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Major disasters at gigs

#181
Wow!!!!!!!! 181 posts and still going.....it is ALIVE!!!! it is ALIVE!!!!!!!!!

Looks like I've created a monster.

4 weeks ago I went to a tryout with a band. Sat night in a practice shed in secluded bushland. Make all the noise you want.The guitarist called me and was told to ONLY call me by a guitarist I had worked with for over 10 years. Big vote of confidence ......thanks K.

Got there and there was the shed owner/guitarist waiting for me. "B's not here ,wont be far away. Oh,our drummer cant make it so we'll have a fill in just for the night so you can listen to the whole set up in full swing"

Ok,so I get my rig set up ready to go.

B arrives, and about 10 minutes later about 15 other guys arrive! Seems they only needed a bass player for an open mic /anyone can play drums night.
I knew I was in trouble when the happy cigarettes started getting passed around and the scotch with beer chasers were getting slammed down.

My guitarist friend arrived to have a listen to the band with me in it, and promptly helped me get the gear out ,apologising profusely. He had no idea this was going to happen. I've been a good friend of his for about 20 years so I believe him too.

This Dropkick 'B' chased me for 3 weeks to play in his band,calling me every 3 days 'till I said I'd try out with them. Haven't heard from him since thank God.

Was one of the most uncomfortable evenings of my 27 year playing career and I only played five songs before I was out of there!!!

Not a 'gig' disaster but a warning to all. Have an escape plan ready for when a rehearsal with a new bunch of guys isn't going to plan!
 
#182
Not mine...but a buddy was playing a gig. During the last set break he went out to his car to smoke a bowl or two. The "boys in blue" caught him and arrested him on the spot. Luckily, there was a drummer in the house who filled in for the final set.
 
#183
Had a two band (as in I was in both bands) Ska gig about 4 months ago. First set went great, crowd really liked us. Now, the gig was at a skating rink, and we'd played there before and the custom was to go skating in between bands. So I get to wheeling around on rink skates and get going pretty good chasing after my drummer, who promptly decides to slow down right in front of me. Anyway, long story short I ended up hitting the pavement at about 20mph and breaking my femur, which is still healing.

I was going to be all rock'n'roll and finish the gig too, but as I was having them give me my bass I was going into shock, so we decided it probably wasn't that good of an idea.
 
#184
When the band I was playing with in the 80's started we were playing small bars (like everyone else). One thing I learned right off was to not stop playing when a fight broke out no matter how many people were involved, if you stopped then many more would join in.
I remember one time a fight broke out on the dance floor and one guy came sliding from half way across the floor and ended up with his head right between my feet (he was out cold). Those places never had elevated stages and often people would trip over the monitors and land in with the band. You had to be fleet of foot. I hated playing in those places, fortunately it was not long lasting.
 
#185
Many years ago we had a gig playing for a fire department bbq. It rained heavily all day (a real frog strangler!) and we were to play outside. There was no way we were going to setup while it poured and 3'' of water standing everywhere.

They were pissed that we were going to be paid no matter what (contract saves the day.) The contact person asked "can't you do something, play acoustically under a tent..anything?" We were all electric, so nothing could be done. We waited, and waited, all the while enduring crappy attitude from our contact. They proceeded with the meal, but no one invited us to eat. Turns out to be a blessing. A large percentage of the people there got food poisoning! So many folks went to the emergency room that it made the evening news!!
 
#186
So this one probably won't top any lists, but it'll definitely go down as the one gig I'll never forget.

I was 13 years old, playing bass for my father's band in a hotel lounge, which was located on what was probably the second busiest intersection in my hometown - a small coastal city in BC, Canada. I remember it like it was yesterday. Me being just over 5' at the time, trying to look as cool as I could while struggling to control the formidable mass of my trusty black Fender P.. Yeah, I was a rockstar!

Anyway, my 83 year old Great Grandmother (my biggest fan, no doubt) lived at a nursing home directly across the street from where we were playing. She had a bad hip and used a walker, but that rarely kept her from coming out to see us play every now and then. Since this gig couldn't possibly be any closer to home, we were sure we'd see her at some point during the night.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, this club was on a very busy intersection. Since she had a little trouble getting around (walker), she usually had the help of a younger, more able-bodied friend when she went places. That friend wasn't with her that day (I heard later, they got in an argument earlier that day over something and subsequently, Granny told her to f**k off), so if Granny was coming to see us play, she was more or less on her own.

Back to the club..

We had already finished one set, taken a short break, and were onstage about halfway through the second.. The stage faced the main entryway to the lounge, so we could always see who was coming and going. I looked up from the gigantic neck on my P-Bass and saw my Great Grandma come through the door.

"Yup, there she is!"

As soon as those words left my mouth, she collapsed and hit the floor. She vomited up some black stuff and went motionless. We stopped playing and I immediately dropped my bass and ran over to where she was. Before I could get to her, my dad grabbed me and held me back. I guess he was trying to shield me from what had just happened. That was understandable, since I really was just a kid.. The paramedics were called and arrived quickly, but she had already passed. They put her on a stretcher, covered her with a sheet, and took her away. It's a really creepy feeling when you're in a bar packed with people, yet you can still hear your own heart beat. Absolute silence.

Now, of course, I was pretty upset and kind of in shock about the whole thing, as was my dad. Oh well! The manager of the club promptly reminded us that by contract, we were required to finish the night, so we'd better get back on and "do our jobs".

I'll tell you, having to get back on stage and perform after watching a loved one die.. I don't wish that on anybody. That was easily the hardest 2 1/2 hours of my life. :(

But the show must go on, right?
 
#188
Oh, she was interesting, alright...

The whole reason she had a bad hip was because she wouldn't let go of her purse when some punk was trying to steal it. He just ended up knocking her over and running away empty-handed! :D

I think what killed her was the incredible stress of crossing an insanely busy street with nobody there to help. No doubt, cars were honking like mad at her, because she moved at a snail's pace with that walker. She used to have a scooter, but she crashed it into a parked car. Haha. She was crazy.

But yeah, at least she left this earth to a good soundtrack :bassist:
 
#190
RTL said:
So this one probably won't top any lists, but it'll definitely go down as the one gig I'll never forget.

I was 13 years old, playing bass for my father's band in a hotel lounge, which was located on what was probably the second busiest intersection in my hometown - a small coastal city in BC, Canada. I remember it like it was yesterday. Me being just over 5' at the time, trying to look as cool as I could while struggling to control the formidable mass of my trusty black Fender P.. Yeah, I was a rockstar!

Anyway, my 83 year old Great Grandmother (my biggest fan, no doubt) lived at a nursing home directly across the street from where we were playing. She had a bad hip and used a walker, but that rarely kept her from coming out to see us play every now and then. Since this gig couldn't possibly be any closer to home, we were sure we'd see her at some point during the night.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, this club was on a very busy intersection. Since she had a little trouble getting around (walker), she usually had the help of a younger, more able-bodied friend when she went places. That friend wasn't with her that day (I heard later, they got in an argument earlier that day over something and subsequently, Granny told her to f**k off), so if Granny was coming to see us play, she was more or less on her own.

Back to the club..

We had already finished one set, taken a short break, and were onstage about halfway through the second.. The stage faced the main entryway to the lounge, so we could always see who was coming and going. I looked up from the gigantic neck on my P-Bass and saw my Great Grandma come through the door.

"Yup, there she is!"

As soon as those words left my mouth, she collapsed and hit the floor. She vomited up some black stuff and went motionless. We stopped playing and I immediately dropped my bass and ran over to where she was. Before I could get to her, my dad grabbed me and held me back. I guess he was trying to shield me from what had just happened. That was understandable, since I really was just a kid.. The paramedics were called and arrived quickly, but she had already passed. They put her on a stretcher, covered her with a sheet, and took her away. It's a really creepy feeling when you're in a bar packed with people, yet you can still hear your own heart beat. Absolute silence.

Now, of course, I was pretty upset and kind of in shock about the whole thing, as was my dad. Oh well! The manager of the club promptly reminded us that by contract, we were required to finish the night, so we'd better get back on and "do our jobs".

I'll tell you, having to get back on stage and perform after watching a loved one die.. I don't wish that on anybody. That was easily the hardest 2 1/2 hours of my life. :(

But the show must go on, right?
Click to expand...
Wow, what a piece of crap. Had that been me, the manager would have joined Granny. What a hideous, disgusting, piece of human filth.
 
#191
Gabriel51 said:
When the band I was playing with in the 80's started we were playing small bars (like everyone else). One thing I learned right off was to not stop playing when a fight broke out no matter how many people were involved, if you stopped then many more would join in.
I remember one time a fight broke out on the dance floor and one guy came sliding from half way across the floor and ended up with his head right between my feet (he was out cold). Those places never had elevated stages and often people would trip over the monitors and land in with the band. You had to be fleet of foot. I hated playing in those places, fortunately it was not long lasting.
Click to expand...

Heh heh heh, reminds me of a local bar that I fortunately only played afternoon all ages matinees which were well behaved. At night, usually one fight would break out. There were several bands, who knew each other well, who would have one member start playing the song from Star Trek when Kirk was fighting an alien. It was subtle but a few people in the crowd caught on and laughed. That bar eventually turned into a strip club, FWIW.

Stinsok, still laughing at the Frog Strangler comment. I don't think anybody in New England uses that term, so next time it is appropriate I will use it and claim it as my own :p Too bad, we just had a gig where there was a frog strangler!!
 
#192
The worst gig story I have happened about 1993. I went out to see a band, and I knew a couple of the guys from high school. I walked in, grabbed a beer, and my guitarist friend spots me and literally runs to me. He is nearly frantic. It turn out that their bass player, whom I also new, tripped on a cable, and went down hard. He broke his left wrist, and obviously could not play. I was drafted, as it was that or cancel the gig. I was game, but only knew about 25% of the songs. It is interesting having the guitar player shouting out changes as we went. Nerve wracking, a bit, but kind of fun.

Mark
 
#193
Our first gig a couple years ago. We had been practicing our song for a solid 5 months and we had everything down tight. The show was on halloween night and we were the only band. Decent size crowd showed up. So , we start off, and get about halfway through the first song then the drummer freezes up. We keep playing while giving him looks, finally he comes back in but he is so off it's not even funny. He continued to butcher every song we played. What a wonderful night. Needless to say, e dropped him immediately afterwards.
 
#194
markkoelsch said:
The worst gig story I have happened about 1993. I went out to see a band, and I knew a couple of the guys from high school. I walked in, grabbed a beer, and my guitarist friend spots me and literally runs to me. He is nearly frantic. It turn out that their bass player, whom I also new, tripped on a cable, and went down hard. He broke his left wrist, and obviously could not play. I was drafted, as it was that or cancel the gig. I was game, but only knew about 25% of the songs. It is interesting having the guitar player shouting out changes as we went. Nerve wracking, a bit, but kind of fun.

Mark
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean, he yells It's a 1-4-5, as you try to get some sort of count from the drummer knowing you must start very soon as you try to get some idea what the hell is going on. The pressure is on. I'm still laughing! Been there more than once
 
#195
I guess it was the time that our drummer just didn't show up to our gig at a country/western bar out in the boonies. He had decided to quit, but didn't tell any of us. So, he just didn't go to the gig. We played the whole night as keys, guitar and bass. Sounded pretty good actually, the crowd enjoyed themselves and were very supportive of our situation. If you want to test your skills as a bass player....play a country/Blues gig with no drummer. I am glad it happened....terrifying at first, but after the first few songs, we really loosened up and had a good gig. I became a very percussive bassist that night. neat experience.
 
#196
therindesign said:
Our first gig a couple years ago. We had been practicing our song for a solid 5 months and we had everything down tight. The show was on halloween night and we were the only band. Decent size crowd showed up. So , we start off, and get about halfway through the first song then the drummer freezes up. We keep playing while giving him looks, finally he comes back in but he is so off it's not even funny. He continued to butcher every song we played. What a wonderful night. Needless to say, e dropped him immediately afterwards.
Click to expand...

That very thing happened to me! Our drummer broke into some sort of syncopated beat that stopped the dance floor, it lasted only about 10 seconds and he fell back into the proper beat and looked at us like 'what's up?' It did not ever happen again. we ask him later what happened and he had no idea what we were talking about? He must have had a brain fart?
I had forgotten a lot of these things until you guys bring up similar happenings.
One time;
The lead singer got to laughing in the middle of a song once and could hardly sing, it was not long before the rest of us found out what it was, someone cut the cheese (him) and it was real bad, (like I can no longer breathe bad). I'm just glad I had a twenty foot cord. Customers started laughing, they could tell what had happened.
 
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#197
well when i was like 14 i used to play shows that just were all around awfull..

but in my more recent years ive just had equiptment trouble making out gigs disasterous. drummer breaking heads. guitar amps not working..

might i add that my stuff always shines through :bassist:
 
#198
JimmyM said:
Wow, what a piece of crap. Had that been me, the manager would have joined Granny. What a hideous, disgusting, piece of human filth.
Click to expand...
That's why he's a club manager. Look it up in Webster's, they may even have his picture there.

Edit: RTL, sorry you had to bear witness to your Granny's passing. Must have been horrible. I would have decked the sonofabeech with my bass. They make impressive weapons.

Edit2: If someone could have played the Star Trek fight music, you could have held your bass like that Klingon blade/pugil stick thing they used when Spock fought Kirk over that beeotch that didn't even want him for a husband anyway...
 
#199
Gubna said:
Nothing major

closest were:

PA we brought to the club blew out in the first few songs, thankfully, it was a sports bar, and no one was paying attention to us. We played for another 2 hours instrumentally.

Drummer's who played the wrong song (and one of them never recovered during the song - he still doesn't know what song we were playing)

Guitar player who busted a string, then instead of using his back up, re-strung it with the wrong gauge, busted it again, and then had to get out the back up - AND TUNE IT UP.

But the worst was when some roadies dropped a bass cabinet on my foot, and probably broke some bones. although I've never been to the hospital to check it out.


I was at a show once in SF, I think it was called the Gorilla Room, on Beale Street. Basically, it was a warehouse. Well, various gang members, from opposing sides started fighting and it turned into Mayhem. My friends band were playing and were 3 songs into their set when it happened, they were like - F this, we're outta here! I think someone busted some windows, etc. The place was like a free for all with people running to get out! (including me)
Click to expand...

sounds like the gorilla club.

Not so much a gig disaster, but a pre gig disaster...

My gf as the time broke up with me about a week before a show. I found out about an hour before we were playing that my drummer was messing around with her for a cpl weeks before we broke up. She ended up showing up to the gig on his arm. Took me about 20 minutes of heavy drinking before i knocked his a*s out.

Then I left. Luckily the drummer and myself are still friends, i just needed to vent a little on him : )
 

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