The Vines

A number of Vines fans have been threatened with a ban after making negative comments about the progress of their new album.

Posts on The Vines’ official forum claiming the Sydney band would not make it into the studio to record their planned new album; that The Vines were washed up, and had been let down by a lacking PR machine have been greeted with a backlash from loyal Vines fans.

One blogger, Tyler, said: “It’s the band who will suffer in the long run if the PR machine lets the vines slip further and further into obscurity.”

“In this day and age you simply cannot afford to not update all your online media channels at least bi-monthly.”

In another post, Tyler said: “The most salient point for those of you who can’t see beyond the excitement of the release of a new album – without commercial viability the vines are not a sound investment. If their records don’t sell, albums won’t be funded much if at all, and vines records go bye bye.

“They MUST make sure that they are meeting the expectations the world of PR to ensure that all their hard work does not go to waste, and the album fails to sell sufficiently. It might be a work of genius, but if there’s no one to hear it; then there’s no one to say so.”

Tyler is not been the only negative blogger to grace The Vine’s forum, with MardyBum also expressing a lack of faith in the band’s abilities.

“The CD won’t get released in March, let’s see if they even get in the studio by March,” MardyBum posted.

Loyal Vines fans hit back at the comments, with AutumnShade stating: “I can’t understand why you’re always so negative about everything. I don’t think that people forget The Vines just because there’s not so many news at the time.

“Of course I would appreciate very much if there were posted some new videos or photos, but that’s not what The Vines are about, it’s about their music and it was one of the best news when I heard, they are working on a new album!“

Fellow poster, WallabyButter, agreed, hosing down suggestions the band were being disadvantaged by a lack of PR.

“As for the whole PR machine schpeel, I would think that if the vines really loved making music they would continue to do so with or without a record label. Nowadays its easy for bands to write, record, and release albums on their own terms simply because they love music. Vines fans would still follow them,” the post said.

“For The Vines, it has never really been a popularity contest and they are humble and grateful that they even made it huge for awhile anyway.

“I’ve got four beautiful vines albums (the latter two hardly promoted), I don’t need a season’s greetings from them or a twitter. Distance can be healthy. Whatever happened to the mystery and surprises of following a favored band? Get off the internet and play some worthwhile music, I say!”

The posts from Tyler and MardyBum prompted The Vines’ forum manager, Jessica Nicholls – sister of band frontman Craig – to threaten members with a ban.

“If certain members continue to come here and spread a negative vibe and refuse to be positive about the band then they will be banned,” she said.

“This should be a positive environment for people who enjoy the bands music. If you do not agree with the way The Vines do things, then why keep coming here?

“Now, can this please be the end of this whole ” the vines marketing online sucks blah blah blah” bullsh*t. Thanks.”

In October last year, The Vines announced they would soon begin work on album number five.

The Vines have been quiet for much of 2009.

In November 2008, they were forced to cancel their upcoming local and international festival dates due to illness.

The band cancelled their performances at the 2008 Homebake, Pyramid Rock and the 2009 Big Day Out festival.

Tags | ban, fans, The Vines