Metal Sludge The Power and the Glory
AIN’T NO BUMMER FOR SUMMERS
Metal Sludge exclusive: From the ashes of glam legends Pretty Boy Floyd, singer Steve Summers forges a comeback
By Gerry Gittelson
Metal Sludge Editor at Large
LOS ANGELES — It’s been nearly three years since Steve Summers last graced the stage — by far the longest inactive stretch since the Pretty Boy Floyd frontman first signed a record deal a generation ago — and the singer is primed and ready to make a comeback on Feb. 28 in Germany as the headliner at the annual Sleazefest.
How much does Summers miss being out there?
“I do miss it, but it was nice to take a break,” said Summers in the wake of Pretty Boy Floyd disbanding for good. “I got a lot done as far as writing and recording and meeting new people and refocusing and all that stuff.”
Don’t blame Summers for being a little bitter. The end of Pretty Boy Floyd included a lot of mud-slinging.
“The last tour didn’t end too well, and it hasn’t left the greastest taste in my mouth,” Summers said. “Three broken tour buses later, barely any chances to take a shower, touring with a bunch of bands that still think they’re as big as Motley Crue. It’s kind of like the last-place team in sports making a fresh start with new draft choices over a couple of years.”
Summers has lined up a series of gigs, including concerts in Miami, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Colorado and Illinois.
The black-haired Californian has not lost his sense of humor.
“I’ll probably love it when I get to the club, and I would love to sound real dramatic about how much I miss touring — but do I miss not taking a shower, no hotel rooms, having someone’s ass in my face as he crosses past the aisle on an airplane?” Summers said. “I mean, it’s always fun when you get to soundcheck and have to wait six hours for the sound guy to arrive, and there is no food and drinks.”
Summers is still in the process of putting a new band together.
“I’m working with some guys who are in other bands, bands that are bigger than me or Pretty Boy Floyd, so I don’t want to get in any trouble or anything,” Summers said. “It looks like we’ll have different members at different shows, an all-star lineup. It should be pretty spectacular.”
Tod Michael “T” Burr, a drummer who has worked with Pretty Boy Floyd, is headed with Summers to the Germany gig, and the guitar and bass slots are slated to be filled by European musicians.
Note: As of press time, the guitarists for Steve ‘Sex’ Summers are BC & Andy Brings from Shameless.
Tod “T” Burr, Andy Brings and Steve “Sex” Summers
“I’m refreshed and invigorated,” Summers said.
Meanwhile, Summers has tried to maintain contact with some of his fans. It should prove interesting to see how the public reacts to his comeback.
“I’ve learned some things because, you know, with social media, it’s almost like doing a show every day,” Summers said. “There are still all the fans to talk to from all around the world. I’m definitely looking forward to this.”
The plan is to keep building.
“I have seven or eight dates in the USA, not a lot, but I would like to do 20 or 30,” Summers said. “I’m doing the Miami bash, which is like the pre-party to the Monsters of Rock cruise, headlining with Jake E. Lee, and I’m doing s show in Vegas and Salt Lake City with (former Pretty Boy Floyd bandmate) Lesli Sanders, and a show in Colorado with Vain and Lesli. We’re going to add more shows.”
Summers is kind of testing the waters.
“This year in 2015 is more a ‘hey, check this out, I’m rocking’ kind of thing,” Summers said. “I’m working with a couple of agencies, but this year, I’m not going to blow my whole load, plus I’m working on other stuff.”
The “other stuff” is a more modern-style band in the vein of Type o Negative and Avenged Sevenfold, Summers said.
And finally, Summers offered his comments on the death of legendary producer Kim Fowley, who died last month but always loved Pretty Boy Floyd, even taking credit for naming the band back in 1987.
“It was very sad, and I know Kim had been sick for while,” Summers said. “He did name the band, but to be honest, we never knew there was another band in Canada also called Pretty Boy Floyd (that later sued for rights to the name). It wasn’t like: ‘You’re going to be called Pretty Boy Floyd — but just so you know, you might have a little problem.'”
Gerry Gittelson can be reached at gspot@metalsludge.tv
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