SteveXFR Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I've been looking in the black holes that are bandmix and joinmyband. Am I weird in being put off by bands who use the singers name? I kind of get it if the band are just expected to show up and play music written by someone else but some advertise that the band are involved in the writing and are equal partners. If everyone is equal, why is one person's name on the poster? Am I just being weird and unreasonable? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I totally get where you’re coming from Steve, at “star” level it wouldn’t concern me but at local level it would, just makes me think that said singers are a tad ambitious shall we say. Just about the only one who imo gets away with it is Spunk Volcano & The Eruptions, a true larger than life character and a great bloke too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I'd probably avoid, but it might be worth at least getting in touch to find out what the deal is. I get the impression that you'd just be part of a backing band and wouldn't have much creative input, in which case I'd avoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 It might be just a singer whose looking for people to form a band of course, although the normal giveaway there is that they’re looking for every type of musician that the site lists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 I think the biggest problem I have is I don't like big egos. Musicians have to have a bit of an ego to stand on stage and play loud and expect people to enjoy it but for one member to put themselves above the others requires quite a large ego. I'm not sure I'd get on well with that person. What I like about a named band is everyone is equal and the name often gives a clue about what to expect. A band called Satanic virgin decapitation isn't going to be playing ballads. A band called Jesus's Friends will probably have some Christian content in their lyrics. A band called Nickelback will be terrible. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 3 minutes ago, SteveXFR said: What I like about a named band is everyone is equal That is hardly ever the case! 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 8 minutes ago, peteb said: That is hardly ever the case! That's true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) - Edited March 16, 2022 by Jus Lukin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Yeah, I'd never join a band that was called Nigel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 8 minutes ago, RhysP said: Yeah, I'd never join a band that was called Nigel. I probably would go for a band simply called Nigel. Unless Colin were looking for a bassist. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) - Edited March 16, 2022 by Jus Lukin 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 My main band these days is a rock'n'roll 3-piece called Damo & The Dynamites. Apart from the fact that the name is 'authentic' and period-correct (so works well for the punters), the reality is that Damo is the frontman, singer, and guitarist. I have no problem at all with the name, whereas a band named either The Dynamites or (much, much worse) Jack & The Dynamites would just be wrong. I should mention that the band probably wouldn't exist at all, and certainly would be nowhere as successful, without @Silvia Bluejay and me. Nowt to do with my God-like bass playing, more a matter of us providing ALL the gigs, plus the PA & lights, and the sound engineer, and the photos and video, and the social media presence etc. etc. etc. But so what? People don't come to see the band because Silvie and I will be there. They come (whether or not they realise it) to see Damo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: My main band these days is a rock'n'roll 3-piece called Damo & The Dynamites. Apart from the fact that the name is 'authentic' and period-correct (so works well for the punters), the reality is that Damo is the frontman, singer, and guitarist. I have no problem at all with the name, whereas a band named either The Dynamites or (much, much worse) Jack & The Dynamites would just be wrong. I should mention that the band probably wouldn't exist at all, and certainly would be nowhere as successful, without @Silvia Bluejay and me. Nowt to do with my God-like bass playing, more a matter of us providing ALL the gigs, plus the PA & lights, and the sound engineer, and the photos and video, and the social media presence etc. etc. etc. But so what? People don't come to see the band because Silvie and I will be there. They come (whether or not they realise it) to see Damo. Damo is also the songwriter and 100% copyright holder for the band's originals. Edit to add: he's The Talent, while Jack and I are the band's managers... Edited January 16, 2022 by Silvia Bluejay 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin8708 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 I suppose if you are a singer / songwriter /lyricist /bass player , then you may feel that your musical contribution is not being appreciated . If I am just playing bass lines to other peoples songs (even if they are my bass lines ) , I don’t really have a problem playing in a band called “Colin” or “Nigel “ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Robin Trower. He wasnt even the singer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Which one's Pink? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 28 minutes ago, SteveXFR said: I probably would go for a band simply called Nigel. Unless Colin were looking for a bassist. I was in a band called "Frank's Parents" for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLowDown Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) I suppose it depends how the band formed. If it was originally one singer who initially aimed to sing to some random backing band or session musicians, then they would have to use their own name to advertise their 'brand'. They would have been new to the music business, so as time went on they may have learnt enough to realise that maybe they want to have a regular backing band for stability. It's not always about ego, but marketing. Edited January 17, 2022 by TheLowDown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 hour ago, fleabag said: Robin Trower. He wasnt even the singer Manfred Mann. He wasn't even the singer... either🤪 He wasn't even the featured artist🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Instead of putting up a red flag they have a pet werewolf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I'd go see a band called "Colin or Nigel" the suspense is killing me already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 8 hours ago, SteveK said: Manfred Mann. He wasn't even the singer... either🤪 He wasn't even the featured artist🤔 There’s loads of bands like this - Van Halen, Santana, Elvin Bishop Group, Dave Clark Five, Fleetwood Mac, Kool and the Gang, Alan Parsons Project, Spencer Davis Group etc etc. Not sure it’s held many of them back really. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I play in a couple of bands where the singer is named in the band name - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers type names. There is an assumption that you are just a pick up band. At my last gig I was asked if I played on the album that actually I co-produced, as well as played on. It doesn't massively bother me but my preference would be make it more of a band thing. The singer in my main band is very gracious so that helps but the other band it's a bit all about him so I may not be taking that forward longer term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I totally wouldn't have an issue with is as long as the (word of the day) eponymous band's front man didn't actually believe the PR and treat the rest of the band like staff. So if my blues rock trio had a name change to the Alan McWhirter Band that would be cool. In fact I think I would prefer it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted January 17, 2022 Author Share Posted January 17, 2022 I'm still having bass lessons (coz I'm rubbish) and my teacher plays with a band under his name but two thirds of his shows are just him with an acoustic guitar and he played all instruments on his record. I think the band are whoever is available from a group of several musicians he knows. In that case, it makes most sense to use his name instead of a band name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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