I thought somewhere out there on the web would be The Cardinal Band Rules. But, I didnt find any. Here are several of mine, and please chime in with yours:

RULE 1: Stay within your limits. I dont care what a musician does coke, heroin, drinking, whores, whatever floats your boat. Regardless of what you do you better be able to play. In my band going past your limits makes Dave a very angry and unhappy Italian!

RULE 2: Never cancel a gig that you can play. Unless you a physical incapable of doing it you better be there!

RULE 3: Never have sex with your band members Ex-girlfriend/wife. Women want to get back at their ex. If you are in a band there is no greater revenge for a woman than to take down one of your band mates. She doesnt really want you, she just wants to get back at him. Dont fall into this! There is far too much scatter a-- running around the planet to be having sex with one of your band members Exs.

RULE 4: Dont let women come between the band. Women are great helping out bands! Let them help, but never EVER let them on the inside. I would have starved to death in the 80s had I not had the help of women.

RULE 5: Dont cancel practice without a good reason. Within the last 5678 Lord only knows how many years I have cancelled two practices. One because I broke my wrist and one because I broke my hand. Dont call off practice because you dont feel like going. If you are sick, hurt, have a family crisis thats fine. But, you dont cancel because you just dont feel like going. I look at it like this: I dont get paid for gigs, those I play for free. What I get paid for is the practice it took to do the gigs. View practice like that and it will be a lot easier to take. I hate it too but its a necessary evil.

RULE 6: Come to practice prepared. Having perfect attendance at practice does no good if you dont come prepared. If you were supposed to learn a cover then LEARN the cover. Your time is not more valuable than your fellow band members time. Dont waste their time!

RULE 7: The sum is greater than the individual. What this means is check your ego at the door! Try to remember you are a piece of something bigger than yourself. Ask what is best for the band, not what is best for you. There is something very special about being at a gig and having the whole band pull together as a team. One cohesive unit pouring sound off the stage in a wall of unity. When we opened for Yngwie you could tell Yngwie is not aware of this rule. It felt like two different performances. One by Yngwie and one by the rest of the band.

Well thats a start anyway.

Dave