I want to quit the band I'm in.

So, I'm currently a drummer in a band that's style is a psychedelic, space rock, soul type thing. The music is fun to play, but the whole project is somewhat strong-armed by the lead guitarist. Hes a bit of a narcisist and believes his creative vision is always correct.

He likes to shoot down everyone's ideas and talk to us like we are his instruments. The byproduct of this is rarely an improvement.

Anyway, I like the other 2 people in the band. They are nice. I have a feeling he may have shit-talked me to them when I wasn't around. A couple months ago, he sceduled practice on a day I said was bad for me (which I told him a month in advance) and then when the day came and I couldn;t make it, he gave me this insulting lecture about how disappointed in me he was and how I needed to take the band seriously and be committed. Ever since then, I've sort of been unable to respect/tolerate him.

Anyway, we've been practicing for a few months now and the guitarist just booked our first show for next week. I was planning to play the show, then quit. Last practice, the singer (this awesome black girl with a very soulful voice) was sick, so we just tried to practice without her. Tonight she's still out sick and the other 2 guys are planning to drop acid at practice. Lord knows this is going to suck. I'll be the only guy not on LSD and the whole practice will be a failure. I have a feeling that they think tonight will be some cool psychedelic jam-out. I fucking hate jam bands. There is nothing more uninteresting to me than jam-bands or seeing a band jam on stage. I think they think it will be cool to jam on stage at our show, but fuck that. I'd rather suck my own dick on stage and shoot a snot-rocket of jizz on the crowd than have a psychedelic jam in a live performance.

Help me WATMM.

Do a Trent Reznor.

wait until they are on acid and convince them they are dying.

does the guitarist like to solo a lot?

It sounds like you know what you need to do. Good luck buddy.

  On 2/4/2012 at 3:32 AM, cloud capture said:

does the guitarist like to solo a lot?

Yes. As often as he can

  On 2/4/2012 at 3:29 AM, YO303 said:

Do a Trent Reznor.

How so?

  On 2/4/2012 at 3:33 AM, DerWaschbar said:

It sounds like you know what you need to do. Good luck buddy.

but how would you do it? I'm at a loss as to how.

  On 2/4/2012 at 3:35 AM, jefferoo said:

 

 

  On 2/4/2012 at 3:29 AM, YO303 said:

Do a Trent Reznor.

 

 

 

How so?

 

 

Do your own thing and if you need other musicians for live shows/studio recordings search online, there are plenty of musicians that don't want to be in a band but want to play.

ya, it's a tough one. Before I moved far away to become a monk, I was a drummer in a very similar situation. The guitarist was a zappa/mclaughlin nut and would solo too long. It was fun a lot of the time, but it always came down to this idea of inprov jamming, and that got old. I appreciate it more now that I have nobody to jam with. But in your case, if these guys want to go play an actual gig, and just wing it, I dunno. I personally wouldn't go play a gig expecting to improv jam if you feel these guys aren't commited to some kind of structure in the jam. There should be a lot of visual communication between everyone to pull that off. If they want to take acid and do this, definetly bail.

Slip laxatives in the LSD right before the big show.

  On 2/4/2012 at 3:31 AM, disparaissant said:

wait until they are on acid and convince them they are dying.

lol

lol

When they're peaking, tell them the ghost of Axl Rose visited you and told you it's your destiny to start a world famous Poison cover band. Then slip some Poison on the stereo and start drumming along with it.

oh and then next day when they're not high, just tell them you've decided to quit, fuck the highschool drama.

also jam bands are only good when the musicians are like insanely talented.

lol

I've never been in this situation personally. I guess just tell them the truth? It sounds like the other members sans the lead guitar guy will probably understand, as for the former he will likely be condensending and rude to you about it, but I get the sense that maybe he wants it as much as you do because you are infringing on his control.

Edit: lol was of course at the idea of convincing them they were dead.

attach yourself with a cord & holster to a crane and as you're playing slowly be lifted from your seat and away from them without explanation.

didn't realize you were a drummer bro

send me some drum tracks to fuck with

yes !

@ Mesh

  On 2/4/2012 at 3:51 AM, DerWaschbar said:

I get the sense that maybe he wants it as much as you do because you are infringing on his control.

 

Nailed it.

See, the problem is, I just don't consider that being in a "band". That is being a player in someone else's project.

As long as I have to chip in cash for the practice space, I should be able to contribute small ideas, if anything.

It boils my blood. I have been in a dozen or more bands and I have never seen anything like this guy. He does these little arm waves like he is a conductor and criticizes us when he screws something up. The whole time, he is really jokey and goofy to distract everyone else from what a micromanager he is. I haven't even bothered to ask to contribute any of my songs because I don't like the thought of him shooting down my ideas for something I actually care about.

  On 2/4/2012 at 4:00 AM, jefferoo said:

  On 2/4/2012 at 3:51 AM, DerWaschbar said:

I get the sense that maybe he wants it as much as you do because you are infringing on his control.

 

 

 

Nailed it.

 

See, the problem is, I just don't consider that being in a "band". That is being a player in someone else's project.

As long as I have to chip in cash for the practice space, I should be able to contribute small ideas, if anything.

 

It boils my blood. I have been in a dozen or more bands and I have never seen anything like this guy. He does these little arm waves like he is a conductor and criticizes us when he screws something up. The whole time, he is really jokey and goofy to distract everyone else from what a micromanager he is. I haven't even bothered to ask to contribute any of my songs because I don't like the thought of him shooting down my ideas for something I actually care about.

Sounds like a bad scene man. I would get out asap so you can focus more on what you are wanting to do. No need to waste your time with this guy.

Just quit it, but before, show them you' finghazz!! .I. .I.

tell them youre drunk

come out of the closet to them

When they all start tripping at practice tonight, I should take off my clothes and start masturbating.

  On 2/4/2012 at 4:00 AM, jefferoo said:

See, the problem is, I just don't consider that being in a "band". That is being a player in someone else's project.

some bands, that's all you are. it just depends on the rules set forth from the get go, which it seems were either not stated, misunderstood, or are currently being broken.

also,

  On 2/4/2012 at 3:27 AM, jefferoo said:

psychedelic, space rock, soul

wut

  On 2/4/2012 at 4:17 AM, jefferoo said:

When they all start tripping at practice tonight, I should take off my clothes and start masturbating.

the least you can do is pull off your shoes and socks and ask mom if you can do your laundry

During your last performance, do this!

Then before you exit the stage, give your guitarist "3 Penis Thrusts!" and eye ball him the whole time as you exit the stage!