Does anyone care about Echo & The Bunnymen anymore?

[Frank The Bunny]

I know this would be an unmentionable, untouchable subject on the other forum (that's why I like to come here ) but do you feel Mac's attitude of not caring about the band has gotten worse since Lorraine left?
I never mentioned Lorraine and what was going on in the marriage at the time on the other forum for fear of having my head chopped off. Was he this apathetic when things were going good between them, because there was a period of time there, probably a decade, where I wasn't following the Bunnymen or seeing their shows?
I only bring this up because two other musicians I care about were greatly affected in a negative way after their wives left them. Their music/songwriting ability especially suffered.

I think it's the other way round.

Mac doesn't care about anything other than being a "rock star". Ruined his band. Ruined his marriage. And it's ruining him.

[Mr. Brian]

Looking back I'm glad they reformed but after Les left it seemed like it was one letdown after another and a steady decline. I have a feeling the new album will just be a continuation of the Flowers/Siberia thing, yeah there are some good songs but overall those are not albums that I return too as a whole. I guess some of the magic left when Les got fed up. They weren't a band at all after that. I really hope I am wrong about the new album but I just don't see it happening.

[Fish Hook Girl]

Looking back I'm glad they reformed but after Les left it seemed like it was one letdown after another and a steady decline. I have a feeling the new album will just be a continuation of the Flowers/Siberia thing, yeah there are some good songs but overall those are not albums that I return too as a whole. I guess some of the magic left when Les got fed up. They weren't a band at all after that. I really hope I am wrong about the new album but I just don't see it happening.

But what exactly do you want from two guys pushing 50, who have been doing this 30 years?

Any of their first four albums would sound absurd coming from them at this point. And forget about the angst thing. 50 year olds singing about angst? Kind of stupid, isn't it? Plus they're too savvy not to realize that most of their audience is about the same age and angst isn't a big part of our lives anymore.

So we're left with hopefully well crafted songs. Usually they pull that out, for the most part. And of course the unknown factor is the voice.

If you're expecting them to ever put together another Porcupine, it's time to face reality. It ain't happening folks.

And if you can't reconcile that fact, then it's okay to let go. Embrace the albums you love and let go of the rest. Move on. Please.

[watercolors]

Well, half of them are gone. I truly believe so much f their sound was forged, was founded by those two members.

I too believe that the band really is Ian and Will. Such a powerful union of talent. If you listen to their solo stuff, you can hear the other one's influence regardless of what the song is.

ya know, I think that this thread is poo poo. But it is interesting reading.

[watercolors]

But what exactly do you want from two guys pushing 50, who have been doing this 30 years?

Any of their first four albums would sound absurd coming from them at this point. And forget about the angst thing. 50 year olds singing about angst? Kind of stupid, isn't it? Plus they're too savvy not to realize that most of their audience is about the same age and angst isn't a big part of our lives anymore.

So we're left with hopefully well crafted songs. Usually they pull that out, for the most part. And of course the unknown factor is the voice.

If you're expecting them to ever put together another Porcupine, it's time to face reality. It ain't happening folks.

And if you can't reconcile that fact, then it's okay to let go. Embrace the albums you love and let go of the rest. Move on. Please.

FHG, I am totally with you on this!

I feel the new stuff is going to be what it will be.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Who ever said that was dead right!

[Fish Hook Girl]

FHG, I am totally with you on this!

I feel the new stuff is going to be what it will be.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Who ever said that was dead right!

Wasn't that Mike Brady (the Brady bunch's father) who said that?

It is a classic.

[insanejane]

FHG, I am totally with you on this!

I feel the new stuff is going to be what it will be.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Who ever said that was dead right!

I agree too. For how many years they've been doing this, Siberia was pretty good. I I just wish I could look forward to the LIVE performances. I don't anymore. I wish Mac would LIVEn up a little and help the band on stage that's working so hard to give it their all. I remember when I flew all the way from Calif. to Amish country to see them and as if it wasn't bad enough that he took his own sweet time coming out, he actually said something to the effect that he was debating whether he should have bothered coming out at all.

[Fish Hook Girl]

I agree too. For how many years they've been doing this, Siberia was pretty good. I I just wish I could look forward to the LIVE performances. I don't anymore. I wish Mac would LIVEn up a little and help the band on stage that's working so hard to give it their all.

It is a shame that their live performances essentially stink these days. They really were something 20 years ago. And hearing the same songs over and over gets tedious. Sometimes I think I'm getting too old to stand there for 4 hours just to see if he can hit that last note in Ocean Rain.

I remember when I flew all the way from Calif. to Amish country to see them and as if it wasn't bad enough that he took his own sweet time coming out, he actually said something to the effect that he was debating whether he should have bothered coming out at all.

If he ever says that again, instead of laughing like most people do, whip your drink at him. You'll probably get tossed out, but what a glorious way to go.

[withahip]

But what exactly do you want from two guys pushing 50, who have been doing this 30 years?

And if you can't reconcile that fact, then it's okay to let go. Embrace the albums you love and let go of the rest. Move on. Please.

Depeche Mode comes to mind as a good example of what one could expect from two guys pushing fifty. Paul Weller has held up pretty well. Over forty we have the Flaming Lips covering new ground. Actually, one half of the Bunnymen - Will - has put out one of the best cds of the last ten years with Glide's Curvature of The Earth.

I find it a little disconcerting that one finds it necessary to be the censor on this forum for what can and can't be said about the band. It is fascist. If one can't handle the fact that not everyone is going to blindly love everything the band does, maybe that person should let go a little. Isn't healthy to take a message board so to heart.

[zabird]

I agree too. For how many years they've been doing this, Siberia was pretty good. I I just wish I could look forward to the LIVE performances. I don't anymore. I wish Mac would LIVEn up a little and help the band on stage that's working so hard to give it their all. I remember when I flew all the way from Calif. to Amish country to see them and as if it wasn't bad enough that he took his own sweet time coming out, he actually said something to the effect that he was debating whether he should have bothered coming out at all.

that's not value added everybody has an off day, but to have an attitude like that. shame on Mac! I'm kind of afraid of that happening at RAH. I hope they can rise to the occasion. I bought a ticket, but I'm on the fence about going. Mostly because of the continuing spiral down of my industry and should I be really spending all that money?, but I'm also worried about the possibility of a phoned-in performance.

I think the Bunnymen were more than just Mac and Will. Les and Pete were a fair part of the equation too. I love Pete's drumming, esp. listening to it on headphones. Same with Les' bass. It's not just drum, drum, drum or plunk, plunk, plunk. Much more inventive than that. Perhaps that's some of what's missing now.

I've got nothing against bands reforming for whatever reason, but if they're going to do it, it shouldn't be half-assed. If it is, they're letting themselves and their fans down. Plus marring their legacy. I'm speaking on general terms here, by the way.

And for reformed bands, yes, the old stuff is great, but I'm open to new stuff too. They've changed. We've changed. I'd love to hear what they've got to say now. And when they do, hopefully it'll knock your socks off. On the other hand, if it doesn't (like Iggy and the Stooges' latest effort), I'll be disappointed, the CD will go on the pile and I'll go back to listening to the stuff that attracted me in the first place.

That doesn't mean I wouldn't go see them again (or not buy their latest album). You never know when a band you love is going to have a brilliant night. Hopefully, that'll be the next time the Bunnymen play L.A., which will hopefully be sooner than later.

[zabird]

If he ever says that again, instead of laughing like most people do, whip your drink at him. You'll probably get tossed out, but what a glorious way to go.

Aim for Mac's fan, Insane Jane

I find it a little disconcerting that one finds it necessary to be the censor on this forum for what can and can't be said about the band. It is fascist. If one can't handle the fact that not everyone is going to blindly love everything the band does, maybe that person should let go a little. Isn't healthy to take a message board so to heart.

amen to that! that's why I like this board better than the "official" one. Plus, the conversation is much more interesting in this neck of the haunted, Sasquatch- and alien-infested woods

[black francis]

I don't think anyone here is after the second coming of the first four albums but like hip said there are artists over 40 who are still pushing themselves and trying new things artistically. I would rather see the Bunnymen take a risk with a producer, a new direction or anything to shake things up and fail miserably than hear another pleasant, but slightly boring album. I believe Mac and Will still have it in them to make creative, inspiring music but it just seems they have been playing it safe since Electrafixion.

[black francis]

amen to that! that's why I like this board better than the "official" one. Plus, the conversation is much more interesting in this neck of the haunted, Sasquatch- and alien-infested woods

You forgot paranormal romance.

[zabird]

You forgot paranormal romance.

crap. how could I forget that?????

[Dr Cheese]

I don't want to harp on about live shows but it baffles me why they refuse to play any newer material, I don't particularly like U2 but can you imagine them going out and playing a set taken almost exclusively from the first half of the '80's?

I don't think anyone here is after the second coming of the first four albums but like hip said there are artists over 40 who are still pushing themselves and trying new things artistically. I would rather see the Bunnymen take a risk with a producer, a new direction or anything to shake things up and fail miserably than hear another pleasant, but slightly boring album. I believe Mac and Will still have it in them to make creative, inspiring music but it just seems they have been playing it safe since Electrafixion.

That's never gonna happen as long as Mac is calling the shots, now if Will could get him down a dark alley one night and beat the crap out of him untill he let Will be the boss, then we might get something interesting on the next album!