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Member who is drastically younger/older?

#41
I WAS that kid (only I was 15 and it was 1985). My neighbor came over and asked my mother (they grew up together) if I could fill in with his band. Their bass player had quit with no notice. One fill in became a few fill ins and next thing you know I am playing in clubs all over NC and VA with a band of 30 and 40 somethings at 15. That's how I got started with this crazy mess. It worked fine for us. Give the kid a shot. Just be CLEAR and UP FRONT about what you guys do and what you aren't going to do (like drop the country songs). 19 year olds have the attention span of a gnat! Just keep him on track and you should be fine. It should be a shot in the arm for the band!
 
#42
For the most part, I am less concerned with age than common musical ground. A 19 year old playing with 40+, when the musical interests are aligned, would be fine with me, as long as the interest is there and motivation is kept up.

A 19 year old playing with 40+ or vice versa, where there is too much musical difference, would be a disaster, sooner or later.

I'd say give it a shot.
 
#43
Absolutely give him a try. It sounds like he is what you're looking for, and you are what he's looking for.

I was 12 when I started doing FOH at various venues for bands who had never seen me before. Admittedly, there wasn't a lot they could have done about it since I was an "employee" of the company providing the PA for a very large outdoor system, but instead of getting their tails in a knot they gave me a chance.

I will forever be grateful to those guys and gals.
 
#44
I think older aged folks unfortunately have to deal with reality.

I saw a really good contemporary Country band last week. They had great vocals all the guys could play really well and they had a female lead singer with incredible range.

As I was listening and looking at them I remember saying to myself, too bad their not young.

Blue
 
#45
At 24 years old I auditioned for a band of 14/15 year old kids. I didn't find out their ages until the audition was set and I asked them to check to make sure this fact was fine with their parents. Assured the parents were ok with it I showed up to audition. Mon answered the door and flipped. I left.

When I was 18 I played in a band I was the baby in. Drummer was 38, vocalist/guitarist was 53.
 
#48
Band im in now ranges from a 21 year old guitarist to a 42 year old drummer, admitidly the drummer is just a great guy and is a very young 42, we all get along really well, have jobs and relationships ect so we know what we can expect time wise from each other.
A guy i work with is 60 odd and is in a middle of the road group with a 17 year old female singing.........now i havnt heard them but apparently she is stunning, i think it may be the 17 year old and the dirty old men.
Give him a shot, worst is hes not really in to the same thing and you have to look for someone else.
 
#52
The year was 2003, at a a time when our rhythm guitarist quit and we had a few gigs that were imminent. We did one without him, and it just sounded too thin. Our drummer's Dad was a fantastic bass player, too good to be playing with the likes of us. But he agreed to help us. I switched to rhythm guitar, and he played bass. A seasoned bassist who had been in bands since the 60s, we learned so much from him. And he was a blast to play and hang out with, he had so many great stories!

We were all in our early 20s, and he in his mid to late 50s. I didn't think a thing of it, and I really don't think anybody watching did either. He's unfortunately passed away since then. I'd love to be able to sit down and jam with him again. :(
 
#54
I was very fortunate to have played with guys in their late twenties and early thirties when I was still in high school (16-18). I played my high school homecoming dance, bars on the weekends and company parties.They taught me well and I'll always love them for it. Unfortunately, they would freebase their gig money at the after parties. They'd look at me from across the room and say, "we don't ever want to see you doing this". Never did and shortly after graduating, I moved to play music in Las Vegas. They lost credibility with me by using but they also were better than most musicians I played with in L.V. As long as you aren't a negative influence on him and you get along (which we did) I vote to try him out.
 
#58
In my band, I'm 40, lead guitar is 55ish, singer/rhythm guitar is 62. Our drummer is 24, and has a diverse love of music that makes him fit right in with us. He'd rather play 70's-80's rock than current 'music'. Actually, he and I are on a continual slow push to move the other two guys towards newer (ok, less old.....) music. He is wise beyond his years, but brings an energy to the band that is alot of fun! Occasionally a bit annoying when he pops out from behind the kit at practice to plug his ipod into the pa so we can hear something funny he snagged off of youtube - but it's annoying in a good way. It's hilarious when he paradiddles on the rim of his snare and we both start singing 'Toast' by Heywood Banks (the other two have NO IDEA what we are doing). He's also a co-worker of mine, and fast becoming a very good friend. You don't know until you try....
 
#60
Well, if age ain't a problem with him, and age ain't a problem with your band....

Personally, at 42 I feel kinda discriminated against when young people refuse to work with older because of image and/or whatever. But it's a free country and they don't have to play with anyone they don't feel comfortable with, nor should they.

But I ain't gonna be one of those people who has issues like that.
 

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