I'm hoping my drum brethren can help me find clarity here. Once again I find myself in band drama. I and two bandmates left my last band due to a husband\wife situation where the wife was a terrible singer and the husband couldn't kick her out. The three of us found a phenomenal singer and started a new band. After a number of iterations, we arrived at a solid line up and have been gigging occasionally. We have been received well for the most part, and our vocals have garnered the most praise. A growing problem has been with the guitarists, the two members who came from me from the original band. Guitarist 1 is a talented, seasoned player who knows a lot of songs from a certain era (60s-70s). His problem is that he doesn't want to put in the work to learn new songs or really perfect the lead parts on songs in general. He is content to practice once a week, gig once a month, and rarely pick up the guitar otherwise. He also complains that we have too much gear and take to long to set up. He always asks can we leave the subwoofer at home or can't you get a smaller drum kit(mind you I gig with a bare minimum 4 or 5 piece kit with 3 cymbals and a hi hat). The bass player and singer are tired of him coming to practice unprepared and even worse, embarrassing us at gigs when he flubs a lead on a song we've been playing for a year and a half then makes a face that broadcasts it to the audience. Guitarist 2 has much less ability and has been mostly playing rhythm on acoustic, but guitarist 1 has been letting him take on more lead parts, seemingly because he doesn't want to bother. This leads to even more embarrassment on stage when guitarist 2 has to begin a song and is standing there trying to remember it while the rest of the band and the audience are waiting. The last gig was the last straw for the singer and bass player. They both had musician friends in the audience who asked them what they are doing playing with those 2 guys. Coincidentally, the bass player's friend, a phenomenal guitarist, singer and dynamic frontman called him and said he was forming a new band and if he wasn't happy in the present situation he should bring me and the singer over to his band, to which he would add keys and be up and running after 2-3 rehearsals. This band would play similar material, but have more of the uptempo contemporary and dance music that guitarist 1 doesn't want to play, which would get us better gigs and more money. This band would also be much less of a burden on me. I wouldn't have to hustle for gigs, be the sound man, organize the set lists, etc. I would just be the drummer and occasional singer. This is a big step up in the expected level of professionalism however. Now I have played a jam with this guitarist so he knows my work and that's why he wants me, and the bass player has talked up my commitment and work ethic. This band would gig more frequently, but would practice weekly after the first month or so, so the time commitment is about the same. I am intrigued by the challenge and would love to be part of a band that blows people away. I am torn though because the guitarists are my friends and I work with one of them. But they brought this on themselves and the singer and bassist are leaving, so if I don't go I'll have no band and I don't want to start over. I would hope they'd understand it's nothing personal and it's an opportunity i can't pass up.
What do you guys all think?
