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Age gap in the band?

#21
Nah, age itself shouldn't be a problem. Image might be, if the style requires that teenage girls think you're totally cute.

Then again, I had a guitarist who's 13 years younger than me tell me that "you play like experienced musician, but your tastes are a bit... teen". Haha.
 
#24
bluewine said:
Yeah, the whole business part of this gets really creepy when it comes to making it today.

I was told by a credible producer;

In todays market a Stevie Wonder or an Aretha Franklin would never get signed.
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bluewine said:
Well, it's the way I see things. I am tired of arguing and defending my ideology.
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aren't you defending someone else's ideology?

The band I just left had me at 40 along with 3 kids that were 19-20. The chick singer was amazing and the guitar player was great, but there were just too many issues and dramas that exist in that age group for me. I am now playing with some guys in their 50's and 60's so I guess it just depends which side of the 20 year difference I'm on.

I am talking to a side project band that has a 20 year old, but there is also a 30 year old and a 50 year old, so we'll see if a wide even range works better than a drastic one way range.
 
#25
Bredian said:
Currently playing in a church jazz band a friend from high school (35 years ago) recruited me into. Of 18+ pieces, 3 in high school, 2 college, 1-2 others under 50, the rest 50-mid 70s. The drummer has sheet music from his band 40 years ago with his name stamped on it. Lots of classic straight ahead jazz, a little Sinatra also. All new to me as my 4 years of high school jazz band was mostly Ellis, Ferguson, etc......so...the... chords...aren't ... written.... in.... I gotta read the damn notes.

I found a recording of Birth of the Blues to see how the bass player covered a passage and the damn guy was faking the whole thing. Reminded me we had a couple of Stan Kenton's guys stop in for a high school demo in the 70s and that bassist walked through a rockn Ferguson tune..... oh well, as long as they did it with authority!

There won't be any "chicks at shows" posts from these gigs:hmm:
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Had some horn players from the Kenton band and one former NBC Orchestra trumpeter show up for the jam my band hosted every Friday night in the early 70s (we were a 6-nights-a-week band at a local venue). They were in their 30s and 40s, I was 21. No one noticed. Man o man, what a sound we had that night! Those guys were good! There were some other heavies in the audience, too, including a former guitarist for Sinatra. (I actually got to sit and talk music with Stan the Man that week. How cool!).
 
#29
wumusic said:
If there's chemistry and you truly enjoy jammin' and creating music together, I see no reason why age would make any difference.
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Big +1

One of the bands that I am in has two guys that are around 49 or so, the guitar player is 22, I am 24 and the singer is 21. We click really well and create some really rad music. If everybody is into playing the music that you guys are going to be creating, than age shouldn't matter.
 
#30
I play in a a lot of different bands, I'm older than everyone (except 1 drummer) that I play with. And often 20 to 25 years older. Sometimes even more.

I think a lot has to do with with the way you present yourself. If you stand out like a sore thumb, there's more of a chance that it'll be an issue. If you have a sense of style and keep yourself in good shape, I think it's a lot easier. My girlfriend helps me with the sense of style. I spend a lot of time at the gym and don't eat the way most Italians my age do. :)
 
#31
Popular music is a strong reflection of culture; and since age has a definite cultural identity associated with it, why wouldn't there be age related factors going on in various bands?

I am personally totally open to playing anything that has good musical content going on age not being a factor, but also recognize that I would not fit in with a group of 19 - 23 yo's whose thing is centered around a following with their own age group. No problem.

Regarding BW's comment; I suppose I agree to the extent that major labels seem to have a hefty component of appearance bling to their choices for artists who are going to be pushed. Not only that, but they push them then drop them faster than changing their underwear. In this environment, an artist like Aretha, who is a once a century talent, but not bling from the appearance factor has a lot smaller chance of "making it," with the "major labels." So what. Everything has changed anyhow. Major labels don't mean what they used to mean. We are still trying to figure out the Internet etc, but artists more and more are selling their content over the net. Nothing is the way it was and never will be again. That's the way life is. You have to take what was good as it was, learn and incorporate and move on. We are and were lucky to have artists like Aretha, Phoebe Snow etc. Count your blessings. The structure of the music industry was never a pretty thing, even in the hay day. Just ask the Funk Brothers.

Next.
 
#32
Joe Nerve said:
I play in a a lot of different bands, I'm older than everyone (except 1 drummer) that I play with. And often 20 to 25 years older. Sometimes even more.

I think a lot has to do with with the way you present yourself. If you stand out like a sore thumb, there's more of a chance that it'll be an issue. If you have a sense of style and keep yourself in good shape, I think it's a lot easier. My girlfriend helps me with the sense of style. I spend a lot of time at the gym and don't eat the way most Italians my age do. :)
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What on Earth have Italians got to do with it? They're all three thousand miles east of you. :D

I play in one band with a bunch of youngsters, no drama or issues at all.
 
#33
Munjibunga said:
Absurd. That level of talent would have no problem getting signed in today's market. In fact, they are still major players today. Define "credible."
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I disagree.

They are more living legends than anything else. They are the kind of artists that emerge once in a life time.I was lucky enough to remember when they both hit the scene as major players.

I believe they both still work and are influences on some young performers, but they are not major players in terms of the hit makers they were in the prime of their careers.

Aretha might get signed today as a young artist if she looked like Alecia Keys.

Believe me Munj, there are probably talents like Aretha and Stevie out there but if they don't look like movie stars we will never see or hear of them.

Now I will define credible:

I said he was credible. End of definition.
 
#34
Regarding BW's comment; I suppose I agree to the extent that major labels seem to have a hefty component of appearance bling to their choices for artists who are going to be pushed.

This Guy gets it. He didn't take the popular, I'll disagree because it's a BW opinion route.
 
#35
smgleitch said:
I responded to a CL ad and got a response. I was asked to come over for an audition. So I am excited. These guys are playing my style of music and I am ready to get playing again.

Now I like to do my homework before I respond to anyone. So I google the guy that emailed me about the audition and found a myspace page. He is either 18 or 19 years old and I am 37. I don't really have any issue with the age as I am most concerned about the music, but.... I would like to have some things in common with the people I play with other than the music.

Anyone else think it would be weird to play in a band with such a large age gap?
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In this scenario, I would say yes. Most times it takes more of a common bond beyond the music to keep a band together.
 
#36
To get back on the heart of the discussion, it's easy to see there are many different factors to consider:

Genre

The actual age gap

Maturity levels

I think in the OPs scenario it could work.

For me, I will always be dealing with age gaps. I'm 58 and for one reason,those that know of me know I don't ever see myself being a part of a jazz or blues band where it's common to see older musicians.

On the lions share of any gap,regardless of genre. I will not be involved with 18 year old musicians. That's just to much of a gap for me.
 
#40
I am 21. i play in a band with a 55 year old guitarist. i joined his band when i was 18. it was only weird sometimes when i was younger, to deal with certain bars that didnt allow underage people in. we just have to assure them that im not gonna drink. i play in a few bands with this guy. he is my source for basically all of my gigs.
 

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