By: Brian Maddox
Photos: Brian Maddox/Fiendish Maven (for THT)
Birmingham, AL (The Hollywood Times) 9/5/24 – Let’s go back to the amazing era of music that was widely palpable in the early 90’s, due largely in part to MTV being the central nervous system doling out all things rock and alternative around the clock.
From Beavis and Butt-Head offering their chuckle infused contrasting outlooks on what brands of music they felt was either cool or sucked, to Kurt Loder greeting the masses with his significant bravado when it came time for the next MTV News break at precisely 10 to the hour, EVERY hour, there was simply no better time to be a music fan than during this bygone point in history.
Throughout said generation of melodious excess, I can easily recall my first introduction to the hauntingly beautiful Lightning Crashes by +Live+ upon hearing it on the radio shortly after the tragic Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. The track had been interlaced with various sound bites from the aftermath of the bombing, including several news anchors reporting on the incident paired with eyewitness and first responder testimonies.
After the somber melody was applied to this horrific event, the band had been virtually thrusted into platinum selling territory with their 3rd album, Throwing Copper, which had been released a year prior to the bombing. The album produced other notable singles with Selling the Drama, I Alone and All Over You, but none of which being nearly as flooded with the profound melancholy that’s laced within Lightning Crashes at least in this writer’s opinion.
Formed in 1984 under several short-lived monikers before settling on +Live+, the outfit is the brainchild of vocalist/guitarist Ed Kowalczyk, guitarist Chad Taylor, bassist Patrick Dahlheimer and drummer Chad Gracey. Since its release in April of 1994, Throwing Copper has subsequently escalated to the impressive 8x platinum selling mark, notably solidifying the band’s relevance in the alternative rock genre. Unfortunately, in the 30 years since the release of Throwing Copper, the band has been through the ringer in terms of legal issues regarding the proprietary rights to the band name. Since 2022, Ed Kowalczyk has been the sole remaining factor of the original collective.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of their benchmark album, +Live+ has hit the road with Stone Temple Pilots (and special guests, Soul Asylum) for the Jubilee Tour, an outing in which both bands are celebrating 3 decades of each group releasing multi-platinum selling albums with the aforementioned Throwing Copper, and Stone Temple Pilots’ 1994 classic Purple.
In regard to enduring tragedy, Stone Temple Pilots have been dealt at least 2 crushing blows within their 35-year existence. Having formed in 1989 by vocalist Scott Weiland, siblings Dean and Robert DeLeo on guitar and bass respectively, and Eric Kretz on drums, Stone Temple
Pilots, or (STP) would release their debut album Core in 1992, delivering hits such as Sex Type Thing, Plush and Creep.
Their follow up, Purple drew critical acclaim as it would sell over 250,000 copies in its first week, churning out classics like Interstate Love Song, Vasoline and my absolute personal favorite, Big Empty.
In 2013, Weiland parted ways with the band and STP ended up recruiting famed Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington on vocals. Sadly, Scott Weiland passed away on December 3rd, 2015, due to an accidental overdose after a long-standing battle with addiction.
Less than 2 short years later, Chester Bennington would be found dead on July 20th, 2017, due to suicide by hanging. Where most bands would usually close up shop and call it a day, STP pressed on and initiated an online auditioning process and would eventually announce former Dry Cell frontman, Jeff Gutt as the new vocalist.
The Jubilee Tour recently made a stop at the famous Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham Alabama to a near sold out crowd, with each band delivering their respective hits with the very same energetically charged verve as was displayed some 30 years prior.
To see and hear the reserves of wonderful 90’s classics performed to perfection in 2024 with the multitudes of longtime fans singing along in unity truly exhibits the perceptible relevancy that these 2 dominant ensembles still possess to this very day.
While discovering these bands at the age of 12 would have a profound impact on my musical shaping, revisiting their works at the age of 42 is but a firm reminder of just how great music can garner veritable timelessness over the span of 30 years.
Check out the new single, Lady Bhang (She Got Me Rollin’) by +Live+ featuring STP’s Dean DeLeo on guitar on any platform where music can be found.
For more information on the Jubilee Tour, please visit:
