How do aging rock stars strut their entrepreneurial side? We look at 10 of them today who also happen to be boomer males. From Gene Simmons of Kiss to Joey Kramer of Aerosmith, you’ll find out how these icons of rock kicked out the jams creating some very interesting products. All thanks to some good reporting by our friends over at msnmoney.com. Maybe something will spark a money-making idea for you.
10 Aging Rock Stars Strutting Their Entrepreneurial Side
“I’m no stranger to the rock ‘n roll lifestyle,” Kramer said on the website of a business he founded. “For the past 40-plus years, I have hit the circuit hard and have lived through some unbelievable experiences—both high and low—and have come out on the other side.”
-Joey Kramer, Aerosmith drummer & entrepreneur
Joey Kramer, Aerosmith drummer: Kramer founded the high-quality organic Rockin’ & Roastin’ Coffee, whose “mission is to provide coffee at a fair price that will delight and satisfy our customers.” Its roasts include Ethiopia whole bean, Guatemala whole bean and Sumatra whole bean.
Bret Michaels, Poison lead singer: The singer is also an animal lover, which provided him the impetus to create his signature “Pets Rock” collection of pet accessories. One can almost hear Michaels crooning, “Every dog has its bone.” But as an entrepreneur, he’s going even further. Sold exclusively at PetSmart, earlier this year Michaels’ official site featured a one-time addition of cat toys to the formerly dogs-only line.
Gene Simmons, Kiss lead singer: Simmons is co-owner of the Los Angeles Kiss football arena team, whose merchandise page helps continue Simmons’ lifelong project sticking the word “KISS” on anything he can sell.
Paul Stanley, Kiss guitarist: A venture that Stanley is involved in is the Rock & Brews restaurant chain. It was founded in 2012, and while co-founder and band mate Gene Simmons took some flack that comes with doing the publicity, Stanley was there, too, and according to the restaurant’s official website, the rockers also function as the establishment’s “Rock and Roll Ambassadors.”
Sammy Hagar, Van Halen lead singer: After ten years of hit albums in the band, Hagar was forced out of the picture in 1996. Luckily, he had already established numerous business ventures, including his Cabo Wabo brand tequila. According to the product website, it embodies the singer’s “beliefs of living free, working hard and playing harder.”
Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden lead singer: Robinson’s banshee shrieks have graced such classic tunes as “Run to the Hills,” “2 Minutes to Midnight” and the thunderously galloping “The Trooper.” The singer took the title of that song and gave it to Trooper beer, which he created in conjunction with Robinson’s Brewery.
Alex Lifeson, Rush guitarist: The guitarist is co-founder of the Toronto nightclub The Orbit Room. Founded in 1994 by Lifeson and Tim Notter, the club’s official website says that it “harkens back to the mid-’60s when clubs like Le Coq D’or, the Colonial, Club Bluenote and others hosted live entertainment that had their own sound, their own vibe, and their faithful followers.”
Michael Anthony, Van Halen bass player: On Anthony’s website, Mad Anthony Cafe. he sells a variety of sauces, such as barbecue, hot mustard and a signature hot sauce that once bore the slogan “So hot you’ll need two a**holes.”
K.K. Downing, Judas Priest guitarist: Downing left the group in 2011, but did he mothball his guitar and put 40 years of rocking behind him? Absolutely not. Instead, he created his own line of cologne, Metal for Men, an eau de toilette of which stateside customers can buy from Amazon.com.
Vince Neil, Motley Crue lead singer: Neil has always engaged in multiple business ventures outside of the band. His most current such venture is his co-ownership of the Las Vegas Outlaws arena football team.
You can read the entire post here. Let us know your thoughts. Do you know of any other aging rockers showing their entrepreneurial side? Share your thoughts below.
Do well.
