Hello all,
I hate bringing bad news to the Frost*iverse, but this is bad news plain and simple. So I'll get to the point.
As you know, we recorded a DVD at Derby University last month. 162 of you battled through appalling weather conditions to get to the gig. Some of you were already there in the afternoon so God knows what time you must have set out...
Similarly, I met people after the show who would be driving for HOURS afterwards to get home. Some of you said you wouldn't get to bed until way past 3 or 4am after the show. I'm amazed and deeply touched that you love Frost* so much that you'd make THAT much effort to come and see us. It meant and still means the world to me and also to the rest of the band. I don't think we can ever thank you enough. I really don't.
So it is with bitter, bitter regret and a fair amount of fury that I have to say that we can't release the show you saw filmed that night. A combination of events has conspired to mean that the audio recorded during the show is unusable. In particular, my lead vocal channel and my keyboards. Unfortunately, there was a sound curfew until 6pm, something we were only made aware of about 48 hours prior to the gig via text therefore the time for preparation was much shorter than expected. The sound onstage was terrible initially so we had to spend most of the hour we had sorting that out. We were supposed to record The Secret Song as part of the DVD extras package which is why some of you heard us running through it, however, the problems with the stage sound meant we had to abandon that plan in order to try and rectify the monitor problems. Inevitably we fell way behind and therefore we (well, I) had no time to work with the team on the Logic rig that was taking the DVD audio feed in the recording studio behind the stage. I knew there were problems, but I assumed a member of staff would be there to sort things out. As a result, we had no choice but to fly blind for the show. This, I now know, is never a good idea.
My schedule was set to start mixing yesterday. So I duly loaded up the session to be confronted with a sickening scenario.
My vocal channel is awash with hiss and what sounds like aliasing. The keyboards were recorded so quietly that I've had to apply nearly 150% normalisation, this has made them very hissy. One half of the audience ambience mic feed is missing, Craig's SPD-S channel is distorted and in stereo when it was only ever a mono feed, there are 2 or 3 channels with nothing on them at all, there's one channel of hiss and Nath's bass mic channel is full of crackles. In short, the session is unusable. If you like, I can post some examples of the audio so that you can hear how bad it is.
I double checked with Steve Gurney, Reef's sound man, who did our live sound on the night and he concurs. He said to me in an email –
"For the recording they took a direct split from the stage box giving themselves independent control of all their own channels. At no point did they come and say they had a problem with any of the signals being received in the control room. My main issue at the front of house was a 5k air/noise coming off your vocal channel. This only appeared after sound check when they re-patched looking for a cleaner recording line. For me a notch filter seemed to do the trick in-between songs and during quieter moments. My bass channels were both fine but i predominantly ran the di as it had a great tone. Terrible clicks would point at a cable and as my line was clean it must have been the line to the recording room. A white noise channel has to be an issue at their end ........ alarm bells would have been ringing for me and you would have seen me on stage looking to fix."
I've also spoken to Russell Cherrington who was the organiser of the event and director of the filming. He's understandably aghast and will be heading back to Derby Uni this week to try and find out more. I shall report back on that when I have more info from him.
What I do want to say is that I don't in any way blame the students who helped out on the day. They were there in a learning capacity and mistakes do happen. That said, I appreciate that this whole thing was supposed to work as an event. Myself, the band, our crew and yourselves have a level of expectation that when we agree to something and make a commitment, the proposers should be able to honour that agreement with the correct level of professionalism. For some reason, that has not been possible on this occasion. That said, I'm sure that the frustration is being just as keenly felt on the part of the staff of Derby University. I'm just so sad that this has been at Frost's (and your) cost. I can assure you that this will NEVER happen again.
And so to what happens next, the video footage is apparently great and barring keyboards, bass, SPD-S and my vocals, the remainder of the audio is intact. Therefore we're working to save Hyperventilate and the "Checkmate" section of Milliontown from the Derby gig. It'll equate to about 15 minutes of footage that will be included as a bonus feature on a new DVD that we're planning by way of a solution so the Derby show won't have been a complete write off.
After the events of Derby, I'm sure you can understand my reticence to repeat such an "in concert" scenario, therefore over the course of a couple of days soon, we plan to set up and record a new and different DVD. Kind of Frost* "in session", it'll feature us in the studio playing the entire Black Live Machine Tour set plus some additional songs and will also include a behind the scenes documentary chronicling the entire event. Similar to a Frost report, but with a full 90-100 minute music set included.
The set will be (although not necessarily in this order...) – The Dividing Line, Falling Down, Pocket Sun, Milliontown, The Forget You Song, Saline, The Other Me, Dear Dead Days, Secret Song, Hyperventilate and Black Light Machine.
We're going to film it at Rockfield Studios in Wales in the spring. Rockfield as some of you may know is a legendary residential recording studio where Queen recorded Bohemian Rhapsody. It's also played host to many prog bands over the years, most recent of which was Magenta who went there to mix Metamorphosis. I feel it has the correct heritage and gravitas, plus it has a kick arse Neve desk that I want to have a play with...
In this way, I feel we can deliver you a visual feast worthy of the band's name and a proper recording of the band at this stage of our career. I know it's not quite what was promised, but those who came to the Derby event will still be credited on the new DVD as was always the plan, plus we'll produce a special limited edition signed CD of the new DVD soundtrack available only to the Derby attendees. We'll also send you a messaged and signed photo from the Rockfield session.
I hope you will appreciate that we really are victims of events beyond our control here and that I'm trying to make amends as best I can. I really am very sorry.
In the meantime, I'll keep you posted with any more news I have about what happened at Derby and thank you very very much indeed for keeping the faith.
With much repect,
Jem :(
Aww man that sucks. So sorry to hear that after all that hard work it didn't work out as planned.
The only consolation I can say is it was a great gig anyway and well worth fighting the weather to get there.
Crap. :( That makes me sad to hear. I was really looking forward to this DVD. Crappy mobile recordings on youtube don't quite do justice to this kind of music (or any kind of music at all, really).
I really hope there will be another chance some day, to do a full kick-ass live DVD. At least there's some good news with the studio recordings. :)
What a bummer :(
But hey, it was a great experience, even if we don't get the DVD as a souvenir :D
Jem, thank you for being completely honest and, as usual, going beyond the call to make up for matters beyond your control.
You da man!
My first thought on reading this was "Oh damn. We'll just have to do it all again.... Whoohoo!". After all, it was a BELTER of a gig, and well worth traipsing through all that Fluffy-Frost at -13C for.
But your Plan B sounds excellent. A Frost* Report with 90+ minutes of music? Oh, go on then..... :mrgreen:
As one of those slightly mental people who drove quite a large distance to get there (Devon and back) I can say despite this it was completely worth it. Jem, you genuinely are a completely wonderful bloke, I'm starting to worry that Frost is taking up a huge amount of your life you'd otherwise like to be spending...well..doing something a bit more fun perhaps. Either way, reading that I was slightly disappointed, but the lengths to which you're going to make up for what wasn't even your mistake puts you right up there as one of the most personable and fan-concious musicians in modern music (if not *the* most).
You're an absolutely mental devoted person to just pleasing a relatively small amount of people and I have the utmost respect for you for that.
As the above said; A 90 minute Frost Report/Gig? Oh go on then. :D
Gutted for you, the band, and everyone else connected with the organisational side of the DVD shoot(who will undoubtedly feel quite bad about this).
But the 'consolation' DVD sounds great too - now to be greedy, any chance of some warm up dates before the Rockfield session????? ;)
I must admit my first thought (after the Oh Noooo) was the same as RH's - "way hay another gig!" Jem, I also really appreciate the time taken to let us know what's happened and what's not going to happen, and that you are doing your very best to make more than something out of a bad job!
The gig itself was great, but also what went with it, the excellent pre gig meet up and amenable ambience generated by the like minded Frosties!
Rockfield eh! - I pass the local signpost every time I visit The Land of My Fathers, always thought I should make the short detour - just to be nosey.
that's a bit gutting - I was looking forward to reliving what was probably one of the best nights of the year over and over again!
What a terrible shame - I can't begin to imagine how you must feel. I hope you reconsider doing a live gig recording in the future, perhaps at a venue where you have 100% control.
Anyway jolly good of you to do an alternative, and nothing will ruin the fact that it was a cracking night all round and worth every second of our journey!
Quote from: "Mooncat"now to be greedy, any chance of some warm up dates before the Rockfield session????? ;)
what a splendid idea!
Nice one Jem lad,cant wait
Nice one Jem,cant wait
Quote from: "E.S."I really hope there will be another chance some day, to do a full kick-ass live DVD.
I think that's very possible in the future. Once my nerves have settled back down! :D
Thanks to everybody for being so understanding. It means a hell of a lot. Blunders is emailing me now, he sends his love. :D
Quote from: "Jem"Thanks to everybody for being so understanding. It means a hell of a lot. Blunders is emailing me now, he sends his love. :D
send ours in return! :P
Hopefully, there will still be quite a lot of footage from the Derby gig included.
Just need to be clear, the Rockfield DVD cannot involve an audience - there isn't room. Right?
Quote from: "Pedro"Just need to be clear, the Rockfield DVD cannot involve an audience - there isn't room. Right?
maybe we could stand outside?
Actually, if we get mug shots of everyone from the Derby gig, could we do a printed montage of faces so you have people to look at while playing? ;)
Quote from: "Pedro"Just need to be clear, the Rockfield DVD cannot involve an audience - there isn't room. Right?
As far as know, it's only the band. I'm not even allowed! :(
Quote from: "Pedro"Actually, if we get mug shots of everyone from the Derby gig, could we do a printed montage of faces so you have people to look at while playing? ;)
genius!
What a bummer! Didn't get to Derby but was at the Bilston show and was looking forward to the DVD. Just one request please Jem, please will you make the planned CD available to us other gig attendees who couldn't make the Derby gig (damn work commitments!!) Really wouldn't want to miss out on that!!
I was there - and it was worth the trip up from Reading because it was the best gig of the year for me. It's a shame that the complete concert cannot be used, but at least we'll get to see some of it. Good luck for Rockfield, but I guess that everything will be under control there.
Quote from: "Pedro"Actually, if we get mug shots of everyone from the Derby gig, could we do a printed montage of faces so you have people to look at while playing? ;)
as an expert in this kind of concert attendance, this is a great idea! 8-)
seriously Jem, gutted for you. your stomach must have dropped ten miles on first hearing the sound problems.
shit happens, and life goes on, and you're a top bloke, and I'll be happy with what you can give us!
Quite, quite gutted, but at least...
- I got to see the best Frost* gig ever (or, yet)
- I got to hang out with lots of Frost*ies again!
- I got to find out what it feels like to do a "15 minute" (i.e. 45 minute) walk in -10 degrees
- I got to handle the big banana
- I got to have John Mitchell use me as a camera shield (apologies to the poor people who were hoping for a good shot.)
- I got to chat to Jem about which are the nice bits of Surbiton
- I got drunk... :oops:
Bad news but Uncle Jem never leaves us Frosties in the lurch. So...roll on DVD2.
Already excited all over again!
I empathize with Jem and the lads for this most unfortunate, but uncontrollable set of circumstances. I'm sure you're more than a little disappointed. By all accounts, it was a great show. I feel terrible for the Derby folks who won't get that extra souvenir, but glad that they have the memory of a great gig and hopefully still a snippet of the show may surface.
I LOVE the idea of a Frost*ie collage for the live session DVD. Could we arrange for the traveling banana to be in attendance?
Really sorry to hear about the DVD problems, but thanks Jem for being so open and honest and caring deeply enough to try and make things better for us. Even when things like this happen, it really is a pleasure to be a Frost*ie.
The Derby gig was a great night and definitely worth the journey, whatever the outcome.
Also, the Rockfield sessions sounds like an awesome plan - extra songs and Frost* reporty goodness, so I now look forward very much to that :D
From bad news comes great news. The plan sounds a good one and im all rather excited at the prospect of all these extra goodies.
Plus i reckon Nellie is banned from Rockfield due to her trying to ply the band with alcoholic ginger beer. :lol:
Jem, thank you for all the effort you put in to this project and the tour as a whole, this is a great shame but of course we don't blame you! I wasn't able to make the Derby gig but Bilston was phenomenal, so any release off the back of the tour will be richly appreciated, and the plans for the new DVD sound like a right blinder! Derby footage or not, you're a fecking hero sir! :)
Ah man, I'm truly gutted for you and the rest of the chaps.
Derby was an amazing gig and the sound was spectacular so it must be really sickening to not hear it in the glory that we did!
A massive shame but my cap is doffed to you for bothering to take the time to write such a lovely bad news message. You're one of a kind! :)
There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said, and the number of posts already shows the 'love in the room'. The gig was one in a million and the dvd would be the cherry on top but to be offered an alternative arranged with such haste just goes to show why we're all here.
Love the idea of the photos, but a mention (global) on the dvd frost report would be more workable I feel.
It's a great shame BUT I had the best time at the gig and really appreciate Jem explaining everything so honestly and in depth. I'm sure the planned DVD shoot will be a rare treat.
I would also like to say a thank you to Jem for reminding me how much fun music can be, Frost* really has been a breath of fresh air and for that I'm very appreciative.
Its all been said already, but I feel compelled to leave my own generic message
Gutted... :cry:
Plan B sounds fantastic! :D
Jem,
'tis indeed a huge shame, I know you guys, the whole team worked so hard on this, you must be really gutted.
It was indeed a brilliant gig, and worth the travel from WSM, we have some brilliant memories from the night, met you guys, met some cool frosties, saw a consummate performance and have T-shirts with our names on them :)
The DVD would have been the icing on the cake... But it was bloody nice cake, so I'm not complaining.
The fact that you are all going to the effort and not forgetting the expense to do the Rockfield performance, is just a measure of what makes Frost* special as a band.
But I feel your pain, I can only imagine what it must be like to have a project fail like that.
Actually, thinking of the cost of the Rockfield session (as mentioned by Mark1) would people be up for a Marillion style pre-order to help fund the recording ???
I know it kind of adds to the 'pressure' on the band, and that's the last thing we want (remember when it becomes too much of a chore, that's when most bands implode), but it might go some way to showing the 'love in the room' in a slightly more contributory sense ???
Just a thought ;)
Quote from: "Mooncat"Actually, thinking of the cost of the Rockfield session (as mentioned by Mark1) would people be up for a Marillion style pre-order to help fund the recording ???
I'd definitely be up for that. I mean I'm going to pre-order the thing if possible just like i did with TPE anyway.
One thing that hasn't been said - in this context anyway
KCAM
Quote from: "Jem"... there's one channel of hiss...
That's what you get for using an analog pram ;)
Quote from: "MadeOutOfCats"Quote from: "Jem"... there's one channel of hiss...
That's what you get for using an analog pram ;)
:lol:
Shouldn't'a brought the snake along, or miked it up. You'll know for next time.
Such a shame to hear of these woes, it must be galling for Jem and the boys, but glad that those Frost*ies that made it there (unfortunately it didn't happen for me) had a great gig anyway.
Great to hear there is an alternative plan and I look forward to placing my order.
Onwards and upwards!
Well, shit happens. How one deals with the shit is the real measure of the man and Jem has once again shown that his capacity for dealing with said shit is positively endless.
All joking aside Jem, thanks for the honesty and probably one of the best written statements of bad news ever. This is what makes this community such a great place.
You're welcome mate and again, thanks to everybody here for being so understanding. Nellie was all for fleeing the country yesterday. :lol:
Plans are ongoing for the new DVD so I'll keep you updated as and when. :D
Permission to put down the bucket of damp sand sir? ;)
My feelings upon reading the news were something like, "Oh, bugger. Still, we got an ace gig that will go down in legend and a free T-shirt. I'm happy!", but I felt incredibly gutted for Jem and the boys to have so much effort and organisation go up in smoke. Or hiss. The new plan of a new DVD and all the extra goodies make me incredibly excited and it's an unbelievable gesture to make up for something which wasn't the band's fault. Jem sir, you are a true gentleman. Thank you. :)
Maybe more of the Derby gig could be salvaged... We could all sing in the parts that are dodgy, in a sort of instrumental kareoke. ...Or not. :lol:
Anyway, here's an angry hamster (//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhO-qMeMjtA&feature=player_embedded). :D
I know it's not very "proper" but couldn't you just redo the vocals and keys parts in the studio and add them in after? Or would it be too difficult to do?
As I understand it, the cost of *months* in the studio, in addition to the resulting lack of "properness", renders it not worth attempting. I guess it would also be hard to maintain the will to do it....that amount of retrospective inverted miming is not my idea of a hobby! ;)
Problem is the gig was just too awesome and this caused a few channels of the mixing desk to become overloaded. Jem's in particular.
If the guys were to re-record parts of it the who knows what could happen. It would be like crossing the streams. Except on a rather expensive Neve mixing desk.
Quote from: "Nellie"Hopefully, there will still be quite a lot of footage from the Derby gig included.
Mmmmm Nellie biscuits!
I have already posted on BookFace.
Now go off and rest before producing a DVD to be proud of!
You may all be aware I'm a bit of a Yes FANATIC.
This type of thing is part of a bands evolution - So many Yestastic shows on the cutting room floor...
So long as Joey and I can point at a crowd scene somewhere and go - 'There I am!' I will be happy.
Perhaps the promised credits on the Live DVD should now be posted with some due reverence? To the music of the dambusters '...never in the course of prog has so much been given by so few. We now list the 162 brave souls who fought hypothermia and student attack to look stoopid on a DVD. We thank you all!'
Peace
Simon
How can we not be understanding of the situation, and not feel bad for you for this?
As someone who could not attend (if I was rich I would have though), of course I was looking forward to the DVD. But you are making up for this quite nicely.
Thank you Jem, you are very generous with us.
Quote from: "Mouse"My feelings upon reading the news were something like, "Oh, bugger. Still, we got an ace gig that will go down in legend and a free T-shirt.
So... there will be "I went to the most amazing Frost* gig ever, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt"-shirts in the store soon then? :D
Of course we understand the situation. That feeling really sucks, when you just know you've done something legendary, and some stupid technical detail ruins everything. There's no need to apologize, not your fault, Jem. :)
Quote from: "johninblack"Well, shit happens. How one deals with the shit is the real measure of the man and Jem has once again shown that his capacity for dealing with said shit is positively endless.
All joking aside Jem, thanks for the honesty and probably one of the best written statements of bad news ever. This is what makes this community such a great place.
Jem for Prime Minister?? yehhhhhhh, he gets our vote..... :lol:
What everyone else has said! These things happen - I had a great couple of days getting to and from Derby, meeting all the Frost*ies again, and the internal DVD of the gig in my head will always look and sound great. Looking forward to the Plan B DVD though. 8-)
One request - can the footage of the big bananas in BLM be salvaged?! ;)
This does indeed suck more than a Dyson on overdrive; but we all had a great time (didn't we?), no-one was injured (I'm hoping that's true) and the memory will always be with me...
I just hope that the financial implications of not having a DVD to sell don't affect Jem's ability to continue with Frost*y goodness in the future.
Do let us know if preordering for The Rockfield Sessions would be helpful :)
What an absolute bar steward.......I'd be up for a pre-order funded jobbie
Mikey! Aye-up sunbeam, how the devil are you?
Quote from: "D S"One request - can the footage of the big bananas in BLM be salvaged?! ;)
I'll try, failing that, can you send the big banana to Rockfield? :D
I'm sure a big banana will be on it's way to you at some point... ;)
Quote from: "Jem"Quote from: "D S"One request - can the footage of the big bananas in BLM be salvaged?! ;)
I'll try, failing that, can you send the big banana to Rockfield? :D
Happy to oblige! I don't think BLM would be the same without a big banana or 3! :P
BTW I'm sure Rush recorded A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres at Rockfield too. Remember reading about the bird song at the start of Xanadu being the real thing just recorded outside.
It is in circumstances like these that the use of choice Anglo-Saxonisms is entirely justified.
The mere fact that you are willing to record another "gig" to replace the Derby one is more than enough Jem, so no apologies needed Sir. Most bands would have thrown the idea on the scrapheap......