Go Back   TalkBass Forums > Bass Guitar Forums > Bass Guitar Forums > Band Management [BG]
Register Rules/FAQ/CUP Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Band Management [BG] Examining issues with band membership, interaction, politics, and management.


Supporting Membership
Thank You

Latest Supporting Member
Donate to Upgrade Today

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old 11-28-2007, 02:35 PM
TB's resident Rush freak
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Angry I don't need kids, I have a drummer!

Sign in to disble this ad
Nothing like a drummer throwing a temper tantrum to mess up your week...

Our cover band has been doing quite well; covering mainly 90's rock with some other things thrown in here and there. We are in the middle of fleshing out set number 3, and one of the guitarists suggested Pearl Jam. I concurred, and suggested that we look at Porch (fun for me, easy enough for the rest of the guys). Regardless of song, the drummer FLIPS out via e-mail, and sent this screen-long rant about how he hates Pearl Jam, how we are forcing the music down his throat, and that if we want to become a Pearl Jam tribute band we can count him out (we have ONE other song from Pearl Jam in the set list ).

His idea of a solution is for every band member to come up with 300 songs, he'll chart them out, and then any song that is on EVERYONE'S list, we'll try. If even one person doesn't list it, it's out. The singer and I told him he was off his rocker if he thought it was going to work...so he sends another novel saying "It's over".

Lead singer has been friends with this guy since childhood, so he is trying to salvage the relationship; we are having a meeting at a local bar tonight to discuss. My thoughts? If he wants to apologize for being a 40+ year old who has temper tantrums, we'll consider continuing...otherwise, I'm scheduling auditions. Left to my own devices I'd be scheduling auditions already, but I respect our singer's situation (the singer is talented, and is a great guy).

If I wanted drama, I would have gone into theatre...

Time to get back into a side project doing originals, me thinks...I'd like some stability.

Thanks for the venting space.

-Mark
__________________
Lefty Union Member #101
Minnesota Bassists Club #10
Quote:
mongo2: "Well, you did barf on your bass."
Fassa Albrecht: "It was an ACCIDENT!"
  #2  
Old 11-28-2007, 03:05 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Leander, Texas
He wants to chart 300 songs? Over *this*?

No wonder he's freaking out. He's off his nut, man.

Cherie
  #3  
Old 11-28-2007, 03:15 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Houston
I don't think I could find 300 songs that:
A) I like
B) My band can cover well
C) Other people want to hear
  #4  
Old 11-28-2007, 03:21 PM
TB's resident Rush freak
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Quote:
Originally Posted by need4mospd View Post
I don't think I could find 300 songs that:
A) I like
B) My band can cover well
C) Other people want to hear
Exactly!

He and the singer "founded" the group...but...I'm the original bassist, and guess what their audition announcement listed as an influence? If you said Pearl Jam, you get a gold star.

-Mark
__________________
Lefty Union Member #101
Minnesota Bassists Club #10
Quote:
mongo2: "Well, you did barf on your bass."
Fassa Albrecht: "It was an ACCIDENT!"
  #5  
Old 11-28-2007, 03:27 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Haddon Heights, NJ
He's probably going through some rough times in his life (in his job, etc.), and one of the areas he's taking it out on is the band. It doesn't sound like you're gigging yet, so don't sweat it. Give him a week to cool down, and then get back together.

Was he being facetious about the 300 songs? Try writing a smaller list - his approach is decent. You can sort the list with a computer, and can VERY easily determine a set list that way. Chances are, since you guys like the same style music, you'll have roughly the same list.

imp
  #6  
Old 11-28-2007, 03:30 PM
Bass Mule's Avatar
D. Snutz
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
Supporting Member
Wow. Most of the drummers I know in Minneapolis are pretty humble and are willing to play just about anything. There are a couple I know that might be similar to yours, but...

Out of curiosity, when do you guys play out next? I've always wanted to go see other TBer's gigs.
__________________
Jeff Salladay houseluna and The Uncool.

Minnesota Bassist Club #3
RHAT Pack #10
  #7  
Old 11-28-2007, 03:30 PM
TB's resident Rush freak
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chebass88 View Post
He's probably going through some rough times in his life (in his job, etc.), and one of the areas he's taking it out on is the band. It doesn't sound like you're gigging yet, so don't sweat it. Give him a week to cool down, and then get back together.

Was he being facetious about the 300 songs? Try writing a smaller list - his approach is decent. You can sort the list with a computer, and can VERY easily determine a set list that way. Chances are, since you guys like the same style music, you'll have roughly the same list.

imp
Been gigging, but smaller stuff (shared nights, etc.). He's self-employed and quite well off with a solid family. The singer says this is par for the course with him ever since he was a kid ("I'm taking my ball and going home" kind of garbage).

Problem is, his tastes are turning out to not fit the rest. It's tough when we're talking Foo Fighters and he is suggesting Grand Funk...

-Mark
__________________
Lefty Union Member #101
Minnesota Bassists Club #10
Quote:
mongo2: "Well, you did barf on your bass."
Fassa Albrecht: "It was an ACCIDENT!"
  #8  
Old 11-28-2007, 03:33 PM
TB's resident Rush freak
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bass Mule View Post
Wow. Most of the drummers I know in Minneapolis are pretty humble and are willing to play just about anything. There are a couple I know that might be similar to yours, but...

Out of curiosity, when do you guys play out next? I've always wanted to go see other TBer's gigs.
He's a relative newbie, me thinks. He's not bad, but I've noticed quirks that I'd normally expect from a younger drummer.

We're negotiating a couple spots for mid-January at this point; at least this had happened during a spot where we weren't facing a busy schedule. Mid-September would have really sucked.

-Mark
__________________
Lefty Union Member #101
Minnesota Bassists Club #10
Quote:
mongo2: "Well, you did barf on your bass."
Fassa Albrecht: "It was an ACCIDENT!"
  #9  
Old 11-28-2007, 03:50 PM
basswave's Avatar
Excuse me but you have your I-IV-V in my II-V-I

Modulus & SBMM Artist
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Boston Mass
GOLD Supporting Member
No offense to anyone who plays drums in anyway at all.
Hell I play a little percussion my self.

However

When I read the title of this thread I was like

Thats pretty d@mn funny.

PS.
I hope you situation with him improves thats just not cool.
__________________
Cheers
-B~
  #10  
Old 11-28-2007, 04:14 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: towards dead end
maybe your drummer and my drummer should get together sometime.
__________________
www.metalfromfinland.com
ESP F-104-->Peavey TNT 160
  #11  
Old 11-28-2007, 04:26 PM
TB's resident Rush freak
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Quote:
Originally Posted by metalbass66 View Post
maybe your drummer and my drummer should get together sometime.
As long as they don't breed...
__________________
Lefty Union Member #101
Minnesota Bassists Club #10
Quote:
mongo2: "Well, you did barf on your bass."
Fassa Albrecht: "It was an ACCIDENT!"
  #12  
Old 11-28-2007, 06:43 PM
Bassists do it with 2 fingers...and a thumb
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: East Coast
seems like a lot of drummers are complete tools. I just got finished with one such overgrown child.
__________________
Ampeg "Classic" 8x10, Ampeg SVT-6 Pro, Musicman Stingray, Fender Jazz, '75 reissue, Fender Precision classic reissue
  #13  
Old 11-28-2007, 09:16 PM
TB's resident Rush freak
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Had the meeting...skin beater is in the band for the moment. He wasn't too apologetic until he didn't get the reaction out of us he anticipated.

It wasn't starting out to be a pleasant meeting...the poor waitress kind of avoided our table after stopping by in the middle of a cuss-out. The guitar players and I are very laid back on it at this point...we did say if there are any other issues, the offender is getting tossed to the curb.

Let's see how rehearsal goes...

-Mark
__________________
Lefty Union Member #101
Minnesota Bassists Club #10
Quote:
mongo2: "Well, you did barf on your bass."
Fassa Albrecht: "It was an ACCIDENT!"
  #14  
Old 11-29-2007, 03:28 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Norway
He comes up with these tantrums because he discovered they worked when he was a kid. It wasnīt taken care of then, and he carried with him into adulthood. Problem is, now he has the stubborness/confidence to stick with being a dikk, a kid usually donīt.

[/dr phil]

edit: Oh, and if he does it again, beat his ass back to childhood.
__________________
Mesa/Boogie Club #20
  #15  
Old 11-30-2007, 03:26 PM
Lazylion's Avatar
Deteriorating faster than I can lower my standards
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Frederick MD USA
Supporting Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by basswave View Post
When I read the title of this thread I was like

Thats pretty d@mn funny.
+1 Been there a number of times.
Another thread that makes me love my current drummer more. Bless you, Gary, for not being typical!
__________________
They stole my mood ring! Not sure how I feel about that...

Herding noodlemeisters since 1971
  #16  
Old 11-30-2007, 03:39 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Send a message via AIM to BassSurfer
anyone who does this that is 40+ imo is just plain immature
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by chroma601 View Post
Aren't those left-handed strings???

Always looking for pedals, cables, strings, and other misc items!
  #17  
Old 11-30-2007, 03:50 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Anaheim, Ca.
Mark... I think your initial instinct was correct: Start designing the wording for the audition anouncement: get it ready to go and show to the others (or don't) and maybe even put out some verbal 'feelers' that things aren't all that great in the Land of Oz, and that maybe there's room for a new drummer there... just a thought.
  #18  
Old 11-30-2007, 03:52 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Amarillo, TX
Based on what you have described I don't see it working long term. I would start looking for another drummer and move on.
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

Follow TalkBass on Twitter   Visit TalkBass on Facebook  

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:40 AM.




Copyright Đ2011 Talk Music Group Inc. All right reserved.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.12
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.