• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Sigh. Drummer trouble.

#202
I wouldn't sweat that, either. It looks to me that guitar is very loyal to drummer. So much so that he is willing to stake his musicianship on him. Don't get caught into that kind of drama. You might have to move on, and if you do, think of the whole thing as a positive learning experience. You'll be busy again by the weekend.
 
#203
BadB said:
I wouldn't sweat that, either. It looks to me that guitar is very loyal to drummer. So much so that he is willing to stake his musicianship on him. Don't get caught into that kind of drama. You might have to move on, and if you do, think of the whole thing as a positive learning experience. You'll be busy again by the weekend.
Click to expand...

Yep! I'm not worried about not workin', that's for sure. And, you know, if I end up being the one "out", its ok. I'm not going to burn bridges. I imagine they'll be put back into use later on. ;)

Cherie :bassist:
 
#205
coop said:
Even though it's really none of my business, I can't help but be curious of the outcome of all of this. ?????
Click to expand...

Well, thanks for asking. But I have no news. No outcome. Limbo. No...not limbo. Purgatory.

Constantly cancelled practices...guitarist is always being sent out of town, or having to study for certs, for the day job. I am not going to wait for this anymore.

Told guitarist today that the drummer's been offensive to him, snotty and sarcastic to me, and isn't playing the parts correctly after, what, nine months or so now. Saturday is the last show with him, period, end of discussion.

I won't ride this mule another mile. We can't write. We've dropped all but two out of six original songs that are completed, because drummer can't play them. We can't get gigs because we can't produce one good recording, not one, not even a gig video.

We need to just fire the guy. Like we should have done a month ago. I kick myself for ever standing up for the guy. We'd have someone else by now, if I hadn't tried to be nice.

*I'm* done. Whatever the guys want to do at the end of the night Saturday, *I* am *done*. I'll fire the guy my own self, no matter what anyone else wants to do. Can't take anymore, man.

Cherie
 
#207
Aight I didn't read it all , but as a former pro drummer (I say former cuz I stopped playing gigs in 2001) Let me add the following things

1: The drummer isn't the only time keeper so, you can throw that idea out the winder... if the drummer & bass player aren't in the pocket any click isn't going to help... the pocket is sometimes ahead or behind the actual click... sure clicks are great they serve there purpose but they're not the magic wand of great studio drumming
2: It took me about 10 years of playing drums before I realized that less is more... that buddy rich wasn't the god... that Dave Weckl wasn't the king... what I realized was that a player like steve gadd is where it's at... where he just hits the pocket (prolly why he's one of the most recorded drummers ever)
3: Not all drummers make good studio musicians... some will actually argue that Jim Kettner did a lot of the beatles recordings and not ringo... yet Ringo was great live... I really don't know the truth to this... but I can attest to the fact that I've seen really good drummer just suck in the studio (because of a variety of factors)

Anyway ... that's my two cents... now I gotta go practice my scales... cuz I still suck on bass:bassist::spit:
 
#208
tidnab said:
Aight I didn't read it all , but as a former pro drummer (I say former cuz I stopped playing gigs in 2001) Let me add the following things

1: The drummer isn't the only time keeper so, you can throw that idea out the winder... if the drummer & bass player aren't in the pocket any click isn't going to help... the pocket is sometimes ahead or behind the actual click... sure clicks are great they serve there purpose but they're not the magic wand of great studio drumming
2: It took me about 10 years of playing drums before I realized that less is more... that buddy rich wasn't the god... that Dave Weckl wasn't the king... what I realized was that a player like steve gadd is where it's at... where he just hits the pocket (prolly why he's one of the most recorded drummers ever)
3: Not all drummers make good studio musicians... some will actually argue that Jim Kettner did a lot of the beatles recordings and not ringo... yet Ringo was great live... I really don't know the truth to this... but I can attest to the fact that I've seen really good drummer just suck in the studio (because of a variety of factors)

Anyway ... that's my two cents... now I gotta go practice my scales... cuz I still suck on bass:bassist::spit:
Click to expand...

Yeahhhhh, I know. And I've considered all of that. Even suggested a good bit of it.

To no avail. The man becomes nasty-mean offended when we try just to work out the musical problems, much less talk about using someone else in the studio. He cannot and will not take any constructive criticism or suggestions.

The only other drummers that I've had this much trouble getting into pocket with are guys who just play as a hobby, and who don't play much at that.

This guy claims to have been playing for years.

I wish I could find a way not to do this, but it has to be done.

I wish I could find someone with your good attitude!!! :)

Cherie
 
#209
tidnab said:
3: Not all drummers make good studio musicians... some will actually argue that Jim Kettner did a lot of the beatles recordings and not ringo... yet Ringo was great live... I really don't know the truth to this... but I can attest to the fact that I've seen really good drummer just suck in the studio (because of a variety of factors)
Click to expand...

Actually it's Bernard Purdie that claims a lot of it. I've never seen anything suggesting it was Keltner. I tend to think it was mostly Ringo.

KO
 
#210
I can't believe this is still dragging on! Stick to your guns about Thursday being the end of it. It sounds to me like your guitar player needs to grow a pair, if you want my opinion. He seems to have just enough time to do everything else on his agenda but not quite enough time to include firing the drummer; that is not a coincidence. You may very well have to do the dirty work yourself...or just walk away. At this point, walking away is probably your best option since you seem to be playing with Mr. Clueless and Mr. Nutless and it is obvious that nothing is going to change any time soon.
 
#211
Take the bull by the horns and kick some ass.
You seem to have more nuts than those two together,hell the whole team at TB's with ya.
And the best part is,you've nothing to lose, can only get better.
Been reading this for weeks,better than Peyton Place or whatever the name was.
With ya girl,do the right thing.
Woffle
 
#213
Fish or cut bait...that's right where I'm at.

We play tomorrow and Saturday. Then, no matter what, I am done playing with this drummer. I'm working on my other projects, too, so I won't be idle.

I'm just...*done*...you know? I don't even want to see the guy.

Told Guitar I would be glad when Sunday dawned and all this was over. He said, "I hope it is." I replied, "It *will* be. I'm not playing with him anymore after this. So, it will be over."

Period.

Done.

Cherie
 
#214
Hopefully guitar will do the right thing. I know you were digging the band other from the drummer. If not, you'll stumble into something most likely better.

That's what happened to me, I finally had all I could take after 7 years with the same band. I bolted without another gig. Within a week I got a call from one of the hottest bands in this area. Now I'm back to enjoying playing again.

PS - My brother lives in Pflugerville, maybe next time my wife & I visit we could scare up a jam session.:bassist:
 
#215
coop said:
Hopefully guitar will do the right thing. I know you were digging the band other from the drummer. If not, you'll stumble into something most likely better.

That's what happened to me, I finally had all I could take after 7 years with the same band. I bolted without another gig. Within a week I got a call from one of the hottest bands in this area. Now I'm back to enjoying playing again.

PS - My brother lives in Pflugerville, maybe next time my wife & I visit we could scare up a jam session.:bassist:
Click to expand...

Definitely!!! I have jam buddies...a bassist, a drummer, and a guitarist...who live over there. I'm working with that guitarist on one of my side projects.

Both of them show up for our Wednesday night jams...let us know when yer on the way! :hyper:

I'm not going to actually leave Guitarist. Just Drummer. I refuse to play with him one more day after Saturday. So...we best be hunting someone first thing Monday!

Cherie :bassist:
 
#220
Life is too short to chase around bad drummers

A lifelong buddy of mine is playing drums in our band. He is not cutting the mustard. He comes from a metal background and he is just beating the crap out of the material. As much as we discuss groove and feel he still does not study the material and after 6 weeks in not making progress. We play covers and play most of the stuff close to the original. Nothing I hate more then chasing around a bad drummer..it screws up my playing because I am a very "lock in" type of bass player since I was a drummer back in my younger days. It's sad, he's a really good guy and I have known him for 20 years. I am going to give him one last practive to see if he has made progress in the areas he needs work, if not I am going to give him the ultimatum. It's tough too cause he's out of work with a young family so I want to give him every opportunity to turn it around. Maybe he's got bigger issues to deal with and I know he hasn't been practicing like he should. This stuff is never easy and I'm sure he will be upset with me...but life is too short to play with bad drummers! Guys in the band spend a lot of time and money on gear and we all work hard at our day jobs, so this is a very important release to us..we value our band time! I know it's the bumpy road in the right direction. These things always suck!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back