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Band Timeline
Formation of Live band
Early years and first releases under the name Public Affection and name change to Live
Release of Mental Jewelry and rising recognition
Breakthrough with Throwing Copper
Continued success with Secret Samadhi and The Distance to Here
Albums V, Birds of Pray, and Songs from Black Mountain
Lineup change and release of The Turn
Reunion of original lineup and Local 717 EP
Major lineup changes and new leadership by Ed Kowalczyk
Albums
Members
Current
Ed Kowalczyk
Lead vocals
Ed Kowalczyk
Guitar
History
Chad Gracey
Drums (drum set)
Patrick Dahlheimer
Electric bass guitar
Chad Taylor
Guitar
Adam Kowalczyk
Guitar
Ed Kowalczyk
Lead vocals
Chris Shinn
Guitar
Chad Taylor
Background vocals
Chris Shinn
Lead vocals
Patrick Dahlheimer
Electric bass guitar
Chad Taylor
Guitar
Chad Gracey
Drums (drum set)
Chad Taylor
Background vocals
Ed Kowalczyk
Guitar
Story of Live
Live: A Rock Band Story
Live, often stylized as LĪVE, LĪAVE, or +LĪAVE+, is an American rock band hailing from York, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1984 by Ed Kowalczyk (lead vocals, guitars), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass), Chad Gracey (drums), and Chad Taylor (guitars), Live rose to prominence with their energetic live performances and anthemic rock sound.
The band gained initial recognition with their single "Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)," which received heavy rotation on MTV. Their second album, Mental Jewelry (1991), garnered modest success, but it was their third album, Throwing Copper (1994), that catapulted them to stardom. Selling over eight million copies in the U.S. alone, Throwing Copper produced a string of hits including "Lightning Crashes," which reigned supreme on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for an impressive ten consecutive weeks. Their success propelled them to sell over twenty million albums worldwide.
Throughout their career, Live expanded their sound by incorporating additional musicians, including Kowalczyk's brother Adam, British keyboardist Michael "Railo" Railton, rhythm guitarist Christopher Thorn of Blind Melon, and guitarist Zak Loy of Alpha Rev.
In 2009, Kowalczyk left the band, leaving a void filled by singer Chris Shinn. Their subsequent album, The Turn (2014), reflected this new era for the band. However, Kowalczyk returned to Live in 2016, marking a return to their original sound and leading to the release of the EP Local 717 in 2018.
The band's trajectory took another turn in 2022 when Kowalczyk assumed majority control of Live and subsequently fired Taylor. Reports from Rolling Stone indicated that Gracey and Dahlheimer were also let go, leaving Kowalczyk as the sole remaining original member.
Live's legacy is one of high-energy rock anthems, resonating with fans for decades. Their history, though filled with changes and shifts in lineup, remains a testament to the enduring power of their music.
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