SAIGON KICK/Ex-SKID ROW Drummer's 'Un-Philtered' Book Due Next Month

Phil Varone, the SAIGON KICK/ex-SKID ROW drummer who claims he's had sex with over 3,000 women, will publish his new book, "Un-Philtered: Real Life On And Off The Rock 'N' Roll Tour Bus", on April 17 via Riverdale Avenue Books. The e-book and trade paperback will be available through RiverdaleAveBooks.com, Amazon.com and other online venues. Varone shares his thoughts on everything from what it's really like to be a rock star on a bus for weeks on end to the man-band bonding rituals and endless groupies.

In a recent interview with 88 Miles West, Varone stated about SAIGON KICK's upcoming reunion shows: "We are doing some smaller venues and just getting back at it. Eventually we will head out and do more shows. It won't be a tour bus-type deal, so we are going to do some fly dates. There has been an overwhelming response all of a sudden. There was an unknown out there because it's been 22 years since we've played and many were wondering if there were fans anymore.Then we sold out The Viper Room [in West Hollywood], so it seems we still have fans."

Asked what that says about the state of the music industry today, Varone replied: "I think it's more about the touring industry and the economy. I think a lot of promoters are worried and bands that are our size kind of get the backburner treatment. You have to reprove that you are relevant. I believe there is some excitement for a band like us because we are the original members and fans want to hear some good music. With SAIGON KICK, we are keeping tickets low-priced, keeping it very realistic and being able to play and have fun. We are in a good position as a band because we have other careers. SAIGON KICK is a hobby. We are able to play wherever we want, regardless of money. We can play cool venues because we want to not just because we need to make money."

Over the years Varone has been branded as a sex addict and has appeared on VH1's "Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew" show. "They've got an addiction claim for everything you can do, but I never considered myself a sex addict because sex never screwed up the rest of my life or my ability to function at a high level," Varone says.

Varone has appeared on many TV shows, including "Miami Ink", "Californication", "NUMB3RS", "Oprah", "The Tyra Banks Show", "The Today Show" and many others.

In 2010, Phil responded to ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach's claim that Varone's decision to pose nude for the cover of the December 2010 issue of Playgirl magazine is "further proof that the name 'SKID ROW' has completely lost all credibility, cool, accuracy and is now devoid of all meaning in every way." Varone told the New York Post, "I'm grateful and proud of my time in SKID ROW and sorry [Sebastian] feels that way." Playgirl representative Daniel Nardicio defended Varone: "This coming from a man [Bach] who preceded David Hasselhoff in 'Jekyll & Hyde' on Broadway? Now that's the epitome of uncool."

Varone joined SKID ROW in 2000 — about four years after Bach parted ways with the group.