I'm a civilian now

Cirrus

Last week, my band of 10 years came to an end.

It wasn't sudden, or unexpected - really, it's been a couple of years of gradual decline. I played my part in wrapping it up. But still, now that it's official there's a pang of sadness, because at our best I was really, really proud of us. We did 3 EPs and 2 Albums, signed to a small label, did a smattering of music videos, got reviewed in a national magazine and got on the radio a few times. And the response we've had to our announcement that it's over has been met by a lot of sadness and messages of support. So I can't say it was a failure!

What I am going to miss is the lockup room we've been in for the last 7 years. There's just no way I'll be able to afford it on my own, and I won't be able to put another band together quickly enough not to lose it. A 25 minute drive from my house, I've had a large rehearsal space I can keep my guitar rig set up with no volume constraints at all. Plus a drum kit, always ready to play. I've recorded loads in there - full bands, multitracked drums, able to spend hours on weeknights and weekends working up full band arrangements. It's felt like my very own music production workshop.

Next week my AC30, pedalboard, guitars etc are going to end up in my upstairs box room, mocking me.

I hope I can put something new together soon. 

fandango

One door closes ... another door opens ...

To encourage you, I would look upon the situation as the start of something brilliant (rather than the end of something that had grown tired).

thecolourbox

Time for a @Cirrus solo tour? I've always liked listening to your stuff so hope you find something that interests you soon

darthed1981

fandango said:

One door closes ... another door opens ...

^^^^ Yeah this

thecolourbox

darthed1981 said:

fandango said:

One door closes ... another door opens ...

^^^^ Yeah this

Although be warned the light at the end of the tunnel might be an oncoming train

p90fool

fandango said:

One door closes ... another door opens ...

I had a Vauxhall Astra like that once...

(Alexei Sayle)

axisus

Oh well, well done for making a good go of it. 55 and I never left the bedroom with my guitar

Grunfeld

axisus said:

Oh well, well done for making a good go of it. 55 and I never left the bedroom with my guitar

@axisus -- would you like to gig?

mudslide73

Loads of opportunities in the Midlands dude. Get back on the carousel before you get into watching the telly. 

Wolfetone

Surely there must be a remnant of the band that can form a core and you can  recruit the missing extra members? If you had a fan base, I'm certain that there'll be folks out there that will pick up the cause?

DLM

Similar boat, man. But your loss sounds much greater than mine. It was only seven years with the band in my case, we managed almost 30 gigs and one album/CD/recording. Not at all sure what to do with myself, partly because I dunno what I want to do.

Phil_aka_Pip

Learn to play/program the other instruments yourself, then record at home. best of luck.

Strangefan

@Cirrus I have pmed you via Facebook  

underdog

I thought you'd left the army with thread title, weren't you always a civilian, but in a band? 

Strangefan

underdog said:

I thought you'd left the army with thread title, weren't you always a civilian, but in a band? 

I bet you're fun at parties. 

Bridgehouse

Strangefan said:

underdog said:

I thought you'd left the army with thread title, weren't you always a civilian, but in a band? 

I bet you're fun at parties. 

Yeah, Tupperware parties

underdog

Strangefan said:

underdog said:

I thought you'd left the army with thread title, weren't you always a civilian, but in a band? 

I bet you're fun at parties. 

Yup, and I always bring the jelly in the shape of a rabbit.

fandango

Bridgehouse said:

Strangefan said:

underdog said:

I thought you'd left the army with thread title, weren't you always a civilian, but in a band? 

I bet you're fun at parties. 

Yeah, Tupperware parties

in the kitchen, too ...... always .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62eTq8ErUOQ

shaunm

@Cirrus congratulations on the successes you had. It’s no small feat to achieve any sort of following and if only the majority knew what had gone into getting to that point.

i feel your pain, it’s hard because what is the next move? Do you have anything you want to personally achieve creatively? If so that has to be the thing that spurs you on. 

My band is in a position where our first album did well, it was received well critically and we sold a few albums. But, then a few of us had kids and took our foot off the gas and now it’s time to try get the ball rolling again. It’s not easy. What I have done in the down time is work on a solo project, something I’ve always wanted to do but didn’t maybe have the will or confidence to do. The downtime and modecum of favoursom reviews gave me the confidence to make some of the music I had wanted to do. 

Perhaps if you have something you want to achieve now is the time?

west

p90fool said:

fandango said:

One door closes ... another door opens ...

I had a Vauxhall Astra like that once...

(Alexei Sayle)

allo john got a new motor ? ....   ooh not in that colour ...

57Deluxe

so you not been in the forces then..?