Ever had another bassist try to steal your gig?

guy n. cognito · #1 08-17-2006, 04:11 PM

Anybody ever had another bassist actively try to steal your gig? It happened to me once in college. I was the bassist in a rock / blues cover band. We didn’t play a lot, mostly small clubs on weekday evenings and private parties on the weekends. At one of our club gigs, I noticed a guy sitting in the audience watching me very intently. For the entire show, through both sets, he almost never took his eyes off of me. He was sitting by himself, pounding beers the whole night. It was weird, but I didn’t think too much of it. At the end of the show, he walked up to our lead singer / guitarist and had a short conversation. I was out of earshot. After their conversation, this guy left, but gave me a smirking staredown as he walked out. After he left, I asked the guitarist what was said. He just laughed and said “That guy says you suck, have crappy gear, and asked if we would consider firing you and hiring him.” Now, granted, I’m not the world’s greatest bassist, and I did have crappy gear, but the songs we were playing were pretty simple and I had absolutely NAILED my performance that night. The guitarist said “he seemed like a psycho,” I agreed, and we forgot about it.

About a month later, we played a house party near campus. The house was absolutely filled with people. In the middle of our first set, I noticed my little friend in the audience. He had “his posse” with him, and they were ALL staring at me. This went on for a few minutes, with the friends occasionally saying something to the psycho and him responding. Psycho was also writing something on a piece of folded paper. After awhile, the posse dispersed, leaving psycho to stare at me by himself. During the break, he made his way to our guitarist again. He was all smiles and handshakes. This time, I made my way over. When I introduced myself, he just stared at me blankly, then said “Dude, this doesn’t involve you.” I just laughed and walked away. After I walked away, he reiterated to my guitarist that I sucked, that his “posse” agreed, and that he was a much better bassist. He was taking notes during our set, and produced it to demonstrate to our guitarist the number of times I had screwed up during the set. Again, the guitarist told him that they were happy with my performance and that they weren’t looking to replace me. We played our second set and then took another break. During the break, I went to the restroom. While in the restroom, I heard some absolutely abusing my bass, at full volume. I raced out to the main room, and psycho has grabbed my bass (out of the case) plugged it in and is attempting to wail through a little pop and slap number. It was awful. He has maxed out the volume on my amp, and it is distorting badly. As soon as I got to him, he stopped playing, hands me my bass and says “sorry dude, but you suck, and I had to show your band what a real bassist sounded like.” Funny thing was, none of my band was in the room at the time. We exchanged words and shoves, and then he leaves with his “posse.” We played our third set without incident.

Several days later, the guitarist called me to tell me about a call he got from psycho. He had called to tell him that everyone hated my bass playing, but loved the band. He told my guitarist that he could “blow me away” and he wanted to come to one of our practices to prove that he was better. He told the guitarist that he wanted to have a “bass-off” and the winner would stay in the band. My guitarist AGAIN told the guy that he wasn’t replacing me, and then asked psycho what he had against me. Psycho says that he has nothing against me personally, but he really likes the guitarist and the drummer, and would do anything to play with them (they were really tight and talented). He claims that he “has connections” and could get the band signed within 6 months if they would just let him replace me. He also said that I sucked because I didn’t pop and slap and I never took a solo (in a rock and blues band.) At that point, the guitarist told him he was nuts and that they would never let him in the band. Psycho lets off a profanity-laden tirade, then hangs up. That was the last we ever heard from him.

I ended up seeing one of his friends out at a bar about a year later (after the band broke up) and asked about the incident. His friend was a nice guy, and told me that psycho had been trying to get into a band for years with no success and was quite bitter about it. He said that he didn’t know the guy that well, and had never seen him play bass before. The night we had seen them at the party, psycho had tried to encourage them to stick around until the party was over to “jump” me. Needless to say, they had all declined.

Anyone else got a story like this?

leftyforlife · #2 08-17-2006, 04:23 PM

considering i havn't had a professional gig yet, no.

but that was some weird stuff. The ending kinda made me chuckle.

MikeBass · #3 08-17-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

During the break, I went to the restroom. While in the restroom, I heard some absolutely abusing my bass, at full volume. I raced out to the main room, and psycho has grabbed my bass (out of the case) plugged it in and is attempting to wail through a little pop and slap number. It was awful. He has maxed out the volume on my amp, and it is distorting badly. As soon as I got to him, he stopped playing, hands me my bass and says “sorry dude, but you suck, and I had to show your band what a real bassist sounded like.” Funny thing was, none of my band was in the room at the time. We exchanged words and shoves, and then he leaves with his “posse.” We played our third set without incident.

As soon as my bass was in a safe place away from this moron, I would have beat him like a little b!tch.
No pushing or shoving. No words exchanged.
Just an ass whippin'.

SundanceChile · #4 08-17-2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBass

As soon as my bass was in a safe place away from this moron, I would have beat him like a little b!tch.
No pushing or shoving. No words exchanged.
Just an ass whippin'.

As much as I like a peaceful solution, I think I would have to agree with Mike on this one.

pil · #5 08-17-2006, 04:42 PM

Never happened to me, im too good

Scary stuff though, its a mad old world

freakout116 · #6 08-17-2006, 04:43 PM

great story!!!

my similar experience, i went to a bar that we normally play on a regular basis just to hang out and schmooze. i started talking to some girls who knew the band since they came to this particular place quite often. before not too long a bunch of guys came over to start hitting on the girls (i'm 5'10" and about 130lbs soaking wet so they obviously knew i was not a threat lol) and start doing that thing that ******* guys do to girls in bars, i can't really explain it, but i'm sure you all have witnessed the display...

anyway, i start watching in amusement, and before i know it they start talking about my band!!! one starts telling these girls that the guys in the band (my bandmates) heard him play bass one day and immediately fired me and took him, that's how amazing he was... that he had all connections to big rooms yadda yadda yadda, the whole nine yards. the best part about it is that these girls go on and let him rant and rave telling all these lies for about 20 minutes. after a while, the girls pull me over and go "hey, have you met our friend?" they obviously say no. the girls say simply "he's the band's bass player, he wants to know next time you're playing here so he can check out your skills!"

the look on their dumb guido faces was priceless. the girls took me by the arm and walked away leaving them dumbfounded. good wholesome fun.

AbbeyRolled · #7 08-17-2006, 04:46 PM

Had a guy come to one of my jam bands show once. He told my guitar player that he could take me, and offered to show his services. I knew the guy, vaguely, and I knew he was full of hot air, so I offered up my bass. He slapped, popped, bent, and generally made an ass out of himself. At which point I took the bass back and started a simple yet funky groove. The band joined in, the crowd started to dance, and we thanked him for his time. The crowd booed him right out of the club.

Ben B · #8 08-17-2006, 05:03 PM

Wow, that's bad!

I had, or may have had, a bass player try to replace me once. No psycho story. I'm not even sure what really happened. Our drummer wouldn't tell me too many details, but I got the impression that the other bass player and our guitar player had an audition.

The funny thing is that the bass player was already playing in a band, so, I'm not sure why he would be checking out my band. And this guy's band was good. Their guitarist moved on and became pretty famous. I won't name names in case the bass player is a TB member. I guess I should be flattered that a bass player in a such a good band was interested in my job. LOL

ireidt · #9 08-17-2006, 05:06 PM

heh, thats nuts man.

my thing is, I was in a band that was a 3 piece, and Ya, I was new at bass at the time, but I was learning. The guitarist/singer wanted to get a rhythym twanger added, and I saw no problem with that.

The new twanger convinced the drummer that i wasn't right for the band, and that I sucked becuase I never used a pick.

Well a month ago, The lead guitarist/vocalist and I got the old band back together, and invited him back as a faith of good will. Got a new drummer since the old one is on tour now with a chiristian band called Providence. Anyway, during practices, he was all friendly now, but behind my back, he told the lead guy that I sucked and that he could play bass, and keep it a 3 piece. This guy never played bass before, and owns no bass gear, ***? we broke up again after one show becuase the drummer quit and we just gave up the old songs

a week ago the lead guiatrist and I got back together, new drummer who looks like he is gonna stay, new music, so we are giving the band a new name, and the rhythym guy calls, and we both tell him that he is not in because he does not practice even for 10 minutes at home, keeps his guitar anywhere but his house, and he hasnt gotten better in the four years that we have known him. He is now pissed at us and wotn talk to us.

good riddance. He said crap behind my back for years, but when we are up front with him, he gets pissed off.

guy n. cognito · #10 08-17-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBass

As soon as my bass was in a safe place away from this moron, I would have beat him like a little b!tch.
No pushing or shoving. No words exchanged.
Just an ass whippin'.

That had been my plan, but he retreated quickly after I pushed him off the stage. I learned young never to persue a fight with someone who has a "posse"

AdlerAugen · #11 08-18-2006, 02:11 AM

that dude sounds like a serious psycho....get a restraining order if he does it any more...

guy n. cognito · #12 08-18-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdlerAugen

that dude sounds like a serious psycho....get a restraining order if he does it any more...

Well, it's been about 13 years since this happened, so I think I'm pretty safe.

TheDarkReaver · #13 08-18-2006, 12:06 PM

just when you think you're safe thats when they come back with a chainsaw and try to cut off your fretting fingers.

FalextheFalex · #14 08-18-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

just when you think you're safe thats when they come back with a chainsaw and try to cut off your fretting fingers.

Heh, I'd play with the stubs.

invader3k · #15 08-18-2006, 01:39 PM

If somebody stares at me while I'm playing, I stare back.

mrwink · #16 08-18-2006, 02:24 PM

I've never had that happen but kind of the oppposite... first - I'm an ok player, but not really much more than ok. I've been asked by bands on occasion to fill in for their bass player for a gig or rehearsal and in several of those situations I've been invited to join the band - but I've been friends with the bass players and either declined or asked the bass player what their intentions were with the band - did they even care about it... I've been careful to not steal gig's... but still feel kind of weird when it happens... kind of like subtly moving in on someone's girl or something.

I'd be pretty pissed if someone was stalking me at gigs working to get my spot... but I'm kind of passive... I'd prolly ignore it and preetend like it waasn't happening... though with the bands I play with I'm not concerned that people will be breaking the door down trying to get in!

Fuzzbass · #17 08-18-2006, 04:52 PM

What a story. He was a psycho, for sure. The really scary thing is that psycho boy had a posse. Makes me wonder if it was a Manson type of cult.

The worst that happened to me was mild: I was playing a club and someone I didn't know yelled "the bass needs more treble!!" Who would even notice (let alone care) but another bassist, right? Like an idiot I adjusted my amp instead of ignoring him. I was playing thru an Acoustic folded 18" cab, so he was probably just mocking my rig.

Dusty Chalk · #18 08-18-2006, 05:22 PM

Being in a band is kind of like being in a marriage -- being able to get along is more important than the kind of music you make when you're performing. Who would want to be in a band with someone who is obviously antagonistic like that?

I've got two syllables for him: de-caf.

I am fortunate enough to be in a band with two people who know that.

Sagaris · #19 08-18-2006, 05:26 PM

Well, I haven't ever had a bassist steal my gig. In fact, my band mates tell me I'm probably one of the best bassists they know since I'm not full of slap and pop and the fact that I can make good bass lines and can keep a groove.

But I do have one particular bassist friend who's a bit full of himself and I can tell that he's jealous of the fact I'm playing in a Jazz Band for the next three years and he's not. I was browsing through the Basses at a shop in Brighton (UK) and he picks up a Bass without asking, takes a random lead from a table without asking and then slaps out Country Music VERY LOUDLY (and pretty unevenly). The shop staff turned and sort of smirked a bit.

I just swiftly slid away and into the Warwick section.

Mike N · #20 08-18-2006, 05:36 PM

About 5 years ago the band I was in got a new singer. Someone we knew, and he had come from a southern rock band and decided he wanted to go the rock band route.

Little did I know that he was joined at the hip with his old Bass player.

Within a month he was trying to talk the other members into letting me go so his guy could join the band.

I bailed and let him join, because.......

A) I didn't care for the way the band was managed. The g**tarist made all the decisions, regardless of anyone else's feelings.

B) The band was going nowhere quickly.

C) I was putting another band together and getting ready to bail out anyway.

The way I saw it the timing couldn't have been any better for me to go. It was a blessing, and I should have sent them a thank you card.