Too old for the "band" thing?

[kmanick]

Father Bill speaketh the truth.
I had been out of gigging for almost 30 years , my daughter is finally old enough now that I can get back into doing this. I joined 2 bands
one a Road house blues based band , the other doing rock covers from the 70's to now (all sorts of fun shit)
I've been working with these guys for the last year and 2 weeks ago I recorded the rehearsal. I went home that Sunday night listened to it (and watched it , some video)
Quick both bands on that Monday morning. I learned over 60 songs most note for note, these guys could barely get 10 together and they drummer sucked ass.
I didn't notice it as much while I was playing but once I could sit back and listen?........................I was appalled. too many rehearsals where people were bagging
out with excuses why they didn't learn the songs and I am the only one married with children. It stopped being fun so fuck it.
I want to get out and gig and have some fun , money is not even part of the equation, as long as I am having fun, but I take my playing pretty seriously.
I was not going to go out after all these years and play with a bunch of hacks.
I'm over 50 (you'd never know it though) and I see tons of guys over 40 playing all over the boston area.
Too old? no such thing, but it's gotta be fun or Fuggitt!!!

[horns666]

Kmangini!! nailed it with Married with Children! Our kids that can play better than most bandmates. Especially since they are a part of you..they seem to be a mirror image., It's like stereo when jammin with my kid, and my wife can't tell who's who. Even my "slop" is dupilcated to a T. It's like hearing two Jimmy Pages' or EVHs at the same time..coolest thing in the world!

Or like David said. He has his head on straight. He's very realistic at a younger age than many of us. He's got he priorities. Music will always be a part of him..he's a great player. He could do this later when/if the time comes. I was in my 30's in my VH trib..we made tons of money but it became old fast. I had a REAL day job. Doing both on the weekends..I doin't know how I did that, and family without ANY sleep!

Prolly the Jagermeister I'd hurled in the parking lots of the clubs we played...then I went to work. If I didn't 'throw a shoe' (cop lingo) call in sick..they'd take bets, if I'd show for roll call. It became a game with my old buds.

Family is full time. This is MUCH better. Do I miss the stage..NO! I got offers to join bands everytime I played. Because I was untouchable on bass, and I'm better than ever.

Again, Do I miss playing on stage? Hell fuggin' ..Noooooooooo.!!!!

But if I ever do something. It's 100% mine. I call the shots. I'll be cool and some would love to be involved. I ALWAYS refused to play with hacks. I have standards.

[BenoA]

F...
It stopped being fun so fuck it.
I want to get out and gig and have some fun , money is not even part of the equation, as long as I am having fun, but I take my playing pretty seriously.
...
I'm over 50 (you'd never know it though) and I see tons of guys over 40 playing all over the boston area.
Too old? no such thing, but it's gotta be fun or Fuggitt!!!

Great reply kmanick. When I said too "old", I was more on the cynical side of the word (I hope everyone understood ).

But to be honest, I'm really tired of the way bars and venues are treating musician. You rehearse and practice. You sometimes travel far to reach the place. You play out very late. Bring expensive gear. And what do you get: a bag of peanuts! I was paid better in the late 80s than what a regular venue give you today. Same gig and same music! Pathetic!

And I'll finish with a quote from Billz: Refuse to play with hacks. Have standards!

[horns666]

Too old to masturbate. I snort Viagra so I can rub one out!

No that's not true..just funny !

But there's some out there that do exactly that..like TOMMY!. He jerks it before hooking up with strange. I think we all did that. I think we had that "ONE STROKE...DONE" experience. I think sex should be exactly that..why make a big deal about it. Just get to the point. Guys think girls love it..No..they hate it. Anything passed 15 minutes irritates them. These are facts...see>>

If you want to really impress a chick..do it 2-3 times in less that 30 minutes. Let all those parts take a breather. You'll have a Fatal Attraction on your hands!

Oh..yeah. Playing in bands suck. Every band has that one fag. I think its a rule from ancient times. As seen on cave drawings. At least you could impale or behead them back then. Many impaled assholes runnin' around without heads in Ohio. As seen at the Serpent Mound..aligned to the dracu constellation..see..these are facts!>>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpent_Mound

I question everything..even questions I ask. I think a moment, and there's the answer..and these are facts!

[Tetsuo]

I think I am quoting my band. I am just not inspired enough with what we are playing to really put the work in. I only joined to force me to start playing again and that worked but they need someone else. Although the drummer, bassist and I really can work on another project.

[RacerX]

Quoting or quitting?

[BenoA]

Quoting or quitting?

You're back and on fire!

[AAEA]

my last band I played with a great crew of guys who were from the original scene here in LA, all of them in their 50s and nothing was out of place. you're as young as you feel. youngsters still come out to shows and pay to see you play so why stop. when the crowd leaves and then the friends... then its time to hang it up or change location.

[Tetsuo]

Quoting or quitting?

I quote them often but in this case I quit.

[triplehold]

Hitting our middle freakin' 60s, smoke the shit out of everybody else. They call us legends now. Sick! More fun than ever. Go as long as you can. "Every band has that one fag." Classic, so true. Shitcan them and soldier on.

[Shawn Lutz]

Age has little to do with anything unless you 50 and the rest of the band 20. You just are not on the same pages as the rest of the band. Find a band more suitable to your musical tastes and styles or one that perhaps slips in some originals. Cover bands are fun for a while but for me it gets old quickly I prefer creating/performing originals vs just performing other peoples stuff.

[BenoA]

Thanks everyone for all the comments.

Update on the future ex-band... We managed to past the first round of the "battle of the bands". Bad reviews went mostly to our singer and other guitar player, both who are thinking too big regarding the band. As we're moving to second round, rehearsals are now dull and very business like. Very funny! Still giving my 110% but still leaving once the we get kicked out of the BOTB.

On my side, future music room in the house is on the way. Bought a powered speaker this past weekend for vocals. Started installing some floor padding and will work on the walls and door in the coming weeks.

Life is good!