blue

A lot of guys will say they don't like hip hop and beat up on it. I'm 61 and know very little about hip hop. I do know that those hip hop stars are making money which means they have figured something out about the music business most of us ( including me ) don't. I would imagine it has to be creative and socially relevant and requires specific talents. I can't even figure out how they can remember so many words. Blue

No, not a snob. I grew up in the 60s when there was still top 40 where I was exposed to a lot of different types of music. Back then The Beatles and Frank Sinatra could chart at the same time. I play bass guitar for money and while I have fun playing I don't play for fun. I'll play any genre as long as it's done well. I think it's why I work steadily. The guys I know that will only play what they like, the guys that say, [i]" I'd never play this or that"[/i]. These very picky guys usually don't have an interest in working.They write and do home recordings and that's where they're are happy. Blue

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1414272865' post='2587863'] Not really sure that I understand what the OP is looking for. In any of the bands I've been in or currently play in, we are all band "mates" meaning, we play together. Some are just "mates" and some are also friends but surely this applies to every situation in life be it work, bands, being in a Sunday football team, having neighbours etc. I wouldn't be in a band or spend time with anyone I hated anyway, in any situation, so all people I know are either acquaintances, or friends. At times we fall out, whether they be friends, or "mates" If I find the other members of the band are easy to play with and communicate with, the music works and the band works. Makes no difference whether we only ever meet at gigs and rehearsals or spend a lot of time socializing together. [/quote] I agree. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Your insight. Thanks blue

You know, tonight proves were not friends. The band has been together for 9 years.I have been with them for 3 and we have a new drummer. Tonight I noticed that we did not even speak or interact with each other until we started our first set at 9:00. It was a 9:00 till 1:00 with two 15 minute breaks. I guess those hours are unheard of for UK bar bands. Blue

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1414261329' post='2587721'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Cool as cucumbers Blue [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]This is the earliest one I can find of me. 16 and with my own 'Fro [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] ...[/font][/color] [/quote] Love it! Blue

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1414261932' post='2587730'] Cool pic. Seems in the early days we spent a lot of time looking at the fretboard lol [/quote] Yeah, I do and it's something I'm working on. Less eyes on the frets and more on the crowd. Hey, I saw Paul McCartney last summer he still looks at his fretboard. So those of us that do, were in good company. Blue

A few weeks ago in the 2nd set of our show I lost just about all my volume. I play wireless with a pretty extensive pedal board. And I was thinking this is going to be hard to trouble shoot. Sound guy comes to help and I got a bit testy with him. Come to find out, by accident I had turned the volume just about all the way down to Zero on my bass. I remembered I went up to my mic and looked at him and said;[i] " I guess you actually have to the volume on the bass engaged in order to hear it"[/i] Blue

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1414264693' post='2587766']I can never persuade them to go for a drink after rehearsals even though there is actually a bar at the studio where we rehearse.[/quote] Do you rehearse at The BBC in Milwaukee. Blue

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1414243706' post='2587429'] Mine certainly isn't a business...I doubt we'll ever turn a profit ! [/quote] Some bands are not positioned to make money for a lot of different reasons. The one I hate to hear about is when a band is based in a small market area and there is no place or very few places to gig. Everyone can't just get up and move. Blue

Huge roll in rock history. I would always get ticked off at guys that had no knowledge or reference to Fresh Cream. I will make sure our BL says something nice before we play "Sunshine Of Your Love " at tonight's show. Blue

I think they make a good product, however the body style is not for me. Blue

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1414254852' post='2587590'] Nice 'fro, bro! [/quote] Thanks The guitarist is still my best friend and we talk on a weekly basis. Blue

[quote name='John Schoen' timestamp='1414249581' post='2587498'] In the center of the pic, in front of the Ampeg stack and behind Gary Coleman? [/quote] Yeah, that was me, hard to believe. I was 16 or 17 and now I'm 62 and still love performing. Looking forward to tonight's show. Sorry about hi-jacking the thread. Blue

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1414215638' post='2587131'] At the bar?[/quote] A bass player might be in front of a bass amp. Blue

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1414214025' post='2587127'] Is that a trick question? Surely you are supposed to give us some chance of picking you out, by at least including a photo. [/quote] There are plenty of clues and one big one. Remember I play bass, ok so where is the most likely place in the pic I would be? Blue

Tip, I am sitting down with my bass and I'm not smiling. Here is a current pic, just take about 45 years off of it. Key word; [i]Ampeg[/i]

This pic is from the 69, can you find me? Blue

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1414189212' post='2587046'] When i was younger I was very much into hanging out with my bandmates, these days it's not so important. [/quote] Exactly at my age it's more of a business. I started gigging and playing at a very young age, I was 12. I have many years under my belt of being in bands with a close hang. Now, not important. Blue

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1414140447' post='2586246'] The singer is an ex girlfriend from about 15 yrs ago and my wife's best friend.[/quote] Going out with a female in a band is trouble and has never been worth it. Hmmm maybe it was. Blue

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1414181115' post='2586916'] I like to think that even if I was a full time musician, I would be friends with others in the band, it's in my nature to be that way. I just can't justify spending the time with people I can't stand or have no interest in, but that's me. Maybe if I was getting paid a shed load...[/quote] There you go, key phrase; [i]"Maybe if I was getting paid a shed load"[/i] As I alluded earlier, it's always a little different when the dough is decent. I doubt if Daryl Jones cares about how he gets along with the others. Blue

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1414112386' post='2586093'] I've worked with band leaders who'd have no qualms whatever in posing any or all of those questions, and more besides. Sometimes long-term friends, with the best intentions, will hesitate in coming out with straight-up, personal questions. One could say that, if the friendship is true, it would survive such indiscretions, and that may be true, but not everyone would want to take the risk. There are far more indirect ways to communicate with complicity rather than being blunt. Depends on character, I suspect, too. [/quote] That's a good argument. And for me personally if I'm in a working band making good, consistent, bill paying money and that BL confronts me, he has my attention. Blue

Ok, how many of you can say to a member,[list] [*][i]Why did you sell all your good gear [/i] [*][i]Why are you still struggling with that vocal part, [/i] [*][i]Why are you drinking so much at gigs, [/i] [*][i]You don't seem involved or as interested as you use to.[/i] [/list] I contend these sensitive issues are easier if a member is a true friend. Agree? Blue

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1414107648' post='2586076'] I'll start off by saying that I am 20 years old so do fit in the younger category you speak of. I am friends with others in my band but we don't necessarily 'hang out' all the time. We'll occasionally have a few pints after a rehearsal/gig and on the odd occasion go to guitarists house to work on songs in a more relaxed casual environment. So in short, yes. I wouldn't be in a band (certainly an originals band) with people who I wasn't friends with and to clarify. I didn't know these people before we started a band together so we've mainly bonded over music despite having seriously different tastes. [/quote] But what would you say are the pro & cons of the relationship you described? Blue

I'll throw this out there. When I was young, a teenager, my band mates were the neighborhood guys I grew up with. It was easier to be honest with them, meaning praise as well as brutal criticism. It's hard to be critical of someone who's not really a friend. For those who don't know I'm 61. definitely in the older category. Blue

I would like to hear a few comments on the pros and cons of being friends with your band members. I can think of a few. I expect there will be more friendships in bands with younger members in their teen and early 20s. You have more things in common with each other at that age and are in similar stages of life in general. That changes as we get older. Blue