Back home
First off I would like to apologise for the apparent bad grammar in my last blog but I can only say it was all fine when I wrote it but somehow it all ends up as one big paragraph.
- Again I would like to thank everyone involved with the salvage operation that was this last Aussie tour and to say it was by far the most enjoyable that I have been involved in. That said I have noticed a few people had some complaints about the content of the shows and I would like to explain a few things without getting into any conflict with anyone as I respect the fact that everyone who has paid their money has a right to voice their opinion . The problem we have here is that this is a business whether people like it or not and when you ask the question is it all about the money well the simple answer is yes. That is not meant to sound mercenary but at the end of the day the promoter is the person who puts up the all the money in advance to expedite the tour and takes a great risk in doing so and therefor expects the band to do everything it can to help get a return on that investment so I’m afraid playing obscure songs that the vast majority of the crowd have never heard of simply doesn’t make any sense.
The reality is we are not here to educate or enlighten people, that is the purpose of an album when it is originally released, we are here to entertain people and, as Hong Kong Mick ( a man wise beyond his years ) has already said, most people who are now middle aged are just not that interested in songs they don’t know , sorry but that is true . Maybe you could think of it like going into work tomorrow and start doing things that neither your employer nor your customers actually want and then see how long you have a job. That’s the bit that’s often overlooked , this is our job it’s not a hobby. That said we love to stick in the heavier stuff when we can but all that would have been achieved in this instance would have been to squander a great opportunity to build for the future and the possible end of touring in Australia.
Again I’m not saying anyone is wrong if they disagree with what I’ve said and I don’t want to start an argument I just want to try and explain why we do what we do and hope that in the future we can expand the shows once we have solid foundation to work from.
I hope that explains things a bit.
5 Responses to “Back home”
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26/11/2009 at 10:20 pm
We travelled over from NZ for the Sat and Sun night shows in Melbourne and had an awesome time - the music was great and, as Andy said on one of the nights, you couldn’t play everyting or you’d be here forever (nice thought). It was a great atmosphere and getting to say hello to you all was amazing! Hopefully next time you guys head south you will come a little further across the ditch to NZ and in particular the South Island! Thanks for a wonderful time, please come back soon -tess
PS Thanks for signing my birthday card (not quite as big a number as Andy’s)
29/11/2009 at 08:15 am
Hi Brucie
Thanks for explaining the nuts and bolts of it (or should I say the dollars and cents). I thought the concert I saw in Oz was really fabulous. You guys are extremely professional, all 4 of you. You and Andy did a great job as I expected. Pete also really surprised me and I thought Steve was just brilliant.
I would hate to think you weren’t able to tour Oz anymore, so bring on the hits I say. It really is an excellent catalogue and its no wonder they still remain so popular.
Having said that, I love pretty much all Sweets’s stuff including the album tracks and b-sides. So I hope I can get to a Bilston Fan Club night as soon as and enjoy a selection of those other tracks live as well.
Gordo
01/12/2009 at 02:04 am
Hey Bruce
How about Sweet putting out a CD in the on line store with the current line up focussing on parts of the Sweet catalogue we are less likely to hear in concert. That might keep the extreme fans happy.
Some personal faves and suggested tracks would be Medussa, Mother Earth, Laura Lee, 4th of July, Falling in Love, Love is the Cure, Tell the Truth, Fountain, Marshall Stack and leap of Faith.
05/12/2009 at 04:50 am
Just a point to add to my second suggestion (which hasn’t and I guess won’t be published on the net) is that this sort of CD could also be sold at the shows too. There are fans like me who would buy both CDs, but it appears to me that there are also some older fans that may just buy the album tracks since they have enough different copies of the singles already (let’s face, it there are heaps of them out there).
It also seems to me to be a great way of getting fans (including the younger ones of which there were a few at the concerts) to move beyond the hits and better known material. If they heard a great live version of Heartbreak Today, 4th of July, Mother Earth, Tell the Truth or Love is the Cure played by the current band on a CD they purchased at a concert and thought what great songs, the next thing they might be wondering is where these tracks came from. They might then want to get hold of those albums. You would be providing a link for them to move beyond the hits they hear in concert to the rest of the excellent Sweet catalogue. A “second” seed would be planted to follow on from the first seed which is the form of the hits CD. Next thing you might see a few of them buying 50 to 100 different Sweet releases like myself. Sweet’s material is easily good enough to do that to you.
I think it would also be a great thing for fans like me who have a very substantial portion of what Sweet has released already as it would also supply great alternate live versions from the current band, which I really think is top notch. I also don’t know of any live version of Medusa, 4th of July, Mother Earth, Tell the Truth or Love is the Cure since the old concerts were framed largely around the same tracks and the latter songs didn’t exist. There are versions of some of these tracks like on the album “According to Sweden” but they are not of the same quality as the current Sweet line up could produce and this resource therefore largely remains untapped. All in all it would provide that extra dimension for Sweet fans if they wanted it and also give the rest of the Sweet catalogue a lot more currency.
Hope you can give this suggestion some real consideration. I would love to be able to pick up that extra CD next time you tour Oz (if I hadn’t already picked it up a bunch of them from the internet shop).
Best regards
Gordo
13/01/2010 at 02:58 am
Hi Bruce, No need to fully explain to all Sweet fans the reasons for playing your music obscure or not. Any real Sweet fan loves you guys anyway. Admittedly i realize you do have to please many people and the new fans (younger ones) i am sure would really appreciate all the classics. Loved hearing COCO COCO and Poppa Joe. I attended your gigs in Melbourne on 19Nov , 21Nov and 22Nov couldnt make the 20Nov gig. Had an amazing time front row each night. So great to meet you all after the show and talk to you without being just like a number. You guys care about your fans witch is not common in the music industry. You may remember me Bruce you gave me your drum stick after the 22Nov gig signed to PAUL from Bruce. Have some good pics of you and me and the band members. If you need email me to : south_yarra_travel@bigpond.com When are you coming back?
Paul Rogers