Hi Andy24db wrote:Plymouth Argyle? man! Kevin you have suffered.
As you mentioned the 70's, I think everyone has a rose tinted view of it. It's been said many times before, but TD have gained and lost fans every time they changed direction. In the 70's did you run into hoards of fans from the Zodiak Free Arts Lab? probably not. Were all the fans from 1974 still listening to the band a year later...probably not. Did all the fans who caught TD's classic RAH in 1975 love it so much they came back a year later? nope...half empty. Analog purists left with the analog equipment, Peter Baumann fan boys left with Peter, Chris, Johannes, Paul, Jerome, Conrad Schnitzler etc etc...you'll forgive me if I don't go on anymore. However and this is the hard thing for anybody who left TD's musical fold to get their head round...some people like the direction they don't. A few musicians and self appointed experts say oh well TD are rubbish these days cos...X-Y-Z...but they cannot, simply cannot except that somebody who liked them (when they did) can still enjoy it now (Well, actually I do!). A UK fan (rather kindly) emailed me several years ago pointing how I was 'totally wrong' with my taste in music...actually he said I was a "****ing winner for liking anything after 1987". The other ironic thing is that musicians who slag off TD whenever they get the chance would kill, absolutely kill for TD's audience and fan base, be that at gigs or their album buying fans all over the world. You cannot get that shear loyalty and love for an artist with the equipment alone, you have to produce music that moves people and truly matters to them. No bull, but I have seen plenty of people with tears in their eyes at TD gigs...this is why TD has survived, it's music with emotion, ideas and with something to say and ok some people don't always connect with TD version (1967-2009...feel free to pick a year)...but it still matters to a fair number and they will be at the latest gig and will buy the latest album..not all through blind loyalty, but because the music connects with them.
the journey isn't over...please have your passports ready at the gate!
andy
Word's on a forum can be so inaccurate and without nuance, or maybe, most likely I explained myself very badly. I'm not disagreeing with you at all, in fact I totally agree with you—though I've never been moved to tears, I've certainly experienced the goose-bump factor and the exhilaration that TD's music can inspire.
So I'm not discounting the ability of TD's music to gain an emotional reaction at all. Rather, my point was, that to base the continued following of a band on an emotional reaction of the moment, wether good or not, is maybe not the best way to judge anything
–even music.
For me there were many factors that prevented me from enjoying The Forum gig, arriving late in the day, getting lost, the rain, the stress of not planning ahead to see if I could stay till the end before needing to head off meant I missed the last part of the show and just the general stress of life at that time all contributed to me feeling emotionally drained and probably unreceptive on the night – hence my current belief that an understanding and appreciation on achievement is better than a knee-jerk emotional reaction, although again I realise we are all different and may see things in a completely different way
Nor am I saying that I'm arrogant enough to believe that I'm right in any way and that everyone should agree with me — quite the opposite infact. I understand only too well that many fans are really into the band's current music and that's great. I'm not positioning my self in any way on this — how could I when my tastes are changing and evolving too?
Finally, please don't think I'm here to judge or take a hostile stand —I'm absolutely not! TD are part of my life too and I have so many memories associated with their music. Realistically, however, I may be tempted to get off the train from time to time but if you look further down the line I'll probably be waiting on the next platform with ticket in hand and ready to board. There have been far too many memorable journeys for this not to be the case —I will not let this band chug off to the horizon without me.
Is that any clearer?
