Have you ever played with hurt hand?

Skel · #1 03-10-2006, 02:41 PM

The question is really broader - have you ever played with a hurt hand, or played really sick with the flu - stuff like that?

I remember years ago, our band had a "real" manager. I was the guitarist at the time and our bass player got really sick. Normally we would have cancelled, but this manager schooled us on how "the show must go on" - you don't cancel in show bizz. So, the bass player sat in a chair, sicker than a dog - I think he had something to throw up in, etc.... but we did the gig.

Skel

Microbass · #2 03-10-2006, 05:09 PM

Loads of these threads in Bass Humour & Gig stories - one of the best being the guy who was held hostage by a Middle Eastern(??? i forget...) mafia!

Bob Clayton · #3 03-10-2006, 05:40 PM

i played with a broken middle finger on my fretting hand

addylewis · #4 03-10-2006, 05:49 PM

played bass on keyboard with a broken left wrist once...

**Ryan L.** · #5 03-10-2006, 08:16 PM

Played with a broken index finger on my plucking hand. It was broken at the knuckle at the end of my finger--by the fingernail.

Needless to say, I was very glad that I can use my ring finger to play also, because my index finger was all but useless that night.

I have played sick a couple of times, but never puking/pooping flu type sick. Just the usual head/chest/achy cold type of sick.

ryco · #6 03-10-2006, 08:32 PM

I played with a burst finger. Smashed it in a rock quarry earlier in the day. Fortunately play with three fingers.

Played after putting my fist through a wall. Was pissed at our booking agent. As long as I played it stayed loose, but after the show and for the next couple of days was vry sore.

I've broken fevers many times on stage. I think it's an excellent cure-all. When I play(ed) in working cover bands and three or four other ppl's livelyhood depends on you there is no backing out. Unless you die -- I 'spose THAT would be excusable,

We MUST carry on -- we're bassists!

Matt Till · #7 03-11-2006, 09:06 AM

You guys are much more hXc than me, I have very dry skin and it busts open all the time and hurts, but I play anyways.... really hard. I've had bloody strings a few times.

BassChuck · #8 03-11-2006, 10:04 AM

Twice I've played with an injured finger.. oddly the same one, my fret hand ring finger.

Once I nearly cut the end off in a kitchen accident. The whole finger was bangaged up and I had to fret with first two fingers.
The other time I dropped an amp on it loading in to my car. By the time I got to the gig, the nail was all purple and swollen. The drummer got an old guitar string and scraped a hole in the nail to let the preasure out and I was OK for the gig.
(come out to show them, come out to show them, come out to show them, come out to show them...........)

gottawalk · #9 03-11-2006, 10:56 AM

I was gigging with a band back in college, and I got either the flu, or some food poisoning, and was so sick, I sat in a chair off-stage behind the mains and played that night. Man! Don't ever want to go through that again!!!

These days I'm playing with arthritis settling into my thumb joints, so it's sore most of the time while I play. Bummer!!!

ikareru · #10 03-13-2006, 10:31 PM

I had my index and middle fingers on my right hand slammed in the van door a couple hours before what was to be our biggest gig to taht point. I threw my hand in ice up til set time and then played, slapping my upright like a maniac. Worst pain I have played through. My singer wrote "pain is in the mind" on top of my setlist, and I credit that with getting me through-- my hand shook for the rest of the night after the gig, and I couldn't play for several days.

steveksux · #11 03-13-2006, 10:45 PM

Broken left wrist (had the doc put it in a removeable splint instead of a cast so I could bend it to play). Also a broken right thumb, towards the end when it wasn't freshly broken. Still difficult to slap though!

Randy

Skel · #12 03-13-2006, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikareru

I had my index and middle fingers on my right hand slammed in the van door a couple hours before what was to be our biggest gig to taht point. I threw my hand in ice up til set time and then played, slapping my upright like a maniac. Worst pain I have played through. My singer wrote "pain is in the mind" on top of my setlist, and I credit that with getting me through-- my hand shook for the rest of the night after the gig, and I couldn't play for several days.

OW!!! And to think - nobody in the audience had any idea and it probably sounded fine - thank God for adrenaline.

SBassman · #13 03-13-2006, 11:25 PM

Does an ingrown nail on the index finger count?

[It was actually very painful leading up to the gig and it scared the heck out of me, thinking I was in trouble. But, it all worked out.]

Marcus · #14 03-13-2006, 11:53 PM

I've played while being ill, but never with an injury to my hands/wrists. There's absolutely no way I would risk worsening the condition.

WalterBush · #15 03-14-2006, 03:32 AM

I played a show about 3 weeks after chopping the tip of my finger off with a table saw...that was pretty painful, still had the plastic cast on, but every movement stretched it and...well, it hurt.

Periodically, I smash the scar tissue with a hammer at work, it splits from the finger, and invariably this happens a day or so in front of a gig. I've gotten much better at playing with no index finger over the years.

Played with food poisoning once, too. My bandmates said it was some of the best soloing I'd ever done. The room was spinning so bad, I don't remember anything about that gig but the bathroom wall graffiti, which I stared at for quite some time between sets. I don't believe in cancelling a gig unless it's a life/death situation.

Disco_Gee · #16 03-14-2006, 04:26 AM

I played with a broken little finger on my fretting hand. The ligaments either side of the finger were torn/damaged as well. I didn't know it was broken at the time, it just looked swollen and bruised so I wrapped it up and played. I've also played with a sprained thumb on my plucking hand. The bandages gave a really cool muted sound when slapping.