Age gaps?

peaveyuser · #1 02-01-2008, 01:43 PM

well I'm about to meet up with a band (thrash metal). The guitarists who are starting it are all 18-19, so I'm fine with that since the age gap is only bout 2-3 years (I'm 16). We're all teenagers so it's not really awkward, but then they found a drummer who is supposed to be 30 uhhhhh.

Isn't that a bit too old? Because I thought this would be a kind of young thrash band, the fact that I'm underage and playing with a 30 year old that I don't know just kinda makes it feel weird.

mattsk42 · #2 02-01-2008, 01:54 PM

If it's a problem to someone, then it's probably going to become a problem. Just like if you're a democrat and I dislike them. Problems in a band just become magnified over time.

However, it shouldn't be an issue at all. Just play things correctly and work with each other to produce the most professional sound that you can. Has nothing to do with age.

Our band has me and another who are 23, a 27 year old, then two 31 year olds,then a 39 year old, and a 49 year old. We all work together fine.

BassIsBoss · #3 02-01-2008, 01:56 PM

So if Alex Van Halen showed up, you wouldn't play with him....

Dave Martin · #4 02-01-2008, 02:02 PM

If it helps, our gig last weekend included one member who is half my age. it went fine; I didn't mind that he was playing with us.

AnTz0r · #5 02-01-2008, 02:04 PM

i played in a heavy metal band. when i joined i was 19. drummer was 39, guitarists about 30, singer 24.

now i am in a new band and the singer and keyboardist are about my age (im 24 now) and the guitarists are in their thirties.

it really depends where you want to go for... if it's just to play some thrash and rock out in the rehearsal room it shouldn't be a problem right?

bkbirge · #6 02-01-2008, 02:07 PM

When I was 15 I regularly played with cats in their 40's. Now that I'm pushin' 40 I play with cats in their early twenties all the way up through late 50's. No probs. It's only a prob if you make it one or you're one of those guys that expects band members to be joined at the hip outside of band practice/gigs. Personally I like playing with guys who have way more experience than me as opposed to the other way around, regardless of age. Makes me a better musician.

Phalex · #7 02-01-2008, 02:09 PM

My guitard turns 52 this weekend. He ROCKS!

The longer you're into the music scene the more you notice that the people still doing it after 20+ years are the really good ones. Besides, 30 is the new 20.

Don't turn your back on a potentially good drummer because he's a little older and wiser. He's just had more time to practice.

jordanm · #8 02-01-2008, 02:09 PM

Most of the guys I have played with recently were about twice my age. The band I've been with for the last year the next youngest guy is 35 (im 24) and the oldest is 48.. We get along fine though. I have auditioned for a couple acts in the past that made up there mind about me when I walked in the door, but stuff like that happens. You never know til you actually meet them though, give it a shot.

AnTz0r · #9 02-01-2008, 02:10 PM

well you can be buddies with older guys too (wow this sounds especially awkward haha) if you just get along

it can be a problem if because of age differences (which lead to differences in situation... jobs, families) you can't make the same commitment to a band and things are starting to get serious with tours and stuff

on a musical level, it's great to play with more experienced people
on a practical level, if you all want the same it's great
on a buddy level, it really depends on you and the other as a person

mjolnir · #10 02-01-2008, 02:10 PM

Depends on the people involved, really. I play in a band where I'm the youngest member and the rest are all at least ten years older than me, but that has never become an issue.

**cheezewiz** · #11 02-01-2008, 02:16 PM

I'm 43. The drummer in my band is 53. The guitarist 57, the keyboard player 57, the singer 60. I'm cool with it. We're old enough to drink whiskey. Chicks dig us.

peaveyuser · #12 02-01-2008, 02:18 PM

Yah thanks for the advice guys! It's just that I'm still in HS, and I never really looked at the band I would be in with a drummer thats a full fledged adult. I always thought I would be gigging with a bunch of young guys around my age.

mjolnir · #13 02-01-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaveyuser

Yah thanks for the advice guys! It's just that I'm still in HS, and I never really looked at the band I would be in with a drummer thats a full fledged adult. I always thought I would be gigging with a bunch of young guys around my age.

Hey, stranger things have happened in the music biz. Congrats on the gig, hum.

kevinmoore73 · #14 02-01-2008, 02:22 PM

The older people get, the less any age difference matters. I still wouldn't want to join up with a band that had people who were not of legal drinking age, let alone minors.

BillMason · #15 02-01-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peaveyuser

Yah thanks for the advice guys! It's just that I'm still in HS, and I never really looked at the band I would be in with a drummer thats a full fledged adult. I always thought I would be gigging with a bunch of young guys around my age.

It will likely be more of an issue for him than for you, so go for it. You'll learn lots, unless egos get in the way.

Jazz Hands · #16 02-01-2008, 02:32 PM

Honestly if anyone should be skeptical in this situation it's the drummer. I've almost never had bad experiences playing w/ guys far older than myself. Now playing w/ guys far younger is a different story.

cavemanfr · #17 02-01-2008, 02:49 PM

Instead of judging the drummer on his age, maybe you should just play your part and let him do his, and maybe you just might learn some things. If you are not mature enough to put the age difference aside, maybe this band isn't for you. And as I see it, the loss would be yours. Just because someone is older doesn't mean they can't play newer music. I'm 45 and my guitards and vocalist are all around 19-20. I have no problem playing the new heavy stuff. And they don't do too bad on the older music either. And they have no problem hanging around when we aren't jamming. As I see it, the age difference is only an issue if you make it one.

Twiggy Jr. · #18 02-01-2008, 02:56 PM

i find it ironic that you are asking this question when your little quote talks about it's not what musicians look like, but about the music they play...

peaveyuser · #19 02-01-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavemanfr

Instead of judging the drummer on his age, maybe you should just play your part and let him do his, and maybe you just might learn some things. If you are not mature enough to put the age difference aside, maybe this band isn't for you. And as I see it, the loss would be yours. Just because someone is older doesn't mean they can't play newer music. I'm 45 and my guitards and vocalist are all around 19-20. I have no problem playing the new heavy stuff. And they don't do too bad on the older music either. And they have no problem hanging around when we aren't jamming. As I see it, the age difference is only an issue if you make it one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twiggy Jr.

i find it ironic that you are asking this question when your little quote talks about it's not what musicians look like, but about the music they play...

good eye Twiggy

Granted I'm gonna play with these guys I asked some guys my age too and they agree, it's just an age (plus he can potentially get me alchohol

)

But seriosly my main reason for asking this question was
A) this is only going to be the 2nd band I'm playin in, so I wanted some advice from more experienced players

B) The fact that maybe he won't be wanting to play at all ages shows only. He might rather play in 18+ bars where he can entertain people around his age. I'm 16 I'm probably not allowed to play in one and if I was I'd like to play gigs where my friends and people around my age can watch too.

C) I am underage therefore I think this question is valid.

D) since the age difference I might have to treat this guy as an adult, which I rather not do (

hey I know it sounds bad but look where I'm going with this). The reason is I'd like to be myself and have no authority figure, everybody should be equal. Therefore I'll talk to band members as I do with friends, laid back attitude.

The quote I have was meant to be more relevant to the fact that the music industry which is getting increasingly superficial is focusing more on who "looks" good and ignoring good bands because they may not have the "look". The fact that these "good looking" bands and "musicians" make real superficial garbage music making it big, and there are struggling bands who make really good music getting ignored by record companies, MTV etc

twistdpair · #20 02-01-2008, 03:19 PM

Judge them on the playing, not the age. I suppose it's also OK to judge them on their looks in certain situations too.

We canned a drummer/guitarist (brothers) who were in their 50's, but it was only because we didn't like having Ringo Starr and Jerry Garcia interpret Rage Against the Machine