B.Sumner, please reade this....

Four simple words.....

"Turn off the Autocue!!!!!"

I think it is agreed upon on this board that nobody wants to see you looking down every 20 seconds to see what you have to sing. For Christ's sake you had to look at the Autocue for Blue Monday...that is pathetic!

Perhaps, if you have to use the autocue, use a more Inconspicuous type of autocue where it doesn't look like you are reading the lyrics. The autocues where it is a clear piece of plastic and they are raised to eye level.

Take a couple hours out of your day of abusing drugs and boating the Caribbean and memorize the lyrics to your old songs!!!!

i didn't think it possible to top last weeks "you must tour the states" thread, but you have

Perhaps he should come on dressed as one of The Borg with a flip down eyepiece that has lyrics in front. I'm sure USAAF could lend him a pilots head gear complete with such equipment.

Lets face it, Barney never could remember lyrics - thats one reason why we had so many classic adlibs. Look at the Leuven video where the lyrics to Atmosphere are written on a sheet that is taped on the floor. Much as we all dislike it, with the infrequency that NO now play, losing the autocue would be a disaster waiting to happen.

This might work you know, theres a new trend of these kind of threads and then the next thing you know the band actually do it.

I reckon this exhibition of disrespect to Bernard Sumner is obnoxious. If he has reasons to do it, let him do it. Sumner doesn't like to tour and maybe that's one of the reasons. If you want New Order to play this year, especially in the States - just shut fucking up!

A bad thread.

Have you ever tried to watch a TV programme with with the subtitles on? I find it impossible not to read the words, even though I can understand the words perfectly well. Try it. I think that's what Barney is up to. He has the autocue there in case he does forget the words, but then can't stop looking at it. I say let him do what he wants on stage - it's his stage, after all!

maybe he is nervous and self-consious... and doesnt like to make eye contact with the audience

James Thomas wrote: Perhaps he should come on dressed as one of The Borg with a flip down eyepiece that has lyrics in front.

He could set a new techno trend.

Mike Stipe.

The Haçienda must be (re)Built wrote:

i didn't think it possible to top last weeks "you must tour the states" thread, but you have

This thread got people discussing a "real" issue with Barney...

This neworderonline board is becoming more and more like the morrissey-solo.com board. Just a bunch of assholes that take every opportunity possible to tell people how stupid they are because they have the protection of anonymity on their side.

My previous thread did get people discussing how upset they are about New Order dissing the states...If you don't like my thread, why don't you just ignore it and reply to something else?

ct001 wrote: Have you ever tried to watch a TV programme with with the subtitles on? I find it impossible not to read the words, even though I can understand the words perfectly well. Try it. I think that's what Barney is up to. He has the autocue there in case he does forget the words, but then can't stop looking at it. I say let him do what he wants on stage - it's his stage, after all!

Agreed. Autocue - Big Deal!

Auto Cue - SAD

Like the prompt before... it's probably due to drug overuse... but without it...the magic wouldn't be there (1977-1989 era)

SAD but TRUE

Waiting for the Siren's Call (the whole album) has to listened at least 4 times before it get's under your skin....then it hurts so bad.

Personally I think Rob is right, lose the autocue Barney, though only because I agree with JT it would be a disaster waiting to happen. Might liven up the set a bit.

FFS - you people!

I don't know if anyone has ever seen a classical concert on the telly, or maybe even been to one. The naughty musicians there even have the music written down in front of them, and turn the pages as they are going along!

There is nothing wrong at all with Bernard using an autocue to assist him with memorising the lyrics. Hate to piss on any bonfires, but TV newsreaders have them, so do chatshow hosts and all that when they are doing live broadcasts, it is a very common thing indeed. Obviously the long-term ecstacy impact is one of the factors behind the use of the autocue, but why shouldn't he use one? At least it shows he is still actually doing it live, unlike some bands.

Al Jarvis wrote: Rob, do I get the impression you're pre-empting us with a long list of excuses so that you don't actually make a Chicago gig, should one be in the offing?! They don't play a venue you like, you don't like Barney using an autocue, etc, etc.

What?...are you going to put it on my shoulders if NewOrder doesn't decide to visit Chicago?

By the way, I never bitched about not liking the venue they are playing at, since they haven't even decided on a venue. We were just discussing "good" places for the band to play. Get a grip, Jarvis...

I will stop complaining from now on...you girls on this board seem to be unable to handle criticism.

You fellas are testy on this board...

what does he do for the guitar parts? I know they're simple why can he remember them and not the lyrics?

Bernard has an autocue, I would think, because:

a) he's 48 or something b) they don't rehearse c) they don't play live very often d) he probably doesn't listen to his own records that much, particularly from 20 years ago e) he was never that good at remembering the lyrics anyway

But why blame it on the drugs? That's pretty ignorant, you know...

Al Jarvis wrote:

Rob Revilo wrote: By the way, I never bitched about not liking the venue they are playing at, since they haven't even decided on a venue. We were just discussing "good" places for the band to play. Get a grip, Jarvis...

Is irony yet to be discovered in Chicago?!

It has too much influence. They'll have to take it by the Federal Revenue Office.

Kill FRANK!!! wrote: what next, his dancing? oh wait, that one's been done to death as well...

And the whistling. Don't forget the whistling. And shouting "Come on!" during LWTUA.

mind games wrote: Bernard has an autocue, I would think, because:

a) he's 48 or something b) they don't rehearse c) they don't play live very often d) he probably doesn't listen to his own records that much, particularly from 20 years ago e) he was never that good at remembering the lyrics anyway

But why blame it on the drugs? That's pretty ignorant, you know...

and he never wanted to be frontman anyways?

mind games wrote: Bernard has an autocue, I would think, because:

a) he's 48 or something b) they don't rehearse c) they don't play live very often d) he probably doesn't listen to his own records that much, particularly from 20 years ago e) he was never that good at remembering the lyrics anyway

But why blame it on the drugs? That's pretty ignorant, you know...

All good points. Besides the drugs one, which is the reason they gave when asked!

Devin Degregoria wrote: what does he do for the guitar parts? I know they're simple why can he remember them and not the lyrics?

Ever listened to him play Age Of Consent live? Never got it right once!

God you must not have been a fan of Joy Division

Hi all I'm new here but I know so much about JD and NO it's not even funny. I personal opinion is that these 4 guys (JD original lineup) never wanted to be real rockstars. Ian Curtis wanted fame, not to be a musician. That's why he plays one chord on LWTUA. Now ponder this > Did Ian Curtis intend to get as many fans as he did? No. His dance (which he didn't want to be very popular) brought in tons of fans, increasing the popularity of JD and him, putting on stress and whatnot causing him to have an affair with a german girl and hang himself (I assume you all know the story)

This put Barney in a tough spot. He was chosen to sing becuase, well, he played the least really. Most of JD and early early early NO was Hooky and Stephen with Bernard coming in at the height points to add the feeling of urgency in their songs. He didn't want it in the first place but he was given the job of frontman.

So here we are. If he doesn't feel secure in the position he's in, let him take whatever precautions HE FEELS is nessecary for the show to run smoothly. Now, what kept Joy Division concerts so cool was the fact that at any second the whole place could go into havic (sometimes it did) but NO is more polished then JD.

Yeah, will, if you sticked with me have a cookie. I'm 13 so I've never seen a JD or NO concert, but own a tape of a JD conert from 1980 and have seen clip upon clip of NO Film. G'day

Matt