Okay I'm a huge fan of Frankie, but the last two times i have seen him have been cringeworthy. the music is always on point, but his vocals are probably 30% of what they used to be. When he was here in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago most of us had a good time but the whispers were definitely there...but the for the first time in the 6 times i have seen Maze...people were leaving early. $45-$100 seats and they were leaving mid concert. i'd rather remember how good he used to be and see Maze with a new lead singer than have him try to carry on at 67 years old (although many singers continue to sing well many years past this)

thoughts?

Fury said:

...and see Maze with a new lead singer...

Dancelot said:

Fury said:

...and see Maze with a new lead singer...

if you heard how bad he sounded you wouldn't throwing bricks at me dammit...

think whitney's last tour...

sorry just kidding

I get you and I believe what you said. I saw him just once many years ago, and after reading your post I am just happy I can keep this memory

but Frankie Beverly IS Maze. so suggesting Maze replacing Frankie Beverly... isn't that a bit like suggesting Christianity should replace Jesus?

hence the brick

[Edited 8/20/13 7:28am]

Dancelot said:

sorry just kidding

I get you and I believe what you said. I saw him just once many years ago, and after reading your post I am just happy I can keep this memory

but Frankie Beverly IS Maze. so suggesting Maze replacing Frankie Beverly... isn't that a bit like suggesting Christianity should replace Jesus?

hence the brick

[Edited 8/20/13 7:28am]

its all good...you know EWF has trudged on without maurice white, can't even name any of the Temps besides Otis...the guy that replaced russell thompkins in the stylistics damn near sounds identical...maybe he can sing half the songs...but it was realllllly dreadful, much like when i heard george benson a few years ago...

It is sad, but it is time for Frankie to retire. I saw him in Baltimore a few weeks ago and he should gracefully step away.

I do not think that they should find a new lead singer. You can't have Maze without Frankie. We just need to enjoy what he has put out there.

donnyenglish said:

It is sad, but it is time for Frankie to retire. I saw him in Baltimore a few weeks ago and he should gracefully step away.

I do not think that they should find a new lead singer. You can't have Maze without Frankie. We just need to enjoy what he has put out there.

i can't see an end to Maze...the musicians are still on point. there's still a ray goodman and brown without the ray and goodman

Fury said:

i can't see an end to Maze...the musicians are still on point. there's still a ray goodman and brown without the ray and goodman

Maze is not the original members anyway. I remember a few years ago, some of the members were from Tony! Toni! Tone'!'s backup band. Groups like The Temptations & Stylistics are different as no members are signaled out. They've always been called "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly", not just Maze. They do have some earlier records under the name Raw Soul.

.

Journey has a Steve Perry soundalike, but Steve was not the original singer in the group himself. Sade (the band) does records without Sade (the singer) as Sweetback. Would people even see Maze without Frankie? Some members just can't be replaced. Ringo & Paul can't get 2 other guys and tour as the Beatles. But there are many Beatles tribute groups that people can see.

Fury said:

I'd rather see Maze with a new lead singer

I wouldn't go see a Maze concert with a new lead singer.He is such a major part of that band,I'd rather for the band to just break up and call it a day.

Maurice White stopped touring with Earth Wind and Fire many years ago (because of health problems) and I won't go see an EW&F concert anymore.It's just not the same.

SoulAlive said:

Fury said:

I'd rather see Maze with a new lead singer

I wouldn't go see a Maze concert with a new lead singer.He is such a major part of that band,I'd rather for the band to just break up and call it a day.

Maurice White stopped touring with Earth Wind and Fire many years ago (because of health problems) and I won't go see an EW&F concert anymore.It's just not the same.

maybe they should do less shows and save his voice. it didn't help that he did saturday night in dc and then baltimore sunday. too much for him

Fury said:

SoulAlive said:

I wouldn't go see a Maze concert with a new lead singer.He is such a major part of that band,I'd rather for the band to just break up and call it a day.

Maurice White stopped touring with Earth Wind and Fire many years ago (because of health problems) and I won't go see an EW&F concert anymore.It's just not the same.

maybe they should do less shows and save his voice. it didn't help that he did saturday night in dc and then baltimore sunday. too much for him

yeah,that might be a good idea.

Yeah Frankie's voice hasn't been the same for the past few years now. The last I heard him was on a Tom Joyner sky show and I couldn't believe it was him sounding that way. I'd rather see him and the band retire than for Maze to replace him with another lead singer.

Frankie is way past his prime. I've never been a fan of the group but I did see or hear them performing on something recently and Frankie's voice was in tatters. I thought he may have just been having a bad day with her voice or something but it sounds like the voice is just pretty much gone.

[Edited 8/20/13 10:59am]

kitbradley said:

Frankie is way past his prime. I've never been a fan of the group but I did see or hear them performing on something recently and Frankie's voice was in tatters. I thought he may have just been having a bad day with her voice or something but it sounds like the voice is just pretty much gone.

[Edited 8/20/13 10:59am]

probably the BET awards...they dont get much airtime anywhere else

Ive always wanted to see them in concert! His vocal performance at the BET awards last year wasnt that great either. I think he's been having medical issues or throat problems over the last couple of years. The band is legendary. I rather see them retire than see someone replace Frankie

[Edited 8/20/13 13:10pm]

[Edited 8/20/13 13:11pm]

This is way OVERDUE.

Shit, yall got me listening to them now

SoulAlive said:

Fury said:

I'd rather see Maze with a new lead singer

I wouldn't go see a Maze concert with a new lead singer.He is such a major part of that band,I'd rather for the band to just break up and call it a day.

Maurice White stopped touring with Earth Wind and Fire many years ago (because of health problems) and I won't go see an EW&F concert anymore.It's just not the same.

I saw EWF in September and they were better than I expected. Sure Maurice was the

creative force behind the group and he sung lead on the majority of songs but Phillip

sung lead on his share and they often complimented each other when the other sung

lead. Phillip's voice is as strong as ever and I think he has done a good job carrying

the band. I'm not crazy about some of the other members singing Maurice parts

at times. As for Maze I just saw them a few weeks ago and yes Frankie has lost his

voice somewhat but on some of the songs he was right on point.

They're performing in my area this Saturday!

I guess he does it, because he needs the money and we all know that the oldies tours barely cover basic expenses and the performers are hardly paid PRINCEly sums. I imagine even less for Maze as theres 5 or more of them.

I am sure if his voice is really that bad, the rest of Maze will vote him out.

Maze is the only old school group that can still sell out venues (theaters and arenas) by themselves with no new material in the past 20 years. If they are sharing the bill with another artist they will always be the headlining act and it's like that for a reason. A lot of artists would die to have the fan base that Maze has. Die hard fans know that Frankie's voice has been fading since the late 80's and his bout with polyps did not help, but they still continue to show up strong and sing every song as if they just came out.

Adorecream said:

I am sure if his voice is really that bad, the rest of Maze will vote him out.

What? Maze is essentially Frankie's band. The rest of them with the exception of Roame, the conga player, are not original members and have joined within the past 15 years. When Frankie calls it quits that will be the end of Maze unless they continue on as a tribute band.

OlSchool said:

Adorecream said:

I am sure if his voice is really that bad, the rest of Maze will vote him out.

What? Maze is essentially Frankie's band. The rest of them with the exception of Roame, the conga player, are not original members and have joined within the past 15 years. When Frankie calls it quits that will be the end of Maze unless they continue on as a tribute band.

Exactly.They can't "vote him out",it's HIS band! If he leaves,then that will be the end of Maze.

Sadly cant disagree with OP, I saw him a couple of years ago & the voice was just not there anymore. it was great whilst the audience were singing along but once Frankie started to attempt hitting notes . . . . not so good

The thing is Maze with no Frankie is simply a no no

SoulAlive said:

They're performing in my area this Saturday!

This is the same show I saw a few weeks ago.

I've never seen him, but I have a friend who goes whenever she can catch him...
I need to ask her what she thinks...

We're going to see "The Ohio Players" (free) on Thursday.

All of the original members are dead, except for one, and he's 65.
I still plan on having fun out there with my sister and friends, but I wish I was old enough to have seen them in their heyday.





*I before E edit

[Edited 8/21/13 4:25am]

this is true Maze is sorta like the R&B version of the Grateful Dead,lol.They have been selling out arenas for decades,even without new music.Their fanbase is extremely large and loyal.

OlSchool said:

Maze is the only old school group that can still sell out venues (theaters and arenas) by themselves with no new material in the past 20 years. If they are sharing the bill with another artist they will always be the headlining act and it's like that for a reason. A lot of artists would die to have the fan base that Maze has.