I think its funny that most people don't realize that a good band is first and foremost a fellowship of like-minded, close-knit individuals. We are people first, and musicians second. No matter how talented you are and how tight your chops are, you will never produce something great if you don't like the people you are playing with. I've seen enough bands fail because of this. They focus on the business at hand and ultimately disperse because of the bickering. This is especially true when making changes to an already established lineup. Spend time hanging out and pursuing non-musical endeavors before you ever plug in together.

Flea said it best when he stated in his wonderful instructional video that "you can't play anything good if you don't have real love in your heart."

So make this a priority next time you get together to play music. A good band must first and foremost be a family. These are the people you are going to be working closely with on a shared enterprise, and hopefully the people you will be crammed together with on a tour bus traveling around the world. You had better make sure you get along and that your friendship is strong enough to withstand the grueling schedule, cramped quarters, and stresses of life on the road. You are going to need heavy doses of respect and a humble heart if you are going to get anywhere together. So put down your ego for a bit and get to know the person playing next to you.