on the road because I always felt really grateful for the success that we experienced early on and I wanted it to continue. I wanted to return
that to the fans by also being in good form and physical condition to be able to perform to my best for them every night.
Scotty J: Kind of getting back to your early roots…obviously with ION Indie Magazine we have a big focus on the Independent Musician.
You know, guys that are just trying to have a chance--to have the slightest taste of what you've experienced. Being an independent
musician once upon a time, you've actually got a pretty cool story, from what I understand, getting discovered. Can you talk about that?
Do you ever think about back to when you were first trying to make it, when you got discovered, when you got your first big break?
Tom Keifer: I guess the big break that's been publicized heavily was JON BON JOVI. He kind of wandered in to a club in Philadelphia. I
believe that's what you were referring to?
Scotty J: Yes,
Tom Keifer: A couple years prior to that, which
has not been talked about much, GENE took
an interest in the band. But for whatever
reason, he couldn't get us arrested. He
actually took us to MERCURY RECORDS-which was ultimately the label we got signed
by after Jon saw us. So, the music industry is a
weird place. I have people. You know a lot of
up and coming artists come to me and say
here's my demo get me a record deal, and I'm
like well, it doesn't quite work that way.
Sometimes you can put a word in and it can
help, but most of the time, ya know, if Gene
Simmons can't get you a record deal…so
that's the interesting thing. He was involved
early on and I'll be forever grateful for his
interest in the band because that was a cool
thing for him to do. He tried to help us, and I
still love Gene to this day. But a couple years
later, Jon walked in to a club, and you know
Jon was--at that time--wasn't as well known or
even as big of a star as Gene was. I mean
"Slippery When Wet" wasn't even out yet.
They were actually in town recording the
second record. So "Runaway" was really the
only hit they had. So we knew who he was and
that was exciting for us because it's
like…“Hey, there's that guy from MTV!” And
he came back and he said, “Hey, I really like
the show.” And he introduced himself and
then he just left. Then our manager, a couple
days later, called me and said, “Ya know, Jon
really liked your show and he went in and was
kinda bragging on you guys to his A&R guy.”
One thing led to another, and the A&R guy
came down to see us play. And he came down
again, and like most A&R guys, he wasn't