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My band just got back from a short stint on the road with my friend's band, Biblical Proof of UFO's....

It went ok, but it's looking more and more like our bass player just ain't gonna work.

We asked him to quit drinking a 5th of vodka before rehearsals, he did. The 10 bong hits were ok, as long as he could still play.

Now, get him on a short tour and things kinda go out the window - he's drinking and just generally being a slack motherfucker. Not loading up his gear, walking over and saying random shit in my vocal mic between songs, not remembering how songs go, huge lack of stage presence, varying greatly on his tone....i guess just not really gelling with the drummer and I. We both concur that we need to find someone else.

thoughts on how to remove this band-aid?

Tell him what you told us than tell him to take a hike

If drinking and generally being unprofessional are the two major problems, I would tell him just that. "sorry, we can't work with someone who drinks and refuses to be an absolute professional".

I know that so many musicians don't see getting drunk or high as a problem, but I would never want to associate myself with that kind of bullshit. When you practice and play a gig, you are working. You wouldn't drink at your day job, so why is it ok to drink when you are gigging?

yea if that shit is getting in the way/making it hard to do your thing collectively and individually, just let em know thats whats up. not always the case, but he should be a big boy wearing big boy pants n all.

i used to try to play w/ this bass dude who would literally pass out mid riffing, then out of nowhere come out of it and start playing again....did not work out, kind of amusing tho.

but, i'm cool w/ peeps doing whatever they want as long as they are still adults about it and can do what they do regardless if their sober or drunk or high or whatever. ya dont need to get absolutely shitfaced BEFORE. save that shit until after...i usually dont get high until after we're all done and i can relax and check out the rest of the show, but thats more of a personal preference than anything else.

^^îndeed....

I've cut him a break already and gave him a 2nd chance. Then last week when we getting ready to head north, he shows up smelling like the retox center....and wanted beers for the road - saying "I'll be fine by the time we play tonight"

It's a bummer, he's an alright guy...he's just got demons bigger than he handle.

amorphous wrote:It's a bummer, he's an alright guy...he's just got demons bigger than he handle.

Many if us had to hit bottom before we could start the climb back up. This may be part of it for him. If he's bringing all of you guys down, it may be time for a little "tough love".

Derelict78 wrote:Tell him what you told us than tell him to take a hike

yeah dude sounds like liability

yah, i feel like if i spent less time on the drama and more focus on the band we'd be a couple more miles down the road.

aens_wife wrote:If drinking and generally being unprofessional are the two major problems, I would tell him just that. "sorry, we can't work with someone who drinks and refuses to be an absolute professional".

I know that so many musicians don't see getting drunk or high as a problem, but I would never want to associate myself with that kind of bullshit. When you practice and play a gig, you are working. You wouldn't drink at your day job, so why is it ok to drink when you are gigging?

pretty much this. i mean, i don't see getting drunk or high as a problem as long as its on your own time, but when it starts to affect performance, fuck that your ass is on the curb.

Next time you guys go on the road, get the van moving real fast, open the door, then push him out.

Chankgeez wrote:Next time you guys go on the road, get the van moving real fast, open the door, then push him out.

Only counts if you yell "THIS IS SPARTA!!!" at the same time.

^great idea...that seat by the door doesn't have a seat belt yet either....hmm...!

Tell him you want the band to move more in the direction of emo stuff....and that you want to all wear skinny jeans and vests. He should work his way out naturally, then.

That tactic always works well in theory....but not so much in application. The first chick that I dated in high school....woof....we weren't a good match at all....but it was one of those 1st time deals so we dated for like two years with me not wanting to date anymore after two months....yeah, I have trouble ending things. Well she always told me she would NEVER date anyone who did drugs. That she would leave me if she found out I did. So I told her I was doing coke. I've never done coke....but whatever....so BAM. She's gone, right? No. Her fucking step dad calls me up an hour later saying he's been where I am before and wants to talk me through it.

MOTHERFUCK.

Tell him you've all decided to quit the band, then later re-form with a new bass player under the same name.

I was in a band that did this to their old bassist the one before me
It worked!