Starting a tour without one band member

Next week my band (4 piece, playing funk-rock) goes to a mini tour - 12 concerts all the way Croatian Adriatic coast (Italy is on the other side of Adriatic - for those who think that Croatia is village in south Africa ). It is second time we're doing this.

2 years ago, 4 of us packed all our instruments-bass, 2 guitars with amps, drums... in a Fiat Ritmo (size like Ford Focus) and played as street musicians. I can't tell you how much fun that was. Living on a road for whole month... At one time I thought I will never go home, it was that good. We lived as kings, always being in centre of attention, wherever we came.

We signed contract with a small record company and to promote new single, we planned whole tour, arranged paying gigs at best places possible and guess what?
...One of guitarist won't go. He has some problems at home, bla bla. We always knew he could do something like this (there were a few gigs he just didn't show up), but he is genius on guitar-imagine how does sound great funk lead guitarist and that's why we tolerated this for too long. It's a great loss and we don't have time to find replacement. But we started to rearrange songs and they sound great, even without him. Groove is still there, funk is still there. And there is soo much more room for me (Not that it matters, I still mustn't overplay the song).

So, I was wondering, how many of you have had similar problems?

 

No it's Pavlovic. It still ends on "-ic" (as 90% surnames in Croatia)

Problem is in change. I don't like changing what sounds good and timing can't be worse (Of course, he could tell us that day before we should get starting...) There were far more melodies coming out of us with him then now. Now our music is based more on rhytm. Well, it just takes time to adapt to a new style. After tour we'll be in search for a new member.

 

I just returned from rehearsal and I'm still under impression. I keep wondering why we didn't kick him out long time ago when he started with his s***. There is so much more energy and positive vibrations in our music. It is now what funk really should be-melodic and tught in rhytm. I still can't believe that all that sound comes from only guitar, bass and drums.

Still, no one replied to my question: "Did any of you have had similar problems, like-band member leaving band before important gig, or even tour?"

 

Sorry, I didn't read your whole post. Thanks for response

 

I have played in bands since first moment I layed bass in my hands. This band is something special, something I searched whole timE. How many of you are that lucky to play with people who (speaking about music and whole more things) think exactly like you?

I'll be sad when it's all over (eventually it will be) but at the moment, I will take maximum out of it!

 

mingustoo, I wish you luck with your band. I know how hard is for band to succeed in this cruel word.

I've just finished second gig on tour. We played for over 2 and half hours. This was one of our best concerts ever! It's just unbeleivable what 3 men can do with their instruments.

i would write more but I'm so tired...