The whipped drummer, or wife-induced break up of a ska band

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Ok, so as some of you may know, I play saxophone for a ska band. We’ve had some wonderful success over our almost 4 years together, especially this past year, when we played at a very prestigious punk festival with Green Day, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Papa Roach, Long Beach Dub All-Stars, etc., etc…

But recently, we played a show at a local bar just following Thanksgiving. We ended up having to play an hour later due to an unexpected band showing up…so we were being courteous.

Well, our drummer, being father to a 4-month old boy, and husband to a woman who truly and honestly hates all of his bandmates, was given everything but an ultimatum when told how late he would be out that night. She yelled at him…so he, in turn, yelled at us. The ensuing performance was wrought with tension and anger.

Following the show, we decided the months of December and January should be taken off from practices and gigs, to lower stress levels.

However, spoken in anonymity to me, our drummer expressed his feelings that his family and career lives are beginning to demand more time…time away from the band. He wasn’t sure how things would turn out, but he may not be able to persue the musical career we all have been striving for for so long.

Now my problem stems…

Take into account that ever since I joined the band, we’ve been perpetually playing catch up. New material has been few and far between. After I had finally learned all of the original material, we began to write new songs. Then we gained a tromboner…so, we needed to go back and teach him all the old stuff before we could continue with the newer tunes. As soon as he was up to date, we wrote a few more tunes, which were getting better and better as we wrote…then he moved to California. So, my brother joined as the replacement tromboner. I trained him personally, and he caught on quick. So, we’re ready to write more new material…and now this happens.

So, if he does decide to call it quits, do we train the new drummer on all the old material again, or just start from scratch with a new name and everything, just so everyone’s on the same page? Or do I even bother with the group, and go solo (j/k)? :smiley:

Long explanation…quick question…I know I’m difficult, just humor me… :smiley:

2

First, keep in mind that drummers, as a whole, are missing a chromosome. That’s what leads them to be drummers in the first place. These are generally people who make Uniball look like human beings.

I’ve played with drummers that have become crack addicts (a 42 year old white guy who had to sell a 24 ft. boat to pay for the habit), drummers who drove 45 minutes on the interstate to a gig with no windshield in the car (a gig we left due to gunplay), and one drummer who, no kidding, asked the keyboard player to move his rack 2 3/8 inches back from the kit.

Get another drummer. Nobody will notice if he doesn’t know the particular riff as long as he keeps time. Just don’t let him talk you into doing “Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida.”

3

Get a new drummer. Let the new one learn on the road and concentrate on writing new music.

Just my $0.02.

4

New drummer indeed. A good one won’t take long to get settled, and might provide some new ideas.

Pity about the old one though. Hope being forced to choose doesn’t come back to haunt the two of them.

5

I’d go with a new drummer as well.
So, do you have any songs on Napster?

6

HA! I was wondering if I was the only person who thought this! I’ve long thought that there must be a “Keith Moon” gene. I’ve known quite a few drummers (or, if they’re pretentious, “percussionists”) all have been screwed up in one way or another.

I went to high school with Moe Stainio, a Bay Area precussionist of some marginal fame. His work consists mostly of banging on various bits of metal, junk, bells, sirens, etc. in some semblence of a rythem. His signiture piece is to smash television sets with a hammer, which is pretty impressive to say the least, but unsuited to smaller venues.

I can name many occasions where his grand finale’ had left the coffee shop, bar, Elks lodge he was playing in covered with shards of glass and white powder.

7

Don’t know what to tell you, i/b, but I hope you guys stick around. Good luck, either way.

8

Oh idiotboy, I feel your pain.

I am married to a musician who is having some major band crises right now.

He’s been miserable with this band for some time now, and a few months ago, the bandleader left. My husband, having been in the band longer than anyone else and also the only other person in the band with a PA, was left in charge.

Husband runs the band differently. He firmly believes in playing the blues, since they are a blues band. It even says so in their band name. Prior to the former leader’s departure, they had all but become a Tom Waits cover band (Tom Waits is fine, but not all night, dammit). 'Bout drove husband crazy. They’d take five minutes between songs, play all kinds of stuff that was NOT blues or even close to it, and tell my husband that he was holding them back.

So husband is now in control. He starts insisting on moving quickly from song to song. He plays (gasp!) uptempo blues. He expresses his extreme displeasure with their bass player, who can’t play a walking bass line to save his damn life–just plays that slappin’ & poppin’ stuff all over the place, through the whole song, and louder than anyone else in the band, including the drummer, and ignores any requests from anyone to shut up.

Then there’s the pretentious little conga player. Thinks she’s the Goddess’ Gift to Percussion. My three-year-old has better rhythm. Also in cahoots with Le Bassman to cause strife.

Husband fired them both last night. He’s been wanting to do it for a while. Neither of them showed up last night anyway (bad weather, they said-- believable, but I think they knew they were hanging by a thread). Their replacements are ready to step in after the holidays (they’ve had this Sunday sit-down gig for years). He called Conga & left a message on her answering machine. He hasn’t been able to get hold of Bass Player yet, but I’m sure he’s already gotten the word.

Sorry about the rant there, idiotboy. As for your drummer? Make sure he’s adequate, then train him on the old material.

(long explanation, quick answer! ;))

9

Oh, I don’t doubt it. Our drummer was, by far, the nuttiest member of the band. However, that nuttiness rounds out the band perfectly. See, as ska bands generally are, we are a pretty large group…7 guys. And I think the thing we have going for us, is that we are like the AntiBackstreet boys. We all have our little quirks that make everyone individual rather than all the same. Our singer is the big burly frat boy type. Our guitarist is 100% punk rocker. Our bassist is just a plain old wierdo. The trumpet player is your average nerdy type…I think you get the point.

Not only was his personality perfect, but so was his talent. If you have any time, check out our music here, and you tell me if you think there’s another drummer out there who can play like we do and keep up with us…

Unfortunately, knowing him, it’ll eat him up inside. Especially if we do end up getting this thing off the ground. But with a child to teach (which I’m sure has contracted the Percussive Disease already), I’m sure his child is well worth the time…I’m sure he’ll find all the happiness he needs in him. Altho, I’m sure he’ll be living vicariously through him when his kids starts a band. :slight_smile:

I just hope the wife doesn’t drive him crazy…

Yeah, actually, I think Napster is a great promotional tool. Altho, unless I’m online, it may be hard to find any of our stuff. We’re not that popular yet. :wink: We also have free downloads at: http://mp3.com/jerkwaterjive & http://jerkwaterjive.iuma.com if you don’t find any on Napster.

Thanks man! :smiley: I still appreciate you comin’ out for that show a couple months ago. It was great to meet ya!

Persephone - Yeah, I know how it is. Especially here in Columbus, bands come and go so quickly, it’s hard to find the truly good ones. Now, even though I’m a hard-core ska saxamaphoner…I also love jazz and blues. If this band does fall through, I may consider doing something a bit less energetic…altho sitting down, how will get my exercise?! :stuck_out_tongue:
Anyways, thank you all for your advice! I think a new drummer, if he/she’s good enough, could really fill in the void. It’ll probly take alot of auditioning, though, to find that perfect blend of craziness and talent. It’s just such a shame to lose a friend and a great talent over all this…