How would you react?

[JeffLearman]

So, I was in a blues band, called "Twelve Cents Shy". Had fun, at first, and then became a bit of a grind, and it decomposed. At the end, just as I was talking to the guitarist on the phone saying maybe we should just pull the plug, he shows me our myspace page, which the singer (I'll call her D) manages.

 

It has a poster for our upcoming gig. In very big letters, D's name, and very small print, "with Twelve Cents Shy".

 

Now, I wasn't mad, because I'd already emotionally checked out. But it did cause a few fuses to blow. The worst part is she tries to defend it saying she'd been doing all the work. It's true she'd assumed leadership and did a lot of the extra work (not including setting up for gigs -- fortunately her husband the drummer more than picked up the slack).

 

Words were spoken. People got pissed. Unlikely there'll be a reunion gig any time soon. In fact, I've started growing my first beard. Maybe I won't shave it until we get back together. That way I can play in a ZZ-top tribute band.

 

Anyway, I thought y'all would get a kick out of it. Too bad I didn't save an image of the poster, because at least she had the sense to pull it down. She plans a solo career, keeping her day job as a lawyer, but seems serious. I think she needs a serious clue if she thinks this is reasonable behavior, unless she hired the musicians, or everyone agreed, regardless of anything else.

 

[wmp]

Reminds me of the time a lady singer put together a band that included me. After one gig we had a meeting and kicked her out. Never even thanked her for introducing us.

 

That's just too funny for words. If you're playing that last gig with her, I'd arrange for the rest of the band to stop short unexpectedly somewhere. Just clap and hang her acapella self out in the breeze for a verse or chorus and see what key you wind up in.

 

My yachting buddy has been after me to "audition" for his tribute band for about a year. He's got the front guy with the pipes and himself. The rest of the band has been turnover. I finally dropped in to a rehearsal last night to listen and pick up a CD. Got to see some of that band politics stuff from a safe distance. I don't know how y'all do it.

 

 

[d halfnote]

At least she's not packaging her solo debut with a self-orchestrated "interview" wherein she sets forth that she has no plans to play with anyone in the band & that their work "doesn't give (her) any pleasure"...

http://www.dmbeatles.com/interviews.php?interview=72

[raddtunes]

I've know I've said it before - but enjoy again:

 

1. Rufus

2. Rufus with Chaka Khan

3. Chaka Khan with Rufus

4. Chaka Khan

[wmp]

:D :D

 

Chaka Khan

 

Chaka Khan

 

Chaka Khan Chaka Khan Chaka Khan Chaka Khan

 

Too much.

 

Thanks for the repeat. I must have missed that before.

 

 

[Al Coda]

A blues band, called "Twelve Cents Shy".

 

Our myspace page, which the singer (I'll call her D) manages.

 

A poster for our upcoming gig. In very big letters, D's name, and very small print, "with Twelve Cents Shy".

 

She tries to defend it saying she'd been doing all the work.

 

It's true she'd assumed leadership and did a lot of the extra work (not including setting up for gigs -- fortunately her husband the drummer more than picked up the slack).

 

She plans a solo career, keeping her day job as a lawyer

 

Unless she hired the musicians, or everyone agreed, regardless of anything else.

 

Who´s the real leader of the band ?

Who´s the legal owner of the name of the band ?

Comes the audience to the gigs because of her or because of the band regulary ?

Who pays this diva ?

 

If possible (be careful, she´s a lawyer!),- fire her and restrict/forbid using the name of the band.

Hire another "non-diva" singer.

 

If she´s doing and signing all the contracts of the band regarding gigs and because she´s lawyer, she´s simply just only doing services for the band which doesn´t mean she´s the boss automaticly. But in a case, she possibly has a title for extra payment for this services if not conclusive agreed otherwise, best in a written form.

 

There should be no stars, just players/cooperators IMO.

 

A.C.

[Joe Muscara]

I would have loved to have seen that poster, Jeff. Usually when that kind of thing happens, I grab it because the "evidence" often disappears. I'm actually kind of surprised she didn't change the mYsPaz page to completely focus on her already.

 

What do you mean by "become a bit of a grind"? Was there anything specific that led you to thinking it was over before this happened?

[Bosendorphen]

I've know I've said it before - but enjoy again:

 

1. Rufus

2. Rufus with Chaka Khan

3. Chaka Khan with Rufus

4. Chaka Khan

 

P.P. Arnold and The Nice ?

[JeffLearman]

LOL, wmp. As a band we cancelled the last gig, and D is going to pull together a band for it (she's been collecting musicians for her solo thing). But that sure would have been fun!

 

Al, it was just a hobby band to begin with. No contracts, no legals. She's not going to use the band name going forward -- she said that magnanimously in one breath to follow it up with "it has no market value", kind of sucking the magnanimity right out and a rather revealing statement (though true).

 

The grind part was we'd show up to practice, and our relatively short time window would begin with an hour of "discussion". And a few other things, some having nothing to do with D (e.g., the guitarist, whom I'd really joined the band to play with, was overextended and annoyed -- he didn't show it, and still played great, but I could tell he wasn't having as much fun as before.)

 

[ProfD]

It is sad and unfortunate that band issues and politics persist beyond middle age. Proof postive of why those older musicians surround themselves with young hired guns.

 

Otherwise, it is rather silly that some folks hold on to the belief that the business is about them.

 

Jeff, there are less headaches with the blues jams and/or playing as a hired hand.

 

 

[stepay]

The end of the band seems fitting. Not sure there is anything left to handle. If the band were to continue, then she needed to be approached about it and that poster changed, but otherwise, just let it go.

 

Lots of people are full of themselves -- musicians and non-musicians alike. I think I'm better than all of you in every way for example.

[SpaceNorman]

There's no question that was a pretty arrogant move on the part of your vocalist ... however, my response to the original "how Would You React?" question would have to say that I certainly would NOT have disolved the band! A gig is a gig.

[BluesKeys]

learjeff, I noticed the change about a week ago since you guys are on my "friends" list on myspace. I just thought nothing of it and had no idea it had gone south.

 

Guys, I know these people who are mostly from a local blues jam that LJ plays and ITGITC and I have shown up at a couple of times. This is a chic singer who is married to a drummer and has him trained to start his metronome so he is exactly on 120pm. I would back her up sometimes and she would call out a key like F# (at a blues jam? really) so I would quietly spred the word to play it in G and she never knew the difference. I used to have good laughs about it. CAN WE SAY ANAL? This chic is a piece of work, especially since at the blues jams there were usually severel better singers than her.

 

My thoughts to you Jeff is Fagetaboutit. Hook up with the guitar player every chance you get, he is a good one. But I wouldn't give that chic a second thought. As long as she is fronting a band you can bet it will have no as she put it--------

 

"she said that magnanimously in one breath to follow it up with "it has no market value", kind of sucking the magnanimity right out and a rather revealing statement (though true)."

 

[timwat]

Funny how "singer", "control freak" and "legend in own mind" become redundant synonyms. They should list them that way on Wiki.

 

When I was taking vocal lessons I noticed my ego inflating every time I opened my mouth. I quickly passed sex symbol and was on my way to demigod. Until I listened back to the tape.

[Joe Muscara]

For all his flaws and the fact that it was probably as much as his fault as the singer's, Eddie VH's diagnosis of LSD or Lead Singer's Disease was pretty much spot-on.

[ITGITC]

Jeff I remember this woman.

 

She was at your house when I came over to jam a while back.

 

I remember the metronome she had.

 

Yeah.

 

When one door closes, another one opens...

 

Movin' on.

 

 

 

 

[Blue JC]

Many years ago, I was part of an all-original side project that was more of a writing co-op with occasional performances. For most of us, it was a chance to develop our writing skills and hear the results performed with care by a good band. For me, it was a fun, creative outlet - and nothing more.

 

I showed up to a routine scheduled rehearsal to find the singer AND HIS ATTORNEY on one side of the room and the rest of the band on the other side of the room shouting at each other.

 

The singer's attorney had just announced that the singer was taking over the band, changing the name to "The (his name) Band" and that the attorney had submitted all of our songs for copyright under the singer's sole name - even though the singer didn't know a sharp from a flat.

 

I just smiled and said "I'm going to get my gear out of here while you guys 'discuss' this". After refusing to join the fray, I went back into the studio to say goodbye before I left.

 

The attorney insisted on knowing whether I was going to fight them on this or not. I calmly explained that since I had just quit the band, I didn't care what they called it. And, since I always copyright my original songs once they're finalized, their attempts to steal and copyright my songs after the fact would probably be considered fraud.

 

It got real quiet and I left. I know for a fact that they submitted for copyrights. I don't know how he stopped it, but I never received a challenge on any of my copyrights. I'm hoping it was very expensive for them.

[zephonic]

I've know I've said it before - but enjoy again:

 

1. Rufus

2. Rufus with Chaka Khan

3. Chaka Khan with Rufus

4. Chaka Khan

 

Miami Sound Machine

Miami sound Machine ft. Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan ft. Miami Sound Machine

Gloria Estefan

 

[Tonysounds]

The Small Faces

The Small Faces with Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart & The Small Faces

Rod Stewart

 

[Gismo Recording]

The Amboy Dukes

The Amboy Dukes featuring Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes

Ted Nugent

[kanker.]

Puff Daddy

Diddy

P. Diddy

Puffy

[zephonic]

Puff Daddy

Diddy

P. Diddy

Puffy

 

Your age shows. The correct order should read:

 

Sean "Puffy" Combs

Puff Daddy

Puffy

P.Diddy

Diddy

 

[kanker.]

Puff Daddy

Diddy

P. Diddy

Puffy

 

Your age shows. The correct order should read:

 

Sean "Puffy" Combs

Puff Daddy

Puffy

P.Diddy

Diddy

I was just going by his stage names

[zephonic]

I'm out!

[Joe Muscara]

Miami Sou...

 

nah

[JeffLearman]

I'm not losing any sleep over it, except my wife is annoyed that I'm not more pissed about it. Go figure!

[wmp]

LOL, wmp. As a band we cancelled the last gig, and D is going to pull together a band for it (she's been collecting musicians for her solo thing). But that sure would have been fun!

 

It'll probably be as much fun or more to attend that gig and to see what she scrapes together for a band.

[Jill]

How many female lead singers does it take to screw in a light bulb? One, she holds the bulb up to the socket, and the world revolves around her.

[wmp]

If that doesn't earn you a welcome to the forum, nothing will.

 

It's nice to see a woman join up. You will need a sense of humor to hang here.

 

 

[MikeT156]

Quote by Al Coda:

 

"IF possible (be careful, she´s a lawyer!),- fire her and restrict/forbid using the name of the band.

Hire another "non-diva" singer"

 

The only way you could stop her from using the name of the band (even in her own ads) is to have it trademarked. That takes time AND Money. However, its a cool name and it might be worth getting a trademark on it. I'd say keep the band together, minus her and her husband/drummer, pick up a couple of replacements and move on without the egotistical singer. If she's that much trouble as an unknown, guess what happens if you hit it big?

 

Mike T.