after R.E.M.'s 'fables of the reconstruction', before hitting the real big time, peter buck went back to work in his local record store. strange but true. has anyone ever seen a once-famous/legendary rock n pop type in a similair situation? i think all the tindersticks now have regular job-type jobs on the go. just before chris martin came calling, embrace were all 9 to 5-ing it recently.

others?

-- piscesboy (piscesxx...), February 1st, 2005. (1 trackback)

Answers

I don't know any, but great thread idea.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

what were embrace doing? one of kula shaker works in marketing, that i know.

-- Miles Finch (poptha...), February 1st, 2005.

I'm not sure exactly what he does for a day job, but Moe Berg (the former singer for Canada's once-popular The Pursuit of Happiness) has a regular DJ gig at a small T.O. pub called The Tap.

-- Bruce S. Urquhart (burquhar...), February 1st, 2005.

M4rk 1bold of Pavement's been seen pouring drinks in M4nh4tt4n of late.

-- Snappy (jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj...), February 1st, 2005.

Somehow I stupidly imagined that Pavement members didn't need to work anymore.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

one of kula shaker works in marketing, that i know.

Presumably he learned from his mistakes.

-- Ned Raggett (ne...), February 1st, 2005.

When Turbonegro broke up in 1998, singer Hank von Helvete went to work as a caretaker in a whaling museum in Norway. Bassist Happy Tom worked as a market analyst. However they got back together in 2002.

-- matulageci (bedemarto...), February 1st, 2005.

I read somewhere that Moe Tucker worked at Walmart.

-- insert name here (ms...), February 1st, 2005.

Lou Reed work in his dad's office for a bit before his solo career took off.

-- Snappy (jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj...), February 1st, 2005.

Alastair Moore, the keyboard player from the Skids, taught me music at school.

-- aldo_cowpat (aldo.cowpa...), February 1st, 2005.

Was Sterling Morrison ever a tugboat captain, or did I just make that up?

-- Huk-L (handsomishbo...), February 1st, 2005.

bill withers went back to working as a contractor when he stopped singing. his company builds houses and stuff. weird but true, too.

-- Jay-Kid (jizzleki...), February 1st, 2005.

I'd have thought he could live off of the royalties from "Lean on Me" alone.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

I read somewhere that Moe Tucker worked at Walmart.

See her song "Spam Again"

-- miccio (anthonyisrigh...), February 1st, 2005.

xxpost:
I don't think you made it up, Huk, I heard that too.

Didn't David Lee Roth go into paramedic training recently?

-- Ken L (lauter...), February 1st, 2005.

Greg Norton from Husker Du opened a restaurant.

-- NickB (nic...), February 1st, 2005.

Shane MaGowan worked at the record shop round the back of the Virgin Megastore Oxford Street, between finishing the Nips and starting the Pogues. I saw him there a couple times, anyway.

-- mark grout (mark.grou...), February 1st, 2005.

Dave Lowering became a magician.

Kurt Wagner kept up the fllooring business.

And didn't Sterling Morrison become a tourist boat captain while waiting for the Velvets reunion?

-- laticsmon (persecution_smit...), February 1st, 2005.

Tim Rutilli of Califone waits tables (occasionally) at an amazing restaurant in Chicago - same place that Greg Davis takes residency a few times per year.

-- cdjk (cdj...), February 1st, 2005.

I'd have thought he could live off of the royalties from "Lean on Me" alone.

Why, surely he could. But I think that he actually takes pleasure in working as a building contractor.

-- Jay-Kid (jizzleki...), February 1st, 2005.

Makes sense to me.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

Lean on Me Construction:

You won't WITHER when you get the BILL!

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

Sorry.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

David Lee Roth now works as an emergency medical technician in New York.

-- mcd (srmcd...), February 1st, 2005.

This is probably going to be too big to insert....

ihttp://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~bgwaters/ed1.jpg

Bill "Zoot Horn Rollo" Harkleroad apparently works in a little music / record shop and sometimes teaches guitar.

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), February 1st, 2005.

I once read that Tim Buckley worked as a gardener after his Elektra contract was over and that he was Sly Stone's gardener?

-- Tim Ellison (timejeanne...), February 1st, 2005.

I remember that Moe Tucker worked as a data entry clerk . . I never heard Walmart though.

Sterling Morrison was a teacher .. College I think ...

-- dave225 (right.knewi...), February 1st, 2005.

lots of jazz people got regular jobs when things got bad. King Oliver ended up selling stuff on the street in Savannah, Louis Armstrong saw him there in the '30s.

Benny Spellman, the great New Orleans singer (of "Lipstick Traces") was a beer salesman.

Alex Chilton was a tree-trimmer and dishwasher in New Orleans in the early '80s.

I think Alberta Hunter became a nurse...

I'm pretty sure Moe Tucker worked at a Wal-Mart down in Georgia.

-- es hurt (eddshur...), February 1st, 2005.

moe tucker def worked at walmart. theres a lot of stuff about it (although i dont think the store is mentioned by name) in life in exile after abdication. which is a great album, i think.

-- peter smith (reesewitherspoo...), February 1st, 2005.

that blows my mind about david lee roth!

here in glasgow, steven pastel of the pastels runs a record shop (although the pastels are still going too). one of uresei yatsura works in a record shop, alan rankine of the associates teaches music technology and bobby bluebell of the bluebells is a dj.

-- stirmonster (jd_twitc...), February 1st, 2005.

xxpost -- I remember learning when I went to New Orleans that a lot of jazz musicians in the 20s and 30s had dayjobs there as builders -- I think King Oliver might have been mentioned but I don't remember.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

I guess all bluesmen from th 30s who were rediscovered in the 60s would also fit here.

-- matulageci (bedemarto...), February 1st, 2005.

One of the guys from XTC worked (maybe still does) at a car rental place , even in the band's heydey, because the singer had chronic stagefright so they had no steady source of income.

-- CowboyTrance (californiatranc...), February 1st, 2005.

Elizabeth Cotten played music, went back to work for many years, and then became something of a *star*. She was the Seegers' housekeeper when she was *discovered*.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

I think Hugo Burnham went on to record exec stuff of some sort, but I think the thread is better if we don't concentrate on people who moved into an entertainment corporation.

-- BlastsOfStatic (breitlin...), February 1st, 2005.

Tim Rutilli of Califone waits tables (occasionally) at an amazing restaurant in Chicago

Where?

More Chicago musicians:

Janet Bean of Eleventh Dream Day and Freakwater works at a law firm. Tim Kinsella of Joan of Arc and Johnny Herndon of Tortoise have both bartended at the Rainbo Club in Wicker Park. John Navin of the Aluminum Group is a public school teacher; his brother Frank waits tables at the restaurant in the Hancock Building.

-- jaymc (jmcunnin...), February 1st, 2005.

Yes, let's not get on the artist x went on to produce or become an A&R; man track.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

(None of mine went "back to work," though: I don't think any were successful enough to actually quit in the first place.)

-- jaymc (jmcunnin...), February 1st, 2005.

Rutilli is occasionally waiting tables at Rodan in Wicker Park.

-- cdjk (cdj...), February 1st, 2005.

Ah, interesting. I've been there. I wouldn't recognize him, though, since I've never seen Califone.

-- jaymc (jmcunnin...), February 1st, 2005.

steven pastel of the pastels runs a record shop (although the pastels are still going too). alan rankine of the associates teaches music technology

I remember Steven working in the music department of John Smith' before they sold up to Starbucks. Alan Rankine helped get Belle and Sebastians career off the ground.

-- Billy Dods (butterbubble...), February 1st, 2005.

Tom Rapp of Pearls before Swine became a lawyer, as did Santiago Durango of Big Black.

-- NickB (nic...), February 1st, 2005.

Justine Frischmann of Elastica has done some school teaching since 2001.

-- CT (californiatranc...), February 1st, 2005.

Bob Mould worked as a writer for WCW Wrestling a while back.

-- gspm (sea...), February 1st, 2005.

Somebody had a thread recently about Art Tripp, ex-Mothers percussionist, who became a chiropractor and moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast area within the last couple of years. Also, Motorhead Sherwood became a California Highway Patrolman. (Time to recast all those CHiPs episodes in my head.)

-- Curious George Rides a Republican (crump...), February 1st, 2005.

isnt laura cantrell a stockbroker on wall street? i know her job is finance-related, somehow.

on the pylon website, there's information about all the current occupations of its members.

i almost never hear of musicians / artists in general existing without some sort of dayjob.

-- maria tessa sciarrino (mari...), February 1st, 2005.

Dunno how many of these you'd call "rock stars"....

Mark Perry (Alternative TV) worked in WH Smiths for a while
Vic Godard (Subway Sect) is a postman
Manic Esso (Lurkers) was last seen working as a drayman
Viv Albertine (Slits) works (vaguely) in television
Topper Headon (Clash) is apparently a taxi driver
Gaye Advert (Adverts) works (vaguely) in personnel / admin
Pauline Murray (Penetration) I believe works in Social Services
Jayne Casey (Big In Japan / Pink Industry / Pink Military) works for Liverpool Council
Howard Devoto (Buzzcocks / Magazine) works / worked for a picture archive library
Paul Jones (drummer with Killing Joke protegees Red Beat) works for High Wycombe council; as, I believe does Howard (also form High Wycombe but no relation afaik) Jones' mime-artist chum Jed Hoile.

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), February 1st, 2005.

"Somebody had a thread recently about Art Tripp, ex-Mothers percussionist, who became a chiropractor and moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast area within the last couple of years."

If you follow the link in my first post....

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), February 1st, 2005.

pearl from powder 'works' as one quarter of a tragic wife-swapping group.

-- Miles Finch (poptha...), February 1st, 2005.

Is Art Tripp also an Omar Shariff impersonator?

-- NickB (nic...), February 1st, 2005.

Stewart -- my bad.

-- Curious George Rides a Republican (crump...), February 1st, 2005.

One thing I always wonder -- how do those mid-level indie bands survive? They're big enough that they tour frequently, hence they probably don't have a full-time job. But they also can't be making much from music.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

on my first day at work at sonicnet (RIP), i was somewhat surprised to see the bass player from too much joy sitting behind an executive desk. not that i ever imagined that being in too much joy would set you up financially for life. last i checked, he was still an online music exec somewhere.

dave allen from gang of four and shriekback is in the digital/computer/music/whatever biz in some capacity.

john s. hall from king missile is an entertainment lawyer.

as for M4rk 1bold of Pavement -- hell, he was working as the mersh guy for other bands even when pavement was at the height of their success. i'm not sure he ever went back to work inasmuch as i'm not sure he ever didn't work.

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), February 1st, 2005.

I wonder about that, too, Hurting.

-- jaymc (jmcunnin...), February 1st, 2005.

I remember reading an recent article about Yo La Tengo in which they said that it was only a couple years ago that they were able to make a living off music alone.

-- jaymc (jmcunnin...), February 1st, 2005.

on my first day at work at sonicnet (RIP), i was somewhat surprised to see the bass player from too much joy sitting behind an executive desk
Sandy? I remember when he started at the desk job, he was working at that building on 6th ave between 51st and 52nd where there are some offices, maybe for Atlantic, I think he had had a kid a little bit before.

You worked at sonicnet, fcc? Was that what used to be Addicted to Noise?

-- Ken L (lauter...), February 1st, 2005.

A friend of mine who lives in Philly used to see one of the Dead Milkmen working in a coffee shop or a pizza place there. This was a few years back. Might’ve been the guy who died.

-- Raymond Cummings (gracefulas...), February 1st, 2005.

ken: sandy, yes indeed. sonicnet was on bleecker street at the time, though. atlantic does, or at least did, have offices on 6th near 51st, in the same building rolling stone was in, but if sandy ever worked there, that's not where i knew him from.

sonicnet and addicted to noise were two separate companies that merged in the late '90s and continued using both identities; i started not long after the merger and essentially worked for both.

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), February 1st, 2005.

I was surprised so see Miki from Lush working in the TV listings dept of IPC. Along with Rob Sekula of 14 Iced Bears, indie fans.

-- laticsmon (persecution_smit...), February 1st, 2005.

sonicnet was on bleecker street at the time

must ... fact-check ... self. for the historical record: sonicnet was on broadway. damn close to bleecker, though.

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), February 1st, 2005.

Peter Hein, frontman of famous 80s german bad Fehlfarben, and one of the best punk singers and songwriters, decided that he'd rather work for a photocopier company than being a star. it was a voluntary choice, he was not forced to do this. IIRC, fehlfarben had just been signed.

-- xenografia (il...), February 1st, 2005.

Michael Gerard of Killdozer is a tax lawyer
Derrick Bostrom of The Meat Puppets is a web designer

-- tipustiger (tipustige...), February 1st, 2005.

Topper Headon (Clash) is apparently a taxi driver

in the late 1980s or early 1990s, i no longer remember, i visited friends who lived in a squatted flat in brixton. I was introduced to a couple that was temporarily staying in one of my friends rooms. they guy looked like a heroin addict. he was introduced to me as topper headon, the clash drummer. i had no idea of his or the clash's fame and had certainly not heard their music before. topper told me he works as a cab driver. not sure if he still would be as some of their songs were successfully rereleased.

-- xenografia (il...), February 1st, 2005.

re: bill withers -- i wouldnt be surprised if his label owns the copyright to that song. many of R&B; folks from the 60s/70s rarely saw royalties for their works.

re: mid-level indie bands -- lots of them work temp jobs in between tours. this also explains why bands like that tour a lot: its one of their few sources of income.

-- maria tessa sciarrino (mari...), February 1st, 2005.

i think i recall--perhaps it's in his biography--that while he hasn't taken up the gig fully, Philip Glass still renews his NYC taxi license whenever it's up for renewal

-- ken taylrr (or...), February 1st, 2005.

i saw one of them out of mclusky working at HMV in cardiff and one of menswear works in that snazzy trainer shop right by camden locke

-- joey deacon (joeydeaco...), February 1st, 2005.

on my first day at work at sonicnet (RIP), i was somewhat surprised to see the bass player from too much joy sitting behind an executive desk. not that i ever imagined that being in too much joy would set you up financially for life. last i checked, he was still an online music exec somewhere.

That would be Tim Quirk: He went on to become editorial director of Listen.com, now a part of Real.com. Great, great guy. TMJ unfortunately didn't make him much money due to the ol' demon RECOUPMENT.

But as for others: Bobby Sherman became a California EMT; and of course Pete Best made donuts at a bakery after becoming an ex-Beatle.

Does becoming a preacher count as "going back to work"? If so, we can add Vanity, Little Richard, Ma$e, and a ton of others.

-- Joseph McCombs (jmccomb...), February 1st, 2005.

i think i recall--perhaps it's in his biography--that while he hasn't taken up the gig fully, Philip Glass still renews his NYC taxi license whenever it's up for renewal

That's awesome.

-- jaymc (jmcunnin...), February 1st, 2005.

Debbie Googe became a cab driver, didn't she?
Also Billy "Bass" Nelson (the OG bass player from Funkadelic) apparently got into the computer industry in the 80s-90s, before returning to Clinton's touring band.

-- Shakey Mo Collier (audiobo...), February 1st, 2005.

That would be Tim Quirk:

actually, i was talking about sandy smallens. tim was tmj's singer and might have had a desk awfully close to the sonicnet office in san francisco, but never inside it. sandy was the tmj's bassist and his desk was inside the sonicnet office in new york. apparently, being in tmj was an excellent background for getting back to work in the digital music biz! (and tmj, of course, had a song back in the day that celebrated noted getting-back-to-worker hugo burnham of gang of four.) ((and if you spend your time in music tv/video circles, you're likely to run into a third member of too much joy.))

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), February 1st, 2005.

Does becoming a preacher count as "going back to work"?
Wasn't the King of Rock and Soul, Solomon Burke famous for this sort of thing? Preacher, undertaker, concessionary seller of ribs and popcorn before his own shows. I remember reading a story from Dion or somebody talking about how, before they got on the tourbus, Solomon would buy some sandwiches somewhere and then, a few hours later when the other performers were "dying for something," he'd charge them five (1962!) dollars for a ham sandwich.

Somebody once told me they had met a lawyer at a business meeting who told them he had been in Looking Glass, if not the lead singer
himself.

And what about the bass player in Huey Lewis's old (and for one album, Elvis Costello's) band Clover, who has been known to play with Lucinda Williams but also got a day job as a chiropractor, Dr. John Ciambotti?

-- Ken L (lauter...), February 1st, 2005.

Wow, seeing SonicNet's and ATN's names bandied about takes me back... Webnoize.com was the horse I rode for a while, then AOL, then back to relatively straight work. Good times, tho.

-- BlastsOfStatic (breitlin...), February 1st, 2005.

Fact Checkin Cuz: Thank you for once more living up to your name. :)

-- Joseph McCombs (jmccomb...), February 1st, 2005.

Does becoming a preacher count as "going back to work"?

Paging Al Green.

-- The Mad Puffin (pfnwrit...), February 1st, 2005.

Webnoize.com was the horse I rode for a while, then AOL, then back to relatively straight work

guess those stock options never quite paid off, huh? ;-)

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), February 1st, 2005.

"topper told me he works as a cab driver. not sure if he still would be as some of their songs were successfully rereleased."

Last I heard (a couple of years ago) he was living somewhere down near (Dover?) and still driving a taxi.

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), February 1st, 2005.

Cappadonna also became a cab driver after the last few Wu related albums started tanking.

-- King Kobra (doctorduc...), February 1st, 2005.

You know, I got a cab ride once from a pretty well-known music writer.

-- Ken L (lauter...), February 1st, 2005.

Kelly Hogan bartends at the Hideout in Chicago.

-- Riot Gear! (speed.to.roa...), February 1st, 2005.

Rick Buckler (The Jam) now makes a living restoring and selling old furniture.
A former Buzzcock (can't remember if it's Steve Garvey or John Maher) is apparently working as a car mechanic somewhere in the USA.

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), February 1st, 2005.

speaking of restorers, billy zoom from x had a shop for a long time where he repaired and customized guitar amps. he may still have the shop, but his website says he's too busy producing to work on amps right now.

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), February 1st, 2005.

Prior to his death, John McGeoch (Magazine, Visage, Banshees, Public Image) was working as a nurse.
The Damned's keyboard player Monty Oxymoron still works as a psychiatric nurse when the band aren't touring.

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), February 1st, 2005.

didnt those alimony docs that came out on the smoking gun awhile back mention that exene cervenka (sp?) was a high school teacher? also, didnt one of the girls from sleater kinney teach in between all hands on the bad one and one beat?

-- Dude, are you a 15 year old asian chick? (still.beven...), February 1st, 2005.

xxxpost:
Wasn't one of Mott the Hoople also in the furniture restoration business- Overend Watts?
I thought I heard that Pete Shelley was working in the City of London as a stockbroker or something back in the 90s.

Anton Fier was working as a counterman at a local sandwich shop in downtown Brooklyn until recently.

-- Ken L (lauter...), February 1st, 2005.

"I thought I heard that Pete Shelley was working in the City of London as a stockbroker or something back in the 90s."

Buzzcocks have been back together (only Pete and Steve Diggle from the origonal line-ups) since 1989....

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), February 1st, 2005.

One of The Raincoats (Gina Birch?) weas running an antiques shop before the band reformed.

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), February 1st, 2005.

Sterling Morrison was a teacher .. College I think ...
He did that too. He went back to grad school to get a PhD in (Victorian?) Literature at UT Austin.

-- Ken L (lauter...), February 1st, 2005.

rock stars who went back TO work that's meant to say in the thread title by the way sorry. if i were from rochdale it'd be okay as it is.

-- piscesboy (piscesxx...), February 1st, 2005.

I think I saw something about the drummer from Bl*nk 1*2 teaching drum lessons even now

-- King Kobra (doctorduc...), February 1st, 2005.

Can we really count something like that?

xpost:
Baby's got back work.

-- Ken L (lauter...), February 1st, 2005.

"I thought I heard that Pete Shelley was working in the City of London as a stockbroker or something back in the 90s."
Buzzcocks have been back together (only Pete and Steve Diggle from the origonal line-ups) since 1989....
Yeah, you're right. Shows what I get for talking and listening to strangers.

-- Ken L (lauter...), February 1st, 2005.

Santiago Durango went to law school when Big Black split (wasn't he the reason they split?). He may still be there of course if he's done a lot of re-sits for being a daft lad.

Greg Demos, former GBV.....wasn't he another lawyer type?

-- Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountain Dog (pau...), February 1st, 2005.

and speaking of gbv-related peeps, there's also john petkovic of cobra verde, who's a reporter for the cleveland plain-dealer. though i'm not sure if that's technically going "back" to work, 'cause i'm not sure if he was ever NOT doing it.

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), February 1st, 2005.

an old co-worker used to get her taxes done by (i think) the drummer from the circle jerks.

-- ddb (stupidpum...), February 1st, 2005.

The Bass Thing from the Wonder Stuff briefly worked at the Tower Records on Broadway....before he died.

I saw Debbie (guitar player) from Curve/Echobelly working at a used disc store in London right across from the Notting Hill tube stop in 2000.

Jack Natz (Undead/Virus/BlackSnakes/Cop Shoot Cop/Lubricated Goat/CrimeWave/Crux) is now a bike messenger.

Supposedly Wild Bill Carter of the Screaming Blue Messiahs is now a scooter messenger in London...with a tenuous grasp on sanity.

an old co-worker used to get her taxes done by (i think) the drummer from the circle jerks.

I've heard that too, only it's not the drummer, it's their bass player circa Golden Showe of Hits (whose name escapes me).

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), February 1st, 2005.

jesse peretz of the lemonheads gave up music to become a video and filmmaker.

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), February 1st, 2005.

Laura Cantrell actually wasn't a stockbroker, she was an analyst at B@nk of @merica up in midtown. Worked a floor above me when I was there, but I didn't know her. Tony Rettm@n of Blastitude.com/200 lb. underground zine infamy works in publication services there.

And didn't Sterling Morrison become a tourist boat captain while waiting for the Velvets reunion?

he was a tugboat captain. also, a medieval scholar.

M4rk Ibold is also a "food designer" for photo shoots. Meaning, he makes sure photographed food looks good.

-- hstencil (hstenc!...), February 1st, 2005.

Philip Glass still renews his NYC taxi license whenever it's up for renewal

if it's a medallion, and not a license, there would be incredible financial incentive to keep renewing it.

-- hstencil (hstenc!...), February 1st, 2005.

M4rk Ibold is also a "food designer" for photo shoots. Meaning, he makes sure photographed food looks good.
you'd be surprised at how this is actually somewhat difficult.

-- maria tessa sciarrino (mari...), February 1st, 2005.

I wasn't trying to imply that it isn't difficult, just explain it in layman's terms since it's not the most common profession.

-- hstencil (hstenc!...), February 1st, 2005.

oh i know. sometimes its also referred to as "food stylist"...

-- maria tessa sciarrino (mari...), February 1st, 2005.

In a Wire interview Keith Levene mentioned that until recently he was working as a graphic designer in LA.

-- walter kranz (kranz_walte...), February 1st, 2005.

Also Billy "Bass" Nelson (the OG bass player from Funkadelic) apparently got into the computer industry in the 80s-90s, before returning to Clinton's touring band.

he actually worked at Rocketdyne in Simi Valley. i tried to talk to him about it once but that guy is difficult to talk to. he's always in his own world.

also check this out about my favo heavy metal singer:

Bruce Dickinson juggles life as singer for the band Iron Maiden with flying a Boeing

A ROCK star whose band is famed for long hair and wild on-stage antics has taken off in a new career: as an airline pilot.

Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, has passed rigorous flight exams to qualify to fly twin-engine passenger jets with a new charter airline based at Gatwick.

He now works as a pounds 35,000-a-year first officer, flying 148-seat Boeing 737s to holiday destinations ranging from Portugal to Egypt.

These days, Dickinson, 44, who once had waist-length, ginger hair and leapt around stage in leathers and skin-hugging tights ...

-- charleston charge (chaki.tim...), February 1st, 2005.

also the drummer for BRMC is unemployed and homeless right now so if anyone has an open position contact him asap! ;)

-- charleston charge (chaki.tim...), February 1st, 2005.

maybe he should form a Primal Scream-esque act and follow his destiny!

-- Snappy (jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj...), February 1st, 2005.

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter does some kind of defense dept. consulting. Don't know if he needs to, though.

-- nickn (nickn62...), February 1st, 2005.

he gets royalties? I always thought he just a session hack and tv mouth-off.

-- Snappy (jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj...), February 1st, 2005.

there's also john petkovic of cobra verde, who's a reporter for the cleveland plain-dealer. though i'm not sure if that's technically going "back" to work, 'cause i'm not sure if he was ever NOT doing it.

I read somewhere that he'd been a freelance journalist while in Cobra Verde--is he a staff writer or a stringer now?

Julia Cafritz reportedly is teaching in NYC, and I once heard about Juliana Hatfield working at one of the Newbury Comics stores.

-- j.lu (jlut...), February 1st, 2005.

bill withers went back to working as a contractor when he stopped singing. his company builds houses and stuff. weird but true, too.

-- Jay-Kid (jizzleki...) (webmail), February 1st, 2005 3:54 PM. (Jay-Kid) (link)

I'd have thought he could live off of the royalties from "Lean on Me" alone.

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...) (webmail), February 1st, 2005 3:54 PM. (Hurting) (link)

i read an interview with him recently; he says he just likes to be busy. sounds good to me. i wonder if the showcase homes he builds have a big "built by BILL 'LEAN ON ME' WITHERS" sign out front.

-- Amateur(ist) (amateuris...), February 1st, 2005.

I love it when the night shift comes in and does the day shift's work all over again.

-- Curious George Rides a Republican (crump...), February 1st, 2005.

Ah, I thought those were new posts, not quotes.

-- Curious George Rides a Republican (crump...), February 1st, 2005.

Greg Norton of Husker Du is now a chef.

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), February 2nd, 2005.

When I interviewed Barbara Manning a few years back she said she was going to pursue a forestry degree in Northern California. A quick scan of barbaramanning.com suggests she's doing so.

-- m.e.a. (flpyrw...), February 2nd, 2005.

Keith Morris from the Circle Jerks is also a chef at Millies on Sunset.

-- charleston charge (chaki.tim...), February 2nd, 2005.

i believe that kim wilde does landscape gardening now, if memory serves...

-- the surface noise (slight return) (electricsoun...), February 2nd, 2005.

a really annoying one is Deniz Tek, guitarist and songwriter out of Radio Birdman (70s oz punk/detroit pebbles). He was US citizen so at demise of band went back to the US became a Navy Jet Pilot and then a Doctor.

His career reads:

Rock Star
Fighter Pilot
Doctor

bastard!

-- gallantseagull (gallantseagul...), February 2nd, 2005.

A former Buzzcock (can't remember if it's Steve Garvey or John Maher) is apparently working as a car mechanic somewhere in the USA.

It's John Maher. In one of the recent Manchester documentaries on BBC, he's interviewed in his garage.

J. Geils of the J. Geils Band is a car restorer in rural NY or MA.

-- Elvis Telecom (quartzcit...), February 2nd, 2005.

Another one who should have been able to live off of his royalties:

Peter Tork taught social studies, math, and music at a high school for a while after his career with the Monkees.

-- jim wentworth (wenchv...), February 2nd, 2005.

paris became an accountant

-- Shmool McShmool (shmuel...), February 2nd, 2005.

I could look this up to be sure, but some member of Iron Butterfly became some sort of rocket scientist or scientician or something, and then he worked for the U.S. government, and then either federal agents or spacemen "disappeared" him. But maybe they found his corpse later?

-- Heidy- Ho (mmasic...), February 2nd, 2005.

Chris Mars of the Replacements is a relatively successful artist. I have one of his lithos in my office (the cover from Horseshoes & Handgrenades), and I've seen paintings for sale at upward of $50,000.

David Schelzel of The Ocean Blue was a year behind me in law school. We had a class together, and he seemed pretty bookish. I believe he is a corporate attorney somewhere in MN.

-- subgenius (subsubgeniu...), February 2nd, 2005.

"Handgrenades" should have been "Hand Grenades." Sorry. I was worried about screwing up the HTML. His website seems to be screwed up right now, but you can normally view his art at chrismarspublishing.com.

-- subgenius (subsubgeniu...), February 2nd, 2005.

"Justine Frischmann of Elastica has done some school teaching since 2001"

ah she ain't gotta work, isn't her dad some big-deal london real estate tycoon?

-- noizem duke (dan...), February 2nd, 2005.

lee dorman from the iron butterfly used to sleep on my couch when i was young!

-- charleston charge (chaki.tim...), February 2nd, 2005.

**Vic Godard (Subway Sect) is a postman**

Once he delivered my mail for a week or two. It's true!

**I saw Debbie (guitar player) from Curve/Echobelly working at a used disc store in London right across from the Notting Hill tube stop in 2000.**

She still does, Alex. It's the big Record and Tape Exchange (or Music and Video exchange as it's now called.) She's usually in the rock rareties section upstairs, where Epic Soundtracks also used to work.

-- Dr. C (petethane...), February 2nd, 2005.

Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens was, until very recently, the music teacher at my son's elementary school in Manhattan.

James Williamson of the Stooges does something w/computers in Silicon Valley.

-- lovebug starski (writeco...), February 2nd, 2005.

has Jah Wobble been mentioned? i think he quit his first band to become a tube driver.

-- Stevem On X (stevem7...), February 2nd, 2005.

jah wobble, yesterday

ihttp://www.electroharmonix.co.jp/tubeworks/img/911.jpg

-- the surface noise (slight return) (electricsoun...), February 2nd, 2005.

Philip Kramer of Iron Butterfly went on to become a rocket scientist before he disappeared.

-- aldo_cowpat (aldo.cowpa...), February 2nd, 2005.

The drummer from the Bodysnatchers and the Belle Stars is a technical writer. I used to work with her.

-- KeithW (keithmatthewwatso...), February 2nd, 2005.

"Vic Godard (Subway Sect) is a postman"

"Once he delivered my mail for a week or two. It's true!"

It can't be all that frequent for a customer to ask a postman to sign something he hasn't even delivered....

Last year my old mate N* (who's a delivery driver) was asked to deliver a package to an address somewhere in Surrey.

So he turned up at the door of this cottage and knocked - and it was answered by none other than Bruce Foxton of The Jam / Stiff Little Fingers.

The ensuing converstaion apparently went something like this:

N*: "Bruce Foxton?"
BF: "Yes?"
N*: "Bruce...? Foxton...?"
BF: "Errrr.... yes?"
N*: "Bruce Foxton!"
BF: "Can I help you?"
N*: "But you're.... you're.... Bruce Foxton!"
BF: "Ummm.... yes, I know!"

On his return to the depot, N* was apparently asked to explain why he hadn't obtained a signature for the delivery and the only explanation he was able to offer was "He was Bruce Foxton.... Bruce Foxton? Oh, you know: Bruce Foxton!"

I believe N* got a bit of a bollocking for leaving the package without getting a signature but he still insists that his biggest regret was failing to ask Mr. Foxton to teach him how to play the bass line to "Precious".

-- Stewart Osborne (stewart.osborn...), February 2nd, 2005.

Philip Kramer of Iron Butterfly went on to become a rocket scientist before he disappeared.

His body (and the wreckage of his minivan) was later found at the bottom of a ravine off of Highway 23 in the Santa Monica Mountains.

-- Elvis Telecom (quartzcit...), February 2nd, 2005.

"Justine Frischmann of Elastica has done some school teaching since 2001"
ah she ain't gotta work, isn't her dad some big-deal london real estate tycoon?

-- noizem duke (dan...), February 2nd, 2005.

We all gotta work; it's part of God's plan.

-- Snappy (jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj...), February 2nd, 2005.

the bassist for jesus jones was (and may still be) a bartender at a bar in chicago (logan square). this was pointed out to my friend and me by a drunk woman who called him over to confirm then openly mocked him for his past. we were taken aback, but apparently she was a big tipper or something, so he took it through gritted teeth.

-- john'n'chicago (econjoh...), February 2nd, 2005.

tipper gore became mrs vice president of the USA.

(she was a drummer in an all girl band)

-- rumming around in botswana (ru...), February 2nd, 2005.

Tony Blair and John Kerry also had bands, now they've got some kind of job in politics or something.

Don Van Vliet paints too, but I don't know what his stuff sells for.

-- nickn (nickn62...), February 2nd, 2005.

David Lee Roth now works as an emergency medical technician in New York.

He probably does this for bragging rights.

Big Paul Ferguson of Killing Joke is now an art restorer, specializing in pre-Islamic Afghan scupture (Ghandaran?)

Doesn't Jim Martin, ex Faith No More, now raise genetically enhanced super-sized vegetables (ala Woody Allen's "Sleeper")? I seem to remember reading that somewhere.

-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), February 2nd, 2005.

milo went to college.

-- Mr. Snrub (mistersnru...), February 3rd, 2005.

Durango is definitely a lawyer.
Brian Vollmer of Helix gives vocal lessons, advertising in a London, Ontario, urban weekly.
Zalman Yanovsky , the guitarist of the Lovin' Spoonful, owned a restaurant called Chez Piggy in Kingston, Ontario, before his death in 2002.
Peter Quaife, the original bass player for The Kinks, works as a visual artist in Belleville, Ontario.

-- Bruce S. Urquhart (burquhar...), February 3rd, 2005.

When I interviewed Barbara Manning a few years back she said she was going to pursue a forestry degree in Northern California. A quick scan of barbaramanning.com suggests she's doing so.

She's at Cal State Chico and spends time in her trailer out in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

xpost: Milo is a chemistry chair (?) at the University of Delaware. I went to the same college that Milo originally went to while he was still there doing his PhD candidacy and my friend BB and I would go into his office and antagonize him to no end... hehe.

-- gygax! (gygax0...), February 3rd, 2005.

Chris Mars is a painter.

Wasn't/Isn't Greg Graffin of Bad Religion a professor at UC Berkeley?

-- cdwill (cwilliam...), February 3rd, 2005.

kyuss bassist scott reeder opened a petstore when they disbanded.

-- ave satani (lemik...), February 3rd, 2005.

In (I think) 1998/99, Anton Fier was doing a few days a week at the record store I used to work at in the West Village. I got an editorial gig and split. For all I know, he's still there (though this seems unlikely/impossibly depressing).

-- michaeln (goldsound...), February 3rd, 2005.

this thread is depressing... dreams have been shattered

-- firstworldman (3...), February 3rd, 2005.

For those in NYC who want to see Chris Mars' work, there's a gallery opening this Saturday which will apparently showcase some of it.

http://www.jonathanlevinegallery.com/

-- cdwill (cwilliam...), February 3rd, 2005.

Geordie Mick from Prolapse currently works in a box factroy making boxes for vacuum cleaners. Scottish Mick from Prolapseruns a small ceramic ornamnet shop in Oslo, while Linda Steelyard from prolpase is a jounralist for the Leicester Mercury.

-- Gareth steamy specs (effectivefoo...), February 3rd, 2005.

Doesn't Jim Martin, ex Faith No More, now raise genetically enhanced super-sized vegetables

Amazing, if true. Just like that Bruce Dickinson story. Wow.

-- Jay-Kid (jizzleki...), February 3rd, 2005.

boston rapper mighty casey works as a school teacher.

-- ppp (pp...), February 3rd, 2005.

One of Six By Seven works at our local branch of Fopp.

-- mike t-diva (mikejl...), February 3rd, 2005.

this thread is depressing... dreams have been shattered

On the contrary, I find it inspiring, especially the many examples of those for whom a music career was just one chapter in an interesting and varied life.

-- briania (lyriclas...), February 3rd, 2005.

I heard that David Yow from the Jesus Lizard was restoring antique furniture

-- Ben Dot (wearethedot...), February 3rd, 2005.

Daniel Johnston worked at McDonald's!

-- C('ing on)urt1sss (curtis.stephen...), February 3rd, 2005.

Raekwon owns a Subway restaurant, but I'm not sure if he works there despite the fact that he is a Chef.

-- his face was burned off in a flaming crossbow accident (doctorduc...), February 3rd, 2005.

Stephen O'Malley of doom-metal contingents Sunn O))) and Khanate was a graphic designer at the last fucktard ad agency I worked for. He's a swell guy.

-- Dr Morbius (wjwe...), February 3rd, 2005.

Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, etc.) worked as an airline pilot for a while, before joining Kansas.

And I think we can all agree that piloting an airplane is the more inspiring of *those* two choices.

And Pat DiNizio as an elementary Music teacher somehow strikes me as insanely cool. I'll bet the songwriters-turned-teachers list is quite long, given the number that come to mind immediately.

-- Paul Roub (pau...), August 9th, 2005.

Pat DiNizio teaching kids music sounds insanely scary to me. He ran for NJ Senate a couple years back, he's a right wing nut.

-- kornrulez6969 (TCBein...), August 9th, 2005.

David Lee Roth now works as an emergency medical technician in New York.
He probably does this for bragging rights.

Roth worked the night shift in a hospital before Van Halen took off. His dad's a surgeon. Don't think he needs the money, but he's more of a "live life to the max" kinda fellow, ja?

-- Outsider Enter Port City (jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj...), August 9th, 2005.

david yow (scratch acid / jesus lizard) is now a graphic design artist. he actually designed all the jesus lizard records.

todd trainer (shellac) has been selling hair products for like 15 years or something.

brian mcmahan (slint) is now an electrician.

matt talbot (hum)owns his own recording studio and is a high school football coach near champaign, il.

wayne coyne (flaming lips) worked at a long john silvers for over 10 years.

adam pfahler (jawbreaker) owns his own video store.

-- kristofer@sleepcomesdown.com (kristofe...), August 11th, 2005.

One of the guys from Pennywise was a substitute teacher at my friend's high school.

-- goodoldneon (evankindle...), August 11th, 2005.

I went to the same college that Milo originally went to while he was still there doing his PhD candidacy and my friend BB and I would go into his office and antagonize him to no end... hehe.

OH MAN, you gotta tell some stories.

Also, Deniz Tek not only became a doctor, but an emergency room surgeon in Montana. He & his wife returned to Aussie Land a coupla years ago since she missed it. He's always talked about musicians needing to keep a day job, just to maintain some connection to real life.

Mike Lutz from Brownsville Station(co-wrote "Smokin' in the Boys Room" with Cub Koda) taught me bass guitar for a coupla years. Cub Koda became a rock writer, and wrote for AMG right up until his death in 2000.

-- kingfish completely hatstand (jdsalmo...), August 11th, 2005.

The DJ for the Coup wasn't there when I saw them because she had a catering job she couldn't skip.

-- Zed Szetlian (Finn.MacCoo...), August 11th, 2005.

One of the guys in Mudhoney is an EMT in Seattle.

-- kingfish completely hatstand (jdsalmo...), August 11th, 2005.

4rt d1furi14 of the ph0t0n b4nd is working on a phd in art history at UD as well. i wonder if he knows milo!

-- maria tessa sciarrino (mari...), August 12th, 2005.

no recollection of starting this.

so freakee when that happens. oddly i now live bang opposite the house that john mcgeogh (mentioned upthread) used to live in, in whalley range. small world etc.

-- piscesboy (piscesxx...), August 12th, 2005.

Lean on Me Construction:

You won't WITHER when you get the BILL!

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), February 1st, 2005.

I had a good chuckle readint this again ...

-- Hurting (Hurtingchie...), August 12th, 2005.

"wayne coyne (flaming lips) worked at a long john silvers for over 10 years."

and still does, for kicks! its the smile on the kids' faces when he sells them popcorn shrimp that brings him back at least once a year.

-- latebloomer (posercore24...), August 12th, 2005.

The B52's Kate Pearson has a motel.

-- StanM (Stan10...), August 12th, 2005.

Pumpkin from Guv'ner started a line of hip maternity clothing and then became a pediatrics nurse at the hospital down the street from my house. I've met her a few times- she's pretty nice.

You're laughing at your own jokes, Josh?

-- k/l (lauter...), August 12th, 2005.

stanm: yeah, but she really doesnt work there. at least thats what ive gathered from the press about the place.

-- maria tessa sciarrino (mari...), August 12th, 2005.

He's always talked about musicians needing to keep a day job, just to maintain some connection to real life.

There's a lot of wisdom in this comment. I think a lot of people would have a hard time doing *nothing* after becoming famous, especially if (as most of the folks above) they never hit the A-List anyway.

I always think about Andy Kaufman, who at the height of his fame worked at Cantor's Deli and was apparently a good, conscientious worker.

-- mike a (mik...), August 12th, 2005.

There's a lot of wisdom in this comment. I think a lot of people would have a hard time doing *nothing* after becoming famous, especially if (as most of the folks above) they never hit the A-List anyway.

There was a quote from Cliff Richard in the Times a while ago, in an article about (and whole-heartedly in favour of) extending copyright, in which he bemoaned the fact that some poor old musicians who'd had a single hit many decades ago could no longer earn a living off the royalties. Get a job!

-- ledge (tomdotledge...), August 12th, 2005.

Bruce Dickinson is an airline pilot. Don't think he needs the money.

-- Eddie Spaghetti (sdad...), August 12th, 2005.

Fred from the B-52's has/had a furniture/design business

-- dan. (dan_haa...), August 12th, 2005.

maria:

this thread is depressing... dreams have been shattered

-- firstworldman ( ), February 3rd, 2005 4:45 AM.

again.

-- StanM (Stan10...), August 12th, 2005.

I always think about Andy Kaufman, who at the height of his fame worked at Cantor's Deli and was apparently a good, conscientious worker.

yeah, he was a busboy. he talked about doing it to prove (to himself, probably) that "i'm no better than them."

-- kingfish completely hatstand (jdsalmo...), August 12th, 2005.

the drummer from metal church works at the ace hardware store in olympia, washington (i know this because i worked there too, and on his application, he wrote under previous job "drummer for metal church").

-- Jillian Boyik (jboyi...), August 15th, 2005.

Raekwon owns a Subway restaurant, but I'm not sure if he works there despite the fact that he is a Chef.

Can anyone substantiate this? (That he owns a subway, not that he is a chef...) Maybe if Kanye's around he'll know...

-- jcartledge (jcartledg...), August 17th, 2005.

> Bruce Dickinson is an airline pilot. Don't think he needs the money.

Perhaps he doesn't need the money but simply enjoys the work. I don't share the assumption that s.o. would be daft to have a day-job (however 'humble') if they didn't need the money. Work *can* be healthy. Unemployment (in my experience) usually isn't, + not only for financial reasons.

Inspiral Carpets singer ?? worked in Tele-marketing a while ago.

-- stevo (stefanroo...), August 17th, 2005.

The bass player with The Head Butts is now a web designer/carpenter. I doubt anyone's heard 'em but he's a mate so let's add him to the list.

-- tolstoy (giveitupso...), September 11th, 2005.

MC 900 Foot Jesus (remember him?) was working on his commercial pilot's license last I heard (a few years ago.)

Jim Marcus, one of the guys from Die Warzau (early 90's industrial/dance band) was doing programming (Y2k/COBOL stuff) last I heard in 1997.

-- dark_s (dark_...), September 11th, 2005.

Bill from the Churchkeys still gives me blowjobs whenever I want. Just like the old days.

-- Billy The Miller (ATOMIC_ROBOT_MA...), September 21st, 2005.

joel (tamborine guy with the muttonchops) from the brian jonestown massacre used to work at a record store in santa cruz--in 2000 or so.

-- eric (ericfetterman200...), September 21st, 2005.

DJ Nobody and Ikey Owens from Mars Volta both still work at the Fingerprints record shop in Long Beach, CA. Also many guys in the L.A. free jazz scene do everything from teaching high school to operating a tile kiln.

Legendary bassist Henry Grimes stopped playing music completely for many years and worked in construction and as a janitor. He's playing bass again though now...

-- schlarb (chri...), September 21st, 2005.

Duff from GnR went back to school and got a degree in finance.
Adam Duritz of Counting Crows still tends bar at the Viper Room in LA from time to time.

-- matthew Vetter (mvette...), September 21st, 2005.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, drummer from Something Vertigo, is now a dentist in Carlsbad.

-- Bill Simmons (SportsGu...), September 22nd, 2005.

When I was producing a short film in London I was aided by the manager of a charity shop who claimed to have been in Level 42. They donated lots of wardrobe items to our cause.

My friend Alan claims to have played sax with Pop Group but I've never seen his name connected with the band. I adore him too much to prove him wrong.

-- Thea (theaboy...), September 22nd, 2005.

Denny Carmassi drummer for Montrose & Heart, can usually be found dealing blow at the Rainbow 9015 W. Sunset LA. just ask a waitress he's usually in a booth back by the bathrooms

-- Yale Bloor (yalebloo...), September 22nd, 2005.

joel (tamborine guy with the muttonchops) from the brian jonestown massacre used to work at a record store in santa cruz--in 2000 or so.

-- eric (ericfetterman200...), September 21st, 2005.

Last I heard (earlier this year), he's working with a friend of mine at a noatable record shop on Haight in SF

-- Wite eyebrow (ILuvPabloCruis...), September 22nd, 2005.

So, what happened to Adorable, then?

# Pete: Lead Singer in Polak (worked in a second hand book shop in Brighton as well)
# Robert: Getting into computer networks.
# Kevin: Math Teacher in Bodmin Community College, but I hear that he's going to Truro(?).
# Wil: Teacher

-- Sunburnt (Sunburn...), September 22nd, 2005.

joel (tamborine guy with the muttonchops) from the brian jonestown massacre used to work at a record store in santa cruz--in 2000 or so.

-- eric (ericfetterman200...), September 21st, 2005.

now he works at the Amoeba in San Francisco

-- ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (or...), September 22nd, 2005.

the singer from the band failure pumps my gas.

stuck on yooooooooou till the end of tiiiiiiime

-- dennis davis (savethisforsavi...), September 22nd, 2005.

I went to a resurant/bar in phenom phen, cambodia, owned by one of the goo goo dolls.

-- jhoshea (jo...), September 22nd, 2005.

rock stars who went back work.

Fact is, almost all of them. If you're in a band and you're not the songwriter, and you decide you're not going to tour endlessly as a hasbeen, you're going back to work. Songwriters get royalties, and may be able to live off them if they had a big enough hit. The other musicians only get paid as long as they're playing - when they stop, that's it. That TV show Hit Me Baby One More Time was great - showing the likes of Loverboy at their day jobs. Some musicians transition to sidemen/session musician/teaching or music industry careers, but the rest are on the payroll.

Rob Van Winkle (AKA Vanilla Ice) - mananger of a convenience store
Tim Cronin (Monster Magnet) - longtime fixture at Jack's Music Shop in Red Bank NJ
Tod A (Cop Shoot Cop, Firewater) - graphic designer at Rolling Stone
Lyle Preslar (Minor Threat) - A&R; rep
Kira (Black Flag) - computer programmer

the singer from the band failure pumps my gas.
Self-fulfilling prophecy?

-- Edward III (ehonaue...), September 22nd, 2005.

Billy the Miller: Wow, I went to high school with Bill from the Churchkeys...next time he's giving you a blowjob, tell him I said "hi."

Ron Sexsmith used to be a messenger in Toronto, on foot. (He doesn't drive). He told me he was delivering a package to a business there that had a return address in Lebanon, TN, which gave him the idea for that song on his first record.

-- wendyo (wend...), September 23rd, 2005.

Me!

-- Cristal Waters (adamr...), September 23rd, 2005.

When were you a star, Adam?

-- k/l (lauter...), September 23rd, 2005.

Manfred Mann's lead singer Paul Jones now works presenting a Christian TV channel.

-- Andy Dexter (Andy.Dexte...), September 23rd, 2005.

Elvis Costello had a job as a computer operator in an Elizabeth Arden make-up factory.... "Spent all my time in a vanity factory, wondering when they're going to come and take it all back..."

-- George Dick (napoleo...), September 23rd, 2005.

Thomas Dolby did the Silicon Valley entreperneurial thing. He had a company called Headspace, now called Beatnik. They tried to do a bunch of things, but mostly they made bank on selling an audio engine to cell phone companies (inc. Nokia I believe).

He left Beatnik a few years ago to start some cellphone ringtone company.

-- mikef (mflemin...), September 23rd, 2005.

"I think Hugo Burnham went on to record exec stuff of some sort, but I think the thread is better if we don't concentrate on people who moved into an entertainment corporation."

Nope. Hugo Burnham teaches at the Brookline Art Institute here in Boston.

Until very recently, Marty Crandall from the Shins worked at Bow Wow Records in Albuquerque. I bought many an album from him over the years.

-- stewartflamingo (stewartflaming...), September 23rd, 2005.

Rat Scabies (drummer of the Damned) is following in his father's footsteps & searching for the (actual) Holy Grail. and writing a book about it, presumably

-- autovac (mrichards2...), September 23rd, 2005.

Already been written: RAT SCABIES AND THE HOLY GRAIL by Christopher Dawes (Thunder's Mouth Press, 2005)

-- me (m...), September 23rd, 2005.

Archie Moore (guitarist, Velocity Girl) works as a recording engineer at a Studio in the Washington, DC suburbs.

Which is probably every band member's dream.

-- !@ (...), September 24th, 2005.

exene cervenka is a school librarian at (i believe) that rich 'progressive' high school in santa monica.

kinda hot, actually.

-- the (theodice...), September 24th, 2005.

The guitarist from night ranger was painting houses in the SF east bay...

-- the (theodice...), September 24th, 2005.

another british computer operator: paul atkinson (zombies guitarist)

they used to say that if you drive a jaguar, you need a mechanic riding in the boot.

british computers must have been similar, that's a lot of operators.

-- the (theodice...), September 24th, 2005.

Mato Valtonen, the lead man of Leningrad Cowboys, had as mobile phone appliance firm back in the days of the big information technology boom. Then, when the bubble broke, his firm went down and he took a job as a rollercoaster cart driver.

-- Tuomas (tuomas.alh...), September 24th, 2005.

No doubt everyone here already knows this, but googling "Jon King" "World Television" yields some startling results for the unreconstructed post-marxist / post-situationist Gang of Four fan, though apparently Jon resigned recently in favor of beating up microwave ovens and establishing some sort of media business consultancy.

-- The document contains no data. (kd...), September 24th, 2005.

Mato Valtonen, the lead man of Leningrad Cowboys, had as mobile phone appliance firm back in the days of the big information technology boom. Then, when the bubble broke, his firm went down and he took a job as a rollercoaster cart driver.

This sounds almost too Aki Kaurismaki!

-- joseph cotten (josephcotte...), September 24th, 2005.

NB This thread has been outed on Salon

-- Yakitori Bob (v...), September 24th, 2005.

???

-- Tuomas (tuomas.alh...), September 24th, 2005.

This sounds almost too Aki Kaurismaki!

It's true, though I'm not sure whether he took the rollercoaster job for financial reasons or for something else. I guess you're right about the Kaurismäki thing, except that Kaurismäki would never make a film with mobile phones in it. Valtonen recently did a comeback tour with his first band, Sleepy Sleepers, but that was just one-shot, I'm not sure what he's doing now.

-- Tuomas (tuomas.alh...), September 24th, 2005.

When I was in college in the late eighties, I remember seeing one of the members of Eleventh Dream Day working in a Chicago record store. It was right then and there I saw the light that recording for a major label didn't give you a license to quit your day job. Even at 20-21 years old, I knew that the indie-level bands had some other source of income besides music, but 11DD were on Atlantic Records at the time - home of Phil Collins and Debbie Gibson! But, they weren't making Phil or Debbie's $$$, so...

I should add that working at the record store was nothing to be 'shamed of; I just figured that because of Atlantic, the guy wouldn't have to work retail any mo'.

-- Rev. Hoodoo (hoodoo12...), September 24th, 2005.

Kaurismäki would never make a film with mobile phones in it.

Why not? Aesthetic or ideological reasons?

I love that he didn't come to the last NY Film Festival out of solidarity with Abbas Kiarostami, who, being Iranian, didn't get a visa.

-- joseph cotten (josephcotte...), September 24th, 2005.

I interviewed for a web designer job in Atlanta with the drummer from Faster Pussycat. Didn't get the gig, but I think the company (a dot com in the early 2000s) dried up. He was very friendly and LA sparkly, and told me how he was dabbling in death metal/industrial.

John Curley of the Afghan Whigs owns a recording studio in Cincinnati (Ultrasuede), and also does web design, with his wife.

-- Steve Libbey (stev...), September 24th, 2005.

Thomas Dolby did the Silicon Valley entreperneurial thing. He had a company called Headspace, now called Beatnik. They tried to do a bunch of things, but mostly they made bank on selling an audio engine to cell phone companies (inc. Nokia I believe).

He left Beatnik a few years ago to start some cellphone ringtone company.

-- mikef (mflemin...), September 23rd, 2005.

totally confirmed. a friend of mine here in SF works for a ringtone company called Moderati, and they deal with Thomas all the time.

-- ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (or...), September 24th, 2005.

Bob from the Juliana Theory worked at the FYE music store at the Westmoreland Mall in Greensburg, PA, when i was in college in Latrobe. it was right when the JT were supposed to have been taking off - so he left the FYE gig for bigger/better pastures with the JT.

in Pittsburgh, they were the shit - but i don't know just how big they really got elsewhere.

but i bought a couple of CD's off of him. nice enough guy.

-- JoeOverdrive (metalcircus8...), September 24th, 2005.

"I think Hugo Burnham went on to record exec stuff of some sort, but I think the thread is better if we don't concentrate on people who moved into an entertainment corporation."

Nope. Hugo Burnham teaches at the Brookline Art Institute here in Boston.

But before that he did A&R; for Imago Records. In fact, he was my friend's band's A&R; guy. When he got fired, they got dropped.

-- Hunter Lyle (revjhben...), September 24th, 2005.

an old co-worker used to get her taxes done by (i think) the drummer from the circle jerks.

I've heard that too, only it's not the drummer, it's their bass player circa Golden Showe of Hits (whose name escapes me).

If your co-worker got her taxes done by Roger Rogerson, she's got serious problems because a) he's been dead for 10 years and, b) before that, he was a raving drunk. Keith Clark, the drummer from the Circle Jerks is the accountant. The Circle Jerks' original drummer, Lucky Lehrer, took over his family's optical supply business and is now a gazillionaire. His brother Chett, of Wasted Youth fame, is company VP.

John Kezdy of The Effigies is a prosecutor in Illinois.

-- Hunter Lyle (revjhben...), September 24th, 2005.

so how do 90% of musos mentioned on this thread qualify as "rock stars"?? duh, a guy who sent me a promo 10 years ago is no longer wasting my time or his money. And no longer having to play background music for drunks, forebrain music for headz.

-- don (dmxz...), September 25th, 2005.

Not to say that they were wrong to try the music biz. shut up self.

-- don (dmxz...), September 25th, 2005.

In 1997, while in treatment for addiction, my aftercare counselor was Paul Williams. When Paul left he was replaced by Terry Kirkman of The Association.

-- jdblue (jdnka...), September 25th, 2005.

Richard Lloyd gives guitar lessons, $50 an hour, taught a friend of mine. Hell, I'd pay $50 just to do the Marquee Moon intro with him...

-- Brian Turner (b...), September 26th, 2005.

`Archie Moore (guitarist, Velocity Girl) works as a recording engineer at a Studio in the Washington, DC suburbs.`

This is true, but it`s actually a commercial music production house; I used to work for the same company. `A musician`s dream` it was not.

Also...
David William Sims (Scratch Acid/Rapeman/Jesus Lizard) is an accountant.
From Lungfish, Daniel Higgs works as a tattoo artist and the drummer is an administrator at a hospital.
During his self-imposed isolation, Kevin Shields made ends meet by selling backstock vinyl of My Bloody Valentine`s pre-Creation albums directly to stores.
Greg Dulli owns a bar in Hollywood.
Tim Harrington (Les Savy Fav) makes handmade housewares with his wife.
Yes, Jim Martin (Faith No More) grows giant mutant pumpkins.

-- Seb R (MuffinMa...), September 26th, 2005.

someone told me one of the dudes from Da Lench Mob is a janitor in a junior high somewhere in southern california

-- phil-two (philtw...), September 26th, 2005.

Kevin Shields made ends meet by selling backstock vinyl of My Bloody Valentine`s pre-Creation albums directly to stores.

all of a sudden, several things make sense

-- jimmy glass (electricsoun...), September 26th, 2005.

From the Loud Family

Scott Miller is a computer programmer.

Alison Faith Levy manages a Barnes & Noble.

Gil Ray works for a record distributor.

Not sure what Kenny Kessel is up to; maybe programming as well.

-- kinsey milkbone (bowen...), September 26th, 2005.

Ed Sanders of The Fugs taught for awhile at B@rd College in the early 80s. His flagship course was "Cultural Reportage."

-- Abby Cat (misterca...), September 26th, 2005.

Greg Dulli owns a bar in Hollywood.

Well, this is about the least-surprising news that I've heard all day.

-- Pleasant Plains /// (pleasant.plain...), September 26th, 2005.

Frank Kogan said that when he worked at Baskin & Robbins (or was it when he and Luc Sante and Jody Harris of Contortions/Blacks worked at the Strand?), Sonic Youth worked across the street, at Kinko's, I think. But he/they were too shy to say hi, though both playing some of same places, or anyway neighborhoods. (Frank was in several groups, like the Pillowmakers, and Red Dark Sweet, before the latter's Charlotte Pressler and Andrew Klimek moved back to Cleveland; think Charlotte does something academic now.)Oh yea, lots of music teachers: see ads in Voice!

-- don (dmxz...), September 26th, 2005.

The bass player from Jesus Jones (Alan something or other) is now the bass player in the Waco Brothers, which is fronted by Jon Langford. Everytime I've seen them Jon teases him about Jesus Jones, so I can't imagine he minds too much.

David Lee Roth is taking over Howard Stern's slot on K-Rock in NYC when Howard moves to Sirius.

I've stayed at Kate Pierson's motel. Fun and Kitschy. It's in the Catskills.

I heard one of the guys from Flowered Up was selling records in a stall in the Camden Lock.

Larry Graham (Graham Central Station) goes door to door with Prince as an evangelizing Jehovah's Witness.

-- Nick S. (ston...), September 26th, 2005.

that petkovic guy from Cobra verde has been writing for Cleveland papers for a while. one of the other guys in the band, the keyboard player, teaches a history of rock class at Cleveland State. my girlfriend used to work with the aforementioned guy from the Dead Milkmen, at a borders coffeeshop.

-- MtStPat (pfonea...), September 26th, 2005.

Austin update:

Adam Sultan of Poi Dog Pondering works as help desk operator at Apple Computer.

From the Reivers, John Croslin works at the University of Texas, Kim Longacre teaches at a Montessori school, and Cindy Toth works at a used bookstore.

Michael Hall of the Wild Seeds (and his own solo career) is a staff writer at Texas Monthly magazine. His longtime guitarist Randy Franklin (Standing Waves, F-Systems, Loose Diamonds) runs a folk-art gallery called Yard Dog.

FYI (those who care): Biscuit of the Big Boys died a couple of weeks ago.

-- Viscount Slim (waspis...), September 26th, 2005.

Does Adam still have that job? I thought he quit.

-- k/l (lauter...), September 26th, 2005.

Anne Eickelberg from Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 is now a real estate agent here in Portland.

-- Douglas (ilxo...), September 26th, 2005.

Thom of Savage Republic is a coffee roaster in Claremont, CA.

Roy Montgomery is a English professor in NZ.

-- Elvis Telecom (quartzcit...), September 26th, 2005.

MC Hammer became a preacher in Tracy, California.

-- Dave Buster (aniolyn...), September 29th, 2005.

David William Sims (Scratch Acid/Rapeman/Jesus Lizard) is an accountant.

yeah, i have his business card, even.

Ed Sanders of The Fugs taught for awhile at B@rd College in the early 80s. His flagship course was "Cultural Reportage."

oh wow, didn't know that. i took that course, but in the mid-90s, long after sanders was gone.

-- hstencil (hstenc!...), September 29th, 2005.

Andy West (the rather amazing bass player from the Dixie Dregs) supposedly went back to doing software.

-- Ike Ahnoklast (...), September 29th, 2005.

Ron Devoe of Bel Biv DeVoe is a Real Estate agent in Atlanta.

http://www.thedevoeteam.com/engine/home/standard/500/en/6631/

-- iffy (iff...), September 29th, 2005.

I was working in a theatre in Glasgow in the mid-90's where Fay Fife from the Rezillos/Revillos performed a very serious one-woman play under her real name. It was a pretty good play but poorly attended. Shortly afterwards the Revillos reformed.

-- everything (everything197...), September 29th, 2005.

After the Jam and the Stlye Council, Paul Weller went back to being a full-time prick.

-- Smithers Jones (sdsd...), September 29th, 2005.

I have a couple of friends who took guitar lessons from Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio. It was before they were signed by Elektra but after they were already a huge touring phenomenon. One friend still has all of Trey's pencil-written notes from those classes. He could probably get a lot for them on ebay now. Some choice quotes form guitar teacher Trey: "tritone is key" and "the 5 chord is mobile."

--Bill Simmon
www.candleboy.com/candleblog/

-- Bill Simmon (bil...), September 29th, 2005.

Speaking of Velocity Girl, Jim (the drummer) was a location/production director (or something of the sort) for CNN in DC. That was 3-4 years ago.

Jawbox guitarist Bill Bardot is part owner of DC design studio, Threespot.

Wife Kim Colleta was getting her Library Science degree from Catholic U.

D-Plan drummer Joe Easley was last heard going back to school to finish his Aerospace Engineering degree.

Frodus drummer Jason Hammacher is a part-time massage therapist, freelance photographer, & writer.

-- j o h n (joh...), September 29th, 2005.

Anthony Bramante, the guitar player from Nuclear Assault drives a US Postal truck.

Keith Alexander from Carnivore was working in piercings/body modifications before becoming a software guru. Sadly he died this summer in a bicycling accident.

-- JC1999 (bullshark9...), September 30th, 2005.

Scott Miller from Game Theroy and The Loud Family has kept his day job as a programmer in San Fran. I bet he is a great programmer.

-- raytube (raytube72...), September 30th, 2005.

Country Joe and the Fish guitarist Barry Melton has been the Public Defender for Monterey California for quite a while.

-- Tommy (angstwul...), September 30th, 2005.

I don't know if anybody outside of Canada remembers the Forgotten Rebels, but frontman Mickey DeSadist works in a factory making catalytic converters.

-- Dadmobile (dadmobil...), September 30th, 2005.

Edison from trip-hop pioneers Earthling was temping in a market research call centre in 2001. Who knows what he's doing now...

-- err... (umm...), September 30th, 2005.

william henshall is the guy from londonbeat, and he wrote the song "I've been thinking about you"

Now he is a photographer http://www.williamhenshall.com

-- i'm.me (m...), October 3rd, 2005.

On Friday night in san francisco, i found Philip Manley of Trans Am working as a roadie for Acid Mothers Temple

-- ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (or...), October 3rd, 2005.

Kim Mithcell, who was once a huge star in Canada, having fronted the heavy rock band Max Webster in the 1970's and then going solo and having a string of hit albums in the 1980's is now a lowly daytime dj at Q107 in Toronto playing old classic rock and other hoser bands. He even sneaks in tunes from his own albums whenever he gets a chance, lame, it doesn't get much lower than that.

-- sumguy (blowm...), October 4th, 2005.

he is a wild party!

-- ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (or...), October 5th, 2005.

If MC 900 Foot Jesus got a pilot's license, I guess he didn't get a good job, because last time I run into him, we were driving away from an Air concert, and I noticed a clunky on-the-verge-of-death Daihatsu Rocky. Then I noticed Mark Griffin was driving and started shouting at him. He had a great sense of humor about it. Didn't get to ask if there would ever be another album. He had done some local shows maybe in 2001 or so and said at the time he'd like to do another album, but then... nothing. :|

-- Andrew Hime (him...), October 5th, 2005.

Speaking of Velocity Girl, Jim (the drummer) was a location/production director (or something of the sort) for CNN in DC. That was 3-4 years ago.

Then he was the same Jim Spellman cruising around New Orleans last month giving street details. Hopefully the spark for a flood-themed reunion album.

-- Ian Christe (ia...), October 5th, 2005.

todd brashear owns a video store

-- bingo (thebing...), October 5th, 2005.

Roger Powell, keyboardist for Utopia with Todd Rundgren, is working as a software developer after developing carpal tunnel syndrome. I believe I heard where Willie Wilcox, drummer for the same band, is working with Roger at the same company.

-- Keith Lake (KeithLake...), October 6th, 2005.

Paula Abdul was a pop superstar in the early 90's, and now she is a judge on that piece of crap culture ruining American Idol (aka karaoke challenge) now, somebody top that when it comes to 'sinking' to new lows lol!

-- harry (harr...), October 6th, 2005.

John Kerry played in the The Electra's.

Poised for a big deal with Capitol Records the band's deal was thwarted by the myopic Kerry's side gig desires for war hero, senator and presidential canidate.

-- pat aspat (aspa...), October 8th, 2005.

Heh. Yes I am indeed that bloke, you know the white guy, from Londonbeat, who had that song "I've been thinking about you" - I live and work in Los Angeles as a professional photographer. After I quit the band in 95 I started a software company called Rocket Network that developed a system that ships large media files securely and quickly across the internet. I sold the company to Avid in 2003. Didn't get rich but got out of high tech to follow my love of photography...

This is an interesting thread overall. Speaking as one who had a few minutes in the spot light in the early 90s, I have found that life after being in a band is great. You have to sacrifice so much of your own life and friend and family relationships to get a real career going that keeping a balance of real life and chasing the music dream becomes inpossible to keep. I got no regrets...but I am glad I don't live out of a suitcase anymore. Here's some more stuff about my work www.rockstarphoto.us

-- william henshall (wil...), October 31st, 2005.

not sure if this counts, but the drummer from Flock of Seagulls used to work on the manufacturing floor of my workplace.

-- AaronK (fuzz_...), October 31st, 2005.

after being in the band that is.

-- AaronK (fuzz_...), October 31st, 2005.

Earl Brutus' Nick Sanderson is reportedly working as a train driver...

-- Diego Valladolid (dvallad...), November 1st, 2005.

Swedish singer Jakob Hellman went to work in a breadpacking factory after his succesful debutalbum.

-- Johanna K (dexedrin...), November 1st, 2005.

Andy Spearpoint (formerly of New Fast Automatic Daffodils) now runs percussion workshops for schools in West Yorkshire.

-- Niall (nial...), November 1st, 2005.

I was NEVER an A&R; person. That was a Steve ("God Bless Him") Albini construct to help him seem important.

I did help run some 'cool' record companies, like Caroline. I walked away as the industry fell off the cliff -- hell, they didn't want me anyway.

Now I'm a 2nd year law student, hoping to one day help out some artists and others in the new world we live in.

-- Lyle Preslar (lyle.presla...), November 10th, 2005.

Lori Barbero of the Minneapolis based Babes in Toyland was a waitress at the Modern Cafe. Don't know if she's still there tho, I haven't been in a while.

todd
________________________
www.homestudiotips.com

-- Todd Fugere (toddfuger...), November 12th, 2005.

as far as i know speedy j is a graphic designer
i also heard he lives in a house in the shape of a cube resting on one of its points

-- robin (robin_lace...), November 16th, 2005.

donald trump delivers my mail in the morning,and i don't even tip him

-- robin (robin_lace...), November 16th, 2005.

Sarah Shannon of Velocity Girl is finishing up her second release. Currently, I heard she's label shopping with it.(www.sarahshannon.com)

I too have heard Jim Spellman is at CNN and Archie's at a DC studio.

Kelly and Brian of V-girl are at the Washington City Paper I think....

Still waiting on the V-girl reunion album....It's hard to believe with the myspace explosion and internet adv. that the V-girl fans out there wouldn't unite to pay some $ for it... :)

-- poor artist (poorartis...), November 18th, 2005.

I was NEVER an A&R; person. That was a Steve ("God Bless Him") Albini construct to help him seem important.
I did help run some 'cool' record companies, like Caroline. I walked away as the industry fell off the cliff -- hell, they didn't want me anyway.

Now I'm a 2nd year law student, hoping to one day help out some artists and others in the new world we live in.

-- Lyle Preslar (lyle.presla...), November 10th, 2005.

Sorry, my bad.

This thread just got ten times cooler, though.

-- Edward III (ehonaue...), November 19th, 2005.

I know Andrew Mcleay - the bass guitarist for top Melbourne band "The Link" from the very late 80's is a stay at home dad while his wife works as a financial controller. I say bring that band back!

-- lenni sarugan (stdogsmarin...), December 7th, 2005.

FM Cornog (better known as East River Pipe) works at Home Depot.

-- michael g. breece (everyonesfrien...), December 8th, 2005.

That Speedy J cube house rumor is correct, he lives in one of these in Overblaak, Rotterdam:

-- StanM (Stan10...), December 8th, 2005.

Damn, I was seeing those buildings *minutes ago* in a Jackie Chan movie...

-- Diego Valladolid (dvallad...), December 8th, 2005.

Martin Atkins teaches a course in touring in a college in Chicago. I think he wrote his own wikipedia entry.

-- hector (hector233...), December 9th, 2005.

Fascinating thread.

From the Loud Family: Scott Miller is a computer programmer.

...and working on a new album, I hear, despite swearing off the biz a few years back.

Ed's Redeeming Qualities: Dan Leone became a food critic. Carrie Bradley started working for a graphic design company after her tenure in the Breeders.

Vudi from American Music Club also did the taxi-driver gig, I believe.

To follow-up far upthread, Don Van Vliet's paintings go for a rather large stack of nickels, yes.

Laurie Anderson claims to have worked at a McDonald's in NYC recently, but it was undoubtedly for more of a conceptual/storytelling purpose as usual. I would have paid large sums of money to sit in on that job interview, though.

-- Myke Weiskopf (spa...), December 9th, 2005.

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