Get a haircut and get a real job : Rockers who got real jobs

During a downturn in the band's fortunes, John Lees of Barclay James Harvest worked for quite a spell as an electrician for his wife's construction company.

He has also had a spell working as a music technician in a secondary school (high school) local to his home.

(Interestingly, he is also a fully licensed radio ham)

Best Wishes,
David

 

Iain Jennings, long-time keyboard player with UK prog band 'Mostly Autumn' is a secondary school (high school) music teacher.

Best Wishes,
David

 

Correction. Opened an excellent restaurant and an amazing bakery!

 

Ouch! I'd have to agree though.

 

You stole my line.

 

Linda Thompson (of Richard and ... fame/notoriety) left the music business for a long time and ran a small antiques shop in London.

Best Wishes,
David

 

I believe Rob Coombes has been working outside of music since Supergrass split. (Just not sure doing what. Graphic design?)

 

Probably still can't find their royalties.........

 

Not sure of the current status of Aerosmith but Joe Perry has his business to fall back on.

 

During one of Spinal Tap's periodic break-ups, Derek Smalls worked for his family's telephone-sanitizing business, and Nigel Tufnel was a window cleaner.

 

Gavin Sutherland (of Sutherland Brothers and Quiver) quit the music industry for a long time and did many many fairly menial jobs to keep body and soul together including a stint working in a fish processing factory.

He also wrote a highly thought of book about his Scottish background (published by the Centre for Scottish Studies).

Thankfully, he has returned to music in the last 15 or so years (on a semi-professional basis) and has released a couple of excellent albums.

As indeed has his brother Iain, whose 2015 album 'Back To The Sea' is oustanding.

Best Wishes,
David

 

But probably not making real money.

 

Michael Stanley of the Michael Stanley Band is a radio DJ in Cleveland Ohio.

 

The late Carson Van Osten not only played bass in the greatest band of all time, he also subsequently had a career as an artist, VP and consultant for Disney:



Carson Van Osten | Disney Legends Ceremony | 2015 D23 Expo »

Comic Strip Artist's Kit »

"Open My Eyes" - Nazz »

 

That’s pretty fly for a white PHD candidate.

 

Warren Ellis (Bad Seeds/Dirty Three) teaches music in a primary school in Paris in his downtime. But no haircut.

 

Ben Harding of Creation records signed hard rockers 3 Colours Red became a PR man after quitting the band. Dominic Chad of Mansun was an ambulance medic in London and works as a support worker for people with disabilities & learning difficulties.

 

The late Bruce Rowland, who played at Woodstock with Joe Cocker and eventually ended up with Fairport Convention and Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance ran a paint business, when he finally retired from the music industry.

Best Wishes,
David

 

Didn't Tim Buckley drive a taxi for a while?

He even sang about it on the song "Nighthawkin'," which can be heard here:

 

Half of them would be like ‘I prefer to have CPR administered on me by Sammy Hagar, please.’

 

The previously-mentioned James Williamson did him one better, becoming Senior VP, Technical Standards for Sony International. Even after having retired and re-joined the Stooges, he won an industry award for his contributions to consumer electronics standards development, including work towards the Blu-Ray standard. He's had one hell of a career, for sure!

 

From one of my favorite bands, Catherine Wheel: singer Rob Dickinson owns a business that restores vintage Porsches, and drummer Neil Sims is an oil company executive.

I reckon that both of them make much more $$$ now than when they were in the band.

 

When Slade finally bit the dust, Don Powell, who, along with Dave Hill, never received any recurring royalty payments, set up and ran an antiques business.

Best Wishes,
David

 

Gene Adam, first singer of Iced Earth, became a pastor. He was somewhat reclusive for years, but though he has moved to playing acoustic Christian music, is still proud of his time in Iced Earth.
John Greely, second singer of Iced Earth, opened a pizza restaurant in Tampa after his exit from the group. There were pics on his Facebook, though he took them down.
Matt Barlow, third singer of Iced Earth, became a police officer, something he continued to do even after he briefly returned to the group to record The Crucible Of Man Part 2.
Randall Shawver, longtime secondary guitarist of Iced Earth, got a job in IT after he left the group.

 

Bob Egan of Blue Rodeo (and Wilco) now works at the Kitchener-Waterloo library.