Backstage with Steve Summers

It's been nearly 20 years since Pretty Boy Floyd entered the Glam Metal arena. Now, two decades later, the band is back with an all new line-up. Steve "Sex" Summers still fronts his group of trashy men. Bring Back Glam! recently caught up with Steve backstage at a Pretty Boy Floyd show in Dayton, Ohio. During that conversation, Steve talked about a possible reunion album, tattoos and how the current band members came together. Transcription follows.  

Bring Back Glam!: Tell me all about Pretty Boy Floyd.

Steve Summers: What do you want to know?

BBG: Everything.

SS: Well, we’re one of those bands still keeping it together, from the 80s Metal scene and uh, we’re kicking some ass.

BBG: How did you put this version of Pretty Boy Floyd together? (Editor’s note: current band line-up is Summers on vocals, Mikki Twist on bass, Davey Lister on guitar and Scotti D on drums).

SS: I got a call from Scotti (drums) and he said “Hey bro, I’ll give you the best fucking version of Pretty Boy Floyd if you want to fucking do this.” I said “Oh really? Send me the music, this, that. I’ll see if I like it.” Oh yeah, and when he said “We’ll let you have all the money.” That was the clincher.

BBG: What do you mean you get all the money?

SS: The show money, the merch money.

BBG: So why is it feasible for the rest of the band to drive halfway around the world to play in Pretty Boy Floyd?

SS: Because they just want to have a good time. No, of course we pay them. They get paid. Wait, what was the question?

BBG: Are they really members of your band or not?

SS: Of course they are.

BBG: But, it’s not contractual?

SS: What? What does that mean?

BBG: Do you have an agreement written down on paper?

SS: A fucking contract?!

BBG: Yes.

SS: No one has contracts.

BBG: Sure they do.

SS: Ok, some do. Some don’t. I don’t know if the Bulletboys have a contract, or Bang Tango have a contract.

BBG: Do you like the Bulletboys?

SS: Yeah! They are all good. The bigger bands have contracts. This was more of “I like what I see, I like what I hear. Let’s do some shit and if I like it, we’ll continue to do it.”

BBG: You’re working on a new album?

SS: We’re working on new material. Whether it’s for a brand new record with all these guys or a reunion record with the other guys…we’re actually just, to be honest, we’re just recording many songs. That’s what you gotta do. You record a hundred songs, and maybe you like ten of them.

BBG: All new material?

SS: Oh yes, all new material. If everything went well, we’d put out two albums next year. A reunion record, because we came out in 1988. We’re writing with Aerial (Stiles, guitar player) who wrote most of the songs on the first record. New stuff, we’re all creating…maybe there will be two records.

BBG: Is that what you want?

SS: If it happens, it happens. It’s not the first thing on the top of my fucking-when-I-wake-up-in-the-morning-list.

BBG: Well, what is then?

SS: Being healthy, being happy.

BBG: How do you say so thin?

SS: I don’t eat fast food. I love to work out every day. Not for the sake to look good, but to feel good. That’s it, really.

BBG: You don’t eat fast food, even when you’re driving to shows?

SS: I try not to. Don’t get me wrong: fast food is the best! Taco Bell, Pizza Hut…it’s the best. Sometimes you gotta suffer and give the fans what they want. I’m suffering for the fans. If I wasn’t in the music business, and I just worked a normal whatever, I’m sure I would exercise to feel good but I bet I’d eat shitty. The fans deserve…we’re a glam band. You can’t be fat!

BBG: If you weren’t a musician, what do you think you’d be doing professionally?

SS: I’ve done a lot of things. Partner with my brother –

BBG: What does he do?

SS: He owns clubs. I’ve been in the strip bar business and the bar business. I’ve been in the fitness business. That’s what I’d be doing.

BBG: Do you smoke?

SS: No. Well, I take a smoke when we play once in awhile, just for the boredom, but when I’m home, I don’t smoke.

BBG: You get bored on stage?

SS: No! I didn’t mean to say boredom. Like…just a high. I don’t know. It’s like if someone were to hand me a Jager shot on stage. Fucking weed or something. I’d be like “That’s cool!” Wait, I don’t do that.

BBG: But you drink?

SS: For shows. When I’m at home, I would never touch a cigarette or drink.

BBG: Why is it that you play “Live Wire” at every single show?

SS: Oh, we’re that kind of band that’s like…well, we’re not big like fucking Def Leppard, or fucking Motley Crue or Bon Jovi. We admit it. Those guys are the big boys. When we play these shows, the club scene, people want to hear a couple covers. We could play fifteen of our songs off five different records but we gotta play a couple songs they (the fans) like and know. That’s why we do it. We’re big Motley fans, big Kiss fans, big Alice Cooper fans. We’ve covered it. Since we’re not in the “A” category, we throw in something we know they (the fans) would like.

BBG: What category are you in then?

SS: Well, you know, we’re in the major leagues but we’re like, you know…I don’t know how to explain it. Everyone knows where we are. We had a major deal (with MCA Records) and that whole deal. It is what it is.

BBG: So what is “it?”

SS: It’s all good! We’re like…we’re in the major leagues, but we’re at the bottom of the barrel. We’re having a good time. “Have you been on MTV?” Yes.” “Have you been on VH1?” “Yes.” “Have you played with all the bands?” “Yes.” We’re like the Cleveland Indians…

BBG: Expect they almost went to the World Series.

SS: I know that! I’m saying…before all the World Series shit!

BBG: You want to tell me what your arm means right there? (Points to markings on Steve’s upper left arm).

SS: Oh, I just write something on me every night. I admit, it’s no tattoo. It’s my family. I’m very close to my family. I’ve got my mom, my bro, my dad, my niece. I write it on me. It’s like a tribal thing.

BBG: Do you have any real tattoos?

SS: Why would I do that? No, I don’t have any real ones.

BBG: Why? That’s pretty uncommon.

SS: Once I make like a couple hundred thousand dollars for something I’m doing, I’ll tattoo it on me. It can be gay sex or whatever it is. I’ll tattoo it on me.

BBG: So you have to make a certain amount of money before getting a tattoo?

SS: Yes, a certain amount of cash – no! Honestly…I’ll probably…well, when you’re young and in your twenties and stuff, you don’t really know what you’re doing. A lot of people have regrets, so I didn’t want to do it then. Now that I’m in my sixties, I’ll probably put something…my family has always been number one to me. Family and health.

Comments

[Schlep]

Wow... talk about a washed up, bitter, greedy, poser...

He has no skills, other than singing... He has no way to make money and he makes very little of that... He won't treat people fairly nor pay them what they are worth.

Why would anyone have anything to do with this creep?

[glamlover.org]

Ive met steve many times on the road.The one problem is that he keeps pickin these complete losers to try to be in his band. Keri Keli was the only decent one that went on to do things.All the other guys will never do shit.As for the el toro guy i heard he is some fat pathetic bald dude that tried to be in a band back in the day but was a joke and then opened a club that got closed down for breakin laws.I bet he sings floyd songs at his apartment.Leather boys is still one of the best glam albums of all time and some haters cant handle it.Go back to your pathetic lives and let steve do what he likes and try to find some dudes that arent losers. glamlover

[love child]

good stuff. true that.steve summers one of five best glam rock singers of all time. not bad whats your story.

[Chey]

is he really that old???? doesn't look like it. Faster pussycat and Pretty boy floyd rock. i would love to see them both. it just sounds like he waan't used to doin interviews.

[Mikki Metal]

Steve is cool, and PBF are one of my favorite bands. I'm glad that they are gettin' it together again, but it sucks that Kristy Krash Majors doesn't want to be in Floyd anymore. And Vinnie changes, it really sucks. But I'm glad that Steve is still the same, I always liked him.

[MauMau]

LOL I really enjoyed this interview!!
I luved PBF since the MCA deal time , it was my fave band for all my youth but then I started to despise the complete lack of songwriting abilities of the band (after the debut album) and the exploiting and milking of old Ariel songs.. They don't make any money cause they CAN'T.. sad but true..

Someone pliiis explane to mr. Kari Kane that FAT people can't be Glam according to mr. Summers..
(have you seen K.Kane at rocklahoma 2008???) he's soooo fuckin bearish and chubby man I at first thought it was Vinnie Paul from Pantera..

Ok Kane I luv fat guys.. plis eat more.. we want to see some really cool glam chubby!

[M.C.]

HOW CARES ABOUT RUMORS, GOSSIP AND WHO IS BEEN FAT??????????? I LOVE STEVE SUMMERS, LOVE HIS VOICE VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!! AND HE ROCK'S MY WORLD!!!!!!!! SORRY BUT I AM A BIG FAN

[gettyleigh]

For his sake, I hope he was just jokin'. Because at this point, I amazed this guy can remember the music and lyrics! It is like the prequal to Ozzy; he can't remember his lyrics either! Obviously, there is no comparison other than that.I can't recall ever listening to PBF, and after this interview, I'm certainly not gonna go out of my way to find it. I was kind of looking for stuff I may have missed back in the day. I guess that's what happens when you live the life.