Bands that reform to do a tour years after their peak

[alan partridge]

What's the feelings on this?

I notice a lot of people get very excited when a band they've liked for years reform for a one off gig or tour.

Personally it doesn't interest me in the slightest, even if I'm a big fan of the artist.

depends on timing, reasons for split/reunion, style of music etc. but generally it's not something I can get myself worked up about.

what about YOU?

 

[drew]

Assume this is directed at the recent Pink Floyd reunion. When you refer to a band at their peak, are you suggesting that when musicians get to a certain age they can't perform the songs any more or are you just referring to their creative peak, ie that they reform and play their back catalogue rather than come up with any credible new material.

 

[bhaexpress]

Some people want to see old bands, I can't see anything wrong in bands reforming to make a bit of cash.

 

[Lush]

Mixed feelings. Some bands were of their time and it feels a bit sad going back, as if everyone is trying to relive their youth. That was then and this is now. One exception is The Specials, who are still 'keeping it real' and it's good to be reminded of the politics and the passion.

It's also good to hear iconic albums played in full live - a genuinely new experience, rather than doing the same gig, but everyone's twenty years older.

On the other hand, I seem to listen to more and more 'old music' these days - and who says going to gigs shouldn't be the same?

 

[norton seagull]

Saw Big Country in Leeds a couple of weeks ago with Mike Peters (The Alarm) fronting them - just wanted to see what it would be like really (curiosity and all that)
They were OK - but after seeing them live in the 80's with the late Stuart Adamson there was no comparison

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I've nothing against bands reforming. And I think some people get too precious about it. I'll just each one which affects me on it's own merits.

 

[Acker79]

Best reforming of a band after its peak: Strange Fruit


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[alan partridge]

Assume this is directed at the recent Pink Floyd reunion. When you refer to a band at their peak, are you suggesting that when musicians get to a certain age they can't perform the songs any more or are you just referring to their creative peak, ie that they reform and play their back catalogue rather than come up with any credible new material.

nope, missed that. A thread about Deep Purple reminded me of it.

I'm not being precious or snobby either, just expressing an almost complete lack of interest in seeing certain bands on their comeback. I liked the Police. They did a tour recently didn't they? I wouldn't be arsed about going. Same with the Stranglers. I love their first 3 albums, but don't think I would be bothered about seeing them these days (they probably never split up did they? I'm fairly sure Hugh Cornwell isn't with them anyway).

Just wondered if other people felt the same.

Sex Pistols is a classic one. I'd rather watch a young covers band hamming it up than the 'real' thing I think.

 

[del strangefish]

I've heard Michael Jacksons reforming!

 

[alan partridge]

I've heard Michael Jacksons reforming!

tch! again?

 

[bhaexpress]

If people want a band to reform (ticket sales do not lie) then so be it. Frankly it's individual choice and these days so many 'cool' new bands sound like something that has been done before anyway.

 

[alan partridge]

Assume this is directed at the recent Pink Floyd reunion. When you refer to a band at their peak, are you suggesting that when musicians get to a certain age they can't perform the songs any more or are you just referring to their creative peak, ie that they reform and play their back catalogue rather than come up with any credible new material.

sorry, didn't answer your other questions. I'm not exactly sure what I'm getting at, just throwing it out there for discussion.

I think a certain 'energy' that some bands had in their prime that went a long way to define them and their sound is what I'm getting at. Can that be recreated?

A band like Pink Floyd I wouldn't put in that category. I don't see them as a poor recreation of a former time, they just keep going don't they?

 

[alan partridge]

If people want a band to reform (ticket sales do not lie) then so be it. Frankly it's individual choice and these days so many 'cool' new bands sound like something that has been done before anyway.

was meant as a thread for discussion, not as a dig at anyone.

 

[beorhthelm]

should be a criminal offence, with mandatory 10 year sentances if they wear their original era clothing.

 

[Buzzer]

Mixed feelings. Some bands were of their time and it feels a bit sad going back, as if everyone is trying to relive their youth. That was then and this is now. One exception is The Specials, who are still 'keeping it real' and it's good to be reminded of the politics and the passion.

I disagree about the Specials. On reflection, unless they have new material they should have left it to that one comeback tour. It's a bit of a shameless plug for my blog but I wrote about this a month or two back after Adam Ant announced a comeback tour:

de-minimis: i hope they die before they get old

 

[bhaexpress]

was meant as a thread for discussion, not as a dig at anyone.

That wasn't a dig, just an opinion, sorry if you took it that way.

 

[alan partridge]

I disagree about the Specials. On reflection, unless they have new material they should have left it to that one comeback tour. It's a bit of a shameless plug for my blog but I wrote about this a month or two back after Adam Ant announced a comeback tour:

de-minimis: i hope they die before they get old

Good stuff. Kind of what I've been getting at (your blog) but more eloquently put.

 

[Rowdey]

I was sorely tempted by the Cult in London earlier this year, but general scepticism 20 years on, a punchy ticket price in a shit venue put paid to that.

 

[alan partridge]

That wasn't a dig, just an opinion, sorry if you took it that way.

apologies. some of the posts sounded to me like people thought I was having a pop....pop

POP MUSIC!

 

[SussexHoop]

Same with the Stranglers.

Saw them last year at the Dome and I'd say one of the best gigs I've ever been to. Saw them again earlier this and whilst it was good, it didn"t live up to the year before.

Saw Blancmange at the Concorde 2 in March, 1st time since the 80s and they were excellent.

I love the late 70s and the 80s, still listen to that music and providing they can still do it, will always enjoy going to see them play live.

Ps If you enjoyed the 80s, the likes of OMD et al, I'd recommend Mirrors, an imho excellent band signed to Skint. Saw them at the Troxy earlier this year supporting John Foxx and Gary Numan.