New JL Myspace blog – More on the recent changes

From MySpace:

Hello my restless souls.
I try not to get too deep in these blogs. I might start changing that, ha ha, Generally I like to be motivational or positive most of the time but I feel I must address some of you who really believed in the Licks as a band and explain a few things.

The Licks had really broken up in spirit before we ever had a chance to make the 3rd album. Kemble left early on to go solo, before that my other drummer was done with life on the road, then Todd left out of an argument but really I think he felt done with “chasing this dream” with me. So all and all since I started the band 5 years ago I’ve had 5 drummers, 6 guitarists, 2 bass players. Most were just fill ins so we could keep touring. And only a few played on actual records.

But the bottom line is it is extremely hard to keep a band together and to keep people growing creatively in the same direction as songwriters which is nearly impossible. I’ve been fortunate to work with very solid and talented musicians and good hearted human beings regardless of anything else. For all the drama I’ve heard other bands have; screaming matches, fist fights, not talking at all, drug use, missed shows etc. We’ve had little in comparison. So I am thankfull for the guys that came along. And in the end I realized “The Licks” was my naive idealized version of what a rocknroll band should be. And not everyone can fit that.

Juliette and The New Romantiques This new incarnation is more about disillusionment and hope. Determination and despair. Romance and tragedy. And truly creating music that comes from those conflicts. It is more about a sound and energy than a “band”.

To those who made your wonderful Licks websites and shirts and all the incredible creative things you contributed through out the years I can only say thank you, thank you so so much!!!! You have no idea how much it all means and meant to me!!!!! And I can only give that back to you in new music and new songs. And a new rebel fever. Cause after all I am a soul of defiance and never giving up. To go against the odds I try, try and try again. Its just my nature. And I try to extend that to you in the only ways I know how.

Do I have fear? Of course but it is exactly what gets me going. Because I L O V E what I’m doing and you who give it right back to me. It blows my mind. “You gotta give what you love, love what you live, to get it back”. That is what the New Romantiques is. Its a concept. The Little Prince in a Mad Max world. Where the wild things are. These contrasts. It is a roughed up warrior full of pixie magic and sonic love landscapes but on spiked wheels on a barron dirt road in search of the remains of civilization.

It is not the good time gang of the Licks. Its rougher than that. Dreamier than that. This new band is an extension of the sound and energy of this record ‘Terra Incognita’. Live we will play old songs of course but it is a completely different animal. And like in my drama in the movie world, my musical self takes on many different sounds shapes and visions and persona’s so I will be doing all kinds of different things in the future but I will always be Juliette. Always. And I don’t expect people to like every record, every song, every show, every picture, every outfit LOL. But that’s part of the adventure.

See you soon inside the hot light. And thank you so so much for all your comments and encouragement!!!!
“Its the great rocknroll show. Its got no place to go. Suicide divebombers. You think time’s behind you. Take a look ahead. The future is ours forever. The past is dead.” From the song Suicide Divebombers.
JL