General Music Chat

After 30 yrs playing professionally (2 albums for Island/Def Jam), I finally decided to front my own band. Trouble is, I'm currently in a small town, so the musician choices are small. I'm not an ego-freak, but I DO want to play with musicians on my own level. I've been at this too long to not do exactly what I want to do. Anyhoo, I started a 3-piece blues-based rock band to play covers, but to write ultimately. We play everything from Hendrix to Black Sabbath to Stevie Ray to Stone Temple Pilots to U.F.O. to everything in between. My originals are blues-based in the vein of Government Mule with a slightly harder edge. I plan on adding a B-3 player. I've spent the last 7-8 months on this group. My drummer is awesome. My bass player is a nice guy, but he's a "Phantom" bass player who never practices, sits on his ass all day & hits the bong & has no ambition except riding on my name and making some dope money. NO WORK ETHIC!! I feel I've wasted nearly a year of my life on this. It's not fair. I need to replace this deadbeat. I can't believe I've let it go this far. We've already played a couple of local gigs to rave reviews, but I feel I'm going to hurt my reputation playing with this guy. Somebody help!

Hi Blues.
Hope your bass player doesn't come here because he won't be Phantom, he'll be history, Who have you played with please? You said he was riding your name?

As regards fronting the band? Do it and see how it turns out? My experiences have been that if you are not suited or trained for it, this could be a long slog but it could work, depends on you really?

Good Luck!

My bass player is a nice guy, but he's a "Phantom" bass player who never practices, sits on his ass all day & hits the bong & has no ambition except riding on my name(

After 30 yrs playing professionally (2 albums for Island/Def Jam), I finally decided to front my own band. Trouble is, I'm currently in a small town, so the musician choices are small. I'm not an ego-freak, but I DO want to play with musicians on my own level. I've been at this too long to not do exactly what I want to do. Anyhoo, I started a 3-piece blues-based rock band to play covers, but to write ultimately. We play everything from Hendrix to Black Sabbath to Stevie Ray to Stone Temple Pilots to U.F.O. to everything in between. My originals are blues-based in the vein of Government Mule with a slightly harder edge. I plan on adding a B-3 player. I've spent the last 7-8 months on this group. My drummer is awesome. My bass player is a nice guy, but he's a "Phantom" bass player who never practices, sits on his ass all day & hits the bong & has no ambition except riding on my name and making some dope money. NO WORK ETHIC!! I feel I've wasted nearly a year of my life on this. It's not fair. I need to replace this deadbeat. I can't believe I've let it go this far. We've already played a couple of local gigs to rave reviews, but I feel I'm going to hurt my reputation playing with this guy. Somebody help!

Straight from exerience...fire him. We all love music dearly. However, we must remember that it is a business. Like you said, good musicians are far and in-between. Get the good musicians before someone else des.

As you are learning (and I have learned many times), there are twotypes of musicians: The one's that play for fun, and the one's that have a passion for it. The best example I can give you is your own situation. You have the passion, while your bass player just wants to jam and get high. In the end, he will only hold you back-and make an effort to do so. "Fun" players actually defend their territory (this was a real suprise to me). They will, subconciously or otherwise, take actions to keep the situation from getting too serious. They are not willing to work to have fun (where as you probably recognize that the performance is its own reward).
Anyway, here's my suggestion, and it may not be a popular one: If you are getting rave revues, continue to play with the guy. In the meantime, find a replacement. If your gigs begin to go south due to him, yeah, drop him, but if it's working, then keep him until you find a better fit-hopefully someone who shares your work ethic. And, oh, don't bother telling him your looking for his replacement. He certainly hasn't acted as though he owes you anything, and you shouldn't feel that way, either-unless it comes to money. If you guys have pulled your gig money together, don't be a d!ck...give him his share. I just got beat out of $500 because of a "band pool". It ain't right.
Believe me, I know the small town situation, and you have two choices: Do what you can do there, or take your show somewhere with more musicians to choose from.

As for my history, I recorded 2 albums for Island/Def Jam in '99 -'01 with Full Devil Jacket. We toured w/ Creed, STP, Nickleback, Fuel, most other popular bands of that time. I've toured the states, Europe, Canada. I find myself stuck back in my hometown because I got married a few years back and settled down. My wife died 2 years ago, and I'm just now getting back into it. If I was in a larger town, it would be no problem. Actually, I'm at a crossroads right now and will surely re-locate if the right situation showed itself. As far as fronting my band, I'm doing well, but would step aside for a superior lead vocalist and am willing to join the right band.

Dude I'm so sorry to hear that. Gee no wonder.
Good merits then on what you've done. Go for it is all I can say. Listen to your heart/head whatever and just go for it, never look back.

Good luck Blues.

Chippy.

I got married a few years back and settled down. My wife died 2 years ago.

Good Luck Dyersburg, we are almost neighbors.

What clubs are you playing up that way? We tlaked to the Rock a few monthes ago but never got booked.

Have a Great Day and Keep On Rockin!

"Fun" players actually defend their territory (this was a real suprise to me). They will, subconciously or otherwise, take actions to keep the situation from getting too serious. They are not willing to work to have fun (where as you probably recognize that the performance is its own reward).

I also realized this (finally) about two years ago, when a "for fun" player sabotaged gigs, rehearsals, the band as a whole, just because he didn't want it to be anywhere except exactly where it was: Playing the same local dive every other week, for free (aka "for fun")...

Dump the bum as soon as you can find a suitable replacement, but not before.

I'll try out your bassist> lol

Can he play?

Nothing good ever comes from playing with an addict. Too bad you don't live near me. I could fill in for your deadbeat bass player and also be your lead vocalist until you found suitable replacements.

.

Look brother,

You're not a newbie to this.

Get serious or don't act like you want to be serious.

Playing in bumf*ck Egypt = NOT serious
Playing COVERS in dives = NOT serious
Staying with losers = NOT serious


You're 47 years old.

You don't have forever anymore.

Get with the program, or decide that this is a "hobby" and not worth being "serious" about.

You're bitching about THEM, but I don't see YOU taking it seriously.

Once YOU are serious, then you can tell these other guys to get serious too, and if they don't, you can kick their lazy asses to the curb!

Cause you certainly don't have time for that sh*t!!!

.

I was trying to find where the guy said Egypt?

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Playing in bumf*ck Egypt = NOT serious
.

Chip Dyer County qualifys as bum***** Eqypt!

Trust me on this

BLuess Dude good luck !!

Thanks JW.

I've a lot yet to learn DOH!

Chip Dyer County qualifys as bum***** Eqypt!
Trust me on this
BLuess Dude good luck !!