wolfgangguhl wrote:
Ok, here is why I think it is nonsense:
1. Why should he retire from touring Europe? It is here where he is considered a living legend, where he is admired, where he draws the big crowds. His albums sell better in the US these days, but he cannot even draw 800 people to a show in a place like New York City. Pathetic!
2. What makes you believe that "the traveling seems to take its toll on him"? In recent years he always came out of a European Tour stronger! And he does not travel like the average fan does, but he has got a lot of space on the airplanes and luxurious limousines, has presidential suites booked for him in European hotels, does not have to take care of any travel arrangements etc. He just has to walk into the plane, take a nap and voila he has arrived in Europe.
3. Surely a "great" (ironie!) idea to have him appear with Jimmy, who is known worldwide for being a paedophile and hypocrit. Sure would help to raise Jerry's profile NOT!
4. He sounds as if he has a lot more fun playing his shows than he had recording MOM.
5. He sleeps at home after almost all shows in the US these days. It is the exception of him staying in a hotel, he usually takes a flight back home right after the show (so does Elton John by the way).
6. I am amazed how well you are informed about Jerry's financial status! Let us know figures then! So it is "clear" according to you that he cannot retire. In a very recent interview he made "clear" that he could have retired a long time ago. Also, you are contradicting yourself. If he needs that much money that bad as you say he could not afford to stop doing tours overseas as that is were he makes 80 % of his income each year.
7. What is all this rambling on about the European Tour not going ahead? There is no sign it won't.
I just hope you're right about the European Tours and the overseas traveling not tiring him out too much. That's just the impression I've got from some, not all, the recent tours. It's certainly true that Europeans appreciate and support his concerts more than Americans, and this is true of a lot of older artists. The late Ronnie Dawson had a tiny crowd around his stage at a New Orleans Jazz Festival in the late 1990s - and they were nearly all Europeans, hardly any Americans.
But if he ever does feel the need to cut down on touring abroad, then Europeans could travel to Memphis area to see him. That's what I meant. If he was doing shows in that area on a regular basis, we could plan holidays around them. We already have the Beale Street festivals which he does every year.
I don't get the impression he enjoys playing live shows like he used to, but hope I'm wrong. Just seems he's on auto-pilot quite often, unwilling to try out many different songs not in his usual repetroire, and his shows rarely last an hour or more nowadays. However I'd still go to see him in concert and enjoy the show. 100 Club was the best I've seen recently because of the varied song selection and the length of the show (about an hour). Forum and Paris in 2008 were not quite as good, but I still enjoyed them.
I've always thought the extended Lewis family should work together more. OK, Jimmy had a scandal involving a prostitute and according to her there were some very unsavory questions he raised about her daughter. This was a long time ago, and in his home state at least Jimmy still has a following. But I'm not pressing this point, though I've always thought a gospel album with Jimmy would sell well among Jimmy's following, not necessarily worldwide. Jimmy seems to do quite well financially with his records, etc. anyway. Mickey Gilley jokes about it all being tax free.
I definitely think Jerry should play Mickey's Branson theater, if only for one or two shows. I think Mickey's fans would appreciate it.
As to Jerry's finances, well he has said himself he has to do tours, etc. to pay the light bill or if he wants a new car or something. This is straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. Also I saw the state of the Ranch in 2002 and was not impressed. Recently it was suggested they spend some money refurbishing the swimming pool I believe, to give Jerry some exercise. Hopefully his finances have improved since the success of LMS and now MOM, and the recent European tours.
As to the October/November tour, some fans have expressed the view it might not go ahead. I think due to Jerry's recent illness and shows keep being switched to other towns/venues. However if Jerry's health holds up we all hope it will go ahead, and I heard a rumor of another London show by a different promoter. Let's hope it goes ahead.
Long ago in Ferriday down in Louisiana, They all watched Jerry play and pump that old piana
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