Hailing from York, Pennsylvania, the group is comprised of Ed Kowalczyk (lead vocals & guitar), Chad Taylor (lead guitar), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass) and Chad Gracey (drums). Since approximately 1999, Live has toured with Ed’s younger brother, Adam Kowalczyk as a rhythm guitarist, and, previously, British keyboardist Michael “Railo” Railton.
Kowalczyk, Taylor, Dahlheimer, and Gracey first came together for a middle-school talent show in the Pennsylvania blue-collar town of York. The group remained together throughout high school, going through a handful of band names and new-wave covers before settling on the moniker Public Affection and recording a self-released cassette of originals, The Death of a Dictionary, in 1989. Frequent trips into New York to play at CBGB helped net the band a deal with Radioactive Records in 1991. With the new name Live, the band entered the studio with former Talking Heads keyboardist Jerry Harrison that year and began recording the EP Four Songs. The single “Operation spirit (the tyranny of tradition)” went to #9 on the Modern Rock chart, and paved the way for the band’s Harrison-produced, full-length debut, 1991’s Mental Jewelry (#73). The album lyrics, penned by Kowalczyk, were heavily inspired by Indian guru Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Fueled by heavy touring (including billing at Woodstock ‘94 and Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD tour) and a string of hit singles (“I Alone”, “All Over You” and the #1 Modern Rock hits “Selling the drama” and “Lightning crashes”), their next album, Throwing Copper, went to #1 in 1994. It is their best-selling, and often most highly regarded by fans and critics, album to date. The band was even asked to perform on Saturday Night Live where they performed their hits “I Alone” and “Selling the Drama” and to this day, they are the only band to receive a standing ovation at the party after the broadcast.[citation needed]
The momentum continued long enough to help 1997’s Secret Samadhi (coproduced by the band and Jay Healey) debut at #1. Deriving its name from a state of Hindu meditation, the album spawned four Modern Rock hit singles, but failed to match its predecessor’s success, with sales topping off at 2 million. The band performed “lakini’s juice” and “Heropsychodreamer” from this album on NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
Harrison came back on board as coproducer for 1999’s The Distance to Here, which debuted at #4 and featured the minor US hit single “The Dolphin’s Cry.”
In September 2001, the more experimental V (originally scheduled to be titled “Ecstatic Fanatic”) was issued to mixed reviews, preceded by “Simple creed” as the first single. However, with the events of 9/11—which occurred a week before V ‘s release—the melancholic “Overcome” began receiving significant airplay, superseding “Simple Creed” and becoming V’s selling point. Unfortunately, Live’s commercial stock—compounded by their petering radio airplay—had fallen further since The Distance to Here, with V merely reaching #22 at home, failing to reach gold status.
Birds of Pray appeared in May 2003, bolstered by the unexpected success of “Heaven”, Live’s first US Hot 100-placing since “The Dolphin’s Cry.” Reaching #28, Birds of Pray ultimately outsold V, although it too received mixed reviews and failed to reach gold status.
In November 2004, Live released Awake: The Best of Live, a career-spanning compilation that included “We deal in dreams”, a previously unreleased song from the Throwing Copper sessions, and a cover of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk The Line”, as well as Birds of Pray’s “Run Away”, re-imagined with Shelby Lynne on co-lead vocals.
In 2005, Live signed with Sony BMG Music Entertainment’s Epic label, and released a new album entitled Songs From Black Mountain in June 2006, preceded by “The river” as lead single. Thus far, while the album has achieved international success, it has proven Live’s lowest-seller yet domestically, only reaching #52 in the US before quickly disappearing from the charts.
While Live remain only moderately popular in terms of record sales in the United States, much of their current sales come from places in Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Ed Kowalczyk has said that “Holland is the center of the Live universe” [citation needed].
The group made news in January 2006 as three band members (Chad Taylor, Patrick Dahlheimer and touring rhythm guitar Adam Kowalczyk) and two members of the band’s road crew were on a United Airlines flight when smoke filled the cabin, requiring the pilot to make an emergency landing.
On season 5 of American Idol, finalist Chris Daughtry was accused of performing Live’s rendition of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line” and calling it his own. This angered some Live fans, but one week later Daughtry acknowledged it was not his own rendition, even saying Live was one of his favorite bands. In May 2006, Live appeared on The Howard Stern Show and addressed this issue.
On May 24, 2006, the band and Chris Daughtry performed “Mystery” on the season finale of American Idol, and on June 7, a new version of “Mystery” was released on the Friends of Live website featuring Chris Daughtry on guest vocals.
The members of Live announced in June 2009 that the band would be taking a two-year hiatus as they work on other projects. On November 30, 2009, guitarist Chad Taylor confirmed that the hiatus of the band was most likely a permanent rift. See the Wikipedia page for more. During the first European tour of the new band of Taylor, Gracey and Dahlheimer (The Gracious Few), Taylor commented both on stage and in post-show discussions that he believes Live may still come back together, though he also stated that the chances of Kowalczyk joining them in this effort may be very small. In an exclusive blogpost[1] on website The Comet, Taylor confirmed that the remaining members of the band would be working on new material for Live in Nashville early July 2011.
The band returned from their nearly three-year hiatus on March 12, 2012, with Chris Shinn, formerly of Unified Theory, as their new lead singer. The new line-up performed before an invited audience at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center in York. The band performed as a six-piece with The Gracious Few's Sean Hennesy on guitar and Alexander Lefever on keyboards
[1]: http://thecomet.com/posts/exclusive_blog_chad_taylor_talks_the_gracious_few_and_live
There's another band with the same name:
2. Live was a 70s-era Progressive Rock group from Germany. Formed in 1971, the outfit appeared to be a strangely named band indeed.
In October 1972 their guitarist Martin Knaden went to Curly Curve. Throughout their history only one member has remained, the multi-talented keyboards and flute player Norbert Aufmhof. Although in existence for a decade Live never got to record a proper studio album, or gain a contract, which surely they should have. Maybe the band name was a bit of a jinx?!
Their earlier history was originally just documented by a single. Only more recently did an LP surface collecting 1974 recordings. Quite obviously a collection of rehearsal session tapes, the LP reveals a band with promise albeit rather grottily recorded with often barely understandable muffled lyrics in English. Musically, there are nods to early Satin Whale and Jane, but with lots of classical touches, notably Grieg and Bach, and a penchant to meander rather nicely during the instrumentals.
Based on the ROCK OFFERS track "Sea Fever", they had blossomed and changed focus somewhat, as a much more sophisticated symphonic progressive of the Pancake and Jane type, typical of the mid/late-1970's.
In all, during their history, three different versions of Live existed, but eventually the band split in 1976. A full history of the band is included in the GEVELSBERG CD, which documents other oddments, sessions, and a live recording!
Sweet Release
Live Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She lights that candle
I hope (I hope)
She shows me everything
And all that light can bring
Her skin (Her skin)
It begs my worship
I crush her shape goes down
We melt up from the ground
Up to better times
Sweet release
Take me now
Take me now
Up to better times
Sweet release
Take me now
Take me now
Doubt (Doubt)
Right behind me
Rour clout just a blemish on the sun
And there's better times to come
Our love (our love)
This cloak and dagger
This silent will
To bright turn everything
And find the road that leads
Up to better times
Sweet release
Take me now
Take me now
Up to better times
Sweet release
Take me now
Take me now
And if we die tonight
Take our leave of this plastic place
We come through the door of time
Fly away
Up to better times
Sweet release
Take me now
Take me now
Come on baby
Up to your better times
Your sweet release
Take me now
Take me now
The lyrics of Live's song "Sweet Release" appear to be about a passionate love affair that brings immense pleasure and joy to the singer. The lyrics paint vivid images of the singer's desires and feelings towards his lover. The first part of the verse talks about the singer's deep desire for his lover to light a candle and show him everything about herself. He admires her skin and worships her like a temple. The imagery of melting up from the ground represents the intensity of the passion between the two.
The second verse of the song speaks about a deep-seated doubt that is hindering the singer's relationship. However, he is confident that better times are coming, and they will work together to overcome any obstacles they may face. The catchy chorus repeatedly appeals for a "sweet release" where the two lovers can find solace in each other's embrace.
In conclusion, the song seems to be about the power of love and how it can lead to ultimate happiness and a sense of release from the pressures of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope (I hope)
Expressing a wish for a specific outcome.
She lights that candle
Hoping that a romantic partner will create a sensual and erotic atmosphere.
I hope (I hope)
Expressing a wish for a specific outcome.
She shows me everything
Desiring emotional and physical intimacy with a partner.
And all that light can bring
Wanting to experience all the pleasures that a romantic relationship can offer.
Her skin (her skin)
Being captivated by a partner's physical beauty.
It begs my worship
Feeling a strong desire to adore and appreciate the partner's good looks.
Like a mad temple crown
Comparing the partner's beauty to an object of great religious significance.
I crush her shape goes down
Being overwhelmed by the partner's attractiveness and feeling submissive.
We melt up from the ground
Becoming one with the partner as passion builds.
Doubt (doubt)
Having questions or uncertainties in one's mind.
Right behind me
Having doubts that linger in the back of one's mind.
Our clout just a blemish on the sun
Realizing that one's issues are insignificant when compared to the wider world.
And there's better times to come
Believing that things will improve over time.
Our love (our love)
Referring to a deep and emotionally fulfilling romantic bond.
This cloak and dagger
Describing the excitement of a secretive and passionate relationship.
This silent will
Being committed to keeping the relationship and its secrets private.
To bright turn everything
Feeling that the relationship has the power to illuminate everything.
And find the road that leads
Discovering the path that will lead to a brighter, happier future.
Up to better times
Moving towards a more positive future.
Sweet release
Being freed from hardship and stress.
Take me now
Urgently desiring a positive outcome.
And if we die tonight
Contemplating the fragility and brevity of life.
Take our leave of this plastic place
Leaving behind a shallow and artificial environment.
We come through the door of time
Entering into the next phase of life's journey.
Fly away
Moving forward with a sense of freedom and possibility.
Come on baby
Encouraging a partner to take the journey towards a better future.
Up to your better times
Moving towards brighter, happier times with a partner.
Your sweet release
Experiencing freedom and joy alongside a loved one.
Take me now
Seeking an urgent and positive outcome alongside a partner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAD ALAN GRACEY, CHAD DAVID TAYLOR, EDWARD JOEL KOWALCZYK, PATRICK DAHLHEIMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind