVER CHANGES,NOT IN ORDER.FRANKLY I LEFT BEFORE THE SHOW ENDED BECAUSE IT JUST MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE TO SEE HIM LIKE THAT AND TO SEE THE BAND'S DISAPPOINTMENT..DOES HE PULL THIS CRAP WHEN HE'S IN THE UK.?HE WENT ON ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON AS WELL...I STILL LOVE THIS BAND AND HOPE ARTHUR WILL BE FEELING BETTER TOMORROW NIGHT.THANKS AGAIN TO MIKE,DADDY-0,RUSTY,JOHNNY AND DAVE FOR GREAT MUSICIANSHIP DURING A ROUGH NIGHT. |
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caryne
Old Love
United Kingdom
1520 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 10:59:03
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| I don't want to say much more than 'oh dear' but, sadly, along with some fantastic shows, I am afraid we have seen similar in the UK before. As usual, the band are the stars in these circumstances, love to the guys as always. |
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drano
First Love
5 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 10:59:34
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I agree with the above assessment. The band played great as always, Rusty ran the show in his own modest way, and Johnny Echols was a true pleasure. But Arthur? Future appearances should be billed as 'Love despite Arthur Lee'.
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caryne
Old Love
United Kingdom
1520 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 11:07:08
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I know I shouldn't laugh, but that was a rather good one! |
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moxie
First Love
3 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 11:29:01
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I showed up after an hour drive to see the show at Cafe du Nord in SF. It was sold out and even my long drive didn't make the door guy inclined to let me in. I was somewhat disappointed but they said I could hang out at the door to listen a bit. It only took two lines of the next song for me to realize the Arthur was not in good form. I thought he was drunk. Again. I walked off happy to have my $30.
I am a fan of Love's since Little Red Book. They are one of, if not THE, favorite bands of all time. I saw them at Bimbo's two years ago and the band was great, and even though Arthur was drunk at the time, he was passable. The next time I saw them was at the 35th Anniversary of the Summer of Love celebration at Civic Center Plaza in SF. They were absolutely incredible but a deal with the SFPD to even let the show happen forced the show to end early and Love only played a short but incendiary set. I saw them next at the Fillmore for the Forever Changes run the next spring and ol' Arthur had fallen in a bathtub and hurt his leg which he used as the excuse for his lackluster performance. I had brought several friends to the show and was embarassed for them to have witnessed a merely acceptable show. So, I've seen them 3 times. Never back in the 60's, but just lately, and twice there was some problem. I just wish Arthur would get his head out of his ass more often. The band gives him everything he could need to be a star again but if he keeps drinking, or doing whatever he does, he may not get many tried and true fans risking their ticket price again. I was willing to make allowances for him at the Bimbo's show because he was just out of the joint but he can only rest on the past for a bit longer. Either do it well or don't do it at all. If not for the fans how about the band? Those warriors rock solid everytime and he is an albatross around their necks doing HIS songs. Go figure.
Let's get it together Arthur. You're all we've got. But, you are becoming a joke when you should be a legend, not just for the recordings, but for the shows you could do so well IF you really gave a rolling doughnut. Brian is dead. I haven't seen Johnny yet so I can't say how he adds to the band although I have high hopes. Either do it right or don't do it at all. I can agree with the previous writer we care too much about you to see you in a state of decline.
I don't know if I'll take the chance again. I know I won't be there tomorrow night. My best to the band. Maybe you guys need to buy the name, get a sound-a-like, like Journey and some of the other "Legends" have done, and leave A.L. at home to drink up his royalties and wonder how he screwed his life up. AGAIN. |
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Martin Pravda
Fourth Love
United Kingdom
104 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 11:52:11
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This sounds pretty dire. Were they any good moments when the band actualy clicked? Or was it a full mess, (in my head I am imagining a performance like "Syd and the stars").
Its really bad you had to sit through that. |
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caryne
Old Love
United Kingdom
1520 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 14:41:33
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| I don't think it's the band that isn't 'clicking', at times like these they are the saving grace...jump down my throat if you like, but there is one person alone letting them down. |
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John E
Fifth Love
United Kingdom
322 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 18:46:05
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| Good news for the UK, beause if Arthur follows his usual pattern, the shows here should be great! Shame that the West Coast always get the bad deal, though! Love, John E |
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markk
Old Love
USA
803 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 18:57:57
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I know we've all heard and seen some of these ****ups by Arthur,
but each time it greatly saddens and bothers me. |
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LarryNYC
Fifth Love
USA
310 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 19:21:19
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Arthur always has an excuse, "I fell in the shower, some guy in the crowd was annoying me, I tripped over my dog etc".Its a sad fact Arthur has been back on the slippery slope since the fiasco in Spain, true he hasnt been quite as bad since then but all the signs are there.
Over the last 3 years or so Arthur has had all the tools to once again be a true contender, great band, supportive management etc, everything was in place for him to claim the recognition he should have had years ago. Instead of really going for it Arthur seems to ge following the Mike Tyson philosophy and pissing it all away. I dont know how much longer the guys in the band will be prepared to hit the stage with a leader who is totally lost ? |
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Lizzyb
Fifth Love
United Kingdom
470 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 20:21:44
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BUT
sometimes he gets it sorted and he's just so brilliant that it puts the bad ones in the shadows - til next time. I just keep going along hoping it'll be a good un.
A Theory:
Tickets are cheaper than those for more reliable people making a come back, so it's a kind of gamble. overall you pay the same per good show.
naaah doesn't stand up for 2 seconds
Keep on shining |
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moxie
First Love
3 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 20:26:17
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ALL future LOVE show promoters need to insert a "sobriety" clause into their contract riders. If he's loaded, cancel the show and let him pay for it all out of his own "soon-to-be-empty-again, if-he-doesn't-change-his-ways", pocket.
And RED TELEPHONE Management needs to get this guy a "handler". Everything about this band and organization is top notch except for the ONE it's all built around. I wonder if he ever reads this stuff.
HEY ARTHUR! I love you and your music. PLEASE GET SOME HELP.
I always wondered how Jimi's life would have gone if he hadn't died so young. It was always my opinion he would wind up like our "Lost Love", Arthurly has. A joke and a poor one at that. I hate saying that. I'm one of the faithful who waited years to see this man in concert. It's not to late to change course. AA/NA anyone? |
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Tina
Old Love
United Kingdom
678 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 21:55:00
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Moxie. for a new poster here you've hit the nail on the head extraordinarily accurately.
A vague feeling of deja vu here - to paraphrase Marlon, he could have been a contender....
However as I have commented before, Mr Lee would appear to be a man with a remarkable survival instinct - so roll on Stourbridge!!  |
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jimmyboy
Fourth Love
USA
234 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 22:40:44
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| I THINK THAT THE MIKE TYSON COMPARISON REALLY HITS IT ON THE HEAD!!SAD BUT TRUE.... |
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Judith
Third Love
United Kingdom
93 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2005 : 22:41:39
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| Have to agree with you Moxie, it's never too late to change and AA/NA can certainly help here-if you want to change. And Larry, yes, there always has to be an excuse-then you can avoid looking at what the real problem is! Can't help feeling very sorry for AL and his predicament, and, like all on this board, hope he finds a way through it. |
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moxie
First Love
3 Posts |
Posted - 24/06/2005 : 04:21:54
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| It's just after 7 here on the Left Coast. They should be on stage again in about three hours. I hope it's a good one. Me? I'm not taking a chance. I'll be praying for our boy to overcome his demons. Best to all. |
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Topic |
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FIRST SHOW IN SF NOT SO HOT
