joybringer1 wrote:Now that's a band I never thought to hear mentioned on this forum as I'd imagine that 95% of readers here will never have heard of them (although I'd love to be wrong!!). They're one of a handful of bands of whom I own every single album and for whom I would (and have, several times) travel more than 100 miles to see. Gary Hughes must be one of the most innovative lyricists alive - only downside is the songs are a devil to sing along to as it's so difficult to remember the words!
It's not entirely true to say that Ten have disappeared off the face of the earth as I saw them play live back in November for the second year running at the annual Fleetwoodstock charity gig, and it's only a year since the release of their last album. But you're right in one way, they have very much dropped the ball in terms of promoting themselves and keeping the interest of their fans and have allowed themselves to fade into the background. I think the bottom line is that Gary is pretty money-oriented and is too busy making a living from his studio and singing in cabaret to devote much time to the band.
I was told by an industry insider last year that Ten were supposed to be touring this spring but there's still no word on it so I guess it has come to nothing. Personally, I think Gary's seeming lack of enthusiasm for the band has rubbed off onto the fans and if they did tour now they'd be hard pushed to draw in the punters. Sometimes you can leave it too late.
10 years ago I thought that Ten were the great white hope for the melodic rock genre who might make the breakthrough from practically underground to mainstream. Another dream that came to nought, sadly
But delighted to see them mentioned here

I always felt that the first nail in the coffin was Vinny Burns' departure...his parting words on ten were interesting, because he had mentioned how the music was really starting to sound like other bands. At least once an album, they, er, Gary, from a songwriting standpoint, seem to rip someone else off so badly...that i'm surprised they were never sued.
The one example that sticks to mind, is the song 'Eclipse' off of Spellbound...the vocal melody of the verse (along with the rhythm tracks) are a complete rip off of an Yngwie song (I believe, ironically, off of Yngwie's album eclipse)..
I remember, back in the late 90s, I had a friend over (who'd never heard of ten) doing some work on my place....and when I popped in the CD, he goes "Who are these guys?? they sound like Whitesnake" The next day, he comes over to finish the job...and he goes "Now, what's this band you've got me listening to?" I replied "The same band I played you yesterday, you know, the one that you said sounded like Whitesnake?"...He goes "Oh yeah, well today, they sound like Bad English" lol...
But in all seriousness, there was some good stuff that came off of the ten albums....today, I found myself playing Spellbound, The Robe and bits of pieces off of Far Beyond The World....I thought Vinny Burns was one of the few guys out there that took the melodic sense of Neal Schon, without ripping off Neal Schon (or even sounding much like him)...which is very easy to do..I do it all the time!
The last album I got of Gary Hughes/Ten...was Far Beyond The World...I believe just after that, he did those silly King Aurthur CDs....and after hearing the rather forgetable samples that Andrew posted...I had figured that both Ten and Gary Hughes were done for...
Alas, I never gave that new kid Christopher Francis a chance....I thought Vinny's leaving was it for the band...