Nothing like a drummer throwing a temper tantrum to mess up your week...

Our cover band has been doing quite well; covering mainly 90's rock with some other things thrown in here and there. We are in the middle of fleshing out set number 3, and one of the guitarists suggested Pearl Jam. I concurred, and suggested that we look at Porch (fun for me, easy enough for the rest of the guys). Regardless of song, the drummer FLIPS out via e-mail, and sent this screen-long rant about how he hates Pearl Jam, how we are forcing the music down his throat, and that if we want to become a Pearl Jam tribute band we can count him out (we have ONE other song from Pearl Jam in the set list :confused:).

His idea of a solution is for every band member to come up with 300 songs, he'll chart them out, and then any song that is on EVERYONE'S list, we'll try. If even one person doesn't list it, it's out. The singer and I told him he was off his rocker if he thought it was going to work...so he sends another novel saying "It's over". :rollno:

Lead singer has been friends with this guy since childhood, so he is trying to salvage the relationship; we are having a meeting at a local bar tonight to discuss. My thoughts? If he wants to apologize for being a 40+ year old who has temper tantrums, we'll consider continuing...otherwise, I'm scheduling auditions. Left to my own devices I'd be scheduling auditions already, but I respect our singer's situation (the singer is talented, and is a great guy).

If I wanted drama, I would have gone into theatre...:p

Time to get back into a side project doing originals, me thinks...I'd like some stability.

Thanks for the venting space.

-Mark

He wants to chart 300 songs? Over *this*?

No wonder he's freaking out. He's off his nut, man.

Cherie

I don't think I could find 300 songs that:
A) I like
B) My band can cover well
C) Other people want to hear

I don't think I could find 300 songs that:
A) I like
B) My band can cover well
C) Other people want to hear

Exactly!

He and the singer "founded" the group...but...I'm the original bassist, and guess what their audition announcement listed as an influence? If you said Pearl Jam, you get a gold star. :eyebrow:

-Mark

He's probably going through some rough times in his life (in his job, etc.), and one of the areas he's taking it out on is the band. It doesn't sound like you're gigging yet, so don't sweat it. Give him a week to cool down, and then get back together.

Was he being facetious about the 300 songs? Try writing a smaller list - his approach is decent. You can sort the list with a computer, and can VERY easily determine a set list that way. Chances are, since you guys like the same style music, you'll have roughly the same list.

imp

Wow. Most of the drummers I know in Minneapolis are pretty humble and are willing to play just about anything. There are a couple I know that might be similar to yours, but...

Out of curiosity, when do you guys play out next? I've always wanted to go see other TBer's gigs.

He's probably going through some rough times in his life (in his job, etc.), and one of the areas he's taking it out on is the band. It doesn't sound like you're gigging yet, so don't sweat it. Give him a week to cool down, and then get back together.

Was he being facetious about the 300 songs? Try writing a smaller list - his approach is decent. You can sort the list with a computer, and can VERY easily determine a set list that way. Chances are, since you guys like the same style music, you'll have roughly the same list.

imp

Been gigging, but smaller stuff (shared nights, etc.). He's self-employed and quite well off with a solid family. The singer says this is par for the course with him ever since he was a kid ("I'm taking my ball and going home" kind of garbage).

Problem is, his tastes are turning out to not fit the rest. It's tough when we're talking Foo Fighters and he is suggesting Grand Funk...

-Mark

Wow. Most of the drummers I know in Minneapolis are pretty humble and are willing to play just about anything. There are a couple I know that might be similar to yours, but...

Out of curiosity, when do you guys play out next? I've always wanted to go see other TBer's gigs.

He's a relative newbie, me thinks. He's not bad, but I've noticed quirks that I'd normally expect from a younger drummer.

We're negotiating a couple spots for mid-January at this point; at least this had happened during a spot where we weren't facing a busy schedule. Mid-September would have really sucked.

-Mark

No offense to anyone who plays drums in anyway at all.
Hell I play a little percussion my self.

However

When I read the title of this thread I was like :p:p:p:p:p:p:p

Thats pretty d@mn funny.

PS.
I hope you situation with him improves thats just not cool.

maybe your drummer and my drummer should get together sometime.

maybe your drummer and my drummer should get together sometime.

As long as they don't breed... :hiding:

seems like a lot of drummers are complete tools. I just got finished with one such overgrown child.

Had the meeting...skin beater is in the band for the moment. He wasn't too apologetic until he didn't get the reaction out of us he anticipated. :scowl:

It wasn't starting out to be a pleasant meeting...the poor waitress kind of avoided our table after stopping by in the middle of a cuss-out. The guitar players and I are very laid back on it at this point...we did say if there are any other issues, the offender is getting tossed to the curb.

Let's see how rehearsal goes... :rollno:

-Mark

He comes up with these tantrums because he discovered they worked when he was a kid. It wasn´t taken care of then, and he carried with him into adulthood. Problem is, now he has the stubborness/confidence to stick with being a dikk, a kid usually don´t.

[/dr phil]

edit: Oh, and if he does it again, beat his ass back to childhood. ;)

When I read the title of this thread I was like :p:p:p:p:p:p:p

Thats pretty d@mn funny.

+1 Been there a number of times. :p
Another thread that makes me love my current drummer more. Bless you, Gary, for not being typical!

anyone who does this that is 40+ imo is just plain immature

Mark... I think your initial instinct was correct: Start designing the wording for the audition anouncement: get it ready to go and show to the others (or don't) and maybe even put out some verbal 'feelers' that things aren't all that great in the Land of Oz, and that maybe there's room for a new drummer there... just a thought.

Based on what you have described I don't see it working long term. I would start looking for another drummer and move on.