Memory Versus Reality 20/20

Bon Jovi, live in Nashville, Tenn. April 2008. Photo by me (the last time I had half-way decent seats to see this band).

After a spate of recent concert announcements, I'm struck by how the power of MEMORIES of some of my favorite acts can overpower the REALITY of present day.

For instance, there's more than a few package tours going out this summer featuring megastars from the 1980s/90s (The Def Leppard/Motley/Poison stadium tour and Bon Jovi with Bryan Adams are the most recent examples). While the NAMES on the bills certainly spark excitement, I think it's important for us to look at the reality of those acts in the harsh light of 2020.

When you go to a show, do you care that an act can't perform like they once did, or are you there to hear the songs and don't care as much about who is on stage? 

For me, the IDEA of a Bon Jovi/Bryan Adams tour produces excitement. My wife loves Bryan Adams and I've always loved Bon Jovi (just being honest). On paper, this is a no-brainer, even if I would have to schlep three hours over to St. Louis and a different time zone to catch the tour. You sacrifice for things you love, right?

However, the REALITY of this situation is that the guitar player who made me fall in love with the power of a melodic solo and background vocals that can make a song is no longer with the band. He's been replaced by an able-bodied guitarist, who can play circles around most everyone, but who lacks the magic/soul/whatever the original guy brought to the table. The reality is also that the frontman who was once the best in the game simply can't sing anymore (certainly not for a guy charging $100+ per ticket to hear him sing). He shouts to get even close to pitch. He's obviously giving it his all with each show, but now, he chooses songs for the set that are heavy on new material he can, presumably, sing with greater ease (FWIW, I'm all for old acts writing new material) and it's just not as exciting as hearing songs attached to all my memories.

How about you? How do you feel about replacement members? How do you feel about acts who have obviously slipped a rung or two in terms of overall quality? Does it matter to you? Is hearing your memories played live worth more to you than the actual performance in front of you?