Myke Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 [quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1358678711' post='1943066'] Cheers Myke. Not an experience I'd want to go through again, but as someone one said 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger'. Or something. [/quote] Just want to clear this up so there is no misunderstanding, I laughed at the way it was written and not what actually happened.. If you understand that.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Drummer in the band I was in last year always had to have a few to 'settle his nerves'. Claimed he'd play better for it. He was wrong, he was sh*t sober and sh*t after a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Can't recall the last time...maybe 20 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 in my youth I played drunk and sober. No noticeable difference according to the video and recordings. Of course the term 'drunk' is open to interpretation. I've never been legless or incapable. These days I like to have a few beers as I like to drink ale. Over the course of 4 hours or so I'll have 3 or maybe 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 When we go away to Sweden it's practically encouraged at outdoor festivals. I won't ever get battered in any case and to be totally honest it accounts for a tiny proportion of my gigging calendar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I have,in my distant past,played many gigs whilst absolutely ratarsed,and more than a few whilst under the influence of more exotic and illegal substances.I have no regrets,other than the singer developing a fairly damaging drug problem,and I certainly wouldn't do it now.( nor would the singer). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I'm not a big drinker, maybe a pint or two over a whole evening but more likely a few glasses of wine. Unfortunately, this means I frequently find myself in circumstances where the people around me have been seriously drinking all evening. I say 'unfortunately' because I can think of few things less entertaining that chatting with (or more usually being chatted to) pissed up and barely coherent people who are usually taking nonsense. Fortunately, they usually can't remember what arses they've been the night before and I'm too gentlemenly to remind them, so all is well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Last year I was in a band with a borderline alcoholic singer. It was utterly miserable. There is nothing like having a structured and agreed set list ignored because the singer has nearly drunk your fee by the second half and sets off in autopilot doing exactly what he has done for the last five years, followed by pissed up nonsensical arguments in the van on the way home. The last show I did with them was such a debacle that I lost it and yelled at the singer outside for 10 minutes afterwards about it. He said it was great cos people clapped. The rest of us thought it was utter w*** and half the band are no longer there. Now the singer has nobody to drive the van he has had to sober up. If only he had done that at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Oh yes I would add that there is always time to have a couple AFTER the show. It is no fun trying to think straight when playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Used to do it. Bought a video camera. Don't do it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I would say that it's a very rare gig where I would be sober enough to drive , though I don't get hammered. A gig's a night out with my mates to me as much as anything so I like a few pints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 [quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1358712536' post='1943937'] You lot are so not rock n roll! We always drink when playing, and by the way dont have issues and are not bad musicians. We dont get pissed, just have a few as its also our night out. If its a wedding or function, we will be extra careful, but pub gigs are all about the craic! I did play really pished years ago and that was a disaster, but a few drinks definately settles our nerves and certainly, as the singer. I perform MUCH better after a few pints! [/quote] I took it that this thread was about getting wasted onstage as opposed to having a few or perhaps jut a pint or two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leen2112 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Realised years ago that after a few I can't feel my fingers, which is annoying as after a few I really think I'm ace on the bass!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 In almost every band I've played with, the members have driven seperatley on most occasions, so drinking simply isn't an option. Also, with the pittance most musicians are paid, I simply don't understand why anyone would choose to spend half of it on booze, before they've even got it home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulconnolly Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 No more than two pints before a gig. Have been pilastered once and it didn't go well. Also back in the day I was usually driving the van so no chance of getting hammered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1358677448' post='1943034'] I think it is unprofessional and disrespectful to both other bandmates and the people paying to see you. With my former 'party' band I've played gigs where either singer or drummer, luckily not both, were pissed and I spent the entire gig waiting for the next train crash - missed verses, coming in at the wrong place etc. It puts the whole band out and makes everyone look cheap. [/quote] Whilst I may periodically bemoan my chequered band history, it is to their eternal credit that none of my band mates (in any band) have ever got on stage with more than one drink inside them. It does seem counter-productive to practise, buy nice gear, and invest time, effort and money rehearsing... Just to undo all of that by consuming too much alcohol when you play live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 There are two types of drinking muso, and I have been both. There are those who believe it is rock and roll to get utterly off their tits, and then believe they are the greatest musician to grace a stage. Like Burrito says, video them. They will change their minds, I did. And those of us who like a drink, and can tell when they're about to hit the "oh crap I can't see" level, and stop/slow down. FWIW I changed to bass cos I thought it would be easier to play pissed than a guitar. I was right, to a point. I am unfortunate enough to exist a couple of drinks below sober in my natural state (see Captain Vimes of the ANkh-Morpork City watch for more details on this phenomena). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 [quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1358643717' post='1942861'] Only ever did it once. Here's the story: [url="http://bigplansforeverybody.blogspot.co.uk/p/part-six-worst-gig-ever-1-bolton.html"]http://bigplansforeverybody.blogspot.co.uk/p/part-six-worst-gig-ever-1-bolton.html[/url] [/quote] Priceless Rushbo! very funny, I've shared that, ta. My tuppence, not me playing drunk but when I was doing the pa for a mates blues band, in a pub function room with a late bar, the guitarist was absolutely hammered. They played little red rooster & an almighty brawl started up between locals & some pikey types, stools being thrown, glasses smashed! Drummer, bassman & singer stop playing, & with myself try & defend pa from being weaponised whilst pissed guitard solos on mercilessly, oblivious to the carnage in front of him! Well scary at the time but funny now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnalogBomb Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I must say, I enjoy having a cople of pints before a gig, but I know my limits. When I was younger, I regularly used to get blind drunk - it wasn't a nice feeling as you tend to start to enter that sober scenario half way through and generally feel like poo. The singer and guitarist in my band are well, terrible drunks. It's really starting to grate on me recently how they can get so pissed and basically not give 2 s***s about the gig. Our guitarist can't remember songs we've been playing for years! If our singer isn't up for it, he gets hammered. Sort of making me consider my position really. I don't invest money and time in good gear and practice to be made to look like a fool. This happened to anybody else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 [quote name='AnalogBomb' timestamp='1358767476' post='1944533'] Sort of making me consider my position really. I don't invest money and time in good gear and practice to be made to look like a fool. This happened to anybody else? [/quote] Yes, this has happened to me before. I quit, not completely because of this but it was a factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I used to play bass in a band where we took everything very seriously. We'd never drink before playing... But when I started playing drums in The Premature Ejaculators it was all a lot less serious, and we would get wasted. Our first ever gig we had £50 behind the bar. During the 20 minutes it took to take my car home and get a taxi back, the lead singer had drank it all. No matter, I still got through 5 pints before we went on, then between the 4 of us we managed another couple of beers each, plus a whole bottle of sambuka. This was a 25 minute set. We have it on video and it was seriously tight. The only bit that's obviously drunken is the guitarist struggling to tune up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Usually have 1 or 2 pints of bitter shandy, although I wasn't driving on NYE and did have a fair bit more...... The result?: Increase in showmanship, decrease in musical ability! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Undead Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I'll usually have a half before the 1st set, another half in the break, and perhaps a pint after tear-down. Probably shouldn't, but it doesn't make me remotely tipsy so meh, why not? I'd never get drunk before a gig though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 i have a pretty low alcohol limit, on a night out to the pub with my friends it's about 3 pints max, maybe 4 if it's my birthday. i once played a gig on guitar after a pint of beer and didn't enjoy it, i usually don't drink any alcohol before the first set but i'll often have a pint of real ale (max 4.5%) at half time, and our second set is designed to be easier to play and remember anyway so i'm usually ok. our singer used to play drums in a blues band and i once witnessed him drink 12 cans of lager that his girlfriend had smuggled into the venue, he had them all poured into pint glasses and lined up on a windowsill behind a curtain right behind his kit, it didn't seem to affect his playing at all, luckily he's dried out a bit since then! matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 [quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1358644908' post='1942870'] recipe for disaster...anyone who claims they play better as a result of it either has issues or is a crap musican. [/quote] The same people probably claim they are better drivers too when pissed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.