"Being in a band is always a compromise. Provided that the balance is good, what you lose in compromise, you gain by collaboration"

This quote by Mike Rutherford speaks with the idea that being in a band is an exchange. It is a compromise between the members of the band, and it is essential that the balance between the members is great. When the balance is good, the members of the band can work together and develop something greater than what any one of them might have developed by themselves. The compromise that is needed to be in a band can be viewed as a loss, but the cooperation that originates from it can be viewed as a gain. The quote is a suggestion that cooperation is an important part of remaining in a band, which the balance between the members is vital for an effective cooperation.