Does my guitarist have a problem? *rant/need help*

[s_mcsleazy]

My guitarist is obsessed with the band Phish. I mean like creepy obsessed with Phish. Half of his current board is an exact ripoff of Trey`s board(their guitarist), his whole band philosophy and how a band should work is a direct ripoff, his style of playing is a carbon copy, he wants us to play 6-7 hours a day like Phish did because it`s apparently "the only what to make a band good", he thinks Modulus basses are the only "good basses out there"(their bassist uses them) and often tries to get me to obtain a tone like him, he constantly is trying to add Phish cover songs to our setlist, he wants us to make each show "unique" just like Phish did, he wants to add a keys player(I wonder why), he always wants to add "jam sections" to our songs, etc... etc... etc...

It just goes on and on and I`m beginning to feel really uncomfortable with it. Although I don`t necessarily disagree with some of these ideas(like making shows unique and practicing as often as possible) it`s just hard to stomach that everything he insists on us doing is entirely because off of some band he`s obsessed with. I want to do what`s right for us, you know? I don`t want to be 'forced' to do things because of my guitarists sick need to be just like his favorite band. Hell, I don`t even like Phish or jam music for that matter.

I guess this is more of a rant than anything, but I don`t know what to do about this. He`s a KILLER player - easily one of the best in my area(I don`t say things like this unless I mean it). He knows how to write songs, improve, and he`s a great guy on top of it - but this isn`t the direction I want to take the band. I don`t want to add a keyboardist. I don`t want to practice 6 hours a day just because another band did it(I want to do it because WE want to do it). I don`t want to add "jam sections" just for the sake of them. I basically just don`t want to be ripping off another band. I want us to be ourselves. I want us to form our own style and unique sound(something you can`t necessarily do when you`re copying another guitarists entire rig). I just want to be us.

I really don`t want to leave the band because it`s easily the most talented and fun band I`ve ever been it, but I don`t know what I can really do or how I could even talk to the guitarist to tell him, "Hey, you`re a great player and all but you`re also a little mental. Stop all this Phish BS and let`s make it big by being ourselves and not some cheap knockoff." Again, I really don`t want to leave the band because this group will become a great learning experience and will definitely open doors within the next few months(that`s how much faith I have in our ability), but I don`t know how much longer I can take this Phish obsession unless something nips it in the butt before it takes over. What should I do?

ok ive had this problem alot

regarding the Modulus bass thing theres a easy way to get outta that one just say "well if you want me to play one so badly then you buy me one"

regarding his obsession over this band just say "listen if u wanna join a phish tribute band go ahead but for now you have this band and we are not phish"

simples

 

[scott123]

I feel your pain...the lead guitarist in our band is a huge Dream Theater fan, at times can't get him to understand that people don't want to listen to us play a 15 minute instrumental just because DT gets away with it. Best if luck to you!

 

[PimasterPearson]

just tell him that phish got to where they are by doing what they wanted to and not by copying another band.

and that trey IMO at least, has a very unique style that he got by not copying someone.

if he truly wants to be like them, he has to not be like them.

that is what phish would do.

appeal to his obsession.

^First of all, listen to this guy.

Secondly, you said yourself that this is primarily an originals band. Just be upfront and tell him it's not your vision to imitate Phish, but if his ideas (like extensive rehearsal and making each show unique) have merit on their own, then you're willing to go with them. As far as your rigs go, I don't think anyone has the right to tell a bandmate what gear he should use. Suggestions are fine, but that's where it ends.

 

[grue]

When he decides to play the whole show while jumping on a trampoline... That's when it's time to quit.

 

[CharlieDog]

I've seen a lot of threads on TalkBass that have problems that could be resolved if the OP told the guitarist/drummer/whatever the same exact thing he's told us.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Phish-Heads are like Dead-Heads -- He'll get over them as soon as he runs out of pot... just hide his stash.

And +1 on Jonyak's posts.

Believe it or not he`s not a pothead, otherwise that would of been the first thing I`d of done.

It`s just sad. Music I consider to be hard rock is super heavy metal to him. I was listening to Iron Maiden the other day in the car with him and he was like, "Dude, why do like this stuff? It`s so loud and dark and heavy." And he keeps thinking I`m trying to turn us into a metal band even though more than half the lines I`m playing are more finger-funk influenced... It`s just bad.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I feel your pain...the lead guitarist in our band is a huge Dream Theater fan, at times can't get him to understand that people don't want to listen to us play a 15 minute instrumental just because DT gets away with it. Best if luck to you!

Yeah, that`s exactly what happened in a band I was in about a year ago. The guitarist got the DT bug and wouldn`t stop soloing to save his life. He`s recently gotten out of that trend and we jammed recently and it was just like it use to be before his DT phase. I think I may start a project with him to get out more of my rock tendencies.

^First of all, listen to this guy.

Secondly, you said yourself that this is primarily an originals band. Just be upfront and tell him it's not your vision to imitate Phish, but if his ideas (like extensive rehearsal and making each show unique) have merit on their own, then you're willing to go with them. As far as your rigs go, I don't think anyone has the right to tell a bandmate what gear he should use. Suggestions are fine, but that's where it ends.

Yeah, I need to do this soon. He`s trying to get a friend of his who plays keys to show up and play. Not only that, the keys player has perfect pitch. I dunno about you guys but both times I`ve played with people with perfect pitch have been HORRIBLE experiences. Plus, IME they have ego issues.

When he decides to play the whole show while jumping on a trampoline... That's when it's time to quit.

lol, totally.

I've seen a lot of threads on TalkBass that have problems that could be resolved if the OP told the guitarist/drummer/whatever the same exact thing he's told us.

Maybe, maybe not. This guy seems gun-ho about this whole ordeal. We`ll see what happens.

 

[Jason P Bass]

It`s just sad. Music I consider to be hard rock is super heavy metal to him. I was listening to Iron Maiden the other day in the car with him and he was like, "Dude, why do like this stuff? It`s so loud and dark and heavy." And he keeps thinking I`m trying to turn us into a metal band even though more than half the lines I`m playing are more finger-funk influenced... It`s just bad.

Um, compared to the endless noodling hippy tripe that is Phish, Iron Maiden sounds like the end of the world (partly because Iron Maiden songs have a beginning, middle, and END).

Either get out, or mercy upon your soul.

 

[trailer]

Well you seem like a pretty hip cat to me jmatt, and a straight shooter too. Sucks you're in this position, I don't know what to tell except 19 year olds do stupid things without even realizing it. Believe me I know, I was walkin around with teased hair when I was 19, thankfully I grew out of that, hopefully he will too.
Best of luck...

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Um, compared to the endless noodling hippy tripe that is Phish, Iron Maiden sounds like the end of the world (partly because Iron Maiden songs have a beginning, middle, and END).

Either get out, or mercy upon your soul.

If there`s one thing I`ve noticed about him, it`s that he doesn`t have a sense of arrangement for songs. What he thinks are smooth transitions are rather "loose" to say the least. He doesn`t seem to enjoy writing arrangements because he believes Phish is completely free form... When it comes to this stuff he seems to forget the fact that they practiced 6 hours a day in order to get good enough to do that together.

 

[Jason P Bass]

If there`s one thing I`ve noticed about him, it`s that he doesn`t have a sense of arrangement for songs. What he thinks are smooth transitions are rather "loose" to say the least. He doesn`t seem to enjoy writing arrangements because he believes Phish is completely free form... When it comes to this stuff he seems to forget the fact that they practiced 6 hours a day in order to get good enough to do that together.

Hippie jam band crap.

Run for the hills, trooper.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Run for the hills, trooper.

Well said

 

[aborgman]

If my guitar player were to buy me a Modulus, I'd play the heck out of it...... I'm just sayin.....

You and me both...

 

[Shovelbone]

Hippie jam band crap.

DITTO!!!!!!!

 

[Sherwood]

Practicing 6 hours a day, if you can swing it, would be excellent for all of you regardless of the motivations. The impetus to practice won't affect the outcome of practice. If your guitarist is so set on Phish as to disregard input from the rest of the band, then it's a problem. If it's just his creative muse, I say hold on and see where it takes you. Hopefully the influence of the rest of the band can steer him in a different direction.

 

[Mr. Mig]

He may get over it. Talk to him about it and if it doesn't work out then leave.

 

[StephenR]

Unless I missed something in your posts you don't mention anything about how the other members of the band feel about this? There are other band members involved aren't there?

If you are writing your own material any covers you add should be stylistically similar so they fit in a set. If the band isn't a jam band Phish material would not be a good fit even if everyone in your band loved Phish. Rehearsing and playing a lot is good if you are developing your own sound and has nothing to do with Phish.

It sounds like you are creating a lot of your own frustration here. The guitarist has different stylistic goals, it doesn't matter how good he is. You can keep hanging on and being frustrated, replace the guitarist (if the other band members agree) or find another band to play in that plays the style of music that you want to play and shares similar goals. It really isn't very complicated to see the choices you have. Life is too short, get on with your life.

FWIW... your comment about not wanting to work with someone with perfect pitch is just silly.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Unless I missed something in your posts you don't mention anything about how the other members of the band feel about this? There are other band members involved aren't there?

If you are writing your own material any covers you add should be stylistically similar so they fit in a set. If the band isn't a jam band Phish material would not be a good fit even if everyone in your band loved Phish. Rehearsing and playing a lot is good if you are developing your own sound and has nothing to do with Phish.

It sounds like you are creating a lot of your own frustration here. The guitarist has different stylistic goals, it doesn't matter how good he is. You can keep hanging on and being frustrated, replace the guitarist (if the other band members agree) or find another band to play in that plays the style of music that you want to play and shares similar goals. It really isn't very complicated to see the choices you have. Life is too short, get on with your life.

FWIW... your comment about not wanting to work with someone with perfect pitch is just silly.

The thing is, the band currently is basically him and me with a temporary fill-in drummer who`s a friend of my guitarist - in other words, the drummer is someone who has no real say in the band and yet is allowed to voice his opinion and go along with his likings akin to Phish because it`s what the guitarist wants to do. I didn`t even mention yet that the keys player he wants to add in is also a Phish junkie. It`s also worth noting that the drummer is kinda... weird. If such a thing exists the guy is TOO nice, but that`s for another thread.

As far as the perfect pitch comment is concerned, I find it justified. I did band all throughout middle school and high school(both large schools with big band programs), and I`ve run across 5-6 people with perfect pitch and every single one of them had a huge ego when it came to music. They thought they were better players than everyone, thought they deserved special treatment(a no no in marching band), and they were in general just very stuck up people. I`ve since played with 3 people with perfect pitch in a rock band setting and out of the 3 only one of them was someone I could even consider myself being friends with, and I consider myself a pretty accepting and embracing guy. Of course this doesn`t mean all people with perfect pitch have an ego issue, but my experiences make me err on the side of caution.

 

[StephenR]

Sounds like you are the odd man out and in the wrong band.

All sorts of musicians have ego problems, I can see why some people with perfect pitch would be more sensitive to certain performance issues but it should be no excuse for being an egomaniac. I am also certain that not everyone with perfect pitch has an ego problem. You may meet someone one day whose perfect pitch is actually helpful to whatever musical situation you are in so try to keep an open mind about it.

Good luck!
SR

Hope you can find a band you feel comfortable with

 

[Beej]

He's 19? He's a kid. I'll bet a millivanillion dollars that the obsession is done within a year. People change over time. When we're young that change is much more rapid than when you're an old phart...