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Band substance abuse

#81
My band mates are a bunch of middle aged / older fellas that all have a bucket of health problems that imbibing in those sort of substances would push them into an ER most likely... (Transplant paitent, cardiac patient, etc...) So not really a worry for me.... What IS a worry is if one of their meds got off kilter...
 
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#82
non said:
before this gets to far with the no drugs and playing thing, remember these guys?:
View attachment 2913139 View attachment 2913141
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The Beatles did drugs for a short period of time and it was their least productive.

That said I am not a prude. I can name several artists who lost the ability to make good music once they got sober.

You can do whatever you want. But if it impairs your playing, do it at the after-party.
 
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#83
You mean there are talented guitarists and singers that aren’t on drugs? A rare breed! Haha I am in a good situation now but I’ve played with many super talented coke heads. It gets too annoying after a while and they have to lay off or I roll. I spent three months writing material with a very functional junkie- he showed up to our first show with no cables or extra guitar strings. I don’t know if he was high or not but we never played again.
 
#84
rogerbmiller said:
The Beatles did drugs for a short period of time and it was their least productive.

That said I am not a prude. I can name several artists who lost the ability to make good music once they got sober.

You can do whatever you want. But if it impairs your playing, do it at the after-party.
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productivity aside. some real gems came out of mixing drugs and music but i get what your saying.
 
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#87
Being and Bass said:
Rehearsals are one thing and I always keep an open mind: we are musicians, after all.
But performances are another issue entirely. Beyond the "it's a job" aspect (and if your band treats it as such, it is), simply the quality of the music suffers and who performs and doesn't want to perform well. Unless you are a unnaturally talented musician or you have your stuff on 100% lock (and it sounds like your bandmates are neither) keep it for after the show.
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That - and others similar. I was in a band where others did-class C stuff that I didn't but as long as it didn't waste my time, that's fine. However, we'd go into a gig and one particular member invariably disappeared and, 15 mins later, was "Azzaragga. Naarg. Faaark" before we started playing. As it was the drummer, this used to PO me quite often.

OTOH, my next band were more upstanding citizens than I was. I once got a call in the pub, having an afternoon/evening session with friends, "Why aren't you at practice?" :poop:! I forgot it was practice night and they'd all packed back up and gone back home. I died of embarrassment and guilt, but I made sure that didn't happen again. Depends on whether this was a one-off or whether it's the pattern. A BL, on the other hand, could sack me off HIS/HER stage and I would have no legit complaint; it is their livelihood and rep and 2nd chances cost them.

Even so, some of the posts are reminding me of "Reefer Madness". >> to 4:10 if the ironic lyrics aren't immediately obvious.
 
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#88
Freight Train said:
They got so high they started selling men's wear? And not at the merch table?
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My thought exactly, except the gentleman didn't say "Haberdashery" (the selling of mens wear and/or sewing notions), rather he said Habidashery which I assume refers to the "Habit" of using drugs and uncouth language. All very unacceptable old chum.
;)

Seriously though, if the effects of whatever substance the person chooses to use don't make it to the gig (or rehearsal space) I'm not going to ask too many questions. If it's affecting the gig (I'd like to hear more what happened) then it's time to get out.

I drink at gigs and enjoy doing so. A couple of whiskey sour's spread over a 3 hour gig of classic country music is just about heaven for me. However I don't drink alot and getting drunk isn't my idea of a good time anyway. That said, if a band member struggled with booze or some other substance I'd happily abstain if it made things easier for them.
 
#89
I was invited to join a band in which the musicians were reasonably talented but they excused themselves after *every* song during rehearsal to hit the pipe. I'm not sure what was in that pipe but they were pretty out of it. I don't know how they continued to play. I politely declined their invitation and they were quite mystified.

My current band is drug-free (the only exception being that our saxophonist has a glass of wine or two during rehearsals).
 
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#91
My band is pretty easy going. We have a beer or two onstage during a gig. However, it is a job and none of us gets plastered onstage.

None of us smoke anything, so that is never an issue.

Bottom line is, if you're a hired musician, it really should be considered like any other "day" job. If you're playing a private party for friends, then by all means, do as they do.
 
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#92
In my last cover band most had a beer or two at rehearsal. I was mostly cool with it unless someone hadn't learned the material we were supposed to have practiced on our own. Some had a puff of weed on occasion too but with these guys I'd say liquor tended to be more of an issue than weed substance-wise. At gigs the band always pulled through with next to zero glitches so I won't really complain.
 
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#94
BassAndReeds said:
I'm not the bandleader, but I just played a gig this weekend where I saw the performance level go from respectable working outfit to uncouth habidashery. All after a 15 min break.

So I'm pretty sure my bandmates (The Bandleader most of all) have a substance abuse issue. And I'm concerned it will get in the way of gigs. We're small time now, but everyone talks about how they want to be serious and play top shows. To me, if that's serious sentiment, then every time we play should be treated as an audition for bigger venues.

Sadly, like too many musicians I've witnessed, they don't seem to have the capacity to take themselves seriously. Gutted.
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"wanting" and "doing" are two different things.
 
#95
project_c said:
not chartered accountancy.
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"It's so desperately dull! What I *REALLY* wanna do is be a LION TAMER!"
voc.jpg
 
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#99
Ive been playing a long time with a lot of different musicians and I know like 3 that are sober. and they are the ones that are kinda crappy and flakey. I have found that booze is definitely the worst of all the drugs. best front man I ever had was coked out of his mind all the time. I don't partake but i'm not his mom. and whomever said "do that on your own time" I'm pretty sure you are both sharing time. as if your time is worth more than another's because you are so righteous.
 

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