I can’t seem to wrangle Google to find a story on it now, but at some point, there was a state legislature somewhere considering a law to prohibit bands with more unoriginal members than original ones from advertising themselves as being the original band. Think Lynyrd Skynyrd, who just have one original band member, Gary Rossington, around these days, although they do have a tragedy to blame for part of that.
Metalcore act Norma Jean, who are coming to town this week, are sort of in the same boat, since only guitarist Chris John Day is still around from the band that recorded “Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child” back in 2002. The group, fully committed to crunchy riffs and aggression, regardless of who joined when, are touring the southwest performing songs from their six albums, while promising some new stuff as well, stopping at 191 Toole on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. with Night Verses, Scar Eater and Lariats opening.
Tickets are $18, but you can get the advance price of $15 at the door if you bring two cans of food. Why not bring the food anyway, even if you got your tickets in advance? This time of year, someone could certainly use it. More info at facebook.com/events/1487617151523905.
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2014.
“Truth in music” laws were passed in about 30 states.
A lot of bands are minus half their original members by the time they even record their first album. Shall the law be enforced from the conception of the band OR from their first official recording? If it is decided to enforce the law from a recording standpoint, would that be from the initial demos, D.I.Y. releases, independent record company releases OR major record company releases? This all sounds like a big mess to me. I can only see this law as being useful in the case of bands such as L.A. Guns, Great White and formerly Queensryche (I believe their issue finally got settled, look it up if you have the interest which I cannot muster) where there are 2 bands recording and touring as if they are the real deal.