Bandmates selling out...

SMILEYSIXX · #1 07-02-2010, 02:13 PM

Me and my best friend started a band, and our original intention was death/ drone/ doom metal...

Recently, we found a singer who likes and wants to play stuff like BFMV, avenged sevenfold, and three days grace (Stuff that makes my wanna take a drill and shove it through my ear) and my friend is going along with it...

Every time I say that kind of music sucks he always has the same comeback. "If it sucks why is it so popular on this chart and that chart?"

I told him that's the kind of thinking that leads to bands selling out and he blows it off. I don't want to quit, because these guys are my friends but the fact that they want to completely change the band we started in exchange for selling out and playing, in my opinion, awful music drives me insane.

Advice?

Luke19Boarder · #2 07-02-2010, 02:15 PM

It sounds like you're the odd man out when it comes to musical tastes in the band.

Dantreige · #3 07-02-2010, 02:16 PM

Make your choice. Play with them or don't.

Only you can decide if you want to play that kind of music. If you really are not happy with it don't play in that band. You can stay home while they are our getting gigs, meeting chicks, and becoming better musicians because they are working.

jnuts1 · #4 07-02-2010, 02:17 PM

start another band & stay in this one too. the more popular the tunes the more you get paid. that is not really selling out. it's just selling.

Matt R. · #5 07-02-2010, 02:21 PM

To the OP- Define "selling out" please?

OmnitzGarima · #6 07-02-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke19Boarder

It sounds like you're the odd man out when it comes to musical tastes in the band.

+1

In a similar situation, disagreement over material, I left the band. I was the odd man out. No hard feelings, thanks for everything, good luck, but I'll look for something else.

jnuts1 · #7 07-02-2010, 02:24 PM

see i am from the school of thought that i will play Jesse's Girl a thousand times in a row if someone is paying me. is that selling out?

Crazyeelboy · #8 07-02-2010, 02:29 PM

SmileySixx:

This really isn't a difficult situation, at least conceptually. Either you quit or you stay. Don't make this too complicated and stop worrying about the band "selling out". At your age, you should looke to get as much band experience as you can. Selling out is Elton John playing at Rush Limbaugh's wedding for a million bucks. Your band isn't selling out.

**TRichardsbass** · #9 07-02-2010, 02:29 PM

jnuts, yes that is selling out, although I'm not sure that anyone would pay to HEAR Jessie's Girl a thousand times in a row...LOL!

But seriously, to SmileySixx, welcome to the music biz and the true band experience. Happens to everyone, sellout or not. Once two of a group find a personal musical agreement, the rest either have to follow or leave. And since the singer, who becomes the defacto face of the band, likes the music and has convinced at least one to come along his way, that is it. Oh, and since the singer is sort of driving the musical train, its not your band anymore. Sucks but true.

Happy Independence Day, anyway.

SMILEYSIXX · #10 07-02-2010, 02:30 PM

The point about them becoming better musicians because they are out there playing is a mute point, because I'm already in two other bands.

The way I define "selling out" is abandoning your original intentions musically simply to get more known just because you're playing what the masses want.

If I was actually getting paid for playing music in this band, I would consider it, but I'm not getting payed, plus I'm in other bands, so it isn't prohibitive of me musically to quit this band.

Crazyeelboy · #11 07-02-2010, 02:45 PM

Smileysixx: It looks like you have already made up your mind. Go tell your band mates that you don't like the musical direction, then give them the bad news and focus on the other bands.

Regarding "selling out", there is nothing at all wrong with giving people what they want - that's the way to get gigs and to earn a living in music (if that's the goal) and the way to share the joy of music. We should never look down on someone as a "sell out" for playing music people enjoy, and doing what it takes to get gigs and make a living.

SMILEYSIXX · #12 07-02-2010, 02:50 PM

Yeah, I've pretty much decided...

But regarding "Selling out", my problem isn't giving the people what, regardless of reasons, but the idea of abandoning a passion for music and playing something you don't feel just bothers me beyond measure, but maybe that's just me.

Beginner Bass · #13 07-02-2010, 02:52 PM

Obviously you don't plan to make money as a cover band. Music is about playing to the audience. One succinct way of saying it I heard was "Play for the audience. They decide if you come back or not."

Perhaps they actually enoy it. Maybe it IS their passion. Perhaps they play it because they truly find pleasure in playing them. Nothing in this world, musical or otherwise, survives if it doesn't evolve. Evolution allows things to go on. Your band will change eventually. No band has had identical songs on every album. Your band is evolving.

SMILEYSIXX · #14 07-02-2010, 02:56 PM

Okay, the comments about making money and playing to the masses can end now, because I'm already doing that. I'm playing in a metal band that does anything from black metal to speed metal to death metal, and the band is making money and bringing in crowds to local metal clubs.

I'm already in bands that are working out, so that's not an issue.

Matt R. · #15 07-02-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

But regarding "Selling out", my problem isn't giving the people what, regardless of reasons, but the idea of abandoning a passion for music and playing something you don't feel

Cool, I respect your view on this. Not that you need that from me, I was just curious as to what your idea of selling out was. I agree with you here.

But on the other hand, you can still play something you're not necessarily into for pay when you need to. It's the nature of being a professional musician, if that's what you want to be. Personally I don't look at that as selling out. It's just channeling my passion into a living. Good luck with your band at any rate.

stflbn · #16 07-02-2010, 02:59 PM

THen just tell this band goodbye if they prefer the new singer over you.

Not rocket science.

.

jnuts1 · #17 07-02-2010, 03:00 PM

"jnuts, yes that is selling out, although I'm not sure that anyone would pay to HEAR Jessie's Girl a thousand times in a row...LOL!"

i know it is selling out but i love music so much i will play anything. i always use Jesse's Girl as an example because it is soooo bad.

Beginner Bass · #18 07-02-2010, 03:07 PM

If this band is spinning out of your control, you could start from the ground up again. Maybe try to find a way where you can keep the reputation of the old band, while they go with what the new guy is doing. Or you could just try to build a new band from the ground up, establish yourself as the leader, and make the band how you like it.

Stumbo · #19 07-02-2010, 03:12 PM

Unless you're the lead singer and can carry the band on your own, you'll run into this issue regularly.

I suggest you tell your guitar player that you want to find a different vocalist to play the tunes you agreed to play when you started the band. Either he agrees with you are he doesn't.

If he doesn't agree with you, move on. No need to accuse anyone of selling out or getting upset about the issue. Since you're all playing covers anyways, play whatever you like with people who like the same music as you do. IMO/IME, getting emo over the deal (now or in the future) won't motivate anyone to stick around (band or non-band life). If you get a reputation as a whiner, in the long run, it'll cost you more than know.

CapnSev · #20 07-02-2010, 03:16 PM

There's no such thing as selling out. It's a myth like Sasquatch or the Quintar.