Another Band Rant

[tlwaps]

So my old singer called me tonight and asked me if I wanted to start jamming with our old band again. I told him that the negatives still outweigh the positives for me to re-join the band. I let one of our guitarists borrow my guitar, that he said he'd buy, he never did buy it and he still hasn't given it back to me. Yeah it wasn't that expensive, but still he never gave it back. Every time we were supposed to meet up for him to give it back he never showed; nor did he ever return my phone calls.
On top of that, that same guitarist wouldn't give me my cut of the money we'd made from the shows we'd played, he said i had to get it cleared with everybody else first. He kept my cut and that's ultimately why I left. He also told me to ditch my girlfriend for the band since the band was there for me before she was. And just like I told our singer tonight she's done more for this band in the short time we were together while I was in the band than he ever did; she gave us professional quality pictures for free. Not to mention his rock star ego kills everything for us. We were recording with a guy for $15 an hour, got the mixing and mastering for free. But because of his rock star ego he got us thrown out of that studio. Nobody wants to do shows with us because of his ego, nobody wants to book us because of his ego and when they do book us it's for battle of the bands or these pre-sale ticket shows where we're the oldest band (21-29 years of age) and all the other bands are junior high and high school kids. He says yes to every show without telling anybody that we have a show until the night before.
Now, all of a sudden, out of the blue comes this big named producer wanting to produce us "for free or for whatever little money we can come up with." And a label is supposedly interested in us. My big problem is, the producer is a business man, he's out to make money just like everybody else; why would he produce us (a local, unknown and unproven band) for free? This label had an "interest" in us once before and I personally called them to find out some details and they said "What are you talking about?"
I hope I made the right decision in staying away from that band. What would you have done?

[Busker]

What would I have done? I'd have told that singer if she wanted me to come back, she'd have to get rid of the guitard.

[JimmyM]

My head is spinning.

I see nothing good about anything you're saying.

[fdeck]

Let's make this a contest to see who can count the largest number of negatives:

1. Guitarist stole your guitar
2. Stole your money
3. Interfered with your love life
4. Has ego
5. Got you thrown out of studio
6. Lied once before about record label "interest"
7. Gravitates towards pay-to-play gigs
8. Books gigs without telling anyone
9. Has offended the entire universe

Did I miss any?

[txbasschik]

Your old band is officially worse than my old band. By a looooonnnnng ways!!!

To quote an old song...

Run to the hills!!!

Run for your life!!!

You did the right thing, staying away. Hang garlic around your neck if you have to, and keep that band away!!!

Cherie

[Depth_Charge]

I'd have gone back...


...to get my guitar and money and lay some whoop on that guitard.

Of course you did the right thing!!

If you're not sure, re-read your original post back to yourself

PS - ANother reason I'd have gone back is to insist their replacement bass player not use my lines...whether I can or not. I'm not really a vindictive guy by nature but just reading your post brought it out in me LOL

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by fdeck

Let's make this a contest to see who can count the largest number of negatives:

1. Guitarist stole your guitar
2. Stole your money
3. Interfered with your love life
4. Has ego
5. Got you thrown out of studio
6. Lied once before about record label "interest"
7. Gravitates towards pay-to-play gigs
8. Books gigs without telling anyone
9. Has offended the entire universe

Did I miss any?

10. Snubbed free photo's and promotional items

[eotpr]

Tell them yes. Show up to practice, take your property, and leave. Life is too short to put up with that type of BS. If you know 5 big guys bring them along so there are no hassles. Next to baby rapers I think thieves are the lowest form of life, especially ones that prey on friendship and trust. I would not become part of that band and I am not sure that I would play with people that were a part of treating you that way. (I hope I am not being too harsh.)

[warnergt]

Tell him you need back pay and your old guitar before you'll even consider the offer. After you get that, do what you want.

[Curtybob]

Wow. That's pretty bad. Were they dopers or something? I got a little confused as to who was guilty of which charge, but it definitely sounds like the whole bunch needs a lesson in friendship and brotherhood... The lesson they can only get at the school of hard knocks on the cranium.

Also, I hope you learned a lesson about how long it takes to cut your losses and run for the hills. Remember, if someone screws you over once, shame on them. If they do it twice, shame on you.

[jive1]

Even if she fired the guitarist, I still wouldn't work for her.

I would never work for an employer who let one employee steal from another without penalty.

[Busker]

Originally Posted by jive1

Even if she fired the guitarist, I still wouldn't work for her.

I would never work for an employer who let one employee steal from another without penalty.

Good point.

[paganjack]

Originally Posted by eotpr

Tell them yes. Show up to practice, take your property, and leave. (I hope I am not being too harsh.)

yes! the best way to get stuff back from people that lie all the time is to take it! you could bring mace/a mace to back up your little repoman gig. hehe

man...its posts like this that make me realize how nice my bands are. the worst i ever worry about is people randomly going out of town for a week. that band sounds like a god-awful situation.

[troyus]

Originally Posted by eotpr

Tell them yes. Show up to practice, take your property, and leave. Life is too short to put up with that type of BS. If you know 5 big guys bring them along so there are no hassles. Next to baby rapers I think thieves are the lowest form of life, especially ones that prey on friendship and trust. I would not become part of that band and I am not sure that I would play with people that were a part of treating you that way. (I hope I am not being too harsh.)

Take that guys guitar too.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by fdeck

Let's make this a contest to see who can count the largest number of negatives:

1. Guitarist stole your guitar
2. Stole your money
3. Interfered with your love life
4. Has ego
5. Got you thrown out of studio
6. Lied once before about record label "interest"
7. Gravitates towards pay-to-play gigs
8. Books gigs without telling anyone
9. Has offended the entire universe

Did I miss any?

11. Gets continually duped by "promoters".

[tlwaps]

Originally Posted by eotpr

Tell them yes. Show up to practice, take your property, and leave. Life is too short to put up with that type of BS. If you know 5 big guys bring them along so there are no hassles. Next to baby rapers I think thieves are the lowest form of life, especially ones that prey on friendship and trust. I would not become part of that band and I am not sure that I would play with people that were a part of treating you that way. (I hope I am not being too harsh.)

He told me that he had left it at our practice space. So I called our other guitarist since he lives there and asked him if it was there, he tore his basement apart for 2 days searching for it and never found it. He offered me the guys $1,300 guitar head but I said I didn't want it cause I didn't wanna get into a pissing match with him. He said he's been trying to call me for the past month but my phone has been off which is a lie and everybody else in our band knows. My brother is a United States Marine and my phone is always on in case he calls. In the 2 years i've had this cell phone it's been off 1 time.
Shortly after my departure they brought in another drummer and tried out another bass player. Shortend version of the story, ego's got in the way, the new drummer and new bassist left along with the singer. Now, my singer tells me that the guys ego is gone and I told him that it's gone for now but it's only a matter of time before the "rock star" comes back once shows start happening again.
I'm not religious by any means but I swear to god that being in this band has got to be worse than being married. I'm only 24 years old, but I can't imagine marriage being this bad. Every single day it's one thing after another, they call each other all day long and play he said she said all day long. Then the 3 call me at one time and wanna complain to me about everybody else. Where's the fun in that?

[1954bassman]

RUN - CUT YOUR LOSSES! LIFE IS SHORT TO PUT UP WITH A**HOLES. You can quote me on that. Let him choke on your guitar. They are all theives, for turning a blind eye. Compliment them, and say no politely. It will kill them!

[Caca de Kick]

I wouldn't show up to their practice studio to reclaim the guitar. I'd just tell Mr Ego he has one last chance to deliver the guitar to you at your home. If not, then the cops will be called to show up because now it's considered stolen property.

[BELLATOR]

I think you made the right decision not re-joining that band. If I was you, I would try to get your guitar and money back from these guys. However, in my experience, people like this usually avoid paying people back and returning things. These types of people are bottom feeders and it's better to lose a little property and money than to be friends with a$$holes like this. You should avoid these people like the plague.

[mtizzle]

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

I wouldn't show up to their practice studio to reclaim the guitar. I'd just tell Mr Ego he has one last chance to deliver the guitar to you at your home. If not, then the cops will be called to show up because now it's considered stolen property.

I agree. He can't say no to the cops or the legal system.