Mike,

I think a lot of folks would prefer live drums but so few can find live drummers to perform with. I went out and bought a huge drum kit, a large latin percussion set up and a host of little hand percussion tools for my set up in the hopes it would make it easier to find live drummers to come and jam with us while we wrote songs and recorded demos in years past. But the reality is that there are FAR more guitar, keyboard, bass and singers out there than capable drummers. And average guitar player or keyboard player can still blend in with a song and keep it going. And average or below drummer who can't keep good time makes it impossible to move forward. I think that is where drum machines become a less desirable but last resort option.

Fortunately for guitar players, they still haven't found technology that can be played by a non guitarist which will sound remotely like even a bad guitarist. But in the case of drums, even a hack can program something to keep in time. It's just the nature of the beast.

There are some styles of music where a programmed drummer is desired in the first place. But often even those sound great with live percussion mixed in. I doubt many bands would decline the services of a quality drummer. I really just think it's a case of demand far outweighing supply. When I was active writer/recording, I played keys and programmed drums and my guitarist/co-writer played guitar and bass. I think that's a pretty common scenario for a lot of writers/artists. One last factor is sound control. The new electronic kits have evened things out a bit, but a lot of even basement bands can't have the live drums volume going at night because of neighbors and family. I think the electronic kits and the vast improvement of their play-a-bility have probably evened that issue out a little (plus it's a lot easier to travel with.)

So, if you have spare drummers around, tell them to post here, I bet folks will be all over them. As for bass players.. well. that's another issue.. hahahaha

Brian

Brian Austin Whitney
Founder
Just Plain Folks
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"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney

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