Want do you think is the best and worst decision the band has made over their career?

Go Beavers

on2legs said:

They can’t be making much money off record sales these days.  Even though I would hate it, I couldn’t blame them if they charged $500 for a front row seat. 

Hardly anyone does. Touring and merch sales are how bands make cash. The upside is that bands have to put more energy into being good live.

release00

Worst: the handling of 2020 tour dates

3days

mbowers said:

on2legs said:

They can’t be making much money off record sales these days.  Even though I would hate it, I couldn’t blame them if they charged $500 for a front row seat. 

Wait, only $500 for guaranteed front row?  Sign me up for a whole leg…

Yeah, $500 for front row is CHEAP these days. Chili Peppers/Strokes at Soldier is selling first few rows BEHIND the pit for $2,500. After fees, that will be close to 3k per ticket. 

Given2Fly-Fish

evenflow82 said:

Just thinking about what has helped the band and not helped the band over the course of their career. Looking back, what do you think was the best and worst decision(s) the band has made?

Best: varied setlists to keep the material and their chops fresh.

Worst: their stand against ticketmaster. When I look at the headaches it created  from 94-97 and now they have no problem doing business with them now it seems like it didn't amount to much imo.

What are your thoughts?

Nailed it!  By far these are the two that stick out the most to me...

AA295481

I like the fact they have always made it a mission to get their music out affordably. In the early 90's music stores would sell their singles as imports only. for about $30-$40 for the Alive, Jeremy single and an import of ten with yellow Ledbetter on it. They ended up rereleasing their singles in the US for much cheaper prices and would put a sticker on it that said "not to be confused with a more expensive version" since the late 90's they have had to deal with flippers on Ebay. After a tour, they would sell posters and other items on 10C. As far as their music Walmart has rereleased RVM, LO2L in June, I imagine at some point Lost Dogs will be available at Walmart as well. 

The moment I dislike was when they took on Ticketmaster. I see their point, they wanted their ticket prices at $20, it was about $25 with ticketmaster fees. But those days are long gone. 

Smarter_Than_U

Best: After blowing up, their pullback from the machinery of the music industry (no videos, limited interviews, focus on music). They would have broken up had they not started saying "No" IMO.

Worst: I think as time has gone on, they have gotten perhaps too democratic in their song selection of what ends up on albums. Riot Act for example could have been a 10/10 if they swapped out some of the b-sides from that time period (down, fatal, U, Sad) for some of the weaker songs on that album. Lightning Bolt is an example of an album that should not have even be released. It's a really bad album. With that, on a positive note, it was good to see with Gigaton that their standards and songwriting seem to have returned to the days of yore. Definitely excited for new songs. Also loving the new EV album!

1STmammal2wearPants

Worst: Releasing 'Can't Deny Me' as the first single on their forthcoming album.

Best: Ditching it off the album altogether and releasing DOTC as the first single. That song was out of left field after the previous one.

rrivers

hihobibo said:

Best : Varied Setlists, official bootlegs and the limited merchandise. Keeps the band interesting for all their fans. 

Worst : Giving Dave A. The KISS treatment at the HOF ceremony and anything else that honors that era (funko pops). I understand the disagreement they had with him, but he should be acknowledged. 

Great take on Dave A.  I thought they could have brought him out and played Go with him like they played Alive with Krusen.

JimFletcherPearlJam

Best: Withstanding the test of time and not breaking up like so many other bands. 

Worst: Their choices of opening acts. I don't ever recall getting stoked about any band that's opened for Pearl Jam in recent decades. I understand they want to help up-and-coming bands, but I'd rather see STP, Bush, or Alice in Chains for 90 minutes prior to Pearl Jam taking the stage. 

igotid88

release00 said:

Worst: the handling of 2020 tour dates

How? Everyone postponed or canceled 

bazfromoz

Worst: the Rome 2018 poster debacle. 

mschostok

Best: To always be themselves and stay true to their values.

Worst: Staying with Brendan O’Brien for so long. With Gigaton and Earthling, it shows how a fresh producer can better your sound. 

ComeToTX

igotid88 said:

release00 said:

Worst: the handling of 2020 tour dates

How? Everyone postponed or canceled 

Is everyone still leaving their fans in limbo 2 years later?

release00

igotid88 said:

release00 said:

Worst: the handling of 2020 tour dates

How? Everyone postponed or canceled 

You’re right. Should read: the rescheduling of 2020 tour dates

OceansJenny

rrivers said:

hihobibo said:

Best : Varied Setlists, official bootlegs and the limited merchandise. Keeps the band interesting for all their fans. 

Worst : Giving Dave A. The KISS treatment at the HOF ceremony and anything else that honors that era (funko pops). I understand the disagreement they had with him, but he should be acknowledged. 

Great take on Dave A.  I thought they could have brought him out and played Go with him like they played Alive with Krusen.

It seems like it’s a strained relationship between Dave A and the band. I wish they could get along too but if they could then he probably wouldn’t have gotten the boot in the first place.

HughFreakingDillon

OceansJenny said:

rrivers said:

hihobibo said:

Best : Varied Setlists, official bootlegs and the limited merchandise. Keeps the band interesting for all their fans. 

Worst : Giving Dave A. The KISS treatment at the HOF ceremony and anything else that honors that era (funko pops). I understand the disagreement they had with him, but he should be acknowledged. 

Great take on Dave A.  I thought they could have brought him out and played Go with him like they played Alive with Krusen.

It seems like it’s a strained relationship between Dave A and the band. I wish they could get along too but if they could then he probably wouldn’t have gotten the boot in the first place.

they "invited" him, whatever that means. I read a facebook rants from him that he turned them down since it was $10K a ticket. Does someone who performs as a guest have to pay that price? Or could PJ have just said "he's a guest" and that's it? I don't know. 

OceansJenny

HughFreakingDillon said:

OceansJenny said:

rrivers said:

hihobibo said:

Best : Varied Setlists, official bootlegs and the limited merchandise. Keeps the band interesting for all their fans. 

Worst : Giving Dave A. The KISS treatment at the HOF ceremony and anything else that honors that era (funko pops). I understand the disagreement they had with him, but he should be acknowledged. 

Great take on Dave A.  I thought they could have brought him out and played Go with him like they played Alive with Krusen.

It seems like it’s a strained relationship between Dave A and the band. I wish they could get along too but if they could then he probably wouldn’t have gotten the boot in the first place.

they "invited" him, whatever that means. I read a facebook rants from him that he turned them down since it was $10K a ticket. Does someone who performs as a guest have to pay that price? Or could PJ have just said "he's a guest" and that's it? I don't know. 

Yeah he was saying he would have to buy a table. He was invited but they weren’t going to comp him. 

bootlegger10

OceansJenny said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

OceansJenny said:

rrivers said:

hihobibo said:

Best : Varied Setlists, official bootlegs and the limited merchandise. Keeps the band interesting for all their fans. 

Worst : Giving Dave A. The KISS treatment at the HOF ceremony and anything else that honors that era (funko pops). I understand the disagreement they had with him, but he should be acknowledged. 

Great take on Dave A.  I thought they could have brought him out and played Go with him like they played Alive with Krusen.

It seems like it’s a strained relationship between Dave A and the band. I wish they could get along too but if they could then he probably wouldn’t have gotten the boot in the first place.

they "invited" him, whatever that means. I read a facebook rants from him that he turned them down since it was $10K a ticket. Does someone who performs as a guest have to pay that price? Or could PJ have just said "he's a guest" and that's it? I don't know. 

Yeah he was saying he would have to buy a table. He was invited but they weren’t going to comp him. 

If that is true then that is pretty darn petty by PJ (or we just don't know the whole story).

JimmyV

$10,000 for a guy you don't like? Who you may or may not still have some bad blood with? Who may or may not want to rehash some of that bad blood on a night that is supposed to be your celebration? I can see not be willing to pay for that. 

HughFreakingDillon

JimmyV said:

$10,000 for a guy you don't like? Who you may or may not still have some bad blood with? Who may or may not want to rehash some of that bad blood on a night that is supposed to be your celebration? I can see not be willing to pay for that. 

yeah, I understand that point, but it's also like me shelling out $20. it just would have been a classy move. and we don't know what the rules are with the cost and who has to pay and who doesn't. 

either way it was nice that Ed mentioned him in his speech.