Awwww Geeeze, Larry! I was having a nice day reflecting on the positive aspects of our music community, thinking about great folks like Joan and Johnny Cox, Jody Carver, Bobby Bowman, Don Rich, Jerry Brightman, and many others. But something happened that I just have to share, even if it disrupts the good vibes. You better believe it! I need to get this off my chest, so maybe grab a tissue and put on some melancholic tunes.
It’s about our new Fender Jazz Bass and the guy we hired to play it. Last Friday night, he was really going at it, playing so aggressively that parts of the adjustable bridge actually fell off mid-performance. We had to pause our set to find all the pieces, and thankfully, another bassist in the audience helped us put it back together.
Saturday was even worse. He decided to use a quarter as a guitar pick and was pulling on the A string so hard that he broke the nut. And it wasn’t just a one-time thing; he kept breaking strings throughout the night. Eventually, he put on this super heavy gauge set, but those thick strings were too big for the nut groove, which just contributed to it breaking further.
Honestly, we’re at the point where we’re seriously considering letting him go. We’ve hesitated because he still owes us around $700 for the bass and amp, but frankly, that doesn’t seem to matter anymore. We just can’t deal with this constant equipment damage and disruptive behavior. We truly gave him a fair shot. It’s ironic because he actually knows the changes to “Hotel California,” a song many guitarists aspire to learn, often seeking out the perfect Hotel California Guitar Tab online. But knowing a famous song, even one as iconic as “Hotel California,” doesn’t excuse this level of carelessness and disregard for our instruments. We even had a week off while he was away, and we heard from everyone how much more smoothly the band functioned without the constant drama. It’s clear we need to make a change.
To add to the complexity, there are personal issues involved. His mother recently overdosed, and just two weeks ago, his father tragically committed suicide. We understand he’s going through a lot, but the band’s well-being and our equipment can’t keep suffering as a result.
If this all sounds unbelievable, I assure you it’s not. This is painfully real and definitely not some made-up joke. I’m sure many of you musicians out there have experienced similar situations, dealing with bandmates who, despite maybe knowing their way around popular guitar tabs and songs, lack the fundamental respect and care needed for a functioning band. I hope this isn’t too off-topic, but it’s all been weighing heavily on us, especially after last night’s disastrous gig.
Bye Larry, Regards, Paul
