Uh, who has never been kicked out of a band?

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by rhythmsection

...that particular bass player they ousted (for more reasons than one), was often quoted (as a 'lead guitarist that had to switch over to bass') as saying....the most ignorant phrase i've ever heard..."The True Bass Players Are Really Lead Guitarists!!!"

That's a seriously delusional camper right there!

[Skarekrough]

Yep....twice that are notable.

The first was an original band I'd signed into along with a relatively new drummer. All four other guys had kinda grown up and went to high school together so I was an outsider to begin with. One night the drummer kept on cranking up the PA for his electronic kit while we were playing and after a few times of asking nicely I finally snapped at him about it.

I'm a fairly large intimidating guy to begin with and apparently I scared him enough for him to take the other guys aside the next day and say after the gig it was me or him. We played a gig a few days later. The next day I found a brief email telling me it wasn't working out and I needed to go pick up my gear.

I didn't find out it was the drummer until years later.

The second time was me refusing to let a classic rock band turn into a Top 40 band at the behest of the lead-singer or gig three hours South of where we were at the behest of the bass player or to have the payout at the end of the night get split for one more person (a keyboard player I didn't feel we needed and everyone else wanted).

It was funny to watch it happen before my eyes. I just no longer really cared what happened and made things as difficult as possible in hopes that I'd get tossed and I wouldn't risk being asked to ever get a fill-in gig. The goal was to burn a bridge and I torched it pretty viciously.

At the end of the night I had my PA in my car with all my gear and my cut on my pocket.

Normally after a gig I'm exhausted and go home and right to sleep.

That night I was so happy I went to a local pond and fished for an hour before I felt myself coming down from it enough to consider sleeping.

[gunny]

A couple of years ago we collapsed the band and reformed but without 2 of the members. It was layed out in writing so there shouldn't have been any questions as to why. Still, one guys wife phoned me to say her husband was upset and didn't understand the situation.
It was a good move. The 2nd guy didn't demonstrate any measurable effort that would warrant him staying on. I ran into him a few months later and he was OK with it all.
I've never been let go from any of the bands I was in.

[Jehos]

Never been fired from a band. I guess I'm just not shy about quitting when the writing is on the wall.

[barbarbass]

Originally Posted by Ben B

same here.

Loved em and left em, always. Almost have gotten booted once or twice, but not quite.

[bassfrenzie]

Got let go once...this guy called me to put a four piece together. He was known locally for being an arse and difficult to work for. 3 months later he called me and said he "wasn't getting off" and I was being replaced. Turns out the band fell apart a few weeks later.

What an arse.

[Bass Viking]

I know this thread is about not being fired but some have posted about being sacked so here's my story:

I was in a jazz band when I was a teenager. My 18th birthday was coming up and I organized a birthday party. Invited the band members too. Lo and behold, a gig opportunity came up the same night as my party. I told them I couldn't make it as it was too late to cancel the party. Next thing I know, I'm informed that I'm no longer in the band. I couldn't believe it! It's not as if I was on the outs with them beforehand. None of them showed up to the party of course. They must have regretted their decision however because I was asked to rejoin shortly after. I didn't say yes right away though, I let 'em wait while I made up my mind. I eventually rejoined.

The annoying thing is: The band was big enough that had it been anyone else in the group who couldn't make the show, it wouldn't have been an issue. But no one else played bass!

Chalk it up to silly, immature teenage behaviour.

[LilMissStrange]

Nope, same here. Never been fired. But I've been in bands that completely dissolved from lack of interest, or I've been the one to say "F-this, see ya!" Although I'd be willing to bet that with the latter the singer's walking around somewhere telling people I was fired!