Roxy because RM have been a great live band over the years with some great performers. Let's take Phil Manzanera for instance. A guitarist with a unique style and so highly rated that he toured with David Gilmour. No session player can play Phil's parts like Phil. As I said I enjoyed the BF set at the weekend, but no way could it compare with the magic of RM at their best. As no one agreed with me. other than Pianoman, I thought it was a fair assumption to make. Perhaps that leads us to another question of which was the best line up, but having said that I've never been to a less than brilliant Roxy gig, other than perhaps in the Avalon days. Hope this explains what I said.

...hmmm... I hope I don't get killed for what I'm about to say now.... Roxy as a live band have been brilliant when they were brilliant, and needless to say I'd prefer a Roxy Music reunion over the current Roxy cover band any day, however when you listen to the bootleg material that's available e.g. on CD and on Youtube it is unfortunately quite clear they were not always brilliant. Take for example the Manifesto tour. The performance in Manchester was great, the concert in London was nothing short of divine, but some other recordings of the very same tour are simply awful. (Please don't make me post any links to backup this claim...)

So it's 'reasonable to assume' no-one who takes the time to contribute, often passionately, to this forum ever saw Roxy in 'their prime? Under the circumstances, I'd have thought it would be far more reasonable (and humble) to simply assume that on this occasion no-one who had read this particular thread agreed with you or felt sufficiently strongly about it to respond.

Thank you for that Roger, I apologise as I felt I had been rather curt in my response and appreciate your extended response but when I read your post I have to say I got the same feeling as RichardUK.

There are many regulars here who have seen Roxy Music in their prime but I can only speak for myself. I actually agree with most of your reply there and as I said in my first comment, there is nothing more I would have liked than for that performance at Glastonbury to have been by Roxy Music and for all the more casual observers to see and hear what an inspirational band they are. Your comments about Phil M are spot on. I have not heard any of the other guitarists replicate his way of playing, it can't be done. The 12 minute version of ITIS from the early 72/73 bootlegs are the best example I can think of it illustrate that. Same goes for Paul, I long to hear his drum beats in the places where they should be. I am sure in our heads we hear every beautiful note of Andy's playing when we are listening at any of the concerts where he is not present but I have to commend Jorja as she has played a blinder in coming close to Andy's solos on the occasions I have seen her play with the band. I have enjoyed all the other musicians who have woven a thread through Roxy/Ferry tapestry over the past 15 years since the ATGB tour in particular and others that have gone before.

Having said all that, I am a realist, in life and music. That Roxy Music we all long for has not existed since perhaps 1975. I am therefore happy to support Bryan Ferry and his wonderful musicians for what they give us now. He is 68, he is a musician and he is doing what he needs to do, I accept that. How much longer will he continue to tour and do live shows? Personally speaking, I can't let my longing for the past spoil what I have in the present. I have many bootlegs that I listen to frequently and am happy they exist for me to get lost in the past when I feel the need to.

I have actually listened to the audio of the Glastonbury performance a few times now and the current band makes a pretty damn fine sound. Listening to Bryan's new version of MTT without the visuals made it sound more intense and quite heart-breaking. We all know these are not the vocals of Bryan in his prime but I am sure that there is nobody more aware of that than Bryan himself and I feel for him. To me he is now trying to find a balance.

The Glastonbury show came at the end of a very difficult week for me due to a sudden family bereavement and I was thankful that Bryan and the band gave me an escape from it for a short while. He is always there when I need him.

As Louize commented, I am also happy to take Bryan in whatever form I can nowadays and I don't consider it to be a diluted or inferior version of Roxy Music, just "different" and I am okay with that.

Time is passing my Roxy friends and we are all getting older. Learn to embrace the difference

Dear Roxy,

your last post was exceptionally well said, a brilliant analysis of all we are discussing about in this thread.

What many of us are missing is a band that had its heyday long ago. In 2001 - and IMHO I believe this was their prime time - Roxy Music celebrated their work as a brilliantly performed musical. I saw this in Munich and was so happy that such a thing was possible 19 years after "Avalon".

Of course all fans of the band were longing for a brand new studio album and the more were they disappointed when it came to nothing - me, too.

And then I got the chance to see them (maybe for the last time in my life) in Bonn in the summer of 2010. Brilliant, maybe a little bit sub-prime, but again I was very happy.

As Lonely Dreamer puts it, Roxy Music did not have a constant live quality. But, on the other hand, the sum of BF, AM, PM, PT, BE etc. was always bigger than their parts.

So let's follow our hero Bryan Ferry in critical solidarity - his new album is being finished at the moment and his new musicians deserve to be regarded with favor.

Viva! Roxy and Bryan's Music - pianoman

Great couple of posts guys and sorry to hear of your bereavement Roxy. A couple of days after seeing BF on the Dylanesque tour, my Mum was taken ill. She died a couple of weeks later. The songs Knockin on Heaven's Door and Make You Feel My Love, delivered with such bittersweet beauty, really resonated and still do. So I can fully understand some of the comfort the music of the last week or so has brought you. Take care.

Thank you Pianoman and Richard Thanks also for your kind words and thoughts Richard. I can understand how the two songs you mention would remain so important and have such a strong meaning to you under the circumstances and Bryan puts so much emotion into the performance of those songs. His performance of More Than This on Saturday has now taken on a new relevance for me.

Lonely Dreamer - I agree with what you say. Generally speaking gigs at the start of a tour are still a work in progress and so may not be perfect. As you say there are some poor recordings about too. I know that Eddie Jobson had an ear problem wihich made him play flat at high volumes and I can remember a Manifesto gig where Phil had a rare off night. Personally one of my favourite line-ups was the Manifesto one.

Pianoman - Well said Sir!

UKRichard - Point taken about my comment. I lost my Mum 28 years ago when I was still relatively young and so can identify with what you have been through. Best to you.

Roxy - No need to apologise and I agree with what you say in your most recent post. Very sorry to hear about your sudden bereavement - please accept my condolences. Be well.

Dear Roxy / Roger / UKRichard: Please accept my condolences, too - even if the bereavement is long ago. A mother or a father will always be sadly missed. Take care of yourself, VRM fellows.

As far as I am concerned: I am taking care for my mother (88) and my father (92) and that is a personal situation where you often need some consolation.

Yesterday I listened to Roxy Music's "Psalm" - together with my girl friend. I am not too much into religion nor do I know Bryan Ferry 's attitude towards these things. But I think this song was a very honest one and it can give consolation if you need it.

Apart from that "Psalm" is a brilliant piece of art - especially live on Radio Bremen's "Musikladen" (German TV). A song you wouldn't have expected from Roxy Music. But absolutely one of their finest hours!

- piano man -

I have been in the depths of God's own country watching Le Tour with no contact to the outside world so apologise for delay in posting.
Firstly Roxy, many condolences on your recent bereavement. It is astonishing how a favourite artist/ song can bring comfort. I speak too from experience : when going through the lengthy and debilitating treatment of chemotherapy in 2011, I found listening to all my Roxy / Ferry CDs back to back very therapeutic and also managed to see Roxy on their " farewell " tour in Nottingham. Bryan even wished me well - it was all a great boost.

Anyway before this becomes an essay : back to Glasto . I thought BF got better after a slow and shaky start. He didn't look as if he was enjoying himself and his voice sounded tired - thought the crowd was a bit lacklustre as well. Also the sound quality wasn't that great. The turning point was In Every Dream Home. Thought Cherisse was the star of the show ( we female drummers stick together ! ) and although I enjoyed it by the end , I can't help agreeing with Windswept in that Colin Good and his arrangements were sorely missed. I hope Bryan isn't overdoing it , voice-wise , as he seems to have been touring all year with further dates to come. Have great anticipation for the new album. Oh and btw, I saw Roxy in 1974, 1975 .........etc and yes they were truly great, but that was then and this is now .........I hear a song coming on.