New VIXEN Bassist JULIA LAGE: ‘It’s An Honor For Me To Join’ The Band

A week ago, longtime VIXEN bassist Share Ross announced that she was “taking a hiatus” from the band. Her replacement is Julia Lage, formerly of the Latin Grammy-nominated Brazilian rock group BARRA DE SAIA and wife of Richie Kotzen.

During an appearance last Friday (February 11), on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, Julia spoke about how she ended up hooking up with VIXEN, saying: “Share is taking a hiatus. She wants to do her thing [and focus on her real estate career]. She’s kicking ass. She’s gonna be writing and playing forever — I mean, she’s a badass artist and bass player, singer, everything, songwriter. So I got the invitation, and I’m, like, ‘Yeah, of course I’m gonna join. Of course.'”

Asked how the other members of VIXEN reached out to her about joining the band, Julia said: “Well, actually, funnily enough, before [guitarist] Britt [Lightning, a.k.a. Brittany Denaro] joined VIXEN, me and her tried to put together a band, right when she moved to L.A. But that didn’t work out, and then she joined VIXEN, and I was super happy for her. So, fast forward, she actually called me a few months ago and she told me about the scenario, and I was, like, ‘Yeah. I would love [to do it]. I mean, it’s an honor for me to join VIXEN.’ So that happened. And that was it. It was that quick. And I was just, ‘Okay. Sign me in. Where can I go?’ [Laughs]”

Lage also reflected on her first performance with VIXEN, which took place on February 8 at the pre-Monsters Of Rock cruise concert at Magic City Casino in Miami, Florida. She said: “[Share played] a little more than half of the set, and then [before] the last three songs, she stopped [the show] and talked about [her plans] a little bit and told everybody what’s gonna happen and introduced me. And then I stepped in and played the last three songs with them. And then actually she came back for the last song and sang along with us. It was just very nice. I thought it was very emotional too. It was a good way to transition.”

Pressed about whether her position with VIXEN is just a temporary one or she will join the band permanently, Julia said: “We didn’t really discuss that, but [Share is] taking her time. She might come back; she might [not]. I don’t know. Whenever they need me, I’m there for them. And I’m gonna do my best to honor her bass lines and everything. And I’m gonna be having with it, that’s for sure.”

When Ross made the news of her departure public at the aforementioned pre-Monsters Of Rock cruise concert, she told the crowd that “life got a little complicated” and that “something has to give,” resulting to her decision to “step away from VIXEN for a while.” She then introduced her “amazing” replacement and urged the VIXEN fans to “graciously” open their arms and welcome Lage to the group. At that point, Julia and her new bandmates launched into the track “Streets In Paradise” and played the last couple of songs of the set with Ross watching the proceedings from the side of the stage.

The only remaining member of VIXEN‘s “classic” lineup is drummer Roxy Petrucci, who is also joined in the group by Lightning and singer Lorraine Lewis.

In January 2019, VIXEN recruited Lewis as its new lead singer following the departure of Janet Gardner.

Lewis had already performed with VIXEN in March 2018 in Durant, Oklahoma while Gardner was recovering from surgery.

Prior to Lewis‘s addition to VIXEN, Petrucci, Ross and Denaro vowed to “expand upon the VIXEN legacy while remaining true to our musical roots.”

Gardner, Petrucci and Ross are considered to be part of VIXEN‘s classic lineup, along with founding guitarist Jan Kuehnemund, who died of cancer in October 2013.

Gardner contributed lead vocals to VIXEN‘s most commercially successful studio albums — “Vixen” (1988), “Rev It Up” (1990) and “Tangerine” (1998) — as well as the group’s latest release, 2018’s live album “Live Fire”.

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