Chemistry Outside of the Music
Collective Soul
Cris Cohen: What is the key to bringing in new band members and having it work well?
Dean Roland of Collective Soul: A lot of it comes down to just luck, you know?
Because there's a ton of hyper-talented musicians out there. But at the end of the day, you have to realize, you're going to be spending a lot of time together that has nothing to do with music <laugh>. You know what I mean?
So that chemistry has to be there outside of the music. It has to become some sort of brotherhood or family. And Ed and I and Will have always had that, because we kind of grew up together. Ed and I are obviously blood brothers, but I've known Will as long as I've known anything. Our families were very close. He grew up a couple of blocks away. So we've always treated it as family.
If you have that element first and then the musicianship is there, it can last. But even then, it's still tough.
I mean, like you said, we've gone through a couple of different configurations. And Ed and I talk about it often. We feel like the past 10 years have been some of the best, as far as the cohesiveness of the band, the respect musically.
You have to have that respect, that allowance for other ideas to come in. Egos have to be checked. I mean, obviously we have them. You're getting on stage in front of thousands of people and performing what you love. And that vulnerability, that ego, is a kick in the ass to get you motivated to get out there and celebrate it. But I think it does just come down to really just a friendship and a mutual respect.
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