Rock Sound Article... Raine Discusses Mike

the android · Post by **the android** » 10/28/2002, 9:37 pm

su7an wrote:If it wasn't for Mike's mad idea to ditch a shitty job, and go after what he really wanted, the wouldn't even be and OLP to speak of.

Yeah, but if Raine hadn't responded to the ad Mike put in the paper...

We forget that the band was started by Raine AND Mike. If Raine had never joined, so be it, but there would be a completely different band that may or may not be as popular.

That's all I'll say for now.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » 10/28/2002, 9:45 pm

You have a point.

the android · Post by **the android** » 10/28/2002, 9:52 pm

The more I think about, the more I realize that without Duncan and Jeremy, as well, the band probably wouldn't be where it is today. What if they had stuck with Chris?

Gah. There's so much that goes into this.

Still. Raine taking shots at Mike doesn't really bother me. Why? Because I haven't been a fan very long. Mike quit a few months after I overkilled on the band and then went through a dry period of no OLP at all.

Only saw Mike in action once. Not even so, cause at the one show I went to, I stood in front of Duncan.

AnimatorJedi · Post by **AnimatorJedi** » 10/28/2002, 10:30 pm

Oh my. Being a relative newbie I may not be the best person to comment on this. But I love OLP so dearly and have actually been following them since Clumsy. All I really have to add is that both Mike and Steve are great for different reasons. I think whatever Raine said was either taken out of context or spoken at a time when Raine was emotional or not totally cool yet with what had happened. I'd like to think Mike is still friends with the band and vice versa and from what I had read it was a mutual and not bitter end to Mike's time in OLP. It is possible that Mike wanted to move on with some of his interests as well. I can't see OLP versus Mike, because he was an important part of who they were, and it wouldn't be like them to forget that. Personally I love Steve and I think he is very good for this band and has helped them evolve their sound as they wanted it to be involved. Having seen them in the intimate setting in Central Park they looked so comfortable and happy together and they were having fun. That's important for a band too. But Steve really does fit very well into who OLP are today. Godbless them for making such beautiful music and caring about their fans they way they do. I hope Mike is doing well with whatever project he has going on and Long Live OLP and Mike Turner!

Peace and Love,

Coz

lukin · Post by **lukin** » 10/28/2002, 11:59 pm

We have to wait for another album before you can say the band is crap without Mike. Mike probably had more to do with the new record that Steve did.

ajk · Post by **ajk** » 10/29/2002, 12:01 am

After sitting back and reading the article again.. i'm still not sure what to think.

I'm just surprised that Raine would speak that openly about Mike in such a negative way. Personally i'm not pleased about it.. but i'm not gonna go start callin Raine an ass and so on....

It doesn't surprise me to see people acting this way though. Mike was a founding member of the band, and had a huge part in the band. From what i recall the first two albums were written mostly by Mike, especially Naveed. A lot of people here, including myself consider those two albums to be the best OLP have put out. It just doesn't feel right to hear Mike getting slagged.

But i still think that Steve is a great guitarist. I'd like to see what he can do on the next album before giving a definitive answer...

I've also heard that Steve is a great live guitarist.. i'd sure like to check them out.. if only OLP would decide to come to CALGARY!!!!

Dabekk · Post by **Dabekk** » 10/29/2002, 12:40 am

As someone who has had to kick out about ten people from various bands over the years, I have some sympathy for Jer, Raine, and Duncan. Personally, I've kicked out of my band, one of the most talented bass players that I have ever known, and probably the best keyboardist that I have ever known, simply because they weren't right for the band. The thing about kicking people out of a band is never an easy thing, especially when you're not kicking someone out because they're are bad, but because they're not right for the band. At first, I didn't agree the decision to get rid of Mike, but you have to really think about their situation. It seems like everyone was pretty frustrated with Mike in the band, and now with Steve they are able to make the kind of music they that want. And although the Music that they are making now is not my favourite, it is still great music, and I respect them for that.

Also, with Raine's comment, I have a hunch that what he said didn't come out quite right. I think he said what he meant, but he said it more bluntly than he intended. He obviously does think very highly of Mike, having stuck with him for ten years, and having said that he was sure that Mike would do great things.

(please don't hurt me :neutral:

)

deviance101 · Post by **deviance101** » 10/29/2002, 2:03 am

dude, Mike should come back and provide more ambient guitar and complexity, and then steve can play all the badass solos

CODITH · Post by **CODITH** » 10/29/2002, 8:25 am

your not looking at the really point though, mike doesnt want to play the music there playing now, and he doesnt want to be dragged by Rob rock, this is why they split, mike didnt want the change, he wanted lanni, and he wanted the same stuff there were putting out before. Now everyone knows raine has a smudge ego, but when the bands in termoil, and one of your big problems wont let you go forward then i would say thats what made this situation come out. If you have to choose from new album and a future for olp, or a not do the changes and never hear from them again well then its pretty clear what the really choice is. Also you have to see what kind of pressure they would have been under, split a good friend from the band that has been with you for like 10 years. Thats just not easy.

Sufjan Stevens · Post by **Sufjan Stevens** » 10/29/2002, 11:15 am

Raine could have said what he said a little less harshly, but he is right. Plain and simple, Mike was boring live. Sure he was one hell of a nice guy, no doubt about that, but he added nothing to the songs live. He wasn't energetic on stage, and he just played what he played on the cd. The there's Steve, who didn't work on Gravity, and if he did, it was very little, and live the guy is energetic and he adds guitar solos, something that was unheard of for Mike.

In shows, Mike wasn't doing much work either. Jamie was in the background playing most of the guitar, while Mike was up front plucking a few strings. The work that Mike did went to hell come Spiritual Machines. He phased himself out of the music, and then left the band.

deviance101 · Post by **deviance101** » 10/29/2002, 11:55 am

yea, have you seen Life on Conan? Jamie was playing the solo, Mike was doing background guitar...plus Mike was getting a little chubby

starvingeyes · Post by **starvingeyes** » 10/29/2002, 12:34 pm

ahem

naveed - 6/5 stars. one of the most important records ever made and the only decent post grunge record. ever.
clumsy - 6/5 stars. heart stopping follow up to a brilliant album rife with awe inspiring beauty. virtually the perfect album
hapines... is not a fish that you can catch - 6/5 stars. my second favorite record and a very impressive album from start to finish. stealing babies is orgasmic.
spiritual machines - 7/5 stars. heart stopping. every song so layered and mesmermising. all my friends and the wonderful future quite possibly the best songs ever. the best fucking record ever. by anyone.

gravity - 2/5. shitty. underproduced and straight forward. the kind of thing you'd expect from nickelback or greenwheel. a few bright spots [ bring back the sun ] show bleak hope for the future, but the general weakness [ all for you, do you like it, sell my soul, made of steel ] hurts the record. i don't even listen to this and had it come from another band i would not have bought it. furthermore, i would mock this band.

one of these things is not like the other. say what you want about mike note being talented or whatever but the fact of the matter is like somebody else pointed out, sales were taking a drop and the band needed to increase their revenues.

turner didn't want to play shitty, straight forward cookie cutter crap. our lady peace did. that's why he's not in the band anymore.

Sufjan Stevens · Post by **Sufjan Stevens** » 10/29/2002, 1:44 pm

Mike was talented, he really was. But to the end, he was doing nothing but plucking a string here and there and seemed to be there just because he was in the band. If he did more with the music, yeah, I would want Mike in the band still. But Steve adds so much that Mike didn't.

With that said, I would like to point out that Spiritual Machines still is my favorite album.

Xavier870 · Post by **Xavier870** » 10/29/2002, 3:47 pm

Yeah, I completely, 100%, without a doubt agree with Alan. :nod:

liam · Post by **liam** » 10/29/2002, 3:50 pm

i don't know whats going on, but i'll agree too.

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 10/29/2002, 5:04 pm

you would

OLPGoose · Post by **OLPGoose** » 10/29/2002, 9:32 pm

well, let me add my two cents! Personally, I don't think Raine ever said that. I think whatever he DID say was put way out of context. You know how the media is....nothing "juicy" came up, so they had to twist around osmething and create it. thats just what they do.

Even if he did, I dont think its a reason to curse at him! he's RAINE! he's been responsible for the most amazing lyrics ever written and the most amazing vocals ever----how can one comment(which who knows if he ever even made!) turn him into a *expelitve*(i try not to curse! i htink its gross when girls curse! well...other than bitch! bitch is a feminie curse!) lets not forget how him(and the rest of them) come out just to speak to/take pictures/sign autographs for fans. not many bands do that. especially not the bands that have gotten to the level of success that they have!

whoever said they are having a "hard time" as far as the music business, i totally agree. i think they HAD to make this album...i dont think it was a choice. They're not putting out their own albums, the record company is. If they were, they would have the luxury of putting out amazing albums like happiness over and over---even if they did sell hardly any copies. but they have record execs on top of them. clumsy was SO big an dthen theres SM and happiness, which werent very big at all. i think the record company expected something from them and they had to do it. OLP is a very "mainstream" band all the sudden, but i dont expect it to last through the next album. I dont think this is the real OLP and I think they will show their colors on the next album, with steve, and im sure it will be amazing. for now though, i think we should support them and not let one little quote get to us

One-Eye · Post by **One-Eye** » 10/29/2002, 9:35 pm

OLPGoose wrote:Even if he did, I dont think its a reason to curse at him! he's RAINE! he's been responsible for the most amazing lyrics ever written and the most amazing vocals ever----how can one comment(which who knows if he ever even made!) turn him into a *expelitve*(i try not to curse! i htink its gross when girls curse! well...other than bitch! bitch is a feminie curse!) lets not forget how him(and the rest of them) come out just to speak to/take pictures/sign autographs for fans. not many bands do that. especially not the bands that have gotten to the level of success that they have!

I respect and worship Raine as much as the next rabid OLP fan, but that doesn't elevate him to infallibility. What he said was catty and uncalled-for. Even if he does feel that way, why slander Mike in the media? That's just childish.

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 10/29/2002, 9:45 pm

Aerindipity wrote:BNL - I'll Be That Girl

Naveed16 · Post by **Naveed16** » 10/29/2002, 10:47 pm

OLPFan420 wrote:Mike was talented, he really was. But to the end, he was doing nothing but plucking a string here and there and seemed to be there just because he was in the band. If he did more with the music, yeah, I would want Mike in the band still. But Steve adds so much that Mike didn't.

With that said, I would like to point out that Spiritual Machines still is my favorite album.

You were saying all this about him being boring live, and that's a bunch of crap. Haven't you ever heard his badass solo on Hope? Sure, Steve is better at times live, but other times, his solos aren't that great...they don't match the music that's being played. Plus, just because a song has a guitar solo, it doesn't mean it's better than one without it. Sometimes, simplicity is great, as in the solo to Happiness & The Fish. It's a great song, I don't care if emtee isn't shredding away. I love Steve live, I would even say I enjoy them live now more than with Emtee. Mike was a hell of a song writer, and it bothers me that everybody bitches that he couldn't write. He wrote the guitar parts to many songs.
When it comes to their live shows now, I love them, but they could be improved upon. I think Steve's a great soloist, sure, but I don't like his take on OMA or IAH? as much as Emtee's version. And I wish they had Mike E. working with the keyboards a bit more during songs like In Repair and Thief. It's all good either way, but don't knock down Mike. The best show I've ever seen was with Emtee. However, some of the shows I've seen with Steve are better than some I've seen with Mike. They're about 50/50. The only thing that's truly better about their live show now, is that more and more they're changing up the setlist, which wasn't common a few years ago. I'd take a random jumble of olp songs live over nothing but the singles any day of the week. Changing it up is awesome...like when they played Supersattelite out of nowhere @ the Phoenix a few years ago, or Automatic Flowers during the State Theater show, 9/18.

And as for Raine's comments, they piss me off, but I try to be understanding. Emotions are just high right now...kinda like when a couple gets divorced, and they hate each other for a while, but sooner or later, they can establish a cordial relationship.

P.s. - mike foreshadowed his departure in a way to me, after the Sep. 10th show in London