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Boom should be an official band member

chris32482chris32482 Posts: 213
edited September 2009 in The Porch
This is how I feel.

I've always said about other bands that I think it's lame when they have extra musicians that play with them live, but that are not considered a member of the band. So, in the spirit of objectivity: Pearl Jam, that means you too! :shock:

I know that some people don't really like Boom and all. I think he's great. He's just another part of this band's evolutionary process-- and isn't it that ability to continuously grow and change that makes Pearl Jam such a great band? Some have said that Boom isn't that good; that he's just an average organ/keyboard player. I think that's bullshit. The guys wouldn't have kept him around for so long if he didn't mesh well with the band, and that's the important thing.

I'm not saying the band disrespects him in any way. I know Ed always gives him props at live shows. And he's listed with the band on bootlegs and live DVDs. So it's almost like there are two Pearl Jams: one with Boom and one without.

Is that really necessary? Why not just let him play on the albums and make him an official band member?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Niko80Niko80 Posts: 1,610
    edited September 2009
    On this tour, Boom is more off stage than on it. He is a pretty small part of the whole picture. This is why I dont see the problem with having him as an extra.
    Post edited by Niko80 on
    I will swallow poison
  • drsluggodrsluggo Posts: 4,742
    Niko80 wrote:
    On this tour, Boom is more off stage than on it. He is a pretty small part of the whole picture. This is why I dont see the problem with having him as an extra.
    I agree... nothing against Boom, but when he plays on the songs he's meant to play on it sounds good and when he plays on songs he shouldnt be it takes away from the song as a whole.

    So a part-time player (to me) is a good way to do it, which is pretty much how it is now. Not to mention I'm sure there are more legal ($$) ramifications in making him a band member as opposed to a touring partner.
  • Backspacer17Backspacer17 Posts: 6
    nothing against boom but he was not there when pearl jam was at their prime. i dont mind boom in some songs like 'love reign o' me' but i dont think he should be an official part of the band. he is a nice accessory but he does not have the history that pearl jam does back in the 90's
  • SpagsSpags Leigh-on-Sea, UK Posts: 3,052
    They've been through a few drummers since the start tho...
    Nature drunk and High
  • GS163319GS163319 Posts: 132
    They may have gone through some drummers, but a drummer is necessary.

    A keyboardist is not.
  • SpagsSpags Leigh-on-Sea, UK Posts: 3,052
    Thats true, unless you get a drum machine! ;)

    I like having Boom around for the gigs, makes them seem more like a ryhthm and blues band.
    Nature drunk and High
  • JonnyPistachioJonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    drsluggo wrote:
    Niko80 wrote:
    On this tour, Boom is more off stage than on it. He is a pretty small part of the whole picture. This is why I dont see the problem with having him as an extra.
    I agree... nothing against Boom, but when he plays on the songs he's meant to play on it sounds good and when he plays on songs he shouldnt be it takes away from the song as a whole.

    So a part-time player (to me) is a good way to do it, which is pretty much how it is now. Not to mention I'm sure there are more legal ($$) ramifications in making him a band member as opposed to a touring partner.

    when I read 'ramifications', i busted into Grievance. Dude, this is getting bad. Please send me Bacspacer now.
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • DH62179DH62179 Posts: 312
    I guess since they're not a band that is very organ-heavy like The Black Crowes or something than it doesn't make a lot of sense to have him as a full member. I do like how he seems to be considered a full band member when he's on stage with them, unlike some bands like R.E.M. who pretend their touring members don't even exist.
  • SomethingCreativeSomethingCreative Kazoo, MI Posts: 3,398
    he didn't write any of his own parts on backspacer and muddies up every song live that he didn't have a part it writing.

    If any keyboardist/"extra" musicians should be made an official member of Pearl Jam, it should be Brendan O'brien before anyone
    "Well, I think this band is incapable of sucking."
    -my dad after hearing Not for You for the first time on SNL .
  • Black DiamondBlack Diamond Posts: 25,107
    JonnyPistachio wrote:

    when I read 'ramifications', i busted into Grievance. Dude, this is getting bad. Please send me Bacspacer now.

    Me too, LMAO!
    GoiMTvP.gif
  • corduroykellycorduroykelly Posts: 668
    Boom should not me an official band member he has never written a song and has no say on anything music, album artwork, tours, etc.
  • Evel KEvel K Posts: 546
    I could of swore I saw Boom come out and take a bow both nights in Chicago. He's hit the Jackpot as far as Touring Band Looking For Keyboard Player ads go.
    Things were different then
  • cdp1223cdp1223 Posts: 1,131
    corduroykelly wrote:
    Boom should not me an official band member he has never written a song and has no say on anything music, album artwork, tours, etc.

    Love Boat Captain.
  • hollow bottlehollow bottle Posts: 183
    Boom is a really cool guy. He is an alright musician. To be honest, none of the band members are technical. Many bands have extras. They get paid. Boom is lucky to have the job he has. There are plenty of other people who can do his job and do it much better.
    TDR
  • helplessdancerhelplessdancer Posts: 5,281
    cdp1223 wrote:
    corduroykelly wrote:
    Boom should not me an official band member he has never written a song and has no say on anything music, album artwork, tours, etc.

    Love Boat Captain.

    oops! lol

    i bet when he jams the band doesn't necessarily tell him exactly what to play...my guess is there is room for some of his own interpretation in there

    as far as being an official member im sure his tour pay cheques let him sleep comfortably at night and he prolly doesn't even care if it's official...im mean who else are they gonna get if they decide to part with boom? boom is the right guy for the job, imo. mostly cause he prolly has the right attitude ;)

    love boom
  • JW0422JW0422 Posts: 170
    WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, HE PROBABLY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT BEING AN OFFICIAL MEMBER UNLESS HE NEEDS THE EXTRA CASH THAT HE WOULD GET IF HE WAS ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THE GROUP, THE WAY IT IS NOW HE JUST SHOWS UP AND PLAYS AND DOESN'T HAVE TO HELP WRITE ANY SONGS OR ANY OTHER CRAP LIKE THAT, I WISH I WAS IN HIS SHOES!
  • SpagsSpags Leigh-on-Sea, UK Posts: 3,052
    No need to shout Mr Angry. We just chattin shit innit...
    Nature drunk and High
  • ZodZod Posts: 10,760
    UncleSpaggles wrote:
    They've been through a few drummers since the start tho...

    Technically speaking Matt Cameron was the first drummer for Pearl Jam as well (on the momma son demos), the first recordings of the band.
  • jmkjmk Posts: 425
    According to Wikipedia Boom doesn't play keyboards on the new album. Brendan does. (Maybe it's been discussed at the forum).

    "Brendan O'Brien – production, mixing, piano, keyboard, percussion"

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backspacer ... _Jam_album)

    So why should Boom be an official band member? I think it's good that they let Brendan play the keys because he's much better on it than Boom.

    Listen to Brendan's piano on Off He Goes and Arond the Bend from No Code and you'll hear how good he is compared to Boom. Brendan also played the Fender Rhodes electric piano on the 1996 Bridge School concerts and I think they are the best Bridge School concerts because of it. (Brendan also played Hammond B3 organ on Bob Dylan's Mtv Unplugged concert and I think he did a great job there too).
    Stockholm - 07/07/2012
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