Rocker/Author Jacob Slichter Loves the Chicago Bears!

Before Jacob Slichter was in the rock band Semisonic, and before he penned his book about his experiences, So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star:How I Machine-Gunned a Roomful Of Record Executives and Other True Tales from a Drummer's Life (You can buy Jake's book here), he was a Chicago Bears fan. Jake took a moment to discuss his favorite team and some other fun stuff.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

Let's start with the glory. What was it like to play at RFK Stadium? What do you remember? Did you check out the crowd when you were playing, or did you stay completely focused on the skins? Who'd you hang with backstage?

JACOB SLICHTER:  

We played RFK Stadium for a radio festival right as “Closing Time” reached the top of the alternative radio charts.  I will never forget how unprepared I was for the moment when 40,000 people joined us on the first chorus.  It almost knocked me off my drummer’s throne.

Closing Time...

STADIUM JOURNEY:

Stuck on the glory. Did you meet any super famous people who surprised you and were genuinely down to earth?

JACOB SLICHTER:  

We met a lot of famous people: Aimee Mann and Sheryl Crow, both of whom we toured with and both of whom were astonishingly down to earth (and amazingly talented).  I’ll never forget meeting Beatles producer George Martin, to whom we were introduced as he was having dinner after a very long day.  He had woken that morning in London, flown to Toronto, done a bunch of promotion for a new album of his, and then here he was, being introduced to some band of whom he’d never heard.  Yet he was so gracious.  He spoke to us, standing, for twenty or so minutes before we finally let him go.  I had a similar experience with Lionel Richie at a Grammy after-party.  All of these interactions were immensely instructive.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

What comes first: Your love for music or the Bears?

JACOB SLICHTER:  Music, lol.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

What are your fondest Bears memories? Who were your favorite players? Was Soldier Field your home away from home?

JACOB SLICHTER:  I’ve never attended a Bears game in person.  I became a sentient Bears fan just after Gale Sayers suffered his career ending injury.  There wasn’t much offense to root for, so I’d watch the television and wait for Dick Butkus and the defense to take the field.  My greatest memory was watching them win the Super Bowl with a few friends and other Bears fans crowded into a Pizzeria Uno somewhere in San Francisco’s Marina district.  

STADIUM JOURNEY:

You went to Harvard. Did you attend any football games? Is the Harvard/Yale rivalry the real deal, or is it more of a syllabus requirement?

JACOB SLICHTER:  I went to two Harvard/Yale games and never felt any passion for it.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

How was the music scene at Harvard? Were you in a band there?

JACOB SLICHTER:  I was in a few cover bands before pairing up with current bandmate, Dan Wilson, and another friend, Hal Movius.  I wouldn’t say the music scene at Harvard was anything special.  The Boston scene, however, was and remains very special.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

When you were touring, were you able to fit the Bears in? In general, what's life like on the road?

JACOB SLICHTER:  Fitting the Bears into one’s schedule is like fitting in coffee with the ex who broke your heart and still treats you horribly.  

STADIUM JOURNEY:

How'd the book come about? Were you keeping a journal all along? What was the process?

JACOB SLICHTER:  I only started keeping an actual journal about halfway through, but the first half of the journey was seared into my memory.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

I know you're working on a sequel. How's that going?

JACOB SLICHTER:  It’s not a sequel but something else entirely.  It’s coming along very slowly.

STADIUM JOURNEY:

If you could play any position on the football field, which would you choose and why?

JACOB SLICHTER:  I used to imagine myself playing safety, which is kind of like being the drummer in a pop band.  It’s the thing no one notices until things go terribly wrong.  But in the end, I think there’s a reason I avoided playing sports.  I’m not someone who wants to defeat someone else.  

Jon Hart is @manversusball