I think Great White's Rhode Island gig was probably the most major gig disaster ever. Very tragic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Station_nightclub_fire
Geez.
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Major disasters at gigs
- Thread starter bevel19
- Start date
Geez.
Geez.
I can't even think of that incident without wanting to beat my head against the wall and cry all at once. What a waste of lives, all due to cheapskate club owners and a brainless band manager.
-Mark
Back in the end of May our band did a local show at a small club in Tucson. We started the show with a song that starts with keyboards, well this was the start of the train wreck. The drums started next and were now off time with the keyboards, thinking it would work itself out in the mix, myself (bass) and the two guitarists start in. Now everyone is off and in different timing. After a few seconds of this we stop playing...completely mortified, we tell the drummer to sit this one out and get through it. The problem was our keyboard player who never practiced and was a constant headache for the band...needless to say she made it one more show and was let go. H
Having to stop, even early in a song is absolutely horrifying. We chalked that show up to experience and have continued forward but it will always be there. Personally, in all my years doing shows I've never had that happen and hope I never have to exerience that again.
Having to stop, even early in a song is absolutely horrifying. We chalked that show up to experience and have continued forward but it will always be there. Personally, in all my years doing shows I've never had that happen and hope I never have to exerience that again.
Had that happen a coupla times myself...we stopped after a couple bars of panic, looked at each other, then pointed fingers at each other (4-piece), everyone was pointing at someone different, then we busted out laughing. People in the crowd thought it was part of the set, since we started saying "He did it!" "No, HE did it..." "Uh-uh, it was HIM!" We finally all pointed out to the crowd and yelled out in unison "YOU DID IT!", counted off, and went into a completely different song! It actually worked out kinda well, we actually figured out a place to do it in the set, and made it a semi-regular part of our routine!
Of course, the very first time it happens, you need to be very much attuned to your bandmates, and what they think...or HOW they think. In our case, we were a bunch of wise-asses, and had really warped senses of humor. Some of us still do...
One show I remember at station 4 we hadn't played in a while I think it had been a month since we'd done a show. Our drummer is kind of like animal, plays REALLY hard. We'd gotten through most of the set then he breaks his bass head. Wasn't his either we were using someone else's kit. So he runs out and get his bass drum. Not even half way through the next song (which it took like 10 minutes for him to get it so make some ish up on the fly while you wait) he breaks his bass head. I think we just called it a night after that.
Another show (i think it was a botb) half way through the first song I break my A string. We only had to play 4 songs but for what I was doin that was a very important string and we were being timed so it wasn't like I could stop and change it. Mangaged through it, won that round too and moved on to the next.
Oh, I remember waaay back in the day we were playin a house party and our guitar player threw his jacket on top of the p.a. and it over heated and died. That one was pretty funny.
Another show (i think it was a botb) half way through the first song I break my A string. We only had to play 4 songs but for what I was doin that was a very important string and we were being timed so it wasn't like I could stop and change it. Mangaged through it, won that round too and moved on to the next.
Oh, I remember waaay back in the day we were playin a house party and our guitar player threw his jacket on top of the p.a. and it over heated and died. That one was pretty funny.
About 5 years ago, I got to play a gig at a church in Odin (at least I think it was Odin), IL. This church had a decent sized wooden cross suspended on the wall above the stage. On one side of the cross was the drummer, and on the other side was me and my Ampeg rig.
About half way through the 5th song in the set, I heard a snapping sound. The support bolt on the top of the cross gave out, and since the other bolt on the bottom wasn't on that tight, the cross swung down. The next thing I knew:
*thunk*
The cross hit my forehead. Things were hazy for the rest of the night. Apparently I kept playing, so that's good. Considering the cross weighed about 80 lbs I was lucky that I only suffered a mild concussion. I was still playing football back then, so that wasn't my first concussion.
About half way through the 5th song in the set, I heard a snapping sound. The support bolt on the top of the cross gave out, and since the other bolt on the bottom wasn't on that tight, the cross swung down. The next thing I knew:
*thunk*
The cross hit my forehead. Things were hazy for the rest of the night. Apparently I kept playing, so that's good. Considering the cross weighed about 80 lbs I was lucky that I only suffered a mild concussion. I was still playing football back then, so that wasn't my first concussion.
ok, back when I was doing live production work I was part of a three man crew. We had a pretty extensive sound and light rig so we would tap into the clubs power mains for our own power. Since none of us liked "tapping" power we rotated.
One night the soundman taps power and gives us the ok. The lighting engineer powers up the dimmers and the lamps in the lighting fixtures start popping like flashbulbs. We lost over half of the fixtures and blew many channels on the dimmers before we were able to shut it down.
It turns out the soundman connected to the 480V three phase power and never made a voltage measurement before giving us the "ok."
The lighting guy had a psychotic episode. It was hilarious.
One night the soundman taps power and gives us the ok. The lighting engineer powers up the dimmers and the lamps in the lighting fixtures start popping like flashbulbs. We lost over half of the fixtures and blew many channels on the dimmers before we were able to shut it down.
It turns out the soundman connected to the 480V three phase power and never made a voltage measurement before giving us the "ok."
The lighting guy had a psychotic episode. It was hilarious.
I think Great White's Rhode Island gig was probably the most major gig disaster ever. Very tragic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Station_nightclub_fire
What a tragedy. The wikipedia article is very imformative on that disastorous event. I choked up when I looked at the picture of all the crosses and memorials on the empty lot of what used to be the club.
I can't even think of that incident without wanting to beat my head against the wall and cry all at once. What a waste of lives, all due to cheapskate club owners and a brainless band manager.
-Mark
What was the name of the band from Seattle (I think) that did the same thing at The Fine Line a week later? Thankfully everyone got out safe but they messed The Fine Line up but good.
A million years ago in the 80's I played in a punk band. In the middle of our third song on first gig, our singer, Pat, who had been feuding with the rhythm guitarist, Jay, over his marshall stack volume, calmly walked over and pulled his jack cord out, cutting his sound completely. The rest of us kept playing, but Jay literally dropped his guitar on the ground and leveled Pat with one punch to the side of head. The two of them fully got into it like a crazy hockey fight right on the stage. In true punk style, we kept playing and the lead guitarist and I kept the vocals going. Since it was an outdoor venue and police were present, both idiots were arrested and we were shut down. Our first and last show...
I was on a west-coast tour a few years ago and on the last show in Eugene Oregon, (at the Samurai Duck) my 'E' string broke. I only had the one bass and no spare strings. So in a matter of minutes during our set break, I was able to tie the string in a knot at the ball and keep playing. It took me almost a year to change the set once I got back too.
In the '80s cover bands from Seattle would play Alaska a lot. Excellent money to play for fisherman, oilmen and occasional military ships letting sailors off on shore leave.
The working men made LOTS of money and there was nowhere to go and spend all this money except down to the local club.
It was all weed, hard liquor and the snow was piled as high inside as nature's drifts were outside.
Invariably there would only be one restroom working because one or the other would have the **** kicked out of it.
Urinals and sinks ripped out of the wall and smashed. Toilets with a steel toe boot through the bowll
There would be a long line going to the remaining restroom and not for relieving oneself necessarily.
Eventually people would give up queing up and snort off of the table tops and pissing outside.
A lot of clubs had bands play from 6 to 7 hrs, 5 or 6 nights a week. Usually 9:00pm - 3:00 or 4:00am
It paid off to have three or four lead vocalists so you could share vocals and not have one or two singers belting out songs all night.
I went up with bands having two lead vocals and they would end up with bleeding throats.
Fortunately you'd get one or two days off to heal up.
Most gigs were six weeks with a two week extension if the band drew and the club did well $$$$.
Story:
Coming out of a big club one night around 4 am. We would leave by the side door.
At the front entrance was a taxi and one guy standing over another screaming in a threatening tone.
The girl keyboardist/vocalist said "I'm gonna go over there and break that up" and started marching over.
At that point the man standing pulls out a gun and fires three or four rounds into the guy on the ground.
Immediately the guitar player grabs the girl and says "Oh no you're not" and throws her into the band car.
We all jump in and take off - fast!
She says "We got to do something. Look for a phone booth and call 911".
We stop at a phone booth and call 911 and tell the operator the situation and the location of the incident.
Our bandhouse is about 5 or 6 miles down the road and there is only one road between the club and the house.
Halfway home we see the ambulance and cops coming the other way from town.
We continue on home hoping they arrive in time and still shaking from adrenaline.
The next day we arrive at the club and the owner is pissed.
"Did one of you call the cops here last night after closing."
He was a big Native guy and obviously upset, so we all shook our heads no. "Nope - not us!"
"If I catch the person that called emergency - he's dead meat! It makes the club look bad!"
We played there a few more weeks and never heard a word about the incident, or if the guy died. Not in the papers, nothing.
The working men made LOTS of money and there was nowhere to go and spend all this money except down to the local club.
It was all weed, hard liquor and the snow was piled as high inside as nature's drifts were outside.
Invariably there would only be one restroom working because one or the other would have the **** kicked out of it.
Urinals and sinks ripped out of the wall and smashed. Toilets with a steel toe boot through the bowll
There would be a long line going to the remaining restroom and not for relieving oneself necessarily.
Eventually people would give up queing up and snort off of the table tops and pissing outside.
A lot of clubs had bands play from 6 to 7 hrs, 5 or 6 nights a week. Usually 9:00pm - 3:00 or 4:00am
It paid off to have three or four lead vocalists so you could share vocals and not have one or two singers belting out songs all night.
I went up with bands having two lead vocals and they would end up with bleeding throats.
Fortunately you'd get one or two days off to heal up.
Most gigs were six weeks with a two week extension if the band drew and the club did well $$$$.
Story:
Coming out of a big club one night around 4 am. We would leave by the side door.
At the front entrance was a taxi and one guy standing over another screaming in a threatening tone.
The girl keyboardist/vocalist said "I'm gonna go over there and break that up" and started marching over.
At that point the man standing pulls out a gun and fires three or four rounds into the guy on the ground.
Immediately the guitar player grabs the girl and says "Oh no you're not" and throws her into the band car.
We all jump in and take off - fast!
She says "We got to do something. Look for a phone booth and call 911".
We stop at a phone booth and call 911 and tell the operator the situation and the location of the incident.
Our bandhouse is about 5 or 6 miles down the road and there is only one road between the club and the house.
Halfway home we see the ambulance and cops coming the other way from town.
We continue on home hoping they arrive in time and still shaking from adrenaline.
The next day we arrive at the club and the owner is pissed.
"Did one of you call the cops here last night after closing."
He was a big Native guy and obviously upset, so we all shook our heads no. "Nope - not us!"
"If I catch the person that called emergency - he's dead meat! It makes the club look bad!"
We played there a few more weeks and never heard a word about the incident, or if the guy died. Not in the papers, nothing.
butchblack
Life is short. Do good. Find and do what you love.
I'll add one
We were hosting a jam session, small club not much $. The first week went fine, lot of jammers other then bad scheduling by the band leader everything was smooth. Second week. We're setting up, no drummer, call his cell, no answer, finally figure out he's a no show. Keyboard player calls a drummer friend who's available, but will take him 45 minutes to load up and get there. Do the opening set drummerless. The drummer gets there. We start unloading his gear. He realizes he forgot his cymbal bag. So all the jammers got to play sans cymbals. Due to the bad scheduling the previous week, most of the good jammers didn't show. The worst was the drunk chick who was going to channel Janis (Joplin) and do Bobby McGee. She got about 3 words into it, couldn't remember the words. Luckily I knew them and was able to finish the song. Got to listen to her for 20 minutes go on about how I called it that she wouldn't be able to do it. The jam got canceled the next week.
From some of the stories, this wasn't too bad. I guess I've been lucky.
We were hosting a jam session, small club not much $. The first week went fine, lot of jammers other then bad scheduling by the band leader everything was smooth. Second week. We're setting up, no drummer, call his cell, no answer, finally figure out he's a no show. Keyboard player calls a drummer friend who's available, but will take him 45 minutes to load up and get there. Do the opening set drummerless. The drummer gets there. We start unloading his gear. He realizes he forgot his cymbal bag. So all the jammers got to play sans cymbals. Due to the bad scheduling the previous week, most of the good jammers didn't show. The worst was the drunk chick who was going to channel Janis (Joplin) and do Bobby McGee. She got about 3 words into it, couldn't remember the words. Luckily I knew them and was able to finish the song. Got to listen to her for 20 minutes go on about how I called it that she wouldn't be able to do it. The jam got canceled the next week.
From some of the stories, this wasn't too bad. I guess I've been lucky.
in college, opening up for Max Creek...at the time, I was into the whole Chris Wood switch between electric and upright for groovin....about 20 mins before our set, the sound guy for Max Creek tripped over my upright bass and the back of the bass fell off.
Eventually, I spent some time with the club sound guy who worked on violins (he called the bass just a big ol' violin) to glue the bass back together, but needless to say, no better way to start a set with a jam-band then some bad vibes going into the set. although it was a local gig and most of the crowd was there for us, so it was nice when the place emptied out shortly after our set ended, but what a c*cks*cker that sound guy was. barely even apologized for destroying an instrument that i had saved for years to purchase. stupid mother f*'er...
...the goat is still the best though
Eventually, I spent some time with the club sound guy who worked on violins (he called the bass just a big ol' violin) to glue the bass back together, but needless to say, no better way to start a set with a jam-band then some bad vibes going into the set. although it was a local gig and most of the crowd was there for us, so it was nice when the place emptied out shortly after our set ended, but what a c*cks*cker that sound guy was. barely even apologized for destroying an instrument that i had saved for years to purchase. stupid mother f*'er...
...the goat is still the best though
The whole lamb, no it was a goat thing just killed me...then the nurse who knew about the goat being local...hilarious.
For the finale at one of our youth group praises, I swung my bass around like what Yngwie Malmsteen does. The strap at the end of the body came loose and the bass slammed onto the stage. My cheap Ibanez is indestructible. I should have known that I had a worn strap.
Rick Auricchio
Registered Bass Offender
Story 1: In college (about 1972) I was playing in a bass-electric guitar duo. We usually set up a couple hours early so we'd have time to relax and have a meal.
We arrive about 4:30pm to load in for an evening restaurant gig. It's beginning to rain, so we're glad we've got extra time.
As we pull into the parking lot, lightning strikes the utility pole 30 feet from the car.
After we regain composure, we load and set up in the dark restaurant, putting up with a surly headwaiter. Power didn't come back until time for the second set. The gig turned out well; we got a wedding gig (!) out of it, not that we knew how to play weddings.
I still have the flashlight my buddy swiped from the headwaiter!
Story 2: For that wedding gig, we called another buddy, a great drummer. As we're playing, we notice that half the people are tapping feet, having a good time, and some are dancing. The other half of the people seem to be sitting quietly, not enjoying the music at all. We later found out one of the newlyweds' family was some type of fundamentalist religious folks, who don't listen to music or do any dancing. Strange evening.
We arrive about 4:30pm to load in for an evening restaurant gig. It's beginning to rain, so we're glad we've got extra time.
As we pull into the parking lot, lightning strikes the utility pole 30 feet from the car.
After we regain composure, we load and set up in the dark restaurant, putting up with a surly headwaiter. Power didn't come back until time for the second set. The gig turned out well; we got a wedding gig (!) out of it, not that we knew how to play weddings.
I still have the flashlight my buddy swiped from the headwaiter!
Story 2: For that wedding gig, we called another buddy, a great drummer. As we're playing, we notice that half the people are tapping feet, having a good time, and some are dancing. The other half of the people seem to be sitting quietly, not enjoying the music at all. We later found out one of the newlyweds' family was some type of fundamentalist religious folks, who don't listen to music or do any dancing. Strange evening.
