Falling In Reverse vocalist Ronnie Radke recently got into a spat with vocalist Sebastian Bach and radio personality Eddie Trunk over the use of backing tracks live. Long story short, Falling In Reverse cancelled a show after their laptops didn't make it to the venue, prompting outcry on the Internet over bands "not playing live." Whether this jives with your opinion of what a live show is in 2022 is entirely subjective, but opinions are certainly strong on both sides.
Now Dope vocalist Edsel Dope has jumped into the fire with his own take on things. In an Instagram post, Dope commends Radke for his honesty over why the show was cancelled and makes a pretty decent argument for the use of backing tracks. In summation, Dope argues that backing tracks are important for a band to accurately deliver their sound in a live setting. Dope notes that he too is against performers using tracks to deceive audiences into thinking the performers are doing something they're not, which is fair – augmentation is one thing, but outright lying is shitty.
"Bach, you are a legend and I can honestly say that you are one of my FAVORITE vocalist of all time. In a world that keeps trying to declare that 'rock is dead,' I appreciate the hell out of Ronnie Radke & his commitment to the game. After 15 years of being a mostly independent artists, this dude continues to defy the odds and has ascended to the point where his band is currently packing amphitheaters with thousands of young rock & metal fans each night.
"Respectfully, I have to ask…. Have you ever actually listened to Falling In Reverse? I HIGHLY recommend that you roll a fat one, get super HIGH and check them out:) The sound is a total hybrid… Blending incredible vocal melodies with heavy guitars & double bass, while also being supported by an ultramodern, electronic element. This electronic element is equally as important to the band's musical compositions and to the identity of the band's sound, as the traditional instruments of bass, drums, guitars, and vocals.
"I could better understand the criticisms of yourself and or Eddie Trunk, if the intent was to call out a vocalist who was lip synching, or attempting to fake out or deceive the audience in some way, but that is obviously not what is happening here.
"Further, the additional layers that a band like Falling In Reverse incorporate into their sound, would be more in line with what a live DJ would be responsible for. A modern day DJ generally uses a laptop as their instrument, so if they were to lose those laptops, the band can't just borrow another one, because all of the missing sound files are unique to the bands songs. Can the band play without them? Sure…. But this would equate to the band not being able to accurately deliver their sound.
"You could compare this to performing a song like 'Slave To The Grind' without any amps. It's totally possible to play the song on acoustic guitars, with no distortion, but that's obviously not how it is meant to be heard live, nor would it be the preferred way to hit the stage at a festival with 50,000 people waiting to go crazy. I actually commend Ronnie and his band for being honest with the fans about this situation, rather than making up a more favorable excuse.
"The honesty only further demonstrates that they aren't attempting to hide anything or mislead anyone. I've toured with Ronnie & much like yourself, the dudes voice is truly something special…
"Truth be told, you actually have a great deal in common. You both are incredible singers and super high energy characters, with attitude and charisma to spare. You have both used your unique voices to connect with an incredibly youthful audience, which directly helps to expand the demographic of heavy music.
"In the end, I think that the 2 of you should have a beer together and listen to some Black Sabbath really loud. I predict that you'll have your arms around each other before the first chorus is over and you will likely become fast friends. Hell, you may even get arrested together…"
