b'final mattersReflections From Being in aRock Band for 20 YearsHow music gave me another familyBY BOB ZIEGLERI a sunny Friday after- actually gets to hear. Throughout the 20 years we have some great highsts noon as I sit in my Ma- whether it was opening up for Soul Asylum in NYC, having our music on plewood room and starea finale episode of Teen Mom, on MTV, getting music on NBCs The downattheunopenedVoice, or having Jack Black come out dancing to our music on the The Eric box on my lap. Im aboutAndre Show. We have gained a nice following of fans. As of last count on to see the records for mySpotify our music is being played in 71 countries. I often think about that bands brand new album,stat and how lucky we are. Master Plan, for the very firstThe part I didnt realize are the moments in life when we all needed each time. It contains songs we haveother the most, the music was there to guide and lift us up. Band members written during the last six yearswere there for each other through divorce, the loss of parents, the pandemic and recorded the last year and aand illness. We were also there for each other through wonderful times as half. A feeling of gratitude andwell, such as the births of all of our kids, to the guys in the band playing mu-reflection passes over me as mysic as I walked up the aisle for my second marriage and seeing the smiles on eyes well up.their faces because they knew I found happiness, to being on stage together Ihavebeenfortunateat festivals such as Maplewoodstock last year, where I had the chance to play Bob Ziegler is the singer for Skyfactor.enough to be the singer for thefor my friends and family in this wonderful community I found.rock/popbandSkyfactortheGetting back to the box on my lap that represents so much hard work and last 20 years. This is our fifth full-length album and the first time we are mak- hundreds of hours in the studio in Woodstock, NY, I smile because its our ing vinyl, which has been a lifelong dream of mine. The band has become morebiggest album yet. Its got songs that we wrote through the pandemic, songs than the musicians in it. Somewhere along our journey, they have become aof asking the big questions such as why we have to say goodbye to the ones we family navigating the ups and downs together that life throws our way. love, to songs of love, and of course just straight up rockers. I open the box and I started singing in sixth grade when my friends volunteered me to singpull out the shiny black record and see my reflection as I place it on my record a solo for our graduation of Whitney Houstons Greatest Love of All. As Iplayer. Heres to the last 20 years and to the next 20 and the family I was so stepped up for my part with my heart beating out of my chest, my 12 year- fortunate to find, and of course to the musicmy calm in the storm.old-voice (a few octaves higher) did its best not to crack. I got through itSkyfactors new album, Master Plan is available now at Soma Sounds and after the ceremony was inundated with praise from my friends and theirin Maplewood. families. It was one of those moments you never forget. I wanted more. SinceTofindout then I have sung in several bands including Brother Rabbit at the Universitymore about the of Michigan, where I met Jason Taylor (drums). We became close friends.bandorup-Through it all, I held on to music as my calm in the storm. When my fathercomingshows passed away from illness before my junior year, the music and playing showsvisitskyfactor-got me through that heartbreaking time. After college I was in between bands.music.com. A mutual friend suggested I meet Jon Rubin (guitar), so we got together onBob Ziegler is a my rooftop in the East Village in NYC. The chemistry was instantaneous. WeSOMA resident, wrote several songs on that crisp fall day. We both knew we were on to some- dad,husband, thing, so we set out to conquer the world. We soon asked Jons brother, Cliff, tooptimistanda join on bass and recruited my friend Jason. Skyfactor was formed. self-proclaimed Skyfactor, L to R: Cliff Rubin (bass guitar), Bob Ziegler (vocals), You always wonder what would happen if you write music that the worldrock star. Jason Taylor (drums) and Jon Rubin (guitar).34/ matters magazine / summer 2025'