• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

HAD A BAD GIG TONIGHT.......

#41
There used to be a duo around here that was comprised of a divorced couple that would fight on stage with regularity. Some of the fights included a few slaps. From what I was told the fights were the most entertaining thing about them. One night she even put her ex husband's bass behind one of the rear tires of their van hoping that he would run over it when they left. That's pretty nasty, but somewhat funny also.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LuckyScott, Mike Whitfield, Spectrum and 1 other person
#42
Mvilmany said:
Normally, we say, fire the drummer. But I think that it should be the guitarist this time.
Click to expand...

I quit working with the drunks, egoists, and drug addicts 25 years ago. No matter how good they are, they are probably not worth it. Where I live there are ten phenominal guitarists for ever OK bassist and drummer. You can replace a guitar player in a heartbeat.

The only reason the rock star attitude was overlooked in the glory days was that rock stars had sold millions of dollars worth of albums and concert tickets, and their ass kissers and hangers on didn't want to step off the gravy train. Until you've made (and are still making) shag you money in the business, being a drunkaholic rage prone jerk is just going to keep losing you jobs.

Not that that's an excuse for the drummer. No matter how pissed, you shouldn't show it on the stage. I've long since learned to handle problems privately. Last time I had a problem on stage (monitors had gone out on my last song so I couldn't hear my voice, which was mortifying) I just quietly told the sound guy "I can't hear a thing" when he was helping us transition to the next guy. A quick, quiet chat and he could get them fixed and nobody in the audience should know. He was super thankful and nobody got embarrassed.

You keep criticism OFF stage. And you apply it and take it honestly and with respect. So, yeah, the drummer was out of line. But the guitarist was ruining the show and got physical. There's no excuse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LuckyScott
#43
Hey... I'm in L.A.
When's the next gig? Drinks are on ME!!!

Actually... I'm really sorry that You're in that type of situation. I was in a very fun/creative 2 man band situation with the most creative/amazing guitar player that I have ever met, who was also one of the best singers. We'd get together and record, a couple of times a week. I'd do the writing, and program drums. Sometimes, We'd get lucky, and one of My good friends who is a professional drummer would be available, and He'd lay tracks. I have some really cool stuff because of these "sessions."
Anyhow... the thing is... He was a total Jeckyl and Hyde. And yes... we fist fought on more than one occasion. He was always remorseful, apologetic, and... well... the recordings were "worth?" the occasional tiff...
Fast forward to us adding a Singer (who wasn't as good as He, but fit perfectly. It made for great harmonies). We finally decided to find a drummer, and play LIVE.
On the night that we had everything cued up, and ready to add the "new guys" vocals to some previously recorded tunes, Guitarist goes off like never before. When I say that we had fought in the past, those were basically tiffs. A little bit of swinging, mostly wrasslin'. This time... it was real. If Singer wasn't there, who knows how far it would have gone this time.
I left. I said to Guitarist, "Call Me when You get clean, if You don't die first."
Two weeks later... He did.

7 years later, It still really bothers Me that those were the last words that I ever said to Him.
But... I guess one can only survive on Marlboro's, Jack Daniels, and Speed for so long...

Moral of the story? Give Him some "time off." In the least, it may wake him up. MOST EXTREME case scenario... You may just save His life.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: OtherLisa, Mr_Moo, timplog and 5 others
#46
LuckyScott said:
Well, not me personally, but the other guys in the band did.
The guitar player, who has anger issues, had too much to drink and started turning up his amp. Finally he got too loud and the drummer complained that he couldn't hear vocals or anything but guitar. The drummer was getting pissed off about the guitar player.
After we stopped playing the drummer was telling me how loud the guitar player was and the guitar player started yelling obscenities and pushed the drummer in the back. This turned into a fist fight, but people dragged them away to separate them.
Of course, all this happened on stage in front of all the people.
Yikes! How embarrassing ...........
Click to expand...
learn from it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LuckyScott
#48
So Anyway, all I get to do is show up, play a couple hours and get paid. Looks like I'm missing out on all the action.
Let's do some brainstorming. Can you can somehow work this fisticuffs into a 'performance art' piece? Might be tough to convincingly pull off night after night... but the wrestling folks have managed.
And what's it like to play the Whiskey A GoGo?
 
  • Like
Reactions: LuckyScott and Mike Whitfield
#54
That’s just totally wrong. I feel for you, bc the last gig with my band saw the lead guitarist explode at the lead singer (who was shitfaced drunk) and quit the band, on stage. This was followed by a shouting match between the two outside in front of the venue. My status with the band is undetermined since nobody has really spoken to each other since.

Hoping for the best for you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LuckyScott
#56
I absolutely refuse to play with anyone that has anger management issues. Two projects ago in a covers/originals deal the singer/keyboardist got mad at his stepson who was running sound in rehearsal and and proceeded to kick a box fan clear across the practice space. Drummer, guitarist, and I quit on-the-spot. Not doing it, not worth it.

Same goes for alcohol/drug issues or other major personality defects. I'm too old to have any part of that bs, and I play because enjoy it, not because I want a mess of stress added to my life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Moo, Moose22, LuckyScott and 1 other person
#57
1bassplayinfool said:
Not cool in my book. Take it outside...

4554fa78dcc4c00ec79fa4d8f44c9bbe.jpg
Click to expand...

iu


Knavery said:
Why is it we never hear of bass players that start crap like that?
Click to expand...

Sadly, bass players are not immune from ragestupid. I can't find it, but there was a horrible news story linked on TB a few years back about a bass player who lost his s*** and was fighting with some guy in the parking lot, when the guitarist tried to pull him off and calm him down, he hit the guitarist in the jaw and killed him on the spot. He was quoted afterwards as feeling awful about what he had done, but it's too freaking late, now, isn't it, a--hole? Now you get to spend the rest of your life regretting killing your friend because you have the self control of a 5 year old, the body of a 6 foot man, and
your brains are up your ass.​

Learn some self control and act like a grownup already. When you were 10 years old on the schoolyard you could trade punches all day long with no real damage. Once you are a grown man the stakes are raised. Throwing punches can mean jail, or worse. Far worse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr_Moo, csp, LuckyScott and 2 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back