Where does a former British rock star go to seek solace after stardom? London? Paris? The beaches of Italy? For the past four years, former rocker Brian Bonhomme has chosen the road less traveled and has made Conway home.
Dr. Bonhomme, visiting professor of history, was catapulted to fame in the early 80?s as the founding member and songwriter for the British band Roman Holliday. The group produced two top 40 U.K. hits in 1983 with ?Don?t Try to Stop It? and ?Motormania.?
At its peak, the band played on MTV and performed about 300 shows a year throughout Europe, the U.S. and Japan. In 1985, the band broke up with all of the members going in different directions. One became a taxi driver, another became a trumpet professor, one is a struggling musician, while another lives off of a large inheritance.
After the band?s breakup, Bonhomme continued to work in the music industry, but decided to steer his life in a different direction. ?This is a crazy business?it?s impossible to have a life,? he said.
Bonhomme got out of the music business in 1987, but was at a loss for what to do with his life. ?After that, I knew I needed to do something else. I asked myself: what am I good at? I always liked being in school and had done some student teaching. I found that it came quite easily to me, so I decided to teach,? he said.
Bonhomme decided to move to New York and complete his education, earning a doctorate from City University of New York in 2000. While there, he became interested in Russian history and became fluent in the language, in part, he admits, to impress a Russian woman who later became his wife.
?I?m so attracted to the language. It?s impossibly complicated, but very exotic and unusual. At the same time, I find it very warm and friendly,? Bonhomme said.
So what attracted a guy who toured the world alongside some of most popular bands of the eighties to a place like Arkansas? ?Out of the jobs I was offered, I liked this one the best. The people were very friendly and I liked this department a lot. I instantly felt comfortable here.?
In spite of his busy days of teaching, Bonhomme hasn?t closed his guitar case forever. These days, you can find him occasionally performing with local groups Vintage and The Reno?s. He also has two self-produced CDs out?World Keeps Turning and The River and the Mill. In 2001, he met up with his former band, Roman Holliday and did a reunion gig in London?s West End.
?I find that being a musician and being a professor are similar. You?re on stage and performing in front of people, building rapport and relationships with others,? Bonhomme said.
-Jessica Saylor
