this is a rather lengthy essay by King's X lead singer Doug Pinnick, as taken from the band's messageboard. It was posted on Friday, May 19th 2006
--------------------------------
I have read about 2 pages of this thread, and I wish I could sit down and answer all the questions, and speculations. I will try to shed light on some of the things said and suggested. You guys are wonderful, so please don't take anything I say as negative or bitching. Theres no anger here, just love.
Here goes. We never fit in. No matter what we do we cant get the masses on board, and weve done everytnig there is. I now you all have suggestions of what we could do do get more successful, but we have done everything there is to do, or at least inquired about it all. We just cant get the folks on board. At Woodstock 94 we played for 300 thousand people, and the next week on soundscan we sold about 200 CD's. The week after that was nothing to comment on. The rest of the bands on the bill, Jackel, Sheryl Crow, Live, Candlebox, etc... sold millions!!! We got the best slot of the day, and USA today, Howard Stern, MTV, all said we were the best band that day!
We sold nothing, and it changed my life. I cut my hair, and almost gave up. I already was going thru mid life crisis before that. I started having panic attacks and was blinded by self-loathing. Ear Candy was the result.
Management? We have had people check us out, and they say we're doing a better job by ourselves than they could, after they see what we have to go thru to get a gig and keep the boat afloat. Others say we're precieved as an old band, and they feel they cant help us.
Record companies? We tried to give Atlantic a done CD, with nothing to do but throw it out there. They passed, saying they are only interested in new young bands. ALL other companies rejected us except Metal Blade and Inside out. Thank the gods for that.
Booking agent? They say they cant get many promoters to bring us, they all think they will loose money.
Deep Purple? We're trying to get on that tour, and anyother oportunity we can, but we have to pay to play. Its all political. Thats the way all bands are treated now; they all pay. It's the same with Ozz Fest. The record companies all pay to get bands on that tour. We dont have the $$. We opend for many bands in the past, but to no avail. There were a few new converts, but not enough.
Paul Scheafer plays Born to be Loved all the time. But to get to play live on the Letterman show? Practicly impossible. I wish you all could understand how impossible the situation is these days for many bands. It sucks! The rejection is overwhelming in the music marketplace. You can imagine how it makes us feel.
Christian music scene? Yeah, we could have been maybe the biggest band in christian music, but were not hippocrites. When the christians find out that we drink, smoke weed, and I am gay, they would turn on us anyway. Why go there? That just hurts, and beside that, they rejected us after they learned who we were. Theyre human, but they hide it. We're not like that. We're too honest. Thats why I am down on christian music. In the name of truth they live lies. Thats never been me, or King's X. Its one of our biggest faults. The christian music scene was a dead end for us, no matter what had happend in our career. I am agnostic now anyway, we just couldnt justify being a christian band. It just wasnt the truth. I was raised Christian and have seen the christian music scene first hand. I cant be a part of it and I couldnt back then either. We're still called a christian band to this day, it wasnt kosher back then either. I remember so many people saying that they couldn't get thier friends to listen to KX because we we're Christian, even though Stryper were successful. Now its acceptable to be a Christian band, but were not one of those bands. What's done is done and that's the past.
Downhill career? Manic Moon Light was a good CD, I dont care what anyone says. I put my heart in that CD and wrote songs that I am proud of. There was some wasted space on it, but isnt that the way most CD's are? We realy did our best with what we had and who we were at the time. This band started out going downhill; now we're in a hole. We couldn't get the money to hire a producer for years, so we did it ourselves. At least we tried. On the last album, we payed for Michael Wagner out of our own pockets, and finished the CD paying for it ourselves. We are realy trying to do the right things, but all we get are walls. Theres only so much we can do without money, record company support and attendance. We have maybe sold a million CD's over the twenty-five years of our career! Thats not enough. Atlantic put millions into promoting us, more than most bands ever see. We have had the oportunity for exposure and we got it.
I know some of you think there's things we should be doing, but trust me, we have tried or checked out every possibiity. Its just not as easy as you think. We need all ages shows, and its almost impossible to get them. That's just a fact. It sucks playing late start times when people have to go to work or drive hours to attend. We always ask for early shows and all ages. It just dosent happen.
Bands that are successful without airplay or much promotion? It's a mystery. We're doing what they did, and here we are.
We're going home from this tour broke. We go home from every tour broke. The band makes no money when we don't tour, so I have to fend for myself, 9 to 5. Thats life, I guess. Same as everyone else, I wish it weren't so.
It's been twenty-five years of doing this with KX, and even in the early days before the record deal, we couldnt get good attendance doing covers. The bands we competed with packed the clubs. It's always been this way, we just dont appeal to the masses. Maybe if we had about 10 million to promote us it would work, but there's no guarantee.
We're precieved as an old band by the marketplace. We're well respected, but not a money maker. We don't appeal to a desirable target market, and that's all that matters.
Bands try to take us out with them, but thier management always reject us. We may not tour for a while because of this. We cant. We have made mistakes in our careers, but we have realy tried to do the right things. We're not the same people we were when we started this band, and we always try to do our best and make the best music we can. Sometimes it doesn't seem that way from the outside, but if you were there you would understand.
We are so thankful for the support from the faithful. We wouldnt be here if it weren't for you. The band is realy down these days. Frustrated, and out of money and ideas. We're not young, upcoming, wide eyed kids anymore, and this music biz is obsessed with youth. The whole US is this way, just look around. It's not over untill the fat lady sings, they say. Well, shes at the mic.
I have had a wonderful adventure being in this band and being me. I have been blessed more than most. I take nothing for granted. We could go on and on about what we should do and what we haven't, but at the end of the day we have done the best that we could with what is before us. We're not done, were not breaking up. We're still hoping to be the biggest band in the world, and I have many more songs in my head and demos to throw out there for you guys. Good or bad, you can decide. I will make music as long as I can breathe. I have questioned my whole life and this bands place in the world. Its still a mystery to me. This is the band I have invested 25 years of my life to, and I think about my place in this more than anyone could possibly know or understand. I still dont know why no one realy gives a feck on a large scale, and people wonder why I have low self esteem? I am one of the biggest loosers there is, and I dont know why.
No one in KX knows why it hasn't happend for us, but I will keep doing what I do because I know nothig else and I love making music. Thanks for letting me ramble. Thanks for hearing me out, and like I said before, without you guys I probably wouldn't be alive. Thanks for saving my life. I love you all. Keep the faith, its not taken for granted.
-dUg
King's X thinking of calling it quits
Moderator: Priests of Syrinx
King's X thinking of calling it quits
Last edited by DoctorX on Sun May 21, 2006 1:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Strength and beauty destined to decay
so cut the rose in full bloom.
Till the fearless come and the act is done
A love like blood
a love like blood
~Killing Joke~
so cut the rose in full bloom.
Till the fearless come and the act is done
A love like blood
a love like blood
~Killing Joke~
I reread it now I have some time to spare and isnt it sad? I literally have all the albums (I still have the first four on vinyl) and am only missing a few of the solo material but the afore mentioned indifference is not a suprise to me.
I suppose I've influenced many people over the years having had a reputation for being music mad but I could only ever interest one solitary person in Kings X apart from my wife...and his band 'Groove Machine' covers a few Kings X classics.
I had a browse at the official site earlier but the message board is down. It's been a while since I last visited but it reminded me that I once received an email from Jerry Gaskill (the drummer) who actually listened to an mp3 I sent from my band!
I suppose I've influenced many people over the years having had a reputation for being music mad but I could only ever interest one solitary person in Kings X apart from my wife...and his band 'Groove Machine' covers a few Kings X classics.
I had a browse at the official site earlier but the message board is down. It's been a while since I last visited but it reminded me that I once received an email from Jerry Gaskill (the drummer) who actually listened to an mp3 I sent from my band!
Ummm....this printing of the article has a few paragraphs missing from the version I read. Here is the one I saw:
KING'S X frontman Doug Pinnick has issued the following statement in response to rumors that the band were on the verge of breaking up:
"I wish I could set down and answer all the questions, and speculations. I will try to make light of some of the things said and suggested. You guys are wonderful so please dont take anything I say as negative or bitching... There's no anger here... just love.
"Here goes... We never fit in; no matter what we do, we can't get the masses on board, and we've done everything there is. I know you all have suggestions of what we could do do get more successful, but we have done everything there is to do! Or at least inquired about it all... We just can't get the folks on board. Woodstock '94 we played for 300 thousand people, and the next week on SoundScan we sold about 200 CDs. Then the week later nothing to comment on.... The rest of the bands on the bill ? JACKYL, SHERYL CROW, LIVE, CANDLEBOX, etc. ? sold millions!!! We got the best slot of the day, and USA Today, Howard Stern, MTV said we were the best band that day! We sold nothing... and it changed my life. I cut my hair and almost gave up! Plus I was going through midlife crisis. I started getting panic attacks and got blinded by my self-hate. 'Ear Candy' was the result.
"Management? We have had people check us out and they say were doing a better job by ourselves than they could? after they see what we have to go through to get a gig and keep the boat afloat. Others say we're precieved as an old band and they feel they can't help us.
"Record companies? We tried to give Atlantic a done CD with nothing to do but throw it out there. They passed, saying they are only interested in new young bands. ALL other companies rejected us except Metal Blade and InsideOut. Thank the gods for that...
"Booking agent? They say they can't get many promoters to bring us; they all think they will lose money...
"DEEP PURPLE? were trying to get on that tour, and anyother oportunity we can... but we have to pay to play, it's all political? That's the way all bands are treated now, they all pay, Ozzfest... The record companies pay to get all the bands on the tour. We don't have the $$. We opened for many bands in the past to no avail. A few new converts, but not enough...
"Paul Shaffer [of the 'Late Show with David Letterman'] plays 'Born to be Loved' all the time... but to get to play live on the 'Letterman' show? Practically impossible.
"I wish you all could understand how impossible the situation is these days for many bands. It sucks! The rejection to KING'S X is overwhelming in the music marketplace. You can imagine how it makes us feel.
"Christian music scene?? Yeah, we could have been maybe the biggest band in Christian music, but we're not hypocrites, and when the Christians find out that we drink, smoke weed and I am gay, they would turn on us anyway, so why go there? That just hurts. Besides that, they rejected us anyway after they learned who we were. They're human, they hide it. We're not like that, we're too honest. That's why I am down on Christian music. In the name of truth they live lies. That's never been me, or KING'S X. It's one of our biggest faults. The Christian music scene was a dead end for us no matter what had happened in our career. I am agnostic now anyway. We just couldn't justify being a Christian band. It just wasn't the truth. I was raised Christian and have seen the Christian music scene first-hand. I can't be a part of it and I couldn't back then either... and we're still called a Christian band to this day. It wasn't kosher back then either. I remember so many people saying that they couldnt get their friends to listen to KING'S X 'cause we were Christian, even though STRYPER were successful. Now it's accepted being a Christian band, but we're not one of those bands. What's done is done and it's the past...
"Downhill career? 'Manic Moonlight' was a good CD; I don't care what anyone says... I put my heart in that CD and wrote some songs that I am proud of. There was some wasted space on it, but isn't that the way most CDs are? We really did our best with what we had and who we were at the time. This band started out downhill, now we're in a hole. We couldn't get the $ for a producer for years, so we did it ourselves; at least we tried. Then we paid for Michael Wagener out of our own pockets, and finished the CD paying for it ourselves. We are really trying to do the right things, but all we get are walls. There's only so much we can do without money, record company support and attendance. We have maybe sold a million CDs combined from day one! That's not many in the real world. And Atlantic put millions into promoting us. More than most we have had the oportunity for exposure and we got it.
"I know some of you think there's things we should be doing, but trust me, we have tried or checked out all the possibities, it's just not as easy as you may think. We need all-ages shows, and it's almost impossible to get them. That's just fact. It sucks playing at such late times when people have to go to work or drive hours to attend. We always ask for early shows and all ages, it just dosent happen. Bands that are successful without airplay or much promotion? It's a mystery. We're doing what they did and here we are. We're going home from this tour broke. I get no $ when I am off tour, I have to fend for myself. That's life, I guess. Same as everyone else, I wish it wasn't so...
"25 years of doing this with KING'S X... Wven in the early days before the record deal, we couldn't get good attendance doing covers when the other bands we competed with packed the clubs... It's always been this way, we just don't appeal to the masses. Maybe if we had about 10 million to promote us??? But there's no guarantee. We're precieved as an old band in the marketplace that is well respected but not a moneymaker. Bands try to take us out with them but their management always reject us. We may not tour for a while because of all of this...we can't.
"We have made mistakes, for sure, in our career, but we have realy tried to do the right things. We're not the same people as we were when we started this band, and we always try to do our best and make the best music we can. Sometimes it didn't seem like it was the best effort at the time, but if you were there, you would understand.
"We are so thankful for the support from the faithful. We wouldn't be here if it wasnt for all of you people. The band is really down these days, frustrated, and out of money and ideas that will work. We're not young upcoming wide-eyed kids anymore, and this music biz is obsessed with youth. The whole U.S. is this way, just look around.
"It's not over untill the fat lady sings, they say... Well, she's at the mic?
"I have had a wonderful adventure being in this band and being me. I have been blessed more than most. I take nothing for granted. We could go on and on about what we should do and what we haven't, but at the end of the day, we have done the best that we could with what is before us.
"We're not done, we're not breaking up? We're still hoping to be the biggest band in the world, and I have many more songs in my head and on demos to throw out there for you guys? good or bad, you can decide. I will make music as long as I can breathe.
"I have questioned my whole life and this band's place in the world. It's still a mystery to me. This band I have invested 25 years of my life to... and I think about my place in this more than anyone could possibly know or understand... and still don't know why no one realy gives a feck on a major scale. And people wonder why I have low self-esteem. I am one of the biggest losers that there is, and I don't know why. No one in KING'S X knows why it hasn't happened for us... but I will keep doing what I do because I know nothing else and I love making music.
"Thanks for letting me ramble. Thanks for hearing me out. And like I said before, without you guys I probably wouldn't be alive. Thanks for saving my life. I love you all. Keep the faith. It's not taken for granted."
The way I read the end of that, with him saying that the fat lady is at the mic, but then also saying he is still gonna keep making music...perhaps it isn't really over yet? Perhaps there is time to keep her from singing?
KING'S X frontman Doug Pinnick has issued the following statement in response to rumors that the band were on the verge of breaking up:
"I wish I could set down and answer all the questions, and speculations. I will try to make light of some of the things said and suggested. You guys are wonderful so please dont take anything I say as negative or bitching... There's no anger here... just love.
"Here goes... We never fit in; no matter what we do, we can't get the masses on board, and we've done everything there is. I know you all have suggestions of what we could do do get more successful, but we have done everything there is to do! Or at least inquired about it all... We just can't get the folks on board. Woodstock '94 we played for 300 thousand people, and the next week on SoundScan we sold about 200 CDs. Then the week later nothing to comment on.... The rest of the bands on the bill ? JACKYL, SHERYL CROW, LIVE, CANDLEBOX, etc. ? sold millions!!! We got the best slot of the day, and USA Today, Howard Stern, MTV said we were the best band that day! We sold nothing... and it changed my life. I cut my hair and almost gave up! Plus I was going through midlife crisis. I started getting panic attacks and got blinded by my self-hate. 'Ear Candy' was the result.
"Management? We have had people check us out and they say were doing a better job by ourselves than they could? after they see what we have to go through to get a gig and keep the boat afloat. Others say we're precieved as an old band and they feel they can't help us.
"Record companies? We tried to give Atlantic a done CD with nothing to do but throw it out there. They passed, saying they are only interested in new young bands. ALL other companies rejected us except Metal Blade and InsideOut. Thank the gods for that...
"Booking agent? They say they can't get many promoters to bring us; they all think they will lose money...
"DEEP PURPLE? were trying to get on that tour, and anyother oportunity we can... but we have to pay to play, it's all political? That's the way all bands are treated now, they all pay, Ozzfest... The record companies pay to get all the bands on the tour. We don't have the $$. We opened for many bands in the past to no avail. A few new converts, but not enough...
"Paul Shaffer [of the 'Late Show with David Letterman'] plays 'Born to be Loved' all the time... but to get to play live on the 'Letterman' show? Practically impossible.
"I wish you all could understand how impossible the situation is these days for many bands. It sucks! The rejection to KING'S X is overwhelming in the music marketplace. You can imagine how it makes us feel.
"Christian music scene?? Yeah, we could have been maybe the biggest band in Christian music, but we're not hypocrites, and when the Christians find out that we drink, smoke weed and I am gay, they would turn on us anyway, so why go there? That just hurts. Besides that, they rejected us anyway after they learned who we were. They're human, they hide it. We're not like that, we're too honest. That's why I am down on Christian music. In the name of truth they live lies. That's never been me, or KING'S X. It's one of our biggest faults. The Christian music scene was a dead end for us no matter what had happened in our career. I am agnostic now anyway. We just couldn't justify being a Christian band. It just wasn't the truth. I was raised Christian and have seen the Christian music scene first-hand. I can't be a part of it and I couldn't back then either... and we're still called a Christian band to this day. It wasn't kosher back then either. I remember so many people saying that they couldnt get their friends to listen to KING'S X 'cause we were Christian, even though STRYPER were successful. Now it's accepted being a Christian band, but we're not one of those bands. What's done is done and it's the past...
"Downhill career? 'Manic Moonlight' was a good CD; I don't care what anyone says... I put my heart in that CD and wrote some songs that I am proud of. There was some wasted space on it, but isn't that the way most CDs are? We really did our best with what we had and who we were at the time. This band started out downhill, now we're in a hole. We couldn't get the $ for a producer for years, so we did it ourselves; at least we tried. Then we paid for Michael Wagener out of our own pockets, and finished the CD paying for it ourselves. We are really trying to do the right things, but all we get are walls. There's only so much we can do without money, record company support and attendance. We have maybe sold a million CDs combined from day one! That's not many in the real world. And Atlantic put millions into promoting us. More than most we have had the oportunity for exposure and we got it.
"I know some of you think there's things we should be doing, but trust me, we have tried or checked out all the possibities, it's just not as easy as you may think. We need all-ages shows, and it's almost impossible to get them. That's just fact. It sucks playing at such late times when people have to go to work or drive hours to attend. We always ask for early shows and all ages, it just dosent happen. Bands that are successful without airplay or much promotion? It's a mystery. We're doing what they did and here we are. We're going home from this tour broke. I get no $ when I am off tour, I have to fend for myself. That's life, I guess. Same as everyone else, I wish it wasn't so...
"25 years of doing this with KING'S X... Wven in the early days before the record deal, we couldn't get good attendance doing covers when the other bands we competed with packed the clubs... It's always been this way, we just don't appeal to the masses. Maybe if we had about 10 million to promote us??? But there's no guarantee. We're precieved as an old band in the marketplace that is well respected but not a moneymaker. Bands try to take us out with them but their management always reject us. We may not tour for a while because of all of this...we can't.
"We have made mistakes, for sure, in our career, but we have realy tried to do the right things. We're not the same people as we were when we started this band, and we always try to do our best and make the best music we can. Sometimes it didn't seem like it was the best effort at the time, but if you were there, you would understand.
"We are so thankful for the support from the faithful. We wouldn't be here if it wasnt for all of you people. The band is really down these days, frustrated, and out of money and ideas that will work. We're not young upcoming wide-eyed kids anymore, and this music biz is obsessed with youth. The whole U.S. is this way, just look around.
"It's not over untill the fat lady sings, they say... Well, she's at the mic?
"I have had a wonderful adventure being in this band and being me. I have been blessed more than most. I take nothing for granted. We could go on and on about what we should do and what we haven't, but at the end of the day, we have done the best that we could with what is before us.
"We're not done, we're not breaking up? We're still hoping to be the biggest band in the world, and I have many more songs in my head and on demos to throw out there for you guys? good or bad, you can decide. I will make music as long as I can breathe.
"I have questioned my whole life and this band's place in the world. It's still a mystery to me. This band I have invested 25 years of my life to... and I think about my place in this more than anyone could possibly know or understand... and still don't know why no one realy gives a feck on a major scale. And people wonder why I have low self-esteem. I am one of the biggest losers that there is, and I don't know why. No one in KING'S X knows why it hasn't happened for us... but I will keep doing what I do because I know nothing else and I love making music.
"Thanks for letting me ramble. Thanks for hearing me out. And like I said before, without you guys I probably wouldn't be alive. Thanks for saving my life. I love you all. Keep the faith. It's not taken for granted."
The way I read the end of that, with him saying that the fat lady is at the mic, but then also saying he is still gonna keep making music...perhaps it isn't really over yet? Perhaps there is time to keep her from singing?
Onward and Upward!
