Rant: Does it bother you when...

[Benjam226]

you meet a person who advertises to be something they are not, and you are probably one of the only few who realizes this person is exaggerating the truth.

For example:

I was invited by my folks to go see some friends of their's who play in a local cover band in my area. My dad told me that the drummer is really good and "used to be in (insert MAJOR A-list band)."

Me being a huge fan of (insert A-list band) that he was claiming to have been in, I knew for a fact he'd never been a member AT ANY POINT. I told told my parents they had to have been mistaken or misheard him, but they swore up and down that he was in this band, which only served to infuriate me:FM

I decided to do my due diligence, so I started researching this drummer's name and come to find out, he spent one summer playing for the frontman of (insert major A-list band) when the frontman released a solo album.

Ahhh, I said aloud. That makes sense. So we were both kind of half right. I told my dad that he played for the frontman for a brief time on the side, but was never a part of (insert A-list band). All fine and good. That settles it. I am calm now.:p

Later that night, I found that the local band had a website so I visited it and right on the homepage, it says "featuring (drummer's name) who played in (insert A-list band.)" That really pissed me off. Maybe it's not a big deal. Maybe I'm over-reacting because I'm just such a big fan of (insert A-list band) and have been since I was in Jr High). Maybe it bothers me that he can't be honest about how freaking awesome it was just to play with the frontman, but has to make a claim PUBLICLY that he was actually in (insert A-list band).

Long story short, I ended up not going to see this local band, because I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep silent about this "fudging of facts" to the band and how they were being dishonest and making claims about my favorite band that were simply untrue.

Rant over. I probably sound like a D*ck.:p

[newking70]

no :red

[donthasslethehoff]

you are over re-acting, but I really am a rocket scientist, just ask my cousin....its cool

[TwoTubMan]

No, but I appreciate the irony of asking this question on TGP.

[BobPoomba]

I had some drunk guy at a party tell me he used to be the drummer for Sepultura in the 80's. I went along with it listening and then, "Good to meet you Igor Cavalera. I really like how you and your brother formed the band in the eighties and stayed together for many years and got back together again."

He just stopped with his mouth open and wandered off.

[Guitar Josh]

I had some drunk guy at a party tell me he used to be the drummer for Sepultura in the 80's. I went along with it listening and then, "Good to meet you Igor Cavalera. I really like how you and your brother formed the band in the eighties and stayed together for many years and got back together again."

He just stopped with his mouth open and wandered off.

I want to buy your next beer for this awesomeness.

[anothergold]

I love major a-list band, have your heard their track "Number 1 single"? It's pretty good.

On a serious note, I can see how this would be a little annoying. It's okay to stretch the truth sometimes, but when you're trying to make something of yourself through name dropping /associations of which you have no real connection - it shouldn't be allowed. I wonder how many people see that band because of this proclaimed connection...

[Sweetfinger]

A local guy name dropped that he used to be in the band "Autograph" as he was dropping his yard sale frankensteined crap-o-casters off for "professional work".
...because he was a "professional" and needed his instruments in top condition.

There was a guy in town we called "million dollar Mike". Whenever we saw him he was waiting on a million dollar check from Dave Mustaine, who had tapped him to be the next guitar player in Megadeth. He'd offer to buy us whatever guitar we wanted or he'd buy the whole store- "Whatever they're payin' you, man, I'll DOUBLE it!".
- Then he'd bum a little change so he could buy a beer at the Circle K.

I live for those guys!

[lpfella]

When I was young, my dad use to reminisce about being in the Stones back in the late 60's early 70's. For the longest time I didn't believe him but then started too because he talked about it regularly.

Well, my dad was a liar and told me Indians were buried in my backyard under a little lump in the yard. Later, just prior to my teens, I learned neither of these were true even though I had already told all my friends.

Good ole' dad.

[chrisgraff]

I went to high school with a guy that used to go on and on about how his dad was a member of "insert major A-list band." Everyone commonly accepted this as complete B.S.

Later the guy:

1. went on to be a member of this generation's "insert major A-list band"

2. produce a record for "insert major A-list band," that he used to brag about his dad being a member of.

No shit.

[Polynitro]

met a guy named Fender, I said, "cool name!" he said, "yeah my Dad is in Steppenwolf, met his Dad later that day...so I went home and googled and turns out they were playing that night in LA (im on the east coast)

why couldnt it just be a cool name and thats it? Kind of ruins it-I dont even think that was his name. what a dumbass.

[Washburnmemphis]

I could see someone being crazy enough to do it in the pre-internet days when you might have a chance of getting away with it. Now a days c'mon, you would have to pick a relatively obscure group.

BTW - I was briefly in Joe Cocker's Mad Dog's and Englishmen band. I had to quit due to daycare commitments.

[dangeroso]

Here's a funny twist on that idea:

I was in a band in the early 90s, and had the "I'm in a band" look going on. I was hanging out with some friends at a club one night, and a friend of a friend mistook me for the guitarist for some B-List band that I had never heard of.

I played along for 15 minutes or so while the guy went on and on about how much he liked "our" new album, and was a big fan and all that. I eventually came clean and bought the guy a few beers for stringing him along. He was a good sport, and we all had a good laugh. I gave him a hard time for being such a big fan, but not being able to tell that I wasn't the guy he thought I was.

I was at a local CD store a few weeks later and picked up a CD of this band I had never heard of and I'll be damned if that dude didn't look ALOT like me!

[hearmecrybaby]

no :red

IJALA

[teleman1]

I was at a party and this gal is bragging how she met Robert Plant on a Beach in Mexico. I said , "Really"? Well, to prove it she has pics of him and him with her and her friends. In her head, it really happened. And it did happen. Cept for one thing. She showd me the pics. This dude was 20+ lbs heavier than Bobby and did look remotely like him,(especially in a dust storm). This guy had been around all day duping everyone. I am a RNR authority of sorts. But she didn't buy it until several folks saw the pic who were big Zep fans and explained there was no way in hell that was him.

[GCDEF]

There was a bar around here that kept advertising an open jam and promoting its leader as once being in Uriah Heep. Every week he'd post on CL and every week there would be a whole slew of posts about how the guy was never in or anywhere near anybody in Uriah Heep. It was pretty funny but got kind of pathetic the way the bar kept sticking to their obviously bogus story.

It's pretty common at bars for drunks to come up and try to impress you with stories about how they used to jam with SRV, Clapton, etc. That gets really annoying when you're trying to set up or tear down.

[cram]

I immediately think of job interview embellishments. my job during these times is to sift through the fluff and get through to the detail they actually know and what they've actually done.

[Pietro]

I love major a-list band, have your heard their track "Number 1 single"? It's pretty good.

I think I was the only one who really liked their second LP, "Sophomore Slump". I especially liked "Epic Desperate Whiney Ballad" which was right before "The Last Song on Side One". Remember that? I think they changed their name to "Will Play County Fairs for Free Beer", didn't they?

[Merrow]

I'm generally up front about the fact that I am, for the most part, a failure. That way if they stick around long enough to see my flaws it is endearing rather than an awkward disappointment.

[bigdaddy]

I am the Stig.

[Tuberattler]

Well I myself went and seen the Isle of Wright concert with Jimi Hendrix in it, while he was still alive... does that count? I've also played with the bass player of a major C list band or maybe he was the friend of the bass player.. oh well I've seen greatness does that count?

[Cirrus]

That's nothing, I was once in the same room as Roger Waters!

[pickaguitar]

I see your point op...but overstating/stretching one's resume is pretty common

[anothergold]

I think I was the only one who really liked their second LP, "Sophomore Slump". I especially liked "Epic Desperate Whiney Ballad" which was right before "The Last Song on Side One". Remember that? I think they changed their name to "Will Play County Fairs for Free Beer", didn't they?

Yeah, "Sophomore Slump" never really compared with "Debut Album" for me. Good call on "Epic Desperate Whiney Ballad" though - always preferred it over "Number 1 Single".

The name change was a bad move, so should have stuck with Major A-List Band. All good things have to come to an end I suppose (which was conicidently the alternative title for "The Last Song on Side Two").

[Fred Farkus]

Yeah, "Sophomore Slump" never really compared with "Debut Album" for me. Good call on "Epic Desperate Whiney Ballad" though - always preferred it over "Number 1 Single".

The name change was a bad move, so should have stuck with Major A-List Band. All good things have to come to an end I suppose (which was conicidently the alternative title for "The Last Song on Side Two").

I always enjoyed it when they did "Medley of their Greatest Hit".

Back in the day, let this keyboardist sit in during a gig when we covered Whipping Post. He claimed to have played with Ted Nugent. Maybe he did, but he lost his way and stepped all over the rest of the band every time he we hit the 11/8 part after the chorus. Maybe his keen sense of timing lost him the Ted gig.

[Pietro]

I always enjoyed it when they did "Medley of their Greatest Hit".

Do you remember the gig at "Big Arena With Corporate Sponsorship Name" when they did that song and then "Extended Arrangement of Obscure R&B Hit From The 50s with Bass Solo"? Dude... that was SWEET! I think it's on the DVD (just out on blu-ray called "We Desperately Need Money, Please Buy This Old Concert Again In A New Format: LIVE in the Big City".

[Cleet Mongaire]

When I was young, my dad use to reminisce about being in the Stones back in the late 60's early 70's. For the longest time I didn't believe him but then started too because he talked about it regularly.

Good ole' dad.

Is your dad's name Fred or Dino?

[offbeat]

Is your dad's name Fred or Dino?
...'Cause if your Dad's name is Dino, your mom has some 'splainin' to do.


Around here, the big thing is to advertise yourself as "Nashville Recording Artist 'So-and-So'".
These guys go to Nashville, pay some bucks to do a vocal track over a canned backing track at some D-list studio, and come back with a cassette tape with their name on it in Sharpie.

So, officially, they HAVE recorded in Nashville....

;)

[Telecaster62]

I was in a regional band the opened for some well known artists in the 90's. Friends used to ask me "why don't you put that you've played with so and so on your website". My reply is always the same. "I didn't play with so and so or share the stage with so and so, I opened for them". Big difference.

[John Hurtt]

you meet a person who advertises to be something they are not, and you are probably one of the only few who realizes this person is exaggerating the truth.

For example:

I was invited by my folks to go see some friends of their's who play in a local cover band in my area. My dad told me that the drummer is really good and "used to be in (insert MAJOR A-list band)."

Me being a huge fan of (insert A-list band) that he was claiming to have been in, I knew for a fact he'd never been a member AT ANY POINT. I told told my parents they had to have been mistaken or misheard him, but they swore up and down that he was in this band, which only served to infuriate me:FM

I decided to do my due diligence, so I started researching this drummer's name and come to find out, he spent one summer playing for the frontman of (insert major A-list band) when the frontman released a solo album.

Ahhh, I said aloud. That makes sense. So we were both kind of half right. I told my dad that he played for the frontman for a brief time on the side, but was never a part of (insert A-list band). All fine and good. That settles it. I am calm now.:p

Later that night, I found that the local band had a website so I visited it and right on the homepage, it says "featuring (drummer's name) who played in (insert A-list band.)" That really pissed me off. Maybe it's not a big deal. Maybe I'm over-reacting because I'm just such a big fan of (insert A-list band) and have been since I was in Jr High). Maybe it bothers me that he can't be honest about how freaking awesome it was just to play with the frontman, but has to make a claim PUBLICLY that he was actually in (insert A-list band).

Long story short, I ended up not going to see this local band, because I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep silent about this "fudging of facts" to the band and how they were being dishonest and making claims about my favorite band that were simply untrue.

Rant over. I probably sound like a D*ck.:p

Well..the guy could have been full of crap...or, he was in the band so briefly that he didn't show up on an album or many (any) live shows...it happens...

[buddaman71]

...Around here, the big thing is to advertise yourself as "Nashville Recording Artist 'So-and-So'". So, officially, they HAVE recorded in Nashville....;)

I see that a lot here in OKC too ^

To be fair, one of my friends, who IS a pretty decent singer, paid about $40k to record a bunch of his tunes in a great Nashville studio and got some of the very best session cats on it (Tom Bukovac, et al.)

Sounds great and his videos and stories of the dudes instantly turning his sparse acoustic/vox tunes into fully produced, polished tunes in minutes is cool.

At the end of the day though, it's like having a self-published novel...

[stratotastic]

No, but I appreciate the irony of asking this question on TGP.

:roll

Yeah--TGP, where everybody's intelligent, wealthy, fit, knows the solutions to all the world's problems, and can play circles around Hendrix. :aok

[Grantme]

It can get to me as well. A long time ago I started taking lessons from a guitar player after seeing his advertisment where he mentioned he use to play with a certain big time jazz guitarist.

After about 3 weeks of, "learning" from him I became suspicious so I pressed his past and found out he had jammed with him on a song at a guitar clinic. haha

[Grenville]

Jeff Fenholt?

Somehow, someone was able to organise a tour of the religious circuit in Australia promoting him as "ex-lead vocalist for Black Sabbath".

[Structo]

On a familiar guitar forum there was a guy that was full of himself saying he was in a popular band from the 70's.
He did this and he did that, blah, blah, blah....

Like somebody said, with the internet only a keystroke away from Google, you can usually verify or expose these stories rather quickly.

The guy actually had been in the band for one album which as it turned out was the worst reviewed album of the bands career.
At least two of the original members had committed suicide way before the album in question had been recorded.

It was one of those bands where some obscure member was able to still use the band name and book gigs, but they didn't sound remotely like the band and nobody knew who any of the members were.

Sort of sad, really.
Some people feel the need to impress other people.
Or they drop names in the hope that they will make a buck out of the deal.

[Strat-Mangler]

Was it Badfinger?

[Sweetfinger]

You know what's funny, is that I've known musicians who WERE in "One hit wonder that you totally remember band" or "B level band that still tours on their hits from decades ago band", and they really didn't talk about it or bring it up. You'd find out they were in the band in some off-hand way- like the band name would come up in casual conversation and their expression would change. "Those chuckleheads? They still owe me money!"
Another was when my band members were sitting around telling "gig" stories and the drummer (who has been in the band for a year)pipes up with "One time we were on tour opening for Hall and Oates and..."
"Wait a minute!" "What band? When the hell was this?"
"You wouldn't remember. It was in, like about 1983"
"The early 80s, opening for Hall & Oates- that would have been just a step below opening for the Stones or The Who! That was just about as sweet a gig as you could get then! What band were you in!"
"Nobody cares, you really wouldn't remember."

I DID remember, and had him sign my album, which he looked embarrassed to be doing. Later he borrowed my cassette tape version of the album(he didn't even own his own copy)

[germs]

people tend to blow me off, so i stopped mentioning it.

BUT back in the days of touring - i was in one of those "C level" bands. we toured with a lot of those "B level" bands, some of whom went on to become "A Level" bands...

my own band from back then was lost to the sands of time. the label went under after we were dropped. i have no idea what happened to our masters. i have a shoebox of pics in the closet i keep telling myself i'm gonna put into a proper album and a few cassettes (somewhere...) gathering dust. not that we sold a butt load of copies - probably around 10K over time from our van/merch booth.

all i really have to offer people are my stories of "back when we were touring with those guys" which are usually met with polite eye-rolling...so...take it for whatever that's worth.

[The Guy]

no one is exactly what they advertise now are they?

[edgewound]

Band I was in in the early 1980's was playing the Sundance tent in Parker, AZ.

Guy came up to us and claimed to be Ian Gillan and wanted to sing a blues song, Stormy Monday.

He resembled Ian Gillan. That's where the resemblance ended. He wasn't Ian Gillan and couldn't sing, either.

Fun for the memory books, though.