Did I screw up, or am I a hero?

[Ric5]

So every year at my neighborhood pool, there's an adults-only party. My band played it a couple of times. The beer, wine and liquor always flow freely at this shindig and things can go a little sideways…

This year they hired a cover band, who handed out song lists at the beginning of the night so people could come up and sing one. I can carry a tune and there were a couple of Rush songs on the list and there's no bigger Rush fan than me, but I don't sing with my band and I had no intention of jumping on-stage at this party. Until…

A neighborhood guy who I don't even know got up there and sang some song which I don't remember, and it wasn't so good, but whatever. Everyone's having a good time. Then he stayed up there, consulted briefly with the band, and they launched into "Tom Sawyer". So I move close to the front of the stage 'cause this is gonna be cool.

But right from the first line of vocals, he's screwing it up. Badly. Off key, not in time with the band. I'm looking at him, we make eye contact, I'm mouthing the words in time, trying to get him back on track, and it's not happening. And I'm thinking to myself, go ahead and desecrate the Cranberries or Sublime or 'Brown-Eyed Girl', but not Rush. Not on my watch.

So after "the river…", I took the #%$^&* mic out of his hand and finished the song, in tune and on time. And the crowd went wild. This guy and his wife, however, did not.

Several minutes later, he saw me and said "not cool", pretty forcefully. I apologized. He wasn't having it. Then, a few minutes later, his wife comes charging at me, calling me every name in the book, saying I embarrassed her husband because I'm "a professional", etc. And then they both stormed outta there, flipping me off.

Thinking about it later, if someone had done that to me, I probably would have been pretty pissed. Then again, I wouldn't have been butchering one of the greatest songs in rock history. So, I'm dug in – sorry not sorry, as a massive Rush fan with some liquid courage, I did what I had to do.

Am I am heel or a hero?

Somebody grab the mike from this guy

 

[Steve]

you snatched the mic away from some guy at a party because the live band karaoke wasn't up to your personal standard...

 

[Yellow Bang66]

Meh. It was drunk people at a party. Whatayagonna do?

Do you know them? I'm assuming they live in your hood. Maybe send flowers or something.

I'm always blown away, by people getting u p"the nerve" to sit-in with the band when they don't know the material! (Liquid courage). I used to play with a terrible drummer that loved to party in a bar in mexico, he would get drunk & ask the bar band if he could sit-in, they would reluctantly agree, and he would "play". He told me I didn't know a lot of their songs, cause they played rock en 'espanol."but I gave them beat" (I highly doubted that. he could barely play our set list! ). He continued ..."I only messed up a couple of times. their bass player had to help me get in time!! " How dare you, I thought. "messed up only a couple of times"!
I don't understand or get it! I like playing but would never ask to play on a song i was not familiar with, no matter how drunk I was!
My buddy's band was playing a party once, and someone requested Daytripper, his bass player didn't know it, but he knew I knew it & called me up to play, I politely refused, because I hadn't played it in awhile.I didn't feel ready to play it "cold" I was also trying to remember the chorus part while declining... Plus, I didn't want to embarrass anyone (Self included). If he insisted I would have.Luckily, I didn't have to.

I don't think you're a hero,or heel. but pardon the expression, more like a savior, you saved the crowd's ears from butchered singing/song, saved your band & the drunken singer from further embarrasment, I'm positive someone was grateful for your "intervention". depends on how you took the "F#@**#" mic away from him.
i know I would have

 

[TonyP-]

My question to you is...What if a technically more proficient bass player just unplugged your bass and completed the material in a 'more will executed fashion' then yourself?

Jaco was Jaco...He acted like a cocky @ss (I'm not going to get into his mental state and debate this) but still acted like one was bounced out of a club and died as a result of it.

 

[punchdrunk]

Meh. It was drunk people at a party. Whatayagonna do?

This is the correct sentiment

 

[Frank77]

Dick move, sorry.

 

[Chrisk-K]

You were a modern day warrior on that day.

 

[grinx]

party foul

 

[micguy]

Somebody grab the mike from this guy

There are valid reasons why someone would go see a cover band. These guys embody....none of those reasons. Wow. I can only hope that maybe it's the roadies doing sound check so the FOH guy can get levels roughed in, and that the real band is somewhere else. Perhaps several miles away, and wearing earplugs just to be certain.

 

[alembicbones]

I definitely vote heel. All of the reasons have been covered.

Bones

 

[gregmon79]

Total heel. The point of a band asking people to come up and sing songs on stage with them at an event like the one you're describing is for FUN. I'm sure most people aren't that great at it. You shouldn't have done that to the guy, so yeah, it was lame IMO. You kinda answered you're own question when you said "I'd be pissed if someone did that to me". There is no "but" after that. Plus, again, it was a "just for fun" thing. If you wanted to sing the song that bad, you should've signed up and did it instead of being a total a$$hat to the guy you pretty much butted in on and kicked off stage. Regardless if you were great or not. At that point, its beside the point IMO.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

Tipsy or not, I would never interrupt a performance no matter how bad it was. Let the guy do his thing... otherwise I call shenanigans. My .02

 

[mojomike001]

Sorry, but you're no hero. In front of a crowd, you embarrassed the poor guy who was up there having fun. Why? Because your ego told you that you could sing it better. As such, you probably missed the point of the whole thing, for everybody to have fun. Get over yourself and just worry about your own gigs.

 

[dave64o]

I'm as big a Rush fan as you but it's a neighborhood party and people are having a good time and this guy was an amateur. I don't know how he arranged getting up there, but the band apparently had no problem with it and they agreed to do a Rush song. He stunk. So what?

You asked for opinions, so I'd say that was uncalled for. Don't even try kidding yourself that you "defended" Rush, you humiliated the guy. He apparently was already doing a great job of that all on his own, but what did you solve by adding insult to injury?

Plus, based on everything I've heard in interviews with Rush, I can't imagine them applauding your move. I suspect they'd have the same opinion I do.

Again, just my opinion.

 

[mrjim123]

Archie Bunker used to tell Edith and other family members, "Stifle yourself!". That's probably what you should have done.

I do understand your ire, however. There is one particular "musician" who is at virtually every open mic jam that I show up for. He has no sense of rhythm and a wooden ear, and when he sings he sounds like a Saturday Night Live singer parody. To me he is like nails on a chalkboard. I will not play with him, and when he sings I usually wander out into the parking lot.

Funny thing is - this guy is currently attending a class or seminar at Berklee! Unfortunately for him, they're not going to be able to fix his broken musicality.

 

[Winslow]

But then, I hate Rush.

<Ducks.>

Obligatory:

(I kid, of course. To each his own.)

 

[electracoyote]

The few times I've done something this rude and self-serving to others, it acted as a wake-up call that I need to adjust my attitude and keep my ego in check more often. It seems to have worked this way for you, and I'm glad you manned up and sent an apology note. Live and learn, and go forward with a bit more class.

And FWIW we live in a society that doesn't accept alcohol as an excuse for bad behavior.

As a practicing musician and professional/semi-pro entertainer, I learned long ago the virtues of how to be a good supportive audience member and patiently let others have their moment when I'm not on the stage, regardless of their skill level, especially in a distinctly non-professional amateur situation. That's my version of cool. You got your kicks by stealing someone else's thunder, embarrassing him, and ruining his night, and that's just not how it's done. You were the bully and show-off, and that's never cool or heroic, particularly for practicing musicians.

That dude might have gotten his healthy round of applause same as you, but he got robbed instead.

And I'd be willing to bet there were at least a few in that gathering who were sober and aware enough to recognize what happened and would agree with me.

 

[sawzalot]

In this social situation: heel. Normal people truly can't tell and/or don't care if the performance is bad. A better solution would have been to follow his performance and kick ass with a different song.

 

[waveman]

Just an effing song at a party, and if they can't take a drunk apology for doing something while drunk, they ain't no fun anyways.

 

[Knavery]

I certainly wouldn't have liked it if someone pulled the mic from me, and I can't sing my way out of a wet paper bag with a tear in it. Do unto others... That's how I look at it.