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In a recent interview with Metal-Net, longtime VIXEN bassist Share Ross shared insights about her decision to “take a hiatus” from the band in February 2022. She has been succeeded by Julia Lage, who was formerly with the Latin Grammy-nominated Brazilian rock band BARRA DE SAIA and is married to Richie Kotzen, who also collaborates with her in his SMITH/KOTZEN project. When asked what prompted her to leave VIXEN at that moment in her life, Share responded (as noted by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “A few factors came into play, particularly the travel dates. When VIXEN performs, we don’t use a tour bus or anything; it’s more about living in airports and hotels. That was taking a toll on me. Not to come off as ungrateful, but it was severely affecting my health in a really, really, really big way. So that was one part of the equation. Additionally, I had to step back for financial reasons and focus on creating, for lack of a better phrase, a stable income. I realized that I wasn’t 25 anymore and needed to earn real money. That was a contributing factor. I have always held down other jobs, and music has supported me for maybe five years of my adult life — the rest involved continuous work. That’s why people think, ‘Oh, you’ve done so much.’ They have no idea. Another aspect was the songwriting process; we weren’t aligned on our direction moving forward. When I combined all these elements, it became clear that stepping back was the right choice for me. I wish the band the very best, and I know they have a new vocalist in Rosa [Laricchiuta], who is phenomenal and truly contributing. There are no hard feelings; it was truly for my health and sanity. I had to make a change. Roxy [Petrucci, VIXEN drummer] and I discussed this extensively, and she wasn’t surprised. After knowing someone for so long, you can tell when they’re struggling with happiness. It just felt like the right moment to step away. Some of it reminded me of my time from when VIXEN broke up in ’91, ’92, during that chaotic period. I immediately started collaborating with others and took charge of my own band in ’93. I never stopped; it was band after band. Not many people know about BUBBLE, but I was involved in a couple of bands even prior to that. I wanted to return to that creative freedom. I wanted to play what I wanted without the pressure of, ‘Oh, we don’t want to do that song.’ I just aimed to get back to my roots in music. This passion won’t ever fade away.
When asked if leaving VIXEN was “emotionally hard,” Share remarked: “Great question. It was indeed an emotional decision. I found myself thinking, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing? I love these girls, and VIXEN will always be a part of me.’ Who knows? Maybe I’ll return one day. I genuinely believe that the future is unpredictable for all of us. So yes, it was highly emotional. I talked it over extensively with my husband, Bam, and Roxy, trying to process my feelings. It also came to a point where I felt I was doing what was right for the fans. If I didn’t want to be up there, that wasn’t fair to them. It felt like I’d be shortchanging them. I might be overthinking it, but my final performance, when we introduced Julia, led me to drink excessively that night. I don’t drink anymore, but that night I lost control. It was overwhelming to release all of those mixed emotions. However, afterwards, I felt a sense of relief, as if I had made the right choice. Sometimes, things run their course in life. I truly wish them all the best, with no negative feelings — some transitions in life are just necessary.
In September, Share spoke to CoStar News about her shift from sporadic shows with VIXEN to becoming one of the leading real estate agents with eXp Realty in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Ross obtained her real estate license in 2018 and mentioned that she typically handles around $10 million to $12 million in sales each year, with commissions usually set at 5-6% of the house’s sale price. (This commission is typically split between the buyer’s and seller’s agents.)
Prior to fully diving into real estate, Share balanced music with a career as a life coach.
“For every musician who achieves major success, there are probably 100 or 1,000 of us who don’t quite reach that level,” Ross, who operates out of her home in Boynton Beach, shared with CoStar News. “If I continued to tour and do amazing things with the band, I simply couldn’t keep up with my bills.”
Share also noted that although VIXEN was profitable during its peak in the late ’80s, she and her bandmates didn’t manage their finances effectively.
“We invested in promoting the band and album sales instead of saving for a home, which would have been beneficial,” she reflected. “It’s on us; I can’t blame anyone else. Both Gene Simmons from KISS and Rick Nielsen from CHEAP TRICK advised me: ‘The only money you can rely on in rock and roll is the upfront payment.’ They were absolutely correct.”
When Ross officially departed VIXEN in 2022, despite achieving platinum album sales and major tours, she told Rolling Stone she “never made a penny.”
Share became acquainted with the real estate field through a realtor friend, Avery Carl, who is married to SiriusXM Hair Nation DJ Luc Carl.
The only remaining member of VIXEN’s classic lineup is Petrucci, who is joined by guitarist Britt Lightning (a.k.a. Brittany Denaro) and Laricchiuta.
Petrucci, Ross, and vocalist Janet Gardner are integral to VIXEN’s classic lineup, along with founding guitarist Jan Kuehnemund, who sadly passed away from cancer in October 2013.
Gardner provided lead vocals across VIXEN’s most commercially successful albums — “Vixen” (1988), “Rev It Up” (1990), and “Tangerine” (1998) — as well as the band’s recent release, the live album “Live Fire” from 2018.
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