HISTORY:

Okay so I have been a supporter of this band since I first heard 'Gel' in a friends car. I immediately bought Collective Soul's self titled album that day in 1995 and it took off from there. My favorite band at the time was Metallica, I guess it was all that anger teenagers have during high school. Explains why I hated high school so much.

 

Soon after I bought 'Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid' on the notion that if I liked one album so much, I would like the others. This is not any practice anyone should go by, but it was okay, as Collective Soul can be counted on to make complete, quality albums worth buying without listening to it once. When 'Disciplined Breakdown' was released in 1997, the song 'Precious Declaration' won over my radio station, and my new compulsion with cd buying bought this album. Again, the album was worth every penny despite hearing only one song.

 

I still was not a huge fan of the band, as I was one who would buy cd's for the singles they hear on the radio alone. The only difference was I actually listened to the whole album once bought and did not judge a band solely on the easily pleased crowd favorites.

In 1998 I went to my first festival concert, Edgefest, and was very close to the front row of the mosh pit to see Collective Soul play an hour or so set. This was the biggest rush of my life at the time, being that it was my first mosh pit. Even though I saw Our Lady Peace, The Tea Party, Silverchair, and I Mother Earth, Collective Soul was still the best act that day, however I still liked Metallica more.

 

In 1999 'Dosage' came out and I bought it immediately. No surprise here, again every song was worth the buy. I listened to this cd almost everyday for a month as I was going to their concert at The Vogue Theatre and wanted to know the new music. In March of 1999 I went to the concert, I also won tickets from 99.3 the Fox for the 2nd concert, both were sold out. In a small venue, the band lit up a storm, the show was like nothing I had ever seen before. More electric than a Metallica concert, perhaps because there were not any dimwitted, drunk and drugged assholes fighting everybody. The 2nd show was the same set of songs from the 4 albums, and just as lively as the first concert. After the show I hung outside in the back alley behind The Vogue with Jess and Holly in the bitter cold for about 90 minutes. Finally the guys came out and we got autographs, photographs and handshakes. It was totally awesome, in the top 5 best moments of my life.

 

In October 2000 after 'Blender' was released, I went again to Collective Soul's concert, as I will never miss a show again. The show was at The Orpheum Theatre and was, as expected, lively as ever. Collective Soul is an amazing live band, and you must go to their shows!. After this show I waited outside friends and again, the guys came out about an hour later. This time I got 'Blender' autographed, but no photos.

 

I fell out of connection with Metallica by spring 2001, and Collective Soul became my favorite band this past summer of 2001. Metallica by the way is about #7 on my unofficial list, if you care. This is a small tribute because I have so much other stuff on my web page, but this band deserves big recognition. Enjoy.

 

THE BAND:

Ed Roland: Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics.

Dean Roland: Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards

Will Turpin: Bass, backing vocals

Shane Evans: Drums

Joel Koesche: Lead Guitar

 

FAVORITE SONGS:

The World I Know - Run - Crown - Over Tokyo - Maybe - Forgiveness - Compliment - Wasting Time - Reunion - Why Part 2 - Gel - Skin - Precious Declaration - Listen - Goodnight Goodguy - Smashing Young Man - Blame - Persuasion - December - In Between.

PICTURES:

Ed Roland	1998 - click for a bigger picture
Dean Roland	1999 - click for a bigger picture
Will Turpin	2000
Shane Evans	2000 - click for a bigger picture
Joel Koesche	Collective Soul is currently taking a break. No new promotional photos are being taken.

DISCOGRAPHY:

(I have not indluded all the singles, promo's and import cd's as the list would reach 50+)

1994: Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid

1995: Collective Soul

1997: Disciplined Breakdown

1999: Dosage

2000: Blender

2001: Seven Year Itch (Greatest Hits)

 

LINKS:

www.collectivesoul.com the official website

As of late August 2002, many of the fan sites I had here were all down, or not found.

Copyright © 2001 By someone's web design. All rights reserved.
Revised: 25 Mar 2003 00:18:54 Pacific Standard Time.