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Why so many drummers are getting fired (article)

There will always be business issues that we will never know that are likely the vast majority of the line-up changes that occur in 'popular' projects.

we don't know regardless of what any press release holds...and guessing is useless.

The interesting thought is why do we care?...I guess if you put yourself in a situation where you can be legally 'let go' it can be a worrisome uncertainty...with a take home message...get your contracts in order.
 
Don't think it's just drummers that get canned, guitarists can be in tricky positions too. Think Fleetwood Mac, one drummer and about 600 strummers over the years.

But perhaps understanding where you stand in the hierarchy makes getting sacked a bit more bearable, as exemplified by that famously moody git Mark E Smith - If it's me and yer granny on bongos, it's The Fall.

So every member is potentially replaceable, it's just as drummers we notice the drummers getting canned most.
 
When you are not the face of the group and you don't write the songs you are an easy mark.... They days of just being the drummer are over if you want to be a professional. You need a cross section of skills from writing to engineering to marketing to make a living as a musician
 
AudioWonderland said:
When you are not the face of the group and you don't write the songs you are an easy mark.... They days of just being the drummer are over if you want to be a professional. You need a cross section of skills from writing to engineering to marketing to make a living as a musician
Click to expand...
Don’t forget graphic design.
 
jda said:
here's one that runs often..


🤣
'act your age?. why how insulting! 😁

Drummers- becoming mainstream news or image...
(you know they'd finally get around to us (after exhausting all other possibilities..)
I think we're third from last in societal importance altho
real life knows better..and the ad men /women are finally coming round.

There's another where a woman is sitting playing Set and another young woman is standing playing timbales.
It runs at least once a day..

It'll come to me and I'll post it
we're mainstream
Click to expand...
Here's that other one drummers" as "mainstream' like we are..


in a psoriasis ad.
 
jda said:
Here's that other one drummers" as "mainstream' like we are..


in a psoriasis ad.
Click to expand...
I started Skyrizi a month ago and have done my two starter doses, and I’m about 60% cleared up with no side effects. I don’t think it’s made me mainstream, but I’m a lot less itchy.
 
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We'll have to get you in a commercial Jim when you're all cleared up. We'll do it on Bass. Bass players need some mainstreaming too.
I'll be in contact
(no; we kidding ; )
 
Like Rodney Dangerfield, I only appeal to people who can’t do me any good.
 
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Reactions: jda
Interesting article and I agree with the responses so far. I always think as drummers we are sitting ducks at the back, if the singer is too loud the drummer gets the blame. If the guitar starts a song too fast it’s the drummers fault.

True story: I host an open mic, and last year a guitarist and singer did an old soul song. I thought it sounded good, maybe a little slow, but I decided to stay out the way and just listen and enjoy the song. I didn’t play at all during the song. At the end the guitarist says to the singer ‘sorry I think I played it a bit slow’ and the singer responds, completely seriously ‘it’s not you, the drummer was dragging.’
 
Drums seem to be the most popular instrument to take and therefore there is a bigger supply than there is demand.

So, beyond being a drummer, what's your edge?


1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence

This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...
1stdrumlessonsonline.com
 
"they're (the advertisers) coming to expose the drummers"

it's not enough to scan our drum chat (dfo dw...) or include us in the gossip pages, now
they now want us exposed in cable commecials now! 😲



👀

😁
 
Very few band members ever offer to help load/unload our gear. I like the comment about "peacock guitar players" as there seems to be an overabundance of that these days and it seems that there are many guitar players who think that playing the drums is much easier than playing guitar...until they sit down behind a drum kit.

1stdrumlessonsonline.com

Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence

This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...
1stdrumlessonsonline.com
 
dajazz said:
But the technical “feel” that a drummer brings to a band can also be a reason for tension. Take Guns N’ Roses as an example. Original drummer Adler – who was sacked for drug addiction after he tried and failed to play drums on Guns’ track Civil War in the studio up to 30 times – had a loose, swinging style that formed a groove with Slash’s guitar riffs. He was replaced by Matt Sorum from The Cult.
A technically brilliant drummer, Sorum’s harder and more disciplined drumming essentially turned Guns N’ Roses from a rock ’n’ roll band into a heavy metal band, something that contributed to guitarist Izzy Stradlin’s decision to leave in 1991. A “big musical difference” was how Stradlin described the vibe shift.
Click to expand...
I left a very popular cover band for this very reason. The drummer I replaced was "Steven Adler" and I was the "Matt Sorum". He had the swing feel, I was more linear and disciplined. Something the bass player didn't like at all & it caused issues.

After just over a year, he somehow convinced the "Steven Adler" to return & I was gone. He lasted about 5 months before health issues caused him to leave (again) and the rotating door of drummers began. No one will ever be the "Steven Adler" to that bass player and he just keeps driving drummers out. Yet the rest of the band won't oust him because not only is he a really good bass player, but his wife handles bookings & money.

I fully get the reasons people in bands leave because the vibe changes. Whether you're in a bar bashing cover band or stadium selling mega act, it's all relevant.
 
dajazz said:
Since everyone is talking about Iron Maiden and their new drummer it reminded me this article I read the other day, it's a fascinating read:
www.telegraph.co.uk

Why rock bands keep firing their drummers

The humble stickman, long the butt of music industry jokes, is the unsung hero of any great rock band. But try telling that to the singer
www.telegraph.co.uk www.telegraph.co.uk
Click to expand...
But Niko didn't get fired he just retired. They (the band) understand and agree that at his age it was getting too hard to keep up the stamina needed to play an entire show, led alone do an entire tour. They remain best friends.
 
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