Outkaster

But a lot of people don't. Yes, but settling for a band of lesser musical quality is tough to do. That get's old.

Not sure it's a choice. You have to deal with people in a band and have some sort of interaction.

Good point.

Sam, I know both you guys and you make it work. Most other times I notice it has a negative influence on some bands. For some people it doesn't work and certain times there is some favoritism shown to a spouse, especially if they are married to the lead singer of the band. Other band members pick up on it and it can make them question leadership. Luckily it hasn't been too bad with one of the groups I play with. The temptations are part of human nature on the other hand, and the fact you spend a lot of time with that person. You just have to stand up to yourself.

That's true but it is another layer. When I had two girls in the band a friend of mine is a licensed therapist and guitarist told me a few things. He said basically you have a relationship with women in the band with no sex and playing music is an intimate thing so bonds are also formed that way.

SK Pro

Just sold my Vent II

Most music stores are depressing now, as if their best years are behind them. Out of the 3-4 GC stores in the state near me they always seem to be ghost towns and the employees could give a shit about anyone in there.

Try playing waiting on a friend by the Stones. Those parts are really interesting. Especially the intro.

Well, that's just it. Being in a band has a lot of temptations compared to something like tennis. Women are always around. If you have women in the band, you can become attracted to them like any working relationship. That is a whole other thing. When I had my own band, the singer was after me, you might remember about three years ago I mentioned it on here. Anyway, I almost made a mistake but never did, so my inner morality took over thank God. It's also the reason we can't play in a band anymore. I also had a lot of good-looking women around the band when I was in my 40's. To be honest most men like that. It seems like for most people like to play music as a way of being "out" without being out drinking at a bar. There are others that have to play, it's in their DNA. Most of the people I know are all across the map in terms of playing music.

None of them

We have talked over the years here about relationships within a band here and there. I thought it would be interesting to get opinions from the members of the forum on their band life compared to their home life. It isn’t to say as a band member that your out there doing drugs or having affairs. I know those things do happen but sometimes I feel there is a comfort level being with musicians or in a band environment. I know for a lot of people I talk to, that their lives only feel complete playing and performing music. Most of us work jobs we really don’t want to or that are a pain in the ass. I also feel like that sometimes a spouse or family doesn’t understand that need. Some musicians feel bands are another kind of family. While there is some truth to that it can go too far also. On the flipside there are musicians I know that are very family oriented and prioritize family over everything. There isn’t anything wrong with that but the pull of being a musician is a blessing and a curse at times. Personally, some of my past decisions weren’t well made and it hurst some people because the music had to come first in the past. I have grown up a lot in that respect, but the pull is always there. I am curious to see how you all manage things.

Thing is he never got a long with Foster at first but they became allies.

I saw this. It's pretty cool.

The other thing is that Peter never wanted to leave Chicago but tour on his own and with Chicago. I imagine Pankow was insecure about it from what I have heard and read. They gave Cetera an ultimatum, so he quit in 1985-1986. It was in the news I remember when I graduated HS. Make no mistake that Cetera is a little cocky himself. The video explosion put Peter out front when Chicago was a democratically run band (If there is such a thing) People assumed he was the leader of the band and his friendship with Foster didn’t help. Chicago was already in middle age when they had a second coming. A lot of people on the fan pages don’t like that version of the band but Chicago profited from Foster’s production with loosing one of the best singers around at the same time.