Live

When the four members of Live first began performing together in middle school during the summer of 1985, they gave little, if any, thought to the possibility that they would still be together 22 years later. Lead singer, frontman and guitarist Ed Kowalczyk, lead guitarist Chad Taylor, bassist Patrick Dahlheimer and drummer Chad Gracey (all of whom were in their early teens at the time) were simply four friends from working-class York, Pennsylvania who wanted to express themselves by writing and performing music.

But Live has, in fact, endured—and along the way, they have built an impressive résumé that includes eight full-length albums, total CD sales exceeding 20-million, a huge international fan base and extensive touring all over the world. Live has been one of the most successful and enduring alternative rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s, and despite their long list of achievements, Live are finding themselves busier than ever with a lot of songwriting, recording and big summer and fall tours.

“My approach is to write songs that will resonate with listeners for a really long time,” Kowalczyk asserts. “Sixteen years after our first album, Mental Jewelry, I am still able to get something out of songs Live recorded in the early 1990s, and I think that one of the reasons we have had so many fans for so long is that our fans are also continuing to find nuances in our songs.”

The band had had several names in the past, including Public Affection.

Technologically, Live’s members have witnessed many changes over the years. “In terms of technology,” Kowalczyk observes, “it’s a totally different world from when Live started. One of the things that is great about the Internet is the way it enables you to connect directly with fans.”

Website: http://www.friendsoflive.com/