FYI: Live
by acostill on August 24th, 2007
The boys from York, Pa are wrapping up a tour with Counting Crows and Collective Soul, but they’re going to keep on truckin’ into the fall. 
The members of Live have been together since middle school, when they teamed up for a talent show.
The band originally called themselves Public Afflection.
In 1989 Public Afflection self-released a cassette entitled The Death of a Dictionary.
Public Afflection recorded demos of “Begin the Begin” by R.E.M. and “Boys Don’t Cry” by The Cure.
In 1990 the band released an EP, Divided Mind, Divided Planet that featured songs that would appear on Mental Jewelry.
The band played the famous CBGB in New York City.
In 1991 Live signed with Radioactive Records.
4 Songs was an EP released by Live in 1991. It featured “Operation Spirit” and “Good Pain”, both would appear on Mental Jewelry.
4 Songs was produced by former Talking Heads keyboardist Joey Harrison, who would produce many of Live’s future albums.
On December 31, 1991 Mental Jewelry was released.
The songs from Mental Jewelry were influenced by the work of Jiddu Krishnamutri, an Indian philosopher.
Live’s breakthrough album, Throwing Copper, was recorded at Pachyderm Studio, which was also the studio used for Nirvana’s In Utero, Soul Asulum’s Grave Dancer’s Union and for artists ranging from P.J. Harvey to Mudvayne.
Throwing Copper was released in April of 1994, but would not reach the number one spot on Billboard until May of 1995.
The European edition of Throwing Copper came with 4 Songs.
In 1994 Live was part of Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD tour, which celebrates world music, art and dance. They were also part of Woodstock ‘94.
Secret Samadhi debuted at number one in February of 1997.
1999 Live released The Distance to Here, which peaked at #4.
The demo version of The Distance to Here featured alternate versions of the songs and other goodies has surfaced on the internet.
One of these songs was “Walk Into This Room”, which was featured in the film Playing By Heart but as duet between Eddie and Neneh Cherry.
Live’s fifth album, V, (originally titled Ecstactic Fanatic) was released on September 18, 2001.
2003’s Birds of Prey featured Live’s first U.S. 100 Hot single since “Dolphin’s Cry” with “Heaven”.
In 2004 the band released a greatest hits collection, which featured a cover of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk The Line” (originally recorded for a tribute to Sun Studio in Memphis) and “We Deal In Dreams”, which was an unreleased track from Throwing Copper.
Live signed to the Epic music label in 2005.
Songs from Black Mountain was released in June, 2006.
Frontman Eddie Kowalczyk currently lives in Ojai, CA; where Johnny Cash and Jiddu Krishnamutri once lived.
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4 opinions for FYI: Live
Jennifer
Aug 28, 2007 at 9:28 pm
I never liked them; likely they are one of my least favorite bands from this era. Having now stomped them I will say that I honestly like one song by them; but I can’t remember the name. It’s good though. I’m thinking….it’s slow, I think it starts with “Warm bodies…” but I could have the lyrics wrong. I actually only have it on one mix tape somewhere. And I’m not searching for it.
acostill
Aug 29, 2007 at 9:13 am
Live is an acquired taste, in fact, they’re more of a guilty pleasure (I know my friend will rip me a new one for that). I think the main reason that I like them is because they’re from York, PA, which is only 2 hours away from me.
As for the song you like, I need more than that, lol. I was trying to think of what song, but nothing is clicking.
Jennifer
Aug 29, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Pillar Of Davidson… I looked it up. And it does start how I said. I really like this song. The rest, naw. Acquired may be right.
acostill
Aug 29, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Oh yeah, it’s from Throwing Copper. That’s a really good album, I enjoy “The Dam at Otter Creek”, “Shit Towne”, “White, Discussion” and “All Over You”.
It’s easy to understand why they are an acquired taste. Ed has a unique voice (which I’ll admit I can only hear in doses) and their music has some strange topics.
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