More Average Jane Band Changes

After about a year with the band, my husband has decided that he's had enough.

He's struggled at some of our gigs with the effort of playing four rock sets and hauling gear, too. One time he got a leg cramp right before a set started and had no choice but to play the whole thing in agony.

He's 51 years old with diabetes and high blood pressure. He's not in good physical shape by any measure, so it's not too big of a surprise that he's having a hard time with the rock and roll lifestyle. He's ready to concentrate solely on his recording studio and leave the live music behind.

So now we're in the midst of auditioning drummers. It's painful. All auditioning is painful, whether you're the audioner or the auditionee.

The thing is, my husband has been a professional drummer all his life. He spent more than a decade as a studio musician in Nashville. He once toured with James Brown's Famous Flames. Even though he's older now, he's still an excellent drummer with metronome-like timing. Replacing him is not going to be easy.

As much as I'd like to talk him into staying (and I probably could), I don't want him to stay just because of me. He needs to listen to his body and do what's best for him.

I just hope the search doesn't go on too long. My husband will probably have no choice but to play at least some of our December gigs. If we're lucky, another great drummer will step right in after that to start out the new year with us.

Comments

[Twenty Four At Heart]

You're right - it's hard to find good drummers. It's such a talent. Good luck with your search!

[Keith]

Speaking as a 51 year old with high blood pressure and diabetes, I can sympathise with his dilemma. Mind you, I would never have the energy to be a drummer in a rock band.

[Donna W]

Seems like the main problem with any band is keeping it intact. We have a next-door neighbor who is quite talented and had her own country band; they had couple of gigs a month. But someone was always quitting (after all, it requires a lot of ones spare time for practice). For now, the band is "disbanded".

[Nuke]

That's a bummer. My buddy the base player only ever had problems with drummers. He liked almost every other musician he played with (at leas professionally) but he said it was a bitch finding a drummer that was good AND fit in.

Sorry to hear your hubbie has to drop the band, but I wish him good things and good health in it's place.