Bad vibes become no vibes between Arthur Lee and Love
Arthur Lee
LA Times
After Lee failed to appear for several key shows, including a series of August dates in Europe, the band — which is built around members of L.A. group Baby Lemonade — decided to continue without the leader. Co-founding Love member John Echols, who performed on the Europe shows, is staying on for what is now being billed as the Love Band.
Baby Lemonade guitarist Mike Randle says the performances without Lee ultimately went well, and that there are even plans to write and record new songs. In part, he says, it was Lee's resistance to doing new material that caused the rift.
"We spent two of the last three years constantly trying to convince him we needed the right new material, right new directions," Randle says. "He just wanted to make some money."
Lee, who has assembled a new backing band and says he is opening a music club in L.A., is not happy about his former colleagues' plans.
"You can only take so much," he says. "These guys, they're going around calling themselves the Love Band. It's not fair. I've been working on this since I was 15 years old. I'm 60 years old now, and nobody's going to move me off this corner."
The Love Band's newsletter from Torbens' Love Site
To all Love fans,
As many of you may already know, Arthur Lee chose not to participate with Love on a tour of the UK and two festival shows in Germany and Spain this July. In the band and management's view this was an unforgivable and premeditated act of contempt towards Johnny Echols, Baby Lemonade and moreover, his adoring fans. Despite great pressure from many venues to the contrary, and indeed some cancellations, the band felt it would be in the best interests of the fans who wanted to hear the music to honour the shows. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of those fans who attended - it meant a great deal to us all knowing we had your support.
Sadly, Arthur Lee's mental and physical health has been in steady decline since the Zombies/Love tour of last year and combined with several disastrous performances both home and abroad, Johnny Echols and Baby Lemonade have now decided to move forward and continue to perform as "The Love Band". We would like to confirm that Arthur Lee will play no part in this new line-up and that Glenn Povey/Second Wave Promotions is no longer representing Arthur Lee.
To think of Johnny Echols and Baby Lemonade performing without Arthur Lee may not seem as strange as it sounds. Many fans have already welcomed the new line-up with open arms as it has allowed the band to perform, with unbridled pride, tracks from the Echols-era catalogue including many that have never been heard before. Johnny Echols now shares lead vocals with a more than competent Rusty Squeezebox in much the same way as he did with Lee in the original line-up. Moreover a new studio album is promised combining the talents of both Baby Lemonade and Johnny Echols which is an exciting prospect for all fans of Love both past and present.
The LOVE Band comprises:
Johnny Echols: Guitar / Lead Vocals Rusty Squeezebox: Lead Vocals / Rhythm Guitar Mike Randle: Lead Guitar David 'Daddyo' Green: Drums David Chapple: Bass Guitar / Harmonica (Glenn Povey: Management)
Please note: A tour of the USA as "Love with Arthur Lee" had been scheduled for September/October this year. Unfortunately, and without the band's permission, some venues had gone on sale. This has obviously already led to some confusion and therefore in view of the above we would advise caution when purchasing tickets as some venues may not be aware of the change in circumstances. It is more than likely the tour will be postponed completely until later in the year or early 2006. These will be billed as "The Love Band".
We hope to see you at one of our shows soon.
With much Love,Johnny, Rusty, Mike, Daddyo, Dave and Glenn
Arthur's refusal to record new music and tour finds precedence with Brian Wilson's refusal to tour with the Beach Boys behind Pet Sounds or to release the original Smile, This is an ominous development that in my opinion could only be remedied if Arthur Lee and Love are inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. If not, Robin Hitchcock may be prophetic with his song The Wreck of the Arthur Lee.
posted by Randy Black @ 4:07 PM
4 Comments:
So sad, I liked the band on the DVD. I'll have to seek out the Robyn Hitchcock song. I think I would've cancelled the tour rather than do a Love show without Love. Though, I would go see it, as the band seems pretty dedicated to keeping Love alive. Unfortunately, I don't see the R&R Hall having the wisdom to induct Love. Let's hope things magically resolve to the better...
A true Bummer in the Summer.
I interviewed Arthur Lee a while ago and before his recent aborted tour. I was speaking to him from the UK while he was at his home in LA. It is so sad the current situation because he was very optimistic then about how his career was going forward in the right manner for perhaps the first time in his life and he was very much looking forward to playing with Echols and possibly recording with him again. He also spoke to me about his faith in god and it was a very moving experience hearing one of the all time musical greats in my estimation and a total gentleman open up like that. He is a very special although troubled person. I have just started my own blog and may post the interview there soon. Check it out if you get a chance: http://islandmonkeyworld.blogspot.com
All the very best, Island Monkey.
If only we could get the band inducted into the rock hall of fame, then perhaps this downward spiral would stop. I hope Arthur will realize their are many that would love to see him in the states and tour. Your blog looks great.
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