The Civil Wars sit down to chat with ACL's Terry Lickona about their breakout success and latest release. Watch Austin City Limits on PBS. For more visit acltv.com
Well, it must have been that they were not connecting with each other because it wasn’t about the audience. My guess it’s not about “not connecting with each other” that resulted in the split, but the REASON they stopped connecting to each other. The fact that they have been so silent as to the reason makes the split even more difficult for me to accept they are gone
I appreciate them calling their connection "a familial" one for the sake of their significant others, but the truth is, if a brother and a sister did love songs the same way they did, looking into each other's eyes, getting as close to one another as possible, it would be hella creepy.
thought initially that it may have been an affair thing but now believe that John Paul just didn't want Joy's husband to be the manager of the band any longer. He saw the management contract as inequality. First, with Joy's husband managing The Civil Wars, the financial split could have been as much as JP making one third of the group's annual income vs. Joy and her husband making away with two thirds. That adds up to a lot of money. At $10 million annually from touring, recording, publishing: John Paul's annual income would be: $3,333,333.33. Joy and husband's annual income would be twice John Paul's amount: $6,666,666.66. And then project that forward over the next ten years if they had continued to be successful. Huge difference. Second, John Paul most likely would have felt it was always his one vote to Joy and her husband's two in any band decisions. And who wants to be hear your partner's husband telling you what's going to go on AND make a lot less money? Totally get why arrangement wouldn't have worked for John Paul. Who would want to work in those conditions? Joy wasn't able to split business with the personal of the letting go of her husband's job to go with a new manager. Hence, the end of the Civil Wars. Tragic really.
Of course all of what you mentioned played a role, but there is absolutely no doubt that these two had feelings for one another. It's written all over their body language. Really a sad situation all around. Who knows if they actually acted on their feelings, but I think it got to a point where they couldn't ignore their feelings anymore and had to part so they didn't damage their spouses/families.
Well, a lot of us see that very thing, and even though Daniels' theory is eminently commonsensical...I actually feel the subtext of their attraction for each other adds a lot of poignancy and intensity to their songs and performances. So...we have both.
As much passion in chemistry, is they have with each other. I find it very hard to believe that they are not intimately involved with each other. People that perform that well and had musical talent usually share an intimate and romantic connection. It’s very hard to replicate that while that is absent.
It's crazy that these two connected on such a deep level in such a short amount of time.....the kind of chemistry they had with each other is (from what I've seen at least) is something that you generally only see in lovers or married couples (or "soulmates", if you believe in that sort of thing), but yet they are married to other people. That kind of spark is so rare that I feel like it's only natural that people would question if they really had the "brother/sister" relationship that they say they had.......I don't know, it's just so odd to me that one minute they have this insane chemistry with each other and then suddenly it just fizzles out of nowhere. :-/ But hey, at least they left us with a ton of awesome youtube videos and two amazing albums! :-)
Good point. I mean, they both kinda scuffed around in the music biz for a long time and now this...people LOVED them, fans screaming and singing along, the awards, the money, and now the outpouring of grief over the end of the partnership. They were poised to become...well, probably bigger than either had ever dreamed. And then to just give it up? To quit? Oh, something happened, and not knowing what it was makes the music even better, I think.
I can tell from this interview that they wanted each other...but both were married at the time. Sucks to find your soul mate when you are married to someone else.
If it had just been Joy and John Paul against the rest of the world, I feel like they would have pushed through whatever barriers came their way. But it's never that simple, in any scenario. And the saying "love is not enough" applies to EVERYTHING, no matter in what sense.
I was referring to his statement at the end - The day we don't feel like we are connecting we will go home. We've got great families at home. He made the best decision.@@Candie183
I don't have a clue why they split..apart from internet rumours. I can see both of them once they realized that they each met their soulmate thinking crap theyd each already married another. No matter how much you could tell yourself you love that other person...if youd met someone that clicks like these two do I can see the crap thoughts hitting.
I've read interviews of Joy's, and other articles, and Joy cited "irreconcilable difference of ambition" as one major reason why she & JPW parted ways. She stated that JWP is more of an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it type", while she describes herself as highly driven and perfectionistic. To corroborate this, she graduated Valley Christian High School in San Jose, CA as class valedictorian in 2001. Joy has said that she & JPW are basically opposites in many ways (e.g., he's laidback and she's not). I think the fact that Joy's now ex-husband, Nate Yetton (they split up in early 2019) was the CW's band manager could have easily led to a feeling of inequality, partiality, bias, and perhaps a pay disparity, etc.
Honestly, there HAD to be more than JUST the fact that Joy's husband was managing the band. First of all, WHY would her husband be making the same amount as the 2 of them? That's just bad taste. 2nd. Why would JPW OR Joy ever think it would be a good idea for either of them to have a family member manage them? Especially a spouse? That should have been a huge red flag for both of them right from the start. It was trouble looking for a place to happen and it (the trouble), obviously, found its way to set in and take root. Where was the common sense on this decision? I would have said h*ll no to this right from the get. They might still be together if this had not been entangled with management by a spouse. A very bad idea! I miss them. They were truly special!
love this interview, their creative chemistry, lyricism and humour. discovered via an edit of IWTV with "devil's backbone". on onlymy wishfulthinking channel
If there is one music group that’s split and should be back together it’s these two. They made incredible music. Such a shame.
Ya damn right.
Absolutely right
"The day that we don't feel like we're connecting w each other and with the audience is the day we'll go home" Wow. He predicted the future.
Well, it must have been that they were not connecting with each other because it wasn’t about the audience. My guess it’s not about “not connecting with each other” that resulted in the split, but the REASON they stopped connecting to each other. The fact that they have been so silent as to the reason makes the split even more difficult for me to accept they are gone
I appreciate them calling their connection "a familial" one for the sake of their significant others, but the truth is, if a brother and a sister did love songs the same way they did, looking into each other's eyes, getting as close to one another as possible, it would be hella creepy.
thought initially that it may have been an affair thing but now believe that John Paul just didn't want Joy's husband to be the manager of the band any longer. He saw the management contract as inequality.
First, with Joy's husband managing The Civil Wars, the financial split could have been as much as JP making one third of the group's annual income vs. Joy and her husband making away with two thirds. That adds up to a lot of money.
At $10 million annually from touring, recording, publishing:
John Paul's annual income would be: $3,333,333.33.
Joy and husband's annual income would be twice John Paul's amount: $6,666,666.66.
And then project that forward over the next ten years if they had continued to be successful.
Huge difference.
Second, John Paul most likely would have felt it was always his one vote to Joy and her husband's two in any band decisions. And who wants to be hear your partner's husband telling you what's going to go on AND make a lot less money? Totally get why arrangement wouldn't have worked for John Paul. Who would want to work in those conditions?
Joy wasn't able to split business with the personal of the letting go of her husband's job to go with a new manager. Hence, the end of the Civil Wars. Tragic really.
westportquay Wow, best theory I've heard so far! Makes sense! In any case, it really is a tragic loss.
westportquay Good theory!
I like this theory... You are a smart person
Of course all of what you mentioned played a role, but there is absolutely no doubt that these two had feelings for one another. It's written all over their body language. Really a sad situation all around. Who knows if they actually acted on their feelings, but I think it got to a point where they couldn't ignore their feelings anymore and had to part so they didn't damage their spouses/families.
Well, a lot of us see that very thing, and even though Daniels' theory is eminently commonsensical...I actually feel the subtext of their attraction for each other adds a lot of poignancy and intensity to their songs and performances. So...we have both.
As much passion in chemistry, is they have with each other. I find it very hard to believe that they are not intimately involved with each other.
People that perform that well and had musical talent usually share an intimate and romantic connection. It’s very hard to replicate that while that is absent.
Please come back!! I have never heard more perfect voices together.
It's crazy that these two connected on such a deep level in such a short amount of time.....the kind of chemistry they had with each other is (from what I've seen at least) is something that you generally only see in lovers or married couples (or "soulmates", if you believe in that sort of thing), but yet they are married to other people. That kind of spark is so rare that I feel like it's only natural that people would question if they really had the "brother/sister" relationship that they say they had.......I don't know, it's just so odd to me that one minute they have this insane chemistry with each other and then suddenly it just fizzles out of nowhere. :-/ But hey, at least they left us with a ton of awesome youtube videos and two amazing albums! :-)
Good point. I mean, they both kinda scuffed around in the music biz for a long time and now this...people LOVED them, fans screaming and singing along, the awards, the money, and now the outpouring of grief over the end of the partnership. They were poised to become...well, probably bigger than either had ever dreamed. And then to just give it up? To quit? Oh, something happened, and not knowing what it was makes the music even better, I think.
I totally agree with you.
They are the only duet that I think have an awesome harmony and great chemistry.. Please don't stay broken up... :0
I can tell from this interview that they wanted each other...but both were married at the time. Sucks to find your soul mate when you are married to someone else.
I’ve always thought that was the reason they “didn’t get along”, personally.
I for one sure am glad you two drew the same straws. Both are amazing musical artists.
Joy Williams and John White need to put their differences aside and continue to create the rich and heartfelt music they became known for.
If it had just been Joy and John Paul against the rest of the world, I feel like they would have pushed through whatever barriers came their way. But it's never that simple, in any scenario. And the saying "love is not enough" applies to EVERYTHING, no matter in what sense.
And just like that, he went home.
Like most guys. Runaway. Don't get me wrong. I like him. Love his voice and he is supremely talented. But ...he is a man.
I was referring to his statement at the end - The day we don't feel like we are connecting we will go home. We've got great families at home. He made the best decision.@@Candie183
They can deny it all they want, their clapping cheeks
WHY WHY WHY did they have to breakup?????? They harmonized so perfectly :(
+Organicis Theway I know dude!! I never even got to see them live......*sniff*. :'-(
This one doesn't take a genius to figure out, folks.
Neither of them is good on their own. Together they're stars.
I disagree, I'm enjoying JPW's solo stuff. They were great together though.
I don't have a clue why they split..apart from internet rumours. I can see both of them once they realized that they each met their soulmate thinking crap theyd each already married another. No matter how much you could tell yourself you love that other person...if youd met someone that clicks like these two do I can see the crap thoughts hitting.
I've read interviews of Joy's, and other articles, and Joy cited "irreconcilable difference of ambition" as one major reason why she & JPW parted ways. She stated that JWP is more of an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it type", while she describes herself as highly driven and perfectionistic. To corroborate this, she graduated Valley Christian High School in San Jose, CA as class valedictorian in 2001. Joy has said that she & JPW are basically opposites in many ways (e.g., he's laidback and she's not). I think the fact that Joy's now ex-husband, Nate Yetton (they split up in early 2019) was the CW's band manager could have easily led to a feeling of inequality, partiality, bias, and perhaps a pay disparity, etc.
Honestly, there HAD to be more than JUST the fact that Joy's husband was managing the band. First of all, WHY would her husband be making the same amount as the 2 of them? That's just bad taste. 2nd. Why would JPW OR Joy ever think it would be a good idea for either of them to have a family member manage them? Especially a spouse? That should have been a huge red flag for both of them right from the start. It was trouble looking for a place to happen and it (the trouble), obviously, found its way to set in and take root. Where was the common sense on this decision? I would have said h*ll no to this right from the get. They might still be together if this had not been entangled with management by a spouse. A very bad idea! I miss them. They were truly special!
love this interview, their creative chemistry, lyricism and humour. discovered via an edit of IWTV with "devil's backbone". on
onlymy wishfulthinking channel