What's your favorite "I QUIT!" story?

**TheFantod** · #1 09-22-2009, 12:49 PM

Many moons ago I was in a "band" and I use that term loosely. I was the only one with any kind of musical schooling, and was about 5 years older than anyone else in the band. I wrote ALL the songs and wrote ALL the lyrics. We had practiced maybe 20 times together. Half the time the two guitarist brothers were constantly arguing. Topics of conversation often broached such subjects as what we were going to wear at our first "gig."

I was really getting sick of amateur hour, as I would call it. I'd preface any rehearsal with "Let amateur hour in dixie begin." None of them got the joke.

One of my biggest pet peeves were their insistence of playing everything at 11. They never understood why I brought ear baffles to practice.

Finally, I had all I could stans and I couldn't stans no more. At my last practice with them, during the middle of the song, when the 19 year old guitarist was playing his Wah as loudly and screechy as he could, I just took off my bass, turned off my amp, unplugged, packed up, grabbed my gear and walked out. I never said a word to them. They just stood there and stared at me.

Surely I'm not the only one with such and experience?

Tim

Tommy Hagen · #2 09-22-2009, 01:00 PM

Great story!
Thinking about it, I realise I've been lucky to never have been in a band with issues like that. Guess that's rare?

Tommy

ThisisCraigP · #3 09-22-2009, 01:03 PM

That sound's horrible. Good job leaving in the middle of things, I wouldn't put up with that crap either.

guitar ed · #4 09-22-2009, 04:06 PM

I did something similar at a job interview once.

I was a stock broker, a not a good one. Either way, I had to leave my then present employer. So I looked at another brokerage firm. In the middle of it, I realized that IMHO they were operating illegally.

I just stood up, gathered my stuff, and walked out. I never said a word.

Neither did they. From the look of shock on their face, I don't think they knew what to say.

edg

G00D+~VIBES · #5 09-22-2009, 04:18 PM

I had 2 charity (i say charity b/c he played with another project and became a bit of a friend) practices with a percussionist and his singer/songwriter/acoustic guitar playing girlfriend who couldn't sing on pitch with a melo-dyne. And perhaps I should use jam b/c they were not organized or constructive or longer than an hour. So here I am on Friday night and I receive a text saying something to the effect of "We have a show tomorrow night...blah blah blah" I promptly called and said don't take this the wrong way but, I never plan on playing in public with you guys...ever. They were shocked and upset. I couldn't understand this reaction, I'd never given any indication that I would perform with them or that I even enjoyed our time together. I'm still baffled by the assumptions some people will make. Oh, and they wanted me to learn all of this stuff over night and play for free...yeah...that's gonna happen sometime soon.

capnsandwich · #6 09-22-2009, 04:19 PM

I was in a band in high school as a guitarist at the time. We all got along pretty good and we all played well together too. I was into old school punk and thrash at the time (think DRI, MOD, Suicidal Tendencies, etc.) and they were willing to thrash things up a bit, even though the bassist was a HUGE Dokken fan, as was the drummer.

Well, one day the drummer decides that he wants a second guitarist. So he brings in a friend of his and we start jamming to our tunes. This guy is a total glam and hair spray guy, complete with tight torn jeans and a zebra striped bandanna around his head or in his back pocket. I was a typical punk with my head shaved and a bomber jacket (that was cool back then) and pretty much hated everything that came out of LA back then.

A few weeks go by and I'm trying to feel this guy out. Is he going to go with the flow or change it? One day he starts to play something from Motley Crue and the drummer's digging it. I'm starting to get that these guys want to be a glam band and not a thrash band. I look at the drummer with a "I'm not pleased" look on my face and he then gives me the finger. I walk up to him and am ready to throw down but I realize that his brother is coming, and I didn't want to mess with his brother and him at the same time, so I just grab my guitar, my amp, and my effects processor and hit the door. I never heard from them again.

**john turner** · #7 09-22-2009, 04:21 PM

another non music one, but i went to interview for a job about 14 years ago at what would become a sprint call center/server cluster. the dude interviewing me was the nephew of an executive at this company that was soon to be acquired by sprint and he was about 24. he talked real big - lots of juvenile attitude bordering on the unprofessional as to what the job would require, the time that was expected to be spent (it was a server programmer/support it position) but also the potential benefits. i did my best interview face, nodded and agreed with all the ridiculous comments and assertions coming out of the mouth of this inexperienced ignoramous who would have had a hard time holding down a job at chik-fil-a with the attitude he had.

so three days later, one of the poor engineers that worked for this dude called me up and told me they wanted to offer me a job at less than 80% market value (mr. big mouth obviously didn't have the courage to) . this guy, who was going to be such a big wheel in the company, had one of the guys who would be my coworkers offer me a job at 80% of the posted minimum salary (which was too low for me anyway, i was qualified for the maximum at that time - the offer should have been that at the very least, which was close to 2x what the actual offer was), that would require at least 120% time on my part. at least.

i told the dude that he should tell his boss i said he was on crack, that that offer was outrageous and insulting and that it was a good thing the dork didn't call me directly. i also said, and the dude agreed, that this was probably why the knob didn't call me directly - the cheaper he could get this tech center going, the more money he'd make and the better he'd look to his uncle. i guess he took my pleasant demeanor to mean i was some kind of sap he could rip off.

lol.

as far as bands are concerned, i've tried very hard in the 23 years i've played in bands, to not play with anyone who was not on the same page musically, maturity-wise and philosophically as me. i wasn't always successful (with a few pretty epic exceptions - mind-bogglingly epic exceptions) but at least i never had to just walk out and leave a practice before.

John Wentzien · #8 09-22-2009, 04:25 PM

On the road in the early 80's I was unfortunate enough to get a fill-in gig.

This guy was a famous singer from a 60's band that shall remain nameless.

It was a chart reading gig...This guy did an Elvis set, A Neil Diamond set, and a Jesus Christ "Superstar" set...Complete with wardrobe and HUGE Ego...

During "rehearsal" before the first night...we were set-up in a big Holiday-Inn Banquet hall.

There was a "Bridge" tournament going on in there with some grey hair old ladies...

During sound-check..the singer could not get the PA to stop feeding back...(he was in full Jesus regalia at the time)

The drummer finally got sick of the screeching (after about a half an hour) and started walking out.

He said "call my room when you're done blowin' everyone away.."

"Jesus" grabbed the feeding mic and shouted "You're F##ing FIRED!"
Right in front of a dozen old ladies!

The drummer just flipped him the bird.

voodoobassist · #9 09-22-2009, 04:28 PM

I agreed to do a sub gig this spring with a latin/salsa band. Sounded like it might be fun, pay wasn't great, but thought WTH, it'll be something fun and different! Agreed to 3 rehearsals with them, then the gig. 12 piece band, horns, 3 percussion players, no full drum kit, 4 singers, keyboardist and myself on bass.
The first reheasal was passable, didnt have the full band there, only one percussionist, 3 of the 4 horn players, 2 vocals and keys. The second one,... was worse. More members, flubbed changes, arguments about tempo, feel, etc,...

......The third and final rehearsal, full band this time, broke into a screaming match between the leader and keyboardist. The band was nowhere close to sounding anything like a "group". Timing was terrible, no feel or groove happening at all.

Midway through the screaming match, I turned off my amp, unplugged, packed up, and said thanks, but no thanks. The leader tried to talk me into staying and playing the gig. I told him that I was sorry, but the group was no where close to being able to play out in public and I wasn't going to put myself through the embarrassment. The keyboardist was packing his stuff as well, so I didnt have to feel guilty about "ruining thier gig".

So much for doing something "fun and different".

logicman69 · #10 09-22-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G00D+~VIBES

I had 2 charity (i say charity b/c he played with another project and became a bit of a friend) practices with a percussionist and his singer/songwriter/acoustic guitar playing girlfriend who couldn't sing on pitch with a melo-dyne. And perhaps I should use jam b/c they were not organized or constructive or longer than an hour. So here I am on Friday night and I receive a text saying something to the effect of "We have a show tomorrow night...blah blah blah" I promptly called and said don't take this the wrong way but, I never plan on playing in public with you guys...ever. They were shocked and upset. I couldn't understand this reaction, I'd never given any indication that I would perform with them or that I even enjoyed our time together. I'm still baffled by the assumptions some people will make. Oh, and they wanted me to learn all of this stuff over night and play for free...yeah...that's gonna happen sometime soon.

I had that happen to my with a cover band I tried out for. 3 piece classic rock band. Basicly 2 guys in their mid 50's jammin to CCR all night. The practice space was a local bar in a not-so-nice part of town. Halfway through the audition the old bass player showed up (they forgot to tell him that they were replacing him). I thanked them and got out of there. Later that week I got a call for the guitar player/singer telling me that he booked a show at the bar and to be there at 9pm for sound check. I said "Ummm.. I never said i was going to play with you guys. I'm really not interested. " He got PISSED and hung up on me after a couple choise words.

2 weeks later i got a call from another band that needed a bass player in a pinch. It was for a Halloween party at this upscale nightclub. I wen't, did the gig, drank for free, and walked out with $180 in my pocket. I've been in THAT band for 8 years now.

INTP · #11 09-22-2009, 06:16 PM

I was in a three piece blues band, me on bass, with a drummer and a guitar player. The guitar player and I showed up at a gig one night and there was another drummer (who we knew, fortunately) setting up his drums. The old drummer quit without bothering to tell either of us. Fortunately, he at least found a sub.

The new drummer is MUCH better, and we ended up playing many gigs together.

oldrocker · #12 09-22-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFantod

They never understood why I brought ear baffles to practice.

Jus curious, don't mean anything by it, but are you from the UK ?

**TheFantod** · #13 09-22-2009, 09:58 PM

Nope, from the U.S.!

MusicBokonon · #14 09-22-2009, 10:29 PM

I guess I should be thankful I haven't encountered anybody like this yet. I'm glad that the people that I play with are flexible enough that they can take constructive criticism, as well as being open to new ideas.

selfblessed · #15 09-23-2009, 12:17 AM

I recently had a drummer quit. I would tell you guys about it but I have tried to make the story funny...but its not. It was frustrating because I had to decode what he was saying and get him to say that he was quitting. Which to me is well...funny.

**jmattbassplaya** · #16 09-23-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selfblessed

I recently had a drummer quit. I would tell you guys about it but I have tried to make the story funny...but its not. It was frustrating because I had to decode what he was saying and get him to say that he was quitting. Which to me is well...funny.

Did he talk in riddles? That would be funny

MusicBokonon · #17 09-23-2009, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Did he talk in riddles? That would be funny

I have two roadies. One always helps me set up, and the other never does. One always tells the truth, and the other always lies. What question can you ask to know which roadie will help me set up my kit?

anthowl · #18 09-23-2009, 01:55 AM

i was playing an open blues jam. i was 17.
my family was in the audience.
i had been playing there regularly and was one of the few bassists that ever played in the jam and as such had become something of a known face on the stage and was well liked.

one night this middle aged guy signed on to jam.
he opened by introducing himself to the audience, saying
that he had just returned from a national tour with his backing band
and was glad to be back in his home town.
i don't think anybody knew who he was. he even mentioned he had cd's for sale with him.

he announces THE TITLE of the song we're playing..even though it's an open jam.
during this first song and he pointedly turns to me to 'show me the changes' mid song.
the song is not a standard blues progression.
i'm a little worried about how things progress.
the drummer who knows me pretty well and is part of the group that runs the jams is mocking the man behind his back to help keep me assured.

he does the same announcing of the second song.
he turns to me before we play and says 'the bass is everything in this song, play this riff'
and then attempts to show me. it was a simple enough riff, but i was so caught off guard by his behavior that i didn't quite know what to do.
the song starts and i play, but once again, non standard blues, he wants me to play the riff he played through in front of me once.
he then begins to improvise lyrics to the song he is singing,
"..gonna tell my baby i'ma fire my bass player, he got to learn to play the blues!.."

the crowd is not impressed. i am pretty upset.
the song finishes and i say to the drummer "i can't do this"
he tells me it's okay, it's one more song, put up with it and i tell him
no, i'm not doing it.
i switch off my amp, i unplug and walk off the stage.
the guy is making comments about me as i do so, i don't know what they were i was so angry. i turned back towards the stage and gave him both hand birds. headed towards the exit. the audience cheers but i don't know if they're cheering with me or for the fact i'm leaving.

i was told later that the drummer left right after me and the harp player about a minute after. the guy played his last song by himself to no applause.
my family received a lot of praise about me.
i was convinced to play the last set that night.
the fresh group of players were nice. the new chap singing made special mention of me returning to the stage..

Taranis101 · #19 09-23-2009, 02:17 AM

I played in a talent show for my school. One friend on drums, another on my ESP AX-50 (out of tune, broken pickup, bad strings), and I (the bassist) played the other guitarists vintage Les Paul (with bad strings, out of tune). We told the guitarist not to turn on his distortion because my ESP sounded like crap with it on (or all the time, for that matter). He played on a 4" practice amp with on-board distortion. I played on a 30 year old cabinet with 4 blown 6" speakers. Needless to say, none of it was my idea, not even the song or what everyone played. We played the song, and the guitarist had that distortion on. We played Smells Like Teen Spirit. We had only practiced twice. Need I say more?

The drummer, who had been my best friend, asked me when we where going to start gigging with him... I never spoke with him about music again.

MatticusMania · #20 09-23-2009, 01:56 PM

So I was in a 3 piece band for about 3 years. It was my first real band ever, I started in it about 2 months after I started to play the bass. By the 3rd year I had progressed so much that I was writing much better lines that our guitarist (who had been playing about 8 years) had trouble writing parts to my basslines. We were recording an EP, mostly of the guitarists songs, when one day on our myspace page we got a comment from him saying he was quitting the band. He was a big Frank Black fan, go figure (Frank Black famously quit The Pixies by Fax).

A few years later I was in a 4 piece band. We were to play a show at a Pub in Pasadena. I guess there were some behind the scenes problems between our drummer regarding a girl our lead singer/guitarist was dating. Well, the day of the show our singer & his girl took some mushrooms and couldnt drive. We took that as his resignation.

Sunday Sept. 13th my current band had a show booked. 2 hours before we're supposed to be there I get a call from our synth player saying our drummer cant show up. We're an Improv band, and get by if someone doesnt show up, so long as its not the drummer. We were able to get a last minute sub. That week at practice we influenced his decision to resign.