Recently speaking to Remy Maxwell on 104.1 JackFM, Sebastian Bach disclosed Gene Simmons and KISS’s impact on his life and career, crediting them for his ability to ‘never have to work a day’ in the rock and roll scene.
While discussing Skid Row’s early multi-platinum success, Bach recalled an encounter with Simmons’ daughter, Sophie Simmons, during his first date with his wife Suzanne at the Playboy Mansion:
“Everybody in life wants to know the secret to success, the secret to happiness, the secret to longevity, the secret to all of those things. And when I met Gene’s [Simmons] daughter, Sophie, it was at the Playboy Mansion on the first date that I ever went on with my wife, Suzanne. This was eight years ago or nine years ago.”
An Unlikely Conversation At The Playboy Mansion
The singer continued, detailing the conversation between him and Sophie:
“It was New Year’s Eve at the Playboy Mansion when it was still rocking. Bruno Mars was playing. And it was a classic Playboy party. And I said to Sophie Simmons, I go, ‘Can I tell you what your dad did for me?’ And she kind of looked like, ‘Oh, great.’ … Like, just what she wants to hear. She goes, ‘Okay, tell me. What did my dad do for you?'”
The Impact Of A Musical Idol
Disclosing his response, Bach added:
“And I go, ‘I was such a fan of your dad’s band that I got so into it that I figured out how to make my own band and be as successful — not as successful, but as far as record sales and stuff, almost as successful as your dad. And, I got to have a great life and buy my mom a car and have a home and everything. And all my dreams came true, and a million times more, because I was a fan of your dad when I was a kid.’ I mean, how amazing is that?”
The Joy Of Rock And Roll As A Career
For Bach, rock and roll has been more than a career; it’s been a calling that he doesn’t consider work, as he further shared:
“I never had to work a day in my life. I don’t consider rock and roll work. I get to create stuff. I just made my new record. I spent all day yesterday finalizing my [new solo] CD packaging. That’s the kind of thing I love to do. So, how cool a band is that? And I’m not the only one [who was inspired by KISS]. [Late Pantera musicians] ‘Dimebag’ Darrell [Abbott and] Vinnie Paul [Abbott]. [Rage Against The Machine guitarist] Tom Morello… There’s a good side effect of being a fan of a band. Hey! Buy a house. Buy your mom a car just ’cause you know how to rock, dude [Laughs].”
In November, Bach released a new single, ‘What Do I Got To Lose?’ accompanied by an official music video directed by Jim Louvau and Tony Aguilera. It was co-written with Myles Kennedy and produced by Michael ‘Elvis’ Baskette. The video also features a reunion with former Skid Row bandmate Rob Affuso.
You can listen to the rest of his chat below.
