Bob Seger Took a Decade Break To Raise His Children

After relying on his music for thirty years, Bob Seger abruptly disappeared from the public and entertainment spheres in the mid-1990s, resulting in a decade-long absence.

Despite a lengthy vacation from the music industry, the then-61-year-old managed to premiere his first post-hiatus album at #4 on the Billboard charts.

His admirers adored him. The singer had a legitimate reason to stay at home and put the rockstar in him to bed for as long as he did – his children.

“I had kids at the age of 47, and very late in life,” the singer told CBS’ Sunday Morning in 2007.

He reflected on how the previous 30 years of his life had been spent creating songs, making records, and touring, rinse and repeat, but things had changed after he had his children.

Then I had kids and realized, you know, it might be a good time to slow down and watch them grow up — you’ll never get another chance to experience it.

He described his routine during the 10-year gap as shockingly commonplace, with him spending practically all of his time in and around his Michigan home.

“I get up and shift a couple of cans to the side of the road like everyone else,” he explained.

Bob Seger’s Return’s for Children

Even his comeback record was structured so that he may be subtly giving counsel to his children.

“When you have children, you start focusing on their future and forget about your own,” the smart musician admitted.

So his return from his break was his method of taking a position and conveying his worldview to his children. He understood it might be his last chance to perform all the things on tape.

“You know, I’m 61 years old, so I want to go on record a little bit with them,” he continued.

Segar’s devotion to his children came full circle when they were the ones who put him back on stage.

“They want to see me on stage, so they’re just getting what I do,” Seger explained. “‘Wonderful, Dad.’ That’s exactly what my son says.”

Bob Seger Hinted About a Break

The rocker’s ardent followers must have deduced. Seger would take a break to raise his children as a hands-on father.

He’d said he’d do it on several occasions. He confessed to The New York Times in 1986 that he got the idea to step down from John Lennon, who did the same when he had his second child. (Image courtesy of The Seger Files)

That same year, he told the Washington Post that he’d accepted the reality that he’d never had a family.

“I look around and see acquaintances of mine with 15-year-old sons and daughters,” he lamented. “I think I really missed out on that whole thing because of what I do.”

Everything happens in its own time, as the saying goes. In a 1996 interview with the Associated Press, he said the following about his life with his wife and family.

“I’m an extremely fortunate man. I can’t complain because I have a wonderful wife and two wonderful children. I can’t complain if it all ends today. I did a good job.”