Emerging out of York, Pennsylvania in the mid 1980s, Live have often been compared to such great eclectic stadium rock acts as U2 and REM. Steadily increasing in popularity during the early '90s, they appealed to a wide audience with heartfelt lyrics and ethereal rock melodies. Their contemporary guitar chops and spiritual imagery have made them a chart-topping rock act, one of those rare bands that has earned both the acknowledgement of the retro-conscious music establishment and the popularity of mainstream commercial success. So whether you're into '80s rock like The Police and Joy Division or you prefer the contemporary post-grunge of The Smashing Pumpkins and Our Lady Peace, tickets to see Live will be just what you're looking for.
The establishment of Live is a classic tale of a grass-roots teen rock band. Guitarist Chad Taylor, drummer Chad Gracey, bassist Patrick Dahlheimer and singer-guitarist Ed Kowalczyk grouped together in their small-town middle school playing talent contests and small gigs.
Under the name Public Affection they quickly amassed local interest and were signed to Radioactive records on the strength of self-released cassettes and the popularity of their energetic live shows in 1991. With live billings supporting big acts like Peter Gabriel, the production talent of Talking Head Jerry Harrison and a spanking new name, Live went on to record many successful albums and have continued extensive concert tours up to the present day.
Although some will always argue that their recordings will never articulate their euphoric live sound, Live's records have acquired a serious mass following. Their debut hit Mental Jewelry established their famous allusion to Zen and Hindu philosophies, while the public performance of songs like 'Operation Spirit' and 'Good Pain' proved popular rock hits.
The follow up, 1994's Throwing Copper is undoubtedly Live's commercial peak, selling 6 million copies and going to #1 in the US album chart. The experiences of their live audience clearly maintained their popular status as Live's third release also debuted at #1 despite taking another three years to release. As their hugely popular international live shows demonstrate, Live tickets are likely to remain as popular as they have been for the last two decades for as long as they continue to play.
Although they are often compared to the great eighties pop-rock acts, Live have always lived up to their name with modern aggressive guitar sounds, snare-popping drums and perky bass-lines. Their eclectic sound, intelligent lyrics and passionate rock sound must be seen live to be fully appreciated. Get your Live tickets today!
