Run DMC frontman in Naperville Friday to talk love, marriage, faith
Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons, a former member of the pioneering hip-hop group Run DMC, and his wife, Justine Simmons, like to talk about bringing old-school love back.
The couple is in the middle of promoting their second book, “Old School Love: And Why It Works,” which will be featured during a stop Friday, Jan. 31, at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall at 171 E. Chicago St., Naperville.
The event starts at 7 p.m. and will feature a book signing and audience question-and-answer session.
“We're going to talk to people so much about how to keep any relationship together, how to show respect to one another,” Rev. Run said. “We talk about being selfless instead of selfish.”
Justine said she plans to discuss the dynamic of blended families and “how those spouses should be loving to each child, whether it's biological or not.”
“Thank God it wasn't a challenge for us, but we see and hear that it's a challenge for a lot of other people,” she said. “We want to shed light on how it doesn't have to be.”
From stories and anecdotes to memories, each chapter of “Old School Love” gives readers a snapshot into the marriage, family, experiences, passion and faith shared by Rev. Run and Justine.
Rev. Run said they have faced their share of challenges.
“The biggest thing was the loss of a child,” Rev. Run said. “We were able to make our life better by the adoption option. We were very blessed that we were able to have a very beautiful baby girl.”
The couple has been married for more than 25 years and Justine said faith means everything to her and her husband.
“It's the foundation,” she said.
Rev. Run said the story of their life together started years ago before he became known as the frontman of Run DMC.
“We met at a roller skating rink,” he said. “I was a young kid of 15 years old performing, and she was there.”
Rev. Run said they exchanged phone numbers and the rest is history.
“Years later, we met up again and we ended up getting married,” Rev. Run said.
Since then, the couple has starred on shows, including MTV's “Run's House,” Netflix's “All About the Washingtons,” and the Cooking Channel's “Rev Run's Sunday Suppers.”
“One of the secrets to us is we're constantly working on our marriage literally every day and all day, but one of the main keys is that he's looking out to see if I'm happy and I'm constantly looking out to see if he's happy,” Justine said.
Rev. Run agreed.
“It leads to so much love and respect,” he said.
Rev. Run and Justine said they are excited to promote their new book in Naperville.
The program will be hosted by Anderson's Bookshop and is a ticketed event.
The cost is $32, plus a service fee. A ticket provides admission and a copy of the book.
For details, visit andersonsbookshop.com.
What: Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons and Justine Simmons talk about their second book, “Old School Love: And Why It Works”
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31
Where: North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
Cost: $32 for admission and book, available at OldSchoolLoveAndersons.brownpapertickets.com.
Info: andersonsbookshop.com