Question: Who's the leader?

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 12:56 pm

Hey Everyone,

One day a while back, my father and I got into a debate about something. What main, musical, part of a band, leads it? I've thought about it more, and I'm thinking this question may not have an absolute answer. I was thinking maybe the drummer, while he was saying, that though it isn't something that happens very often, a band can be without a drummer, and still perform perfectly fine.

So, what do you guys think? Does the drummer lead the band? -the bassist? The lead guitarist? Hmm... -might it be the lead-singer? You tell me. Let your minds be free, and maybe post an opinionated response. For now, I'm looking at indecision.

This could be interesting..... Smile

Cheers and a Smile, All!

RiCterMan

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 7:14 pm

Damn goog question,RicterMan!!!! Shocked

I'm the bassist in our band . I would think the drummer leads the band. He usually starts the song with the tempo clicks and sets up the changes . Cool

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:29 am

I'd have to go with the singer. The front man is the voice, the image and the moxie of the band. The singer is the one making the connection with the crowd and gets them excited about hearing more. Just thoughts anyway.

David
http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/music/bands/2114/

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 7:48 am

Hey Mittins,

I was thinking the same point you made, but I recently talked to an aspiring drummer online, and his opinion on it was quite interesting. He said he didn't think the drummer was necessarily the leader, but he was quick to add that he did feel the drummer is a huge part.

...david,

Before I started singing, I would've said that the lead singer was the leader of the band, too. But I sing now, and if I had a band, I would definitely need them to keep me in line, and on track with the tempo, etc. However, a singer can paritally lead a band in a directional sense. See, the singer as we all know, is the writer of the musical words; he usually comes up with titles (for songs) and such, though of course' if he's not egotistical he'll take suggestions from other band members for what their worth. Also, the singer always seems to get a lot of the attention, so if he's not charismatic that could lessen the popularity of a band. It's sort of like he is close to being the directional leader of the band, as far as creativity goes. This can vary from band to band. It just depends on the people and situations.

So what do you guys think about those possibilities? Share more of your ideas. I'd really like to hear everyone's opinions on this subject. Yes, it's read (the opinions), I know. Laughing

Hmm... This makes me wonder; am I capable of leading a band? Just imagine if I tried to read songs on the radio, through some headphones. That is a bit' funny, if ya' picture it. Cheers, cheers, cheers, All!

RiCterMan

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:16 am

I'm thinking it's all to do with personality and who ever has the most creativity leads the band. Be it singer, drummer or guitarist.

It's up to the band members. Maybe it just gells and the instruments they play has nothing to do with it.

When is James the spokesman for Metallica. But he is the voice who everyone recognises.

And where in God's name is Unproject ?

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:45 am

Very good point. Personality is definitely important to band leadership. Cheers!

RiCterMan

ubw rookie Joined: May 03, 2005 Location: Japan Posts: 50

[color=darkblue] [/color]It is definately a matter of the band. Whoever is leading, is. It will even change from song to song with some groups.

Sometimes, no one is. I remember a few Dead shows, man... (That's Grateful not Kennedy's or Can Dance).

Now let us consider the situation of those bands dealing with the "obese-ego" of whichever member BELIEVES themselves to be the leader (probably the singer or lead guitar) .This individual is only allowed to keep their delusion through a gentle, pacific conspiracy by the rest of the band. How many of you cats out there been in one of those situations? C'mon, let me see your hands.

What about the audience? Any good performing ensemble is tuned in, as quickly as possible, to the vibe the house is sending them.

I wonder who is leading when I do an electronic set with my laptop and assorted hardware? MMmmmmmmm

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:28 pm

It depends what you mean by 'lead'. If you meant by image, It is definately the singer. He puts a face to the band. On occasion it can be guitarist... but providing the singer has any sort of energy about him, he will be the 'leader'.

If you mean musicly... the guitarist. You can't really have a singer without a guitarist, or a similar instrument for the vocalist to keep in time with. I rely on my guitarist to keep in time, as does our drummer. Unfortunately, the guitarist relies on me sometimes, which can f**k things up completely, as if one of us slips up, so does the other.

I would say that the drummer should really keep the timings, but seeing as how alot of our practaces are just me and my guitarist, I have learnt not to rely on drums.

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:15 pm

Herb,

The thought of any musician with an ego always makes me upset. It's too bad many "stars" get that way. If I was ever in their position, I'd be in it for music's emtonional aspects. Any money I got would go to, first off, my family, then to help others, and lastly to me just to live off of. Seriously, it's like these people get the cashflow coming, and they think, "Oh, well I make lotsa' green... I must be the best thing on Earth!" But good input man. Thanks!

Blacks,

I see your point completely. If you look at three bands I like, your point is proven. My favorite band, Incubus('s), lead-singer is very charismatic, and many people see him as that bands leader. I'm not so sure, though he is charismatic. John (Jon...?) Davis of KoRn has always been very emotional on-stage, and many people consider him to lead that band, but I have trouble picking any one of them out of the original full line-up. TOOL is kinda' different... People could be torn between MJK, or Danny Carey. At the same time, I couldn't pick just one person there either. Anyway, you and everyone else's ideas are very cool; very interesting to read and think about. So Cheers to everyone, once again!!

RiCterMan

Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:22 am

I think it's because a lot of focus is always put on the singer... as they are the most interesting to watch live. Usually the rest of the band will just stand/sit and do their thing... but the singer is usually walking round the stage, going up to fans... and doing other stuff which makes him the main focus of the audiance.

The vocalist will also be the main link between the band and the press... and so will be in the public eye alot more. Also, some people like music because they can relate to the lyrics... meaning they would see the singer as the main member.

Alot of bands are put together by the vocalist... and so usually, he will be seen as the leader.

Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:44 am

the Blacks,

Very true. The lead singer can be very interesting, like Maynard J.K. is from TOOL.

Also, it's hard for me to get into a band's music if I can't relate to, or at least enjoy, the lyrics. Either a band has to pull me in with good lyrics, or the music behind those lyrics, if not as good, has to be very captivating. The Deftones are a band I've always liked, and I don't enjoy the lyrics as much as the sound of Mr. Moreno's vocals, or the dark sound of the music behind him.

Before I realized Fred Durst from LB was pretty lame, I was into them a lot. The only reason they hold my interest now is Wes. Wes Borland, besides being a great guitarist, had the coolest stage persona. Still, I have no clue why he returned. He could do so much more without Fred.

Last, when I was discussing this type of subject with my father that one day, he said something that seemed odd, but it may be possible. As you know, we were discussing the possibility of the drummer being the leader of a band, and when he said that a band doesn't need a drummer to perform live, he also said that a band can be led by the bassist when the drummer isn't present... Whatcha' guys think about that? Cheers!

RiCterMan

ubw rookie Joined: Jun 11, 2005 Posts: 68

It really depends on what you mean by lead. If you mean that they guide the band through a song, its definitely the drummer. The drums provide the beat and a basic rhythm that keeps all the other on track. But if you mean that the leader is the frontman and the most noticeable part of the band, that's the singer. The singer is what most people think of when they think of the band, and also usually writes many of the songs. Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, and Roger Daltry are prime examples of this. When you listen to a Rolling Stones song, what you mostly focus on is Jagger, because he has the lyrics. Richards gets some notice, especially with riffs and solos, but how many people know all the riffs/solos of popular Stones songs? And how many know all the lyrics? I rest my case.
-Tyler

Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:45 pm

Very good points tyler. I know exactly what you're sayin'. What I meant by lead was who leads a band in any way, be it during performance, or whenever. So, your feedback was very much what I was lookin for, as far as responses go.

But, people don't always think of the singer when they think of a band. It's rare not to, but when I used to be a fan of the band Limp Bizkit, for the first month or two of being a fan, I didn't even know who their lead singer was, because in their videos Wes Borland looked like more of a leader than Fred Durst did. Also, I knew a few other people who felt the same about Fred and Wes, as I did.

Anyhow, I gotta run to another forum. But if this reply seems at all argumentative, it's not. The internet can make a lot of wordings seem to have a different meaning, when something is typed out, so I wanted to point that out. Cheers to All!

RiCterMan

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:25 pm

I think if you can stay away from having an actual leader, who eventually will always lead to Ego issues, it is better to make it a collaborative approach as much as possible. I know sometimes it is hard to imagine "no one" being the formal leader, but it can happen.
Just my .02
Tammy

ubw rookie Joined: Jun 27, 2004 Posts: 108

It's been my experience that the person who leads the band is the one who sets the tone and creates the identity: the songwriter.

Question: Who's the leader?

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