Old Band Wants To Get Back Together...I'm Not Particularly Interested

lowenduser · #1 03-25-2008, 02:57 AM

I was in a band in the early 90s that was begining to get places before we broke up under less than friendly circumstances. Nothing new there says you. We played original music and seemed to be getting on quite well until more or less the very end. We were, at the time, in our late teens and early 20s.

The last I talked to them was a chance bump into the guitarist in 1995.

I've received an email from the singer over the weekend wondering if I was interested in getting back with the band. I love playing music and would take the opportunity to play as much as possible without affecting work or home life, but I'm "Meh-ing" about this band. It would be interesting after all these years, but, like a bad breakup with a relationship, I'm not jumping at the opportunity.

Anyone been in a similar situation with ideas?

**Rune Bivrin** · #2 03-25-2008, 03:15 AM

Well, it's not as if you'd have to commit yourself to this for a minimum of 5 years, right? So why not try it out? If it turns out "meh" or "aarrgh", you just politely tell them no thanks.

I've done a few "reunions" of old bands, and most of the time you realise the chemistry is gone, and move on. But it's was always fun, and worth the minimal effort.

IanStephenson · #3 03-25-2008, 07:16 AM

MY first band in college split up after a couple of gigs for personal reasons (involving a girl singer ;-)).

Every year or so some of the guys would get the chance of a gig, and we'd reform for a few weeks in various permutations of the origianal lineup (minus girl singer!), do the gig and the just go our own way again. It was always a lot of fun, but never a commitment. I think more people saw us as "reformed for one night only" than ever did in the original form, though a few people did remember the original version with fondness.

Ian

The Golden Boy · #4 03-25-2008, 08:02 AM

You can never go back...

But it can be fun. Healing old wounds can be good for you.

mjolnir · #5 03-25-2008, 08:15 AM

Just recently got put into this situation actually. It definitely worked out for me to go back, and I'd say for your situation it never hurts to try. If it doesn't work out, you can always just leave.

lefty007 · #6 03-25-2008, 08:19 AM

I recently got back together with my old band, after 15 years.

We always remained close friends, but everybody went their separate ways musically.

I guess it's cool if you move things forward, because we started by playing only the old repertoire, and at first it's cool because the nostalgia factor, but it gets "old" pretty soon.

But it's always nice to make music with people you care about.

lowenduser · #7 03-25-2008, 10:51 AM

My meh-ness has become a bit less meh and a bit more hmmmmm. I think I'll give it a go -at least a rehearsal or two. Strangely, I'm more curious if time has added a belly to them as it did me rather than anything else! lol

I just hope the arguement doesn't continue where we left off once we all step into that rehearsal room!

rap138 · #8 03-25-2008, 11:03 AM

any chances of telling what the argument was about? just for gossip sake?

lefty007 · #9 03-25-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowenduser

My meh-ness has become a bit less meh and a bit more hmmmmm. I think I'll give it a go -at least a rehearsal or two. Strangely, I'm more curious if time has added a belly to them as it did me rather than anything else! lol

I just hope the arguement doesn't continue where we left off once we all step into that rehearsal room!

Ever seen that VH1 show, Bands Reunited? Some people got some serious trauma about old band drama and break ups.

It was great.

Doughd54 · #10 03-25-2008, 01:30 PM

How'd they get your email if the last time you talked to them was 95?

If there's anything I've learned in life, it's to always forgive, because only bad things can come from bad feelings.

The Golden Boy · #11 03-25-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doughd54

If there's anything I've learned in life, it's to always forgive, because only bad things can come from bad feelings.

Being a grudge holding bastard did absolutely nothing for me except keep me bitter for 10 years towards people who used to be my friends. And very good friends at that.

cranberrysauce · #12 03-25-2008, 06:34 PM

I was in a similar situation. I was in a band in the early 00s that seemed to be going places as well (playing our own original music). The band was a 3 piece power trio, and all 3 of us sang. The guitarist and drummer had ego problems and couldnt co-exist, and I was trying to finish up college and didnt have time for the incessant, constant fighting and arguing. But the time we had together was magic when things were good, and things were good for a nice period of time before the ship sank.

After the breakup, the drummer and I hired a guitarist and vocalist to reform the band. We still had our own songs (and they were songs that we both sang), although we left out songs that our guitarist sang. The new singer and guitarist couldnt get along so well it seems (they themselves were former band-mates). We quickly ditched these 2 clowns.

We then hired and new singer and guitarist, who all 4 of us sang. We ended up playing all covers and no originals. The old guitarist then re-formed the band under the same name, and we had a name dispute for a while until I decided this cover band gig wasnt going to bring back the original magic. So the old guitarist's version of the band went on for a few years, until his new bassist quit to play with another band, and the band ended up calling it quits.

Neither the drummer nor the guirarist of the original trio play in a band. I play in a band on keys/bass/misc. right now doing blues, old time country, cajun, bluegrass, and basically have left the "rock scene". I am quite happy playing the type of music that I love playing and egos rarely rear their ugly head in my new group, and we've done quite well with a cd and some radio play locally.

Every ONCE IN A WHILE... I think about rocking out with those 2 guys.... after all it was all of our first band...it was very magical (almost like the Beatles.. ok, well not QUITE that magical.. but to us it was). But whenever I think about them, I realize Im lucky I am NOT playing with them haha...

lowenduser · #13 03-26-2008, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doughd54

How'd they get your email if the last time you talked to them was 95?

If there's anything I've learned in life, it's to always forgive, because only bad things can come from bad feelings.

He had picked up a business card of mine in a music store, and assumed "music store + my name=must be the same guy". In fact the mail started with "I don't know if this is the same guy - if not delete - BUT...."