Guitar player needs to grow a pair

[JMacBass65]

Man.....my band has been on summer vacation big time for the past few months - no gigs - no rehearsals. Frankly, this has been good - I think I was a bit burnt, and maybe a bit frustrated too, things were getting stale for me. We had agreed though, at the beginning of the summer, to have a whole new set of material ready for our next gig, end of August.

Anyway, so we finally get together twice in the past couple of weeks, and had another scheduled for last night. The new songs were shaping up and I though with last nights rehearsal we'd be good to go with a new set for our first gig in a while; I have some travel before that, so this was the last time to get together.

So we get through the first tune and the guitar player's phone rings. It's his wife, and he needs to split. One song....that's it. He apologized, explained the issue, acknowledge that he really shouldn't have to go, but she is insisting (it was a discipline thing, with their dogs).

So that was that.

***? The dogs???

It's a one hour trip for me....to get there. So two hours total, and a bunch of gas.

 

[metalhead398]

Has something like this happened before?

 

[sparkyfender2]

If mama ain't happy........

You know the rest.

 

[jamersonburton]

I say if this happens one more time, call it quits with them and find another project to work on.

 

[Doublesixes]

Rehearsals are like being on a job. The same set of ethics should apply. The guitarman should be made aware of that.

 

[Steel]

Our guitarist has the same dilemma. We (drummer and I) actually had a bit of a 'family meeting' about that and other things last night after rehearsal. We all have high aspirations but if certain members can't put the dedicated time in due to life circumstances, then either the aspirations need to be lowered, or the lagging member has to think long and hard and get his priorities sorted out.

 

[Robus]

I'm thinking his wife has issues with him being in the band, or with him period.

 

[Robus]

Here's a hint for him:

 

[Space Pickle]

release the hounds

 

[JMacBass65]

To be fair (to him) this was a first. I was just really pumped up to play, nail down the tunes and so on, so it was a big buzz kill. Plus, I like momentum, and this felt like the wind coming out of our sails a bit.

Based on the little I have learned of her (from him) over the years, I'm actually surprised its not happened before. Not sure how he puts up w/ it.

 

[dmac1961]

Hey man, I think your guitar player need to grow a pair!

 

[Downunderwonder]

I don't get it. The one time he bails on you is not just cause.

Maybe it was like, you know, mayhem at home, and he had to man up, bail on you guys to go sort it out.

 

[Uncle Psychosis]

I agree, if this is the first time something like this has happened then let it go. Sometimes poopie happens at home and you've got to deal with it.

Just don't let it become a regular thing.

 

[Feral Feline]

Here's a hint for him:

Great detail right down to 70's style kitchen etc, and then when Beth is quoting Peter Criss's ramblings to her about having dinner ready etc:
BETH: "... 'Beth, keep the kids off my amplifier'..."

He's a ... wait for it ...

a drummer.



He doesn't need an amp.


As for your guitarista, talk to him, communicate.

 

[xgator4u]

Sh!8 Happens.
Maybe the wife came home and the dogs had absolutely destroyed the house.
It was the 1st time, and it wasn't a gig.

What would you say if said guitard went off because YOU are not going to be available again until the gig?
If on the other hand this is a pattern, then yeah.

 

[Ewo]

I agree, if this is the first time something like this has happened then let it go. Sometimes **** happens at home and you've got to deal with it.

Just don't let it become a regular thing.

Just spitballing, but maybe the reason he had to leave was actually more consequential than the household pets. Sometimes people will use a cover story, if they're embarrassed about something and would rather not disclose the actual reason.

Again, just spitballing...

 

[exidor]

O man I have four dogs and if the wife called about them to bring me home, there better be lots blood involved or she will be disciplined!
my dogs names Makwa Gretta Rula & Eddie

 

[crucislancer]

Man.....my band has been on summer vacation big time for the past few months - no gigs - no rehearsals. Frankly, this has been good - I think I was a bit burnt, and maybe a bit frustrated too, things were getting stale for me. We had agreed though, at the beginning of the summer, to have a whole new set of material ready for our next gig, end of August.

Anyway, so we finally get together twice in the past couple of weeks, and had another scheduled for last night. The new songs were shaping up and I though with last nights rehearsal we'd be good to go with a new set for our first gig in a while; I have some travel before that, so this was the last time to get together.

So we get through the first tune and the guitar player's phone rings. It's his wife, and he needs to split. One song....that's it. He apologized, explained the issue, acknowledge that he really shouldn't have to go, but she is insisting (it was a discipline thing, with their dogs).

So that was that.

***? The dogs???

It's a one hour trip for me....to get there. So two hours total, and a bunch of gas.

It's weird, I was reading the first paragraph of your post and I could have sworn I wrote it. This sounds very similar to my situation, at least at first.

Anyway, best thing to do is ask him if it will happen again, and maybe remind him that you are committing a lot of time to the band, and he needs to respect that by showing up and being able to stay.

 

[Munjibunga]

Fire him.

 

[David Jayne]

An hour drive.......... Whatever happened it had better have been reeeeally bad.