KevB

Now I think about it I was in a female fronted covers rock band for a while and I don't think we bothered changeing lyrics much either. I don't think it's really an issue for 99% of the audience so not a priority for the band either. IIRC we covered Lizzy's 'Rosalie' among other very 'blokeish' tunes.

Any bands on here who have had a manager or band leader worryingly close to 'Murray'?

Considering a lot of rock (well certainly 'classic rock') male vocalists pitch up into the female range it's no bad thing getting someone who sits naturally in that range from the off to do it. With any luck you won't have to be continually moving down keys from the originals as happens with some male fronted bands. The lyrics thing might get a bit awkward but a few subtle adjustments of gender where specific in songs isn't too difficult and just avoid the ones that are so obvious 'man sings about woman' stuff. Mind you even Winehouse made no attempt at changing the Valerie lyric when it clearly makes no sense singing it from a woman's POV (unless Valerie was bisexual). Hope it works out.

Thanks for the good luck wishes, to address some of the comments I've seen; To be fair band 1 gave me the strong indication that as long as I knew the stuff they would probably take me on. However learning their 15 song list has currently taken a back seat in favour of the 33 song set since I will be gigging that set rather than just jamming through it as an audition. They only started gigging last summer and still go out with other bands as a package and they have 5 members so I can't see much if any money in it so I won't be gutted if it doesn't work out, they are all half my age anyway and do it more as a social thing which I'm hardly going to fit into. I'm planning to turn up, maybe do a couple of hours with them and leave them to make a decision. I doubt we will tackle all 15 songs so some will be given a cursory look over on Fri night Band 2 is the busier of the two, much longer established but is more of a functions band hence they have had lots of lineup changes through the years revolving round the band leader. I don't think he's sack happy, people just tend to move on more with those types of bands. The 33 song set looked too much to me at first but it features a lot of short pop stuff and compiling the list from my itunes library the actual running time fits pretty close to what he was expecting the gig to be (45 min first set, an hour for the second) so I think about 30 of the 33 is quite feasible for the time slot. I think they are pretty slick, not a lot of gaps between the songs. Speaking to him on the phone he seems decent enough and has now provided any key changes from originals and it wasn't many at all (about 4 of the 33) which was useful for me. I think he had pretty much come to the conclusion that they would have to pull out of Sat's gig and I wasn't pressured into taking it on in any way. I thought it would be in my favour as a potential candidate for the bass spot if I could turn it round for them and make the gig happen so it's really of my own doing. Sorry if this is rambling, was up till gone midnight trying to get a half decent version of 'Going Underground' under control.

Last time i went to see them the venue put them on absurdly early (not band's fault) and i missed at least 25% of the set. Some folks turned up at what would be a sensible time to put a band on and heard about the last 15 minutes, they didn't look best pleased. Never seen the Martin Turner version though i noticed they are on at a multi band gig in Rotherham in April that I might attend.

Despite really good singers being a rarity I'd have to err with the majority on this one. He's not just going to be your singer, he's going to be your front man. He will be the main focus of attention for the audience. He's [i]selling your product [/i]to them and to the venue who you are hoping for a repeat booking from. If he's not commited to the majority of the material it will probably show sooner or later and make the whole band look a bit lame despite the musicianship on show.

As a follow up to the Samson suggestion, I noticed one on here; [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/188602-samson-airline-bass-wireless-system-l100/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/188602-samson-airline-bass-wireless-system-l100/[/url] This is not mine, I'm not the seller nor know if it is still available. I've used one of these on and off for 6 or 7 years and had no real problems with it apart from 2 gigs where i got interference from other signals and decided to switch to a cable rather than switch frequencies on the unit which would probably have solved it.

Unfortuantely I'm at work all day during the week so no time to learn stuff until I get home in evenings. I'll only panic if the gig band suddnely pulls out the 'Actually we do this in a different key' at last minute. I'm not the best at instant transposing on stage unfortunately. I've asked for clarification on the keys of the 33 song set list but not heard anything back yet. What larks, Pip!

Made separate enquiries about 2 bands recently having not gigged for a year or so. Band 1 eventually gets back to me and arranges for an audition/jam which should have taken place the weekend just gone. Unfortunately it had to be cancelled as band leader got called in to work. Rearranged for next Sat with 15 songs to learn. Then on Sat band 2 gets in touch, they still haven't got a bass player either. Not only this but they are booked to do a full gig on Sat night! I now have a further set list of 33 songs to learn by next Sat. So I will be in an audition all Sat afternoon with band 1 then dashing off to do what is essentially an audition for band 2 by playing a full gig with people I've never met before nor have any youtube clips etc to give me any idea of arrangements. Wish me luck!

Time for a musical interlude.... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1YipLB-rQQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1YipLB-rQQ[/url]

I would have suggested the Samson Airline as it is more practical if you need to switch basses during a gig with the 'plug in' transmitter. However I did a quick check to see how much it currently sells for and the bass model seems to have been discontinued. They still seem to do a guitar version but maybe the bass model wasn't shifting enough units? I certainly have no issues with it considering it was one of the cheaper kits available. Maybe there are second hand units available either here or eBay? worth a look if you can find one.

Stick with it for the gigs but also start looking for another guitarist who can play as well as the guy you are having problems with. If it goes tits up you then have a ready made band using your existing drummer/keys/singer.

I also used to have a BX4500H that I had permanently set up in the band's rehearsal space plugged into my trace 4x10. I retired the cab from gigging and had a Trace amp that never seemed to go wrong so stopped taking the Behringer to gigs. I eventually sold the Behringer to someone I knew who was desperate for a bass amp on the cheap. I occasionally still bump into him and the Behringer is still being gigged and doing the business 7 years after I first had it. I thought it was great value.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1359038762' post='1948852'] But you look like Ian Gillan! I am sure I have seen a picture on here somewhere that proves that, but haven't got time to find it. [/quote] Ian Gillan's [b]67[/b] years old. Cheers Shell, keep digging!

Not unless 'Lily The Pink' has been slipped in as a Bond theme, no In all fairness anyone on here who had recently won a Grammy for co writing a song that had been a hit and who had been invited to perform it at The 'Oscars' would be all over this site like a rash so good on her I say.

I can commiserate with the OP. Quirky originals bands can be more forgiving on the eye in terms of band members but not so easy with basic covers bands. I have a possible audition coming up for a covers band where all of the other members look around mid 20's judging by youtube clips. I'm pushing 50 and have the gut to prove it these days. With the best will in the world it is always going to look like one of the band members has drafted his dad in to make up the numbers. I've seen it in other bands from an audience point of view and it does look a bit weird. They don't play the sort of stuff that over the top stage outfits (like BRX's band) would be appropriate for either. I'll give it a go but i think this will be one of the factors in my deciding to take it on if offered the job (well that and they seem to like a lot of Coldplay ).

Gary Thain was electrocuted on stage at a Uriah Heep gig in 1974, though he did survive. Sadly he passed away the following year.

I've had little luck this year too though there may be something on the horizon. Having said that the jam/audition booked for this weekend has just fallen through! My main gripe is with the people who either make an initial enquiry then never follow up or worse the ones that can't even be bothered to reply to my first enquiry to their ad. How hard is it to just send an email saying 'sorry we already found someone'?

Nowhere near the same league (or price) but I bought one of their xenyx range of mixers for a band I was in 6 or 7 years ago and never had a problem with it. I still have it in storage just in case it is ever needed, thought it was great value for money. Along with the mixer I've had a bass amp head and a couple of pedals from Behringer and never had issues with any of them.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1358940097' post='1947266'] Yeah - Pete Barton. He's a bit of an agent / manager as well. Puts lots of gigs on. [/quote] I just checked out his myspace site, he does seem to have done lots of band organisation/managing as well as performing as you say. Not sure I'd want it known if I'd been in Lieutenant Pigeon though

Popped down to see The Animals last night as Steve Cropper was joining them for the second set. However halfway through the first set the Ashdown bass amp caught fire, lots of burning electrics type smell mixed with ozone and a big cloud of smoke out of the back, I don't think I've seen this happen with a major act before, quite exciting! Don't ask me what model it was,I'm hopeless at that sort of stuff. It was replaced with a backup SWR and all went well for the rest of the gig. Wasn't a bass player i recognised, Peter Barton or Barden? Very good singer as well as bass player, looked to have an old P bass with plenty of wear on it, sounded great for that type of stuff.

I have three US Fenders, one from 2001 and the other two from 2003. I wouldn't say any of them had a particularly tight neck join to the body but they are all rock solid, sound fine tonally and have no issues with lack of sustain.

Possibly even larger hands than Hendrix.

I've been listening to Yes 'Time & A Word' album in the car. That's a bass cutting through the mix that is...

I think back to the late 70's and early 80's. Between around 79 and 82 the Gillan band regularly did around 100 shows a year, most of them as the headline act and recorded 5 studio albums plus a few non album singles. Proper working band, that. They would sometimes play the same venue twice in the same year, almost unheard of now among 'proper' bands.