General Music Chat

So we have a drummer that coaches varsity, but the real problem is that he doesn't show up to practice. The last time we tried to get him over for 2 new songs that we have, he got a DUI the night before - what a team player right!
We have a new guitarist that joined as our 4th who has been with us for nearly 2 months, and he hasn't even played with our drummer.

Keeping this drummer would stunt us as bad or worse than getting rid of him. He is very creative and makes driving, powerful beats.

What can we do to get him in the game? Has anyone else had this problem?

:Edited

Get another drummer, period. Being in a band is a JOB. DUI on the way to rehearsal means he's fired. Nothing good ever comes from playing with drunks.

ditto FB!
AV,
The title of your topic says it all.
Sounds like a simple case of addition by subtraction to me.
DUI? WTF is he a kid?

Drummers are infamously problem makers. Always have a couple in the stables if your main horse falls.

Get a drum machine in your rehearsals and start looking for another drummer.

Good Luck Air

We've already kicked him out before, but there out of the drummers we have interviewed, no one else will fit the bill.

The DUI was the nail in the coffin for us the first time. But desperate, we came crawling back to him like an abused girlfriend. And yeah he is 2 years younger than me so he is 22, that makes him a kid. He never had these problems but has since he couldn't win over this girl. Not making excuses for him, trust me we are over the top mad at him.

The lines he make are original, and perfectly fit the music. He might make something as catchy as Lars's "One" drum part if he keeps playing with us. We are all really good friends, but he has been reclusive as of late.

Is there something we aren't seeing? Is he at risk of suicide?
He's a long time friend now from school, hell we hung out when I had leave from the airforce, and I would have never pegged him for any of this.

I guess I'm looking for advice of how to get him back in the game, or anything. just 6 months ago it was practice/writing 3-4 times a week, now it's nothing.

Also, nice to be back on the forums with you guys. I can always count on you guys for advice and stuff, sorry I haven't contributed a lot as of late.

Bands are tough, are drummer has went on another
bender, and now I'm afraid I have to agree with the
others hear. It's a tough decision for me to let the
drummer go, he's a old friend, and there was a time
I partied as hard as anybody.

I also understand all the arguements against DWI, but
it's the nature of the beast. You start drinking and lose
control, lose your inhibitions even your sense of right
and wrong, mix the booze with some pills and maybe
even some other illegal substances and than find yourself
behind the wheel. I don't know the answers but I sure
hate seeing these guys get locked up, while the thiefs
and child molesters recieve slaps on the wrist. These
guys need help, not jail time.

I really wouldn't want to be in a band where it's a job,
I do it for my own personal enjoyment. I wouldn't
want to be in a band where one member made hard and
fast rules about conduct and behaviour, every
situation is different and people deserve 2nd and 3rd
chances, and if there really good friends even 4th and
5th chances.

Nothing good ever comes from playing with drunks?
You shouild tell the Who that or maybe the Rolling Stones.
Maybe Robert Johnson, and Hank Williams. Drinking
and drugs have been apart of music for a number of
years now it's something we as musicians have to deal
with. You can have hard and fast rules, or you can look
at each case and see what is really happening.

When your in a band with me I will stand by you for
a long time thru good and bad, because to be in a band
with me 1st we must be friends. I can't be beat, and will not
allow my friends to be beat.

So I guess what I'm saying is look at the man and how
good a friend is he, and look at yourself and how good
a friend are you? Talk with him and explain yourself, it
doesn't sound like your practicing that much to warrant
firing him.

Good friends and good drummers are both hard to find.
Perhaps you can work this out, and your group will be
better for it.

The wisdom of the bandmix forum
throw him to the curb.

When gangrene sets in and antibiotic therapy fails to halt the progression the limb must be removed to spare the life.

He has had his opportunity.
Fire him immediately and move on OR suffer the spread of the infection.

Sounds like a judgement call to me.

Let him who is without sin cast the
1st stone.

Air when I was growing up there were 3 drummers in the town I lived in, one was older and basically taught the other two.

Ive played in bands with all three over the years, but have settled with the guy that is my best friend, he drinks some, does some other things, but when he is sitting at the set he does his business, Ive played off and on with him for close to 35 years.

The other guy was also a close friend, and actually as a drummer, he always had a little better touch than the guy I play with, he would do interesting almost jazzy touchs that the other guy wouldnt do. I tryed a couple of times to get a serious band going with him. When he drinks thou, he just goes over the top. I can remeber a gig where he basically fell off his drum stool during the first set of a four hour gig, I actually called the other guy and he came over and bailed us out of that situation.

If this guy is your friend I would keep an eye on him, but if he really has a drinking problem I dont know if you can ever depend on him musically, cause lets face it, if you are rocking there is always going to be booze around, it just goes with the territory and a person that has a true problem really needs to not be around it to get better.

I wish you luck and help your friend the best you can, but only he can get thru his problems, you cant do anything about that.

And Air I have heard this same sort of thing with musicians Ive known over the years, everyone knows that guy that can play his ass off, but if he gets drunk or high, you cant depend on him, As for me I dont want that guy in my band. You have to make that choice for yourself.

I don't think it's question of " sin " LD.

It's an obvious lack of discipline and dedication.
And it's not going to change.
You either have it ... or you don't.
He don't.

No bad feelings Sans, I think it's the
time of the year, when I reflect back on
all the friends and family that have
passed, and I wish I'd have been a little
nicer and more understanding to them
while they were here. So I try to be
nicer and understanding to the ones
currently living. I'll be back to my
rock hard self after the holidays,
it seems 2faced of me but true.

It's all good LD.

I understand you completely.

We have a similar issue at the fore as well.

A real good and longstanding friend is at center of it.

It can be a problem when family or friends share a project but not the same vision for the future.

Kick him out of the band and find another drummer no matter how long it takes! This guy has proven he is unreliable and he is irresponsible. He will give you nothing but heartache! I don't know you guy's and that is obvious even to me!
If you are going to play in a band you have to take the steps to be able to do your job and that includes not drinking and driving. You say no one else fits the bill? I find that hard to believe unless you live in a town with a population of 200. If so you can find someone from the next town over!