Boards
Carter USM. Back. Again. Maybe.
JIM BOB SAYS
Since we split in 1997 I personally always said no to ever getting Carter back together again. Claiming I'd rather eat my own legs, my testicles etc. Things change of course. Shit happens. It took the sad passing of Wiz from Mega City 4 to get us back on stage together again. And to remind me what a buzz it was to play those songs and in front of what really is the best gig audience ever.
Those four songs in Islington led to Brixton and a gig that sold out so quickly, totally blowing us away, that we felt compelled to go back on our 'one final gig' promise and add a second date. Until we'd actually played those two gigs I could never have imagined how amazing they'd turn out to be. If they'd been disappointing or we'd been rubbish it would have been a lot easier to simply move on. Instead they were two of the greatest nights of my life. The atmosphere was out of this world. I still haven't really got over it yet to be honest.
We'd got back in bed with Carter without realising just how comfortable that bed would be. Perfectly sprung with sumptuous upholstering, silk sheets, warm blankets and a chocolate on the pillow.
It would naturally also be a lot easier if I didn't keep making these statements about finality and about eating my own bollocks in preference to doing things that I enjoyed.
Thank you all for your help in guiding us towards whatever our decision is. It was not a foregone conclusion or a damage limitation PR exercise as the more cynical - and who can blame them - have suggested. I've always said that Carter live was as much about the audience as it was about the band. I still believe that, however soppy and boybandish it sounds.
Thank you.
Jim Bob.
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FRUITY SAYS
Myself, I always thought that at the right time and place, it would be possible for Carter to play again. I always had it in the back of my mind that the 20th anniversary would be perfect, and indeed it was. I was never sure, though, that Jim would agree - he had always seemed so adamant that he didn't want to do it again. I'm glad he changed his mind.
There have been over 1,500 replies to our joint email and the overwhelming consensus seems to be that we should do another show or two. Some people (18 in all) were not in favour, saying that last year's gigs were so perfect and so special that we shouldn't spoil their memories. Others (referring to Mr Beast's announcements at the gigs) said that we should be true to our original intent and not do it again. Actually, I can see their point: some would feel cheated and I can understand that too. They want to be able to say for sure that they were there at the last ever Carter gig. It comes down to this I guess: what is more important, the shag or the notch on the bedpost?
A lot of people said we should reform properly and record a new album (that's not gonna happen I'm afraid, we are both fully committed to our post-Carter projects). Others said that we should do a big tour of smaller venues (that would end up costing us money to do properly, so that's out too).
For me, the biggest surprise was that many people who replied to our email (almost a 5th) couldn't come to the gigs last year, either through not being able to get tickets, not being able to make it (although they had tickets), or that the gigs were impossible for them to get to because they live in Japan, Australia, Outer Mongolia or ... Manchester :):)
Anyway, I'd like to thank you all for your replies, it has really helped us towards making a decision. We are not in the business of milking our audience; we love you all (even the person that wrote that I had an appalling voice), we might just do it one more time.
Cheers Fruity x