I was in a band a good many years ago. The BL, brought his wife in to sing and to see if it was a good fit. He assured us that if it didn't work out with her, she wouldn't stay. Over the next year, one by one he fired the entire band and ended up hiring some of the members for a little bit of studio work to record one more EP before it all fizzled out.
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Two bassists may be one too many
- Thread starter Mo cowbell
- Start date
I was in a band a good many years ago. The BL, brought his wife in to sing and to see if it was a good fit. He assured us that if it didn't work out with her, she wouldn't stay. Over the next year, one by one he fired the entire band and ended up hiring some of the members for a little bit of studio work to record one more EP before it all fizzled out.
I've never experienced any band (personally) where married couples or SO last for very long. The one only famous bands that comes to mind is Fleetwood Mac but even them, not without drama along the course of their career. But ABBA, and numerous more. They'll just end up as a duo later on, and with rotating rooster of backing musicians. Even if the band is very young and consists of singles. If there's a chick singing, only months ahead she will be engaged to ONE of the members, and off you go. And they don't ever think they're penalizing someone else, or treat themselves differently from the others. And if...no... not if... they should end their "marriage" and still tries to be in the same band, I have yet to see both members last in the band. Someone has to go. And if one of them is the BL, drama occurs big time soap opera on prime time television, or facebook.
Married couple bands, or "SO" are best left as a duo, and nothing more.
All displayed to enormous ridicule in "This Is Spinal Tap" and the more subdued and subtle follow up, the folk band mockumentary send up "A Mighty Wind" movies.
Married couple bands, or "SO" are best left as a duo, and nothing more.
All displayed to enormous ridicule in "This Is Spinal Tap" and the more subdued and subtle follow up, the folk band mockumentary send up "A Mighty Wind" movies.
OP, I'd have left in the time it took to start this thread.
In fact, the time you spent typing, should have been a resignation letter. And there isn't a chance in hell I'd show her how to play my parts. Live music is a sink or swim situation, and your former band needs to learn that lesson.
In fact, the time you spent typing, should have been a resignation letter. And there isn't a chance in hell I'd show her how to play my parts. Live music is a sink or swim situation, and your former band needs to learn that lesson.
By replacing you with an absolute beginner, they showed just how much respect they have for you, and your instrument.
You're better off
+1. This band isn't serious. It's a hobby, not a band.
It sucks for sure but you are better off out if that is what they think is required in a bassist. Unless a miracle happens I do not see this band progressing out of the basement.
I was asked to join a band a while ago (long story that is not relevant here). All experienced musicians except the drummer (I didn't find this out until the first rehearsal), who was the BL's partner and had only been playing a short time. (Most people have probably guessed where this is going.)
I was emailed a setlist and spent a considerable of time getting my parts down (mostly new material to me), went to two rehearsals but couldn't lock in with the drummer no matter how I tried. I was considering quitting when the guitarist (who recommended me) phoned to say that both of us and the singer had been fired (by email).
It turned out that the drummer lost her day job (she was supporting the BL) and they had decided to go back to what they had previously done because they could get work immediately. Boy/girl duo with backing tracks, both singing, him playing (token) keyboards, her playing tambourine.
The guitarist and I kept in touch with the singer and talked of starting a project with him but nothing came of it. The only positive from it was that I learned a ton of stuff from a genre I had played very little of, one I am now doing full time (with the same guitarist and a very good drummer).
I was asked to join a band a while ago (long story that is not relevant here). All experienced musicians except the drummer (I didn't find this out until the first rehearsal), who was the BL's partner and had only been playing a short time. (Most people have probably guessed where this is going.)
I was emailed a setlist and spent a considerable of time getting my parts down (mostly new material to me), went to two rehearsals but couldn't lock in with the drummer no matter how I tried. I was considering quitting when the guitarist (who recommended me) phoned to say that both of us and the singer had been fired (by email).
It turned out that the drummer lost her day job (she was supporting the BL) and they had decided to go back to what they had previously done because they could get work immediately. Boy/girl duo with backing tracks, both singing, him playing (token) keyboards, her playing tambourine.
The guitarist and I kept in touch with the singer and talked of starting a project with him but nothing came of it. The only positive from it was that I learned a ton of stuff from a genre I had played very little of, one I am now doing full time (with the same guitarist and a very good drummer).
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Good move. If they ever bash you about that it was a dickmove tell them that THEY did a d-move from you... not the other way around.
Congrats, courageous, you have the guts, and all that. And I definitely wish you good luck AND BETTER LUCK with your next band. You will find it in no time.
As the story unfolds, I would think that sooner or later, the other ones in that band leaves ever so slowly, one after the other, and it all turns into some kind of "White Stripes" thing...
Keep in touch with the other 2 (drummer and guitarist ?) it might not be long before they are looking for something else.
Mind you, even this has happened with world famous artists, i e Paul & Linda McCartney. However in their case, they're the BLs, and you know this from the start on.
"He had insisted from the beginning of their marriage that Linda should be involved in his musical projects, notwithstanding her lack of previous experience as a musician, so that they did not have to be apart when he was on tour"
"Wings similarly struggled to gain artistic credibility, particularly during the early 1970s, with critics, fans and McCartney's musical peers alike ridiculing the inclusion of Linda as a keyboard player and backing vocalist..."
"Wings went into rehearsals for their next album. McCullough and Seiwell abruptly left the band in August, however, at the end of rehearsals. Both musicians were disenchanted with the group's musical direction and Linda's inclusion.."
Wings (band) - Wikipedia
So, there. You're in (was) in good company, it's not the only band. But as none of us, and your band had/has the songwriting abilities of sir Paul well then... off you go!
"He had insisted from the beginning of their marriage that Linda should be involved in his musical projects, notwithstanding her lack of previous experience as a musician, so that they did not have to be apart when he was on tour"
"Wings similarly struggled to gain artistic credibility, particularly during the early 1970s, with critics, fans and McCartney's musical peers alike ridiculing the inclusion of Linda as a keyboard player and backing vocalist..."
"Wings went into rehearsals for their next album. McCullough and Seiwell abruptly left the band in August, however, at the end of rehearsals. Both musicians were disenchanted with the group's musical direction and Linda's inclusion.."
Wings (band) - Wikipedia
So, there. You're in (was) in good company, it's not the only band. But as none of us, and your band had/has the songwriting abilities of sir Paul well then... off you go!
Once I saw your equipment I knew that band sure messed up. Their loss, find a band that will respect and cherish your talent.
Regardless of wife or not, or "SO"... it's quite gruelling to play in any band with one of them still a "learner". And it'll just take 2-3 rehearsals to detect that that "learner" person will not ever progress in any way. Even less than that, ONE rehearsal. If everybody is a learner, and starting out just goofing around on their instruments, it's more equalled out. All on the same level, and not anyone has to "wait" for the other. My experience is that it has nothing to do with actual skills, like in virtuosity, but the memorizing of different parts of the song. No matter that you're asked to play ONE long whole note at beat ONE for one bar, and that's all you do in the song, they don't know, and will never remember WHERE it comes in, no matter how much rehearsed. It has nothing to do with dexterity. And then you just have to go back at home woodshedding, honing, and take lessons still from a good instructor. You're simply not fit yet. The "punk" and DIY aesthetic will just work up to a point.
Well, it sounds like an issue of frequency range. It doesn't sound "crisp" maybe because you're both trying to use the same tone?
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