Indeed, not once but many times
It like playing Thermo Nuclear War, the only way to win is not to play
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Why did you quit a band?
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Indeed, not once but many times
It like playing Thermo Nuclear War, the only way to win is not to play
It sounds like your personality and experience bear out the hypothesis.
I, too, play guitar; but, find much more satisfaction in support role of a bassist.
I'm less excited about 2AM load-outs than ever. I just stepped aside from a party rock band that had a lot of those, plus a rehearsal site 65 miles from my house one-way. I'm still the sub and on good terms.
I was signed with a Major Label and on a album push at the time I was lucky to have roadies and every thing else that goes with a decent push, we were watching numbers and looking at Europe when I had to walk. It started in 82 went on to 88, So yeah no internet back then as you say strange cities and radio spots, But the worst parts were being owned like you are a product. Tons of money goes out and you made money on merch. if you were lucky. Paying promoters and venues you played at and everyone in your management team and lawyers. And having to write new material under pressure that wasn't someone else's and would be profitable for the machine holding your puppet strings. I was the band leader I signed everything it ending in breach of 3 album contract and being sued, rights to your songs held for 10 years and used or not used by them. All of what you did ripped from the shelves and you vanish and almost without a trace since there was no internet like I said, so only fans having some dusty album from 38 years ago buried in some boxes in the attic or some rock t-shirt used to check the oil.
Did I have fun? hell yeah would I do it again if I had the chance? yes it was my dream, if I knew then what I know now I would not have walked away, because Grunge was on the horizon and I would have just faded away like the rest of the Metal Hair bands of the 80's
The lead singer and her husband bought each of us pink shirts and black vests we were supposed to wear at gigs. They revealed them at the end of practice. I quit by text on the drive home.
Did you quit before or after you threw up on them?
This just might need its own thread after your post.
Usually some mixture of the same reasons every time.
- I love music but my professional career is successful to the point where I don't have the time or patience for for what I think is protracted BS. ...and bands are RIPE for BS.
- I like being around people but I don't like being involved with them. Band is pretty much all about being involved. ...so... lol.
- I get super bored as bands tend to get in a rut of what's comfortable or try to cater to a scene. As soon as I feel like I am being pushed to sound the same on every damn tune I am out. I don't mind too much if the rest of the band does the same basic thing every time... but I refuse to follow that. I don't just play to the song, I play to the note and the notes before and after. The one reason people think I am any good is the EXTREME prevalence of "bassists" that really do live up to the "failed guitarist" stereotype. I don't know why, but every now and again, I get super shocked over how much of that is out there. Believe me, I am not amazing. ...but those guys make me look like I am.
It's also a good rule for survival as a motorcyclist. But it's a lot further up the list than 22
One of the few stereotypes I live up to is having a motorcycle. ...and every time I go for a ride I do so with the expectation that every car I see doesn't see me.It's also a good rule for survival as a motorcyclist. But it's a lot further up the list than 22
Maybe it is because I am getting older (45 next week) but these days, I value my health. lol. I am not a workout guy or anything but I definitely want to live through a bike ride. Since I have zero interest in riding with a group, I don't have the advantage of a large visual of several bikes. It's just me and my single bike can hide in a blind spot unbelievably well.
Correct expectation. As far as I can tell, most people tune out everything smaller than the vehicle they're driving, because it's not a threat.
Another hazard/summary is that there's always somebody more stupid than you are fast. I've met two of those so far; happily, my legs still work.
I'm 48 in a couple of weeks, so I'm there with you.
One of my bikes is tiny and black, so I rely on continual movement to stay visible.
As for the stereotype: I used to be a long-haired, scarred, tattooed, motorcycle-riding musician. Still would be if my hair and I hadn't, um, parted ways.
I am certainly glad your legs still work.
I don't have long hair anymore but that is mainly because I got sick of dealing with it. lol. Still got the scars, the tattoos, and seemingly the motorcycle.
I get the urge to sell the bike when I get a lot of people that want to "ride with me" or me to "ride with them".
"I am, uh, trying to sell it so I am not putting many miles on it now." lol.
Mine is the stereotypical Harley Heritage Softail Classic. Stock level of volume. I actually have done nothing more to it than replace fluids.
I have a couple of friends who are good to ride with, but otherwise, I totally get not wanting to ride in a group. It can be nice, but leading's hard work.
That said, it can be nice when a group just kind of happens on the road, and everybody already knows how to do it properly. Had a miniature one of those in the weekend, riding back from test-playing a bass (to keep this at least loosely on topic) - a BMW rider dropped in behind me for a while, and went straight into accordion formation.
Mine's a Ducati. Both of them, actually - a Multistrada for long-distance riding, and a Monster 620 for short-range, more frantic stuff.
I know how it sounds, but I wasn't planning to get one Ducati, never mind two.
Neither one's modded, beyond upgraded luggage on the tourer - they're plenty of fun the way they are.
Last time I rode in a group was about 8 years ago. I did the Rolling Thunder ride from the Pentagon just to see what I was missing. What I was missing was that about 99% of those idiots had no business being on a motorcycle. People were whizzing in and out, not looking, one guy fell over going up a short easy incline, people were either going half as fast as the group or twice as fast. We had to go about a mile out of our way because it wasn't safe to turn. When I finally got out of that pack of shirt-for brains, I kept going and never looked back.
I haven't ridden with anyone that I don't know well since. I rode to Sturgis about 10 years ago. That was bad, meaning the abysmal lack of riding skills, but no where near as bad as Rolling Thunder.
If I put on a pink shirt- Cool. If someone else tells me to put on a pink shirt- Goo bye.
Ohhh dear. Yes, I think I can see what turned you off it.
Pretty sure I've heard of Rolling Thunder. Wasn't that the one where somebody figured out how to make his bike backfire on cue, and go so into trying to hit his horn at the instant of backfire that he blew the exhaust right off the engine?
My band wanted to wear black pants and black vests. We would have looked like the wait staff. I said, no. I'll wear a black suit and tie with a white shirt, but not the vest thing. We wound up getting suits and people really like the look.
I wouldn't doubt it. 500,000 idiots all in one place at the same time riding motorcycles, acting like fools. I guess now there's 499,999 idiots since I'm not going back.
One of the vendors said, I've got some polish that will make those boots look new. I said, It took me 50,000 miles to get them looking like this! He was not amused.
