There are 3 basic levels in the popular music business. Bar players, B acts and A listers/successful hit writers. B opens for A, played there for a few years when I was young. It’s a big step up from the bar grind, but the Road grind is very dangerous of course. I was talking to a guy I did some local shows much later with a guy who toured with George Clinton, opening for him in his regular B act. He was also stage manager for the A act. He was on the road 11 years, much longer than I lasted. I asked how it went. He said, “Over 11 years, 4 of the guys died and I had a stroke, had to quit and couldn’t play for 3 years.”
That’s rough.