Too true, Dick. I did post about the 'loops in another popular drummer's forum and was just ignored. I'm not on that forum any more as it was just so unbelievably cliquey. If you weren't part of the 'crew' it seemed your opinion just didn't matter. And God forbid I offered advice or tips: that was just arrogance, apparently.
I find their whole response odd considering how many players out there want music to practice to, minus their particular instrument. And there are plenty of threads on Drummerworld asking for this, some even offering links to torrents... As you know, myself and many, many other members here found Wikiloops whilst looking for exactly what they want! But these people want 'name' commercial tracks minus the relevant instrument which is as close-minded as it is questionable from a legal perspective. The irony of their reaction to you is as obvious as it is clearly wasted. It's basically:
"I won't give my music away for free but I don't mind ripping off other's to further myself"...
And Girard: absolutely bang-on and it's so sad that musicians can be so short-sighted. They are, frankly, doing music for all the wrong reasons. I do it for love and enjoyment and, if I get a few pennies along the way such as gigs, etc., then it's a bonus! Of course I'd love to make money from it but a truly liveable wage only happens to the lucky and hard-working few.
I've met many, many 'name' drummers over the years, largely because I was the staff writer for the UK's Rhythm Magazine in the mid-90s. These players have gigged the biggest stadiums in the world, played in front of hundreds of thousands of people and all, with the single exception of a certain drummer in a popular metal band who tried to sue his own fans, are the nicest, humblest and most down-to-earth musicians I've ever met. And all are just as happy playing in a jazz club as they are playing the Shoreline Ampitheater. And all genuinely appreciate the luck they've had getting to where they are.
Ahh well, all the more room for the rest of us.
Edited by
mpointon on November 30 2015 11:58