How long ya been in "the biz"?

grimmbass · Post by **grimmbass** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:55 pm

This year marks 20 trips around the sun for me with a bass strapped around my neck. And a guitar with four strings too. It definitely smells better than the bass.

How many years for y'all?

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:07 pm

Started Jammin in 96 playing out in 98.
10-12 years.

mjb · Post by **mjb** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:08 pm

not quite 1. was just waiting for the right folks to come along.

concrats on your anniversary!

heres to 20 more!

been playing for about 25 years or so.

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:18 pm

26 years, only 2 of those years i wasn't playing out. Took on a real job.
Damn, where has the time gone.
This year marks 10 years straight with the current lineup of the Canes.
Next year will be 20 since Felix started the hurricanes

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:33 pm

I started playing bass when I was 13 and started playing out when I turned 18 and could do it legally. I've been playing bass for 13 years, though I've been playing music on other instruments since I was about 10.

Post by **Jim Price** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:41 pm

I've been writing about local music in Pennsylvania Musician for just over 21 years (my first article was in June, 1987).

I've been in radio professionally for nearly 25 years (my first show was playing easy-listening music on WFBG-FM [pre-Froggy] from midnight to 6 AM on New Year's Day, 1984). I started in college radio in September, 1980 (at closed-circuit WARC 1540 AM inside the Penn State Altoona Slep Center).

REDillon · Post by **REDillon** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:49 pm

I've been singing and pretending to play guitar since I was in grade school but I've been officially in bands since 1993. I'm not old, just a little ripe that's all.

RFBuck · Post by **RFBuck** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:53 pm

I've been playing for 18 years but have been playing in bands for only 5. I didn't know as much as I thought I did and had alot of "growing up" to do. I'm grateful I've met the people I have in my short career...so far everyone's been helpful, understanding, and just cool all around.

FrigoRecording · Post by **FrigoRecording** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:16 pm

About 20 years, give or take, depending on what really marks the beginning of my career as a recording/mix engineer. I guess 1990 was when I started working in the music industry full time, so using that as the start of my career, it would be 18 years - hard to believe!

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:00 pm

Does standing in front of a full length mirror naked count?

Anyway, I started working in the biz in 1994 with a tribute band. Got with some guys a little after that to start a band. Should have called it "The CryBabies." Anyway, I was only ever in two working bands that actually played out alot and some jam bands that didn't so much. But it's been close to 15 years of good times and bad times that I would never change for the world.
Hell, I'm still trying to get it on...AGAIN!! Lovin' every minute off it.

moxham123 · Post by **moxham123** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:09 pm

I started to take drum lessons in 1966 and started to play guitar and bass in 1969. I played my first paying gig in May of 1970; so, it has 38 years of gigs for me.

On a side note, the guy playing guitar with me now in The Conniptions was in my first band with me. We went into other projects in the late 70's and formed this band in 2001.

Bag · Post by **Bag** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:29 pm

I've been playing with myself for nearly 30 years.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:40 pm

Thanks to my Grandfather, Nelson Renner (of 4 He's & A She fame) I started playing and reading music 45 years ago at age 5. My 1st concert was 44 years ago with the Duncansville Elementary School Band for the Duncansville Golden Age Club at age 6. I was playing trumpet and the 7-year old sitting next to me playing trombone ended up playing guitar with me in Forces 12 years later (John Saksa).

The first band where I got paid regularly was in 1975, so that's 33 years. I was still in high school and we were playing in bars & clubs every Friday and Saturday night.

Yeah...17 and hanging out with 24 year old babes...woo hoo.

CHICKSINGA · Post by **CHICKSINGA** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:07 am

1st performance in front of people - 3rd grade singing "Adeste Fideles"
Stage band playing trumpet from 4th grade to 9th
1st band (w/Dan Farabaugh, Micky Luckenbaugh, Jay Rittner and Cindy Cooney) in 11th grade - 30 years ago! Started playing guitar
1st serious club band - "Madhatter" in Dallas, TX - 1982
On the Road across the country with "Trick" - out of Dallas, Tx - 1 year
"After the Fashion" - Moline, Illinois (with hubby/drummer Chris)
"Toronto Jag" - Moline, Illinois (with Chris)
"Passion Theory" - Los Angeles, CA (with Chris)
"Kings & Queens" - " "
"Trace Moran Band" - " "
"Black Cat Bone" - (Chris sat this one out - had management)
"The Butt Ugly Blues Band Amalgamated" - Los Angeles, CA (with Chris)
"Trace Moran Band" - (w/ Chris, Tim Kelly, Harold Hayford & Randy Rutherford)
"BluesMoon" - Current Gig!
38 years on stage! YIKES!!

bsaller · Post by **bsaller** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:32 am

First gig was 1966 Saxton American Legion. Played till 1990 and took a 14 year sabbatical. Now I'm working with the best bassisst I can remember ever working with!

greaser · Post by **greaser** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:13 am

the first band i was in that actually played in front of people was called bloody knuckles..we played (weaziled our way onto stage) at the holy name church festival in '89 or '90. we opened with our original smash hit "pigs suck" then busted into black flag's version of "louie louie", then they pulled the plug on us.......i've been hooked ever since.

RamRod 1 · Post by **RamRod 1** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:25 am

Started playing out in 1968 at age 15 so we're talking 40 years.

Nobody played Rock'n Roll back then after age 21 or 22 years old around here. They all would either go to college, get married and then sell all their "Gear". With all us "Old Bastards" still out there playing, no wonder it's so hard for everybody to get gigs.

Sorry but I still need the money.

homerski · Post by **homerski** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:14 am

RamRod 1 wrote:Started playing out in 1968 at age 15 so we're talking 40 years.

Nobody played Rock'n Roll back then after age 21 or 22 years old around here. They all would either go to college, get married and then sell all their "Gear". With all us "Old Bastards" still out there playing, no wonder it's so hard for everybody to get gigs.

Sorry but I still need the money.

Me too, 41 years and still lovin' it.

John H.

grimmbass · Post by **grimmbass** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:47 am

First gig was 1966 Saxton American Legion. Played till 1990 and took a 14 year sabbatical. Now I'm working with the best bassisst I can remember ever working with!

You're way too cool, big guy! I love being a Redcoat!

jangel · Post by **jangel** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:49 am

I started playing in 65(first gig) played till 73 took off 3 years came back and did this ..play 5 yrs take 2 off up until 95 when I left the FF figuering I was done and about 2 1/2 yrs came out again. Like a heroin addict I had to come back for one more fix!

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:40 am

Zero years? I've been hanging around with real musicians for 20 something years, though.

rickw · Post by **rickw** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:17 am

33 years playing out now, but I still feel like I'm just getting started. Weird.

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:17 pm

I'm 29, and I've been playing guitar since I was 16. I've played with alot of people through the years, but othing made it out of the garage. That doesn't deter me from playing and searching for the right group of people in hopes of taking it to the next level.

Lots of interesting stories here. Alot of you guys have been playing out longer than I've been alive, which is so cool. I have alot of respect for you guys that have been doing that. It says alot about your love for music.
But the biz is not only gigging bands such as in JP's case, which is also very cool man. I didn't know that you were on the air that long! Awesome!
And all of the promoters, the recording industry, not to mention the venues! This subject is far reaching in many angles if you think about it.

Mikey Wax · Post by **Mikey Wax** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:23 pm

First band I drummed in I was around 15 or 16.

So drums..... 13 years.

First band I played guitar in has been since since the end of July.

So Guitar/Vocals....... 2 months.

Imgrimm01 · Post by **Imgrimm01** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:46 pm

Took the stage for the first time as a freshman in H.S. 1983 that makes 25 years for me... Geez where have all the years gone? Next Sat. I will be 40 !!! Even saying that makes me ill.