What happens when band members have conflicting interests?

I'm afraid that if I become a musician I may have a hard time finding someone sharing my tastes.

If, for example, a heavy metal guitarist, a grindcore bassist, a punk-rock drummer, a techno-DJ keyboardist, and a folk singer all got together to form a band, what would happen when they tried to write songs together?

Neoclassical Punk Zydeco Rockabilly can happen.

I remember someone in Led Zeppelin (John Paul Jones?) saying that part of what made that band work is that each of them had very different musical tastes. It can be a strength, if the influences add up to something good.

The worst that could happen is that the disagreement causes the band to implode. At that point, you use the "we had creative differences" line.

That's where the band Skillet got their name. The original members all had their own taste in music, so they ended up mixing together their favorite styles of music "in a big skillet" and seeing what came out of it. It worked out pretty well for them, I think.

If they didn't split up immediately due to constant disagreement over direction, the band described in the OP could potentially be amazing.

edited 28th Oct '10 12:05:33 PM by BobbyG

Well, problem in question isn't different musical tastes. It's the direction the band will take. Even if the musical tastes are similar that may very well happen as easy as if they aren't.

It really depends on the personalities involved and how willing each of them are to build bridges to a common ground. Occasionally compromises can be made, and what can result can be an amazing fusion of styles. But unfortunately more often than not you'll end up with a member (or members) who feel they're being pushed aside or forced to play something that their heart really isn't in. At least that's been my experience. Of course that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try it either.

45 years of hardship and insanity, that's what.