The Life of the Band

Just over a year ago "Still Breathing" was born from Old Men on the Music Gallery student listing, with me being the "baby" at 40. Since then the band has gone through a few changes (names have been left out to protect the guilty):

Singer Lead Gtr Rthm Gtr Bass Drums

Line Up 1 JK DH CP DS JM
Played one gig at a bar and the bass player left, he was too good a guitarist to stick at bass.

Line Up 2 JK DH CP DZ JM
DZ Joins on Bass. Every song we suggested learning he knew.

Line Up 3 JM DH -- JMS DZ
JM fires JK and decides he should be the singer. CP quits because of the firing of JK, who was a pretty good singer. JM's son joins on Bass. DZ switches to Drums, he is also a great drummer.

Line Up 4 JM/MM DH JMS2 JMS DZ
JM's wife joins on vocals. JM's other son joins on guitar. Fantastic Guitar player for an 18 year old kid but makes it clear he has no interest in sticking long.

Line Up 5 JM/MM/MZ DH JMS2 JMS DZ
DZ's wife joins on Vocals. Now we have three singers

Line Up 6 JM/MM/MZ DH --- --- DZ
JM's kids leave the band for various reasons....

Line Up 7 JM/MM/MZ DH DZ --- JC
DZ switches to Guitar as JC comes in as new Drummer. DZ is a Great Guitar player, JC is a Great Drummer...

Line Up 8 JM/MM/MZ DH DZ RK JC
RK comes in on Bass. Played in a previous band wth DZ, MZ, JC. Long time guitar player who switched to bass.

This line up sticks for several months. Progress is made by the musical part of the band, but RK and JC are dissatisfied with the singers. DZ is frustrated that the singers don't practice. DH thinks things are sounding OK, and when commenting to RK that things sound pretty good, RK responds with "Are you serious? Are you f'ing listening". Alrighty then.

Practice Practice Practice. Fights break out between the singers, JC is thinking of quiting, singers aren't getting better (although at least 2 of the three think they are fantastic).

Singers are all fired or quit depending on who you talk to.

Since we practiced at MZ & DZ's house and she is no longer with the band several weeks go by with no place to practice. Then DZ doesn't seem to be able to practice.

Search for new band members and a place to play starts. Crap hole rehearsal room is rented which is conveniently located behind a massage parlor and Tattoo shop and in front of some "private" mafia like club. Seems like a perfect place.

Line Up 9 JI DH RP RK JC

JI used to sing in a band with DZ, RK and JC. RP is a friend of JI and RK. So that is where the band currently stands, but changes are coming as we search for another guitar player at which point RP will shift around from Guitar, Bass and Keys as needed.

Hopefully this will work. Band name of Still Breathing is dropped and search for new band name is ongoing.

Current Options on the Table:

1. The Big Mierta ( I like this one so does RK but other band members not so)
2. Dead Center (this one seems to be most promising, because everybody sort of likes it and nobody is offended by it)
3. The Fellows of the Follower (Probably won't make it since most of the band isn't smart enough to understand it - hell we are a cover band)
4. Asperity (Got this one from the Word of the Day email. Describes us pretty well)
5. 667 The Neighbor of the Beast (I think this one is pretty Damn Funny, but other band members think the name should be a little more serious)
6. Hog Back Growler (apparently a German beer, not my idea and makes me think Broke Back Growler - not happening)
7. The Dead Mary's (two of the previous singers were named Mary - sort of mean)
8. Cheers for Beers (play off of Tears for Fears, but how does this make the list if 667 isn't serious enough, I ain't voting for it)
9. Rooster and the Speckled Hen (this one has possibilities due to it being a bit of an inside joke with the band - part of it has to do with two members having raging chewing tobacco addictions with the favorite brand being Rooster [DH and RK]. This one wasn't my idea but I'm warming to it.)

Then of course the 1,000's of suggestions that related to sexual acts, male anatomy etc. that although funny probably aren't appropriate.

If anybody out there has comments or suggestions anything is welcome...echo echo echo echo