Band substance abuse

[jaymelewis]

Did you bring it up to them and ask why it got so bad so quickly?

 

[Son of Wobble]

Yes! I don't care if you stab puppies with forks as long as you deliver, but if stabbing puppies is your thing maybe try the Norwegian countries, seems they're into that kind of thing over there.

wut

I believe he was trying to say "Scandinavian Countries" an attempting a joke about the violent Black Metal scene of 20 years ago.

Hope that helps,

Talk Bass Whisperer

 

[Muttleybass]

To those of you who mention all those people who were so creative on drugs, you may have a point on creativity, however I believe they were creative and famous first and it was the fame and pressure that drove them further into drugs. I also think it's pretty frikkin' rare for anyone to be functional, let alone good, under the influence of harder drugs. Personally, I have never met or played with ANYONE who was into drugs whom it actually worked for.

I refuse to play with anyone who has to get drunk or high before getting on stage, and I regret wasting time with those losers when I was younger. My days of being elbow deep in vomit trying to keep the drummer from drowning in it are over.

But hey, have at 'er, if that's your thing.

 

[MarshallLaw]

I believe he was trying to say "Scandinavian Countries" an attempting a joke about the violent Black Metal scene of 20 years ago.

Hope that helps,

Talk Bass Whisperer

I guess? As a fan of the genre, i know all about the church burning and murders, but I don't think I've ever heard of these "puppy stabbings"...

 

[Son of Wobble]

Great line by the late comic Mitch Hedberg.

 

[Son of Wobble]

I guess? As a fan of the genre, i know all about the church burning and murders, but I don't think I've ever heard of these "puppy stabbings"...

Yeah, the whole thing just came off as confused and xenophobic.

People, let's leave the humor to the pros.

 

[JohnMCA72]

Band tip, get virgin drinks in fancy glasses with fruit for on stage to promote bar sales without getting sauced. Water bottles are verboten!

Or drink tea out of Jack Daniels bottles!

 

[dawind99]

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.

Nobody I play with would behave like that and be tolerated. Would it be acceptable to go to your day job like that? There is a place and time for relaxation if that's what they're looking for but it's not on stage. That defines selfish.

 

[Son of Wobble]

Or drink tea out of Jack Daniels bottles!

I saw a few shows from the Van Halen "Women and Children First" tour, early 80's, and Dave had a routine where he pretended to fight
a road for control of his bottle of Jack. Same bit every night.

 

[Son of Wobble]

Would it be acceptable to go to your day job like that?

If I had to go to a "day job," I'd be HELLA messed up on drugs 24/7.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I've played with lots and lots of people who drink to excess and/or get high. If it has no impact on performance or business, I mind my own business. As soon as it effects either of the 2, I'm out.

 

[DavC]

i drank a little to much on occasion during my main playing decades ... mostly " social drinking " , as one would expect being/working where there's a bar .. !

but , any type of psycho active stuff is a totally different story .. ! with a couple drinks you loosen up and can maintain that if you have half a brain . ! other drugs usually make you just useless ... or even worse when the drummer is all coked up and someone else is on Quaaludes = fast & slow at the same time .. !!?? reminds me of the late 70's early 80's .. !!

if you play as a hobby / weekend warrior = whatever , who cares ...

if you're serious , then act like it and treat this like a real job .. !

 

[RedMoses]

I had a bandmate with a nose candy issue, he played really well while under the influence so it wasnt for a while. Fast forward a couple years and were on the road and playing out a lot, it was increasingly noticeable that he always had to go to the van 15 min before we started playing and after the show he would be overly talkative and annoying. It got to the point where he was creeping out the fans, promoters and venue personnel. We had a talk with him and asked that he not do before playing and it seemed like he was trying for a while but ultimately he would go back to the same behavior. We has several talks but it always went back to the same and it really started to create tensions. The band stopped playing due to health issues with another player, we decided to end it on a high note. I have hung out with him a few times since we disbanded and he is still up to the same old...

Substance abuse and dependency is a difficult thing to deal with, getting someone to stop is almost impossible, especially if the person don't clean up. If you are serious about this project, have that conversation with those folks as soon as possible, you cant tell a person how to live but at the least the music should be respected and hard partying should NOT happen during show time. If you are on the fence about this project i would just move on because the substance abuse issue will likely get worse over time.

 

[tedious1]

For myself, I don't smoke during gigs because, although my playing's alright, I develop CRS (Can't Remember Sh*t) Syndrome, so it's a non-starter for me: no weed.

Guitar player in an old band had a similar problem, it wasn't so much memory, but he couldn't figure out how to fret PIZZA, which is all he could think about. Funny thing about it, he's self-conscious about his playing, so no smoke and he's a neck watching machine, a toke and he's eyes up to the audience, too big a toke, and it's pizza-time... After a couple of salami and extra cheese sets he just gave up on the smoke altogether.

 

[skwee]

I'm glad that I have no idea how one would even acquire stuff.

 

[Jim622]

If you talk it out, it may get a little better, for a little while. Get out! Get out fast!

 

[RustyAxe]

The great Louis Armstrong was a tough bandleader. When a very good band member showed up to a gig a little too wasted he told the guy flat out "don't \^*+ up my hustle". That's how a most pro bands work. Weekend warriors are often just looking for a chance to party. Thankfully for many of us there ARE weekend warriors with pro attitudes, and we seek them out.

 

[Son of Wobble]

The great Louis Armstrong was a tough bandleader. When a very good band member showed up to a gig a little too wasted he told the guy flat out "don't \^*+ up my hustle". That's how a most pro bands work. Weekend warriors are often just looking for a chance to party. Thankfully for many of us there ARE weekend warriors with pro attitudes, and we seek them out.

Armstrong smoked "three cigar-sized joints" a day throughout his life.



source, Psychology Today article, Genius and Drugs :

But Armstrong never developed a drinking problem. Bergreen attributes Armstrong's sobriety (that means moderation, AAers) to another unlikely source - Armstrong's massive marijuana consumption throughout his life, which Armstrong regarded as a healthy alternative to drinking. And it might have been (compared with lethal moonshine liquor during Prohibition), were it not for the way he consumed the drug - "[Invalid or Expired Link Removed], at least, throughout his life."

Louis Armstrong: Genius and Drugs

 

[GonzoBfiddy]

First off, a billion bonus points for the use of "habidashery".

Sorry you had to deal with that. Seems like you have three choices.

1) Deal with it and stick around.

2) Quit because it likely won't get any better.

3) Ultimatum time. Either they abstain from using during work (and make no mistake, you are ON THE CLOCK at a gig) or you bail. This would be my approach. If I thought the band had real potential, I might have a friend video "before and after" examples.

I concur. I have been in several of those situations and while I believe each one is unique, I personally have never liked being on stage 'wondering' if my mates can physically, mentally, spiritually meet the expectations of the gig. I am always concerned about 'something' while playing but I always assume my mates have the same level of accountability to each other as I do. In my experience, cats who even risk their ability to perform at their peak by using and/or abusing alcohol and drugs don't really care about their mates or the 'situation' and its' potential future opportunities....and they are NOT to be trusted. At that point it's ALL about "them"...no matter WHAT they say! I have always regretted not quitting a situation at the 1st sign of instability due to any of the bands' members (and each member is critical). It (their behavior/impairment) is a reflection on you....whether you drink/smoke/snort/pop/shoot up etc, or are stone cold sober. It's the old adage...."Birds of a Feather..." peoples perception of you is easily influenced by the company you keep and the circles you run in....and you just 'never' know WHO is in the audience or somewhere lurking in the wings and watching you. The last time I compromised myself and went out to perform with a group of guys like that the guitarist peed his pants onstage!!!! He never even stopped playing or even acknowledged the problem! He literally stood playing in a puddle of urine and embarrassed us ALL. I wanted to unplug my bass right then and there and roll out, instead I promised myself THAT would never happen to me again. That was 19 yrs ago. Since then I have been more discriminate when taking offers and have passed on opportunities where I felt wary. And on more than 1 occasion I have had to confront mates in situations where I sensed the oncoming storm of certain guys going out somewhere between sets to "get their heads tight!" It may be extreme to you, but I don't play and perform to get drunk or high and act like a dumbass and play in front of people with diminished capacities. Even when I did drink it was always 'after' a performance and all matters of business were taken care of. I have heard probably a thousand times how some guys "just can't play" unless they're 'tore down' but I never understood that. That always sounded like the lies that surround a certain culture that promotes and perpetuates addiction. If I had that kind of mindset then I would probably reconsider why I am playing in the 1st place. Why would I pollute one of the greatest experiences this life has to offer by getting drunk or high and attempting to perform while I'm impaired?!?! That never made sense to me.

 

[Son of Wobble]

^^^^^

Damn it, now I'm craving a cigar-sized joint.