My drummer is killing me

[Mantis Tobaggan]

we have had a new drummer for about a year. He screws up all the time. He comes in early off of fills. He plays the wrong tempo. He can’t keep a tempo. He messes up at gigs. Our old drummer was the greatest but he had such a drug problem that we couldnt work with him. The main thing that bothers me is that this drummer doesn’t seem to know or care how bad he is. At rehearsal, if I tell him to play with just me, he can lock in but then later he will mess up. I know he is capable but his attitude sucks in that he isn’t the perfectionist that the rest of us are. He doesn’t seem to care. I live a few hours from the practice space and usually just rehearse once before we load up and go to the gig. I used to live out there but then i moved. Should i bother trying to do a drum and bass practice or just pack it in? This is just for fun and it is getting not so fun.

 

[crguti]

Record a rehearsal then show him the parts where he messes up.

 

[Gabbs]

Uh, fire the drummer?

 

[bwildt]

What does the rest of the band think about the drummer? If you all agree he is holding things back, get rid of him. If the rest of the band thinks he is OK, it's time for you to go.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

What does the rest of the band think about the drummer? If you all agree he is holding things back, get rid of him. If the rest of the band thinks he is OK, it's time for you to go.

That’s a good idea. I haven’t brought it up because it felt kind of back stabby but yeah I am going to see how our gig goes tomorrow and then say something.

 

[Robroy]

we have had a new drummer for about a year. He screws up all the time. He comes in early off of fills. He plays the wrong tempo. He can’t keep a tempo. He messes up at gigs. Our old drummer was the greatest but he had such a drug problem that we couldnt work with him. The main thing that bothers me is that this drummer doesn’t seem to know or care how bad he is. At rehearsal, if I tell him to play with just me, he can lock in but then later he will mess up. I know he is capable but his attitude sucks in that he isn’t the perfectionist that the rest of us are. He doesn’t seem to care. I live a few hours from the practice space and usually just rehearse once before we load up and go to the gig. I used to live out there but then i moved. Should i bother trying to do a drum and bass practice or just pack it in? This is just for fun and it is getting not so fun.

When coupled with the distance, the solution is actually pretty simple: Leave the band. Both reasons on their own are more than justification. Together they make it a no brainer.

And just to clarify, I would not spend a lot of time trying to change other players, regarding their playing, unless you have a "student/teacher" relationship. It very rarely goes well. This is especially true with the musician personality type. There is a lot of ego attached to people's playing style. And if the drummer is over 30, even more so.

 

[Bassbeater]

Quit that band immediately and explain why only when the other band members call you after practicing without you. Think of the frustration and gas money you will save.

 

[oldrocker]

we have had a new drummer for about a year. He screws up all the time. He comes in early off of fills. He plays the wrong tempo. He can’t keep a tempo. He messes up at gigs. ....
I know he is capable ...

I think I missed the part about him being capable. There are good drummers out there why have you been dealing with this guy for a year?

 

[QORC]

do you run the band? if not, can you influence the rest to replace him? If not, you have 2 choices - deal with him and his problems without comment, or walk. there are no other options except those 3. I've never seen an instance where coaching someone, encouraging someone, berating someone has made them a better musician or singer. People only improve on the margins. So deal with it, find a way to replace him or walk.

what other possible advice did you think we'd have on this one?

Its been my experience that good drummers are hardly unicorns. They seem to be everywhere these days.

 

[MD]

You live a few hours from practice?
Hell, I don't go across town unless I'm staying overnight.

 

[2saddleslab]

Every time I read posts like this I thank my lucky stars how great I have it to play with a sweetheart of a guy who's the best combo of Jim Keltner and Steve Ferrone.

 

[saabfender]

we have

Don't walk. This is your band. Play this next job and when it isn't better, you guys ("we") fire him. Get someone else and move on. Don't let this doofus ruin everything. Give him the boot.

 

[Yango]

Just get rid of him. Guys like him won't change, and you're ALWAYS going to be pissed off.

 

[GBBSbassist]

The drummer in my fun original band is pretty damn good at playing technical parts, and when he's on, he's truly on. Though, he has his moments where he plays some poopie easy parts really poorly. Extended snare rolls are his bane for some odd reason. I know for sure if he was any worse, I'd bolt in a heartbeat.

You have far more patience than I do, my man.

 

[QORC]

if you are the band leader, you need to replace him. asap. be nice about it, but you need to do it. There's really no improving musician in any short-term scenario

 

[Flippy]

Call the 911

But seriously, if it's this bad then he should stop wasting his time, and more importantly, your time. Find someone who wants to play and wants to improve.

 

[QORC]

Even Henry and Tommy know

 

[jaymelewis]

Uh, fire the drummer?

Beat me to it

 

[micguy]

So, you have a drummer, and he doesn't have good ........timing. How did he get in the band?

 

[JRA]

you have 2 choices - deal with him and his problems without comment, or walk.

that's just about the worst advice i've ever read!* and just how do you do that? i.e., deal with the problems without comment?

* on TB. out in the real world = plenty of bad advice...and it's all free!