Have you ever been fired from a band?

[two fingers]

Yes. BL and his brother said it was my vocals but I truly believe it was because I was going bald. The band was a hard rock band in the mid eighties where spandex and mousse ruled. I guess we can thank MTV for image over musicianship.

One of the best guitarists I ever met looked almost exactly like Randy Rhoads on stage. He could burn on guitar, sing amazing lead and backup vocals, and pulled off the 80s look like nobody's business. When I was introduced to him back stage, I stuck out my hand to shake his. Instead of shaking my hand, he pulled off his wig, handed it to me, and said "Be a pal and hang that on that hook, will ya?"

Dude looked like Phil Collins. And he was probably close to fifty back then.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

No, I've never been fired.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

About 8 years ago, my blues band came to a grinding halt when our singer and one of the guitarists decided they wanted to devote all their time to their other band.

The other guitariat, drummer and myself decided to carry on and find new players. The drummer then had the fabulous idea of bringing in a singing bass player. Dude was a great singer, and a better bass player than I was (and am) and the drummer figured I would understand, because I too would want what was best for the band...

I rage-quit, of course. Drummer asked the singing bassist to join the band, and he declined I spent a few years being utterly pissed off at him, but in the end I decided it was water under the bridge.

That's the closest I ever got to being fired.

 

[wmhill]

Not today...
(but it's early yet)

 

[nilorius]

Not today...
(but it's early yet)

The first and once i had fired out when my notes got blow out from my note stand and i played a different chords for some time.

 

[MobileHolmes]

Once, as a rhythm guitar player. Basically, it was a vanity project for a doctor who had a bunch of hired guns to be his band (and I'm sure was basically subsidizing the band and losing 400 bucks a gig in the process). I get it. I was fairly green at the time and he was basically paying for perfection and fast, and I wasn't up to it. He was also kind of a tool

 

[tothemax]

In the late 70's I worked as a roadie for the Knack in LA before they were signed by Capitol, back then it was just a sound engineer and myself in either my van or a rented truck (if we were traveling).
Sorry for the long story, but it's a roll down memory lane...
By the time I got fired, the Knack had a big following in LA and the highlights like setting up for players like Bruce Springsteen's at the Starwood, or Troubadour for a cameo appearance had faded as a new manager took over the band. The night I was fired was the last night of a of a short road trip ending at the Old Waldorf in SF. The Knack was opening for Cindy Bullens, who was showcasing her new album. As we all know, opening acts get to do sound checks as time allows. IT turned out that the Bullens band gear truck had a flat, and was delayed. I was waiting with our other roadie (the drum guy) on the sidelines with our gear when the Bullens gear arrived (the Knack was at the hotel). Cindy Bullens was very gracious and apologized for the delay, saying that they would do their sound check as quick as they could (adding that tonight was really important with a number of record company folks attending). Long story short, after a few abusive calls from our manager; basically saying to throw the others bands crap off the stage he finally showed up and cussed me out in front of the other band and club management - and then fired me. I basically said "F" this and headed out to the truck to get my crap and figure out a way back to LA. To my surprise I was met at the truck by the same manager who said, "just kidding" and gave me $300 to go back to the gig. As soon as got back to the stage, the tirade resumed and I was fired again in front of everyone. By now the Bullens sound check was done and as I walked out to the truck (I still had the keys). He met me at the truck again... another $200 got me to finish the night. I made it clear that one more word inside the club and it would be a $1000 or he would setting up gear and doing the show. All the club staff and the Bullens band were great to me that night, even my own bar tab on the house... The band showed up and we did a short sound check and it was a good show, and my last. The band never said a word, I was pretty down afterwards but finally realized it as a intro to R&R business.

 

[BassDad1964]

In the late 70's I worked as a roadie for the Knack in LA before they were signed, it was just a sound engineer and myself in either my van or a rented truck if we were traveling. By the time I got fired the Knack had a big following in LA and the highlights like setting up Bruce Springsteen's guitar and amp at the Troubadour had faded as a new manager took over the band. The night I was fired, turned out be multiple times and finished the tour. It was the last night of a of a short road trip at the Old Waldorf in SF and the Knack was opening for Cindy Bullens, who was showcasing her new album. As we all know opening acts get to do sound checks as time allows. Anyway the Bullens band gear truck had a flat and was delayed, I was waiting with our other roadie on the sidelines with our gear when her truck finally arrived (the Knack was at the hotel). Cindy Bullens was really gracious and apologized for the delay and said they would do their sound check as quick as they could adding that tonight was really important with a number of record company folks attending. Long story short after a few abusive calls from our manager, basically saying to throw the others bands crap off the stage he finally showed up and cussed me out in front of the other band and club management, and then fired me. I basically said "F" this and headed out to the truck to get my crap and figure out a way home. To my surprise I was met at the truck the same manager who said, "just kidding" and gave me $300 to go back to the gig. As soon as got back to the stage, the tirade resumed and I was fired again in front of everyone. By now the Bullens sound check was done and as I walked out to the truck, luckily I still had the keys. He met me at the truck again... another $200 got me to finish the night. I made it clear that one more word inside the club and it would be a $1000 or he would setting up gear and doing the show. All the club staff and the Bullens band were great to me that night... The band showed up and we did a short sound check and it was a good show, and my last. I was pretty down afterwards but finally realized it as a intro to R&R business.

Ok...I vote this firing story as Winner.

 

[QORC]

I got fired once over some petty BS. Nothing to do with my playing/singing. Still pissed 9 years later! LOL The other was a mutual parting of the ways as I wasn't happy and was planning to quit when I got the call. That band wasn't going anywhere and still hasn't done anything since I left.

I had that. it's going to be 6 years ago in January since that evening when I was lured into a blind alley under the guises of a "band planning meeting" and hit over the head with a bottle. Fired from a popular band not over musical reasons, but personal reasons due to the douche of a Lead Singer. I have to admit, although Ive done some fun things since, I'm still bitter. I hate this guy. it's amazing that I've never run into him given that he only lives 4-5 miles away and certainly we would frequent some of the same stores on the main drag, if nothing else. but nope, haven't run into him. Still rather pissed at him (and the guys that went along with him). I've moved on musically and now I can actually look at the old vids, pictures, listen to the old recordings and not be mad about it (for the first 3 years after, it was impossible). But I still feel like there's a score to settle with the LS.

and no, I don't believe in karma. it should've hit him a long time ago. I'm not the only one he's done this to - before and since - including all the band members that went along with him. Boom - all ended up being forced out.

emotions are what they are. whether you act on them or not is what counts. I haven't. but i don't see that this douche has suffered at all from the various nasty things he's done to people. Nor do I expect it.

 

[LBS-bass]

I had that. it's going to be 6 years ago in January since that evening when I was lured into a blind alley under the guises of a "band planning meeting" and hit over the head with a bottle. Fired from a popular band not over musical reasons, but personal reasons due to the douche of a Lead Singer. I have to admit, although Ive done some fun things since, I'm still bitter. I hate this guy. it's amazing that I've never run into him given that he only lives 4-5 miles away and certainly we would frequent some of the same stores on the main drag, if nothing else. but nope, haven't run into him. Still rather pissed at him (and the guys that went along with him). I've moved on musically and now I can actually look at the old vids, pictures, listen to the old recordings and not be mad about it (for the first 3 years after, it was impossible). But I still feel like there's a score to settle with the LS.

and no, I don't believe in karma. it should've hit him a long time ago. I'm not the only one he's done this to - before and since - including all the band members that went along with him. Boom - all ended up being forced out.

emotions are what they are. whether you act on them or not is what counts. I haven't. but i don't see that this douche has suffered at all from the various nasty things he's done to people. Nor do I expect it.

A few months ago, I ran into the guy that was fired from my main band at, of all places, the garden center. To make matters worse, I was there with the drummer, with whom this guy had a long-standing antagonistic relationship. Drummer and I were together because he was doing some landscaping work for me on the side.

It was incredibly awkward. That guy was let go because he wasn't practicing and couldn't be trusted to not completely blow it onstage. I had gotten to the point where I was ready to walk rather than do another show with him, but the other guys wanted to get rid of him instead. I never felt great about it or my role in pushing it to that point. Personally, the guy was a challenging person but I liked him, even though he was the kind of guy who would start drama and then blame it on whoever got pissed about it, which was usually me. Regardless, we'd been together as a band for a few years and were all pretty friendly.

To top it off, when we ran into each other, we were all wearing masks due to COVID. I literally had not been anywhere for months, and the first time I go out, I run into this guy. There we were standing there awkwardly, and no one could really see anyone's faces. We made a little small talk. Not a fun day.

 

[Guild B301]

These last two replies make me wonder what will happen if I ever 'run into' a certain guitarist whom I fired quite a few years ago. He was drinking, drugging and doing everything to ruin my band that he could. I still hold a grudge against him. It is surprising that I haven't seen him someplace in all these years. Most people in the music business know they they should keep us apart.
I'm sure our meeting won't end as peacefully as some of yours.

 

[delta7fred]

In the early 70's I fired a guitarist who was holding our band back because he wouldn't put in the effort. We knew he was capable of playing the songs correctly but couldn't be bothered to learn them.

He was the guy that I got me into the band so I must admit I was a bit hesitant at firing him. He took it rather well, he just mumbled something, shrugged, and walked away.

I saw him a few years later and he said I did him a favour as it came as a wake up call and he hit the woodshed. He went on to play in some pretty good bands and eventually lead a Beatles tribute band that got to play every year at the annual Beatles Convention in Liverpool.

 

[BassDad1964]

In the early 70's I fired a guitarist who was holding our band back because he wouldn't put in the effort. We knew he was capable of playing the songs correctly but couldn't be bothered to learn them.

He was the guy that I got me into the band so I must admit I was a bit hesitant at firing him. He took it rather well, he just mumbled something, shrugged, and walked away.

I saw him a few years later and he said I did him a favour as it came as a wake up call and he hit the woodshed. He went on to play in some pretty good bands and eventually lead a Beatles tribute band that got to play every year at the annual Beatles Convention in Liverpool.

See.....you did him a solid.

 

[tothemax]

It's cool when things work out. I know for myself, I was in my early 20's when I moved out to LA from the east coast. And having a few hot licks in the DC suburbs, really wasn't going to cut it there. The Knack roadie gig was good intro to the pro circuit. Even though I was pretty crushed getting canned, it was a hard lesson that a day job was critical and music at my skill level wasn't going to pay the rent. Forty plus years later music is still a passion and developing the chops that I would have needed for a band spot back in the day. It's all good...

 

[DaveDeVille]

... nope , never been fired or "replaced " , i've quit bands , for many different reasons .
i don't talk trash to them, and always tried to keep good relations with the other members ,
even if the split wasn't on the best of terms ...