I predict I will be fired by the end of weekend

[ClusterFlux]

Experienced classic rock bass player - been searching for a band to join.

Posted this on CL and got a hit :

Experienced classic rock bass player looking for a band.

Any bands out there playing classic rock --

Stones, CCR, Tom Petty, ZZ Top. Maybe some Clapton/Cream or some Allmans or Skynyrd.

Could add some SRV, Black Crowes or a bunch of other stuff.

This has to be fun but the the goal should be to get enough songs down to play in front of people.

​

I was contacted by a guitarist and sent a list of 15 mostly standard classic rock tunes - Skynyrd, Doors, Zeppelin, Neil Young, Black Crowes, Z Top ... And 1 Poison song - "Nothing But a Good Time". I'm not a big 80s hair band fan but hey, it's only 1 song out of 15.

I knew most of the songs and only had to work on 3 or 4, and I learned the Poison song, so the initial meeting goes well and they ask me to continue with them. They play pretty well, the songs are stuff I like for the most part so I figure why not. There are 4 of them the drummer has played in other band with all of these guys - but not all at the same time. All good until group texts and next 2 meetings discussing new songs show the new ones to be mostly 80s hair band songs.

Singer suggests several 80s hair band songs - drummer immediate seconds those selections. I mention I'm not a fan and don't know any of those songs. Other guitar player and I mention a lot of classic rock songs that either somehow get vetoed or don't end up on any list. This happens both on session 2 and session 3. Session 3 was last night.

Not only that but we somohow lose one of the original 15 standard classic rock songs from the initial list every session.

This morning the singer group texts a proposed additional 10 song set list, asking our opinion. You guessed it, 7 of the 10 are by 80s hair bands - more Poison, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Ratt and 1 song from a fake band from the movie Rock Star. Drummer immediately texts back - 'Yes'.

As I mention I'm not a fan but I know I'm not going to like every song we play so I'm OK with 1 or 2 per set but I'm not going to play a set with 70% of that stuff.

I could have been passive aggressive and just not learn the songs but after thinking about I decided to be upfront and tell them exactly that - That I'm not a fan - remind them that I told them that twice already and that I'm OK 1 or 2 per set but besides that I'm not on board with the new set list.

IME when a bass player complains about songs it is the kiss of death so I will be fired.

Not sure exactly how it will play out but I will probably be tagged as selfish and not a team player but it's really just a musical mismatch. I do feel marginalized as they didn't listen to my concerns the 1st 2 times I mentioned it, and a little mislead given the initial 15 songs but I have no hard feelings.


Sorry for the rant.

As per above comments... Why wait to be fired? Why not just quit?

"I'm not interested in being in a hair metal cover band, so I'm out. Best of luck to you."

 

[Johnny Fingers]

Add '70's and maybe some 80's if you wish to the ad to be more specific.

 

[Basslice]

At one point in time finding a bass player was hard. Maybe that has changed, maybe not. In any case, you should be upfront and say this is not what you signed up for. Either they agree or move on. Not like either party has much into it at this point.

 

[murph7489]

it won't be long before Quiet Riot ends up on the setlist...

 

[steelbed45]

I went through this exact same scenario. Just substitute Jason Aldean for hair metal.

I didn't wait around to be fired. Shame, as they played Green Grass and High Tides, which I love.

 

[james condino]

Every single time I have been fired or quit as a bass player, within a few weeks I was in a much better band with far better folks to hang with...

 

[bolophonic]

I was a teenager in the 80's and there is no way I would try to shoehorn myself into a band that specializes in that stuff.

 

[wysiwyg248]

Life is too short to play music you don't like, I'd start searching for other band/project and would keep the contact information of the player/s are closer to your mind set.

 

[Space Pickle]

haha man I love that poison song it's hilarious

 

[bassbully]

Hair metal is like nu country to me....hate it won't play it.

 

[Outbush]

Where I live gig options are very limited. A few years ago a song I was with says she wants to do Red Neck Woman by Gretchen Wilson which I vaguely knew from the radio - people like it, she says. So I learnt it, we played it, people liked it and I get to like it more and more.

I would say if you're lucky enough to live somewhere with a heap of musos and can get gigs fairly easily, well that's one thing, but if not give it a go. Worst that can happen is you quit down the track.

NB I might be jaded - right now I'd take virtually any gig that came along. I think I'd even play Metal Polkas if I were asked.

 

[ELG60]

I'll add my comment to the weight of consensus: Not what I signed on for + not fun = I'm outta here.

Heck, even if I'd signed up for it, unless they were paying stupid money, if it was unenjoyable, I'd be gone. Life's short.

 

[whero]

You know the old thing about needing at least two out of the three: good music, good band-mates, good money. You don't enjoy the music, they don't sound like great guys (the way they lead you on,and are treating your preferred music suggestions) and as yet you're not earning any money. 0 for 3.

I'd message the group text and say "Thanks for answering my ad, I appreciate having had the opportunity to play with you guys, but this isn't what I was looking. I won't be coming to any more rehearsals; it would just be a waste of my time and yours."

 

[MichelD]

"You can't fire me. I quit."

 

[Wink Dinkerson]

Life is short, and I've been around too long to put up with juvenile power trips like these guys are pushing. If they want to marginalize everyone and squeeze the fun out of a band, I don't have the desire or energy to be there.

Were it me in your shoes, I'd tell them to f___ off and walk. Keep looking for the kind of band you want to be in, no matter how long it takes or how tough it is to keep searching. New Hampshire license plates speak a profound truth, "Live free or die."

 

[Kukulkan61]

Just tell them you changed your mind, it's not like you were good friends before all this, you'll probably never see them again, who cares...

 

[Huw Phillips]

If you played hair metal and you've still got hair you weren't there !

 

[VolverseLoco]

I will take that job, sign me up! 80's hair metal, I wish I could find a gig like that.

 

[morgansterne]

I put up with some hair metal for a couple years cause i absolutely loved the people in the band. Turns out I had fun playing it somewhat. We had a female lead singer and we could do some more obscure stuff like Vixen's "edge of a broken heart."

But for a bunch of strangers pulling a bait and switch, hell no!

 

[VolverseLoco]

I put up with some hair metal for a couple years cause i absolutely

I put up with some hair metal for a couple years cause i absolutely loved the people in the band. Turns out I had fun playing it somewhat. We had a female lead singer and we could do some more obscure stuff like Vixen's "edge of a broken heart."

But for a bunch of strangers pulling a bait and switch, hell no!

female lead singer and we could do some more obscure stuff like Vixen's "edge of a broken heart."

But for a bunch of strangers pulling a bait and switch, hell no!

As serious as I am about wanting to walk into a situation like that, the 80's metal gig, I gotta side with you about the bait and switch. Not right. Maybe they knew exactly what they were doing. It's not right.