Debate & Discussion

Post your opinions about a band, tour dates, new and old members, missing online updates. Let's discuss and vent.

So, what's the role of John Douglas nowadays? From what I gathered he wasn't gonna tour anymore, but still contribute to the band... so there's likely to be a song or two, three from his hand on the next album?

hope at least one John`s song makes it to the new album! it would be total miss not to do that.

John will be missed. I love John's work.

Cardoso kicks ass on drums. from youtube videos i came to that conclusion. but John is John  

My only post in this thread is this one to say I won't go into it because any discussion about who's in and who's out and why just pisses me off and I'm got more constructive things to do with my life :p

Your discussion about these issues used to piss some others off if i remeber right

Haha true. I'm very bad at hiding my frustration. And frankly after about 35 gigs without Les it was complete BS that they didn't say ANYTHING. At least now they haven't done any complete tours without John/Jamie, so they can (IMO) get away with (IMO) vague "explanations" (Jamie being simply mentioned as touring member in a booklet and missing from official pics and John being explained in a random interview as being still on board as a songwriter).

From a band I expect clearer communication, especially in this day and age. Every award and won poll is mentioned on the official facebook page, yet something as essential as a line-up change is being kept quiet for...what reason actually? Don't these people deserve a warm send-off by the fans and a big thank you for their contribution, especially in the long dark years between AND and WAHBWAH? For helping keep the band alive.

See? I get all pissed off again. Can someone ban me from posting in this thread?

No way, never!! These forums would be lot more boring without your bursts And what makes them so lovable is because we all know how much you love the music and the band and you still say things so honest and straight. Go marcel!

indeed. both of you.
i'm sure there are more people who share this view, marcel.
i'm always happy when someone can say exactly what i feel, cause i'm sometimes (most of the time) unable to put these things in proper words.

i actually agree with Marcel and i remember i was really agitated about the whole "it's not like we owe Les as much as a proper goodbye after years and years of hard work" thing

but then it was handled all so shoddily that i think it was the last straw for me, and honestly, i no longer care about who's in and who's out. in the 17 years (JESUS CHRIST NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! just where did all that time go?) i've been following this band, there have been so many members and shady changes and behind the curtains dramas that i'm just tired of it. i mean, i'm just a... uh... i'm not even a fan anymore, i'm just someone who loves most people in and around the band (those that i know, that is), but you know, in a way you love the cast of your favourite soap opera. personal, but very detached.

to be honest, the only reason i hang around here and other places is your company

Yeah we share this feeling about Les vanishing. And i care about the music still even tho its more and more going the way agnes described for me too. Its more about you guys nowadays than them guys the thing i care a lot about who is in and who is out because john makes the most interesting songs atm and it would be a huge loss if he would not contribute in the future.

I'm the same in being detached from the music and more connected through the people, Agnes. Was just looking at my gig list and noticed 2013 was the first year since 2005 I haven't seen them live a single time.

Last one was in Berlin in November 2012.

Only 4 times since Les' departure. And it's odd, because musically Les didn't add that much and on stage he wasn't that much of a personality. But yeah, it's the whole shoving someone aside who did a lot for the band during the dark years. Les did a lot of administration, Les' mates acted as roadcrew (no doubt for little money because there was none) and from one day to the next it went from a band that was like a family to a band with a "professional" crew.

In some ways I understand what happened, but at the same time I think it could have been handled more graciously and that's been a feeling I've had for a few years now.

And did it bring huge successes? Not really. Looking at Last FM stats over the past 6 months, Weather Systems and We're Here... rank 2nd and 5th in number of plays. If they'd get 3 or 4 times the number of plays of the previous albums you could say there's a definite gain from travelling this new "professional" path, but they're not.

I also fear about John's contributions, Heidi. There's only very few who can continue to really contribute while not playing in the band any more. Demonaz from Immortal is a known exception, but his departure was self chosen due to injury.

I understand your anger and detaching attitude, I saw it on my husband who put Anathema on his top 5 in any moment of his life( and he is the one who introduced me into Anathema music). I am sure the band is still there, but there is a bitter taste about the changes you talked.As much time as I listen their music, just music, without thinking about band life, is ok.( a shinny ok). But where are those days when I was waking up and was going to sleep with their music? That is why I respect them a lot and I shall go to their gigs every time I ll have the occasion. I am not sure about my less listening reasons- the new music?, the changes into the band?-but i do know they will be special into my life forever.

yes, claudia, same goes for me. their influence on my life has been immense fro over 10 years.

Hi all, nice to see there's an Anathema forum once again. Thank you very much Dragana for putting this up.

About the changes in the band. It seems I have another perspective than most of you. To me, Danny has always been the center of the band. Even way back in the early days with Duncan in the band, it have always been Danny's melodies that drew me towards this band. So, as long as he's in the band, I'm good I guess

About recent and not so recent line-up changes. I do consider that to be a private matter of the band. But the communication about it was indeed pretty lousy. But in my eyes, that's more of a PR management issue than anything else.

I do hope John will still write songs for the band though. Even though he hasn't written that many songs, it has always been great stuff. But Daniel Cardoso is a way better drummer. There's just no denying that. The first time I heard Untouchable part 1, one off the first things I actually thought was "Damn, John has become much better", only later to find out it was Daniel.

The one thing that does bother me a bit, is the lyrical direction things have taken since WHBWH. And that's obviously mostly Danny's work. I just have a totally different view on things than Danny. That makes it harder to identify with some of the songs. So I am secretly hoping that on the next album the lyrics will go in another direction.

I do remember something that Danny said in an interview. I think it must have been last year somewhere. He was telling about how he went to see this band that had two drummers live. And then he said that it might be something to consider for future Anathema gigs. So, with John as an extra percussionist. Don't know if this is really going to happen though.

hi rafke pafke! welcome   

all in all, we want new songs! we want new songs!   

Rafke Pafke wrote:

About recent and not so recent line-up changes. I do consider that to be a private matter of the band.

My sentiments exactly. :)The internet makes it easier for artists to communicate, but I don't think that means they HAVE to share every sniffle and sneeze if they don't want to. I'd be something if George R.R. Martin had to host a press conference to justify his motives every time he kills off a protagonist.

uh, i think replacing members who were with the band for 10+ / 20 years is not "sniffle and sneeze" ... well yeah, it is the band's business, everything they do is their business, and not that of the fans

but the fans have the right to say "well that was a shit move"

and unlike GRRM's protagonists, former band members are actual people

Hear hear!

speaking of new songs I am really curious in what direction the band is going forward with the new songs. Especially, because WHBWH and Weather Systems had mostly songs that were written at the same time and a couple of years ago if i am not mistaken. So this could really be the first time in, well a decade or so, that we get to hear contemporary (in a sense that they weren't written that long ago. Without me really knowing it of course ) song material. Should be exciting!

yes! i cant wait, too

hello Huston! we have John on stage! i repeat, we have John on stage!     

rafke pafke said well about two drum sets


photo source