Check this out ...

**CaboChris** · 12.05.22, 12:23 AM

Yet you all love WIL?

**Dave's Dreidel** · 12.05.22, 05:54 AM

Exception to the rule because it is so well done.

**KS 5150** · 12.05.22, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by Dave's Dreidel

They used to do a few alternative versions live on the early tours. I wish I had kept it, but there was a version of RWTD in which they changed the outro, almost double timed it (not a good description, haven't heard it in a long time) and it was cool. They also used to play songs that weren't released yet (like Down in Flames).

I seem to recall that on the Simmons demo. RWTD had the chorus almost right off the top, during the intro. Could be a faulty memory tho.

**T.B.** · 12.05.22, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by KS 5150

I seem to recall that on the Simmons demo. RWTD had the chorus almost right off the top, during the intro. Could be a faulty memory tho.

When the band first started playing RWTD live around 1976-77, there was no bass line intro, it was drums and a different guitar lick going right into the song. For the 1980 tour, they brought back that version and played it like that the entire tour. I remember seeing them that tour and initially going "WTF is this a new song?" until they settled into the typical guitar riff. Here's the different version of RWTD from the 1980 tour at the 9:44 mark of this YouTube audio clip:

**Raldo** · 12.05.22, 10:16 AM

Very cool!!

**Van Hampshire** · 12.05.22, 11:58 AM

I can certainly hear parts of both songs that made it to the album. Clearly in DTNA, Dave was flat singing the first verse. The second verse was definitely used for the album though. I have an old drum magazine interview with Alex from the late 80's and he kind of rags on Dave for singing vocals line at a time. A lot of people do it but the trick is to make sure you can still sound close to the album when performing live. I feel like Jon Bon Jovi screwed himself over with a song like Livin on a Prayer. That's a pretty hard song to sing and then it modulates! Ol JBJ sounds pretty rough right now.

I don't ever expect Dave to sound like these recordings now but he was a good live singer at one point. I saw him solo starting in 1988 and I never questioned his ability to sing live until after 1994. In fact I saw him in a small club in 1994 and it's hands down the best I ever saw him sing live. It was so cramped that he was forced to interact with the audience. He was great that night. I think it's great if Dave wants to jump all over the place, swing the sword, tell stories, strum the acoustic and whatnot but the singing HAS to come first. I'm actually sad because I completely passed on seeing the 2015 tour because Dave was singing so bad. Who knew that would be the last time... Oh well.

**Dave's Dreidel** · 12.05.22, 12:52 PM

I saw DLR on his YFLM tour somewhere too. Can't remember where, but I do remember being on vacation and seeing "DLR Live This Friday" on some club marque and I'm like "we're going".

I thought it was great to see him in a little 1,500 person club. It was packed and he sounded great.

I have a bootleg from 1988 and he sounds real good, and 1991 as well. Mid 90's on is where he fell apart live, with the notable exception being the 07/08 reunion tour, he was great then too.