As some of you have noticed in the forum, it has been awhile since we’ve posted to the blog, and there are rumours a-flying, so let me take a moment to try and put things into perspective.
Things were moving along very well – maybe a little too well. As noted below, we were accepted for a SxSW slot, and we made progress with both UK and US agents, secured digital distribution for the back catalog (the part we owned, anyway), and a few other things. Once things got to this point, we had to make sure we could meet all the committments, since it was getting close to the time when we’d have to start signing bits of paper.
As it turns out, we couldn’t.
Putting a band (back) together in your 40s is quite a bit different than it is in your 20s. There are jobs, marriages, kids, and hundreds of other things to consider. The matrix gets even more complex when you try to align these elements across all the band members. When one person can get time off, the other has a deadline at work. Where one person needs X to pay the bills, another needs Y. Suffice it to say that it’s a far cry from “Get in the van! We’re going to France!”
So where does that leave us?
The folks at SxSW were very understanding, and invited us back whenever we’re ready. The agents understand that this is going to be tricky. Ditto for distribution, publicity, etc. Hell, we never officially announced that this site was up and running. A handful of you true believers have found it, and that’s heartening in itself. So fret not – we’re not going to be on the road this spring as originally thought. The fall is a possibility, as is spring 2009. It’s still too early to tell.
But definitely stay tuned. It takes a little longer for old guys like us to get a full head of steam going, but we’re definitely headed in the right direction.
Hi Steve,
If I remember correctly, the family raising thing was already there months before you broke up back in 1994. So who can anyone be not to understand it’s difficult to put together something like a reunion. The five of you have put all their energy into that band for ten years of your life, and as Reamann put it in an interview at that time, “When I think of all the money that’s gone through this band, I could cry sometimes”.
To me, one of the most obvious strengths of TPE was that it was about 5 guys with strong personalities, and not 4 behind another. But when you accept this, there’s always the counterpart I guess.
So take your time, take it easy… we Petrolheads won’t let down people who changed our lives. I really think most fans feel this way.
Greets,
François.
Yeah I echo everything diooner said there, having a family myself I can imagine the sort of logistics involved in trying to get 5 people with families and jobs to synchronise – it’s going to be hard – but we will be here when it happens – ready and waiting!
Happy New Year to you all!