Jackroadkill

It doesn't sound like there's any functioning at all going on there, I'm sorry to say. I think I'd be out of there by now (not suggesting that's what you should do, just saying where I'd be at). Some of the weirdest people I've met have been metal musicians. Again, some of the weirdest people I've ever etc etc....

I think that happened to rather a lot of them!

@DGBass, that's a What's the name of the band? great-sounding band you've got there. Tight and loose in equal measure, absolutely rocking. What's the name of the band?

I'd love to do Down's version of When The Levee Breaks but can't because of Phil.

In my younger days I was very strong, but hard work, bad technique and inheriting my Dad's skeleton has meant that, at forty-four-and-three-quarters weight is starting to become an issue. I also don't have anything like the brute strength I used to have. My knees, back and neck have always been painful but now they're impacting on my ability (and desire) to lift as much as I used to. Basses aren't a problem yet, but lugging a 4x12 in each hand up stairs is a thing of the past. Thankfully my big cabinet (an Eden 2x15) whilst heavy, has wheels, so that takes much of the graft out of shifting it. That said, I am slowly learning from my mistakes, and will move to a stage monitor and pre-amp pedal before if necessary.

Paul Simonon, Patricia Morrison, Nick Oliveri, Duff McKagan..... It's a long list!

We had our first proper rehearsal with our new drummer last night. It's coming together but we're still not at the point of being relaxed and riding the groove yet, although this will come. One thing that was really enjoyable was that without our old drummer, who had a very.... robust approach to backing vocals, there was space for myself and one of the guitarists to actually put together some far more enjoyable arrangements together, BV-wise, and they sounded really good. I'm pumped about the band and really enjoying it again. The groove thing will come with familiarity.

We're bass players - nobody in their right minds would let us into their posh hotel! We'd have the lagging off the pipes inside five minutes, and soupy footprints on the wallpaper.

The funniest ones are when people buy a ticket clearly advertised as a 70's Glam Rock covers band and then asks us to play some funk, AC/DC or even U2. Don't forget the shouts of "Play something we know!"....

I first picked up a bass when I was in fifth form. I was sixteen and wanted to form a band with my mates. Unfortunately I had no musical theory, experience or talent, and although I (thought I) could write songs, this wasn't enough. There were five of us, and as the other lads got their instruments first, I realised that I was going to have to suck it up and be the bass player. Anyway, we sucked, I sucked and the band sucked. We only had a few rehearsals and none of us hand any idea what the hell we were doing. By the time university came around I sacked the bass off and spent the next goodness-knows-how-long (20 years or so, probably) kidding myself that I could play guitar. I played in bands and played lots of gigs but, had I been honest with myself, I'd have said that I was an incredibly mediocre rhythm guitarist at best. I could do the power and attitude bit fine, but not the playing ability bit. Anyway, about eighteen months ago my then-band folded, and I was faced with the grim reality of my situation. I was never going to make it as a guitarist or songwriter. For a laugh I suggested to some friends that we form a covers band, and for some reason decided I'd give bass another try. We did, I did and I bloody love it. There's something I get from bass that I never ever had from playing the guitar - I just love it. The band is good, I'm gigging again and those four strings are far more rewarding that six ever were. I still suck, but I JDGAS.

I really don't like that version. It seems that whoever produced and arranged it completely failed to understand just about everything about what that song means.

Heroin. It might sound crass, but it's been the muse for lots of great records.

Agreed; when I fall on the field of battle, it will be Dolly who swoops down to take to to Valhalla.

The Dropkick Murphys' version of Fields of Athenry makes me come over all funny; It's pretty much just a straight ahead punk cover but the rage at the helplessness of the protagonist's situation is sublime.

We're in a similar situation. Five gigs in and no drummer, but auditioning a few over the next couple of weeks.

I did the same. Listened to Infernal Love loads while at uni and then didn't listen to them again until about five years ago. That record and Troublegum are now favourites of mine.

The free speech lot make me laugh; they don't want free speech, they want speech without consequence (but only for them).

Easy; rounds.

Yeah, that's a bugger, too.

As much as I love the music he made with Pantera, Superjoint Ritual and Down, I can't listen to anything by Phil Anselmo any more. It breaks my heart, but the White Power stain can't be rinsed out.

I would have one if I could get away with it. The problem is the different tunings we use in the band. I use one for standard and drop D and a second for a half-step down and drop C#. I hate drop tunings but some of the songs we play demand them. I then have my backup bass should there be a problem. I could keep detuning and re-tuning, but that doesn't sit particularly well with me form a set-up point of view, and it's one less thing to remember to do between songs when onstage. As it is I have to tune to my drop tunings between songs and getting that right can be harder than it sounds, for some reason. It seems that two stage basses plus a spear is about where it's at for me.

I've not been here long and even I know that wouldn't happen in a month of Sundays. @TheGreek, you are the keeper of the flame!

Precisions suck. *I'd like to point out that this, obviously, is total verbal bumwee.

I'd say do what you all feel is right for your band. Years ago when I was in an originals band (you know, the one that made me hugely famous, stinking rich and dripping with laydeez) we had a rule that we'd play anywhere, for anyone and for any reason. We did some fabulous gigs and some real shockers. I learned a lot, drove a lot, fought a lot and acted like a complete knob a lot. However, as a proper grown-up in a covers band I like to think I'm a bit more discerning. We've done freebies (for the right reasons, of course) and turned down a couple of gigs which we felt wouldn't do us too many favours. The one thing I would say is that if you don't stand to gain what you want from a gig, be that payment, fun, exposure or whatever, then don't play it.

I did a related boo-boo once, when I'd just gone to uni. I was deep in my Goth phase (well, I still am, a bit...) and was walking through the town centre one night when I walked slap bang into someone I hadn't seen because I was wearing my sunglasses. Hastily I apologised, but got no response. I apologised again and removed my sunglasses, only to find out that I was apologising to a lamp-post.