I always liked Kings X. Very good band and it doesn’t hurt they are from Houston. They’ve never enjoyed any real commercial success despite a lot of critical acclaim over the years. Apparently, that REALLY pisses off lead signer/bassist, Pinnick.
I met Doug years ago and he, in fact, gave me one of the best compliments I’ve ever received as a bassist. He’s a really good guy. All I can say about this is, dude is not happy.
We never fit in; no matter what we do, we can’t get the masses on board, and we’ve done everything there is. I know you all have suggestions of what we could do do get more successful, but we have done everything there is to do! Or at least inquired about it all… We just can’t get the folks on board. Woodstock ’94 we played for 300 thousand people, and the next week on SoundScan we sold about 200 CDs. Then the week later nothing to comment on…. The rest of the bands on the bill – JACKYL, SHERYL CROW, LIVE, CANDLEBOX, etc. – sold millions!!! We got the best slot of the day, and USA Today, Howard Stern, MTV said we were the best band that day! We sold nothing… and it changed my life. I cut my hair and almost gave up!
This is astonishing to read from someone who had at least a degree of success within the music industry. But, it goes on and on. Here are some highlights.
I wish you all could understand how impossible the situation is these days for many bands. It sucks! The rejection to KING’S X is overwhelming in the music marketplace.
We couldn’t get the $ for a producer for years, so we did it ourselves; at least we tried. Then we paid for Michael Wagener out of our own pockets, and finished the CD paying for it ourselves. We are really trying to do the right things, but all we get are walls. There’s only so much we can do without money, record company support and attendance. We have maybe sold a million CDs combined from day one! That’s not many in the real world.
We need all-ages shows, and it’s almost impossible to get them. That’s just fact. It sucks playing at such late times when people have to go to work or drive hours to attend. We always ask for early shows and all ages, it just dosent happen. Bands that are successful without airplay or much promotion? It’s a mystery. We’re doing what they did and here we are. We’re going home from this tour broke. I get no $ when I am off tour, I have to fend for myself.
I have questioned my whole life and this band’s place in the world. It’s still a mystery to me. This band I have invested 25 years of my life to… and I think about my place in this more than anyone could possibly know or understand… and still don’t know why no one realy gives a feck on a major scale. And people wonder why I have low self-esteem. I am one of the biggest losers that there is, and I don’t know why.
In a word, WOW! I’m not even sure what to say other than that.