I had a bass player in my group, he was also the lead singer. This was early in my career, I did not sing. The bass player was also a close friend. He would drink on the job. He would take him 3 to 4 drinks before he had enough courage to get up on stage, he was 6'3" and fairly good looking.

Well he drank and began to fall over his bass. On one job, we were playing on a center platform about four feet high, people all around us. He almost fell off. The jobs (clubs) turned into a circus, there was no love of music, just performing.

I was the leader, I called an end to this kind of conduct. I wanted him out. The band to a vote, then they asked me to leave, he was the lead singer and it was him the people wanted.

After six months, I got a call from the group, they wanted me back, they could no longer take the abuse and embarrassement.

I went back with the group, and started singing all the lead vocals. Now I was the leader who was the lead singer, who did not drink on the job--and who would never allow one of the musicians on the job to drink on the job.

The bass player passed away at 52.

I had a cordovox player (electric accordion) I worked with. He place his drink on the top of his main unit, it contained the amp and sound source. The drink spilled into the unit, the job was over, the cordovox would no longer produce a sound.

My 2 cents, John C.