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Firing Lead Vocalist

tunewriter

tunewriter

Jul 26, 2012
108
26
#1
We are not kids. All over 50 and we gig one or two times a month. Lead vocalist does not respond well to, well intended, criticism at rehersal. He does have a good voice. He is reliable and being in the band is very important to him. He is just basically an unhappy, grouchy person who carries a black cloud around everywhere with him. During our two years of gigging, he has sat on a stool, played poor rhythm guitar and read lyrics off his ipad. He is a chronic complainer who often makes excuses for having a bad night with vocals. Even still, like I've said, he does have a good voice and we know the band is very important to him. We almost fired him a year ago and he became visibly upset so we just can't be sure how he will react to being fired. What is the kindest, safest and best way for us to cut ties with him? We have already begun holding auditions for his replacement and are keeping him on board for one final gig in 3 weeks because he has friends from out of town coming to see him preform. This is tough.
 
#2
Since you're not firing him because he's incapable there's no way you're getting out of this without causing hurt unless you lie, which would be unconscionable. If I'm reading your post correctly he's being fired due to moodiness and a bad attitude? If you tell him the truth he will surely be devastated but since he's been doing his part in the band, has been committed and reliable you need to level with him. Don't use wooly words, don't invent inflated reasons or half-truths. If you're set on this course of action you just have to come out and say 'We're moving forward without you because being in a band with you is not enjoyable. We have already made this decision and wish you luck in the future'. Then you end the conversation.

Personally I've put up with a lot of cats who behaved like smacked bottoms but were not removed because they could play. Invariably however such a person causes constant headaches. You're entirely within your rights to part ways but don't sugar coat it for this bloke. He's done his job and deserves it straight.
 
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#3
Have you already communicated the problems to him? It seems like you have, since you say he got upset when you nearly fired him a year ago, and if he doesn't take criticism well, then I assume you must have been communicating your criticisms. I would tell him he's fired, putting it in the context of criticisms. "We've been telling you about these problems but you haven't changed anything... we were going to fire you a year ago but decided to give you another chance to improve... sorry, but it hasn't happened, so we've decided to let you go..." He probably won't react any better, from the sound of things, but at least it puts you on firmer ground.

My very first group, we also had a singer/guitarist who was kinda like this. Played together for a year and never did more than an open mic because the guy could not be bothered to learn a full set of songs, we just kept practicing the same 15 or 20 tunes over and over again. He would talk about how important all this was to him and how he was going to spend money on a bigger PA for gigs, but never stepped up and did what he had to do to for us to be able to gig. Talk is cheap. Finally the drummer quit, and he had the practice space so that effectively killed the group.
 
#6
mellowinman said:
Just make sure he takes all his gear...

;)
Click to expand...

I KNOW what he is talking about.

WAKE up people.
This singer is too much like a BAD girlfriend.
Down here we call um Cooterheads.
They are like boomerangs, no matter how hard, or how far you throw um, they always come back.
They WILL leave something behind, or THINK/CLAIM to have left something behind, in order to have some B.S.
excuse to come back. and come back, and come back.

This is stalking plain and simple, and this type of individual IS dangerous and should NOT be taken lightly.
Ever see a movie "play Misty for me?"

Now as far as the O.P. ... Man I suggest you be CLEAR, no beating around the bush. MAKE it so CLEAR it is actually ridiculous.
AND make sure this DIVA, gets ALL of "her" stuff.

Good luck, and do let us know how this goes.
 
#7
If he hasn't reacted to criticism (hopefully offered in a positive light), there is nothing you are going to say that won't suck for him.

Make sure the band is in agreement, so he doesn't try to rally support. Call a band meeting (not at rehearsal), and say that the band has decided to go in a different direction, you appreciate the work he did, but you are getting a new vocalist. Just be direct and honest. If he has gear at the rehearsal site, ask when he wants to pick it up, so someone is there to make sure nothing is damaged or taken.

IMO - any gig that is booked, he deserves a piece of, since he was part of the band when it was booked.
 
#9
tunewriter said:
We are not kids. All over 50 and we gig one or two times a month. Lead vocalist does not respond well to, well intended, criticism at rehersal. He does have a good voice. He is reliable and being in the band is very important to him. He is just basically an unhappy, grouchy person who carries a black cloud around everywhere with him. During our two years of gigging, he has sat on a stool, played poor rhythm guitar and read lyrics off his ipad. He is a chronic complainer who often makes excuses for having a bad night with vocals. Even still, like I've said, he does have a good voice and we know the band is very important to him. We almost fired him a year ago and he became visibly upset so we just can't be sure how he will react to being fired. What is the kindest, safest and best way for us to cut ties with him? We have already begun holding auditions for his replacement and are keeping him on board for one final gig in 3 weeks because he has friends from out of town coming to see him preform. This is tough.
Click to expand...
"You're fired."©
 
#11
tunewriter said:
We are not kids. All over 50 and we gig one or two times a month. Lead vocalist does not respond well to, well intended, criticism at rehersal. He does have a good voice. He is reliable and being in the band is very important to him. He is just basically an unhappy, grouchy person who carries a black cloud around everywhere with him. During our two years of gigging, he has sat on a stool, played poor rhythm guitar and read lyrics off his ipad. He is a chronic complainer who often makes excuses for having a bad night with vocals. Even still, like I've said, he does have a good voice and we know the band is very important to him. We almost fired him a year ago and he became visibly upset so we just can't be sure how he will react to being fired. What is the kindest, safest and best way for us to cut ties with him? We have already begun holding auditions for his replacement and are keeping him on board for one final gig in 3 weeks because he has friends from out of town coming to see him preform. This is tough.
Click to expand...
Tough situation; but you have just listed all the reasons why and what you should tell him, you can always remove it once, "the band is really seeking a singer that does not have to read off an iPad" We had a situation like this a while ago. What we did was take each member (it was a multiple event) aside separately by the most diplomatic member and just lay it out there.... yep its a tough one, but if you are holding auditions and he found out imagine how that would go down... the truth will set him free, and he may just become a better person for it.
 
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#12
Nightwish has this termination experience with female vocalists.
If a member has lost their happiness plug and has the "cloud of gloom" to share permanently and will not fix the issues, there is only one fair recourse for ALL of the other members.
 
#14
"It's not working out, we've decided to get a new singer. As of now you're no longer in the band. This is a final decision. We wish you luck in the future."
"But why? ***?"
"It's been discussed in the past and we're not going to go over it. This is a final decision. We wish you luck in the future."
"WTH? I didn't know you thought it was that bad. I can fix it."
"The decision is made. It's best if you leave now."
"I Don't....***?"
"Good bye, drive safe."
 
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#15
I was in a band that kicked out a really good drummer because his attitude ruined every gig for everyone else. A year later we hired him back after letting him know we had a new zero tolerance policy for his BS. He Worked out great until the band broke up several years later for unrelated reasons.
 
#16
"....we're all over 50".

If he's at all mature, he'll get over it.

Hopefully the band is not all he has in his life. That would be truly sad.

Maybe he subconsciously really is not into the band, hence his lackadaisical attitude.
Being unhappy and grouchy is not healthy for a guy his age.

Wish him well and move on with a vocalist with some positive vibe going on.
 
#17
tunewriter said:
He is just basically an unhappy, grouchy person who carries a black cloud around everywhere with him.
Click to expand...

This would do it for me. If the band has already collectively addressed his attitude and he hasn't changed, can him.

I know we all can't be happy all the time but having a persistently negative person in the band will hold the group back.

As a matter of fact, I recently auditioned for a group and decided to decline because of this. I met most of the band when I arrived and they were a fun, upbeat group. However, the drummer was late that night and when he arrived he was just in a sour mood. He shook my hand but really couldn't be bothered (didn't even look me in the eye) and then immediately sat behind his kit. He didn't address any of his band mates other than to gripe about mistakes made during the night. That basically set the mood for the entire night and the happy group that I met at the beginning of the night got really tense really fast.

Me? - "Thanks but I don't think this is the right situation for me. Good luck with everything."
 
#18
Actions speak louder than words. If he was really into the band like he says he is then he would put on a good show, work to remember lyrics, learn basic guitar parts, and not sit on a stool. Being in a band is more than just saying you are...you have to physically and mentally get the job done. Otherwise you are some jobroni who is grouchy because they know they could be doing a better job.
 
#19
Final update: We finally let our problematic lead vocalist go after the new year and he is still looking for another band. Since then we have picked up two new vocalists that are just awesome. One male and one female. We held onto our original guy way too long.
 
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