10 Musicians Who Have Other Jobs

Rock and metal musicians are an interesting group of people. They manage to take what is, for most people, a hobby and elevate it to something that they can make a living off of. But the industry can be really fickle; you never really know what the next big thing is going to be. Just ask the hair metal bands of the late ’80s about the release of Nirvana’s album Nevermind, and you will see how fast the tides turned.

Due to this instability, it isn’t hard to see how one might have a backup plan or develop new skills outside of the music scene to survive. Additionally, the money and fame that come with success can open doors for musicians to pursue other passions that they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to pursue before. Here is a list of 10 rock/metal musicians who have had other professions.

Related: 10 Most Dangerous Jobs That’ll Make You Rich

10 Eric Stefani

You might recognize Eric based on his last name. That’s right, he is pop star Gwen Stefani’s brother and one of the founding members of the band No Doubt. Eric helped to form the band in 1986 but suddenly left in 1994 once the group had finished recording their third studio album, Tragic Kingdom. Why would a founding member of a band leave the group just as it was on the up and nearing a breakthrough? To pursue his true passion: animation.

Pursue might not be the best word, as Eric already had an established animation career starting in 1989 with The Simpsons. He actually worked on the very first episode. Eric put his animation on pause as work with No Doubt was ramping up and decided to resume with The Simpsons in 1994. In addition to The Simpsons, he has also worked on Ren and Stimpy and Rugrats and helped animate the opening sequence of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

While it may have seemed like a silly decision to leave a band that would become as big as No Doubt, it looks like Eric’s path was equally as fortunate. I mean, to be able to play a part in one of the biggest animated shows in television history is a huge accomplishment. Eric doesn’t seem to have regretted his decision, as he has been spotted at No Doubt shows and is often supportive of his sister’s career.^[1]

9 Vanilla Ice

Looking back at the rise of Vanilla Ice is like finding photos of your parents as teenagers. It is almost impossible to grasp that certain things were actually cool unless you were around at the time. In the early ’90s, Vanilla Ice was most definitely cool as ice. He was everywhere: in magazines, on the radio, and even on the silver screen. However, trends changed, and Vanilla Ice fell off hard. Accompanying his downfall was hard drug use, which almost killed him in 1994.

Despite his goofy style and somewhat silly rapping, there was more to Vanilla Ice than meets the eye. For instance, his real name is Robert Van Winkle. Ice was actually smart enough to branch out away from music and develop other skills when he noticed his popularity waning. Prior to his music career, he was really into motorsports and, in 1995, became the Number 6 ranked jet-ski racer in the world.

Even more successful was his real estate business, which he started working on the side at the same time. He was so successful with real estate and renovating that he actually scored a TV deal with the DIY Network called the Vanilla Ice Project that lasted for 9 seasons between 2010 and 2019. He has also published books on the process of buying and flipping houses, as well as focusing on how to have a celebrity-style home on a normal salary.^[2]

8 Stevo-32

“I don’t want to waste my time, become another casualty of society.” That was part of the chorus for Sum 41’s breakout hit “Fat Lip.” They are lyrics that only a kid ready to go out and make their mark on the world can sing earnestly. I’m not trying to knock the sentiment, but hearing this come out of a 20-year-old hits differently than someone in their 40s. No example is better than Sum 41’s very own drummer, Stevo-32.

After multiple platinum albums, playing up to 300 shows per year, and surviving through the emo boom of the 2000s, the drummer found himself ready to hang up the sticks. He left unceremoniously, and it was only recently that he discussed why. He states in an interview that he was burnt out and wanted to be with his wife and newborn.

It is totally understandable, but what blew a lot of people’s minds was what he went on to do next: real estate. Some noted that he became one of those suits that Sum 41 was railing against in their youth. Nevertheless, Stevo-32 (now Steve Jocz) is a rather successful real estate agent. There’s even a video showing just how great Steve is at his job!

Recently, Stevo-32 has moved on from “the former drummer of Sum 41” to now being the “current drummer in his basement” with a new YouTube channel focusing on the history of his time in the band while playing some of the old classics. I highly recommend his channel, which is both interesting and hilarious.^[]

7 Dan Spitz

When it comes to the “Big Four” of thrash metal bands, Anthrax is the one that people overlook the most. They shouldn’t, considering the contribution they made by teaming up with Public Enemy to bridge the divide between rap and metal music. On second thought, they may be responsible for the rap metal subgenre, so perhaps we shouldn’t be singing their praises just yet.

“Bring the Noise” was a pivotal moment for both metal and hip-hop, but did we ever consider the impact that this collaboration had on the musicians themselves? For instance, is it possible that the giant clock that Flavor Flav wore around his neck awoke some deep interest in timepieces for the legendary guitarist Dan Spitz? While I can find no actual mention of this inspiration, you cannot deny the link when, in 1995, Spitz quit Anthrax, gave his guitars and equipment away, and went on to pursue watchmaking.

Okay, I may be overselling the Flavor Flav connection: Spitz originally learned all about watches growing up in his grandfather’s antique jewelry store. The interest was always there with Spitz. So, when he grew tired of life on the road, he revisited his old interest, and he was quite good at it. Spitz has multiple degrees in watchmaking from around the world and is considered one of the premier horologists in the world. If you have a spare $128,000, you may be able to get one of his lower-end timepieces but expect to wait at least two years for it to be made.^[4]

6 Tom DeLonge

“Aliens Exist” is the third song on Blink 182’s breakout album Enema of the State. At the time, Blink 182 was seen as highly immature and unserious, despite some of the weightier subject matter that their later songs would explore. Of all the things for co-frontman Tom DeLonge to be serious about on an album with an adult film actress on the cover, songs about prank calling your ex’s parents, and a guy that spreads dysentery, I don’t think anyone expected it to be the existence of aliens.

While the other two members of Blink-182 were aware of Tom’s passion for the extraterrestrial, the public only took notice in 2014 when Tom formed a new band, Angels and Airwaves, that released material under his new company, To The Stars*. What started as an entertainment company releasing all sorts of media exploring space, UFOs, and the unknown quickly developed into recruiting scientists and ex-government employees to begin investigating and communicating with the U.S. government concerning extraterrestrial life.

Tom rebranded the company as To the Stars Academy of Arts and Sciences (TTSAAS) to reflect the more serious nature of the company’s efforts. The hard work paid off in 2023 when a congressional subcommittee met to confirm and discuss the existence of UFOs based on leaked video evidence that had been released by TTSAAS.

Since then, Tom and his band have been taking a sort of victory tour celebrating the band’s return as well as his success with TTSAAS. Mark frequently reminds the crowd that Tom was right. Amusingly, Tom has remarked that when approached by fans, there is a 50/50 split on whether they are fans of his music or fans of his work in Ufology.^[5]

5 Jeff “Skunk” Baxter

By the 1980s, Jeff Baxter had made quite a name for himself as an original member of Steely Dan before leaving to play in another iconic rock band, the Doobie Brothers. His playing style often traversed the musical spectrum from rock to funk to avant-garde, pulling from each to create a unique sound that would later inform his future career as a missile defense contractor. Baxter had a keen interest in recording equipment and noticed the military advancements in technology regarding data compression and storage.

As luck would have it, Baxter’s neighbor was a retired engineer who contributed to the Sidewinder missile program. The neighbor, noticing Baxter’s interest in the subject, bought him a subscription to Aviation Weekly. Baxter’s interest grew, and he became a self-taught missile defense expert. He authored a paper on the subject of converting the Navy’s anti-aircraft Aegis missile to a missile defense system. The paper was pushed along by Republican Congressman Dana Rohrbacher, and Baxter was launched into the world of defense consulting, eventually reaching the level of chair of the Congressional Advisory Board on missile defense.

Baxter has been very clear that his experience in the music industry has informed the unique way he thinks about military defense: “We thought turntables were for playing records until rappers began to use them as instruments, and we thought airplanes were for carrying passengers until terrorists realized they could be used as missiles.” By utilizing existing technologies, Baxter has been able to envision novel defense systems, much like he was able to craft genre-bending leads and melodies. At one point, the chairman of the Armed Service Committee asked an advisor if Baxter “is the guy from Raytheon or Boeing?” The advisor simply stated, “No, this is the guy from the Doobie Brothers.”^[6]

4 Billy Corgan

During the ’90s, one of the most popular bands was the Smashing Pumpkins. Fronted by the mercurial Billy Corgan, the band reached stardom by blending rock n roll (Cherub Rock), dreamy atmosphere (1979), and anger (Zero). To this day, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” remains one of their biggest hits with one of their most memorable choruses: “Despite all my rage, I’m still just a rat in a cage.” Initially, we may have all believed this to be a commentary on the futility of trying to escape the modern-day rat race, but maybe Billy was referring to a different type of cage—a wrestling cage match!

Corgan has loved wrestling since he was a kid, and it makes sense when you think about it. Pro wrestling offers violence, drama, passion, and showmanship all in one package. Like the Smashing Pumpkins, they know how to put on a good show. It’s no wonder that Corgan decided to throw his hat into the ring and acquire the National Wrestling Association in 2017. Since then, Corgan has incorporated matches into his music performances, and he even has a reality show, Adventures in Carnyland, that documents his work-life balance between rockstardom and running a professional wrestling company.^[7]

3 Adam Jones

When it comes to artistic integrity, few bands can come close to Tool. Everything they do is with intention and serves their vision. It’s a meme now, but when a band uses the Fibonacci sequence to create a rhythm for their song, you know that they are on another level. Another aspect of Tool that has created an extra layer of interest and mystique is the visuals, especially those found in its music videos. With equal parts H.R. Geiger, Salvador Dalí, and David Lynch, would you be surprised if I told you that one of the members worked in special effects?

Rolling Stone’s 75th best guitarist and Tool’s very own Adam Jones had quite an impressive resume in film before Tool was even signed in 1990. Some of his credits include Jurassic Park, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Predator 2, where he worked on set design, makeup, special effects, and sculpting. One of his most notable creations was the iconic effects for “Freddy in the Womb” from Nightmare on Elm Street 5.^[8]

2 Bruce Dickinson

Some people might be fine with being the frontman of one of the biggest metal bands in the world, but Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson is not some people. While Bruce was out conquering the world with his operatic performances, he decided to take a flying lesson in Florida in 1990. Bruce has stated that he has always had an interest in aviation, which is quite evident from one of Iron Maiden’s biggest songs about war pilots, “Aces High.”

From there, Bruce got his license and began flying chartered flights for Astraeus. When Astraeus went defunct in 2010, Bruce started his own aircraft maintenance company called Cardiff Aviation Ltd. His piloting career has seen him fly members of the Royal Air Force, civilians out of conflict zones like Lebanon, and even the Rangers and Liverpool Football Clubs. At this point, I don’t even know what is more impressive.

I should also note that Bruce has written novels, created a radio show for the BBC, and created beer in partnership with Robinson’s Brewery. These efforts have earned Bruce the title of a Polymath by Intelligent Life magazine, but—much like the influences on Iron Maiden’s sound—I like to refer to him as a Renaissance Man.^[9]

1 Christian Jacobs

Most of the artists in this list are recognizable by their name or band, but Christian Jacobs is more of a cult figure. Nevertheless, his work as a musician and television producer/director has had quite an influence in their respective fields.

Fans of the ska revival of the ’90s might know Jacobs by his stage name: The MC Bat Commander, frontman of the band The Aquabats. For those unfamiliar with the band, The Aquabats are a group of costumed superheroes that travel the world fighting crime and boredom. Their shows include elaborate stage performances paired with their energetic, upbeat songs. While a mostly silly band, the group managed to achieve mainstream success and even had Travis Barker of Blink 182 join their ranks for a while.

You might gather from the description of the band and their shows that the act is for children. It isn’t, but it definitely serves as inspiration for Jacobs’s other project: creating and directing a kid’s television show. Jacobs is the co-creator of Yo Gabba Gabba! Much like his band, the show is quirky, weird, and very positive. Airing on Nickelodeon, the show featured many memorable segments, including drawing with Mark Mothersbaugh, dancing with Elijah Wood, and practicing beats with Biz Markie.

Reflecting on the success of the show and why he helped create it, Jacobs stated, “We wanted to watch something cooler, and that definitely became the design of the show, something that we would want to watch with our kids.” Honestly, I would say mission accomplished.^[10]

+ Bonus: Tim Lambesis

As I Lay Dying is one of those bands that transcended their genre to break through into the mainstream. Originally considered metalcore, their fourth album, An Ocean Between Us, debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200. Shortly after their sharp ascent into the mainstream, frontman Tim Lambesis was arrested in California.

This came as a bit of a shock because the band also marketed themselves as a proudly Christian band with many of the themes of their music based on their faith. Even more shocking was the reason for his arrest. Tim had attempted to hire a hitman to kill his estranged wife. The trial revealed that over the years, Tim became obsessed with working out and distanced himself from his wife and children to the point that while he was on tour, he had emailed his wife stating that he didn’t love her, no longer was Christian, and was having an affair. Tim’s defense attempted to blame his erratic behavior on his rampant steroid abuse, but nevertheless, Tim was required to serve six years in prison.

As I Lay Dying was put on hold, but they eventually returned with Tim. However, news has broken that everyone but Tim has left the band for undisclosed reasons. Maybe Tim is trying to plan another hit or become a mob boss?^[11]