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Gigging while sick---sucks !!

Posts: 1880 Threads: 292

HurtingHurtingLol ! Not looking for sympathy, but was just wondering if anyone else had to do a gig that you couldn't get out of while really under the weather ? Being the drummer AND lead vocalist in my band, i don't have the luxury of getting just any old replacement for me at a moment's notice, since i carry the weight of both vocalist and drummer, but this week end, being a big one, (St Patty's) i was extremely fortunate to have not one, but two people replace my vocal duties. One is a very good friend of mine who just happened to not be gigging this wk end, and the other is a very lovely and extremely talented female vocalist who auditioned for a new band that i'm forming with my guitar player. She covered the entire 3rd set for me last night after i struggled through the second set, and got the crowd hopping. She's also graciously agreed to fill in for the rest of the week end, as well as my buddy. But i'm telling you fellow drummers, the one thing that "sucks" is the fact that if i can't ever make a gig, the whole band loses out, and unfortunately for me, that's a burden i have to live with. I'm extremely fortunate to play music for a living, and being a drummer, vocalist, and playing guitar on occasion when i have duo gigs with my guitar player, makes me a very lucky man, but with plenty of responsibility. With that being said, it does feel good knowing that it requires 2 people to cover my arse in a situation like this, and that, is more than i could ever ask for .

I'd love to hear any stories regarding any of my fellow members up here who had no choice but to gig while really sick.. I think it would make for some very interesting reading ;)

Posted on 8 years ago
#1
Posts: 5550 Threads: 576

I am with you some of my hardest gigs were with the flu or a serious hangover no fun

April 2nd 1969 scarfed pink champagne holly wood and 65/66 downbeat snare, and , supra same year very minty kit old pies
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp





once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Posted on 8 years ago
#2
Posts: 1651 Threads: 215

The two times I've had it hard is when I'm having a bad asthma flare up. 99.9% of the time I have it under control, but if I get a bad head cold it goes right to my chest. I've had a show or two where I had to cut the set because I just had a hard time. The other is when my lower back muscle starts to spasm. Hurt it years ago at a day job, and man when that thing flares up there is no comfortable position. So I agree, playing sick isn't fun at all. I couldn't imagine some of the guys who tour the world and play to sell out arena's. I'm sure they all don't get sick days, especially up and comers.

18 Kits & 40+ snares..
Not a Guru, just addicted to drums

- Jay
Posted on 8 years ago
#3
Posts: 5240 Threads: 1231

I played a party years ago with a bad flu, the guys begged me not to cancel because it would had been too difficult to find a fill in drummer. The party was full of college kids partying and drinking and I couldn't do either. I made it through a four hour gig and felt terrible, but at least at the end of the night, the guys helped move my kit to the car, that rarely ever happens.

Posted on 8 years ago
#4
Posts: 727 Threads: 96

Been there, done that. Nothing worse.

Years back I had been with a blues band about 2 years. A gig was coming on the weekend and I had food poisoning. I called the bass player(he ran the band) Thursday night and told him there was no way, not to mention my wife telling me not to. They found a stand in and hired him permanently, so I lost the gig.

Didn't really get along with the bass player anyway, he was a leftist pinko commie and we really weren't getting along anyway, so it all worked out.

Drum Kits
1965 Ludwig Clubdate Oyster Blue
1966 Ludwig Clubdate Oyster Black
1969 Ludwig BB Blue Oyster Keystone Clubdate
1971 Ludwig BB Black Oyster
Early 60's Camco Oaklawns Champagne Sparkle
Posted on 8 years ago
#5
Posts: 3467 Threads: 116

As band leader & "Gig Getterer" in the 70's... I actually played around a month worth of gigs with my right (BD foot) in a plaster cast... switched to south paw and played real basic BD... Guys lugged my gear in & I hobbled around on crutches.

(all for the love of music....... and Moolah)..

Cheers

John

'77 Slingerland 51N,Super Rock 24,18,14,13.. COW 8,10 Concert toms
'69 Slingerland Hollywood Ace
'75 Rogers Dynasonic 6.5 x 14, 10 lug COB
'77-78 Slingerland 6.5 x 14, 10 lug COB
'78-79 Slingerland 5 1/4 x14 8 lug COB
'79 Biman 5 1/4, Acrolite
'82 Slingerland 5 1/4 x 14. Festival COS
'84 Tama MasterCraft Superstar 6.5 x 14, 10 lug Rosewood
'98 Slingerland (Music YO) 6" 10 Lug Maple.. NOS
Zildjian, Sabian , UFIP & Paiste mix.
Posted on 8 years ago
#6
Posts: 1880 Threads: 292

Well my fellow drummers, your stories have certainly made me feel better about my situation !. We've got some real troopers out there. That's why i always say, don't mess with a drummer !! LoLoLoLo..But seriously, i'm feeling slightly better, and can now speak low without having to whisper, but i'm not out of the woods just yet. This afternoon is the final leg of this week end of mayhem, and today's gig is the heart of the storm..

Good news is, it'll be over at 8;30 pm.. You guys have have a great day, and please have a Jamieson Whiskey or pint of Guinness for me !

cheers,

Rob

Posted on 8 years ago
#7
Posts: 334 Threads: 42

I remember playing a big show with the flu. I was so sick I could hardly stand up. Fortunately we get to sit down when we play.

I think that was the time I went through 11 pairs of sticks and gave my last pair to a fan. I had to be dragged back on stage for an encore, AND had to ask the guy for my sticks back.


1971 Ludwig Rock Duo set in Blue Oyster Pearl
early Mapex dual bass drum Saturn kit
1964 Leedy Ray  Mosca kit in Blue Sparkle
1959 Slingerland Super Gene Krupa snare in WMP
1968 Slingerland Hollywood Ace Snare Drum
1969 and 1977 Ludwig 400 Supraphonic snares
1965 Acrolite snare
Ludwig Coliseum snare
'68 Rogers Dynasonic snare
Pearl free floating piccolo snare
13" Mapex piccolo snare
6.5" deep Mapex steel snare
Mapex 6.5" Brass snare
I know there's more snares than that.
UFIP cymbals / Avedis Zildjians
Ghost pedals or Tama King Beats
you kids get off my lawn

 

Posted on 8 years ago
#8
Posts: 1212 Threads: 37

Played the flu, played with the brown bottle flu... The show must go on...

I played with a bass player who was allergic to bee stings and got stung that day. Fortunately we were playing outside. He would go back to the back of the stage and throw up off the back in between songs. He was all swollen up like Weird Al...

_________________________

MY Dirty Little Collection
Posted on 8 years ago
#9
Posts: 622 Threads: 24

I once hurt my hand quite badly at a part-time job I had delivering fridges and washing machines for a rental company, the morning of the day I had an afternoon/evening gig. Bruised up all the muscles in the base of my thumb (left hand) and swelled up to the point where I couldn't touch thumb to forefinger without a lot of pain and sheer determination. No time to find a deputy (god knows I rang everyone I knew!), so had to bite the bullet and do the gig. Got through it, thanks to a lovely barmaid who brought me buckets of ice in the breaks to help with the swelling! Played bloody awful and couldn't solo for sh!t, but at least my time was still good. The show must go on, so the saying goes...

Oh, I had both a Jamesons and Guinness for you, human71, as I do on a regular basis. Shlointer! (Can't spell in English, let alone Gaelic!) Hope you had a happy St Pats! D' Drummer

Posted on 8 years ago
#10
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