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A Question Of Loyalty - I got some feedback from the drummer and guitarist that my resignation from the band was not well received, even though it was delivered a full 30 days before the next show.

I wanted to share some details about this decision and the events that led up to it.

I had been invited to join the band after filling in on bass. I am not a bass player in the passionate sense. I'm good, but its not my calling - never has been - but over the years, I have done it a lot because it seemed everyone needed a bassist.

I started out playing the band's house bass and amp. After a couple of shows, the bandleader asked me to purchase my own bass and amp. This was no big deal since I can use both to record and teach from.

I never buy used stuff, but since I have no emotional/spiritual connections to a bass, I bought a $60 Ibanez and a $100 Peavey TNT-130 amp. Both delivered good performance.

Now, I grew up in a country setting...listening to country music...and my music (rock n roll) wasn't allowed in the house. Neither could I play rock n roll, so I became a country "picker" to learn and earn money and did my rock n roll playing underground.

While I do enjoy some of the country stuff I grew up listening too - Buck, Merle, Bellamy Brothers, Waylon, Willie, it never was my passion to be a country artist in any capacity. Same thing with the blues.

History lesson is over now.

So, im involved with this band about a year. No signed contract. No verbal promise of any specific duration of commitment. Nothing more than a gentleman's agreement.

On May 20, 2017, totally out of the blue (and I still don't know how they found me or chose me) a SoCal 80's/90's cover band asks me to audition.

Never in my life have I had that much fun playing with a group....playing all the songs I grew up listening too...all the guys around my age...it was the most amazing experience.

They had an upcoming show on May 27 - same date as one of our shows - and I did not want to leave my band high-n-dry without a bass player, 7 days before a performance, so I turned down a salaried 5 night a week gig.

May 27 rolls around and we pull in a great saxophone player for the show. Curiously, the bandleader also hauls in the house bass and amp and leaves it backstage. We are 3 songs into the set when the bandleader tells me his Son was in the audience and for me to give him my bass for a few songs.

I was totally cool with this and I was able to sit with my wife and daughter, so when he motioned for me to come back up, I motioned for him to keep playing.

He's super flashy/funky as a bassist, but made a lot of mistakes. Anyways, the son and I traded off playing my bass through the rest of the 4 hour set. When we were breaking stuff down, I found out that the Son had been a long time bass player in the band.

On my way home, I felt something like a light switch had been thrown inside of me. All these years supporting others...worrying more about a client's needs and desires than my own.

I passed up a dream job because I was worried they couldn't find a bass player in 7 days.

I chewed on this about a week...

All the while, the guitar business is starting to really take off too.

The I remembered something Buck Owens said in a 1965 article:

"I Shall Sing No Song That Is Not A Country Song.

I Shall Make No Record That Is Not A Country Record.

I Refuse To be Known As Anything But A Country Singer.

I Am Proud To be Associated With Country Music.

Country Music And Country Music Fans Made Me What I Am Today.

And I Shall Not Forget It - Buck Owens. "

That statement hit me like a ton of bricks. I am the polar opposite of Buck...and I been "faking it" for many years...just being a supporting artist...helping others realize their dreams.

Enough...

Immediately, I cancelled all my upcoming studio guitarist jobs and I began putting more time into guitar building.

I resigned from the band during its 'vacation period' and I have none of their gear or equipment, so its a clean break. I wish them all the very best.

I know I have more than one nemesis here, but I don't care. I post for those fellows whom I associate with on and offline, and today, I just felt like telling you guys what has been going on lately in my music world.

Happy Father's Day!!!! :)
 
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It's funny, in a way, as I look back on playing with this band. On the one hand, it was fun at times, but there was something there that I didn't like, but still can't figure out what it was!
 
Robert, my Avatar says it all.

Not really. The one bottom line is you were playing bass, then there is guitar building, and more desire to front a band guitar wise.
Hard not to feel like you had to make the decision.
 
makes sense to me --- they wherent drivng a Multi Billion dollar $ making machine with hundreds of staf millions of fans and triple platinum records-- they where/are a blues/bar band right?? Isnt that a "FUN" thing to do not an unhappy time???

I ask because I dont remember we played bars and parties and frat houses.......mostly drunk.....and several sets we didnt finish because someone found BONG FODDER and ....well.......it WAS FUN though lol ---er I think.....maybe it wasnt I dont know---- never mind
 
eSGEe said:
makes sense to me --- they wherent drivng a Multi Billion dollar $ making machine with hundreds of staf millions of fans and triple platinum records-- they where/are a blues/bar band right?? Isnt that a "FUN" thing to do not an unhappy time???

I ask because I dont remember we played bars and parties and frat houses.......mostly drunk.....and several sets we didnt finish because someone found BONG FODDER and ....well.......it WAS FUN though lol ---er I think.....maybe it wasnt I dont know---- never mind
Click to expand...

Blues was cool...just didn't have the energy I needed....
 
You know...I have been a long time admirer of Phil Collen's guitar work, but a recent article on him I found really was inspiring. For years I found myself frequently tapped to play in Blues or Country bands as a support musician. And, for many years, everyone said to keep an open mind and listen to all these different styles, but I found everything other than rock completely boring, dry and un-inspiring.

Back in May of this year, I auditioned for a SoCal 80's/90's cover band, even though I was already obligated to my blues group. The audition was one of my greatest musical experiences because we actually got to play music I loved and grew up listening too. This experience is one of my prime reasons for leaving a good paying job with the blues band. While we did have some good times, the music didn't move me.

I have included Phil's suggestion below...

2. Listen to what inspires you
“Everybody always says, ‘Listen to all sorts of music.’ I’m going to go somewhere else with that. I think you should listen to what you like. Listen to what inspires you. You can try to check out other genres and styles, but if you don’t get anything from them, don’t beat yourself up about it. Stay with what moves you.

“I never learned fingerstyle because I never really liked it. I wanted to make a guitar scream and cry, so that’s the kind of guitar music that I listened to - guys who really wailed. That’s the music that inspired me, and I knew that’s where my talents really lie. I didn’t have the time to sit around and try to be an amazing fingerstyle player; I was developing the skills that I knew would ultimately serve me best.

“A lot of other guitar players will guilt you - ‘You shouldn’t have blinders’ on and all that rubbish. I want to take that guilt away. Don’t feel bad about knowing what you know, liking what you like and sticking with it. If blues inspires you, listen to blues. If metal gets you off, listen to metal. And on and on it goes. Why stay away from something you love? That’s crazy.”
 
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