A Birmingham band posted this on my gigs group forum:

"As some of you know, on monday we met with A+R from a major record label. They thought the music was brilliant particularly Heartache and hairdye. They said they were happy to take us forward, let us choose our own producer for future recordings and everything was looking very rosy in the garden of the Heathers. However there was a condition attatched. The condition being that we sack our drummer Rob Peters and recruit a younger and more glamorous drummer. Rob is the only member of the band who does not live in the Heathers household. This is because he was born too early, has a partner and a nine year old daughter.

We just want to play with Rob because he is a brilliant drummer. We trust him and our lives would not be the same without him! If we make it then Rob deserves to be there with us. Rob being the gentleman that he is offered to bow out, but thats not the point. WE WANT ROB WITH US!

It's a sad fact that record companies still feel that the younger generation would not buy a record of a young band because the drummer was too old.

We wont do it. In fact it wouldn't even enter our heads to lose someone whos talent is immense and helps make us what we are. So today we have respectfully declined. If we are meant to be famous then it's gonna happen because the people who support our music are intelligent enough to make up their own minds. So we'll plod on with our pot noodles and our stupid ducks a while longer, safe in the knowledge our integrity is not for sale.

We hope you can all understand where we're coming from."

How thick is the music business? The age of the drummer???????