issue 37 working_Layout 1 11/1/2013 1:17 PM Page 22
Mommy, why do bands break up?
That my friends is a good question isn't it? How many bands some
good, some not so good, some successful some not so just fade away.
And fade away they do. There are always reasons that bands break up
and become one of many on the
band scrap heap. Let's examine
"what went wrong?"
Many bands start off with members being at relatively the same
level of talent and proficiency on their
respective instruments, but as time
goes by many times band members
grow at different levels. Some due to
work ethic and some due to natural
talent. And when the bands starts to
play a more busy schedule the diff erence shows and creates pressure
within the band. That usually is
cause for a restructuring, meaning
someone gets sacked or a band will
just dissolve.
Another reason a band breaks
up is creative differences. You know
when two guys in the band want to
go harder and more edgy, and the
other guy wants his girlfriend to start
singing background vocals (see
Spinal Tap). Theres your creative differences. But seriously many bands
do split up when members or groups
of members feel that the band
should move in a different musical direction. Can you imagine the effect
on the Beatles if Paul McCartney
would have preferred to stay in the
cutsy mop top image as opposed to
the Sgt. Pepper pschodelia?
Over the years I have seen many
good bands break up because they
did not have the necessary ancillary
support that would help them get to
the next level. A band needs a manager, a producer, a road manager, a
publicist, etc, etc. And IMHO these
positions are just as important as the
actual members of the band. You
know the old adage if a band writes a
good song in the woods and nobody
hears it.......... The truth is that I've
seen some great bands die a slow
agonizing death because of a lack of
exposure and outside musical
influence. And I have also seen one too
many bands become successful due to
a great support team around them, and
marginal talent.
Drugs and alcohol, drugs and alcohol, and drugs and alcohol. Not
much else to say.
Another reason I've seen bands
beak up is success too soon. The Beatles earned their stripes paying their
dues in clubs in Hamburg as well as in
bas in the UK. This seasoning is so important in a bands development and
staying power. If all you know is fame
and fortune, you will not know how to
handle "getting back on the road", and
playing smaller venues for less money.
This is where the love of the music itself will buoy you during times of
strong local businesses
Jess Gerrior