Kasim - Musical Director?
 

What are Kasims main duties as a Musical Director when he's working with the band?
Does this mean that he gets a say on how and what the band play during a tour?
I ask this as I was wondering if all bands have a director, or if it's just a Neverland Express thing and if so how come Meat doesn't do it himself?

i think it's just the neverland express that have a musical director, cause i've never heard of any bands having one. as far as the songs go, i think Meat decides on what to play. Kasim found the band members for this tour (obviously not John, Mark and Patti). When they started rehersals originally for this tour, it was Kasim who organised all that stuff, getting the songs learned off etc. Steve Buslowe was the musical director before Kasim. I dunno, i think it's just a fancy title :P

I think every band has one. Its not only what you descrive above but also directing the sound during concerts and things like that.

I remember during a concert in 1994 Steve Buslowe shouting and yelling at the man behind the soundboard. he, he.

yes and kasim is still continuing to do that on this tour. i think he's spending more time off stage to get the sound sorted than he is onstage.

It's quite a big responsibility then really isn't it?
I wonder how he was chosen for the job after Steve Buslowe left?
Can Kasim play almost every instrument in the band? - I know he can play Bass, Guitar and Keyboards, but what about Drums and piano?

Just listen to Quid Pro Quo for the answer to this one!!

(His first professional job was playing piano in Cherry Vanilla's band too.)

SueW

I intend to listen to it, Im just waiting to go to the Sheffield show on 15th jan to buy a copy from the merchendise stand.

What sort of music does he play - is it similar to Meats?

also as musical director, i think he gets the band up out of bed in the mornings, and marches them down for breakfast etc... making sure they're fighting fit for their gigs :lmao:

no his music isn't similar to Meat's. i dunno how to describe it, but it's good. not everyone's cup of tea though.

Hi! Not much more to add to this i guess, as so many already gave you the answers, but i also understand that the MD works closely with the lead performer and determines what they want the songs to come off as (different arrangements then the studio versions possibly, different key and speed to be played etc), and things like that. Also they may have to work with the lighting director, choreographer (if the artist has one! and by the way, choreography isn't just dance, it is even how the artist will walk to certain designated spots in a song, its a lot of stuff; anyway, i digress....), etc and coordinate the songs together as a whole.

I recall Meat posted here when he was sick from his first surgery, that he was in regular contact with Kasim and Billy about how he wanted certain things to come off onstage, and i believe it was also indicated somewhere, probably not by Meat(I forget where it was exactly said), that Kasim has been with Meat for so long that he basically knows what sound arrangements Meat prefers for the songs and gets the band working on those, but then when Meat comes in for rehearsals, there may be a few minor adjustments and then Kasim and the band work from there.

Edited to add: Winston, ;) I dont know about Kasim getting the band set for breakfast, but once upon a time many moons ago, Steve Buslowe had discussed his 'dilema' of the evening with me before a show -- whether he should get the band Chinese or not! :) Its been a while, so I may remember this slightly wrong, but i think he went on to say that when they're on the road and stop to eat, its his job to figure out what and where. Im sure that's changed since.

Take care!!

Jen S.

Obviously I have too much time on my hands.


As 'Musical Director' my duties and tasks are many. For instance, on any given day I'm expected to clean the ashtrays in the Tour Bus, make coffee, iron Patti's dresses, sew missing buttons on, and cook breakfast.
Then, I have to collect the luggage from everyones room and personally bring it to the lobby for a bag count from the Tour Manager.
Once I get that done, I can safely move the bags onto the bus and settle into the drivers seat. Then it's on to the next city.
I drop the band off at their hotel, I rush over to the venue so I can set up the Sound and Lights, tune the guitars, set the drums up, check the mic's, put out the wardrobe, make sure the Merchandise table is set up and start preparing dinner for the Crew.
Once I get them fed, I can take a break while I put the set list together for the show that evening. I'm usually a bit knackered at that point which is why the set is more often than not, unchanged.

It's only during the show when I get to really relax. Because afterwards, tearing down the set and putting everything in the trucks is cutting into my rest time.

K. S.

Hi. OK cool, now we know the 'real tasks' that Kasim does. :D But Kasim, didn't you forget the part where you also have to tuck everyone in and read them their bedtime stories? :wink: Take care!

Jen S.

To clean the asstrays? I think you are joking here all the way! :mrgreen:

no bart, Kasim's not joking. Having clean ashtrays is very important. I've seen him meself emptying them out onto the side of the road :P

:twisted: Hi Kasim.
Great to see you posting here :D .
Can't wait to see you on Sunday 8) .
Rock on.

Ahhhh, so you're responsible for putting Johns drums so high we can't see him down the front :wink: Just a tinsy bit lower so I can get some decent pictures would be cool :D And if you're doing CC's ironing, ya really need to stretch a few of them skirts out! when the miserable security make us sit at some gigs, in the front row, ya can actually see up the poor girls skirt!! So either better ironing or tell the security to let us stand :P

Apart from that, you're doing a grand job, and I love your solo sets :D

Deb

The ashtray thing would be tough. I've never seen guys smoke as much as that band.

yeah you got that right :P you would need a map to get from one band member to the other in that fog :mrgreen:

ANd how can Patti smoke so much and still have such a great voice? 8)

Hey kas - surely you're having a laugh with all that? I'm surprised YOU haven't ended up in hospital yet!!!

So now we've got Meat, Mr Crook and Kasim posting, can we pleeeeease get CC or Patti???!!!!

On which subject, I disagree, CC's skirts are plenty long enough already!!!! Its not Kas's fault she has such looooooong legs!!! Was sat at the back in manchester but have a funny feeling I'm going to enjoy front row at Newcastle..... 8)

you put out wardrobes for the band members Kasim? What the???I pretty much thought it was all black attire and the band members just put on whatever lol??

MLFAN17

yeah they all smoke cigars dont they??

eh no :roll: they smoke cigarettes.

I heard it was cigars?? hmm maybe its both among other things :lol: Just kidding!

i heard that when the bus is broken down, they go to the venues on horses :mrgreen: but thats only sometimes cause Kasim has a pilots licence so he flies the band to wherever they are going on his own private jet. Musical Directors are well paid these days arent they :lmao: