Every once in a while you just have to say what's on your mind. 
Sometimes it backfires ..... sometimes it doesn't. 
While this site has been built with the assistance of many people I do , however, 
reserve the priviledge of just putting down my own views on things........
July 2004 
The following is just really wondering out loud ..... why not!

 

 With all the talk about touring..not touring.... when will it happen.... will it EVER happen? 
I would hate to think that the legacy of the music that Robin has created could possibly not show itself again. Remember that LOOT had the potential of being Robin's last cd. It is also a shame that we may not ever get a professional quality visual release. 
  According to the latest it now appears that no tour is likely to happen in the near future. A big part of the reason is the money that needs to be made in order to make it viable. I am a bit confused here.  If they need to tour the US to make enough money to continue on to tour the UK.... but if they can't make enough money doing a US tour in the first place, where does that leave you? Not touring anywhere?  When you don't tour, you don't get exposure, you lose the venue salary and the potential sales of your merchandise, which allows you to continue making records. Not a positive environment for sure! 
I keep hearing that tours with others have just not worked out for one reason or another. Ok, accepting that tagging on to another "classic" act doesn't seem to fit into the plans. Is it not possible to go it alone? Do you give up? Do you keep trying and trying and forget that, in most cases, "if you don't strike while the iron is hot" you lose the momentum that you have already generated. Do you have to start in the US? 
 By releasing a product that has the buyer base interested, and the fan base that carries Robin Trower has, through sales and radio exposure, shown an interest that, to quote Derek " Robin hasn't seen for over a decade".  LOOT has generated that momentum.... and it tells you we are interested in this product and if you give us more we will probably buy into it.  Most of us are older and we love to indulge ourselves! The important thing, IMHO, is to remember, you have to give credit to the ingredients that make up this product... give credit to the whole product, this is not just about Robin Trower and his guitar playing. This is about the chemistry that has continued with these four individuals, even after 15 years, to spark interest. The sum is always greater than the parts.  For whatever reasons, fans have said they like THIS product, the whole package, not just some parts. Usually when you are trying to market a product, if you find something people like you don't change it.  You maximize its potential. First rule of sales "give the customer what he/she wants". LOOT has proven itself over the previous releases. When a product sells, it is bad practise to get the customers interest in something and then try and sell them something different. You lose the potential future market by substituting the original ingredients. 
 Ok so you  have a proven product but how can you utilize this and make the money necessary to expand its potential? 
 If you generate it up front, and in a short time, it allows  you the luxury of using the income to make your own path for future endeavours. And it keeps your overhead costs down.  Is that possible? I honestly don't know. I do know that I want Robin to continue making music. What is it going to take? 
   Robin has not played in the UK, for what the fans will tell you, seems like a lifetime. The opportunity to play there is now. There is a huge following in the UK I believe. 
  Why this line up?   Well, again, in my own personal opinion, the line up that will have the greatest impact and generate the most interest is definitely the LOOT line up. If I read between the lines of what I am hearing from Derek and Robin (trowerpower news releases and the Rockline interview) it sounds like the band to tour (if any) could be Pete, Richard Watts and Robin. This is backed by the statements of "touring with a four piece may be too costly" and "the band is all based in the UK" statements. I say this with absolutely no criticisms of Richard Watts, who is an incredible talent and, more than that, a very nice person. I want nothing more than to see Richard succeed and I think he will.  I just think the thought of using Richard on the next tour (and possibly last) is a bad business decision. 
It has nothing to do with talent or personalities... this is business and it's about making money to survive.. 
 What will generate sales? Again, give the fans what they want. What are the costs to do that? Where is the optimal market place to sell it? I have been amazed at all the "potential" shows and tours that just always seem to find a way of not happening. 
  If Robin is to play live again, and it seems that could be possible, the line up of Pete, Dave, Davey and Robin is, in my opinion, the best  line up to showcase the music of Robin Trower. All the music.  This is a line up of seasoned veterans, whose credentials individually would be the envy of any musician on the planet! 
 Robin needs to have a band that can push him, not just back him up. 
 I write this because I look at the current situations and, while hoping that Robin does tour, hoping that Robin can continue putting out music, time is becoming a big factor. Logically if they are having so much trouble right now, why would you think things will improve? So IF they can get one, maybe two tours set in the next couple of years, and given the screwed up way the music business has been going in the last ten years even that is iffy, there is a good chance that that will be it for ever getting a chance to see, in my opinion, one of the greatest guitarist/ song writers there is.. live. And the last chance to capture it properly on dvd. 
 Again, in my opinion, the UK is ripe for a couple of big shows. Maybe I don't know all the ins and outs of the scene in London, but I cannot believe that there is not a hall like the Hammersmith Odeon for example, that would hold a few thousand people that could  not be rented to put on a couple of shows. Dr. feelgood would be an awesome band to open!   I also think that it would not be too difficult, with a little tenacity, to get radio involved in a Robin Trower Returns To London show or even Robin Trower ...Another Time, Another Place Tour?. Is this not possible? 
 So let's just say that you could actually set this up. Two shows only (you always have to get people to want more, if you tell them it is " a limited time offer", if they were ever going to invest, this is when they are going to do it. If the demand was so great that you needed one more, well then offers for facilities would be pouring in don't you think? 
 If you could get Dave Bronze, (who is probably the busiest bassist in the world and enjoys success in playing with the likes of Eric Bibb and sometimes Eric Clapton), if Davey Pattison would give up a few weeks to go to the UK, If Pete was not touring with someone like Dr. Feelgood or joining his friend Bronze with Eric Bibb....IF they were all there, at the same time, and could commit three weeks of their lives.... could you do it? 
 Costs.... while since Robin, Dave and Pete all live fairly close, no cost. Davey.... one round trip ticket ( $1000.00?? ) Hotels and meals...chalk it up to the cost of doing business.  Studio time, some deal with whoever owns the venue for their percentage etc. etc. And yes, I know there is a lot more to it than that,  but the return off the investment does come back within a year or two I would think, which in any business is a good return on investment. 
 Now, this is where I think, and again maybe I'm wrong but....this is where you can make the money needed to continue selling the goods and again giving the fans what they want. Sometimes in this business world it is not what you want in order to succeed, but what people want and what they will spend their hard earned money on. 
 The band needs, what, one week maximum to put together THE ULTIMATE SHOW. Remember, these guys are professionals, it would not take a lot of formal preparation to get a show down (ask yourself... how long did it really take for them as a band to get LOOT done?) Now, the first thing is to pick a multi- song set list, draw from the whole catalogue, songs are what people remember, not 15 min guitar solos. I say this because this is what I hear from people. Robin, you have written a lot of great songs..... we know how talented you are as a guitarist, show us the versatility and play more songs. With this line up you could do it all, the options are endless.  While it seems to be a musicians trait to not want to go back because as most say " I did that already, and I want to move on...". but do not forget that people outside the band have listened to ALL your material a thousand times, and will continue to listen to it a thousand times more. These songs have deep emotional meanings and spark great memories in all of us of  times from our past. Why do you think people pull these old CD's out all the time? Why do compilation cd's still sell? Why does a company like BMG put these cd's together and sell them 30 years after they were recorded? It is because this is the music we love to hear. The songs, the times they represented,  make them important to us and we will continue to spend our money to be able to keep those moments alive. I have replaced BOS at least five times in the past 30 years! I never grow tired of listening to it. 
  So now once you have the set list down, set up the show and RECORD THE REHEARSALS (sound and visual). Then when the actual shows go on... RECORD THE SHOWS (sound and visual.... and you don't need 8 cameras do do it!).   The same people that bought LOOT would almost guaranteed buy the cd's and dvd's that you could generate from a live show with these musicians and then you have the legacy side of actually showing this group in a less formal atmosphere with the recordings and dvd's of the rehearsals. I think you would have enough material to do two dvd's and two Cd's with all the rehearsal and live show material generated. Get someone who knows how to present it as almost a documentary format. 
  How many LOOT cd's sold?..... Let's say for argument sake you sold 10, 000. A dvd of this line up doing an all encompassing set list could sell for $25.00 easily. That's $250,000 before expenses.... and that is only one dvd! The rehearsals would also generate big returns and the live shows I am sure would surpass all expectations. Not to mention sales of merchandise at the shows.  ROBIN TROWER COMES HOME /  tour shirts would go well I would think.  Maybe a great way to release the next version of Someday Blues and even Beyond The Mist! This could give the possibility of some shows in the US a more reasonable chance to happen..... and now you have the dvd's and the live show cd's to sell at the door. Most importantly you will finally have a shot at capturing the legacy the way it should be captured. . 
 Let's not forget that the people that are into RT are not your normal run of the mill fan. I would say a good 90% are fans because they have always been fans. A reality check would tell you that you are not going to, nor have you in the last decade, drawn in a lot of new followers. The people that buy the releases and go to the shows are mostly long term fans. They will buy whatever you put out as long as you give them the BEST product you can give. 
 Robin, if you get the chance to tour once more, show us the best, you deserve it, we deserve it.

More wondering out loud 
Dec 19, 2004

Fantastic news about the shows in the UK and Germany with a chance to see Robin, Davey, Dave and Pete on TV and a festival in Sweden. 
As I said previously, I hope that we can see this band on DVD, not only in a show but working up to a show.  I hope a camera finds it's way into some of the later rehearsals that will be going on likely in Feb.  once the band gets together to prepare for the tour.  Anything captured from these shows will become instant collectors items..... especially something visual. 
 I wonder what surprises could be in store?  It seems that in the past, anytime Robin has been off for a period, and then comes back to tour, there is usually new songs, ....  maybe another cd release might be coming?  A re-release of something, maybe the Someday Blues rework, maybe something else? I can't wait to hear these guys live again 15 years later. 
  
  
Confessin' Midnight.. 
Feb. 28, 2006

 Well 2005 was a banner year for the people who enjoy this man's music. For me personally... I got to see the line up I thought should be out touring. Had an amazing time and got to meet some great people. 
 So the touring of the UK, Germany and Sweden worked.  And a dvd was done! 
Finally!!!!  Congratulations to the guys and to Alan Robinson for getting this done. 
 I would hope that with the amount of publicity this dvd is getting that someone is thinking about the possibility of getting another one done showcasing the different set that Robin has gone to.   As great as the dvd is, one showing the older songs live from this band I think, may even go over better than the first. My opinion of course. :o) 
 A smart move changing the set list to the older material.  These are the songs we love and would want to see in a live setting. Loot is a great album, Another Days Blues was completely turned around and again showed that you can take something and make it even better.  I don't understand why more emphasis hasn't been put on re releasing the 1985 Beyond The Mist.  Yes, they don't have the masters, but there are perfect quality cd's out there that I have seen sell for over $150.00. This is a very good album. One of the best live BOS versions I have ever heard.  Why not make it available to those who want it but can't afford the crazy prices that people are getting on Ebay for running copies? They would sell as well. 
  And the possibility of a US tour!!!!!  I really hope this can come off. The great fan support that Robin has in the UK and Europe I really think surprised a few people. 
 I hope Robin keeps up the more classic songs as in the November tour, I also hope that he includes at least two songs from the Passion years.  No Time would be very popular especially in the US. This was one of his bigger songs during that period. Very popular on the radio etc. .... so lets hear it once more from the original members. 
 I also hope that there is more stuff for sale at the shows. This has been a constant request from all that have attended the last tours.  Badges, posters, a variety of shirts, and anything else you can think of. 
  Someone should be recording these shows off the boards and releasing them.  Right now in the upcoming tour they have a sound man (Laurie Brace) who does an incredible job with the sound. Take advantage of that. 
 Here's to a successful 2006 !    It just keeps getting better and better for the fans.