PJ becoming an elitist band?

weenie

thunderDAN wrote:

I don't think they are an elitist band, however I think they are touring under the strategy than they used to of hitting larger markets and charging alot more than they should and play the odds of out of a large population more people will be willing to spend $85 on a ticket than in smaller cities. They bring in more money with fewer shows and it's a win win for them.

That makes sense. I tend to forget that even wealthy people are looking for ways to cut corners nowdays.
Thanks.

thunderDAN

weenie wrote:

thunderDAN wrote:

I don't think they are an elitist band, however I think they are touring under the strategy than they used to of hitting larger markets and charging alot more than they should and play the odds of out of a large population more people will be willing to spend $85 on a ticket than in smaller cities. They bring in more money with fewer shows and it's a win win for them.

That makes sense. I tend to forget that even wealthy people are looking for ways to cut corners nowdays.
Thanks.

for the record, I think it's shitty. They aren't the same band they were when I became a fan.

100 Pacer

weenie wrote:

thunderDAN wrote:

I don't think they are an elitist band, however I think they are touring under the strategy than they used to of hitting larger markets and charging alot more than they should and play the odds of out of a large population more people will be willing to spend $85 on a ticket than in smaller cities. They bring in more money with fewer shows and it's a win win for them.

That makes sense. I tend to forget that even wealthy people are looking for ways to cut corners nowdays. Thanks.

since you've narrowed your "elitist" argument down to the topic of $$$, then yes, PJ's management works to secure financially beneficial arrangements for the band to tour on their terms under a schedule they are pleased with.

otherwise, the band and management realize a large contingent of fans choose to spend their time and money traveling for shows thereby affording the band the chance to pick and choose venues/cities. if the band doesn't want to tour the entire country, stop at every market large or small, it's their decision. they can't please everyone, nor do they actually care to try,...

thunderDAN wrote:

for the record, I think it's shitty. They aren't the same band they were when I became a fan.

if you're no longer a fan of the band, that's fair. if you're not pleased with management working to secure the band the best deals possible to allow the band to tour on their own terms, that's fair. this isn't the same band they were back in '91 because the band has grown into a living, breathing corporation made of members with families, priorities, and interests outside of simply touring for months on end. the band isn't going to keep touring indefinitely, so enjoy the music and the concerts while you still can,...

thunderDAN

Pacer,

I have no problem really with the cities they chose. They are free to do so, but $85 a ticket is just too much. People on here can stick up for them all you want comparing them to U2 and The Who (which is insane), $85 a ticket is too much. Metallica doesn't even charge that and they a)are bigger than Pearl Jam, b)don't tour every summer, c)sue their fans. It would be one thing if the band acted like KISS and made it clear they wanted to charge you high prices and sell you anything they can slap their name on from zippos to posters to caskets. But Pearl Jam has identified themselves with the opposite of that for 15+ years and now it's all coming crashing down which is why you see some fans upset. It's deals with Target, deals with Verizon, $85 tickets, skateboard decks, $250 books, zippos and whatever other bullshit they can sell fans claiming it's Limited Edition

I get they are a corporation now, I really do. But other bands like Metallica and Radiohead have just as many fans, expenses and mouths to feed and they haven't turned into what Pearl Jam has. That's all I'm saying, I don't mean this as an attack of anyone, I'm just pissed that the reasons I fell in love with this band which made it more than about the music has changed.

BRMLAW

thunderDAN wrote:

Pacer,

I have no problem really with the cities they chose. They are free to do so, but $85 a ticket is just too much. People on here can stick up for them all you want comparing them to U2 and The Who (which is insane), $85 a ticket is too much. Metallica doesn't even charge that and they a)are bigger than Pearl Jam, b)don't tour every summer, c)sue their fans. It would be one thing if the band acted like KISS and made it clear they wanted to charge you high prices and sell you anything they can slap their name on from zippos to posters to caskets. But Pearl Jam has identified themselves with the opposite of that for 15+ years and now it's all coming crashing down which is why you see some fans upset. It's deals with Target, deals with Verizon, $85 tickets, skateboard decks, $250 books, zippos and whatever other bullshit they can sell fans claiming it's Limited Edition

I get they are a corporation now, I really do. But other bands like Metallica and Radiohead have just as many fans, expenses and mouths to feed and they haven't turned into what Pearl Jam has. That's all I'm saying, I don't mean this as an attack of anyone, I'm just pissed that the reasons I fell in love with this band which made it more than about the music has changed.

First of all your just bitter Bron got dunked on. Next. The money thing has to do with the shift in the music industry. You can't compare what is going on today to what was going on in 91 or even in 06!? Listen, I don't know where you live, but I live in the largest music consumption city probably in the world and we are down to one record store. one! Bands cant make money selling albums because albums/cd's are practically gone. Hello? So where are these guys supposed to make money to support their growing families? Its not on CD sales. Pearl Jam threw in the towel on CD sales a long time ago. Now its even worse. Studios aren't putting up dough to sell albums. Period. The only band in the world who can self promote themselves at those levels are U2. No one can do it.

So if the promoters/record companies, etc aren't gonna pony up the dough cuz ITUNES killed the CD whose gonna pay the cost of the show? Um. We are. Not the band's fault. It's the economy stupid. Make sense now?

thunderDAN

BRMLAW wrote:

thunderDAN wrote:

Pacer,

I have no problem really with the cities they chose. They are free to do so, but $85 a ticket is just too much. People on here can stick up for them all you want comparing them to U2 and The Who (which is insane), $85 a ticket is too much. Metallica doesn't even charge that and they a)are bigger than Pearl Jam, b)don't tour every summer, c)sue their fans. It would be one thing if the band acted like KISS and made it clear they wanted to charge you high prices and sell you anything they can slap their name on from zippos to posters to caskets. But Pearl Jam has identified themselves with the opposite of that for 15+ years and now it's all coming crashing down which is why you see some fans upset. It's deals with Target, deals with Verizon, $85 tickets, skateboard decks, $250 books, zippos and whatever other bullshit they can sell fans claiming it's Limited Edition

I get they are a corporation now, I really do. But other bands like Metallica and Radiohead have just as many fans, expenses and mouths to feed and they haven't turned into what Pearl Jam has. That's all I'm saying, I don't mean this as an attack of anyone, I'm just pissed that the reasons I fell in love with this band which made it more than about the music has changed.

First of all your just bitter Bron got dunked on. Next. The money thing has to do with the shift in the music industry. You can't compare what is going on today to what was going on in 91 or even in 06!? Listen, I don't know where you live, but I live in the largest music consumption city probably in the world and we are down to one record store. one! Bands cant make money selling albums because albums/cd's are practically gone. Hello? So where are these guys supposed to make money to support their growing families? Its not on CD sales. Pearl Jam threw in the towel on CD sales a long time ago. Now its even worse. Studios aren't putting up dough to sell albums. Period. The only band in the world who can self promote themselves at those levels are U2. No one can do it.

So if the promoters/record companies, etc aren't gonna pony up the dough cuz ITUNES killed the CD whose gonna pay the cost of the show? Um. We are. Not the band's fault. It's the economy stupid. Make sense now?

I just don't understand why a band like Radiohead, who is equally as big as Pearl Jam, can give away their latest CD and have a catalog of albums being stolen on the internet, yet they still charge $50 to see them when they tour (when gas was $4 a gallon). NIN did the same exact thing last year. There are tons of bands that have just as many songs stolen as Pearl Jam that manage to not charge $85 a seat.

BRMLAW

thunderDAN wrote:

BRMLAW wrote:

thunderDAN wrote:

Pacer,

I have no problem really with the cities they chose. They are free to do so, but $85 a ticket is just too much. People on here can stick up for them all you want comparing them to U2 and The Who (which is insane), $85 a ticket is too much. Metallica doesn't even charge that and they a)are bigger than Pearl Jam, b)don't tour every summer, c)sue their fans. It would be one thing if the band acted like KISS and made it clear they wanted to charge you high prices and sell you anything they can slap their name on from zippos to posters to caskets. But Pearl Jam has identified themselves with the opposite of that for 15+ years and now it's all coming crashing down which is why you see some fans upset. It's deals with Target, deals with Verizon, $85 tickets, skateboard decks, $250 books, zippos and whatever other bullshit they can sell fans claiming it's Limited Edition

I get they are a corporation now, I really do. But other bands like Metallica and Radiohead have just as many fans, expenses and mouths to feed and they haven't turned into what Pearl Jam has. That's all I'm saying, I don't mean this as an attack of anyone, I'm just pissed that the reasons I fell in love with this band which made it more than about the music has changed.

First of all your just bitter Bron got dunked on. Next. The money thing has to do with the shift in the music industry. You can't compare what is going on today to what was going on in 91 or even in 06!? Listen, I don't know where you live, but I live in the largest music consumption city probably in the world and we are down to one record store. one! Bands cant make money selling albums because albums/cd's are practically gone. Hello? So where are these guys supposed to make money to support their growing families? Its not on CD sales. Pearl Jam threw in the towel on CD sales a long time ago. Now its even worse. Studios aren't putting up dough to sell albums. Period. The only band in the world who can self promote themselves at those levels are U2. No one can do it.

So if the promoters/record companies, etc aren't gonna pony up the dough cuz ITUNES killed the CD whose gonna pay the cost of the show? Um. We are. Not the band's fault. It's the economy stupid. Make sense now?

I just don't understand why a band like Radiohead, who is equally as big as Pearl Jam, can give away their latest CD and have a catalog of albums being stolen on the internet, yet they still charge $50 to see them when they tour (when gas was $4 a gallon). NIN did the same exact thing last year. There are tons of bands that have just as many songs stolen as Pearl Jam that manage to not charge $85 a seat.

You make a point. Radiohead certainly got the jump on self promotion. Maybe they took a loss on the record and took the publicity instead? The other thing Radiohead did was put the nail in the coffin of the record company....Too bad Pearl Jam couldn't get it done. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Pearl Jam records once every 3-4 years, does little or nothing to promote their sales, and now considers 12 dates a year a tour. I dunno. But it's worth lookin into

BRMLAW

thunderDAN wrote:

BRMLAW wrote:

thunderDAN wrote:

Pacer,

I have no problem really with the cities they chose. They are free to do so, but $85 a ticket is just too much. People on here can stick up for them all you want comparing them to U2 and The Who (which is insane), $85 a ticket is too much. Metallica doesn't even charge that and they a)are bigger than Pearl Jam, b)don't tour every summer, c)sue their fans. It would be one thing if the band acted like KISS and made it clear they wanted to charge you high prices and sell you anything they can slap their name on from zippos to posters to caskets. But Pearl Jam has identified themselves with the opposite of that for 15+ years and now it's all coming crashing down which is why you see some fans upset. It's deals with Target, deals with Verizon, $85 tickets, skateboard decks, $250 books, zippos and whatever other bullshit they can sell fans claiming it's Limited Edition

I get they are a corporation now, I really do. But other bands like Metallica and Radiohead have just as many fans, expenses and mouths to feed and they haven't turned into what Pearl Jam has. That's all I'm saying, I don't mean this as an attack of anyone, I'm just pissed that the reasons I fell in love with this band which made it more than about the music has changed.

First of all your just bitter Bron got dunked on. Next. The money thing has to do with the shift in the music industry. You can't compare what is going on today to what was going on in 91 or even in 06!? Listen, I don't know where you live, but I live in the largest music consumption city probably in the world and we are down to one record store. one! Bands cant make money selling albums because albums/cd's are practically gone. Hello? So where are these guys supposed to make money to support their growing families? Its not on CD sales. Pearl Jam threw in the towel on CD sales a long time ago. Now its even worse. Studios aren't putting up dough to sell albums. Period. The only band in the world who can self promote themselves at those levels are U2. No one can do it.

So if the promoters/record companies, etc aren't gonna pony up the dough cuz ITUNES killed the CD whose gonna pay the cost of the show? Um. We are. Not the band's fault. It's the economy stupid. Make sense now?

I just don't understand why a band like Radiohead, who is equally as big as Pearl Jam, can give away their latest CD and have a catalog of albums being stolen on the internet, yet they still charge $50 to see them when they tour (when gas was $4 a gallon). NIN did the same exact thing last year. There are tons of bands that have just as many songs stolen as Pearl Jam that manage to not charge $85 a seat.

And I can tell ya that when Radiohead came through L.A. last year and played the Hollywood Bowl the only seats that would have been $50.00 were nosebleeds. The Bowl doesn't do $50 dollars.

force-10

I wonder if in some way everyone posting here was to be put in a single room or classroom all together, some people will still have the guts to stand up and adress to everyone else and speak out the stupid things they point out in this forum.

It´s easy to type and submit without other people looking at you or at least knowing you personally. I´ve been guilty of that as well, posting some things that maybe i wouldn´t say out loud in a crowded room.

pj only visiting red or blue states? That is so dumb, it´s funny.

BRMLAW

force-10 wrote:

I wonder if in some way everyone posting here was to be put in a single room or classroom all together, some people will still have the guts to stand up and adress to everyone else and speak out the stupid things they point out in this forum.

It´s easy to type and submit without other people looking at you or at least knowing you personally. I´ve been guilty of that as well, posting some things that maybe i wouldn´t say out loud in a crowded room.

pj only visiting red or blue states? That is so dumb, it´s funny.

There's 2 d's in address.....In case you needed a little help

drsluggo

BRMLAW wrote:

force-10 wrote:

pj only visiting red or blue states? That is so dumb, it´s funny.

There's 2 d's in address.....In case you needed a little help

Hahaha... owned!

And I wonder if we were all in a classroom, and these people that defend every little, tiny thing PJ does get up and make their normal 'how dare you' speech... will they be embarrassed once PJ does not accept their invite to the prom still after the rousing speech?

weenie

Well said. :geek:

halszka123

weenie - thank You for the thread. I don't think it's stupid like some here said.
It's interesting... Well, it's not my business, I live far from USA, but:
1. drsluggo and Bravejamriot argue about political motives in PJ touring. I really hope drsluggo is wrong. But all this dialog throw a new light on this case - I would never know that some American would see it in this way.

2.

thunderDAN wrote:

Pacer,

I have no problem really with the cities they chose. They are free to do so, but $85 a ticket is just too much. People on here can stick up for them all you want comparing them to U2 and The Who (which is insane), $85 a ticket is too much. Metallica doesn't even charge that and they a)are bigger than Pearl Jam, b)don't tour every summer, c)sue their fans. It would be one thing if the band acted like KISS and made it clear they wanted to charge you high prices and sell you anything they can slap their name on from zippos to posters to caskets. But Pearl Jam has identified themselves with the opposite of that for 15+ years and now it's all coming crashing down which is why you see some fans upset. It's deals with Target, deals with Verizon, $85 tickets, skateboard decks, $250 books, zippos and whatever other bullshit they can sell fans claiming it's Limited Edition

I get they are a corporation now, I really do. But other bands like Metallica and Radiohead have just as many fans, expenses and mouths to feed and they haven't turned into what Pearl Jam has. That's all I'm saying, I don't mean this as an attack of anyone, I'm just pissed that the reasons I fell in love with this band which made it more than about the music has changed.

This post shows many my fears. And the last sentence is what I feel exactly. If I wanted only good music i would choose Chris Cornell's in "Soundgarden years" (for music and his exterior, but how would I look now?). Pearl Jam had some ideals, which unfortunatelly seem to be wasted these days. And it hurts me much

3.

BRMLAW wrote:

The other issue with PJ and big tours IS the economy IMHO. I just don't think its economically feasible for PJ to play the whole country in places where people just aren't spending money.

And here we go... I really want to think this is true reason why PJ chose big cities.

I still remember articles in media describing PJ - band which care about fans - low prices for tickets, small places for concerts or though not choosing big stadiums (to keep it intimate)...
well I read this kind of article only a few weeks ago. After that i felt confused.

It's good to think it's not depend on Them, but I would like to ask politely - isn't it really?
to all these persons here who wants to call me names because of this - don't waste Your time and keyboard. We all just sharing our feelings and knowledge here.

force-10

halszka123 wrote:

I still remember articles in media describing PJ - band which care about fans - low prices for tickets, small places for concerts or though not choosing big stadiums (to keep it intimate)...
well I read this kind of article only a few weeks ago. After that i felt confused.

It's good to think it's not depend on Them, but I would like to ask politely - isn't it really?
to all these persons here who wants to call me names because of this - don't waste Your time and keyboard. We all just sharing our feelings and knowledge here.

For the riot act tour I was planning on going to the mexican shows, until I saw the wopping US$ 200 + price on tickets. I was so bummed out that I didn´t bother on trying to buy the cheaper tickets. I did however make a thread about this issue and I got a lot of posts saying to stop whining cause its probably the promoters decision or that they take their crew and that causes the high prices, but I believed it was bs. I felt like shit when I saw the prices. And decided not to go. I don´t drink that juice that one of you said, but for these show I am planning on traveling for thousands of kilometers and hope to god that I could get good seats!

BRMLAW wrote:

There's 2 d's in address.....In case you needed a little help

This is the kind of post that you would expect on such a classroom where the person saying it out loud doesn´t care about what´s being talked about. Just having fun, hey?

hopethatuchoke

BRMLAW wrote:

First of all your just bitter Bron got dunked on. Next. The money thing has to do with the shift in the music industry. You can't compare what is going on today to what was going on in 91 or even in 06!? Listen, I don't know where you live, but I live in the largest music consumption city probably in the world and we are down to one record store. one! Bands cant make money selling albums because albums/cd's are practically gone. Hello? So where are these guys supposed to make money to support their growing families? Its not on CD sales. Pearl Jam threw in the towel on CD sales a long time ago. Now its even worse. Studios aren't putting up dough to sell albums. Period. The only band in the world who can self promote themselves at those levels are U2. No one can do it.

So if the promoters/record companies, etc aren't gonna pony up the dough cuz ITUNES killed the CD whose gonna pay the cost of the show? Um. We are. Not the band's fault. It's the economy stupid. Make sense now?

You say that like every other band isn't going through the same thing right now. I paid $55 to see Radiohead in Camden last year in the Pit. They had a PHENOMENAL light show. Even if you weren't a fan of the music, I feel you would have still been satisfied due to how awesome it looked. NIN tour last year was out of Reznor's pocket. No record label, no sponsors and I think the light show was one of the most expensive of all time. His prices were like $50-$70 I think? People who saw the show said it was amazing.

I saw Metallica last November in Philly for like $75. Their stage was in the round so the entire arena had a great seat and it felt like a show...not just a concert. The pyro was awesome and they played for 2+ hours. Their tickets were the exact same price as their tour in 2004. Exactly the same. I'm sure the promoter encouraged them to charge more but they didn't.

That all said....Pearl Jam simply set up with their amps, have a very standard light show and play instruments for 2+ hours. I assume they have been using the same stage since 1998 since their show hasn't changed since then. They do it very very well (or else none of us would go) but as far as bang for your buck and value? Not so much. I paid $45 for a lower level ticket to see Pearl Jam in Boston in 2004. Why is that exact same ticket going to be $88 at the Spectrum? Because the band wants it to be. I can't stand seeing people saying "It's not the bands fault". Give me a break. It was once about the fans but I don't think it really is at this point anymore. The days of idolizing Fugazi are long gone. We willingly pay it though so more power to them. The best way to protest would be to just not go but few of us can resist.

GirlInRed

Wasn't Ed like best friends with Johnny Ramone , a Republican?? Come on people.

BRMLAW

hopethatuchoke wrote:

BRMLAW wrote:

First of all your just bitter Bron got dunked on. Next. The money thing has to do with the shift in the music industry. You can't compare what is going on today to what was going on in 91 or even in 06!? Listen, I don't know where you live, but I live in the largest music consumption city probably in the world and we are down to one record store. one! Bands cant make money selling albums because albums/cd's are practically gone. Hello? So where are these guys supposed to make money to support their growing families? Its not on CD sales. Pearl Jam threw in the towel on CD sales a long time ago. Now its even worse. Studios aren't putting up dough to sell albums. Period. The only band in the world who can self promote themselves at those levels are U2. No one can do it.

So if the promoters/record companies, etc aren't gonna pony up the dough cuz ITUNES killed the CD whose gonna pay the cost of the show? Um. We are. Not the band's fault. It's the economy stupid. Make sense now?

You say that like every other band isn't going through the same thing right now. I paid $55 to see Radiohead in Camden last year in the Pit. They had a PHENOMENAL light show. Even if you weren't a fan of the music, I feel you would have still been satisfied due to how awesome it looked. NIN tour last year was out of Reznor's pocket. No record label, no sponsors and I think the light show was one of the most expensive of all time. His prices were like $50-$70 I think? People who saw the show said it was amazing.

I saw Metallica last November in Philly for like $75. Their stage was in the round so the entire arena had a great seat and it felt like a show...not just a concert. The pyro was awesome and they played for 2+ hours. Their tickets were the exact same price as their tour in 2004. Exactly the same. I'm sure the promoter encouraged them to charge more but they didn't.

That all said....Pearl Jam simply set up with their amps, have a very standard light show and play instruments for 2+ hours. I assume they have been using the same stage since 1998 since their show hasn't changed since then. They do it very very well (or else none of us would go) but as far as bang for your buck and value? Not so much. I paid $45 for a lower level ticket to see Pearl Jam in Boston in 2004. Why is that exact same ticket going to be $88 at the Spectrum? Because the band wants it to be. I can't stand seeing people saying "It's not the bands fault". Give me a break. It was once about the fans but I don't think it really is at this point anymore. The days of idolizing Fugazi are long gone. We willingly pay it though so more power to them. The best way to protest would be to just not go but few of us can resist.

You only cite two bands, and I know inaccurately so in the case of Radiohead. They charged a hell of a lot more in my city. But then again I wont sit in the shit seats and don't go looking for them. Looking at Radiohead last year they played at least half the year if not more in support of In Rainbows. Pearl Jam played like 12 shows and no income from sales of Music. In Rainbows was also sold commercially well after the digital l download happened and its not like it didnt sell. So they certainly made money last year.

Where is the bands income going to come from if they dont tour and they dont record?? Ed did shows. But how does that help the rest of the guys in the band. The point your missing is that even before the digital age bands still made their best money from touring. They would have to share with the promoter but not the record company. If you self release, like Radiohead tried to do, you have a chance at making some dough. Pearl Jam talked about doing it with this album but it looks they fell short. Selling music as direct downloads are probably the wave of the future but not everyone can afford it. Until then we still have to deal with Target and distributors, etc. And so does the band. But with Itunes, people are just not buying full cd's. And now Apple takes a cut of the action.

Bottom line, your ticket price is higher because you have a band not making music for 3 years without a major tour in just that long.

weenie

halszka123 wrote:

weenie - thank You for the thread. I don't think it's stupid like some here said.
It's interesting... Well, it's not my business, I live far from USA, but:
1. drsluggo and Bravejamriot argue about political motives in PJ touring. I really hope drsluggo is wrong. But all this dialog throw a new light on this case - I would never know that some American would see it in this way.

2.

thunderDAN wrote:

Pacer,

I have no problem really with the cities they chose. They are free to do so, but $85 a ticket is just too much. People on here can stick up for them all you want comparing them to U2 and The Who (which is insane), $85 a ticket is too much. Metallica doesn't even charge that and they a)are bigger than Pearl Jam, b)don't tour every summer, c)sue their fans. It would be one thing if the band acted like KISS and made it clear they wanted to charge you high prices and sell you anything they can slap their name on from zippos to posters to caskets. But Pearl Jam has identified themselves with the opposite of that for 15+ years and now it's all coming crashing down which is why you see some fans upset. It's deals with Target, deals with Verizon, $85 tickets, skateboard decks, $250 books, zippos and whatever other bullshit they can sell fans claiming it's Limited Edition

I get they are a corporation now, I really do. But other bands like Metallica and Radiohead have just as many fans, expenses and mouths to feed and they haven't turned into what Pearl Jam has. That's all I'm saying, I don't mean this as an attack of anyone, I'm just pissed that the reasons I fell in love with this band which made it more than about the music has changed.

This post shows many my fears. And the last sentence is what I feel exactly. If I wanted only good music i would choose Chris Cornell's in "Soundgarden years" (for music and his exterior, but how would I look now?). Pearl Jam had some ideals, which unfortunatelly seem to be wasted these days. And it hurts me much

3.

BRMLAW wrote:

The other issue with PJ and big tours IS the economy IMHO. I just don't think its economically feasible for PJ to play the whole country in places where people just aren't spending money.

And here we go... I really want to think this is true reason why PJ chose big cities.

I still remember articles in media describing PJ - band which care about fans - low prices for tickets, small places for concerts or though not choosing big stadiums (to keep it intimate)...
well I read this kind of article only a few weeks ago. After that i felt confused.

It's good to think it's not depend on Them, but I would like to ask politely - isn't it really?
to all these persons here who wants to call me names because of this - don't waste Your time and keyboard. We all just sharing our feelings and knowledge here.

Thanks halszka123. I appreciate your post.
You know, I'm always amazed by some people's lack of objectivity when asked to consider an unusual idea or thought. I love the music, but as to the band - some of the lustre has definitely tarnished - regardless of all the pressures of everyday life we ALL experience, ideals are still ideals (like those you read in your magazine article). Those ideals are one of the things that first attracted me to this band and I had high hopes would never shift.

force-10

BRMLAW wrote:

Bottom line, your ticket price is higher because you have a band not making music for 3 years without a major tour in just that long.

The band charges a certain amount of money for each show right? The promoters are the ones who charge the fans?

A friend of mine is a musician here in my country and a radio dj told him that pj was gonna do a gig here back in 2004. At the time we went bezerk! Turns out the promoters decided that they were charging too much and nothing happenned. I don´t remember what he said they were charging, but it was a lot of dough. Maybe that´s why the mexican shows were so expensive (200 dollars +)

redrock

weenie wrote:

Those ideals are one of the things that first attracted me to this band and I had high hopes would never shift.

The thing is we all change/evolve. Are you the same person you were 20 years ago? Are your priorities the same? Generally, is a 20 year old not more idealistic than a 40 year old? One may still hold the same principles/values/ideals but eventually, with maturity and just plain old 'life' one will see things a bit differently. This does not mean that as we grow up, we lose all our passion and beliefs, maybe one is just a bit more realistic as opposed to idealistic.

Also, the ideals that 'we' decide PJ have... are these not a bit idealistic as well? Have 'we' put the band members on a pedestal because of certain causes they fought? Do we not forget these are regular people (albeit with a bit more talent than average!), with regular concerns, regular needs/wants, etc?

From the point of view of elitism, ie the band catering for a certain social level of the population (ie those that can pay for stuff)... I'm saying everything is more expensive, less people can afford 'luxuries' (and concert tix do count as a luxury). Simple. The band need to charge x amount of money for a ticket to pay for their touring and make some money too... simple economics. Less people being able to afford this.. simple economics too.

I know people are giving examples of a couple of bands that do things 'cheaply'. Yes they do, but that is not the norm. Also, is it something that they can sustain?