What the %$^#

I'm not great at simple math but the bad seems to fairly well far outweigh the good here. I'm angry at the dude and haven't met him

 

Sounds like a Drunk running amuck. Bad news......

 

Ugh, that's one of my pet peeves. Yes, you need to check your sound, and horn players need to warm up their lips, but once you've done that, please, no noodling.

And personally, I'd be very concerned about working with someone who drinks as much as you've described.

 

"He can be a good musician when he is not drinking, and the band can really hit it on a good night."

The problem with people like this is that they are almost never not drinking. Nobody can fix a drunk. Cut your losses and tell the rest of the band that if they want to enable him, they can, but you are tired of wasting your time.

It will come to a head sooner or later, save yourself all the aggregation you will experience between now and then.

 

He drinks too much; it diminishes his value to the band. The situation (sadly enough) needs to be addressed.

A little side note; a long time ago, the band I was in picked up a guitar in recovery, and the guy was spectacular. Turns out he was from a regional, major popular band. He had to leave them to get healed.

So, maybe there is hope.

 

+1
my tolerance for this type of activity in a band is zero.
get rid of the guy ... there is an ocean full of guitar players out there.

 

DUDE - this same thing happened to me two years ago. I worked my ass off to get the act to where it needed to be, (arranging for as well as paying half of the Studio time to record a demo, keyboardist paid the other 1/2) and low and behold the drummer and gui**** are locked in a 69. Heads up each others ass. Interrupting when you speak, can't get a work in edgewise, the final straw for me at our last gig (my last gig with them anyways) the gui**** was way too loud, I couldn't hear my wedge monitors, lost my voice trying to yell over him. Hence when it was my turn to sing I couldn't. It was futile. The FOH guys were giving him the "Thumbs Down" signaling he was way too loud, and had his faders totally zeroed in the mix. My ears rang for three days after that gig. When I tried to talk to him and the rest of the band into purchasing IEM's, (I own an older set of Shure E5's, but didn't use them because the board we were using didn't have an extra AUX send for my use) he said the REAL problem with the show is that I change basses too much. Only reason I change basses besides going from 4 to 5 when needed is because the gui**** learned a bunch of tunes in alternate tunings from the standard a440 or a semitone down for vocals. He stated that I need to relearn all the songs in the same keys as he plays them, and that if I needed help HE would teach me. I told him to F off and quit on the spot. To this date they haven't played live since. What a bunch of idiots. I know I am not going to risk going deaf playing crap clubs for the likes of 150.00 bucks a night.

You're better off without that guy, and if the drummer is locked in with him, and you like the rest of the act, it's just a matter of how much you can stomach. I said "adios" and good riddance. Good luck man.

 

Huh??

 

ha ha , That's my way of saying they ( guitarist and drummer )are in cahoots no matter what one says, the other agrees. Ridiculous.

 

I guess there is a MAJOR shortage of guitar players in "LA". Otherwise I am assuming your idiot would be looking for a gig.

 

I had this exact same thing happen with me and my guitarist a couple years ago. I walked over to him in mid-song, turned my back to the audience and mouthed to him "Its in G!" as he played away in F#. Then, on my way back to my amp, I said to my drummer in frustration, "It's always been in G!"

That has become a reoccurring tag line and source of humor for us. "It's always been in G!" has become a rallying cry of sorts and has provided many a laugh in the years since that embarassing moment.

Give it time. You may find it funny in a couple months. In the interim, maybe you and your bandmates could have an open conversation with your guitarist about professionalism and drinking before a gig?

 

This is one of the reasons (among a list of others) I just quit my band! Professionalism goes right out the door when folks get drunk! And it's happened way too many times! Dude even yells on the mic for someone to buy him a G**D**n drink! Swearing as well. Not the kind of band I want to be associated with. Bad thing is...the band had so much potential to be a force in the area! Band is a joke now!

 

Sounds like the guitar player needs an intervention. I am speaking from personal experience. He is in complete denial, typical in an alcoholic.

I personally wouldn't continue to play with him until he stops or at least cuts back on his drinking.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Hi,

Perhaps an "intervention" is called for. If for nothing else, you can try and save the guy's life.

I got a DUI driving home from a gig about 15 years ago and it was a real wake up call. I was driving over 100 mph and passed a CHP! I was drinking pretty heavily back in those days and a couple of us had stayed after hours and partied with the bartenders and waitresses. I could have killed myself and others, several times over.

All you can do is talk to the guy and hope he hears you. If he continues then let's pray he hits rock bottom without hurting anyone. I had to hit rock bottom before I pulled myself up and got better. Thankfully my wife and friends were very supportive. There's more than music at stake here. Best of luck to you.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

Ha, I'm mad at him too !

 

IME people who develop those sorts of bad habits and are allowed to get away with them will never change their habits. Guitar players especially with not change no matter how often the rest of the band asks. The drummer is an enabler; he will always have someone to excuse his faults and cover for him. Your only choices are to put up with it or get out. Don't bother trying to "save" him (at least not without a lot of help) it's a waste of your time.

 

Biiiig +1

It's time to hit the flush handle with that loser. The sooner, the better. A year from now, when the band is kicking major arse (with a real musician on guitar), it will be all smiles.