dylan62

I've constantly had difficult logging onto the forum - so have had to set up a new account. Dylandog is no more :( Like it or not Gary is the indispensable member of the band. It would be impossible in my view for the others to continue without him;firstly because of his song writing ability and secondly because to a great extent he represents 'the sound' of TT as the recognised lead singer. Performance wise the others are on a par or supersede him, but as a singer he's unquestionably the most important component of the band. Most people would concede that Gary is a superior singer and as much as I love Mark, Howard and Jason they don't have his vocal ability or musicality. As a solo artist Gary is surprisingly good, Kath. I've seen him twice and he really was excellent, especially in the stripped back sections where he plays the piano and in the acoustic sets. His pitch /tone is very good and consistent. His review rating on Ticketmaster is on a par, if not higher than TT, and reviewers (mostly the men) comment on how they didn't expect him to be that good a live performer. My comments aren't meant to negate the importance of the others. Much of the bands success is down to the dynamics between the four and the atmosphere they generate on stage which transfers to the crowd. One of the major problems with Rob's return is ' his personality.' Whilst it's been vital in terms of his solo success it simply doesn't translate well within the group. There's a reason why Rob is so successful as an artist and that's due in no small part to his larger than life persona. Charismatic leads can work, with Mick Jagger and Freddie Mercury two such examples, but TT aren't that kind of act. They work because of the harmony and balance of it's members. Gary may be the lead singer, but he's a quiet presence and doesn't overshadow the others. As for the sound, Rob himself has admitted that harmonies don't come naturally to him. It's particularly noticeable in live performances because there's an edge and harshness to their sound which isn't as noticeable when the band is a foursome or threesome. The debate will continue to rage on even though as a fan base we have no say on TT's direction. Ultimately the band decides - and they want Rob back, even though I've no doubt it's for a short time only. By the way does anyone know when the tour is scheduled? I've read it's now 2018 because of Rob's commitments - I'll make no comment on that :) In my view it should be next year - they've already stretched the 25th anniversary date beyond what anyone would consider plausible!!