Your positive outlook is inspiring. 4 hour gigs are not in my near future!
A mentor of mine was in a band called Four Hours Straight. Until some guy said "What are you the other 20 hours?" 
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Ailments before a gig
- Thread starter Pudge Fish
- Start date
A mentor of mine was in a band called Four Hours Straight. Until some guy said "What are you the other 20 hours?" 
I broke my wrist and had to have a couple of screws put in. I wore a forearm cast for a couple of months and played 4 gigs like that. Because of the restrictions of wearing a cast, I had to play a few songs using my thumb over the top of the neck for the lowest string in some parts.
About two hours before a gig one night, I cut my finger and severed the median nerve in my left index finger. After the initial shock wore off, I taped up the finger and played the gig using just my middle and ring finger. Any time I used the index finger directly that night, it felt like I stuck my finger right into an electrical socket! Had surgery two days later to "fix" it....
Click here for graphic pics---> https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAAADew/LbbhmZoHsLY/s800-Ic42/Collages.jpg
That was two years ago - I managed to get back playing the bass within a few months (I use my index finger about 50% less than I used to), but I can't bend the finger enough to play guitar like I used to. So, I taught myself how to play pedal steel, straight steel and dobro instead!
Another story, years ago, I shattered my right elbow (split the head of the radius in three pieces) after a bad landing while doing some mountain bike tricks. Again, I had a gig a few days later. Fortunately, the way my arm was bent after treatment (all nestled into a sling), it was at a pretty good angle for playing bass finger style. Took off the sling, played the gig. Boy did I ever pay for that one though, hurt like a bastard during and afterwards - more than it should have if I didn't play. Nothing whiskey and percocet couldn't fix, though.
Never had to do a gig with the flu or food poisoning. That sounds awful!
Click here for graphic pics---> https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AAAAAAADew/LbbhmZoHsLY/s800-Ic42/Collages.jpg
That was two years ago - I managed to get back playing the bass within a few months (I use my index finger about 50% less than I used to), but I can't bend the finger enough to play guitar like I used to. So, I taught myself how to play pedal steel, straight steel and dobro instead!
Another story, years ago, I shattered my right elbow (split the head of the radius in three pieces) after a bad landing while doing some mountain bike tricks. Again, I had a gig a few days later. Fortunately, the way my arm was bent after treatment (all nestled into a sling), it was at a pretty good angle for playing bass finger style. Took off the sling, played the gig. Boy did I ever pay for that one though, hurt like a bastard during and afterwards - more than it should have if I didn't play. Nothing whiskey and percocet couldn't fix, though.
Never had to do a gig with the flu or food poisoning. That sounds awful!
Yeah, it's no fun.
About 8 years ago, the band I was in had a high profile gig at a popular venue, we were opening the show for a regional act that could bring in a big crowd. Two days before the show, I got the flu, big time. Throwing up, high fever, body aches, chills, and so on. I was a wreck. There was no way I wanted to cancel the gig, I figured I could get well enough to play provided I get enough rest and try to flush it out with fluids. Gig day comes around, and I feel better, but still feverish and having difficulties keeping solid food down. Showed up to the venue, did sound check, and still had about 90 minutes to rest, so I went out to my car for a power nap, and then have a quick bite to eat before show time, hoping that I don’t toss it back up, though if push came to shove I had placed a large plastic bucket back by my rig so I could run back and barf if I had to. The show starts, and we did very well, great crowd response and I had a some folks on my end of the stage cheering me on, so that helped keep me going. I felt like I was playing the show drunk, definitely still feverish. Other than some bits and pieces, and a moment where my guts were giving me some issues (which my drummer didn’t care for at all), I really don’t remember much about the actual gig.
Another one, but this wasn’t me, it was my guitarist. This was back in 1995, I believe, and we were playing a gig at a place with a rather high stage. During load in, my guitarist jumped off the stage and he said “ow!”, but he seemed to be ok, he was walking fine, so we didn’t think anything off it. First song of the set, we get to the guitar solo. I’m rocking out on my side of the stage, I hear the guitarist go into the solo and then it sounds like he’s just smacking the thing around. I turn to look and he’s trying to pick himself up off the stage, and failing badly. His left leg isn’t working for him at all, he can’t stand and he’s all tangled up in his cords and pedalboard. We stop the song, I go over to him and he says that his knee did go out on him, and he’s in massive pain. I tell him “Ok, we’ll get you to the hospital” and he says “No! Get me a chair, some advil, and a glass of scotch”. He played the rest of the gig in the chair, and he rocked out. He got some massive props from the crowd for that. The next gig the following weekend, he played the gig in a rocking chair with the arms removed. I think he had surgery sometime after that.
There was a period of about 6 months where my right wrist started going (tendosinivitis) while I was in a gigging cover band playing twice a week. At the beginning of that period I used fingers, at the end I was a pick player. In the intervening time I popped a lot of Ibuprofen and was searching for what worked.
I did one gig where I tried a wrist brace. I actually ended up ripping it off mid-song (velcro with teeth while keeping the root notes going on the left hand) near the beginning of the gig as it caused me more pain than not having it. I flipped between fingers, pick (without much experience) and even using my thumb for a bit. Couldn't get comfortable, couldn't play as well as I liked. Heat packs before gigs, ice after.
Did a lot of gigs mid winter (aussie winter, so not snow or anything) where I would drive home with my right hand hanging out the open window to numb it.
Looking back now I really should have turned up my amp a bit more, used compression and played lighter. I was a very heavy player and broke strings regularly.
Eventually I went to all pick and got good thick picks that I could hold easily, started using a mouse left handed as well and the wrist settled down. Still can't play finger style for more than about two songs without pain but I am at a reasonably happy compromise.
I did one gig where I tried a wrist brace. I actually ended up ripping it off mid-song (velcro with teeth while keeping the root notes going on the left hand) near the beginning of the gig as it caused me more pain than not having it. I flipped between fingers, pick (without much experience) and even using my thumb for a bit. Couldn't get comfortable, couldn't play as well as I liked. Heat packs before gigs, ice after.
Did a lot of gigs mid winter (aussie winter, so not snow or anything) where I would drive home with my right hand hanging out the open window to numb it.
Looking back now I really should have turned up my amp a bit more, used compression and played lighter. I was a very heavy player and broke strings regularly.
Eventually I went to all pick and got good thick picks that I could hold easily, started using a mouse left handed as well and the wrist settled down. Still can't play finger style for more than about two songs without pain but I am at a reasonably happy compromise.
Massive asthma attack while onstage.. (Kept playing)
Herniated disc, Sciatica related pain (and I mean PAIN!!!!)
Arm bandaged and wrapped in tube bandage. I was told I would need surgery and/or cortisone injections to play again. Played the gig on an overdose of pain killers. (It was at Ronnie Scotts)
Herniated disc, Sciatica related pain (and I mean PAIN!!!!)
Arm bandaged and wrapped in tube bandage. I was told I would need surgery and/or cortisone injections to play again. Played the gig on an overdose of pain killers. (It was at Ronnie Scotts)
i've played sick, injured and on no sleep, although i never played in a cast. but "the" story in this category is about singing, not bass playing,.
in 1994, several of us formed a project to play for the american lung association bike ride on catalina island, a 3 day 2 night event. unfortunately i developed laryngitis after sleeping in a cold tent on the beach, so for our second show, i had no voice. hot tea and lozenges had little effect, so i gargled with hot water mixed with cayenne pepper (i had heard of this from another singer). it did actually bring back my voice, and the show went really really well. unfortunately the cayenne pepper and singing on a weak throat caused scar tissue so i lost about 50% of my voice and 25% of my range for years, and never got it all back. but man, it was an amazing show
in 1994, several of us formed a project to play for the american lung association bike ride on catalina island, a 3 day 2 night event. unfortunately i developed laryngitis after sleeping in a cold tent on the beach, so for our second show, i had no voice. hot tea and lozenges had little effect, so i gargled with hot water mixed with cayenne pepper (i had heard of this from another singer). it did actually bring back my voice, and the show went really really well. unfortunately the cayenne pepper and singing on a weak throat caused scar tissue so i lost about 50% of my voice and 25% of my range for years, and never got it all back. but man, it was an amazing show
That second pic with all the black nastiness (from a Sharpie marker) was after the second surgery. First surgery to reconnect the nerve went OK, but got infected. They opened it up again a week or so later, rinsed it out for a while and stitched what was left of my skin back up. I got some major scar tissue build up at the incision that's starting to soften up a bit these days. Still missing half the feeling in my finger above the 2nd knuckle and have only about 75% range of motion - and that's after a whole bunch of useless OT.
It'll never really go back to normal, but I'm told by those that have experience with such things (not doctors!) that I'll forget about it after a decade or two!
Playing bass is probably the best thing I can be doing. Playing guitar gets painful after about 15 minutes of trying to fold my index finger too far through its range of motion. Not nearly as bad as what I have seen arthritis and rheumatism do to people, though. Most of the rest of me is a supple 49 years old! haha!
All these stories about picking fingers being injured just makes me feel better about being "just" a pick player. 
i can recall joshua bell saying he's performed with a 104 fever. yikes.
ive gone on with minimal sleep, feeling mildly sick, yada yada, nothing special though.
ive gone on with minimal sleep, feeling mildly sick, yada yada, nothing special though.
Broke two toes on my right foot during a gig once... About a hundred years ago, I used to play barefoot and was jamming away behind my guitarist, who was somewhat hunched over. He suddenly stepped back on my foot and stood up, bumping me in the chest and knocking me back... I SWEAR I heard my toes <SNAP> over the music!! Finished the set sitting on a stool, in steadily increasing pain... At the emergency room, the intern who taped me up, (and was only a few years older than us), turned out to be a drummer who later played a few gigs with the guitar player and I...
These days, I have shoulder, lower back, and sciatica pain, and frequently play through one of those issues... The left shoulder has gotten to be so troublesome, that I rarely attempt anything on the upright anymore...
-robert
These days, I have shoulder, lower back, and sciatica pain, and frequently play through one of those issues... The left shoulder has gotten to be so troublesome, that I rarely attempt anything on the upright anymore...
-robert
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I've done this, and it really sucks. But that's part of playing. I had a drummer who pulled a 'guys, I'm not feeling that great today, so I'm not gonna come out for the gig tonight..." That was his last decision in the band.
I'm always jacking up my fingers but nothing serious. Just throw some bandaids on and keep it moving. One time though, I had a low blood sugar episode during a gig. I hadn't eaten any dinner. Well I was seeing stars....literally! After the set I ran out to find a store to buy something to eat. This particular city shuts down at 10pm. Luckily I found a pizza shop still open and chomped down 2 slices and I was good to go.
