Getting wasted and acting like a fool on stage

Waffles and Scotch · #1 07-25-2011, 01:04 PM

We recently played a show with a couple other great rock bands, a good southern rock/country band and an absolutely horrible folk band (I know, strange mix). The folk bands lead guitarist was the worst guitar player I've ever seen live, and I felt really bad for the other members. Anyway, I'm new to the scene and wondering how common this is...

This guitarist was GONE when he got up on stage. Could barely keep his eyes open, stumbling around, slurred speech. Halfway through the bands first song he stops playing and starts speaking into a mic (that was turned off at the time) to tell the sound guy his guitar didn't sound quite right. The other guys were clearly embarassed and had that "not again!" look on their faces. The sound guy made a very minor adjustment and they continued playing. Throughout the show he played in the wrong key, kept his eyes closed, and basically just stumbled around the stage with body parts flailing around (sort of like a whole-body bobblehead).

So the next band gets up there and I see this clown standing next to the stage, in a bar of all places, drinking out of a liquor bottle wrapped in a paper bag! The sound guy went over and talked to him - probably told him toss it or get the **** out. About a half hour later this guy's about to lock 2 of our band members outside so I tell him to keep the back door cracked. He proceeds to open the door all the way, shining light directly on the stage where another band is performing, then mumbles out a barely recognizeable "I got it!" while falling into the door when I tried to help him. We saw him a few more times stumbling around before he left.

Should I expect to see this more and more as we branch out into new venues and other areas in Florida? I've seen people that were too drunk/high on stage, but this was ridiculous...

turbo chicken · #2 07-25-2011, 01:29 PM

It happens ... you will see it again. It happens everywhere. I'm not saying it happens often but it does.

I've been witness to a similar trainwreck recently.

klejst · #3 07-25-2011, 01:53 PM

Agreed, don't be surprised when it happens again because it will. Some people just cannot handle their own...or are really dumb.

BigOldHarry · #4 07-25-2011, 01:59 PM

And the odd thing - many in the audience probably couldn't tell the difference.

**nutdog** · #5 07-25-2011, 02:05 PM

Getting wasted and acting foolish on stage? That'll never fly in a rock and roll band.

Spinal Tapper · #6 07-26-2011, 10:44 AM

you gotta know your limits...you'll see it very often, especially if you guys play out a lot. it's sad, really. that guy probably has real problems and his band should get him help. especially if he's getting wasted on his own booze out of a paper bag...sheesh.

MatticusMania · #7 07-26-2011, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tapper

you gotta know your limits...you'll see it very often, especially if you guys play out a lot. it's sad, really. that guy probably has real problems and his band should get him help. especially if he's getting wasted on his own booze out of a paper bag...sheesh.

Its cheaper. Liquor at gigs can get costly, so somtimes you gotta bring your own. Though when I do, I generally keep it out in the car.

tdub0199 · #8 07-26-2011, 11:35 AM

I have only been drunk once playing out...... it will never happen again!

Hotrodmick · #9 07-26-2011, 11:57 AM

I used to drink alot. I wasn't as good as I thought I was. At the time , I had bad stage fright and thought "what's a little drink going to hurt", Well it did and I don't know what happened but Now there is no way I'll drink before a gig, after you never know. Now when I see some one drunk or high on stage, wonder how good they could be straight.
p.s. I did see Hank Williams jr once, he was toast and still put on one hell of a show. I also heard he's fallen of the stage also.

BigOldHarry · #10 07-26-2011, 12:02 PM

I used to do that stuff when I was a teenager - getting hopelessly loaded playing keg parties, etc...

Now, I can't even have beer before a gig or I don't feel 100%.

Now, I have seen some artists hammered while playing... and it usually bites. I did see an old Irish guy (something of a legend on the pub-music circuit whose name I don't recall...) who, even though painfully drunk, still pulled it off. Of course, he was singing these mournful Irish ballads & drinking music, so it seemed right that he'd be loaded....

Ric5 · #11 07-26-2011, 12:06 PM

I do not like watching or playing with drunk musicians. It is really a lame way to pass time.

lokikallas · #12 07-26-2011, 12:12 PM

I once had a gig were we walked in to a place at 8pm and it was a mexican family restaurant. We were a heavy metal band, so we thought it was a total joke, and proceeded to get sloshed on pitchers of margaritas. At 9 pm the families all leave, and suddenly the tables are cleared out and tons of high school kids start packing the place. We put on a really sloppy show, and felt stupid for not knowing that the place had a setup for all ages metal shows with the owners nephew promoting on wednesday nights.

jgroh · #13 07-26-2011, 12:12 PM

Like someone else said, you have to know your line. I usually have a beer or two before a gig and maybe one in between sets. I know where my line is and can keep it under control and have never been totally blasted on stage. My singer got drunk at a gig several months ago, and to be honest, it wasnt until the 3rd and final set and we were probably the only ones that knew it!

groooooove · #14 07-26-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

I do not like watching or playing with drunk musicians. It is really a lame way to pass time.

i dont know- what he described sounded like it would've been hilarious to watch.. for 5 minutes maybe..

i've drank a bit on gigs where i probably shouldent have, and had to concentrate to play.. i used to play a lot with a fantastic local guitarist- amazing player, but sometimes he would be so drunk that no matter what the drummer and i were doing (it was jamband stuff) he wouldent follow and just keep blowing like crazy, ignoring out feel / dynamic changes.

really lame to be caught on stage with that mess. but funny to watch, perhaps..

N.F.A. · #15 07-26-2011, 12:16 PM

A drunk drummer is the worst, in my experience anyway. Had a drunk drummer totally screw up a gig for us once. He was just awful. I've never had any luck with drummers....

bassbully · #16 07-26-2011, 12:51 PM

We opened once for a local band and one of their guitarist's was pounding down the beers while we were on stage. When it came time for their set to a packed house he had made it about 2 songs when I thought he was knealing down to adjust his pedalboard but he had collapsed and was trying to play in a kind of fetal position on stage..very badly.
The band played on playing the song and finally stopped and told the crowd they were taking a 5. They talked him into packing it in and leaving as he started arguing trying to still play till they turned his amp off.
As the band started playing again he sat on the stage for about ten minutes trying to put his guitar in a soft side case but could not making the crowd laugh. A guy in the crowd helped him out and hauled him and his gear behind the stage to stop his drunken act.
Latter he was trying to fight anyone he could in the parking lot till he finally got into his truck gear and all and DROVE away.

Although he was a founding member of the band was fired by them the next day.

zachoff · #17 07-26-2011, 01:27 PM

I've been that guy. Happens to the best of us.

Nate74 · #18 07-26-2011, 01:46 PM

Yeah, I've been that guy too a few times... maybe not as bad as the OP described, but still pretty bad. I played with a really fun band for a few years that always seemed to have somebody who wanted to send a round of shots to the stage. One night, some Cougar decided to buy a bottle of Jager for our singer and between songs she'd come up and pour it into his mouth... that got ugly fast. It was his turn to be "that guy" that night :0

The Owl · #19 07-26-2011, 01:53 PM

Still remember a gig with a bassist who was buzzing off ONE BEER!!!??? He was actually forgetting entire songs or sections of stuff we'd played hundreds of times! I was actually having to call out chrd names to him to keep it from becoming a complete train wreck (although it became one anyway). Me and the lead singer dumped that band not long after. This bassist was particularly great and not especially smart either.

Russell L · #20 07-26-2011, 02:00 PM

I've been sloshed, smoked up, and snorted up, but still pulled it off without making a fool of myself. We all were that way. That was 35 years ago. Ever since, I'll never ever do that. Nowadays, the most I'll do is one mixed drink at a gig, at the most. 90% of the time, I just want a Coke. (No, no, I don't mean coke, lol). Anyway, I like to play straight. I can have a puff and do fine, but it doesn't happen at gigs anymore. Nope. I'm straight, just the way I like it.