Bill,

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt! Had a great band for about 5 years, most were mediocre when it came to talent, but toward the end the lead guitarist would sometimes show and sometimes not. The bass player got stoned before the job ever started and stayed that way. The lead singer, who also played an acoustic guitar, decided he sounded better after several boiler makers and the drummer always seemed to be playing somewhere else. No one wanted to rehearse, and they all wanted more money. Best thing I ever did was to go solo, at first with a guitar, then with the keyboard. Out of all of them, I'm the only one that continues to play. The lead guitar player plays a fair number of freebees at nursing homes, but every song he performs is something by Marty Robbins and after about 15 minutes the residents are falling asleep.

Finding a group of GOOD players who are willing to put in the time and do what is necessary to be successful is next to impossible.

Good Luck,

Gary