Skid Row (heavy metal band)
Encyclopedia
Skid Row is an American
heavy metal
band, formed in 1986 in Toms River, New Jersey
. They were very successful in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their first three multi-platinum albums. In their years of greatest success the band consisted of Sebastian Bach
(vocals), Dave "The Snake" Sabo
(guitar), Scotti Hill
(guitar), Rachel Bolan
(bass) and Rob Affuso
(drums). As of 2010, the band consists of Sabo, Hill, Bolan, Johnny Solinger
(vocals), and Rob Hammersmith (drums). At the end of 1996 the band had sold 20 million albums worldwide.
To date, Skid Row has released five full-length albums, an EP, a compilation album, and a live album. For album and single sales information, see the Skid Row discography page. They became popular with their first two albums, Skid Row
and Slave to the Grind
, which are often considered their best-known works to date. Their 1995 follow-up, Subhuman Race
was also critically acclaimed. Skid Row's latest albums, Thickskin
and Revolutions per Minute
, came out in 2003 and 2006 and received highly negative reception.
and guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo
. The pair added guitarist Scotti Hill
, drummer Rob Affuso
, and lead vocalist Sebastian Bach
, who replaced original lead vocalist Matt Fallon
, to the line-up by early 1987. The band began playing shows in clubs throughout the eastern United States.
Jon Bon Jovi
had been put in a position to seek out new and upcoming talent. He had set up a publishing company called the Underground Music Company. Bon Jovi and Dave Sabo had been friends for a very long time. They agreed that if one of them made it in the music business, he would help the other out. Bon Jovi
manager Doc McGhee sought out Skid Row, and signed them. They secured a record deal with Atlantic Records
in 1988, and entered the studio with Michael Wagener
(of Ozzy Osbourne
, White Lion
and Extreme
fame) to record their first album. The album was recorded in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin at Royal Recorders. Skid Row would later open for Bon Jovi, who were touring behind their New Jersey album.
Skid Row also signed a publishing deal with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Skid Row signed over a lot of the publishing rights to Bon Jovi, which later became an issue as the band became more successful. In time Sambora agreed to give the band back his percentage of their publishing. Skid Row also took part in the Moscow Peace Festival Concert, which was set up to keep manager Doc McGhee out of jail. McGhee was facing drug trafficking charges, and therefore set up an anti-drug/peace concert in Russia, featuring a few of the artists that he and his brother managed. Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe later dropped Doc as their manager.
, released in January 1989, was an instant success. The record went 5x platinum and produced the hit singles "18 and Life", "I Remember You"and "Youth Gone Wild".
As part of Bon Jovi's '88/'89 Jersey Syndicate, Skid Row played their first ever UK as opening band at Bon Jovi's outdoor show at Milton Keynes Bowl on August 19th 1989 (which also included Vixen and Europe). The very next day, Skid Row played a hugely successful club show at London's Marquee Club in Charing Cross Road.
Skid Row were back in the UK 3 months later where they were the opening band on Motley Crue's European 'Dr. Feelgood' tour during early November 1989. White lion also appeared on the bill. There followed, again, a hugely successful UK headlining tour culminating in a show at London's Hammersmith Odeon. US band VAIN were in support for the whole tour which was their first visit to the UK.
In what is referred to as "The Bottle Incident" by fans of the band, Bach was hit with a bottle thrown onstage from the crowd at a concert in Springfield
, Massachusetts
, where Skid Row was opening for Aerosmith
on December 27, 1989. Bach threw the bottle back, hitting a girl (not the thrower), so he jumped on the crowd to beat the person who can be seen on a tour video released by Skid Row called Oh Say Can You Scream
in 1990.
Shortly thereafter at another show, Bach put on a t-shirt proclaiming the anti-gay slogan "AIDS Kills Fags Dead". The shirt was given to him by a fan.
, released in June 1991, it debuted at Number 1 in the American charts. Slave to the Grind became a major success, with the album spanning the hits "Monkey Business" and "Wasted Time". Skid Row once again went out on a worldwide tour which lasted over a year, including a leg supporting Guns N' Roses
in 1991 and an appearance at the Castle Donington
festival in 1992. Slave to the Grind was a departure for the band; where Skid Row was an album that followed the typical 80's band formula, Slave to the Grind had a heavier sound, even verging on speed metal
with the title track.
, in September 1992.
For some time, Skid Row parted ways with Wagener, possibly due to their music taking a different direction for the follow-up to Slave to the Grind. In 1994, the band returned to the studio with Bob Rock
(of Metallica
, Mötley Crüe
and The Offspring
fame), to record their third studio album. Subhuman Race
, released in March 1995, charted in the top 40. Although it did not achieve the success of Skid Row and Slave to the Grind, it generated a few hits, but at that point, their videos were rarely played on MTV
, partly because of the rise in popularity of grunge
and subsequent decline of many heavy metal styles and 1980s hard rock. Skid Row would open for Van Halen
on the North American leg of the tour.
Eventually, Sebastian Bach was fired by the band in late 1996, following an argument with Rachel Bolan over a chance to open up for KISS
. Skid Row were called to open for KISS on New Year's Eve '96 and Bach was all for it as he has always been a huge fan of KISS. According to Bach, Rachel Bolan was more concerned with his punk band side project and did not want to play the show.
The group never officially disbanded. The remaining members went on to play briefly in a band called Ozone Monday in mid 1998. Ozone Monday featured lead vocalist Shawn McCabe of Mars Needs Women
. (aka Shawn Mars.) Shortly after, drummer Rob Affuso left the band and was replaced with Charlie Mills. From 1998 to 1999, The group performed both locally and nationally, opening up for both Kiss and Mötley Crüe under the Ozone Monday name.
, formerly of Solinger, and drummer Charlie Mills. Mills soon left the band and was replaced with an interim drummer. After re-forming, they opened for KISS
on their farewell tour, and have also played with other 1980s metal bands such as Poison
. They have been on tour every summer. In 2002 they were part of the Rock Never Stops Tour
. The new lineup has shared the stage with such acts as Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Def Leppard, Sammy Hagar, as well as many others from their genre.
Skid Row released their fourth full-length studio album, Thickskin
, in 2003, which was their first album to feature Solinger and their first studio album in 8 years. In 2004, Dave Gara
came on as drummer.
, was released on October 24, 2006 through SPV Records
. Michael Wagener
reunited with Skid Row and became their producer for this album.
In 2007, the band recorded Jingle Bells for a Monster Ballads Christmas album. At the end of January 2008 they played at MOTLEY CRUISE, a 4-day cruise in the Caribbean (Miami, Key West and Cozumel, MX) with Vince Neil
, Ratt
, Slaughter
, Endeverafter
, Lynam
.
On February 20, 2008, the band played a private, invitation-only party for the Nordic Games Program group at the Game Developers Conference
in San Francisco. Keri Kelli
filled in for an ailing Dave Sabo. Skid Row joined a variety of other hard rock acts on the November 2009 cruise entitled "ShipRocked
". In early 2010 Dave Gara
left Skid Row and was replaced with Rob Hammersmith.
Asked in September 2009 about the next Skid Row album, guitarist Scotti Hill
replied, "we haven't sat down and recorded anything yet, but we have sat down and worked out some ideas and just played them on a handheld recorder. Everybody's writing and we're getting into that mind set. Once the wheels get in motion we'll all probably fly out to Atlanta spend a week or two up there come home, go back up there do it again, we're all living in different cities, which can make it difficult at times." In April 2010, it was announced that Skid Row had parted ways with drummer Dave Gara, who is now replaced by Rob Hammersmith.
In March 2011, rumor of Bach's return to Skid Row - for a series of live shows - was facilitated and furthered by an omission from the aforesaid, stating "I wouldn't rule out some form of collaboration in the future..."
However, Sebastian Bach
appeared on VH1 That Metal Show and revealed that although Doc Mcghee
did initiate a conversation between him & Dave "The Snake" Sabo, and it was discussed that a box set should be made for the fans, the plans fizzled out when post this conversation, Snake announced at a show that no reunion with Bach would happen.
Sebastian Bach
also said on the same show that he too does not want to play and concentrate on old songs, and is quite excited and happy with his 3 record deal, and is not "youth gone wild" any more.
In October 2011, Skid Row accompanied KISS on the first ever KISS Kruise. The cruise lasted 5 days and visited Nassau Bahamas and Half Moon Cay. The cruise also featured upcoming bands The Envy and Bad City.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band, formed in 1986 in Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
. They were very successful in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their first three multi-platinum albums. In their years of greatest success the band consisted of Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
(vocals), Dave "The Snake" Sabo
Dave Sabo
David Michael Sabo, nicknamed "The Snake," is a rock guitarist who plays in the heavy metal band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist with guitarist Scotti Hill.-Biography:...
(guitar), Scotti Hill
Scotti Hill
Scotti Hill , is a guitarist of the band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist in Skid Row with guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo....
(guitar), Rachel Bolan
Rachel Bolan
Rachel Bolan is the bass guitar player and main songwriter of the metal band, Skid Row. He was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, USA, where he founded the band in 1986 with the guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo. Bolan has appeared as a vocalist on two of the Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's solo...
(bass) and Rob Affuso
Rob Affuso
Rob Affuso is an American heavy metal drummer, best known as the original ex-drummer of Skid Row. He stayed with the band until their original break-up in 1996....
(drums). As of 2010, the band consists of Sabo, Hill, Bolan, Johnny Solinger
Johnny Solinger
John Preston "Johnny" Solinger is the lead vocalist of the band Skid Row. To date he has sung on the albums Thickskin and Revolutions Per Minute.-Skid Row:...
(vocals), and Rob Hammersmith (drums). At the end of 1996 the band had sold 20 million albums worldwide.
To date, Skid Row has released five full-length albums, an EP, a compilation album, and a live album. For album and single sales information, see the Skid Row discography page. They became popular with their first two albums, Skid Row
Skid Row (album)
-Personnel:*Sebastian Bach – lead vocals*Scotti Hill – lead and rhythm guitar*Dave "The Snake" Sabo – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals*Rachel Bolan – bass guitar, backing vocals*Rob Affuso – drums and percussion*David Kent – engineer...
and Slave to the Grind
Slave to the Grind
Slave to the Grind is Skid Row's second album, released on June 11, 1991. Slave to the Grind is notable for being the first heavy metal album to enter the Billboard 200 at #1 during the SoundScan era,....
, which are often considered their best-known works to date. Their 1995 follow-up, Subhuman Race
Subhuman Race
Subhuman Race is the third full-length album by the New Jersey heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released on March 28, 1995, and shows the band moving from their original heavy metal sound to one more influenced by alternative metal, with hints of Anthrax, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while retaining...
was also critically acclaimed. Skid Row's latest albums, Thickskin
Thickskin
Thickskin is the fourth full-length studio album released by Skid Row, and first to feature Sebastian Bach replacement Johnny Solinger and both first and last to feature drummer Phil Varone. The album charted at number 46 on the Top Independent albums chart...
and Revolutions per Minute
Revolutions Per Minute (Skid Row album)
Revolutions per Minute is the fifth full-length studio album by Skid Row, released on October 24, 2006. It is the band's first and only release with drummer Dave Gara....
, came out in 2003 and 2006 and received highly negative reception.
Early years (1986–1988)
Skid Row was formed in Toms River, New Jersey, in late 1986 by bassist Rachel BolanRachel Bolan
Rachel Bolan is the bass guitar player and main songwriter of the metal band, Skid Row. He was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, USA, where he founded the band in 1986 with the guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo. Bolan has appeared as a vocalist on two of the Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's solo...
and guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo
Dave Sabo
David Michael Sabo, nicknamed "The Snake," is a rock guitarist who plays in the heavy metal band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist with guitarist Scotti Hill.-Biography:...
. The pair added guitarist Scotti Hill
Scotti Hill
Scotti Hill , is a guitarist of the band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist in Skid Row with guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo....
, drummer Rob Affuso
Rob Affuso
Rob Affuso is an American heavy metal drummer, best known as the original ex-drummer of Skid Row. He stayed with the band until their original break-up in 1996....
, and lead vocalist Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
, who replaced original lead vocalist Matt Fallon
Matt Fallon
Matt Fallon is a heavy metal singer best known for his work with Skid Row and Anthrax.- Early life :...
, to the line-up by early 1987. The band began playing shows in clubs throughout the eastern United States.
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...
had been put in a position to seek out new and upcoming talent. He had set up a publishing company called the Underground Music Company. Bon Jovi and Dave Sabo had been friends for a very long time. They agreed that if one of them made it in the music business, he would help the other out. Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
manager Doc McGhee sought out Skid Row, and signed them. They secured a record deal with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1988, and entered the studio with Michael Wagener
Michael Wagener
Michael Wagener is a music producer, mixer, and engineer from Hamburg, Germany, best known for his work with many top hard rock and heavy metal bands in the late 80's. Wagener's works have sold over ninetyfour million albums worldwide. Wagener was the original guitarist for the German band Accept...
(of Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
and Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
fame) to record their first album. The album was recorded in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin at Royal Recorders. Skid Row would later open for Bon Jovi, who were touring behind their New Jersey album.
Skid Row also signed a publishing deal with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Skid Row signed over a lot of the publishing rights to Bon Jovi, which later became an issue as the band became more successful. In time Sambora agreed to give the band back his percentage of their publishing. Skid Row also took part in the Moscow Peace Festival Concert, which was set up to keep manager Doc McGhee out of jail. McGhee was facing drug trafficking charges, and therefore set up an anti-drug/peace concert in Russia, featuring a few of the artists that he and his brother managed. Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe later dropped Doc as their manager.
Skid Row (1989-1990)
Skid RowSkid Row (album)
-Personnel:*Sebastian Bach – lead vocals*Scotti Hill – lead and rhythm guitar*Dave "The Snake" Sabo – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals*Rachel Bolan – bass guitar, backing vocals*Rob Affuso – drums and percussion*David Kent – engineer...
, released in January 1989, was an instant success. The record went 5x platinum and produced the hit singles "18 and Life", "I Remember You"and "Youth Gone Wild".
As part of Bon Jovi's '88/'89 Jersey Syndicate, Skid Row played their first ever UK as opening band at Bon Jovi's outdoor show at Milton Keynes Bowl on August 19th 1989 (which also included Vixen and Europe). The very next day, Skid Row played a hugely successful club show at London's Marquee Club in Charing Cross Road.
Skid Row were back in the UK 3 months later where they were the opening band on Motley Crue's European 'Dr. Feelgood' tour during early November 1989. White lion also appeared on the bill. There followed, again, a hugely successful UK headlining tour culminating in a show at London's Hammersmith Odeon. US band VAIN were in support for the whole tour which was their first visit to the UK.
In what is referred to as "The Bottle Incident" by fans of the band, Bach was hit with a bottle thrown onstage from the crowd at a concert in Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where Skid Row was opening for Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
on December 27, 1989. Bach threw the bottle back, hitting a girl (not the thrower), so he jumped on the crowd to beat the person who can be seen on a tour video released by Skid Row called Oh Say Can You Scream
Oh Say Can You Scream
Oh Say Can You Scream is a VHS video of live performances by Skid Row featuring songs from the bands self titled debut album. It was released on December 4, 1990. Running time is 100 minutes...
in 1990.
Shortly thereafter at another show, Bach put on a t-shirt proclaiming the anti-gay slogan "AIDS Kills Fags Dead". The shirt was given to him by a fan.
Slave to the Grind (1991-1992)
Skid Row returned to the studio with Wagener in 1990, to record their second studio album. Slave to the GrindSlave to the Grind
Slave to the Grind is Skid Row's second album, released on June 11, 1991. Slave to the Grind is notable for being the first heavy metal album to enter the Billboard 200 at #1 during the SoundScan era,....
, released in June 1991, it debuted at Number 1 in the American charts. Slave to the Grind became a major success, with the album spanning the hits "Monkey Business" and "Wasted Time". Skid Row once again went out on a worldwide tour which lasted over a year, including a leg supporting Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
in 1991 and an appearance at the Castle Donington
Castle Donington
Castle Donington is a village, with a population of around 7000 in the North West of Leicestershire, part of the Derby postcode area and on the edge of the National Forest. It is the closest town to East Midlands Airport.-Transport and housing:...
festival in 1992. Slave to the Grind was a departure for the band; where Skid Row was an album that followed the typical 80's band formula, Slave to the Grind had a heavier sound, even verging on speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
with the title track.
B-Side Ourselves, Subhuman Race (1992-1998)
Before a third album could be recorded, Skid Row took an extended hiatus in 1993, following the Slave to the Grind tour and the release of the EP, B-Side OurselvesB-Side Ourselves
B-Side Ourselves is an EP released by the American rock group Skid Row. All of the songs are cover versions of songs originally recorded by bands which influenced Skid Row...
, in September 1992.
For some time, Skid Row parted ways with Wagener, possibly due to their music taking a different direction for the follow-up to Slave to the Grind. In 1994, the band returned to the studio with Bob Rock
Bob Rock
Robert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
(of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
and The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
fame), to record their third studio album. Subhuman Race
Subhuman Race
Subhuman Race is the third full-length album by the New Jersey heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released on March 28, 1995, and shows the band moving from their original heavy metal sound to one more influenced by alternative metal, with hints of Anthrax, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while retaining...
, released in March 1995, charted in the top 40. Although it did not achieve the success of Skid Row and Slave to the Grind, it generated a few hits, but at that point, their videos were rarely played on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, partly because of the rise in popularity of grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
and subsequent decline of many heavy metal styles and 1980s hard rock. Skid Row would open for Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
on the North American leg of the tour.
Eventually, Sebastian Bach was fired by the band in late 1996, following an argument with Rachel Bolan over a chance to open up for KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. Skid Row were called to open for KISS on New Year's Eve '96 and Bach was all for it as he has always been a huge fan of KISS. According to Bach, Rachel Bolan was more concerned with his punk band side project and did not want to play the show.
The group never officially disbanded. The remaining members went on to play briefly in a band called Ozone Monday in mid 1998. Ozone Monday featured lead vocalist Shawn McCabe of Mars Needs Women
Mars Needs Women
Mars Needs Women is an American International Pictures made for TV science fiction film filmed in 1966 and released in 1967 which features Tommy Kirk, Yvonne Craig, and Byron Lord. it was shot during a two week period in Houston and Dallas, Texas...
. (aka Shawn Mars.) Shortly after, drummer Rob Affuso left the band and was replaced with Charlie Mills. From 1998 to 1999, The group performed both locally and nationally, opening up for both Kiss and Mötley Crüe under the Ozone Monday name.
The New Skid Row and Thickskin (1999-2004)
Skid Row re-formed in 1999 with new lead vocalist Johnny SolingerJohnny Solinger
John Preston "Johnny" Solinger is the lead vocalist of the band Skid Row. To date he has sung on the albums Thickskin and Revolutions Per Minute.-Skid Row:...
, formerly of Solinger, and drummer Charlie Mills. Mills soon left the band and was replaced with an interim drummer. After re-forming, they opened for KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
on their farewell tour, and have also played with other 1980s metal bands such as Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
. They have been on tour every summer. In 2002 they were part of the Rock Never Stops Tour
Rock Never Stops Tour
Rock Never Stops is a U.S. rock tour that features various rock groups of the 1980s and 1990s. The tour started in 1998 with L.A. Guns, FireHouse, Slaughter, Warrant and Quiet Riot. However, the line-up has changed through the years adding various bands of the genre.-Tour lineup:The tour's lineup...
. The new lineup has shared the stage with such acts as Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Def Leppard, Sammy Hagar, as well as many others from their genre.
Skid Row released their fourth full-length studio album, Thickskin
Thickskin
Thickskin is the fourth full-length studio album released by Skid Row, and first to feature Sebastian Bach replacement Johnny Solinger and both first and last to feature drummer Phil Varone. The album charted at number 46 on the Top Independent albums chart...
, in 2003, which was their first album to feature Solinger and their first studio album in 8 years. In 2004, Dave Gara
Dave Gara
Dave Gara is a drummer who played for the American band Skid Row from 2004 to 2010. In April 2010, it was announced that Gara had parted ways with Skid Row. He was replaced by Rob Hammersmith.With Skid Row, he played on the album Revolutions Per Minute....
came on as drummer.
Revolutions per Minute and the future (2005-present)
The fifth Skid Row album, Revolutions per MinuteRevolutions Per Minute (Skid Row album)
Revolutions per Minute is the fifth full-length studio album by Skid Row, released on October 24, 2006. It is the band's first and only release with drummer Dave Gara....
, was released on October 24, 2006 through SPV Records
SPV GmbH
SPV GmbH is an independent German record label.Founded on January 1, 1984, it has slowly grown to be one of the largest independent distributors and record labels worldwide....
. Michael Wagener
Michael Wagener
Michael Wagener is a music producer, mixer, and engineer from Hamburg, Germany, best known for his work with many top hard rock and heavy metal bands in the late 80's. Wagener's works have sold over ninetyfour million albums worldwide. Wagener was the original guitarist for the German band Accept...
reunited with Skid Row and became their producer for this album.
In 2007, the band recorded Jingle Bells for a Monster Ballads Christmas album. At the end of January 2008 they played at MOTLEY CRUISE, a 4-day cruise in the Caribbean (Miami, Key West and Cozumel, MX) with Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
, Ratt
Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
, Slaughter
Slaughter (band)
Slaughter is an American heavy metal band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album, Stick It to Ya which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad...
, Endeverafter
Endeverafter
Endeverafter is an American heavy metal band from Sacramento, California.-History:Endeverafter was formed in 2004 by lead singer and guitarist Michael Grant. After the rest of the band was assembled, they released their debut EP in 2005 and played regular shows in their hometown, featuring...
, Lynam
Lynam (band)
-History:Formed in Alabama in 2001 after the breakup of Jacob Bunton's major-label band Mars Electric, Lynam is often aligned with the retro metal movement of the mid-2000s generation. Led by frontman and principal songwriter Jacob Bunton, the band is heavily influenced by Def Leppard and has drawn...
.
On February 20, 2008, the band played a private, invitation-only party for the Nordic Games Program group at the Game Developers Conference
Game Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...
in San Francisco. Keri Kelli
Keri Kelli
Keri Kelli is an American hard rock guitarist, until recently playing for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Alice Cooper. He occasionally also plays with Skid Row. He played guitar and co-wrote songs on the 2008 Alice Cooper studio album, Along Came A Spider, released worldwide July 29...
filled in for an ailing Dave Sabo. Skid Row joined a variety of other hard rock acts on the November 2009 cruise entitled "ShipRocked
Shiprocked
ShipRocked is an annual rock music festival at sea, featuring live onboard performances by a number of hard rock and heavy metal performers on multiple stages throughout the ship...
". In early 2010 Dave Gara
Dave Gara
Dave Gara is a drummer who played for the American band Skid Row from 2004 to 2010. In April 2010, it was announced that Gara had parted ways with Skid Row. He was replaced by Rob Hammersmith.With Skid Row, he played on the album Revolutions Per Minute....
left Skid Row and was replaced with Rob Hammersmith.
Asked in September 2009 about the next Skid Row album, guitarist Scotti Hill
Scotti Hill
Scotti Hill , is a guitarist of the band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist in Skid Row with guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo....
replied, "we haven't sat down and recorded anything yet, but we have sat down and worked out some ideas and just played them on a handheld recorder. Everybody's writing and we're getting into that mind set. Once the wheels get in motion we'll all probably fly out to Atlanta spend a week or two up there come home, go back up there do it again, we're all living in different cities, which can make it difficult at times." In April 2010, it was announced that Skid Row had parted ways with drummer Dave Gara, who is now replaced by Rob Hammersmith.
In March 2011, rumor of Bach's return to Skid Row - for a series of live shows - was facilitated and furthered by an omission from the aforesaid, stating "I wouldn't rule out some form of collaboration in the future..."
However, Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
appeared on VH1 That Metal Show and revealed that although Doc Mcghee
Doc McGhee
Doc McGhee is an American music manager, best known for working with KISS, Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe. The latter two groups experienced their rise to stardom under his management...
did initiate a conversation between him & Dave "The Snake" Sabo, and it was discussed that a box set should be made for the fans, the plans fizzled out when post this conversation, Snake announced at a show that no reunion with Bach would happen.
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
also said on the same show that he too does not want to play and concentrate on old songs, and is quite excited and happy with his 3 record deal, and is not "youth gone wild" any more.
In October 2011, Skid Row accompanied KISS on the first ever KISS Kruise. The cruise lasted 5 days and visited Nassau Bahamas and Half Moon Cay. The cruise also featured upcoming bands The Envy and Bad City.
Band members
Current members- Dave SaboDave SaboDavid Michael Sabo, nicknamed "The Snake," is a rock guitarist who plays in the heavy metal band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist with guitarist Scotti Hill.-Biography:...
- rhythm & lead guitars, backing vocals (1986–present) - Rachel BolanRachel BolanRachel Bolan is the bass guitar player and main songwriter of the metal band, Skid Row. He was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, USA, where he founded the band in 1986 with the guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo. Bolan has appeared as a vocalist on two of the Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's solo...
- bass, backing vocals (1986–present) - Scotti HillScotti HillScotti Hill , is a guitarist of the band Skid Row. He is co-guitarist in Skid Row with guitarist Dave "The Snake" Sabo....
- lead & rhythm guitars (1987–present) - Johnny SolingerJohnny SolingerJohn Preston "Johnny" Solinger is the lead vocalist of the band Skid Row. To date he has sung on the albums Thickskin and Revolutions Per Minute.-Skid Row:...
- lead vocals (1999–present) - Rob Hammersmith - drums (2010–present)
Studio albums
| Date of release | Title | Label | Billboard peak Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
Oricon peak Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
RIAA cert. RIAA certification In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Skid Row Skid Row (album) -Personnel:*Sebastian Bach – lead vocals*Scotti Hill – lead and rhythm guitar*Dave "The Snake" Sabo – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals*Rachel Bolan – bass guitar, backing vocals*Rob Affuso – drums and percussion*David Kent – engineer... |
Atlantic Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
6 | 5 | 5x platinum |
| 1991 | Slave to the Grind Slave to the Grind Slave to the Grind is Skid Row's second album, released on June 11, 1991. Slave to the Grind is notable for being the first heavy metal album to enter the Billboard 200 at #1 during the SoundScan era,.... |
1 | 3 | 2x platinum | |
| 1995 | Subhuman Race Subhuman Race Subhuman Race is the third full-length album by the New Jersey heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released on March 28, 1995, and shows the band moving from their original heavy metal sound to one more influenced by alternative metal, with hints of Anthrax, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while retaining... |
35 | 6 | ||
| 2003 | Thickskin Thickskin Thickskin is the fourth full-length studio album released by Skid Row, and first to feature Sebastian Bach replacement Johnny Solinger and both first and last to feature drummer Phil Varone. The album charted at number 46 on the Top Independent albums chart... |
Skid Row Recs | - | 111 | None |
| 2006 | Revolutions per Minute Revolutions Per Minute (Skid Row album) Revolutions per Minute is the fifth full-length studio album by Skid Row, released on October 24, 2006. It is the band's first and only release with drummer Dave Gara.... |
SPV SPV GmbH SPV GmbH is an independent German record label.Founded on January 1, 1984, it has slowly grown to be one of the largest independent distributors and record labels worldwide.... |
- | 266 | None |
Awards and nominations
American Music Awards| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 American Music Awards of 1990 The 17th Annual American Music Awards were held on January 22, 1990.-Pop/Rock Category:-Soul/R&B Category:-Country Category:-Rap/Hip-Hop Category:-Heavy Metal Category:-Dance Category:... |
Skid Row | Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist | |
| 1990 American Music Awards of 1990 The 17th Annual American Music Awards were held on January 22, 1990.-Pop/Rock Category:-Soul/R&B Category:-Country Category:-Rap/Hip-Hop Category:-Heavy Metal Category:-Dance Category:... |
Skid Row | Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album |