I played with bands for about 5 years before I went solo. Yes, it was great in the beginning, but the dynamics started getting to me. Who didn't want to learn new songs, who brought family problems with them onto the bandstand, who wanted to take a smoke out in the back and set a new standard for long breaks, who would have "one too many," who wasn't open to making arrangements out of songs instead of just playing them, etc.

One day out of the clear blue sky, I was walking down the street and stopped to look in the window of the new music store that just opened. There it was. Probably the world's first drum machine. A Maestro Rhythm King. The answer to my dilemma.

Maestro Rhythm King

I bought it and never looked back. Been doing solo ever since and am happy to be in control of my music now.

The only downside is you don't really get better the way you do when playing with a band and working off of other players.