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Ever been fired from a band?

#41
I have. Once for political reasons. I play music to help me NOT engage in politics! Its where all of us are supposed to share our love, and our gifts in making music. Sadly, in our polarized nation, we can't seem to even do that now. That firing didn't anger me in itself, even though he didn't have the balls to do it in person, he sent me an insulting, e-mail filled with real serious falsehoods. What pissed me off, is the nearly two year investment of my time, arranging the music, re-arranging music already being played, learning new tunes, and the worst- hiring and firing five guitar players, each time, a long rehearsal processes and terrible outcomes ensued. In plain English, that guy and his girlfriend/ singer 'concept' band wasted two precious years of this old guy's life. And, once, a disingenuous bandleader who promised not to fire me after doing it once, and realizing that my replacement was a big mistake- rehired me, only to break his promise in a really sleazy, and underhanded way... by breaking in a new 'sub' for the gig, a younger, better looking, more slender bassist- to do gigs I was unavailable for... then, lying to me about bringing me back at an agreed to date- marked in my datebook- tried to tell me the new guy was on the next gig... and I said, 'No I'm back on the first of the month' - the reply from the band's stage manager - "It's what we want" So, I was prepared- I said, Well, then tonight, is my last gig with "_________." Then I said, "I wish you all the very best of luck, and goodbye." The manager was stunned. They believed I'd buckle, and take their crap, and accept having my dates and income cut in half. I was not going to tolerate being disrespected like that. My phone was blowing up for days, bandleader even came to my house. I ignored him. THAT felt great! Very empowering. Another rock legend guitarist I toured with, used to bring his wife- The Antichrist, on the road, and she'd play tambourine with us onstage... a cut rate Yoko... and a horrible Human being. I quit that band, too... never thought I could quit playing in a band with one of my personal heroes, but I did.
THAT, felt great, too. You must stand for your principles, regardless of the consequences.
 
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#42
Twice.

Once very amicably: they wanted to gig more often than I could because of my day job. I expected it, stayed on good terms, and subbed with them a few times after.

Other time because the lead guitarist and I didn’t see eye to eye. It wasn’t nasty, but I was irritated about being booted. They later realized the lead guitarist was a douche and fired him, then asked me back. But I had already moved on. They struggled to find a good bassist and eventually called it quits.
 
#43
LHbassist said:
I have. Once for political reasons. I play music to help me NOT engage in politics! Its where all of us are supposed to share our love, and our gifts in making music. Sadly, in our polarized nation, we can't seem to even do that now. That firing didn't anger me in itself, even though he didn't have the balls to do it in person, he sent me an insulting, e-mail filled with real serious falsehoods. What pissed me off, is the nearly two year investment of my time, arranging the music, re-arranging music already being played, learning new tunes, and the worst- hiring and firing five guitar players, each time, a long rehearsal processes and terrible outcomes ensued. In plain English, that guy and his girlfriend/ singer 'concept' band wasted two precious years of this old guy's life. And, once, a disingenuous bandleader who promised not to fire me after doing it once, and realizing that my replacement was a big mistake- rehired me, only to break his promise in a really sleazy, and underhanded way... by breaking in a new 'sub' for the gig, a younger, better looking, more slender bassist- to do gigs I was unavailable for... then, lying to me about bringing me back at an agreed to date- marked in my datebook- tried to tell me the new guy was on the next gig... and I said, 'No I'm back on the first of the month' - the reply from the band's stage manager - "It's what we want" So, I was prepared- I said, Well, then tonight, is my last gig with "_________." Then I said, "I wish you all the very best of luck, and goodbye." The manager was stunned. They believed I'd buckle, and take their crap, and accept having my dates and income cut in half. I was not going to tolerate being disrespected like that. My phone was blowing up for days, bandleader even came to my house. I ignored him. THAT felt great! Very empowering. Another rock legend guitarist I toured with, used to bring his wife- The Antichrist, on the road, and she'd play tambourine with us onstage... a cut rate Yoko... and a horrible Human being. I quit that band, too... never thought I could quit playing in a band with one of my personal heroes, but I did.
THAT, felt great, too. You must stand for your principles, regardless of the consequences.
Click to expand...
"Cut Rate Yoko" is a great band name.
 
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#45
After 50-years of playing I always say, "I've been fired from more bands than I've been in." ... I'm an honest person who hates wasting time and bands love to waste time. ... Practicing songs so they sound just like the record to me is a waste of time. ... Learning a song and making it the best it can be, taking in account of the skills of all the players, is worth while. ... A lot of musicians will not agree with that and will spend the rest of their life trying to imitate other people. ... That's not music. Judging the music you play is not music. ... A song is just a blueprint and music is a journey. ... Make it your own and be happy with what you create.
 
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#46
II got fired from the very first band I was in, over 40 years ago. It was a country-rock outfit and I was playing rhythm guitar. I was barely 21 and the guys in the band were ten years older than me. They fired me because my friends were too rowdy, if you can believe that. Some gigs my friends were the only ones in attendance! They were rowdy but good friends, better people than the a-holes in the band. It hurt my pride, but I got over it and into a better band.

Other than that, there were sone auditions I didn’t get called back on, and one band I quit cuz they sucked.
 
#47
Yes many times and for all sorts of reasons, sometimes because I wanted to be. Usually I took my lumps and learned my lessons and moved on to the next experience. When I was learning it was a impetus for me to keep honing my skills and knowledge to be a better musician.

But you don't know how really harsh it can be to get fired until you are on tour in Poland with a band, get fired, don't get paid and get dumped out of the bus and trucks with all your trunks of gear in a parking lot in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night after the last show that you didn't know was your last show. Did I mention it was winter. Not the best if times. I did eventually get paid, there was a contract but I wound up having to barter some of my stage clothes and gear to eventually get back to Berlin which was my base at the time. That is how I lost my original EHX Bass Micro Synth.
 
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#48
I've been fired twice that I recall. Been playing in bands for 20 years, often times in multiple bands.

First time was in college. Early stuff and we didn't have gigs booked. I went on vacation and they replaced me without telling me while I was gone. The drummer was pissed and they fired him too! I chalk that up to folks being young and stupid

Second time, was a few years back. I helped found a band that morphed into a husband/wife duo with husbands old drummer. Rich drummer had a ridiculous kit that took up 90% of the room, but he owned the space. Hi tech rehearsals with IEMs, recording everyone to separate tracks, etc sounds like it should've been nice but wasn't. Guitar player was understandably flaky due to work stuff, but it didn't seem to cut two ways when I had work conflicts. Wasn't really digging it or paying $100 a month to basically store my amp an hour away from my house.

Called them up for lunch near the studio, and packed up my car. After we ate, I told them I didn't think it was a good fit. They told me that they had all gotten together and decided to fire me, but I guess I beat them to the chase. Went back to my old rule of never playing with rich folks with more gear than sense.
 
#49
2cooltoolz said:
I've never been fired, but I've been not called back after some auditions I thought I'd smoked! A couple times from bands I really wanted to be in, and thought I'd clicked with. Those still hurt. A couple times, I was actually relieved I didn't have to be the one to say "no".
Click to expand...
Maybe once, Band broke up, a month later got back together& didnt ask me back! but I really did not get along with the imbedded drummer!Just thought it was a Chicken way to get rid of me!No Loss prob, better wo the drama!
I've missed several auditions I really wanted, those hurt more than not getting called by that former band!
In the last band I almost had a month of prep before audition for some reason that was never clear, but saw many red flags in that time! ie: they gave me cd/ demo of them live, but amost of the songs were incomplete! fading into silence. not one played more than 1 minute!! another, was a video of a Live gig, pretty choppy vid, but I could yell everyone was a good player, except for, Wait for it... The Drummer!!! vid show cased him dropping his sticks,playing his weird fills & off time rolls! showed a friend who was a Pro, He says "RUN, Run far, Run fast!" should ve listened but I was between bands & wanted to do something! I reluctantly got the gig, but really not into what they were doing!of course Drummer was a big problem, ended up quiting 2 years later. A slow, slow burn of my patience! but I did use my time with them to really sharpen my skills! Unfortunately, they lost key members & said Drummer never improved but was a permanent member, able to keep his spot. hah go figure! he wanted to play more gigs, But i passed because of his ineptness! So you win some you lose some, Life goes on!
 
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#51
Twice. First one started as a new wave 80's rock band playing covers, fun; a few shows, then off for the summer. Then the band switched to all originals. Played a few shows, well received and then took our summer break. When we were about to start up again in September, got a call from the drummer that brought me in, "we've decided to go back to the bass player you replaced." !! Instead of getting angry, I joined an outfit called "the Off Wall Street Jam" in southern Manhattan. Think of it as a dating service for musicians between bands; setting up personnel for blues, 60s, 70s & 80s rock, songwriter and jazz projects. Learned a lot, great fun.

Second was earlier this year, an 80s New Wave rock band playing songs the exact same way every time to backing drum/percussion tracks. I kinda let it slip that I missed playing with a drummer (yes, really) and 2 weeks after the last gig I got what started as a pro business letter which the overall tone then turned into a hissy fit, saying "we've decided to continue on as a 2 piece!" WTH? Considering I sang lead on 85% of the songs and harmony on the others, it really pissed me off. Well, goodbye to you. Got a call from another band, so life is good again. When you've got something else waiting in the wings, the cut is not so deep.
 
#52
Yup. Several years ago I was in a with a bunch of egotistical snobs. A couple years in a row they booked gigs on my wife's and I anniversary. So after a couple of years of playing on our anniversary my wife messaged the band asking if they could leave our anniversary open and not book a gig that weekend. I didn't realize that she messaged the band but I didn't blame her in the least. They got all fired up saying that wives and girlfriends had no say in band functions and shouldn't be requesting the band not to book. They sent me an email a few days later saying that I was out of the band.

One other example on how that band treated me. The egomaniac of a guitarist was playing a guitar solo in a song and the singer came up to me and told me to go over and jam with Dave during his Solo. After the song ended the guitarist came over and chewed me out for "being in his spotlight" and to never do that again.

The whole time Dave was chewing me out - the singer, who told me to go over and jam with the guitarist, just sat there button lipped and didn't say a thing.

The band that I played in after that one had two back-stabbing jerks in it who verbally attacked me because I said classic rock was boring and I wanted to play a few newer rock songs. Especially since none of the 80+ classic rock, southern rock and country songs were of my choosing.

I live in a very rural area in the Northwoods of Wisconsin with very few musicians, and the good ones are taken and in other bands. I had a good run of over 20+ years of gigging and my last two bands really soured me on being in another gigging band. So between that and the back surgery that I had early this morning - I decided to sell my awesome Aguilar bass rig to help with the medical bills that are soon to follow.

My best friend has an awesome recording studio that he started a little over a year ago 2 hours away. He has a Freejam Friday every Friday, where musicians who are in his Facebook group, say if they are going to participate and, they get together and do some improv jamming that this studio owner live feeds on his YouTube channel.

He has everything I need to do some jamming, so I can go down there empty handed and play with some awesome musicians who are a bunch of great guys. No drama. Maybe down the road I'll run into some decent guys guys in my area that will inspire me to play in a gigging band again.
 
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#54
I was fired from a “band” - more of a nascent project - and it stung. I later worked with that BL in a number of his projects, and was replaced a few times. He changes his focus often and has a way of burning bridges. One time he quit a 6-piece band and formed an entirely new band in the space of 3 days. The other 5 of us continued on, finding new guitarists twice. The second guy was a great lead singer with some good songs, our peak was beating Carbon Leaf in a multi-gig battle of the bands, almost like a tournament of BOBs. I think they did get the last laugh on that one though!

I finally stopped working with the original guy, and would not work with him again.

In college I auditioned for a spot in a cover band but really tanked the audition and did not get asked in. Fair enough, I did not play well at the audition at all.

In a strange quirk of fate, that was the last audition I ever played, almost 30 years ago. Every gig since then I have been asked in to.
 
#57
Took it on the chin one time thanks to a oops email . The BL did not appreciate my email / advice and sent me packing . The funny thing is , he ended up doing everything I said and the band hit gold for a period of time ....thanks to my advise .
 
#59
Yes twice:

Once in the mid-80’s for drug and alcohol issues, and many years (and decades of sobriety) later by a drunk guitarist who insisted on
us being a 3rd rate cover band and sucking out loud. :rollno:

The Universe continues to goof on me, pretty much daily. :D
 

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