Older Drummer

[5string5fingers]

Recently I've teamed up with a guitarist in my area,and I really like the guy,he's cool,he's modest, and good. We've both been looking for a drummer past few weeks and he told me he found a guy....but he's in his 40s or older(been playing for 32 years). Haven't met the guy yet he's still being contacted through emails but is it odd for guys in theirs 20s,specially me, I JUST turned 20 in may,and the guitar is 28, to be playing with a guy who is,for me, old enough to be my dad?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

This is coming from a 37 year old .

If high school balls and backyard parties for teenagers is Your goal then yes, that'd be a bit awkward.

If the answer is other than above, HELL NO.

Think about the insight and experience he must have. Think about all the advice and contacts he has, and most likely is willing to share with You young 'uns.

GO FOR IT.

Regards
Sam

[choo5]

as T-Bird said: if you want to play your friends parties and emo/hardcore music then i'd be a bit iffy... for any other style go for it!

iv played with older people before (im 22 btw, people I played with were 2x my age atleast) and its been a wealth of information/experience, unless your incredibly focused on the image and band myspace photos then go for it

[rosanne]

If you don't want him send him out here! Our band needs someone like that. All those years of experience are invaluable.

[totallyfrozen]

+1 on the other posts.

I always get a kick when "younger" guys think/worry about this stuff like it's going to keep them from hooking up with a chick or something.

Hey, think how this guy feels! He's been playing for 32 years and now he has to play with some inexperienced "kid" who's going to be dealing with girl problems, drinking too much, getting "his first apartment", and all that kid stuff.

Not to sound like a jerk but, really, alot of younger guys have the attitude like their doing the older guys a favor by playing with them.

I'm in my 30's. I got my first drum set in 1988 and my first piano lesson in 1989...so that should give you an idea how long I've been messing around with this music stuff. Do you think I WANT to play with a 20 year old?!
Not if I don't have to.
But music is music...you just enjoy it and play with whoever is willing to take it seriously.

On the positive side for you, the guy won't be trying to take all the girls from you.

[JanusZarate]

Allow me to pitch in some insight:

I'm playing with a group of bandmates who are all considerably older than I am. I'm 22, on the verge of 23... but I started playing with them when I was 21. IIRC, nobody in my band is under 30 except me. But they're all experienced and fun to work with. I'm the much-needed element of chaos in their otherwise mundane, ordinary lives.

On a serious note... playing with an older musician is usually only as strange as you make it out to be, unless you're aiming for an MTV-grade image.

[Kenny Allyn]

As stated ... he (the drummer) is doing you the favor


I our band the singer is 35, the guitar 45, I'm 55 and our drummer is 63. Our drummer is known as one of the best in this town, and has played with about everyone who ever worked here since 1965.



... He is a goldmine, and a real treasure and asset to the band.

[Aumakua]

To repeat what everyone else has said, as a 20-something,

Jamming with my drummer's Dad (he dropped in a few times while we were practicing, and he's over 60) has actually been a great experience. He plays like John Densmore.

I think I could state that few people my age could find peers that have any connection to this style of drumming at all, and I was very grateful to have the chance to jam with him. The guy had so much intangible groove (and Ghost Notes) in his playing it was great.
If some chicks even notice that there's an "old guy" on the throne at a show it might not be worth it to converse further ( I know opinions will differ here ...). I mean, a lot of women will come to a show and really few of them should care about the age of your band if the music is good, ya know what I mean?

[jmattbassplaya]

I`m 19 and am playing with guys and gals in their late 30`s and early 40`s. The drummer actually has a son who`s one year younger than me lol.

I honestly really enjoy it. No drama, no worrying about people showing up, everyone is very talented, and they are all very nice people. It`s a blast! Plus playing with them motivates me more than anything in a very long time to practice harder, longer, and all that jazz.

I think you having an older guy(assuming you guys are going for actual gigs) would benefit you all a lot as musicians, business men, and as people.

[eee]

I probably win the age-gap thang...

I'm in a jazz trio where the drummer is 63 and the sax player 61. They're hilarious, they know everybody, and they don't give a hoot about anything except the 'tude...so dig in!

[eee]

By the way, I'm 21.

[EddiePlaysBass]

Hmmm, age is no guarantee for quality. I've been in bands with guys in their '40s (at one point brought in my dad as a singer) and mostly just wasted a year with those guys. That said, I couldn't care less if anyone in my band was twice or three times my age (although that'd make them 84 ) as long as they play well.

[Orangeclawhamme]

Ever hear of a band called Spirit? Thier heyday was in the late '60s. The drummer was the guitarist's (can we use that word on Talkbass?) stepfather. In a era when the rockers had shoulder length hair, this guy shaved his head. He said he was growing it on the inside. His age did not hold the band back at all.

[KrisH]

Okay, just the reverse. I'm 52, our guitarists are 60 and 43, and our drummer is 20. He's very good, and I met him while working with my other project. He approached US about getting involved in the cover band project after hearing that our other drummer went insane. He's younger than my son (my youngest), but despite his youth, has a good and mature attitude about the business. I suspect he'll probably move on to greener pastures as time goes by (did I say he's VERY good), but we'll roll with it for now.

[timber22]

I think you need to meet him to judge for yourself. And as others have said, think about what you really want out of this band. Is it about the music? If so, then I don't see a problem with the age difference as long as you all get along and have similar goals.
If it's about picking up 20 year old girls at college keg parties, maybe it's not so good.
But don't rule out that he may know a lot of "cougars"

[Rob Lewis]

With all these balanced and sane opinions it makes one wonder why there's so many adverts for musicians that specify age, especially the ones with a narrow gap ("between 21-23").

[john turner]

Originally Posted by Rob Lewis

With all these balanced and sane opinions it makes one wonder why there's so many adverts for musicians that specify age, especially the ones with a narrow gap ("between 21-23").

because usually those are the same kinds of dipwads who show up here, slag erb's, get in an argument about "Fl3a vs. fi3ldey", call everybody crude names and end up getting banned before their first week is out.

[lousybassplayer]

This might sound like a drummer joke or an old musician joke, but its not intended to be. MUsicians are all just kids at heart most of the time unless they are already in a big pro gig all the time. For what you are doing, he will likely fit right in and could really be a blast to work with.

[OtterOnBass]

One person of a different age group can feel alienated. I was in a cover band for a short time (garage band? We never played out!) with older guys, and at practice they talked about parents in nursing homes and RV's. I couldn't relate and didn't feel like a part of the band, and when my schedule got tight, this was what got dropped. I never felt

Does the guy like being a father figure, sharing his experience with the next generation, or is he younger than his years and sharing your interests?

[Steve]

The best thing you can do for yourself at 20 years old is surround yourself with the oldest, best players that will put up with you.

IMHO

It worked for me.