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I write this 30 mins before I have to go to fashionable Hoxton and sit down at a table with record people.
And I don't want to.
Not because I don't want my band to get the breaks we need and deserve, but because to deal with these people is to witness what Tool call "Tics and Leeches" in operation.
Before me and my boys got this interest, it was 4 blokes in a room with instruments pulling notes from the air and wrestling them into songs.
Then taking those songs and playing them in front of people that like us, people that pay to come see us do this.
It's a great feeling, the best you can get.
Only now there are so many other people involved that you want to scream.
Managers that "look after your interest", producers that "look out for your interest in the studio" and other assorted satellite idiots that all have something to say.
It's not just us 4 making music anymore.
There are contracts, percentages, points, PSR payments, representation fees, studio time based on performance related earnings with 3% backend interest etc etc.
All I care about is sitting behind my drums and giving 100% of my soul at one of the few things I do well.
We don't just book a gig anymore and turn up to play. It's weekly meetings to discuss marketing strategy and directional ability and blah blah blah blah.
And the thing that really makes me angry?
Nobody trying to tell us what to do can play an instrument.
Not one of them.
Yet they are "qualified" to tell us the best course to take and what to do, even suggesting the way certain songs could go.
Excuse me? Do I tell you how to wear a suit and use a mobile phone? No.
I play music, that's it.
I don't know about the rest of it and I don't care about it either. If I wanted to get into music to be a businessman then I would have.
I just know how to sit there and make myself bleed (literally) from playing with every single part of me.
Yet these slick people stand in the crowd and then offer their opinion afterwards, whilst we're sitting there trying to breathe and thank people for coming.
Absolutely unbelievable.
Everyone wants to be a part of a band when it starts to get some attention, everyone wants a little bit of you.
Yet nobody is prepared to help load your gear, or drive 40miles a week to rehearse in a freezing cold shed that you pay £30 for.
Nobody sees that you've spent over a year playing to other bands and their girlfriends in pubs in Fulham, getting to sleep at 3am when you have to get up at 5am to drive to work.
But it's a whole different matter once you get radio play and people start turning up to your gigs.
It's all smiles and business cards then.
So many frustrated musicians out there that gave it a go and couldn't make it, suddenly they know all there is to know about what makes a band successful.
I love my band, I love playing music. It's the one thing I know I am bloody good at. That's not being arrogant, that's saying "I can play", just as some people can draw, some people can speak 8 languages - you all have a natural talent at something.
Mine is playing the drums.
But to be told by people that haven't got a clue what you should be doing is truly galling.
I never, ever complain about my boys or the distances travelled or the meetings that turn out to be nothing.
The lies about coming to gigs from A&R men, the two-faced record companies that say one thing and then make excuses.
I used to live in awe and respect of these people.
Not anymore, having seen them operate.
They are a bunch of clowns.
Posing, know-nothing wannabes that can't play an instrument but know all about how *you* should be doing it.
Gah.
Thanks for letting me vent steam, now I'm off to try and not attack these amateurs in suits as they sit and talk at me and my boys.
See you all on Dec 12th, Barfly in Camden Town.
Music rocks, but the people behind it suck.
And I don't want to.
Not because I don't want my band to get the breaks we need and deserve, but because to deal with these people is to witness what Tool call "Tics and Leeches" in operation.
Before me and my boys got this interest, it was 4 blokes in a room with instruments pulling notes from the air and wrestling them into songs.
Then taking those songs and playing them in front of people that like us, people that pay to come see us do this.
It's a great feeling, the best you can get.
Only now there are so many other people involved that you want to scream.
Managers that "look after your interest", producers that "look out for your interest in the studio" and other assorted satellite idiots that all have something to say.
It's not just us 4 making music anymore.
There are contracts, percentages, points, PSR payments, representation fees, studio time based on performance related earnings with 3% backend interest etc etc.
All I care about is sitting behind my drums and giving 100% of my soul at one of the few things I do well.
We don't just book a gig anymore and turn up to play. It's weekly meetings to discuss marketing strategy and directional ability and blah blah blah blah.
And the thing that really makes me angry?
Nobody trying to tell us what to do can play an instrument.
Not one of them.
Yet they are "qualified" to tell us the best course to take and what to do, even suggesting the way certain songs could go.
Excuse me? Do I tell you how to wear a suit and use a mobile phone? No.
I play music, that's it.
I don't know about the rest of it and I don't care about it either. If I wanted to get into music to be a businessman then I would have.
I just know how to sit there and make myself bleed (literally) from playing with every single part of me.
Yet these slick people stand in the crowd and then offer their opinion afterwards, whilst we're sitting there trying to breathe and thank people for coming.
Absolutely unbelievable.
Everyone wants to be a part of a band when it starts to get some attention, everyone wants a little bit of you.
Yet nobody is prepared to help load your gear, or drive 40miles a week to rehearse in a freezing cold shed that you pay £30 for.
Nobody sees that you've spent over a year playing to other bands and their girlfriends in pubs in Fulham, getting to sleep at 3am when you have to get up at 5am to drive to work.
But it's a whole different matter once you get radio play and people start turning up to your gigs.
It's all smiles and business cards then.
So many frustrated musicians out there that gave it a go and couldn't make it, suddenly they know all there is to know about what makes a band successful.
I love my band, I love playing music. It's the one thing I know I am bloody good at. That's not being arrogant, that's saying "I can play", just as some people can draw, some people can speak 8 languages - you all have a natural talent at something.
Mine is playing the drums.
But to be told by people that haven't got a clue what you should be doing is truly galling.
I never, ever complain about my boys or the distances travelled or the meetings that turn out to be nothing.
The lies about coming to gigs from A&R men, the two-faced record companies that say one thing and then make excuses.
I used to live in awe and respect of these people.
Not anymore, having seen them operate.
They are a bunch of clowns.
Posing, know-nothing wannabes that can't play an instrument but know all about how *you* should be doing it.
Gah.
Thanks for letting me vent steam, now I'm off to try and not attack these amateurs in suits as they sit and talk at me and my boys.
See you all on Dec 12th, Barfly in Camden Town.
Music rocks, but the people behind it suck.
GB, if youre in oxford on the 22nd, come and see my band...
(end shameless plug)
(end shameless plug)
Did the yuppies try and take you out?
It *should* work like that, but there's just so many elements involved.
It's not that he was not looking out for us, just things were said and people refused to back down, voices raised and people standing nose to nose.
I personally think he did the right thing in walking out, no violence that way (he's a BIG bloke)
Rubbish.
It's not that he was not looking out for us, just things were said and people refused to back down, voices raised and people standing nose to nose.
I personally think he did the right thing in walking out, no violence that way (he's a BIG bloke)
Rubbish.
Ah. That bad huh?
Thing is, shouldn't the manager have your best interests at heart? Otherwise, you sack him, and he gets no more money.
Or does it not work like that?
Thing is, shouldn't the manager have your best interests at heart? Otherwise, you sack him, and he gets no more money.
Or does it not work like that?
Ugly, ugly evening.
Shouting and swearing, manager walks out.
*shakes head*
I just want to play music is all. Not this business crap.
Shouting and swearing, manager walks out.
*shakes head*
I just want to play music is all. Not this business crap.
How did it go last night Goaty?
Give 'em hell Mr Goat. Don't let them walk all over you with their brick-sized phones and pony-tails. Don't become another Linkin Park and be limited to what music the company lets you make. Be Parker and be proud!
Maybe this is the bit where suffering for your art comes in. You are now becoming a marketable commodity so people will be interested. I guess its trying to keep the focus on the music not the peripheral stuff. I guess its doing a deal with the devil. They will try and bleed you dry. You and your band meanwhile have an oppourtunity to do what you love. Play music.
My Dad was a musician (drummer funnily enough) and spent years on the road with various different bands with varying degrees of success. All the furniture/appliances in our house could be dated to whatever tour he was doing. They made it enough to keep his family. He also played a load of dumps with the family and friends making up half the audiance. There were moments of glory and moments of "there must be a better way of making a living than this".
As a kid there were times I'm embarrassed to say I wish my Dad had a "straight" job. Generally when money was tight and I got sick of unloading drum kits from back of smelly transit vans at 1 in the morning. Mainly though there was pride. Seeing my Dad play and wanting to tell the person in the audiance sitting next to me "that's my Dad". Just huge pride that he was one of the people responsible for so many people having a good time. He was a rock god.
As an adult I have nothing but pride for him. He did what he believed in and what he was good at. Not many people have the guts to do that, the sheer doggedness or self belief.
So deal with the pariahs. View them as a means to an end. Don't let them cloud the fact that you love playing. Ultimatly you'll keep doing it regardless of what they say. Just try and play the player.
My Dad was a musician (drummer funnily enough) and spent years on the road with various different bands with varying degrees of success. All the furniture/appliances in our house could be dated to whatever tour he was doing. They made it enough to keep his family. He also played a load of dumps with the family and friends making up half the audiance. There were moments of glory and moments of "there must be a better way of making a living than this".
As a kid there were times I'm embarrassed to say I wish my Dad had a "straight" job. Generally when money was tight and I got sick of unloading drum kits from back of smelly transit vans at 1 in the morning. Mainly though there was pride. Seeing my Dad play and wanting to tell the person in the audiance sitting next to me "that's my Dad". Just huge pride that he was one of the people responsible for so many people having a good time. He was a rock god.
As an adult I have nothing but pride for him. He did what he believed in and what he was good at. Not many people have the guts to do that, the sheer doggedness or self belief.
So deal with the pariahs. View them as a means to an end. Don't let them cloud the fact that you love playing. Ultimatly you'll keep doing it regardless of what they say. Just try and play the player.
I write this 30 mins before I have to go to fashionable Hoxton and sit down at a table with record people.
And I don't want to.
Not because I don't want my band to get the breaks we need and deserve, but because to deal with these people is to witness what Tool call "Tics and Leeches" in operation.
Before me and my boys got this interest, it was 4 blokes in a room with instruments pulling notes from the air and wrestling them into songs.
Then taking those songs and playing them in front of people that like us, people that pay to come see us do this.
It's a great feeling, the best you can get.
Only now there are so many other people involved that you want to scream.
Managers that "look after your interest", producers that "look out for your interest in the studio" and other assorted satellite idiots that all have something to say.
It's not just us 4 making music anymore.
There are contracts, percentages, points, PSR payments, representation fees, studio time based on performance related earnings with 3% backend interest etc etc.
All I care about is sitting behind my drums and giving 100% of my soul at one of the few things I do well.
We don't just book a gig anymore and turn up to play. It's weekly meetings to discuss marketing strategy and directional ability and blah blah blah blah.
And the thing that really makes me angry?
Nobody trying to tell us what to do can play an instrument.
Not one of them.
Yet they are "qualified" to tell us the best course to take and what to do, even suggesting the way certain songs could go.
Excuse me? Do I tell you how to wear a suit and use a mobile phone? No.
I play music, that's it.
I don't know about the rest of it and I don't care about it either. If I wanted to get into music to be a businessman then I would have.
I just know how to sit there and make myself bleed (literally) from playing with every single part of me.
Yet these slick people stand in the crowd and then offer their opinion afterwards, whilst we're sitting there trying to breathe and thank people for coming.
Absolutely unbelievable.
Everyone wants to be a part of a band when it starts to get some attention, everyone wants a little bit of you.
Yet nobody is prepared to help load your gear, or drive 40miles a week to rehearse in a freezing cold shed that you pay £30 for.
Nobody sees that you've spent over a year playing to other bands and their girlfriends in pubs in Fulham, getting to sleep at 3am when you have to get up at 5am to drive to work.
But it's a whole different matter once you get radio play and people start turning up to your gigs.
It's all smiles and business cards then.
So many frustrated musicians out there that gave it a go and couldn't make it, suddenly they know all there is to know about what makes a band successful.
I love my band, I love playing music. It's the one thing I know I am bloody good at. That's not being arrogant, that's saying "I can play", just as some people can draw, some people can speak 8 languages - you all have a natural talent at something.
Mine is playing the drums.
But to be told by people that haven't got a clue what you should be doing is truly galling.
I never, ever complain about my boys or the distances travelled or the meetings that turn out to be nothing.
The lies about coming to gigs from A&R men, the two-faced record companies that say one thing and then make excuses.
I used to live in awe and respect of these people.
Not anymore, having seen them operate.
They are a bunch of clowns.
Posing, know-nothing wannabes that can't play an instrument but know all about how *you* should be doing it.
Gah.
Thanks for letting me vent steam, now I'm off to try and not attack these amateurs in suits as they sit and talk at me and my boys.
See you all on Dec 12th, Barfly in Camden Town.
Music rocks, but the people behind it suck.
And I don't want to.
Not because I don't want my band to get the breaks we need and deserve, but because to deal with these people is to witness what Tool call "Tics and Leeches" in operation.
Before me and my boys got this interest, it was 4 blokes in a room with instruments pulling notes from the air and wrestling them into songs.
Then taking those songs and playing them in front of people that like us, people that pay to come see us do this.
It's a great feeling, the best you can get.
Only now there are so many other people involved that you want to scream.
Managers that "look after your interest", producers that "look out for your interest in the studio" and other assorted satellite idiots that all have something to say.
It's not just us 4 making music anymore.
There are contracts, percentages, points, PSR payments, representation fees, studio time based on performance related earnings with 3% backend interest etc etc.
All I care about is sitting behind my drums and giving 100% of my soul at one of the few things I do well.
We don't just book a gig anymore and turn up to play. It's weekly meetings to discuss marketing strategy and directional ability and blah blah blah blah.
And the thing that really makes me angry?
Nobody trying to tell us what to do can play an instrument.
Not one of them.
Yet they are "qualified" to tell us the best course to take and what to do, even suggesting the way certain songs could go.
Excuse me? Do I tell you how to wear a suit and use a mobile phone? No.
I play music, that's it.
I don't know about the rest of it and I don't care about it either. If I wanted to get into music to be a businessman then I would have.
I just know how to sit there and make myself bleed (literally) from playing with every single part of me.
Yet these slick people stand in the crowd and then offer their opinion afterwards, whilst we're sitting there trying to breathe and thank people for coming.
Absolutely unbelievable.
Everyone wants to be a part of a band when it starts to get some attention, everyone wants a little bit of you.
Yet nobody is prepared to help load your gear, or drive 40miles a week to rehearse in a freezing cold shed that you pay £30 for.
Nobody sees that you've spent over a year playing to other bands and their girlfriends in pubs in Fulham, getting to sleep at 3am when you have to get up at 5am to drive to work.
But it's a whole different matter once you get radio play and people start turning up to your gigs.
It's all smiles and business cards then.
So many frustrated musicians out there that gave it a go and couldn't make it, suddenly they know all there is to know about what makes a band successful.
I love my band, I love playing music. It's the one thing I know I am bloody good at. That's not being arrogant, that's saying "I can play", just as some people can draw, some people can speak 8 languages - you all have a natural talent at something.
Mine is playing the drums.
But to be told by people that haven't got a clue what you should be doing is truly galling.
I never, ever complain about my boys or the distances travelled or the meetings that turn out to be nothing.
The lies about coming to gigs from A&R men, the two-faced record companies that say one thing and then make excuses.
I used to live in awe and respect of these people.
Not anymore, having seen them operate.
They are a bunch of clowns.
Posing, know-nothing wannabes that can't play an instrument but know all about how *you* should be doing it.
Gah.
Thanks for letting me vent steam, now I'm off to try and not attack these amateurs in suits as they sit and talk at me and my boys.
See you all on Dec 12th, Barfly in Camden Town.
Music rocks, but the people behind it suck.