Your LSD (Lead Singer's Disease) stories... let's hear 'em!

[Red_Label]

The current Queensryche vs. Geoff Tate drama got me thinking about my LSD experiences. I'll bet there are some dandy's out there!

My old LSD guy would book gigs and screw things up SO bad they were the worst clusters I'd ever been involved-in (in 25 years of gigging, hundreds or thousands of gigs!). He also had a habit of showing up to practice 30-60 minutes late (and leaving early) and coming in with an attitude. Which didn't sit well with guys who'd already been rehearsing and WORKING for an hour on stuff -- to have this ____ come in and pretend like HE was the "pro". I once told him "this ain't my first rodeo -- I've been playing on stage as long as you've been ALIVE" (and I had). He didn't even acknowledge that fact. In his universe, HE and he alone was god and only his opinions carried any weight.

His standard MO for gigs was to show-up with his mic right at sound check (LONG after we'd setup the gear and PA), doing a quick half song for a check (and he would almost throw a tantrum if we didn't read his mind right about what song to check with), and then IMMEDIATELY after the gig... he'd jump off stage to go out on the patio and smoke and socialize with the "groupies" while the rest of us tore everything down. The ONLY thing I ever saw him carry in or out of a gig was a friggin MIC! Still pisses me off to think about it to this day...

ETA: Most of us BAND MEMBERS (aka part of a TEAM) just aren't equipped to deal with these types. You're almost in disbelief as these guys/girls exhibit these behaviors.

 

[Bob Savage]

Every lead singer I've worked with has been an absolute pleasure. Down to earth, cool, calm, smart, the best.

 

[Red_Label]

Every lead singer I've worked with has been an absolute pleasure. Down to earth, cool, calm, smart, the best.

Either you're being sarcastic, or you've been very fortunate indeed. I've had no problems with lead/main vocalists who also play an instrument. But there seems to be an axiom whereby the amount of ego is inversely proportionate to the number of instruments a vocalist is able to play.

 

[Aristocat]

Every singer I've ever worked with has been the sorriest bunch of egomanical, primadonnas on earth. Not saying as a Guitarist that I don't have my own egotrip, it's just that at least I'm wise enough to understand what "for the good of the band" means.

 

[Red_Label]

Every singer I've ever worked with has been the sorriest bunch of egomanical, primadonnas on earth. Not saying as a Guitarist that I don't have my own egotrip, it's just that at least I'm wise enough to understand what "for the good of the band" means.

Couldn't have said it better myself! Being a lead player often means an ego to one degree or the other, but you still consider yourself to be a member of a TEAM. A team that you NEED to make your leads sound good. Those who suffer LSD don't think of themselves as the quarterback. They think of themselves as the owner, front office, AND the entire team. The rest of the band might as well be hotdog vendors and custodians to them!

 

[jwhitman]

As a guitarist, I've seen some horrible shit. IE: 10 minutes before time to play, I had to pull an ex-lead singer out of the back of his SUV where he was railing some teenie bopper who proceeded to rat him out on his "lack therof", just for him to stammer through the performance half lit and pass out during break down.

As a lead singer, I've been a dick a few times, but had no clue until much later on how much of a dick I was to my band at the time.


Now adays, I'm an axe slinging lead vocalist (read VOCALIST) that plays with the band, no on, in front of, on top of etc etc. It just works better like this!

It seems the title "singer" comes with interwoven drama, ego and the herp or at least an honest to god unconscious desire to catch it.

 

[sparkle**]

Don't you do instrumental CDs

Every lead singer I've worked with has been an absolute pleasure. Down to earth, cool, calm, smart, the best.

 

[Aristocat]

Every singer I've ever worked with has been the sorriest bunch of egomanical, primadonnas on earth. Not saying as a Guitarist that I don't have my own egotrip, it's just that at least I'm wise enough to understand what "for the good of the band" means.

Couldn't have said it better myself! Being a lead player often means an ego to one degree or the other, but you still consider yourself to be a member of a TEAM. A team that you NEED to make your leads sound good. Those who suffer LSD don't think of themselves as the quarterback. They think of themselves as the owner, front office, AND the entire team. The rest of the band might as well be hotdog vendors and custodians to them!

Speaking of Quarterbacks. When I played football, I was a tight end. Seems as though even as a musician I find myself in the same old situation meaning that I still have to focus on our constant drama queens (LSD).

 

[zuel69]

Pretty funny, thanks for sharing!

As a guitarist, I've seen some horrible shit. IE: 10 minutes before time to play, I had to pull an ex-lead singer out of the back of his SUV where he was railing some teenie bopper who proceeded to rat him out on his "lack therof", just for him to stammer through the performance half lit and pass out during break down.

As a lead singer, I've been a dick a few times, but had no clue until much later on how much of a dick I was to my band at the time.


Now adays, I'm an axe slinging lead vocalist (read VOCALIST) that plays with the band, no on, in front of, on top of etc etc. It just works better like this!

It seems the title "singer" comes with interwoven drama, ego and the herp or at least an honest to god unconscious desire to catch it.

 

[fishyfishfish]

How ironic, I am going over four (4) pages of e-mails from my "back up singer" on how I ruined her chance at being a lead singer by tearing down to early (My stuff)
Sometimes I lay in bed at night and wishing I had the lack of social morals to be a lead singer.

 

[billm408]

Been pretty fortunate. Current singer is easy to work with and actually helps move gear in/out. She has her personal problems but they're all related to her walking train wreck of a husband. Life would be better for everyone if he wasn't around.

Before her though we had a singer who had a meltdown when a gig went sideways on us. We showed up and the PA they promised wasn't there. So they tried to get some gear together, fed us, gave us a few drink tickets and a couple of bucks for gas. It was too far to go back to our studio for PA and they couldn't get anything on short notice. We never played. He was so damaged that he said he needed time away from the band "to heal". After 3 weeks, I called him and he still needed more time. I told him to take all the time he needed. We started auditions the following weekend.

 

[Red_Label]

Been pretty fortunate. Current singer is easy to work with and actually helps move gear in/out. She has her personal problems but they're all related to her walking train wreck of a husband. Life would be better for everyone if he wasn't around.

Before her though we had a singer who had a meltdown when a gig went sideways on us. We showed up and the PA they promised wasn't there. So they tried to get some gear together, fed us, gave us a few drink tickets and a couple of bucks for gas. It was too far to go back to our studio for PA and they couldn't get anything on short notice. We never played. He was so damaged that he said he needed time away from the band "to heal". After 3 weeks, I called him and he still needed more time. I told him to take all the time he needed. We started auditions the following weekend.

Dayummm!!! That's one FRAGILE dood! Most lead vocalists think they're indestructable! And indeed they are... in terms of anything being able to break through their egos! LOL.

Just last week (for my solo acoustic gig), I had to deal with SO much BS and still perform that it even tried my patience. But I try to go into every gig thinking it's likely to be a nightmare. So I'm always prepared for that and just roll with it when it is, and am truly and peasantly surprized when it goes well or God forbid... is actually FUN!

 

[Red_Label]

As a guitarist, I've seen some horrible shit. IE: 10 minutes before time to play, I had to pull an ex-lead singer out of the back of his SUV where he was railing some teenie bopper who proceeded to rat him out on his "lack therof", just for him to stammer through the performance half lit and pass out during break down.

As a lead singer, I've been a dick a few times, but had no clue until much later on how much of a dick I was to my band at the time.


Now adays, I'm an axe slinging lead vocalist (read VOCALIST) that plays with the band, no on, in front of, on top of etc etc. It just works better like this!

It seems the title "singer" comes with interwoven drama, ego and the herp or at least an honest to god unconscious desire to catch it.

I hear ya that it takes a certain type of ego and swagger to pull off the whole lead-singer schtick. I totally get that, and I think that most people do. So I can forgive a lead singer for some of that (if he delivers the goods). And the last guy I had certainly DID deliver. He had the pipes, and from the moment he stepped on stage he assumed the role of rock star/rock god. It was actually pretty impressive to witness and I always admired his abilities in that regard. But the 24/7 bullsh#t that came along with it was nauseating and outright insulting on a constant basis in the end. At 44 years old I just can't deal with that garbage any more. Not for some unknown talent from nowhere. And not for Mick Jagger.

 

[tripstan]

I think just about everybody could fill out the same template cause it's pretty much the same story. I do agree with y'all that it does take a certain type of persona to be a lead singer, so as long as their not a totally douche bag can deliver the goods you can deal with some shit. The cover band I'm in is lucky cause our LSD is a really nice guy that is always happy so it's pretty easy to communicate with him. He's also a real old friend ( pretty much a brother to me) so I can tell him how it is if I have too. But if he was a complete all around douche I wouldn't put up with that, even if he was my blood brother. Like Red Label said I wouldn't put up with that garbage "Not for some unknown talent from nowhere. And not for Mick Jagger."

 

[PlayAndersons]

 

[RockStarNick]

Some great one liners from completely delusional "singers" who tried out for my band:

"I didn't know whether or not to drink, or smoke, before I showed up, so I decided to bring liquor with me."
In this case, the liquor was a bottle of Dissarono Amaretto. How masculine!

"If you smell anything, that's me. I had pork chops for dinner."
He should have been eating salad. Just sayin'.

"Hmm, do you guys mind tuning down a full step for me?"
Yes, I mind.

 

[glassjaw7]

Last summer my singer was a little crazier (and more egotistical) than usual. We had a casino gig lined up-Friday and Saturday night, they gave us two Hotel rooms, food, drinks... So we go to check in at the front desk and my singer didn't like the rooms they gave us and started bitching that Kelly Pickler (who played there the weekend before us) probably got to choose her room.

Then to prove he could sing better than Pickler, he starts busting out an A capella version of the "Let it be" to the lady at the front desk. I put my head down and just walked back outside.

He's since started new meds and is much better and more down to earth. God, have I got some stories...drummers are even worse than singers!

 

[blackba]

The current Queensryche vs. Geoff Tate drama got me thinking about my LSD experiences. I'll bet there are some dandy's out there!

My old LSD guy would book gigs and screw things up SO bad they were the worst clusters I'd ever been involved-in (in 25 years of gigging, hundreds or thousands of gigs!). He also had a habit of showing up to practice 30-60 minutes late (and leaving early) and coming in with an attitude. Which didn't sit well with guys who'd already been rehearsing and WORKING for an hour on stuff -- to have this ____ come in and pretend like HE was the "pro". I once told him "this ain't my first rodeo -- I've been playing on stage as long as you've been ALIVE" (and I had). He didn't even acknowledge that fact. In his universe, HE and he alone was god and only his opinions carried any weight.

His standard MO for gigs was to show-up with his mic right at sound check (LONG after we'd setup the gear and PA), doing a quick half song for a check (and he would almost throw a tantrum if we didn't read his mind right about what song to check with), and then IMMEDIATELY after the gig... he'd jump off stage to go out on the patio and smoke and socialize with the "groupies" while the rest of us tore everything down. The ONLY thing I ever saw him carry in or out of a gig was a friggin MIC! Still pisses me off to think about it to this day...

ETA: Most of us BAND MEMBERS (aka part of a TEAM) just aren't equipped to deal with these types. You're almost in disbelief as these guys/girls exhibit these behaviors.

I have seen everything you are talking about. And it doesn't seem to matter much if the lead singer plays an instrument or just sings.
Here are things I have seen
- Generally show up late. In one band I would call the other guys when the singer showed up in the driveway, as they got tired of waiting 30+ minutes each practice
- Won't even attempt a new song if they don't know ALL the lyrics, even with a lyric sheet in front of them
- Socialize while the rest of the band is setting up or tearing down
- Don't think they need to contribute any equipment to the band, come on, at least buy and bring a vocal mic.
- Complain that they are singing too much as their voice is going out, but then reject any offers for other members of the band to sing a few songs
- When introducing the band, they get members names wrong

It just takes a certain person to be a lead singer, I guess is just goes with the position. I even notice some of these traits in worship leaders at Church as well.

 

[Bob Savage]

Either you're being sarcastic, or you've been very fortunate indeed. I've had no problems with lead/main vocalists who also play an instrument. But there seems to be an axiom whereby the amount of ego is inversely proportionate to the number of instruments a vocalist is able to play.

Sarcasm is not in my vocabulary. In fact, I refuse to even say or type the word sarcasm.

 

[Superunknown]

My singer was in court(failure to pay support) in front of a judge three hours before we opened for Heaven & Hell. He had to literally beg the judge not to throw his ass in jail. My drummer, who was with him, had to go and get $200 from an ATM just to keep him free in order to do the show. They both subsequently showed up for soundcheck 2 min before we were scheduled to do a line check.....unfortunately, I have many more LSD stories.