My drummer is killing me

[madbass6]

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.

I say Pack it in! No matter how much practice you do with him 1 on 1 if he doesn't care or desire to progress it won't make a bit of a difference!
(Why not just replace his *ss!)

Further more, if it s supposed to be a just for fun thing for you and obviously you're no longer enjoying it, then what's the point !
Why is it always the drummer!!!

 

[Tony In Philly]

Show him a video of a figure skater coming out of an overly extravagant spin and then falling flat on her behind. Then say this applies to drummers too.

 

[tb4sbp]

If there is any signs of improvement I would say stay with him
you say he can lock in with you so there is hope
Tell him one more shot to stay and he needs to step up his game
if he doesn't then it is over

Best of luck

 

[Tom Bonzo]

Show him a video of a figure skater coming out of an overly extravagant spin and then falling flat on her behind. Then say this applies to drummers too.

That is excellent!

 

[seansbrew]

So audition for another drummer. I have had the displeasure of having to this a time or two. Everyone needs to be on the same level.
The band wont grow with that kind of player.
The wrong person can hear him playing and pass on you for a gig.

 

[QweziRider]

Should i bother trying to do a drum and bass practice

I wouldn't. I've never found a benefit to that. Like you said, it goes great when it's you two locking in then falls apart later with everyone else.

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

I can't imagine that life. I love my drummer. BJ will never see this, but I'd take a bullet for him. I've only known him 4 months, but he's awesome.

My last drummer was on point, also.

Come to think of it, every drummer I've played with has, at the very least, been timing-stable.

 

[Jim622]

If there is any signs of improvement I would say stay with him
you say he can lock in with you so there is hope
Tell him one more shot to stay and he needs to step up his game
if he doesn't then it is over

Best of luck

I agree, but again tell him what you want and where he's going wrong. One last time. If it don't work give'm bus fare.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Holy poopie bro that one time I saw your band I actually liked your drummer. lol

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Holy poopie bro that one time I saw your band I actually liked your drummer. lol

He isn’t bad all the time but I am on edge wondering if he is going to hit or biff it! If I lived out there I would meet with him and have drum bass practices until it was solved but I am so far! He is a nice guy but it is frustrating! I am glad you liked it though. (I think that show at the Haven was one where he got through okay )

 

[pcake]

It’s OK to not be great. It’s not OK to not care.

i like that - i want to put it on a t-shirt!

 

[GIBrat51]

Are you sure he's really a drummer? He doesn't happen to look anything like this guy, does he? If so, that ain't a drummer; what you got is a big gremlin...

 

[LT131]

A year? I think in your heart you know.

There must be 50 ways to dump your drummer. Pick one.

 

[Watchootognbout]

2) Fire him

No 1 and No 3 don't require a comment from you.
But No.2 WILL!
He's gonna ask why?
You will have to comment.

 

[BurnOut]

Tapping bad time with his drum stix.
Bringing great pain to my ears.
Killing me slowly with missed beats.
Killing me slowly, with missed beats.
Killing the whole band, with bad time.
Killing me slowly.......
with missed beeeats.

 

[blubass]

I agree. Make sure the band is on the same page or you might be the one that has to leave, or gets the boot.

The alternative is you break the news to him that he's not up to par, and suggest you two take some extra time to work on the issues together in separate practices earlier or later when you all get together. It could be that your guitarists have terrible tone or bland riffs and the drummer gets lost, especially if you two have the ability to lock in. Maybe IEMs could help, or maybe nothing will.

Most of the time the, "fire the drummer" jokes get old and overdone. In this instance, I think you have a legitimate case to get rid of him if you'd rather not work it out.

 

[Iamgoodformetal]

Someone who can but won't bother is about the worst possible situation, no real fix for apathy. If the rest of the band won't get rid of him, it's time to get a new band, but they're probably just waiting for someone to bring it up.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

Three hours?? I think you're logistically in the wrong band.

 

[Pbassmanca]

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.

Just hire David Garibaldi and be done with it....

 

[Pbassmanca]

Tapping bad time with his drum stix.
Bringing great pain to my ears.
Killing me slowly with missed beats.
Killing me slowly, with missed beats.
Killing the whole band, with bad time.
Killing me slowly.......
with missed beeeats.

Amazing.......