French Kiss Got Talent

By Julie Caldwell

Though many of our incredibly talented local musicians got what it takes to be stars, few have reached the echelon of national acclaim. This past weekend one of Erie’s favorite bands, local legends French Kiss headed off to Chicago to audition for the national Television show, America’s Got Talent.

After viewing the Youtube video, America’s Got Talent producers contacted French Kiss, inviting them to travel to the Windy City to audition for NBC’s hit show. “We were a little bit shocked to be honest, we had received the call three days before we needed to be in Chicago with no idea of what song we’d be performing. It took a day, but after we thought out our song and hotel arrangements at the Hilton, it became a dream come true,” said Jeff Snider. “In the summer of 2012, we submitted a local video of Def Leppard’s “Hysteria” and Posion’s “Look What the Cat Dragged In”, being performed at Sherlocks. In addition to the Sherlocks videos, we also gave them “18 & Life” by Skid Row, filmed at the Sandbar,” Snider went on to say.

America’s Got Talent is a part of the global British Got Talent franchise and features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for their place in entertainment history.

This past Saturday, with their tight leather jeans, spandex, headbands and most importantly, their superstar talent in hand and ready to travel, French Kiss set out to vie for the One Million Dollar Grand Prize and their chance to headline on the Las Vegas Strip.

When you think of 80’s “Hair Metal”, the first and perhaps the best local representation of this iconic music genre is without doubt French Kiss.

French Kiss is a giant leap back into time, as the band offers a fresh look back to a time when hair was king and, Power Rock ruled. French Kiss offers up the mega hits of the period with all the style and flamboyance of the original rockers we grew up listening to on the radio like Poison, Cinderella and Bon Jovi.

French Kiss is comprised of members David “Hollywood” Dunn on Lead Guitar, Trevor “T-Rev” Vogt on Bass Guitar and Vocals, Josh ” Roxie Love” Snider on Lead Guitar and Backup Vocals, Jeffrey Pixie “Styxs” Snider on Drums, and Jim “Jimmy Zig Zag” Sorrell on Lead Vocals.

In true Rock N’ Roll style, French Kiss took Chicago by storm, leading the way for 4,000 potential contestants of the America’s Got Talent auditions. “The auditioning experience was very neat to witness and be a part of. Shorty after walking into the audition room, we were bombarded with eager future French Kiss fans wanting pictures with us and to hear what we are all about,” Snider commented.

After literally thousands of acts auditioning for the top spots, the word was in, the final ten contestants were selected and French Kiss was among them. With all the excitement and all the anticipation of the final cut brewing within them, the announcement was made, French Kiss was selected as one of the final acts to be filmed for the Chicago episode of America’s Got Talent. “The Judges were really cool, and had us stick around longer, and audition a second time to the executive producers of America’s Got Talent,” said Snider.

Snider continued to say, “Our first song was Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, “18 & Life”, by Skid Row, and “Unskinny Bop” by Posion. All songs except for “Pour Some Sugar on Me” were requests by the judges”

When asked if French Kiss would have the opportunity to travel to the Final rounds in Las Vegas, Snider responded, “We hope so! Going all the way to Las Vegas would be an amazing experience for everyone in this band, the chance to just go and audition was a chance of a life time, and to make it all the way to Vegas would be a dream come true!”

Not only has French Kiss played, rocked and partied their way into the hearts of their local fans, now they bring their true classic Glam Metal madness to television screens and Rock lovers across the Country and around the world.

Snider made a point of saying, “We all agree that nothing is impossible, if you have a dream, or a goal in life, follow that dream until it’s achieved. You’re on this planet for a short time, life is WAY too short to play it safe. We all are just living in the moment of everything, and if this is the farthest French Kiss gets, we’ll be glad to say that we actually got up and went out and tried something different instead of the same old grind of everyday life. Live big Erie, and follow what you believe in, others WILL follow you too.”

French Kiss has certainly carved their place as not only local music legends, but into the annals of television history as well, with the same style and flair as they deliver at every show they play.

The episode of America’s Got Talent that will feature French Kiss will be aired sometime this summer, please check out both America’s Got Talent’s and French Kiss’s Facebook page for updates, or your local T.V. listings for the exact airdate and time.

For more information on French Kiss, their show dates and booking information, please visit their Facebook page.