ASK WEEGE - Feeling Lucky Punk?

21 September 07

Welcome to The Pier's 'Ask Weege' column. Every week the 880 South's front man and music scene veteran will be answering questions and providing tips for up-and-coming bands and musicians.

Tom from Houston asks, 'Do guys in bands really get many girls chasing after them? How successful have you been with the ladies because of being in a band?'

Weege: Oh boy. Incriminating evidence here. I'm a married man now. So I'm going to be very careful.

Ok look. There are a lot of myths, many true, many false. The reality is women do seem to come easier when you're in a band. Sometimes the quality of a woman is questionable.

I have nothing against groupies and such. I respect all women, regardless of what strange behavior they are capable of. The reality is, now that I'm married, I don't really pay much attention to the women who throw themselves at bands. I do appreciate it, and I do like to meet women on the road. I think it's more attractive to actually have an intelligent conversation with a chick and have some good laughs. I like when a chick actually knows something about music and can comment on it. Instead of, "you looked so hot up there." It gives me the impression that some folks are a bit hollow. But if you asked me this question 8 years ago. My answers would be..."WOOHOO! I love them groupies!" Need I say more?

There were times in my life where I was jumblin several girlfriends/lovers. That was a very long time ago. I will say it was a stressful and unhappy time in my life. Obviously not when I was gettin laid, but everything in between. It really wasn't worth the headaches nor the dramatic re-occuring episodes. You might think it's cool, but you'd burn out on it quick.

How about I have some fun with this. Being a frontman, it's definitely easier to talk to girls. Wether you get laid or not, is a whole nother ballgame. Do you have any game? Can you seal the deal? It's really on your own personality. I meet a lot of dipshits in this biz and for some reason girls like those dipshits. Good guys never seem to win. What did you expect me to say?

But note...I'm saying "girls", not women. I can't speak for the average groupie. I think most of them are younger in age and are only there cause they love the atmosphere of the music industry. Some chicks just dig the attention of being with a musician. I don't know what's goin on up there, but I know what happens down there. haha. Maybe they love the music too. It's hard to say. I won't rip on young girls. They are the epicenter of what keeps a music scene alive and I repect them for that.

It really comes down to, are you willing to deal with the price of multiple relationships? Are you wanting to live this way for a very long time? Are you just in the music biz to get ass? Cause if so, that's kinda cheesy. I'm not saying it isn't fun and I had my share of great luck for a while there. But it wasn't my reason for getting into a band. I'm in music to relieve stress, to express my frustrations, to tell some funny stories, and make people smile. If it gets you laid too, awesome.

I am not gonna say I didn't expect groupie love though. 10 years ago I was a different person, with different values. I love women. I'll gladly flirt with girls, and I have a cool enough wife that doesn't feel threatened by it. I'm a very lucky man. I know she trusts in me and in return I trust her.

Which is why she is my rock in my life. The one thing I can always rely on. I trust her with my life, my music, and everything else in between. I did meet her through music and that's the ironic thing I guess. She's my number one and only groupie. She in fact is the sole reason 880 South still prospers today. Behind every great band are great men. So behind every great man is a great woman. I could quote James Brown here, but I won't. So it all depends on what you seek in life. I won't throw my philosophy at you cause we are all our own men and women to answer to. I will say, you have to decide what you want in life.

Guitarist and singers always seem to have the best luck. Unfortunately for bass players and drummers and other instruments, you will get action now and then, but a lot of the time you get a lot of "dudes" talking to you about your performance or your equipment. Crazy huh? Haha. Greg and Aaron are gonna have something to say about this, but the truth is, they know it's dead on. For some reason horn players get action too. haha! I won't even start using puns here.

I guess guitarists and vocalist have the glamorous spotlight jobs in effect. It's hard not to. Steve and I aren't exactly glory hogs though. I always credit my band-mates because they are the backbone of the rhythm and vibes we give off. They are the vibration that creates intense feelings in the loins. HAH! I'm slayin myself today. In the past if I could get them laid, I would do it. However, we're all different now and tied down. We all have wives and lives of our own. I really have no reason to risk something in my life that I cherish.

Hope that answers your questions. In other words. Yes, musicians get laid.

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