Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain_jovi
Gotcha, but why does it become a sham that they're still a band of brothers because Richie's not there? If one of the brothers wants to do his own thing why shouldn't the remainder still be a band of brothers? What would you have done in the bands case at this point for this?
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(Jeez! I just went to preview and this is long even for me! Apologies in advance!!)
Matt, I absolutely want them to be a band of brothers - with or without Richie. It's not like I'm worried that they'll bond together while Richie's gone and leave "poor wittle Wichie" out of the club, if that's what you think I've been saying. Richie has nothing to do with whether the current "band of brothers" is a sham or not. How could he? He's out of the picture.
My concern springs from the fact that for 20 years or so that concept has rarely been mentioned and certainly not promoted. Nearly everything has focused on Jon. Even before the WWWB documentary, which pointed it out more clearly than any other single event I can think of.
The last time I recall it being prominent was with the KTF album cover. Which as I said was used to signify the solidarity following the split after NJ. But not long ago, Bob Rock, commented that even then, it was clear that the band dynamic had changed and the old "gang" mentality was gone.
Then they go into the next two decades and with each passing year the focus is tighter and tighter on Jon. When they got to 2009 and released the WWWB doc, it was presented like Jon was the CEO of this huge corporation and did all the work while the hired guns played tennis and hung out in bars.
Then the split occurred and one of the more believable reasons discussed as to why Richie left (besides the obvious smokescreen of Ava) was creative disagreement and lack of band input.
With WAN the general consensus seems to be that it was Shanks and Jon doing everything in the studio while the hired guns are off again on their own pursuits.
Then this new album gets some buzz and it's all about being a band again, getting back to their roots, recording in the studio together, which can't be totally true if you think about it because Jon said the album was done months before Phil-X ever stepped foot in the studio.
So how much really changed? And now we've got a new video that sounds like it's all about the gang again. Like I said earlier, if that's true and they've learned some lessons and are going old school again that's wonderful. But if it's just another "Rah Rah Siss Boom Bah!" because the fans bought it in 92, then it sucks. It's just another marketing ploy - a sham - that worked before so they're trying it again.
I'm not saying that I'm convinced that's what's happening by any means; but I could also see it as a possibility. I hope I'm way out in left field for even thinking about it and that they're truly just "starting all over again".
But when I started reading the 'gang' comments, the timing seemed awfully convenient to me. And I'm afraid if I were to watch the video right now with all this shit running around in my head I'll do the same thing I've accused others of doing for the last 3 years: just "looking" for things to justify being pissed off. And I don't want to do that.
So I'm just steering clear of it until my thoughts settle. I don't have a strong desire to see the video anyway. The creepy house is enough to scare me away. Official videos aren't my thing. I never saw the one for IML or Something for the Pain until I just happened across them in YT one day a year or so ago. It's music and lyrics for me. Right now I'm afraid I'd just nitpick it to death.
Bottom line: It's NOT a sham if they're a band of brothers because Richie's not there. Richie's not the point here, believe it or not. (Betcha never thought you'd see that coming from me, did you? I keep telling ppl I'm not as Richie-centered as they think I am!)
It's not a sham if they're a band of brothers at all. It's only a sham if they're NOT a band of brothers, but trying to promote themselves as one because they know that's what the fans believe in and that's what will "rally the troops".
Like you, I think we've focused way too much on what's behind my concerns with watching the video. I really had no idea when I posted that it would get this involved; and I don't want to be the one who's raining on everybody else's parade.
At least for the purposes of the thread let's just leave it at: Jackie Blue will watch the video when she gets her head out of the pretty "Ass on a Platter" and gets over the trip, and the Delta Airline Blues, and too many sleepless nights, and all the other noise.
I'm happy to continue the discussion if you want to, although I really don't have much to add. But if we do, I think it needs to move to PMs for the sake of the thread and the posters who are done with it. Does that work for you?