chris_b

The only measure of success for me is how much is the band working and what kind of work is it doing. Whether it's an occasional gig down the Dog & Duck or an international stadium tour, a shaky video your girl friend shot on her iPhone or a million selling CD, your success or otherwise can be measured by these two things. As to who has heard of who. . . . ! If your favourite band has heard of The Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Who or any band of that ilk then you've been influenced by Willie Dixon (look him up). One of the most influential bass players ever.

As has been said on another thread. . . . this is often a problem with people who want to be in a band for a hobby and just play what they want or like. If he won't come to terms with the compromises needed to marry "his thing" and the "band's thing" then you need to start looking for a new drummer.

Aguilar prices are more likely a direct result of a policy to make all their products in the US instead of doing what most other manufacturers do, shipping production into the 3rd world, where they can make use of non-unionised and underpaid labour costs and a low tax business environment. Where are Ashdown Rootmaster cabs made again?

Always saying "No" is indicative of a problem. Either you guys are suggesting bad songs or the drummer has to start accepting some of your choices. Tell us some of the songs he has vetoed. What songs does he suggest? If he's a good enough drummer to work around and not just fire, change the rules and tell him that he has to agree to something or the rest of you will impose songs on him.

+1

There are lots of reunion tours which were exactly that, reunions. There are others, it seems, who rather imagine they did all by themselves.

Really? When the 30th anniversary tour was being considered, the band, who were instrumental in her success in the early days, were told they weren't being included. Using "the guys" on the way up and discarding them when you get there is a sadly common trait.

I have never broken a string. I only change my rounds when they are dead, 9 months to a year. I make sure I don't twist them when I put them on. I've always used heavier gauges. I don't slap. I stroke the strings rather than pull them. I turn the volume up rather than digging in. I always carry a spare set of strings but so far have never had to use one.

Sorry. Not for me.

You can list as many cheaper cabs as you like. If they don't sound as good then they are equally not a good use of your cash. The price of anything is not an issue unless you want to buy one. You can either afford one or you can't. I don't see the problem.

It took me 25 years to realise that everything I played was 100% influenced by Duck Dunn, David Hood and Tommy Cogbill. The sound track to my life. These days I've added Nathan East, Nate Watts, Reggie McBride but mostly what I play and how I play it still boils down to Duck, Dave and Tom.

No. 2 x 8 ohm cabs or 1 x 4 ohm cab. That's it.

I asked that 3 weeks ago. Still no reply!!

Yep. I preferred when there was a "them and us" feel between the band and the audience. It didn't take long for the audiences to start looking weirder than we did!

In my experience the recorded music scene in the 80's was full of fantastic bands playing great songs. The local gig scene (London and the SE) was vibrant and there were more gigs than a band could fit in the diary. The audiences were lively, interested and enthusiastic. Most of the gigs we played were full. IME the 80's was a great time for music.

Hell is other peoples children.

Nigel Tufnel once said; "The last band was so bad that the audience was still booing them when we were on!"

So you think your fingers are too short! PS Comes up muted. . . .you'll have to unmute to listen.

People don't have much of an attention span these days. They can't focus on anything for longer than 10 seconds or sit through something they don't like in order to get to something better.

The 80's was a great decade. A fantastic time for music. In 1980 the Blues Brothers film came out. Steely Dan released Gaucho. In 1984 Nathan East joined Eric Clapton. In 1985 I came out of retirement and have been gigging ever since. In 1988 Little Feat reformed with Craig Fuller and put out Let It Roll. IMO one of their best albums. In 1989 Delbert McClinton put out Live From Austin. One of the best live albums released. Bonnie Raitt put out Nick Of Time. And the gigs from James Brown to BB King and Ry Cooder. . . this is just the tip of the iceberg.

A bit of audience chatter? A little light hearted banter with the locals? Sheer luxury! We were playing a festival many years ago and a disgruntled audience member, maybe trying to encourage us to hurry up and get off, lobbed a beer can at us. I was very surprised to see a Watneys Party 7 fly out of the lights, bounce off the Wurlitzer keyboard and over our heads. It didn't work. We had to keep playing because the main band was still getting whizzed in hospitality.

The BB2 cab is bigger than the SC so it will go louder, deeper and be tuned differently. As always, when the questions get into obscure details, Alex is the best guy to talk to.

He has toured the world with Macca and he's got P Mc in gaffa tape on the front of his bass drum. Love it.

The band I'm playing with at the moment have the answer. You need to get a bus to another post code to be able to hear yourself think let alone have a conversation.

Fabulous drummer.