New band members

[Mad Bastard]

[chrisconnection]

[Coops]

[nomorefakereunions]

It's NOT Pop Will Eat Itself. No way, no shape, no form. I love PWEI - I've travelled all over Europe over the past 22 years seeing them. This isn't PWEI. Even VE's, with gas masks, and only two members was more PWEI than this. This is Graham and The Sleeperblokes, doing cover versions of old songs and new songs nobody gives two hoots for, using Vile Evils leftovers reheated. I HOPE it sounds amazing. But it isn't PWEI. There's not one person in this lineup from the 1995-96 era PWEI. Not one. It's the callous, and cynical use of a band name to flog tickets, using a campaign of little/no publicity, confusion, misuse and deliberate concealment of information, radio silence, and a logo. And, let us not fool ourselves here, it would stand a good chance of a prosecution as "Passing Off" using the 'Moron In A Hurry' case law. (Morning Star Vs Daily Star, 1978).

Other bands with complete lineup changes I could understand as a) it wasn't seventeen years between albums and b) the bands changed lineups with big frequency : I'm thinking here The Mish, The Cure, The Sisters, all had loads of lineup changes and didn't leave it a gazillion years between gigs. It's probably a great band. But It's NOT Pop Will Eat Itself. This is like flogging me a Big Mac, when all it shares with the Big Mac recipe is the beef or the lettuce.

[kwvp]

Fair enough. I don't mind the band being called pwei, but I can see people being pissed off if they don't get what they expect when buying tickets. I think the lineup needs to be clear in any bio on ticket sites.

A big thing for me is that gra has the blessing of the other original members. I could do without another falling out like the stuffies around the time of escape from rubbish island.

(P.S. The Big Mac is all about the sauce. )

[nomorefakereunions]

... I grew up with this band. They were local lads : you'd see them sitting together in the pub, queuing for cabs, going to gigs, waiting for the bus, shopping in the high street and gassing together where I lived when I was younger. They were friends. They were Pop Will Eat Itself. They were more than blokes in a band playing songs together. They'd put me on guest lists and remember my choice of tipple at aftershows.

This band? They are employees. I can't imagine them laughing at the bar together the way the original lineup did. In no way would I want to stop Graham launching a new band, but it is NOT Pop Will Eat Itself. It is not THAT band. It's the guy who bailed out a year before the band split up and some new blokes he's hired using another bands name.

I'm not convinced Gra has the blessing of the other members. Have you checked Clint's Twitter?

[kwvp]

Yeah, sorry - I meant "a big thing for me is that I'd want to hear Gra has the blessing..."
I've pretty much given up on twitter of late, but having just had a look I can see Clint's comments could be taken either way...

That said, I doubt the reissues would be happening if there was a lot of animosity. Probably.


Nothing's going to change what pwei were to me growing up. That pwei, then, won't change. Whether people are happy with this group, now, being called pwei is going to be a personal thing. It doesn't really matter much to me: I'd be listening to the tunes and going to the gigs whether it was Golden Claws, Crack Squad, Mighty K, Vileevils, whatever... but I can see using the pwei name will help it get noticed, and I personally believe Gra's post from when VE split that the spirit of pwei will carry on in this new band.

Completely understand where you're coming from though..

[smudger]

Some excellent posts here. I think we've got 3 camps here. Firstly, those who will never accept it's PWEI because of the lack of Ad, Clint, Rich and Fuzz; secondly those who are prepared to be impressed; and thirdly, those who are up for it come what may,

I'm kind of between the first and second. Overall I'm happy to see Graham playing music and I'll certainly be there for the Brum gig. However here's a key point. My mate texted me last night with glee and excitement that PWEI were reforming. Cue my response to him with the exact facts of who's involved. I think there may be some people who may feel misled.

If the album is good we could see something quality, but I'd prefer a different band name, with them playing the new stuff, plus Graham's PWEI stuff...

God I'm difficult to please...

[Coops]

[payback3000]

I agree there is a strong possiblilty that Gray has used the PWEI moniker to salvage the non-starter of the VE project. It's a bit of confusing one as you have to give him a pass for trying for a long time to get something going without leaning on the PWEI name too much. I assumed everyone was behind him with the possible exception of Rich. I think the news released yeaterday was done in the right way. It makes it clear this is a new version of PWEI.

The only problem I do have is the lack of clarity on the live gig advert. A lot of people will see this in print who do not tweet or go on facebook. I agree a line up on the poster would be a good move for them in terms of not misleading anyone. Anyhow I think the new PWEI are finally going about things in the right way. Clear info - set in stone dates and finally some great communication. I'm sure everyoen has grafted over the last year to put together a good LP.

As for only one member not making it PWEI...erm...The Cure? Personally I just see this a new PWEI but PWEI 2 doesn't have a good ring to is does it? Look what happened to BAD 2!

There are two touring versions of Bucks Fizz you know!