The website AlternativeNation.net is reporting that former Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk has had his rights to using the moniker Live revoked, withdrawn and terminated. The statement was issued on behalf of Action Front Unlimited Inc., which owns the trademark to the band name Live. The document refers to a 2013 ruling and while this decade-plus saga is not something this blog has covered before, it is one worth discussing. In the same ways that Steve Perry and Journey split and Perry now performs with his name solo, one can imagine this is the same case here. Having covered Kowalcyzk in a solo acoustic performance here in Orlando for a previous blog roughly a decade ago this is a matter / piece of news that hits close to home.

Live was at the forefront of the 90s alt-rock movement and their album Throwing Copper remains a favorite of this writer. The aforementioned show referenced was Kowalczyk performing Throwing Copper in its entirety at Orlando’s Plaza Live. As one might expect, it was something quite memorable. Kowlaczyk and his team were nothing short of professional and treated this writer with decency, respect and humility.

Perhaps what’s most interesting about this piece of news is that no other music blog has covered the news. What to make of all of this is compelling but probably nothing more than which party you stand behind. Do the other three members of Live tour behind that name as they did from 2012-2016 with Chris Shinn and/or does Kowalczyk struggle to headline without the name Live attached to it?

One can see this issue raising its head in the not-so-distant future as the Colorado-based band The Fray has returned with Joe King on lead vocals and former frontman Isaac Slade on the sideline. The Fray dropped a dazzling new EP last year but was met with tepid response from both critics and fans alike. The now-trio The Fray is readying a new album due out in a few weeks. Meanwhile, former frontman Isaac Slade has emerged from his near decade-long retirement to chart a solo career. Slade is not touring behind the name The Fray, but one has to wonder if a legal settlement not unlike the one outlined above is imminent.