T.S.O.L.'s original lineup of singer Jack Grisham, guitarist Ron Emory, bassist Mike Roche, and drummer Todd Barnes had released two albums and two EPs before Grisham and Barnes left the band in 1983.[2] They were replaced by singer/guitarist Joe Wood and drummer Mitch Dean, and over the course of three studio albums between 1984 and 1987 the band moved away from the original lineup's hardcore punk sound in favor of gothic rock, hard rock, and glam metal.[2]Live includes only material written by the Wood/Emory/Roche/Dean lineup. Emory left the band after this album, leaving Roche as the sole remaining original member.[2] Roche would leave after 1990's Strange Love, and he and Emory would reform the band's original lineup with Grisham and Barnes the following year.[2]
Reception
Bradley Torreano of Allmusic cites Live and T.S.O.L.'s tours during this period as evidence of creative divisions within the band, remarking that Emory and Roche "were clearly uncomfortable" with the glam metal direction Wood and Dean had taken the band in, "and their contributions began to suffer because of it. Tours with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N' Roses only emphasized the dual personalities the band had developed during this period. [Live] practically documented the sound of the two sides of the band splitting".[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Joe Wood, Ron Emory, Mike Roche, and Mitch Dean, except where noted
