Band complaint

[Vic Winters]

Originally Posted by DaemonBass

Thanks for the responses.

I have been thinking of a tactful way to quit since the band leader is also my roommate and we just payed a deposit on a rehearsal space which is gonna cost me 100 bucks a month.

You're helping pay the bills, but he gets to tell you how and what to play? F*CK THAT! Walk. Now.

[seanm]

I would have thought that playing with a pick only would have been sorted out in the audition?

[JimmyM]

I am going to take a slightly opposing viewpoint here. A person who writes songs should have some input into what everyone plays on his song. However, it shouldn't be so dictatorial that the other members feel oppressed, as you do. Especially when you're paying $100 a month for the privilege of being oppressed. If this guy is a good friend, I wouldn't run away, but I'd tell him that what he wants is a solo project with everyone else being hired hands, and unless he pays all costs involved and pays you a salary on top of it, you're not going to stand for being dictated to. Now that doesn't mean he shouldn't have any input whatsoever, because if you slapped in a song that's inappropriate, he has every right to tell you to stop. But you shouldn't be oppressed to the point of having no input whatsoever. That's no fun.

It reminds me of a story I once heard about Fleetwood Mac. They were making the album "Tusk," and Lindsay Buckingham, a notorious control freak and all around jerk who takes himself way too seriously, tells Mick Fleetwood, the leader of the band and the guy who made it possible for Lindsay Buckingham to become a star, that he didn't like how his songs were coming out after everyone else in the band came up with their parts. He said to Mick, "They're not coming out the way I hear them in my head." Mick Fleetwood replied, "Sounds like you don't want to be in a band."

[DaemonBass]

Originally Posted by tZer

That would be my first instinct too - unless you signed on to do his bidding. Did you? Is this band "his" in that he writes all the songs and it is his musical vision that is being served? If what he wants is something you are not comfortable with doing then you have to decide if you want to be a part of his vision or not.

But if this band is more democratic and input about all parts is mostly up to the respective players, then it would seem that he is overstepping some boundaries.

Is this band "all his"? Does he tell others in the group how to execute their parts? If the answer to these questions is "no", then I would rethink my participation in this band. Giving someone what they want and being told how to do your thing are two very different things.

No way!

If I am serving someone else's "musical vision," then I will walk right now, and I have considered it seriously.

I signed up to be a bassist in a serious "alt rock" band think Tool/Primus/Ect. I want to rock out, and play what I feel.

I am going to school atm to become a prof. computer programmer and that is my main priority, so if this guy thinks I am going to sac. my life goal to be his bass playing ***** then I am out in a minute.

[DaemonBass]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Walk away. You're the bassist, and frankly you're doing them a favor being there. If they're going to ask you to do what they want without any compensation, I'd be inclined to walk.

I see your point, and agree 100%; However, I have just signed a rehearsal studio rental agreement w/ these dudes + we just got a new drummer (who is pretty groovy) so I have *some* say but not a lot,so I will stay for a minute even though they are just sucking my monetary values out of me man.

I know I sound like an arse, but I have been going to school and trying to be in a band for 2 years now and I have yet to see any benefit of playing in this band at all, aside from monthly payments and being told about my tone and method of playing. Again, thanks to tpylons for pointing out the obvious: that I am doing these guys a HUGE favor by playing and if my sched. conflicks with "band crap,"so be it... life has priorities after all.

[DaemonBass]

Originally Posted by Barfly

I listened to all 4 tunes and honestly, IMO, slapping has no real place in them. Finger playing would be fine, though.

The tunes are actually pretty good as is. From what I hear it has a hint of Sabbath, maybe STP, Bush (x), and a slight Tool.

Can't really hear where slapping would fit.

Suprised you said Sabbath...

Leader hates Sabbath. Once we were playing "Planet Carivan," and he says, "Nice Pantera Tune."

I says, "What the ****, that's a Sabbath song." He disagrees, but I know I'm right the whole time.

Point being, no props given to Sabbath, and he says...

Sabbath is "butt rock."

"I prefer the Pantera version."

[DaemonBass]

Originally Posted by hartke20g

true, i agree. just like tapping wouldn't do too good in the whole 'emo scene' thing- or whatever it's called. however, IMO if TS wants to slap more, he should join a funk/disco band and leave his current one. or ditch his singer and change the band's style to funk/disco.

Primus.
Mudvayne.
Korn.

[K2000]

I don't see where slapping would fit either, in the song I heard. Just my opinion. Maybe he is worried about being typecast as a funk metal Chili Peppers type band.

The song I'm listening sounds good. At least there is quality there.

As far as the pick is concerned, I don't hear a lot of hammering repetitive bass lines, so I'm not sure why he thinks a pick is necessary. See if you can roll your tone knob up slightly or EQ your rig slightly differently, to make your notes have a sharper attack. I bet that could be what the makes everyone happy.

[Seelesauger]

Do what sounds good.