90 replies to this topic

[CarstenWohlfeld]

REMFMFAN said:

Lighten up, my friend. It's only a bunch of banter on a fan page, hardly a "conspiracy".

i am just curious how you could possible read into ken's blog posting that he is a greedy asshole who was asking for a raise and got fired in return?

just re-read the lines that cristina has highlighted for you above and tell me how you did it. please, please, please, with sugar on top.

[MurmursAdministrator]

stipeeyes said:

The reason Ken was not at the Dublin gigs is because he was on tour with his band. Perhaps he made it clear then that he wanted to do his own thing.
Notice on his website he can't state what he really wants.  Does he want to stick with his own band  or does he want to continue with R.E.M.  

for the love of all that is holy: STOP MAKING SHIT UP.

jesus

carry on.

FYI:

I've been a Posies fan for a long, long time (since before Out of Time) and I'll miss seeing Ken when I see the rest of the guys. Back in 1998, before I met any band member really, Ken and I had a great conversation at the party of 5 gig, and he gave me his business card. we've been friends ever since and I still have that card.

Ken is an amazing musician, a true prodigy and IMHO one of the best songwriters in the last 30 years.

[remboy]

I for one will miss Ken,  A truly gifted musician and a top top guy.   I've met him at various rem/ks/posies shows around the world and he always remembers a face and has time for a chat.     I enjoyed seeing Ken and Joey Waronker on stage together with r.e.m  it gave them a fresher edgier look.

I wouldn't worry to much about him in the future,  He worked on the last Snow Patrol album and has done big arena suppourt slots with them since leaving the r.e.m camp.   He is a workaholic.    In between the In time and ATS tours he managed to record and tour his solo album followed by a new Posies album then after the ATS tour straight onto a Posies world tour.

As Ethan say's Ken is an amazing musician,  The Posies have been releasing great albums for a decade now,  Soft Commands is one of my all time fav records and imo better than any rem album Ken ever worked on and from what I've heard The Disciples seem pretty good to so I'm sure we haven't heard the last from KS.

Good luck Ken!

[MeanCat]

CarstenWohlfeld said:

what is it with you people that you want to turn this into a conspiracy and need to talk bad about Ken to make your silly accusations work?

Excellent question. After all, there don't seem to be any hard feelings on either side about this (if there was, we would certainly get to read to read it here or somewhere else), so you could as well wonder "maybe REM don't want him any longer cos every time they played LNY, Ken turned orange and Peter just HATES orange." that would make just as much sense.
If you read Ken's full entry, the matter becomes quite apparent.


I'll miss Ken on the REM entourage, but I hope i'll get to see him with his other bands and projects many more times :) He's a terrific musician and an amazing songwriter.
And I want a KS business card, too.

[stipeeyes]

ethank said:

for the love of all that is holy: STOP MAKING SHIT UP.

I'm not making anything up.  I was reading his website and one of those updates he did mentioned some gigs just before the Dublin shows.

Okay so I see they were booked after the Dublin gigs well I wasn't aware of that and I've never looked at the guy's website before.  So I made a mistake forgive me for being human.

[ashurt100]

bflood said:

I think less keyboards plays to R.E.M.'s strengths live.  I know that I am looking forward to hearing 'The One I Love' played live again without the organ (which has no business being in that song).

That and "Frequency" always sounded weak with the organ.

[Uncle Remus]

southernlord said:

I agree, its hopefully gonna be a ROCK show ala green tour, or at very least Scott gonna have to sharpen his keyboard skills...

"There's gonna be a.....
ROCK SHOW at the Concert Cabo
Ya got
Long Hair at the Madison Square
You got
Rock'n'Roll at the Hollywood Bowl.........You be there! Oh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."  :<)

[dvbtucson]

I don't post that often, but I have to say something here -

Ken is a really great musician - if you've only seen him playing with REM, you really haven't seen the extent of his abilities.  I saw the Posies at a small show a couple years ago and he was quite fantastic.  (Also, totally different stage presence and energy than when playing with REM.)

I'll miss him onstage going crazy with Scott on the keyboards for Walk Unafraid (one of my favorite moments during the shows on the last tour).  (I can understand the logistics of 'stripping down' for the tour, though.)  I wish him only the best for all his 2008 projects and shows.

ethank said:

Ken is an amazing musician, a true prodigy and IMHO one of the best songwriters in the last 30 years.

[occupation]

Some of you are really arrogant assholes. Sorry to be so harsh, but opinions like "he maybe was wanting too much money" or "he maybe was wanting to be part of the songwriting process" are ridiculous. Anyone who knows Ken better knows that. Please, get a life.

Ken is one (not the only though) reason, why REM made it after Bill Berry was leaving the band. He was and is one of the greatest multi-instrumentalists and singers I´ve ever heard and he was more than a help for REM. So don´t be so unthankful.

After all REM decided to make a guitar-record and as it seems they are happy with 2 guitars (peter and scott). and they don´t need keyboards in that artistic decision.

Accepting their decision because he has many side-projects and a solo career anyways, is absolutely fine. I for my part wish him more than the best - he´s a great guy, wonderful open-minded person and outstanding musician.

It´s a loss for REM but an acceptable one, if they want to do a "rock"-record.

[stipeeyes]

occupation said:

Ken is one (not the only though) reason, why REM made it after Bill Berry was leaving the band.

You're joking right?


He has nothing to do with why R.E.M. have made it after Bill Berry.  The real reason is that those three guys have quite a bond together.  And did basically what Bill wanted and that is to not break up.  And the other reason is that a lot of us fans who have followed them for a long time kept giving them the support they need.  

Sorry but when I go to see R.E.M. in concert it has nothing to do at all with their side members.  I go to see Buck, Mills and Stipe.  

So if anything R.E.M. is what gave him the notice he needed.

[cricri]

stipeeyes said:

I go to see Buck, Mills and Stipe.

But you actually hear Buck, Mills, Stipe, McCaughey, Rieflin and Stringfellow.

stipeeyes said:

So I made a mistake forgive me for being human.

That's not right. You were wrong, why can you just come here and say "I'm sorry"? Don't try to act like you're the victim here.


What if we stop talking about "The Nothingness"?

[occupation]

stipeeyes said:

You're joking right?


He has nothing to do with why R.E.M. have made it after Bill Berry.  The real reason is that those three guys have quite a bond together.  And did basically what Bill wanted and that is to not break up.  And the other reason is that a lot of us fans who have followed them for a long time kept giving them the support they need.  

Sorry but when I go to see R.E.M. in concert it has nothing to do at all with their side members.  I go to see Buck, Mills and Stipe.  

So if anything R.E.M. is what gave him the notice he needed.

Oh girl - I know you´re one of those "never say a bad word against my band", but if you REALLY think the side-members have no impact on how REM sound live and on record, you must have your head in your ass.

BTW: Your statement is truly also a nice "complement" to Scott and Bill R. If you think those contribute also nothing to REMs sound, then i´m looking forward to stipe-buck-mills playing 6 instruments at the same time live. yep.

REM are basically a new band since Bill B.´s departure and without those "side-members" they would have never ever made it like this. Thanks to Ken´s and Bill R.´s suggestion they also digged out such classics like RFE and Sitting Still. (Proof in interviews by the band).

I know where you´re coming from with your opinion, but it makes me sad it is so narrow-minded. Others are at least not so dumb.

[occupation]

cricri said:

But you actually

What if we stop talking about "The Nothingness"?

we really should, thanks :)

i just couldn´t stand such "rumoured" opinions, which put any side-member in a bad light. REM can be more than thankful for their contribution, nothing more. But also nothing less.

[cricri]

stipeeyes said:

he spoke very negative towards the guys

stipeeyes said:

I've never looked at the guy's website before.

So you should have told us your alternative source.

[MizMills]

I think we all agree that without Ken, Bill or Scott REM couldn't have pulled out such lush music format that made seeing them live a great experience. As one seeing them from the early days when you have a few extra guys who can stand on their own merits it is a extra boost to the music.
Like I said earlier I was never really a fan of Ken but his help on the keyboards made many of the songs have a flavor with class. :D

[AgainstAllOdds]

stipeeyes said:

You're joking right?


He has nothing to do with why R.E.M. have made it after Bill Berry.  The real reason is that those three guys have quite a bond together.  And did basically what Bill wanted and that is to not break up.  And the other reason is that a lot of us fans who have followed them for a long time kept giving them the support they need.  

Sorry but when I go to see R.E.M. in concert it has nothing to do at all with their side members.  I go to see Buck, Mills and Stipe.  

So if anything R.E.M. is what gave him the notice he needed.

You speak so authoritively. How do you know the real reason?

[stipeeyes]

cricri said:

But you actually hear Buck, Mills, Stipe, McCaughey, Rieflin and Stringfellow.



That's not right. You were wrong, why can you just come here and say "I'm sorry"? Don't try to act like you're the victim here.

Why should I be sorry about taking part if a topic on this message board.  I was accused of making up stories and that's not the case at all.  And I suppose you've never been wrong in your life?

I got my info off of Stringfellows site that he had other things going on at the time of those shows.  I can't see how many people would know whether or not his couple of shows that happened at the same time as R.E.M. played Dublin were booked after the Dublin gigs were booked.  


I didn't say nothing about Bill R or Scott.  Sure they help out with the live sound, maybe lend a hand on the albums but they still don't write anything, and when I became a fan in 1991 I was introduced to R.E.M. as a 4 piece band.  It wasn't another 4 years and 3 albums later until I saw them live.  So yep it was their studio sound that caught my ears and Michael's lyrics and voice.    

Quote

REM are basically a new band since Bill B.´s departure and without those "side-members" they would have never ever made it like this. Thanks to Ken´s and Bill R.´s suggestion they also digged out such classics like RFE and Sitting Still. (Proof in interviews by the band).

  

Radio Free Europe was played at some shows when Joey Waronker was drumming. It was also played on the 1995 tour.  It's always been a song that they played once in a while, a couple of times on each tour.   So it was most likely Peter who decided to play RFE since he does write the setlist each night.  


I didn't say I knew the real reason as to why R.E.M. are still around but I don't think it's fair to say oh Ken Stringfellow is the reason R.E.M. are still around.  That's absurd.  He was like 12 years old when R.E.M. started in 1980.  

I'd rather have Peter, Mike or Michael get the credit for why they are still around.

[gregmcg1983]

ashurt100 said:

That and "Frequency" always sounded weak with the organ.

Yes, and they should not mess with WTFK's tempo, either.  They got it right the first time, and should respect it, a la LMR.  

Five-piece tour... very interesting.  Goodbye, Stringy Keyfellow.  

Greg
http://www.myspace.c...egmcgarveymusic

[occupation]

stipeeyes said:

I'd rather have Peter, Mike or Michael get the credit for why they are still around.

You´d rather have, yeah. Wishful thinking.

And please read my original post. I said Ken was ONE of the reasons, but not the only one. You said tho he had nothing to do with it at all - and that´s why every side-member has nothing do to with it (in your opinion).

And that´s simply not true. If you can´t respect that (and that includes Kens contribution) you should shup up. You just make a fool of yourself here.

And again: stop spreading some rumours here against Ken. It was an artistic decision to not include him again, not more.

[remring]

stipeeyes said:

I didn't say nothing about Bill R or Scott.  Sure they help out with the live sound, maybe lend a hand on the albums but they still don't write anything, and when I became a fan in 1991 I was introduced to R.E.M. as a 4 piece band.  It wasn't another 4 years and 3 albums later until I saw them live.  So yep it was their studio sound that caught my ears and Michael's lyrics and voice.    

I think it is important to note that we really do not know the relationship of how their studio time was handled and what "Writing" actually means. While the three actual members and producers are the main influences on the records, "Orchestra" does play a role in helping arrange that music.

The studio albums of R.E.M. that you were introduced to in 1991 were not of a 4 piece band but a band and many other working relationships.  

Realize that the value of the "R.E.M. Trademark" is greater than that of a side musician which is why they understand that relationship coming in. This is also so a side musician might not get greedy and decide to sue the band years later for an equal share of songwriting credits or do anything else below the belt.  

I think unless you are in the studio for the last 10 years would you know what kind of relationship that Ken had with the band and its music.