Suspicious

[Imagescapegirl]

or do I watch too many spy movies!

John Arnold runs Keith's web site ...

When the ELP digest came out, John Arnold had sent them links to stuff other people have linked here ... I thought it was a pity he hadn't got them on Keith's site before running off to the ELP digest.

As of writing, the only available You tube clips from our concert review thread are the Whole Lotta Love Finale and the brief bit of Marche Train - all the others have been pulled off of You Tube ....

If you are a regular here, and so reading this, it maybe the next time you visit you have to log in ... can't stop 'em, but if the link is here, I can make it more difficult ... and just at the moment that is tempting ....

As always, I will sleep on it.

Keith - if you have anything to do with those few You Tube clips being pulled, I have to say I see that as simply unkind to your fans .... those of us who would come see you play live (and are praying that you will come somewhere we can get to, and that is all around the world) and those of us who would buy a dvd of this ... will do both anyway, given the tiniest possible chance. The You Tube snippets just helped fuel our enthusiasm, excitment and hope of seeing your live.

The cd/dvd in the UK has been so held up, that we are all buying imports .... so remember when sale figures come in for the UK - your home Country - they will be down, not because of lack of sales, love or the want to see you live here .... but because we have been penalised by whoever is responsible for getting those CDs and DVDs on the market.

No personal attack here - I think the CD is fantastic (to prove the point, I've got a Japanese release). I still love you to bits. And I will be at a UK concert whatever the cost - and I mean that.

I'm also the administrator here, so unless I disagree with myself in the morning this stays, and I hope others might just agree with me when they read this, where ever they are in the world.

[l100]

Hi Sue,

Wasn't sure what you are referring to at first but see what you mean.

I must admit I nearly posted a comment yesterday but held back from doing so. I will make it now, having seen some of the concert footage it rather put me off the new album and in a way I'm glad it has been removed.

Granted the sound quality is always going to be crap, but some of the 'performances' looked/sounded under rehearsed at best, shambolic at worst - God knows what was happening at the end of Lucky Man. And Keith if you do read this please STOP the act with the ribbon controller.

Perhaps the videos were pulled because of the quality or lack of it. Having said that Keith has had other fan sites 'pulled' in the past so that his own site could be the 'source of all things Keith' - pity cos the other sites tended to be better presented and updated on a more regularly basis.

I may be wrong but all of whats on Youtube appears to have been posted by fans and did not appear to be 'official'. I shall ask an open question to Keith and his team again what happened to all of the official material that we were promised?

I had sort of decided not to seek out anymore live material before I get/hear the new album, perhaps someone has done me a favour but it does leave a nasty taste in mouth.

I sometimes wonder whether Keith would be bothered if his fans in the UK published a "Got Pissed Off - No Longer Interested" notice.

[Imagescapegirl]

it does seem the whole KEB album and tour is somewhat shambolic -

Album release dates ... let's start from how long we've been promised it going on sale in a few months ... then after a long wait, it's not even a simultaneous world release ... dates are all over the place, and some countries still not knowing if they will ever get a release.

Then the tour ... yes, I agree some of the performances left something to be desired .... but then why leave Marche Train behind .... it's a small portion of it .... Did Keith hit the chord to early, or was Marc messing about instead of getting ready? It's not usually that hard to have the right distort on one pedal press.

But then if the video is embarrassing, because the band is under rehearsed ... I'd have thought with Keith's pedigree he knows only too well how long it takes to get a stage show spot on, and therefore make sure enough practice is done before going on the road.

As to his having web sites pulled ... if you do that, in favour of your own 'official site' then your site manage has to be on the button. Getting info up and quickly ... September 1st we were told a report on one of the recent concerts was 'coming soon'. Haven't checked this morning, but when I did just before I went off the web late last night - no sign of it them.

We've grown up knowing Keith for excellent music, and we no doubt think in terms of ELP when we think live show - well reheared and well presented (ribbon controller aside!)

Currently what we seem to be getting is organised chaos - that's what the web site looks like (and John Arnold is thanked on the sleeve of the new album - I found myself thinking he must therefore do more than run the web site!). The release of the KEB CD and CD/DVD looks like organised chaos, and for a finish, and under rehearsed band looks the same. Not to mention the fact that there are only tour dates for what has happened and Japan.

As to the knew CD, I still love it, it is really good music. I had it on again yesterday, while stacking book shelves! The plus of listening to it on the computer is I didn't notice those tinkling sounds!

But all what is going on around Keith - Web site/Release dates/Concerts, all reflect badly on him - whether on not it is his fault of management and promoters, who knows - but at the end of the day it's him who does get the blame, and I wonder if he realises how poor everything but the CD itself appears to us out here.

For the present I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but if he does know, then all whilst he says that as long as we want to see and hear him he'll keep playing, the actions say that in fact, he doesn't care - let's hope that's not the case.

[l100]

Well the relationship between many artists and their audience is often strained and under valued. It would appear Keith's more so than most.

But there are many artists out there that understand the need and value of their audience and treat them with respect, communicating directly with them using the web. A good example being Pete Townshend, who even in his wilderness years used the web to connect and communicate with his fans. I for one happily sent him a cheque for $50 so that I could access exclusive material on his website - Keith take note

But hey lets be positive Keith has delivered a album that I for one never thought I would live to hear (albeit I am still waiting for its release here in the UK). So lets be grateful for that.

[Imagescapegirl]

Bowie did likewise with the internet, again with a fee which many paid, got music not available elsewhere, got advance booking for concerts tickets, and an e-mail address. Also he himself used to post on it. However, currently many members are no longer paying, because apparently there is no longer anything to really gain. And all they get in music is one compilation of old stuff after another. So I suppose you can't have it all.

But, like you, if Keith got his website together, offered music not available anywhere else, and did a pre-booking for concerts, I'd be happy to pay.

We do have a new album ... and I know you're still waiting for your ... but trust me, it's well worth the wait - don't be put off by the poor cousin of the live version. A little more time in the rehearsal room before touring next time KEB.