Jackroadkill

And a great name, too!

Bugger, was just about to mention Krist Novoselic and Melissa Auf Der Maur!

This is looking like a great project. At some point I must get on with mine...!

What a shame - a cracking band, by the looks of those videos. Still, all good things come to an end, and I reckon you can be proud of your involvement there. Hope the singer recovers quickly - what a sod of a way to end the last gig.

We've just had to change our drummer, as Jim*, our original drummer, was really struggling to get to rehearsals and gigs. He's a lovely lad and a very feel-oriented drummer, and I really enjoyed playing with him. He, the singer and myself have known each other since we were 13 and Jim's lack of availability was starting to cause some pretty serious friction, even between the three of us, who have always been tight. Add into this his poor mental health (which we'd spoken to him about and he wasn't ready to acknowledge as a problem), his two jobs, other band, fraught family circumstances and an over-reliance on alcohol and it all became a bit much. We'd have band discussions regarding what songs we were going to learn, and he'd agree one week and then adamantly refuse them the next, saying he'd never heard of them or didn't like them. There would be discussions about when a gig was booked for and he'd agree to the gig, we'd book it and then he'd cancel, saying that he had other commitments - but only after we'd said yes to the gig. I spoke to him one night after practice about his mental health and his circumstances, and told him that if something had to give, he could leave the band with our blessing, as he was my friend first and my drummer second, but he insisted that all was fine and that he was on top of it all. Rehearsals were getting pretty fraught, and as the de facto BL I was constantly trying to give everyone their say and at the same time keep it all from going bang. The band Whatsapp group was becoming a bit of a minefield, especially when he'd been drinking. Now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't all down to Jim - the rest of us have families, jobs etc, and they all make demands on our time.We all have stress and problems in our lives, too, so he wasn't alone in that. I think the main issue was that the band wasn't as much of a priority for Jim as it was for the rest of us, but he didn't see it that way. To cut a long story short, after declaring that he wouldn't be available for a fortnight (not in a "Lads, things are a bit busy so I'm going to need a couple of weeks off" kind of way, more of a "You lot will have to wait" kind of way, there were.... words between Jim and the singer, which culminated in him saying he was leaving the band. I phoned him a day or so later and said that as much as I didn't want him to go, it was probably for the best. I think he was hoping we'd have him back, but I said that the rest of us were in agreement that it was best that he left. It was a hard call and a bit of a balancing act, but he and I are still firm friends and we message each other almost daily. As I said, friend first, drummer second. Almost immediately we put out an advert for another bin-hitter, and had three firm responses and a couple of less firm ones. We went with Phil, the first guy we tried out, because he was a perfect fit. He just clicked. A superb drummer whom we had all seen in action before, an easygoing attitude and able to say exactly when he could and couldn't rehearse. It's taking a while for things to settle down, as changing a drummer is a big upheaval, but Phil is keen and is learning the set at a very pleasing rate. TL:DR: Sometimes you have to replace a band member or two to make things come together. *Not his real name.

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.