Former Vixen singer Janet Gardner, now a dental hygienist
Currently working as a dental hygienist, Janet Gardner used to be a member of the Vixens
Janet Gardner turned to dentistry after her rock star career was cut short.
Following the Sunset Strip music scene’s demise, the former lead vocalist of glam metal band Vixen pursued the family business. In the three-part Paramount+ docuseries, “I Wanna Rock,” the 61-year-old joined several artists who survived the decadent ’80s.
Featuring new interviews with Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider, Mötley Crüe’s John Corabi, Skid Row’s Dave “Snake” Sabo, and Winger’s Kip Winger, the series is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios in partnership with Gunpowder & Sky.
During Seattle’s grunge scene’s pause, Garner became a dental hygienist in Connecticut, a trade she still practices today.
Fox News Digital recently interviewed the singer about his grandfather, who was a dentist. “My uncles, a couple of them were dentists. Their kids are now dentists, a couple of hygienists – lots of dental people. And they all had really good lives. They were able to do their work and have the sort of work/life balance [that] was very good… I needed something that would allow me enough time for my family, for my music, other things in life. That work/life balance really appealed to me. If I had this kind of skill, I could work more when I needed more money, and I could work less when I needed more time for other things.”
The plan worked out well, she said. “And I like learning. I like school. So going back to school for me was very satisfying. And I loved what I was learning. We had to take pharmacology… And I love science. It was invigorating. I loved it. I studied my butt off. I kicked a–… Not only did it give me something that I could do in my life… for money and security and for my family. [But], I also [get] to use a side of my brain that hadn’t been used in a while.”
With her part-time position as a dental hygienist, Garner is still able to compose music and tour whenever she wants. Her husband Justin James, a guitarist/producer, and she released “No Strings” in June.