Live Confirm Reunion With Singer Ed Kowalczyk
Though they had a less than amicable split with singer Ed Kowalczyk a few years back, the members of Live have mended fences with the vocalist and are planning a tour and more new music.
Kowalczyk recently began hinting at a reunion via his social media and it has now officially come to fruition. 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the band's debut disc Mental Jewelry.
The foursome of Kowalczyk, guitarist Chad Taylor, bassist Patrick Dalheimer and drummer Chad Gracey last performed together in July 2009 before they went their separate ways with the vocalist recording solo music, while the other Live members recorded in the project The Gracious Few and later resumed under the Live band name with Unified Theory's Chris Shinn on vocals for an album called The Turn.
Speaking about the decision to reform the original lineup, Kowalczyk stated, "After a pretty long break, it was exciting to find that we all felt, in a sense, like we were starting over again...albeit with this amazing foundation and fanbase all over the world that we have established. You could say we took the long road home, but it feels good to be back."
Chad Taylor adds, "Ed, Chad, Patrick and I are no different than your average family. We might divide ourselves or argue fiercely but thankfully time, and the grand gesture of forgiveness, helps to heal old wounds. We've worked hard to restore the tenants of faith and trust that bonded us in the beginning. It's doesn't hurt that our fans offered so much encouragement!"
Patrick Dahlheimer chimes in, "Līve needs no better reason to reform than to spread some light in this time of confusion and unease," while Chad Gracey concludes, "One word, friendship. We lost our way with that a bit but are now back to being friends and respect each other again. That's what counts."
As for the possibility of new music, Kowalczyk confirms, "We are writing and recording at the moment. We have mutually decided not to rush the next project. We didn't want the pressure of completing an entire album hanging over us before we got out and played some shows. I think the idea at the moment is to just go with flow, get onstage together and see where all of this new energy takes us creatively. We might release something new in the form of a shorter release in 2017, in anticipation of larger project in 2018."
Stay tuned for tour dates to be announced soon and keep an eye out for the new music to arrive at some point in 2017.
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