Why didn't YOU make it big?

[mudf00t]

Back in the 90s, I was in a band that gained quite a bit of local notoriety. I moved away from that area 10 years ago and, even now, when I go back and show my face at shows I am still known. That is good enough for me.

I have multiple friends that "made it big" - got record deals, did world tours and all of that. I am not going to name drop though.

One of them in particular was in a band that had 2 top 10 radio hits in the 90s and multiple top 40. They even had a song that was featured in the movie Rock Star with Markie Mark.

Later, I ran into him when he was working as a manager at GC. I was SHOCKED.

He told me after 2 world tours and all of that commercial success... they made around $25k each.

That day, I gave up on a music career and haven't looked back. It was the best decision I have made to date. Yes, I miss playing. I miss opening for "big names" and large crowds and all of that. I miss the after parties and rubbing elbows with the heroes of my youth. But I have no regrets. I am enjoying success in business and that's good enough for me.

Sadly enough... the great majority of my old friends are still doing the same thing they were doing 25 years ago. Having the same struggle, playing the same music, having the same arguments and some have developed serious substance or alcohol problems along the way. It was fun and I like to think about it all... but I wouldn't change my life now.

 

[Intimidator333]

F'ING DRUMMERS THATS WHY!

 

[Rdodson]

I had the idea I could do all the writing and production and the rest of the band would be employees, so there was never any real chemistry. Plus, I was impatient. Got written up in Guitar World and so on but then grunge came in. But I wasn't willing to do the true "band" thing since I didn't drink much less do drugs and it was pretty insane back in the late 80s. But, I did get sorta close. Got to meet a lot of *big names* and so on. Worked for Van Halen for a bit, and got to know all those guys, and realized that most (not all) of the industry was existing on an 8th grade level.

You did get to have some really great experiences and get to see things I always wished I could though. I would kill to have worked for VH and see it all, good or bad. I would also love to be able to get away with operating on an 8th grade level my entire life. I don't really want to do that, but to be able to GET AWAY WITH IT would be pretty sweet. lol.

Yeah, got to do some cool stuff for sure. Some day I'll tell the story how I lost the VH gig, it is pretty funny and sad at the same time.

I still get to do a lot of cool session work and my YT page has a bunch of hits but my real gig is in the finance arena.

 

[Bob Savage]

Good Lord, please make it stop!!!!!

Mailman, you delete old threads... this thread is old.

 

[8len8]

Because I didn't want to live out of a broken down van for months on end with 4 other smelly guys.

 

[reverymike]

I had the idea I could do all the writing and production and the rest of the band would be employees, so there was never any real chemistry. Plus, I was impatient. Got written up in Guitar World and so on but then grunge came in. But I wasn't willing to do the true "band" thing since I didn't drink much less do drugs and it was pretty insane back in the late 80s. But, I did get sorta close. Got to meet a lot of *big names* and so on. Worked for Van Halen for a bit, and got to know all those guys, and realized that most (not all) of the industry was existing on an 8th grade level.

You did get to have some really great experiences and get to see things I always wished I could though. I would kill to have worked for VH and see it all, good or bad. I would also love to be able to get away with operating on an 8th grade level my entire life. I don't really want to do that, but to be able to GET AWAY WITH IT would be pretty sweet. lol.

Yeah, got to do some cool stuff for sure. Some day I'll tell the story how I lost the VH gig, it is pretty funny and sad at the same time.

I still get to do a lot of cool session work and my YT page has a bunch of hits but my real gig is in the finance arena.

Umm, you'll tell it NOW Mr. And any other VH stories you might have.

 

[IntenseJim]

Seriously: self taught. Applied to Berklee School of Music and medical school in my last year of college. Chose the latter.

I feared success as musician was too independent of skill and desire; too much luck of who you know and who you don't, meeting good bandmates. I'd rather rely on myself and only myself than others.

 

[JerEvil]

Band mates were preoccupied putting powder up their noses... Things fell apart and I gave up.

I did get a taste of "big" later on though doing a stint on Bass for Full Blown Chaos... I can consider my musical life complete from that lol Fun times

I love FBC! Played with them at a fest in Indianapolis many years ago. You didn't happen to tour with Sworn Enemy as well did you?

 

[Chubtone]

Good Lord, please make it stop!!!!!

Mailman, you delete old threads... this thread is old.

Bob,

My threads are timeless.

Signed,
9 years older than when I started this thread, Chubtone.