Eric Carmen Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 The ongoing debacle over at Raspberries.net only serves to further illustrate why the "official" website of the band should be run by the band, and not by one band members' wife. The opinions Kay voiced are her opinions, not the band's and she is entitled to say whatever she wants. It would, however, be more appropriate to voice those opinions on kaybryson.net, rather than on a website that bears the band's name. Band's are a delicate balancing act of personalities and egos under the best circumstances. There will always be disagreements and bones of contention between band members. It's only natural that the people they live with sympathize with them. By "unburdening" herself on the "band" website, Kay has polarized our fans, encouraging them to "take sides". This can only increase tension at a time when we are trying to finish work on the first Raspberries album in over thirty years. It is up to the band to work out their disagreements. Adding wives, who are hardly "impartial," into the equation is a recipe for disaster. ec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Hi Eric, I'm glad that my relationships with the people I work with aren't the subject of public scrutiny! Sending love and positive energy to you! - Margaret p.s. This particular fan is not feeling polarized in regards to any of the "band" members! Hopefully, most people will recognize Kay's posts for exactly what they are... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris hess Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 eric,as usual u show tremedous class!!..u did not EVEN have to respond..but u did and that in itself speaks volumes..my hats off to ya as a person and musician,lol,chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Everybody likes to here the inside gossip on something they care about. But unless we are trained counselors, We better let the guys work it out between themselves...As long as they keep communicating...However, If I hear that anybody is taking their gear and going home...The EC.com Crisis Intervention SWAT Team (In full protective gear) will be dispatched within the hour... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susana Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 E, I just earned another level of respect for you. You have worded perfectly what I was discussing with a friend yesterday in regards to all of this. I have rarely visited raspberries.net (for a variety of personal reasons), but this friend called the "debacle" (excellent choice of verbiage there) to my attention so I took a look. I was both stunned and saddened that communication on the site appears to have taken on such a slanted, political angle. I fully support free speech and always ask for the truth from others, so that is not the issue I have with all of it. This discussion should have taken place on an individual's web site vs. one bearing the band's name...or in a chat room or e-mails between individuals.I realize that I have only restated what Eric said in starting this thread, but I am in total agreement with him, and I feel this issue is important enough to require the emphasis achieved through repetition.I can see this leading to the end of raspberries.net as we know it, and I hope that the band is able to gain rights to using the name in some other form for a more official, impartial web site.Thankfully, the majority of the EC.com board's members seem to be able to separate the chaff from the wheat in terms of personal statements and opinions from a public/group consensus. If we need to do anything at all in response, it is only let this serve to motivate us even further to remain realistic and as positive as possible. That mindset has taken us this far as a community so it should serve us well in the future.S* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Eric,Thanks for commenting on subject. It is appreciated.I am with Tony on this one. (I can't believe I just said THAT!) Intervention only as an absolutely the last course of action.KC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bahoodore Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 My predicton is inching along...you read it from me first! I knew there was a reason why you decided to show up on this board Eric...you knew there were battles coming your way and you had to have a forum for your voice and be sure to protect any future Raspberry projects and product. You are indeed a clever one.bahooey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Even if true, Negative Nellie Bahooey, Eric is going FAR BEYOND just protecting his side of the personality clash issues, with his long insightfull posts on tons of issues!And if anyone cares: A compassionate control freak can sometimes be a positive thing. The key word is "compassionate". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaPilot Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 I have heard alot of things about the drama within the band, both stories from way back when and gossip from the current reunion. I am well aware of the reliability of hearsay, and I haven't taken any sides. I enjoy the contributions of all of the Raspberries, and the band would absolutely not be the same if any one of them were missing. I suspect that each side probably has some valid complaints.I have only met Kay briefly in Chicago and NY, so I only really know her at all from her posts on Raspberries.net. I think she has written some wonderful things, and has brought fans closer to the Raspberries in a unique and unusual way with her accessibility, regular posting, direct and thoughtful communication with fans, and insights about Wally. I think this is a good thing.Eric, I also do see your point about not wanting dirty laundry aired on the band's Web site. It's nice that you are becoming active on this site, and if this becomes a regular thing where us fans can communicate with you directly on these boards, that would be awesome!My plea is simply that everyone involved with the Raspberries can resolve these issues and not hold grudges over whatever is festering internally.I presume I might speak for a great many of us fans that I don't much care whose fault is what. I just want to see it work. I want to be able to experience more magical nights like Chicago and New York, to be able to turn more of my friends on to the experience of seeing my favorite band, and hopefully to enjoy new Raspberries recordings.Please don't let the wheels fall off.-Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Jason--Chicago and New York were IMHO the best shows of the tour!Bernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaPilot Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Bernie,I agree!Chicago was my favorite- best setlist, best sound, awesome vibe, and years of anticipation! NYC was incredible, too, and being able to spend the whole weekend with a bunch of Raspberries fans in NYC and at your house with all of your hospitality... it was an amazingly memorable experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mac Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Anybody who has ever been in a band EVER, knows that wives and girlfriends have lead to the demise of many a great group.Can you say Yoko Ono?I rest my case.Eric, thanks for tackling this tough subject and standing up for yourself without attacking anyone. You are a class act.MAC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 That was my impression, it had become "kaybryson.net." Hope it works itself out;it was a suspect methodology for dealing with such personal matters. Here's to the Raspberries, individually and collectively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mac Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Just one more from me, since I've been seething about this since about 4 in the morning. Anyone who's read Bernie's book knows how Eric really feels about Wally. How much he admires his talent, and musicianship. How he couldn't stand to go on stage without him. He's much more than "just the guitar player." There is magic between those two guys, that is evident every time they play together and both of them know it. Someone needs to rent the movie "Spinal Tap" for the folks over at the other site. Maybe then they could understand the band dynamic better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Does Wally have an amp that "goes to 11"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAM Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 I have pictures .... 11.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierson Posted April 7, 2006 Share Posted April 7, 2006 Eric Carmen said: Band's are a delicate balancing act of personalities and egos under the best circumstances. YEP... and EC couldn't have stated it more clearly... there's always going to be things that get under someone's skin... the bones of contention... I've seen it countless times with bands I'm very close friends with... it's never an easy deal... I just hope that Kay can sit down with The Beatles Biography and read what John Lennon had to stop doing onstage to appease Brian Epstein... the balancing act in that case was one where Lennon had to tidy up his look and be forced to bow at the end of every set... He hated it... They also had to stop swearing onstage... Most people who saw The Beatles live after Epstein came through saw a band loaded with compromise & image control... John didn't buck it because he understood the price for the band's success was worth it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Wow, just got back from raspberries.net. Good, bad, or indifferent.. Eric and Wally have something very different, and very special, on stage together..the world needs to see more of it. Let's let it live longer onstage, not kill it on keyboards. When the stars finally align.. you go for it. (imho). Seattle Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LobsterLvr Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 The internet has made us all a little bit too involved in the lives and back stories of our idols and heros. In my opinion all that stuff is like "making sausage"...it's something I really don't want to see! But when it gets served on a plate with pancakes, syrup (and perhaps some Raspberries) that's when I'll take notice. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Every business entity, sports team, etc. has personnel conflicts and at least some dirty laundry. It's natural, it's the human condition. The challenge is how to deal with it and work through it.No business entity or sports team publishes the details of its personnel conflicts in it's annual report or newsletter or program guide. That would be suicidal.It's appalling to me that this dirty laundry was aired on Raspberries.net...THE WEBSITE THAT REPRESENTS THE BAND TO THE WORLD AND IT'S REASON TO EXIST IS TO SUPPORT THE GROUP. It's one of the worst lapses in judgment I've ever witnessed. Long live Raspberries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
When I'm Cool Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 I have complete respect for the all the members of Raspberries, I love their music. However, I rarely go to Raspberries.net. It's slow and hard to navigate and just not as active. I don't even care for the refreshed logo. But I just visited the web site and attempted to find these comments and was unable to see them. The site also generates alot of errors. Can someone give me a link to them or just a recap? Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Carmen Posted April 8, 2006 Author Share Posted April 8, 2006 Open letter to bahoodore: I have no idea what "prediction" you might have made, but, from the tone of your post, it sounds like you said something cynical. My motivations for posting on this board are 1) Because Bernie created an incredible website and has managed to keep the negativity that plagued the aol board from rearing its ugly head here. 2) I visited Richard Marx's website and was impressed with the online journal he writes to keep his fans up to date and share some of his thoughts with them. 3) I thought it might be fun.That's it. No hidden agendas. I was as surprised as everyone else here when I saw what was going on over at the other website. I don't intend to use this website as a forum to defend myself against accusations by anyone. I will discuss "band business" with the band. Period. I like you guys . There's enough drama and tragedy in the news every day. I prefer to keep things positive. ec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Davie Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Life has taught EC some valuable lessons, and it looks like he is at a high level of peace with himself. I agree with most of you...Eric has showed wonderful perspective and class in a world (rock n roll/entertainment) that is full of venom.If anyone has read "The Four Agreements", you'll know that #2 is 'Don't Take Things Personally' and #3 is 'Don't Make Assumptions'. These are VERY hard to do when involved in something so personal...a relationship, a band, a job with a boss that is making life hell, etc.Or...is the person ALLOWING the boss to make life hell?If one breaks each of those two agreements, one creates drama that can be hurtful and draining. I think Eric (and most of the fans on this board) have opted not to allow unnecessary drama...and to move forward to make more music.Bravo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Hear!!! Hear!!!Bernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Hear hear? What did you hear?If everybody had the class that most of you guys are showing, think of all the gossip magazines and TV shows that would be bankrupt...Sweet Dreams! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.