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!
Turn My Head
Live Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep it angry
Keep it whispy
I've fallen down
Drunk on your juices
Turn my head
Turn my head
Funky temple
Your dress is torn to shreds
Your eyes are crazy
I bowed to save my head and
I can't forget you
But I can't remember
Oh no
Turn my head
Turn my head
It's aimed at you
Turn my head
Turn my head
It's aimed at you
Baby, baby
We came to love you all day
These bastards are leavin'
Somebody's got to stay
Whatever we called you
It's just a name
Just a name
Turn my head
Turn my head
It's aimed at you, yeah, no
Turn my head
Turn my head
It's aimed at you, yeah
The lyrics of Live's song Turn My Head is an emotional and cryptic one. The singer, Ed Kowalczyk, portrays himself as someone who is captivated by a particular person's mystery. The person is someone who is unpredictable, and possibly even volatile, represented by the words "angry" and "whispy." The singer has metaphorically fallen down, losing himself in this person's irresistible charm and allure, represented by the phrase "Drunk on your juices."
The repetition of the phrase "Turn my head" suggests that the singer is struggling to get this person out of their thoughts, to move on from them, to look away. However, despite the attempts to look away, the singer is drawn back in, and their thoughts are "aimed at you." There is a sense of helplessness and surrender to the hold that this person has over the singer's emotions.
The second verse adds more to the complexity of the song, where the singer describes the person's appearance. The person is wearing a torn dress, and their eyes are "crazy." The singer feels intimidated, represented by the phrase "I bowed to save my head," but at the same time, they can't forget the person, even though they can't remember them.
Overall, the song is about the emotional turmoil that comes from being unable to let go of someone who has a hold on you. The emotions are intense, unpredictable, and overwhelming, represented through the powerful use of metaphors and repetition.
Line by Line Meaning
Anyone, caught in your mystery
If anyone falls under the charm of your enigmatic persona
Keep it angry
Acting irate and hostile
Keep it whispy
Maintain a mystical aura around oneself
I've fallen down
I've been captivated and lost in your allure
Drunk on your juices
Intoxicated and unable to think clearly because of your charisma
Turn my head
Make me look in your direction as if hypnotizing me
It's aimed at you
The impact of your magnetism is on me
Funky temple
A stylish and groovy establishment
Your dress is torn to shreds
Your clothing is tattered and destroyed
Your eyes are crazy
Your gaze is intense and unpredictable
I bowed to save my head and
I lowered myself to avoid any confrontation
I can't forget you
I'm still under the spell of your magnetism
But I can't remember
But I can't recall any specific details of our past interaction
Oh no
Expressing disappointment or surprise
Baby, baby
Affectionate term directed towards the person responsible for captivation
We came to love you all day
We visited to shower love and adoration upon you throughout the day
These bastards are leavin'
The other customers are departing
Somebody's got to stay
Someone has to stay behind and show affection towards you
Whatever we called you
Whatever name we used to refer to you
It's just a name
The title we assigned to you is insignificant compared to your magnetic personality
Turn my head
Asking to be refocused on the captivating person
It's aimed at you, yeah, no
The effect of the allure is specifically directed at you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Edward Joel Kowalczyk, Chad David Taylor, Chad Alan Gracey, Patrick Michael Dahlheimer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@luisperez7962
Anyone
Caught in your mystery
Keep it angry
Keep it whispy
I've fallen down
Drunk on your juices
I turn my head
Turn my head
It's aimed at you
Funky temple
Your dress is torn to shreds
Your eyes are crazy
I bowed to save my head and
I can't forget you
But I can't remember
Turn my head
Turn my head
It's aimed at you
Turn my head
Turn my head
It's aimed at you, baby, baby
Oh no, we came to love you
All day these bastards are leavin'
Somebody's go to stay
Whatever we called you
It's just a name
Just a name
Turn my head (turn my head)
Turn my head
It's aimed at you
Turn my head (turn my head)
Turn my head
It's aimed at you
It's aimed at you
@plbeckman
This song is out of this world. Still holds up 20 years plus. I'm 43.
@ThorneJr
58. yes it is. miss my babygirl.
@gwynnwilson3761
I'm 44... takes me right back to the best times of my life
@michaelstone3077
50! Saw them at HOB Myrtle Beach four times. They are the best “Live” band ever. That’s why they’re called “Live”!
@MiniMarshaMellow
Same !
@Daniel-kd5xt
Are you sure I didn't write the statement I'm responding too....😉 I'm 43 now, agree with you and it's still holding up.....cheers mate
@ViperKeeper2070
“I can’t forget you….but I can’t remember.”
@lexileemoney6205
This was the song that was playing when I was born and my father held me for the first time… we danced to it at my wedding. Now that he’s passed I listen to it and imagine he’s listening in heaven. ❤
@RobinRawlings-mr5du
Awe that's so sweet thank you for sharing with us. Beautiful ❤
@meridaye73
🥰❤️✌🏻