The shark-jump with regards to live performances definitely has to do with when Marky returned and changed his style. If you watch him play circa 1980, his usual beat sounds like this: BOOMP-shick-a-BOOMP-shick-a-BOOMP-shick-a-BOOMP-shick-a ((like the "End of the Century" version of "Rock & Roll High School)). Sometime in the late 80's ((i'm assuming it's when he re-replaced Elvis/Richie, but i can't be sure)), he just started going SHICKABAPPA SHICKABAPPA SHICKABAPPA SHICKABAPPA a million miles an hour on the hi-hat and snare and it sounded like shit. Feel free to quote me on this.
The Pygmies said:
I think the first five albums are gold start to finish (six if you incude It's Alive). Every album after that still contains at least one or two classics that justified the band's existence.
What I can't stand to hear is any live recordings from the late 80's onward, when Joey started doing his Morrison-ish metal growl and the band played so fast there was no room for melody.