Uncle Rodney

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1399057075205363 There's a whole series of similar vids, at least it's one good application of AI. The construction-cats really make me laugh. After sitting on the throne it occures to me not everyone wants to access Facebook. I don't know how to add just the vid clip with no reference to Facebook, best I can do is just a screen shot, now imagine him slapping like Mark King

- I was getting into #4 - slapper thinking yeh that's me... then #5 *fell off chair laughing* 🤣

He gave me this promo card some years ago. I think some of the info is now out of date but the message is still valid. Just in fun for nerds, anyone guess the bass guitar I have used for the background?

😲 I personally know this fellow!! Nice guy, very into authentic organ playing and does "spirited" live shows.

In my rehearsal room there is an Ashdown MAG300 EVO II which I've taken a fancy to. Been looking for one, seen many but sadly all just too many miles away. I now see an Ashdown mag 420 rootmaster bass amplifier - that's not too far away. Fitted with a 15” celestion bn15 300x speaker. It will be be for home recording and occasional small gigs. I like a box to have lotsa knobs so I can dial in all kinds of tones, DI, (external) FX etc. The spec look to be the same just a different front panel layout. Only downside is "made in china" - thoughts?

Good comment, and why to some extent I'm not going to be persistant in trying to make contact with Mr B. I currently have a comfortable halfway point, tried to make contact, no response so I'm covered (according to my conscience). The band has already booked an audition date for Mr C.

Ya know, I did give this some careful thought at the time, but I wasn't expecting the answerphone because Mr B was expecting my call. I've found sometimes no matter how carefully I choose my words, it all depends how the receiver interprets them at that precise moment. For example asking "how are you?" can get "f**k off don't waste my time" because they are not the type of person who responds to that (apparently German people hate that question as do many Northeners). Another "I'd like to talk with you regarding the band" can produce "why just not say it then!" or "you're not the BL so fo" and so on. It all depends how the person feels at that specific moment. I think my on-the-spot message was "I'd like to talk to you about recent events in the band.." As an aside I have used the "it's not you it's me" tactic and found some people REALLY hate that. My Hungarian friend (really nice young man) we were discussing this phrase and he got really animated! 🤣 He said "we eastern Europeans say exactly as we see it, if you smell we will say "YOU STINK! non of this nonsense you Brits comeout with." 🤣 I did laugh. Shoot me 😆

Minor update: I decided to contact Mr B (the member earmarked to be removed) - it took him a week to respond to my text, giving me time/day to phone him, which I did, got instantly to his voicemail/answerphone, I made a comment saying we need to chat about the band... and then heard nothing more. So I can only assume he doesn't want to talk to me or perhaps doesn't want to hear about bad things. Anyway, I'm done with this now, my conscience is clear I made a positive move to reduce any hurt. If we once again meet up (band rehearsal) and they boot him out... Worst I had like this was about 4 years ago in a band. The "lead" guitarist was really awful, I don't know why the BL (Band Leader) chose him other than being his friend. It came to a point where he had to go, ok, them being friends should mean a nice quiet chat etc. Anyway the BL called me and the drummer in (like a works meeting) and was quite abrupt with the guy, like a public humilation! As the discussion unfolded I could see this was more a public humilation so I left the room. I'm not having ANY part of that nonsense. Some months after I left the band, as you guys will know, if that BL sacks his friend like that he will do the same to me. When I gave my reason for stepping out the BL gave a nonsense reply, in my view he's a joker, not worth spending time with. There's some really crap people in bands.

Not heard of Mr Hook?? - This is one aspect of being a "musician" I like. Yes I've heard and know who PH is and never heard of the Foo Fighter chap "his" episode was a decent watch. Meaning very often I "discover" a musician that I would never have looked at, now I have info on what they offer, I'm "enriched" Adam Clayton surpised me. Usually I've seen the U2 crew to seem like schoolboys in interviews, the spokesman being Bono who was always on point. Adam speaks very well, must be his age

Glad I'm not the only one, I had to switch channels after 20 mins, nothing of interest, move on. I think it shows how the long standing program makers have lost touch. There's Scott Devine's YT channel, which at times is great and other a bit silly, but the guy can play and I learn from him (and Ian) I think also media makers like Scott can create content how they want free from editorial control. YT is producing some really great presenters/tutors Luv it.

I stumbled on this, watched it. Yes the show was based around Peter H as the main presenter, which is OK and why not. I would agree maybe the show's title isn't quite on point but I don't mind as it was interesting to see Peter today with a few snippets of his history. I wonder also if some of the other "names" - were thinking, "Why aren't I the focus of the show?". I could see in Peter, any mention of Ian was emotional, they must have had great respect for each other, even at their young age. Knowing band arguments, it was interesting to note when Barney (Peter's long time friend) told him not to play on a new New Order track, that usually culminates into either a.. confrontation or "ok then Bye". I could see it was a sore point, indeed a mistake by Barney who I would suspect to be intoxicated by their success, money, new tech and even seduced by the hedonistic lifestyle of London. Which would have been equally as intense as Mcr but very different values. Anyway, I liked the show, was easy viewing. It's a contrast to today where when we want some real nitty-gritty we go to YT

Hope you don't mind me editing your comment, it hit me solid in the face. 1. That's a good question I didn't and should have asked when the band discussed this at the rehearsal. Also I should have asked how many other bands the replacement guy (C) currently in. 2. In truth I wasn't really paying attention, more of a general listen to my cues etc. I was thinking perhaps B wasn't "leaning into it" as much as I would have thought. I happen to get into a convo about some other band related subject with B and I thought to raise the question, is there a problem. 3. 100% - you have me 100% I told the guys this is a bad thing to do, and repeated it many times. Call me a softy but I find it upsetting. I think the deep emotion is rooted in many years of scrapping. 4. When asked for my view about B, I gave a full speech, we should quietly speak with B, find out if there's any problems we could fix. I think this view comes with age, after being in a lot of scraps, when I've seen skilled negotiators at work, I'm very impressed at how they get a good solution and no one gets hurt. 5. Yes there are other band members, I think though as A's presentation was strong, the other guys just went along with it. It was mentioned if to move A into a different position in the band, but as we're not mainstream, finding another person will be nigh on impossible. 6. Yes I have advocated a "professional" approach. However that notion usually falls on inexperienced ears. Usually it's that ransom demand, "either he goes or I go". I have thought if to jump ship as overall the band is quite weak, nice enough guys but not really "doing the business". All the comments are good, making me think

It's something we encounter in bands, however as I've grown older and been on both sides of this situation, I maintain, "be nice". Here's the current situation, I will use alias' so not to reveal anything personal. Band member A thinks band member B isn't good enough, insisting B has to go. Interestingly A has "found" a replacement in C showing us videos of their performance selling C to us. The current band plan is to auditon C without telling B about it. This leaves me feeling bad because B now becomes treated differently in online chats, as if he has an infectious disease. The band plans to try out C in the new year, so that's 6 weeks B is frozen out. I've already said - so we get C onboard, a few weeks later he announces his "other band is getting busy so needs to leave" - Obviously B has now gone with no replacement. The band stalls. C will leave if he thinks the band isn't good enough anyway. Personally I don't think A is that good. I had a quiet moment with B before this situation arose and B has said A isn't that good. Any ideas? I need to be nice to everyone, bands should be enjoyable, it's the bitching that makes it all sour. I suspect B has "a lot on his plate" and doesn't need anymore 💩- so I'm wondering if to phone him for a quiet update, he could then tell the band "sorry guys, I have a lot of 💩on my plate and need to drop out" it's better the exit is done by B rather than be "fired".

I have found wedding venues to be greedy without shame. Even some of the staff are on the "take" - that kind of greed culture breeds more of the same. For example, if a waiter knows the boss/manager is taking a slice (£) they will try it too, although will be more careful about it. Personally I avoid playing weddings, way too messy, all that emotion, bad tempered/stressed guests etc. Also the band are supposed to keep mouth shut and take the abuse as it's someone's "special day" when normally the band would respond in kind.

My current band - I'm in that "shall I stay or shall I go" phase. Over many weeks everyone bar me has openly said "I haven't learnt the new songs" - which is always an indicator no one is playing their part. The man who started the band (who found everyone) put an advert up in JMB offering his services after our first meet up (bad move I thought), then he said he wants someone else to do the rehersal bookings... there's more, all saying.. not really gonna happen methinks. Sometimes I wonder, it is best just to lay it out on the table "look guys I don't think this band is really going to happen" - in the past I've try not to be hasty, give a band the chance to evolve and develop, however with experience, as they have all folded it can only be a casual affair. We started off with a professional musician, he was really good, all the time I was thinking how long before he decides it's a waste of his time and leave, which he did. Always tricky decision.