iona-digest Friday, January 29 1999 Volume 1999 : Number 007 . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List (digest) http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 03:01:26 EST From: GYepyk1@aol.com Subject: Re: [iona] Re: . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ In a message dated 99-01-28 02:19:46 EST, you write: << think this is ridiculous. Don't you guys got anthing better to do than to drive other people crazy? Joann and the rest of the band are playing for God and not for us. We should get our priorities straight. I don't want to like any human being to point where I make them a hollywood icon. Please take me off this Iona mailing list. Sorry. No offence given. Just speaking from the heart. I hope Iona has a blessed life and does not get cursed with a celeberty profile. No responses please. I will ignore them. I am not out for responses. I want to live in peace. Terrie >> you shouldn't write something like this and not expect a response... ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 11:00:09 -0500 (EST) From: Frank Blades Subject: [iona] Hiding Away? . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 18:15:36 -0500 From: "Dulcimer" > Joann and the rest of the band are playing for God and not for us. Strangely when I saw Iona at the Fleece in Bristol they seems to be playing for us. At least we paid for the tickets, so I hope they were playing for us:) > I hope Iona has a blessed life and does not get cursed with a > celeberty profile. Someone like Martin Luther King had a celebrity lifestyle and yes, did not live in peace, but certainly got his message over. That's one extreme. At the other is someone like Anthony Phillips (ex Genesis). He couldn't or didn't want to cope with the lifestyle, quit the band and hid himself away in the studio. He is producing beautiful albums - but hardly anyone gets to hear them. But you need a certain amount of celebrity profile to get your music and hence in Iona's case message over - which is what I assume they set out to do (Warning Frank - don't assume anything!!!) - or they may as well hide away in Ireland and just play for themselves. I know a lot of musicians who have found the middle ground. They get on stage and have a great time playing for the fans - and then afterwards come down and chat with the self same people. There is not the hero-worship you get with the likes of the Stones - rather the joy of music shared between creator (with a small C!) and appreciator. There is a balance, I guess it is up to Iona to get it right. Frank ps I am still going to promote them whether they want it or not:) - ---------------------- Frank Blades frank.blades@bristol.ac.uk ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 11:16:29 +0000 From: Mark Goodge Subject: Re: [iona] I Stand Corrected... . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ At 20:21 27/01/99 -0500, Frank Blades wrote: > >Maybe Iona don't want to be promoted... Hmmm... the idea never even >entered my head!!! It would make a lot of sense - even if the concept >to me makes no sense at all. Maybe there's more to this Christianity >thing than prayers and psalms... Always thought you were all nutters;) > >Seriously, I guess I will stand corrected and not attempt the analyse >Iona's motives by my own standards. It won't stop me promoting their >music because I feel that the more people who hear it the better. BUT I >won't get stressed out that they don't care... Probably, the band themselves don't care much because they don't feel the need. Here in the UK, Iona do very well without much promotion at all. In the Christian music market, they are one of the UK's top three bands and can pretty much count on headlining anywhere they play, as well as topping the CCM charts with ease. In the celtic market, they have a big "underground" following that works by word of mouth and doesn't need much input from the band. Unless they were planning to try to get into the mainstream charts, there isn't really much more that needs to be done here. In the US, the situation may well be different, as Iona aren't so well known over there. But that kind of promotion is the responsibility of the distributors, not the band, so you can't blame Iona if they don't get the publicity they deserve. Mark ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 11:03:02 EST From: ReasRod@aol.com Subject: Re: [iona] I Stand Corrected... . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ In a message dated 1/28/99 3:29:39 AM Pacific Standard Time, mark@good- stuff.co.uk writes: << In the US, the situation may well be different, as Iona aren't so well known over there. But that kind of promotion is the responsibility of the distributors, not the band, so you can't blame Iona if they don't get the publicity they deserve >> I agree that the distributors and the record company need to promote the band better. But it's also a little difficult for them if the band doesen't get out in front of the people - i.e. tour. Perhaps Iona is happy with their situation. If so, that's fine. As long as they continue to record I'll buy their music no matter how I have to get ahold of it. But new fans are often won over in concerts and that isn't going to happen here in the U.S. unless they come on over and play. - -Janet ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 15:08:09 -0500 From: "McMillen, Mark" Subject: [iona] I Stand Corrected... . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ Shouldn't your subject been "Here I Stand" corrected? ;-) ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 15:46:51 -0800 (PST) From: DVD Subject: Re: [iona] I Stand Corrected... . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ On Thu, 28 Jan 1999, McMillen, Mark wrote: > Shouldn't your subject been "Here I Stand" corrected? ;-) A song title pun! That's the funniest thing I've seen yet today! I'm sure I'll treasure that one inside my heart for all eternity. ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 01:26:03 PST From: vince.beaney@excite.com Subject: [iona] Publicising Iona . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ Mark Goodge wrote: >Probably, the band themselves don't care much because they don't feel the > need. Here in the UK, Iona do very well without much promotion at all. In > the Christian music market, they are one of the UK's top three bands and > can pretty much count on headlining anywhere they play, as well as topping > the CCM charts with ease. In the celtic market, they have a big > "underground" following that works by word of mouth and doesn't need much > input from the band. Unless they were planning to try to get into the > mainstream charts, there isn't really much more that needs to be done here. Well, I've been following this debate with interest, as I'm a new fan of Iona. It may be relevant that I'm a committed Christian (have been for many years) and I also have been a fan of progressive/melodic/art rock (or whatever other pigeon hole you wish to classify these - yes I perhaps haven't been into 'Celtic' rock, but all these styles tend to cross over). Anyway, the point is that I only heard about Iona last year, during a debate on Elephant Talk - the King Crimson list - about Christian music, due to the fact that Robert Fripp was on 'Beyond These Shores'. I then saw them mentioned in a Progressive Rock CD list from a mail order company (which made no mention of the Christian content of their music!) and then mentioned in Frank Blades' Progressive Rock list. So I would say that they aren't even reaching the Christian community and in any case if they are 'playing for God', as someone said, they should surely be aiming to reach out to non-Christians with their message. I'm sure they do want a higher profile, and certainly it isn't much use for a Christian band to merely have a big 'underground' following, so to say that 'there isn't really much more that needs to be done here' doesn't seem to be correct - there is much to do and many people to reach, both Christians to be strengthened by their messsage (like me) and non-Christians who may be attracted by the music (like Frank?) and may in time come to hear the message they preach. I've gone on enough - Peace be with you all, Vince _______________________________________________________ Get your free, private email at http://mail.excite.com/ ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 05:30:44 PST From: johndean@excite.com Subject: Re: [iona] Publicising Iona . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ No matter how big a band's following may be in Christian circles, and Iona are one of the 'biggies', if it stays that way they will only ever be preaching to the converted. The great commission commands us to preach the gospel to all men. If the group don't want wider publicity at least for their message if not for their music they could be guilty of 'hiding their light under a jar'. I'm sure there are Christian distributers, promoters etc who if they had enough faith would promote the group to a wider audience, both here and in the states, so that we can get the word out to those that really need it. I look forward to seeing christian music deplacing the 'worldly' filth that is currently being pumped into the youth of today John Dean _______________________________________________________ Get your free, private email at http://mail.excite.com/ ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 14:12:48 +0000 From: Mark Goodge Subject: Re: [iona] Publicising Iona . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ At 05:30 29/01/99 PST, John Dean wrote: > >No matter how big a band's following may be in Christian circles, and Iona >are one of the 'biggies', if it stays that way they will only ever be >preaching to the converted. The great commission commands us to preach the >gospel to all men. > >If the group don't want wider publicity at least for their message if not >for their music they could be guilty of 'hiding their light under a jar'. >I'm sure there are Christian distributers, promoters etc who if they had >enough faith would promote the group to a wider audience, both here and in >the states, so that we can get the word out to those that really need it. You're assuming that Iona's primary purpose, as a band, is to preach the gospel. But that isn't necessarily the case - maybe they just want to make good music? Anyway, how many other Christian groups have anything like Iona's distribution in the secular market? Apart from the big-name rock/pop artists such as Amy Grant, DC Talk and Delirious, there aren't very many. Iona are doing pretty well as it is. Why are so many people so bothered about the fact that Iona aren't international megastars? What's wrong with concentrating simply on being good musicians and writing good songs? The music industry is dominated by big business with an eye on the bottom line, not on artistic integrity and musical quality. if Iona can be successful without playing the industry games, then that's something to be admired, not criticised. Mark ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 09:50:28 EST From: MAdamCarl@aol.com Subject: Re: [iona] Publicising Iona . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ The "Great Commission" was mentioned, but that is not the greatest commandment. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied "You should love God with all your heart, soul and mind." (Mt. 22:37) The worshipful aspect of Iona's music makes it very evident that they love God. Before pointing out on what points Iona should be feeling guilty, perhaps it would do us well to reflect on how we ourselves are fulfiling the greatest commandment as well as the great commission. The kingdom of God is one person at a time. Matt ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 10:13:11 -0400 From: "Jim Cox" Subject: Re: [iona] Hiding Away? . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ I believe it would be fitting to hear from a member of Iona concerning the controversy surrounding the predominant topic of this discussion list the past week or so. What do you say, guys (and gal)? Set us straight on your mission statement and purpose. Please excuse my bluntness but this seems to have gotten somewhat out of hand. Thank you. Note to moderator: You are free to edit this document for listing, but please do not disregard it. Thank you. ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 11:15:59 -0500 From: tresback@juno.com Subject: Re: [iona] Publicising Iona . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ Amen , Vince! It seems you hit the nail right on the head. Peace to all!!!! ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 19:01:43 +0000 From: Martin Dean Subject: Re: [iona] Hiding Away? . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ >> I hope Iona has a blessed life and does not get cursed with a >> celeberty profile. > >Someone like Martin Luther King had a celebrity lifestyle and yes, did >not live in peace, but certainly got his message over. That's one >extreme. At the other is someone like Anthony Phillips (ex >Genesis). He couldn't or didn't want to cope with the lifestyle, quit >the band and hid himself away in the studio. He is producing beautiful >albums - but hardly anyone gets to hear them. But you need a certain >amount of celebrity profile to get your music and hence in Iona's >case message over - which is what I assume they set out to do (Warning >Frank - don't assume anything!!!) - or they may as well hide away in >Ireland and just play for themselves. As for Anthony Phillips, well he had to leave Genesis due to chronic stage freight, and this is why he doesn't do anything live (not even for an upcoming Genesis convention, despite some hints from myself). It did take a few years of study and teaching before he got back in the swing, but he knows make a decent living at it, mainly due to TV and library work. I really must introduce him to the music of Iona one day, he'd probably enjoy it. By the way I've seen Iona 30 times over the last 10 years and it has always been clear to me that the main thing about playing live for the band is simply the enjoyment of playing and sharing there music with the audience. Infact the more the audience git into it the better the band play (Anyone at the Reading gig in 97 will know what I mean). Martin "The Man In The Coat" Dean Cinema Engineer The Waiting Room webmaster: http://ds.dial.pipex.com/mdean/ The A-Z of Genesis songs: http://members.xoom.com/waitingroom/atoz/ ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 16:56:25 +0100 From: "Eveleigh, Rick (IndSys,GEPC)" Subject: RE: [iona] Publicising Iona . _ _ _ |(_)| )(_| mailto:musictus@musictus.com Discussion List http://www.gospel.it/iona/ _______________ This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. When I was in a band a few years ago, my ambition was not necessarily to be 'rich and famous' but to be able to make a living out of playing music. I think the members of Iona (let's not forget they all do other projects, are session musicians etc) have reached this place and are happy with it. I don't think they are trying to reach a particular market. In a thread on this (or Ron's, but let's not worry about that) list a year or two ago, there were questions to Iona's US label asking why they weren't publicised more in the US. Forefront said Iona needed to do a 3 month tour of the whole country but Iona were not prepared to spend this amount of time away from their families. As someone said (then or now) we would love them to be the biggest and best known band in the world but that doesn't appear to be their ambition. Let's be grateful for what we get from them... Rick Eveleigh, London, UK. mailto:rick.eveleigh@gepc.ge.com ------------------------------ End of iona-digest V1999 #7 *************************** ______________ To unsubscribe send an e-mail command to musictus@musictus.com In the body of the message type ONLY the following: unsubscribe iona-digest or visit http://www.gospel.it/iona/mailingl.html