i always thought drummers were just trying showing off by taking their shirts off playing drums

G

georgeusa

Active Member
i always thought drummers were just trying showing off by taking their shirts off playing drums

but it does get quite hot trying to play a full set i would imagine..........
 
I did it once. During a hot summer gig in 1980. Never again.
 
There were times when I wished I could, usually when the lights guys set up too close to me. Could be worse. I once saw a bass drum burst into flames during a gig because the lights were too close.
 
"Hey Spicoli.......you guys had shirts on when you came in.."
"Aughh.....somthin' happened to em' man"
"See the sign?"
"Yahh....No shoes....No shirt........NO DICE!"
 
The shirt off is more consistent with certain genres and energy levels, and sometimes just for effect. You would probably see that with a metal or alternative band, but not a jazz band.
 
Years ago, my band played a "clothing optional" campground. They encouraged us to disrobe, but we politely declined. Lessons learned:

1. I was the only band member comfortable mingling with naked people on breaks. I chalk it up to my Army career and combat deployment. Nothing scares me any more. :) The other band members hid.
2. People who were not wearing clothes, SHOULD have been wearing clothes.
3. The nudists were, in fact; weirdos and not particularly friendly. No surprise. We played one other gig there and then politely departed.
 
bermuda said:
The shirt off is more consistent with certain genres and energy levels, and sometimes just for effect. You would probably see that with a metal or alternative band, but not a jazz band.
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I'm 59 years old and still devilishly handsome, fit and muscular. :D That said, I still think there are many drummers who would do better than I with a shirtless performance! :)

I'll keep my shirt on. Thank you very much.
 
Luckily, technology has advanced to the point where that is no longer necessary.

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Smoke said:
What if your six-pack now more closely resembles a keg?!? :ROFLMAO:
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I can't speak for anyone else, but I worry less about the keg than the man-maries. 😳 I can't get the image of Fat Bastard out of my mind. Lol

Think about all those big band drummers playing high-energy gigs in tuxedos, way before air conditioning.

Yeah, the shirt off is just for show. 😅
 
A group of seniors playing Dixieland, yes please keep your shirts on.
 
Back around 1999-2000, my circle of band friends included a drummer in another band. We all kinda rotated in an out of the same venues. This guy's signature trick was to remove his shirt as soon as he hit the stage. Temperature didn't matter. It was just his thing. Nobody seemed to care.

At one point, he filled in for me when I couldn't make a couple gigs. The band I was in at the time weren't happy at all with the shirtless performance. The "naked guy" in the back of the stage clashed with the suited "Blues Brothers" image my band was trying to project. This guy liked to do a lot of flashy fills, stick twirling and solos. That also created some tension in the band as the drummer tended to upstage the lead guy.
 
I did it maybe once or twice 20 years ago when it was really hot outside and i was sweating profoundly at a rehearsal, but haven't done it since. I really dislike the feeling of sweat running down my back etc. Much rather have a shirt soak all that sweat up. That, plus I'm also self conscious about my body and now that I'm married my wife has a monopoly on seeing by beer belly :p

Not really a fan of seeing any musician playing shirtless either, but the bands i went to didn't do that so... and haven't been to a gig since February 2020, so haven't been confronted with that either haha. Did score a ticket for Dire Straits Legacy next year, so my "live gig exile" will be over by then haha
 
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