Bands lip synching/playing to backing tracks - Thoughts?

[theramm]

Was discussing this with some mates who are coming to Download at the weekend. On the DL forums there was a lot of discussion around Shinedown's last UK tour & how the lead singer now mimes for good portions of their live sets these days. A lot peope seemed oblivious to it until various videos were posted where you could see his lips weren't moving but the song was still playing. There were mentions that A7X did this last year too to help out M.Shadows.

What are people thoughts on here? Should a band always play 100% live? Do people care if they're really playing live or are you just happy to 'see' your favourite band in a live environment/atmosphere?

[cornucopia]

If you pay to see a live band, then that's what you should get. I personally think that lead vocals should ALWAYS be sang live, backing vocals - not that bothered about. If it's right about Shinedown then it's a bit crap on their part really.

[Gingo]

I was there in Glasgow at Shinedowns gig and i dont think the problem is actually miming because I actually think he is singing the problem is that he is singing along to a backing track to help him hit the higher notes and such which still isn't ideal but I am sure he is actually singing along as I have a few recordings and you can pick out the breaks in his voice at times

[theramm]

I don't doubt he sings over the track at times. This was pretty much established in the thread on the DL forums. As the gigs go longer & the tour went on he was apparently singing less & less. The point remains…should a band be vilified for playing over a pre-recorded track? Did you care that he was using a backing track or were just glad to see them 'live'?

[jordanuk90]

In my eyes live should be live as it's what you pay for really. For me personally I'd rather a band be bad live than lip synch.

[t8yman]

id rather a band cancel than fucking mime. that shits for the xfactor and boybands

[kev1664]

Yep going with the majority here. Live should be live, and not only should it be live, it should differ from their recordings so that each show can be different from the next.

I don't want a band to sound like they do on record, I could stay at home and get that, I want a band I'm paying for to do something different with solo's, changing the songs a bit, singing a little differently.

[kaosmark2]

Depends on how it's done.

Lip-syncing is right off, but using a few bits of backing music AS WELL AS playing live doesn't bother me. The band are still there, singing and performing live, and if they're using a bit of backing music to augment their show, fine. If they're using it to replace it/mime along, fuck that shit.

[t8yman]

oh I think its a given that backing tracks for certain instrument parts is acceptable

[theampersanddevil]

Miming is bad.

Backing track, I'm less certain about. Sometimes tracks would be impossible or really expensive to do without it for what is necessary.

Eg the issue over new order bass player miming. He doesn't. There are two bass lines over an octave apart played at the same time. He players the higher one over a backing track of the lower one. I have no real problem with that. Tickets are expensive enough without paying for a session player to come in and play 16 bars twice a night.

[devilman]

Yep going with the majority here. Live should be live, and not only should it be live, it should differ from their recordings so that each show can be different from the next.

I don't want a band to sound like they do on record, I could stay at home and get that, I want a band I'm paying for to do something different with solo's, changing the songs a bit, singing a little differently.

[BigStu1987]

Yep going with the majority here. Live should be live, and not only should it be live, it should differ from their recordings so that each show can be different from the next.

I don't want a band to sound like they do on record, I could stay at home and get that, I want a band I'm paying for to do something different with solo's, changing the songs a bit, singing a little differently.

[t8yman]

Unless you are the foo fighters and you decide to fuck around with the already perfect "everlong" at which point you should be shot at dawn.

[AcademicPistol]

I agree with the majority but it doesn't bother me if session musician is replaced by a CD because they are not really a part of the band but that being said I don't think a band should make music that they can't perform live properly (without the need of a session musician).

[jordanuk90]

Unless you are the foo fighters and you decide to fuck around with the already perfect "everlong" at which point you should be shot at dawn.

[Dan R]

Unless you are the foo fighters and you decide to fuck around with the already perfect "everlong" at which point you should be shot at dawn.

Edited May 30, 2012 by Dan R