Just wondering...

#23
It's complicated. As a BL I've learned that Rule #1 is always "musicians gonna musician", but depending on the situation, not everything is black & white.

If y'all are a democracy, you need to have a chat with others first. And, in this case, if you're in this for fun rather than money, I'd be leaning toward "no".

However, if this is a "strong BL" situation and more like a pro operation working mainly for the money, it's not so cut and dry. Let's say you're the BL. It's your choice, and you have to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. If it was me, despite his talent, I would NOT want to bring someone with his history like into a frontman role. This is because as the face of the band he will have too much power over its direction... and he's demonstrated before he's unreliable and inconsiderate. Not a good setup. Same goes for a feature role in your project... like if your band is famous for its kazoo solos and he's a name talent on kazoo. As a sideman, sure I'd consider him if he would bring something big to the band. In any of these cases, he'd have zero control over anything on the business side. And... all of this will also consider the thoughts and feelings of the others in the project.
 
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#24
One_Dude said:
I'll try to condense a long story into a shorter form. I joined a long standing successful band almost six years ago. We had steady gigs and got lots of compliments from both audience members and venue decision makers. With several gigs scheduled, and with no notice, the BL announced via email that he was dissolving the band immediately and canceling all remaining gigs.

That was eight months ago and I've had no contact with the BL since then. He kicked all band members to the curb with the explanation that he wasn't having fun anymore. Four of us were really pissed and decided to go on together with a new band name playing mostly the same venues. We added new material while keeping some of the old, and rehearsed for three months and have now been gigging about twice a month for the last two or three months. Our band members bought a new, expensive sound system, and some additional gear that we needed. Venue decision makers are happy with what they hear from us and want to immediately schedule us for future dates.

Fast forward to today; our former BL has started to make contact with band members just being friendly. He is aware of the success of our current band, and I'm wondering if he wants back in. This may not be his intent, but at this point we don't know. Are we as good without his really strong vocals; the answer is no. At the same time, we don't want a repeat of what he did eight months ago.

So we don't know his intent, but if he wants to join our current band, there can never be the same level of trust that we previously had with him.

Has anyone here experienced a similar situation?

Thump on,

One_Dude
Click to expand...

I don’t know the guy. You worked with him for 8 years you should have a much better handle on this guy than I ever could.

Pick up the phone and flat out ask the guy why he quit leaving the rest of you out in the cold with no warning, and he’d better have a dang good explanation before I’d have anything to do with him. That was an incredibly selfish action.

I have been in bands before where members quit thinking the band couldn’t possibly exist without them and are shocked beyond repair when they go on. Sometimes they get another “better deal” elsewhere. Might be in this case and things didn’t work out as planned. Usually, if it’s a life situations (health, marital, job, or family issues) most of the time those are shared well in advanced. Personally, I’ll bet do dollars to donuts his reason was not an issue of not having fun.

I also would query your current band mates as well and soon, reminding them that this is the guy that up and quit on them for a dang flimsy reason.
 
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#26
Honestly, the proper way to terminate a band there should be through a conversation between all and a compromise to do all the remaining booked gigs, unless there's an urgent situation like a family emergency or a sudden health problem with the person or within his family that would make it Impossible to do the gigs.
It doesn't seemed to have happened this way. One day you had a band and giging expectations and the other day you had nothing.
So, you've rebuilt and moved on. From this point, the only way it would be acceptable for the BL to return was if he had taken the right steps when dissolving the band.
You are not worse without his strings vocals, you are diferent and use other strenghts. Just accept that you've moved on and don't return to a place that got you nowhere.
 
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#28
There's no f in way.

He didn't just quit, he dissolved the band and actually cancelled gigs. Even as BL he could have just quit and gave you his blessing to go on without him and let you guys have the gigs. Cancelling gigs because he's "not having fun anymore" is a totally classless act, IMO.

You can be friendly, even let him get up and sing a song or two, but letting him back in the band would be a no for me, dawg.
 
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#30
One_Dude said:
I'll try to condense a long story into a shorter form. I joined a long standing successful band almost six years ago. We had steady gigs and got lots of compliments from both audience members and venue decision makers. With several gigs scheduled, and with no notice, the BL announced via email that he was dissolving the band immediately and canceling all remaining gigs.

That was eight months ago and I've had no contact with the BL since then. He kicked all band members to the curb with the explanation that he wasn't having fun anymore. Four of us were really pissed and decided to go on together with a new band name playing mostly the same venues. We added new material while keeping some of the old, and rehearsed for three months and have now been gigging about twice a month for the last two or three months. Our band members bought a new, expensive sound system, and some additional gear that we needed. Venue decision makers are happy with what they hear from us and want to immediately schedule us for future dates.

Fast forward to today; our former BL has started to make contact with band members just being friendly. He is aware of the success of our current band, and I'm wondering if he wants back in. This may not be his intent, but at this point we don't know. Are we as good without his really strong vocals; the answer is no. At the same time, we don't want a repeat of what he did eight months ago.

So we don't know his intent, but if he wants to join our current band, there can never be the same level of trust that we previously had with him.

Has anyone here experienced a similar situation?

Thump on,

One_Dude
Click to expand...

People's past behavior does inform my future commitments with them. For the story you provided, i'd shy away from having this individual being a BL that i work for, but i'd be totally cool playing with them in other contexts that does not put them in charge of things assuming they are good at playing music.
 
#32
Around 1995 our BL blew up the stage at the Newburgh Holiday inn and give this shocking monologue:
"Well that's it for tonight and forever more. We won't be playing here again now or ever. Blah blah blah bad management and bad blood follow us across town we'll see you around". What was really up his sleeve was he wanted to bury the band name as he was the last founding member.
After he left we regrouped and came up with a crappy band name and made the new band twice as successful as the original.
Old BL would sit in from time to time. I never quite figured out why he needed to blow up the world like that.
I never gigged at the Holiday inn again lol!
 
#34
Let it hang out there as far as his intent. Don't ask or even suggest this "re- join" possibility during any contact with him. If he makes that a "for sure", get with "your band" for a meeting and discussion. Not a damn text session, have a meeting! If one of you is a no or, even on the fence, don't entertain him returning or even bring it up. Do not give him false hope! IF you have him back, I'd want an explanation as to why he did what he did to the previous band to everyone. If he doesn't agree, goodbye.
mrcbass said:
there could have been some sort of general disclosure about his reasons
Click to expand...
 
#35
I wouldn't go down that road. If y'all need a better singer, then recruit a better singer. He should not be among the candidates. He blew up the band in the most irresponsible way possible and there is a strong likelihood he would flake off again to hurt the band, even if he is not the BL.
 
#36
OP, the guy destroyed your band without a thought for the rest of you. Then he disappeared for several months. Suddenly he's getting chummy with you all. It seems obvious that he's after something.

He's proven that he can't be trusted, and in my opinion, that's all you need to know.

Tom
 
#37
I’m a little more tolerant of things like that, although not to the point where I’m a sucker. But music is a funny thing that affects people sometimes, and I can be bought, and if the former BL can put money in my pocket by being better at it than the rest of my band, I’d consider it if it’s pretty concrete of an improvement.
 
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#38
I’m with Jimmy on at least looking at possibilities. He’d have to know he’s not coming in as BL, but just as a member of the existing new band.

Here’s what you guys have to figure out; what does he add? Just a better voice, but same gigs, same venues, same pay, but takes another cut? That gains you nothing. It actually costs you $$.

What can he add over time? More gigs at different venues or more money from the existing venues? It has to be one or both at a level that covers his cut AND adds to everyone else’s pay, or it’s no gain.

I’ve discovered (with age) that the “best places” to play are not always best for all bands. Good crowds & good pay start to have less impact if the travel to/from the gig is a two hour drive through the mountains after playing until 1:00 AM. If your former BL can get decent paying gigs that are closer to home that the new band can’t get without him, he’s bringing some value.

With six years on stage with him, you should all pretty well know what he can add or what he can’t add.
 
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#40
Sometimes higher tier artistic talent comes with some erratic behavior. If someone is actually dangerous, I'd steer clear, otherwise it's simply a cost/benefit/risk analysis and I'd try to leave past animus out of the equation. Maybe have a talk and figure out if future opportunities might outweigh past disappointments for all involved. Nothing wrong with having that conversation.
 
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