Band kicked me out

[KingBollock]

I was once asked to audition for one of the bands on that roster. If I could drive I would have done, too, as it was it was too far for me to expect my wife to drive me for every rehearsal, so I had to turn it down. Bloody glad I did now as I'm a mahoosively gre't big fatty.

The first proper band I was ever in packed up after I'd only been with them for a few months, they'd been going for years previously. The next thing I know I'm getting invited to join them again but without the lead Guitarist and the Singer... I was too young and naive to twig what was happening (they were all 4 or 5 years older than me and I was too young to go to the pub with them, so I had no idea of the background stuff, I just turned up and played). A little while later the old lead Guitarist asked me to join him and a new Drummer, but I turned him down because it hadn't occurred to me that I could be in two bands at once. That Guitarist is doing rather well for himself now and is in a band that plays a lot of Rock festivals all around the UK.

[BassHavoc]

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1346523207' post='1790280']
I was once asked to audition for one of the bands on that roster.

[/quote]

Which band was that?

[steve-soar]

Heights aren't bad.

[BILL POSTERS]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1346496448' post='1789869']
(plus some rather nasty 70s porn star 'tashes going on)

[/quote]

Nothing wrong with nasty porn star tashes, had mine since, well - the 70s...

Probably right about there beins somethinge else going on that you aint been tolds. By blaming it on your weight, they must know theres nothing you can say, and by upsetting you theyre burning bridges as well probably.

Edited September 1, 2012 by BRANCINI

[sime17]

There you go - we've heard a few more of those stories I was talking about!

The most memorable one I'd heard was from a muso aquaintance of a muso mate (who happened to be one of the 'tutors' I was talking about too!) whose gf was in a band that got signed - they got an advance, bought instruments, had 'cosmetic treatments' (teeth etc) and were wined and dined for months whilst recording their meister werke - all the while this was going to their heads and the inevitable prima donna effect meant the meister werke took longer and longer with little 'commercial' product coming out (muchos studio time!!!). The result, they got dropped to cut losses before anything got finished and found out they were in lotsa debt. Nasty business.

Edited September 1, 2012 by sime17

[TimR]

Well if you're continuing in that vein. Friends of mine were approached to be signed. Great, they loved the image, that they could all play well and read, the only snag was their music was cr.p. The label had a writer, all they had to do was drop all their tunes and play what the label provided.

Or

Another band that were signed to a restrictive exclusive deal and kept out of the studio for a long time; 3 years+. While another band who looked and sounded very similar were given all the breaks.

[Wolverinebass]

That is awful. Everyone has a story like that. Here's mine.

About 6 years ago I got slung out of a signed band in the middle of a recording session. My "crime" was that after the guitarist/singer drilled the drummer for 6 solid hours to do 2 songs when there was honestly nothing wrong with anything he did after the 2nd take, I got 15 minutes to do the bass. I didn't get to play at the same time as the drummer and there was no guitar track to play to. I can't play a song as binary data unless I'm literally playing root notes. It's a skill I just don't have.

Although I did okay, I wasn't happy and wanted to get a better crack at it. The next day before we went into the studio he phoned me and said that "my style no longer fitted the band." I'm surprised he hadn't noticed that 6 months before when I joined the band. About a year later I did a project with the drummer who had quit over money issues and he'd been told that "Andy didn't want to do it anymore." At the time although none of the material was mine, I was a bit upset.

I didn't touch a bass for 10 months after that.

People will stop at nothing to get what they want sometimes. Selling out your friends is bad enough but over something so petty as image is just crap. They'll wither and die after the album. Go on to better things.

[sime17]

The tales of woe and treachery continue. But before this starts to look like nothing more than a mutually self-indulgent bout of collective schaden-fruede (OP - do tell us when this stuff is no longer helping!), maybe we should focus and try and polish this turd of a story into a useful lesson for all.

I think this is a start:

1. Initial Excitement: If you get signed - stay level headed, be excited sure, but don't think it's all a done deal and you've made it.

2. Money: keep an eye on what's going out and remember it's being counted by someone. That includes studio and rehearsal room time. Don't accept [i]every[/i] trinket and favour that comes along thinking it's genuinely 'free'. If you do need gear spend carefully on safe-ish buys - spending the advance on that brand new £2000 coffee table instrument that'll depreciate by 50+% as soon as it leaves the shop might come back to bite you. Quite quickly. If the product of the recording works out all the better, if it doesn't you've done what you can to limit the damage.

3. Trust: I may be being naiive or idealistic here (and this is aimed the OP's 'mates') but I'd also say try and stick together as a unit with bandmates who, after all, you've probly known for a while and are more likely to be able to trust(!) - on the other hand be VERY cautious, even cynical, about the motives behind record company bull$hitter$ who may tell you certain band members are boring or their image is wrong.

I'm sure others (older/wiser/more experienced) will refine this. BTW apologies for my verbal diahorrea on this thread - no gig tonight - bored!

Edited September 1, 2012 by sime17

[rOB]

[quote name='sime17' timestamp='1346537775' post='1790438']
1. Initial Excitement: If you get signed - stay level headed, be excited sure, but don't think it's all a done deal and you've made it.

2. Money: keep an eye on what's going out and remember it's being counted by someone. That includes studio and rehearsal room time. Don't accept every trinket and favour that comes along thinking it's genuinely 'free'. If you do need gear spend carefully on safe-ish buys - spending the advance on that brand new £2000 coffee table instrument that'll depreciate by 50+% as soon as it leaves the shop might come back to bite you. Quite quickly. If the product of the recording works out all the better, if it doesn't you've done what you can to limit the damage.

3. Trust: I may be being naiive or idealistic here (and this is aimed the OP's 'mates') but I'd also say try and stick together as a unit with bandmates who, after all, you've probly known for a while and are more likely to be able to trust(!) - on the other hand be VERY cautious, even cynical, about the motives behind record company bull$hitter$ who may tell you certain band members are boring or their image is wrong.
[/quote]

These all seem like good points to me. Anyone got any other suggestions?

[TimR]

Agree in writing songwriting credits and make a simple recording as soon as you've written the song, or sooner.

[Delberthot]

After skimming through this the band sound like a bunch of C You Next Tuesdays

I was once kicked out of a band when I was 17 and it took me a very long time to become entirely comfortable with another band.

The reason for kicking me out: I played too much, the track: Sit Down by James.

To this day I refuse to play that song. The guy who kicked me out was one of these singer/songwriter w@nkers who has gone on to star in no such less hit concerts as " helpout a brother, I'm sh!te" and "I've no talent, get me out of here".

In fact, I can't remember his name.Possibly the Artist Formerly Known as Pish. What a Cock

[iconic]

I'm glad I only 'play with myself ' ! There's a phrase in my business " when it comes to motors and money, taint no such thing as mates".....need to add 'music' to that!

Sad tale

[DarkHeart]

as a side note to my particular sacking, the band im in now just welcomed the drummer from the 1990 band into the fold so now its me the guitarist and the drummer from the original 5 piece, he turned up to the practice today armed with all our 20 odd year old demos and we all agreed it was the singer that sacked me that was sh*t and best of all the old chemistry is back!

[The Dark Lord]

[quote name='BassHavoc' timestamp='1346482413' post='1789675']
Thanks guys, for all your support and input, I was already in the process of losing the weight but now I have the added incentive to do it just to piss them off!
[/quote]

There are all kinds of people. Fat, thin, tall, short .... ginge, bald etc. What's wrong with an extra bit of padding. Doesn't put us off Nigella Lawson.

Don't worry about it.

[Lozz196]

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1346532399' post='1790382']
Another band that were signed to a restrictive exclusive deal and kept out of the studio for a long time; 3 years+. While another band who looked and sounded very similar were given all the breaks.
[/quote]

Have heard of this happening a few times, subsidiary company signs them, the main company sign the ones they want to promote, so remove the competition. Harsh business.

[flyfisher]

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1346538529' post='1790449']
Agree in writing songwriting credits and make a simple recording as soon as you've written the song, or sooner.
[/quote]

Not only that, be wary about anyone else 'helping' you with your songs. I heard a story recently about a young singer/songwriter who recently signed to a big label and was in the studio to record some of his stuff with some session musicians. Apparently, someone suggested a minor change to the song and ended up on the songwriting credits. Presumably this will involve a share of any royalties.

I'm glad I don't have to make a living out of music - it's a jungle out there!

[Big_Stu]

[quote name='BassHavoc' timestamp='1346482413' post='1789675']
Thanks guys, for all your support and input, I was already in the process of losing the weight but now I have the added incentive to do it just to piss them off![/quote]

Would never do it as an image thing, or to prove anything - but as a health issue it can only be good.

[martin8708]

Record labels ??
I was in a tidy little four piece rock band in North Devon , great line up which went down really well at all the gigs .
Singer left the band due to apparently being signed up by a Record label . Obviously the band collapsed .
A few months later , saw said singer behind the counter of fast food burger bar.
Still haven't seen him hit the big time . ( only the fries counter )

[RockfordStone]

if its any consolation, ive played on shows with at least 3 of the bands on that label.... and they were in pubs or small venues with not a lot of people, they may not do as well as they are hoping

[deefer_dog]

What a load of bullshit!!

A bands 'Image' seems to take the lead over musical abilities?

Jesus, we are a mixed bag, our singer is a tiny female with a huge voice, one guitarist looks like Harry Potter, and is about 5'6", I'm well built and vary between bald and short hair with a smig of varying length depending on head hair length ( Very scientific process ), the other guitarist is a large fellow, and the drummer is your typical scrawny drummer. A mixed bag, but it's music people come to watch, not to look at how the band look.

Some friends they were dude, F**K em!

[Dave Vader]

Signed is not what it once was, every twat and his mum now has a "record label" which is a cd burner in the shed. Oh, and access to amazon and itunes.
The label that signed the singer I play for is a bit of a home-spun operation, but we know this, and are entirely happy with the total lack of money they give us.
Your band mates might not be as informed, that site looks more like the "provide a service" rather than do any labelling.
They will pay, a lot, and not make much I would guess.
Shame...

[Norris]

[quote name='rOB' timestamp='1346538079' post='1790443']
These all seem like good points to me. Anyone got any other suggestions?
[/quote]
If/when the record company comes a-knocking, before you sign any contracts with the label, make sure you take time to make a proper written agreement between the band members as to who has what rights & credits - including use of band name. (Having just read Martin Turner's autobiography )

Edit: And echoing lots of other sentiments - your old band mates behaved in a completely shi**y way, you're better off out.

Edited September 3, 2012 by Norris

[TimR]

It's always difficult when you are asked to leave a band, it's also just as hard to ask someone to leave a band. I've been on both sides of the fence.

It may seem hard at the moment but you shouldn't really take it personally, or like has been said a few times on this thread, it'll eat you up for years.

The best thing is realise that you don't fit in with their current plans and move on, don't harbour a grudge, tell them if it doesn't work out you're still available.

If you were in a band and another successful band headhunted you for a major tour, what would you do?

[BILL POSTERS]

Pretty well every post on this thread has been in support of you, all saying image isn’t important.. Trying to be the voice of reason here, and I have no idea how good a Bass Player you are, nor how good the band is, or whether its poppie commercial stuff stuff or heavy metal. Image wont affect the music, but depending on what your target market is, it might well affect record sales. Therefore it does matter. No on ever became a houshold name in the music business without sales

The rest of the band were, at least to the best of their knowledge, being honest. And it looks to me, like they were trying to leave you room to save face by claiming to others that you left to focus on other projects.
Its hard, but don’t let it get you down. And whatever you do, don’t stop playing. Lick your wounds for a bit then press on.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1346673619' post='1791726']
It's always difficult when you are asked to leave a band, it's also just as hard to ask someone to leave a band. I've been on both sides of the fence.

It may seem hard at the moment but you shouldn't really take it personally, or like has been said a few times on this thread, it'll eat you up for years.

The best thing is realise that you don't fit in with their current plans and move on, don't harbour a grudge, tell them if it doesn't work out you're still available.

If you were in a band and another successful band headhunted you for a major tour, what would you do?
[/quote]

personally, i wouldn't let them know i was available to play for them. they did a stupid and horrible thing, and it was no good, no good for you or them. they made their choice, they will have to live with it.

on the being head-hunted thing- i will always side with my mates. i'm always very loyal, and a lot of businesses get my custom because of the loyalty i have built up with them. heres how i see it.

me and my friends in a band, doing well. record label asks to get rid of a member- NO WAY!
me and my friends in a band, doing well. record label approaches me for another band- NO WAY!
me and a few guys (not particularly close), record label asks to get rid of a member- NO WAY!

essentially, i hate labels, and whatever they ask me to do, i will always be strong headed about it. i'm not in a band, and i haven't had a label before, but i don't change what i think for anyone.