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The longest I ever stayed in one band was about seven years, that's when I played guitar. I eventually left to front my own trio before coming back to the bass.
I've been in my current main band for 3 1/2 years. Although I do side project, I'll only this band leave in a body bag. A great group of guys.
I've been in my current main band for 3 1/2 years. Although I do side project, I'll only this band leave in a body bag. A great group of guys.
25+ years. Started in the late 80s, gigged constantly through the 90s, steadily through the 2000s and then tapered off after that as people got older, lives changed, venues changed hands, etc. We never actually broke up, we'll still do a gig occasionally when somebody calls. Hadn't thought about it until now but next year will be 30 years. Can you do a reunion gig if you never actually broke up? Hm.
Anyway, the key is a common vision. And it helps when the members like and respect each other. It's been a great ride, even if the rides are infrequent these days.
Anyway, the key is a common vision. And it helps when the members like and respect each other. It's been a great ride, even if the rides are infrequent these days.
Been with my first and only band for 8+ years now; we will hit our 50th gig this October and are going strong. I really like my bandmates and consider them friends. It's a minor miracle to me that we've lasted as long as we have (especially reading all the band drama stories that get posted on TB). But we are going strong. I know at some point it will end, for whatever reason, and that is going to be a very sad day for me.
I started in the band I currently play in 1992 and we are still going strong, still gigging and 3 of the 5 guys are original band members. Guess that makes it 25 years.
I've been with the original band I'm in for ~ 4 years now. We've gotten a lot more active over the last 2 years, but the first 2 was mostly just playing at the house with very rare gigs.
33 years, and still together.
I'm 55...when I was 17 I started jamming on guitar with my friend who is a drummer. When I was 22 met a gal at work whose boyfriend was also a guitar player. The 3 of us got together and after unsuccessfully finding a bass player, I switched to bass when I was 24. We've been together since then, and are still gigging. We had a keyboardist and 2nd guitarist for a few years in the 90's, then they left. We found a new keyboard player 8 years ago who is still with us.
I'm still in another band I joined 7 years ago, and a third band that I joined 3 years ago.
I'm 55...when I was 17 I started jamming on guitar with my friend who is a drummer. When I was 22 met a gal at work whose boyfriend was also a guitar player. The 3 of us got together and after unsuccessfully finding a bass player, I switched to bass when I was 24. We've been together since then, and are still gigging. We had a keyboardist and 2nd guitarist for a few years in the 90's, then they left. We found a new keyboard player 8 years ago who is still with us.
I'm still in another band I joined 7 years ago, and a third band that I joined 3 years ago.
played with the same drummer (in different bands) from age 14-35 until we no longer lived in the same town. Still visit and jam with him, and he's my best friend/best man at my wedding. And an incredible drummer. We had a stretch of ~10 years with one of the projects.
I jammed with the drummer you see behind me in several different bands from 1995 - 2015. None of the bands lasted more than 5 - 6 years.
No offense mark but if you guys are going to wear the same color, it should prob all be the same shirt.
No offense mark but if you guys are going to wear the same color, it should prob all be the same shirt.
We had just fired our Wardrobe Director before this gig so we were at a loss, jk. This wasn't a planned photo shoot. One of the shirts was actually white and later photo shopped. We are just a some old guys that still play and really don't pay attention to fashion.
Mark
I'm approaching six years with a pop singer I play with. I'm pretty sure that's my longest running gig. Prior to that I've had a couple of four-year runs with a couple of bands.
I do have some very old musical relationships, though. I do occasional projects with a guitarist I've known for almost 35 years and there are some other friends I've worked with for ages, but not continuously. There's a drummer in town I must have been in a dozen bands with over the past 12 or so years. It's a great musical relationship, but I don't think it really applies to what the OP is asking about as we're not really a 'band' or a 'project', we're just a good rhythm section who like to work together (and hang out together).
I do have some very old musical relationships, though. I do occasional projects with a guitarist I've known for almost 35 years and there are some other friends I've worked with for ages, but not continuously. There's a drummer in town I must have been in a dozen bands with over the past 12 or so years. It's a great musical relationship, but I don't think it really applies to what the OP is asking about as we're not really a 'band' or a 'project', we're just a good rhythm section who like to work together (and hang out together).
Wow. Great responses from you folks. I'm really impressed with how many of you been in long term bands. I'm in two bands now. Joined both this year and hopeful one will become a long term project for me. Sounds like the secret is like any good relationship - friendship, civility and knowing everyone is pulling their weight! Pretty cool.
