The popular 90s rock band Live formed in York, Pa., in the 1980s. The original members all graduated from William Penn Senior High School in 1989. Check out the band's history, from its formation to its latest incarnation with a new singer.
Created by mjeyer on Jun 27, 2012
Last updated: 07/20/12 at 06:03 PM
Tags: Live Chad Gracey Chad Taylor Patrick Dahlheimer Chris Shinn Ed Kowalczyk Lightning Crashes Throwing Copper
Action United Unlimited, the company that owns the Live trademarks, filed a suit against former singer Ed Kowalczyk alleging trademark infringement.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/entertainment/ci_21114545/live-members-file-suit-against-former-lead-singer
About four years after Live went on hiatus as Ed Kowalczyk pursued a solo career, the band returned with new lead singer Chris Shinn. Shinn debuted in live's hometown, York, Pa., during an invitation-only concert at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center.
http://www.ydr.com/living/ci_20157079
Taylor, Dahlheimer, Gracey and Bill Hynes, operating as Think Loud, announced plans to move into a 47,000-square-foot structure on East York Street in York, formerly occupied by printing company Bi-Comp. The building, purchased for $164,000, will undergo a $10 million renovation. According to the Reading Eagle, Think Loud also purchased a 110-year-old building in Reading. Both projects will be contracted by York Township-based Kinsley Construction.
http://www.ydr.com/business/ci_19755299
Ed Kowalczyk filed an answer to the 2010 lawsuit filed against him.
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site502/2012/0720/20120720_122022_copier@ydr.com_20120720_014029.pdf
The Gracious Few -- a band made up of Live's Patrick Dahlheimer, Chad Gracey and Chad Taylor and Candlebox's Sean Hennesy and Kevin Martin -- played their first concert May 27 at Fat Daddy's in York.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live/ci_15178643
Patrick Dahlheimer, Chad Gracey and Chad Taylor sued Ed Kowalczyk, alleging he owed money stemming from an advance on a Live record.
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site502/2012/0720/20120720_064705_live2010lawsuit.pdf
Live said in August 2009 that it was taking a hiatus. Later, band members indicated the hiatus could be permanent. Kowalczyk started a solo career. Taylor, Gracey and Dahlheimer started the band The Gracious Few with Candlebox members Kevin Martin and Sean Hennesy.
Live's first and only release on Epic Records, "Songs from Black Mountain" reached No. 52 on the Billboard U.S. 200 chart. It was the band's least successful album in the U.S., though it was popular in the Netherlands.
http://freaks4live.com/albums/songs-black-mountain
Live's sixth album was "Birds of Pray." It reached No. 28 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold slightly more copies than the previous record.
http://freaks4live.com/albums/birds-pray
The band's fifth album, "V," didn't have the success of previous releases, only making it to No. 22 on the U.S. 200 Billboard chart and failing to make gold status. The album came out a week after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and the song "Overcome" became a popular anthem in association with the tragedy.
http://freaks4live.com/albums/v
Live's fourth album went platinum about a month after it was released. It peaked at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. Songs included "The Dolphins Cry" and "Run to the Water."
http://freaks4live.com/albums/distance-here
Live's third album "Secret Samadhi" debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. It sold more than 2 million copies. Songs included "Lakini's Juice," "Freaks," "Turn My Head" and "Rattlesnake."
http://freaks4live.com/albums/secret-samadhi
Live's second album was the highly successful "Throwing Copper." It hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and was 60th on Billboard's end-of-decade chart for the 1990s. The album has sold more than 8 million copies in the U.S. Songs include "Selling the Drama," "Lightning Crashes" and "All Over You."
http://freaks4live.com/albums/throwing-copper
Live returned home to York County to shoot its music video for the hit song "Selling the Drama" off their second album, Throwing Copper. The video was shot at Rocky Ridge County Park in Springettsbury Township.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live/ci_20173547/live-shoots-selling-drama-video-york-county
In an interview with the York Daily Record, Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk criticized "Mental Jewelry" two years after it came out. "If I was only a record buyer or a listener, I probably wouldn't have liked it," he said. At the time of the interview, Live was preparing to record its second album.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live/ci_20173527/two-years-later-lives-ed-kowalczyk-critical-mental
The first full-length album released by the band under the name Live was "Mental Jewelry." It peaked at No. 73 on the U.S. Billboard chart. Top singles included "Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)" and "Pain Lies on the Riverside."
http://freaks4live.com/albums/mental-jewelry
Public Affection, the precursor to Live, released its album "The Death of a Dictionary."
http://freaks4live.com/albums/death-dictionary
The original members of Live, Gracey, Taylor, Dahlheimer and Kowalczyk, graduated from William Penn Senior High School in York in 1989. A page in the high school yearbook included a dedication to their band, Public Affection.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live/ci_20173570/old-teachers-and-bosses-look-back-days-beforeRead about Live's early days
Chad Taylor, Patrick Dahlheimer and Chad Gracey entered in a talent show at Edgar Fahs Middle School in York, Pa., in 1985. They won the talent show. Still needing a lead singer, the group added friend Ed Kowalczyk and called themselves Public Affection. (Video shows a different concert)
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live/ci_20173570/old-teachers-and-bosses-look-back-days-beforeRead about Live's early days
Chris Shinn was born Aug. 1, 1974, in Charlotte, N.C. He is a former member of Unified Theory and debuted as Live's lead singer in 2012.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live
Chad Gracey was born July 23, 1971, in York, Pa. He plays drums, is one of the founding and current members of Live, and is a member of The Gracious Few.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live
Ed Kowalczyk was born July 16, 1971, in York, Pa. He was a founding member and original lead singer for Live. He left Live to pursue a solo career.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live
Patrick Dahlheimer was born May 30, 1971, in York, Pa. He plays bass, is one of the founding and current members of Live, and is a member of The Gracious Few.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live
Chad Taylor was born Nov. 24, 1970, in Baltimore. He plays guitar, is a founding and current member of Live, and is a member of The Gracious Few.
http://www.flipsidepa.com/live

