Would someone's extreme political views prevent you being in a band with them, or working with them?

[dave_bass5]

Probably not.

[Len_derby]

2 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

Sadly, we're seeing more and more of these 'divisions' in the world today.

 

A lifelong friend of mine really surprised me the other day. He'd come along to one of my local trio gigs last Friday and really enjoyed when the Drummer's daughter got up to sing a few impromptu numbers with us.

 

So said Drummer's daughter was due to perform her second go at her solo act in another close-by local town on Sunday. I invited my friend, because I really wanted to support `Kate in her performance endeavors. This time, my lifelong friend (a very educated man who travels the world consulting in lean manufacturing) says,

 

"Bit too BNP for me."

 

"Huh"?

 

"British National Party. They were always headquartered there."

 

"We're just going to see Kate perform. Not to engage in political activism, LOL!"

 

"What do you mean? I don't like racism."

 

"No, just that you object on the grounds that a few people in the area may be racist. Racism is everywhere."

 

"I don't want to bump into any." 

 

"So you're not going to go back to America on Wednesday for work on the grounds that Trump is a lunatic, then..?" 

 

🤔

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, he’s certainly reduced his options for a night out in our part of the world! 

[HeadlessBassist]

2 minutes ago, Len_derby said:

Wow, he’s certainly reduced his options for a night out in our part of the world! 

 

Definitely, Len!

[Tdw]

1 hour ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

I wouldn't be in a band with someone who has bigoted views. Several years ago I almost joined a band which was newly forming where the keyboard player told an unpleasant racist joke at the first rehearsal. This was the first time any of the band members had met each other and he probably felt that it was safe as everyone in the room was a white male old enough to remember the 70s. He was also more 'Jools Holland' than 'Booker T', overplaying rinky-dink piano over everything and polluting my sonic space with his left hand.

 

I wouldn't be in a band with bigots like JK Rowking or Graham Lineham either.

I would happily to be in a band with either of them because they are both proven to be excellent writers and I do not think their views are unreasonable, some of linemans  actions do seem to be highly questionable but to be fair we don't yet know the full story. I would also note that historically many of the most creative people have not just kowtowed to the currently fashionable ideallogys and have dared to question the beliefs they have been pressured to hold whether that be religious orthodoxy, the demonisation of homosexuality,the superiority of their own culture or the trans ideology opposed by the aforementioned public figures.

[Obrienp]

Just came across this thread and it is actually a situation I have on my mind. No names, no pack drills: a bandmate in one of the bands I play in expresses very anti-immigrant views, given the chance. He is a radical Reform supporter and reposts some really poorly researched, utterly false claims on Facebook. He seems to be a sucker for far-right conspiracy theory. I am OK with people holding opposing views to me but I lose sympathy when they are based on the most transparent misinformation and involve little to no critical thinking.

 

Trouble is, this apart, he is a really nice person. The only person in the band who expressed any real concern, or interest when I was in hospital for 10 days a couple of years ago. The only person who visited me at home, to see how I was doing, once I was discharged. He is also very generous and willing to help friends out. I can’t reconcile his political views with the rest of his character.

 

I think he has realised that I don’t share his views (I am not sure about the others, equally divided I suspect). Consequently, we just don’t discuss politics at all in the band. I once pointed out to him that, although I hold British nationality, I am a dual national and an immigrant myself, as is my other half. Apparently, that doesn’t count. I suspect because we are both white and not Muslim. Apart from that instance, subjects that could cause contention are avoided and I never acknowledge, or mention his Facebook posts. 
 

Am I being a coward, should I leave the band on principle, or is this respecting other peoples’ right to hold opposing views? I am inclined towards the latter position: there is too much polarisation in our society. However, it still troubles me.

 

 

[EliasMooseblaster]

8 minutes ago, Obrienp said:

Am I being a coward, should I leave the band on principle, or is this respecting other peoples’ right to hold opposing views? I am inclined towards the latter position: there is too much polarisation in our society. However, it still troubles me.

 

 

I'd be inclined to stick with out for now - I completely understand your discomfort, but you've also pointed out that, away from his poorly-researched politics, he's a nice person. As long as his views aren't tipping him over into acts of violence or harassment, you may even be able to work on his better nature and very-gently-and-ever-so-indirectly steer him towards questioning some of the crazier stuff that he's reposting. In theory, there's hope for everyone!

 

[fretmeister]

Yes.

 

I enjoy a good debate as much as the next person and I am quite happy that people have differing views to me on all manner of things as long as those views come from a genuinely informed position and they are trying to do what is beneficial for others.

 

But bigotry isn't like that. It's questioning whether a person or group of persons should be treated equally or sometimes questioning whether they can exist at all.

I couldn't be in a band with anyone like that. 

[Obrienp]

3 minutes ago, EliasMooseblaster said:

I'd be inclined to stick with out for now - I completely understand your discomfort, but you've also pointed out that, away from his poorly-researched politics, he's a nice person. As long as his views aren't tipping him over into acts of violence or harassment, you may even be able to work on his better nature and very-gently-and-ever-so-indirectly steer him towards questioning some of the crazier stuff that he's reposting. In theory, there's hope for everyone!

 

Thanks for the reassurance. I’ve basically been doing that for more than 3 years. Unfortunately, he seems to be moving in the opposite direction politically but that is his prerogative. Of course, there is always the possibility that he is right and I am wrong🤔. As far as I am aware he doesn’t actually participate in physical acts against immigrants. I think that might be my red line.

[Lozz196]

I think the downside is due to the current saturation in the media, and the hysteria being raised, he`s only likely to be pushed further in his current direction. The thing is, with a mate like yourself who will enter into dialogue with him, rather than someone who just shouts him down/over him, he can see a reasoned viewpoint so I`d say stick around. 

[SimonK]

There's a difference between getting on with people, agreeing with people and working with people.

 

I work with plenty of people I both disagree with and don't get on with, but because it is at work we make it work.

 

Conversly there are loads of people I probably agree with on many things, but at the same time don't particularly get on with so wouldn't choose to socialise.

 

There are also a few friends that I get on very well with, but there are certain topics we just don't talk about as we know we disagree.

 

The mistake is thinking we have to agree with someone to get along with them.

 

 

 

 

[GR7G5TER]

On 03/09/2025 at 15:08, cetera said:

 was e.g. racist, homophobic, fascist etc.... would it make you reconsider working with them?

 

Would I be in a band with them?

I wouldn't piss on a "racist, homophobic, fascist etc...." if they were on fire.

 

I used meet a group of acquaintances (scuba diving) for a curry once a month, it had the obligatory whatsapp group. A memebr, who up until this point hadn't attended or posted in the chat said something along the lines of "not a fan of p*ki food, can we go for a ch*nky instead".

 

Mssaged the head of the group and said basically kick the guy immeadiayey or I walk (I was also a member of the club committee at the time), the response was he'd need to speak to group and see the best way forward.

 

That was my last involvement, I walked straigt away.

 

You are either an alley to monorities or you're someone I would never want to deal with.

 

Simple 

[kiat]

Views are relative aren't they?  An extreme view might just be one that is at it's root very opposite to our own view on the matter.  We could also discover that our particular view is equally extreme (however middle of the road and reasonable we are convinced we ourselves are) because it is diametrically opposite from the view we consider extreme. All of those people on either side would consider the others extreme.  Perhaps labelling views or people as extreme may be pointless and counterproductive.  Views, in my view 😁, can and should be discussed.

 

People on the other hand, whatever their views, can act like absolute twats and if they upset the band as a whole (or pick on a member of it) then they are better off moving on.  I wonder how fully pro bands handle difficult band members and where the overlap is in typical workplaces.

 

 

[cheddatom]

I have a real life situation here. A drummer based in Stoke started posting some pretty extreme things on social media. He would describe it as simply expressing his own opinions, but in a lot of people's minds he's crossed several lines. He's lost all of his gigs, been barred from a bunch of venues, and lost his job as a drum teacher. I have absolutely no problem with people who are opposed to immigration to whatever extent, as long as they can express their point of view without any hatred. I suspected this guy was crossing lines by accident. Because I like the guy, I imagined that he has some reasonable views about problematic immigration, but that he expresses them by sharing some unfortunate memes etc. 

 

So, specifically, he shared a meme about a convicted sex offender called Zainal Osman. The meme grabs a headline describing him as a yorkshireman, and then laughs at the idea that he could be from yorkshire. I thought I'd give the drummer a private message, just to point out that he could very well be born and bred in yorkshire. There's absolutely no evidence that I can find online to the contrary. This drummer just laughed at me and argued that he couldn't possibly be British. I explained the facts of the matter IE he could very well have a British passport which would make him just as British as the rest of us, and he stopped replying for a couple of weeks. Then he sent me another meme: 

 

 

I replied "I've no idea whether they're German. You can't tell by the colour of their skin, if that's what you mean?" and again he stopped replying

 

So, publicly he's trying to walk the "I'm not racist, I just..." line, but privately, he's being openly racist.

 

This guy has basically lost his livelihood because he couldn't turn off youtube, and I think that's a pretty sad state of affairs.  What's worse is it seems more and more common. People around here are openly talking about how "islam is not compatible" etc. and it's all driven by social media. It's worse than crack!

[fretmeister]

1 hour ago, Lozz196 said:

I think the downside is due to the current saturation in the media, and the hysteria being raised, he`s only likely to be pushed further in his current direction. The thing is, with a mate like yourself who will enter into dialogue with him, rather than someone who just shouts him down/over him, he can see a reasoned viewpoint so I`d say stick around. 

 

I support this view as it's important to engage. Even just to make sure the person is aware that other views are available. Kids raised in racist homes have such an awful start and often don't hear other views.

 

But a band is my escape from the world. I don't want to drag that nonsense into my time off.

[kiat]

What were traditionally the topics to avoid at polite dinner parties: politics and religion?  It might just apply to bands and whole music industry.....

[SimonK]

1 hour ago, kiat said:

What were traditionally the topics to avoid at polite dinner parties: politics and religion?  It might just apply to bands and whole music industry.....

 

...and never talk to the guitarist?

[steantval]

6 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

I wouldn't be in a band with someone who has bigoted views. Several years ago I almost joined a band which was newly forming where the keyboard player told an unpleasant racist joke at the first rehearsal. This was the first time any of the band members had met each other and he probably felt that it was safe as everyone in the room was a white male old enough to remember the 70s. He was also more 'Jools Holland' than 'Booker T', overplaying rinky-dink piano over everything and polluting my sonic space with his left hand.

 

I wouldn't be in a band with bigots like JK Rowking or Graham Lineham either.

Didn’t realise Rowling or Lineham were musicians.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

No one suggested they were musicians, I wrote that I wouldn't be in a band with bigots like them.

[alyctes]

Probably the guitarist I gelled best with, musically, I dare not talk politics with.  Which was fine, neither of us wanted to get into rows about things.  But it got increasingly awkward when he wanted to share funny incidents (and he genuinely wanted to share, he wasn't trying to be awkward).

[Gank Bass]

It's worth mentioning that the nature of social media algorithms and confirmation bias that nowadays everyone believes their views are the correct ones (yes, even yours! 😲) 

 

Platforms are designed this way to maintain your attention to drive clicks/engagement/ad revenue. Everything must be boiled down to a binary choice (hence not partaking in discussion lumps you in with whatever side)