Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach says it’s “business” that’s preventing his reunion with his old band
Speaking with Emma Jaye of Screamer Magazine, ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach said he still thinks a reunion with his former group could still happen.
“There’s a whole narrative that we don’t get along, or they don’t wanna get in the same room as me,” he said. “There’s stuff that I have found out recently on the business side that I can tell the planet Earth this has nothing to do with what happened in ’96, or me being wild or us not getting along. This right now is a hundred percent a business thing.
“And I found some shit out that’s true. The only thing standing in our way is the business side of this. I can’t give you all the details, but it’s not about us not getting along. It’s about us figuring out how to make this work on the business side. And hopefully we can figure it out. I’m ready to figure it out, but the whole narrative of ‘oh, they don’t like him and he’s too crazy,’ that’s not even true.”
Bach also discussed his upcoming solo album, “Child Within The Man”, which is arriving on May 10 via Reigning Phoenix Music. He said: “I don’t want to make the exact same record over and over and over, but I guarantee you that if you like the first SKID ROW album and if you like ‘Slave To The Grind’, you will like ‘Child Within The Man’. It’s impossible not to, because I have a different bass player and I have a different drummer, and no disrespect to anybody, but I do the same thing as a vocalist. So, it’s kind of like WHITE ZOMBIE and ROB ZOMBIE; is there really a big difference?”
He continued: “Having said that, I would love one day to get back together with the old band and make new music. I am not cutting that off or putting that down in any way. I would love to do that someday, but this album is the next album in my catalog, which includes the albums I did with SKID ROW because I do the same thing.”
In a talk with Metal Hammer magazine last month, Sebastian Bach revisited the longstanding issue of his absence from performing alongside the other original members of SKID ROW for almost three decades. He said: “For me, doing three albums with SKID ROW, I was just getting started. I didn’t think it would be over and done with so quick.”
When asked if he can see SKID ROW‘s classic lineup ever agreeing to a reunion, Sebastian replied: “I can definitely see that happening considering they play the same songs I play. When I get a substantial royalty check for an album I did with musicians that I haven’t been in the same room with since 1996, I feel like a piece of shit. Because we should be giving something back to the fans that have made this great life possible.”
SKID ROW recently parted ways with their vocalist, Erik Grönwall. Grönwall, who battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed in March 2021, decided to step down from the band to prioritize his health. His compromised immune system made the rigors of touring too challenging.
In light of Erik‘s concerns for his overall health and well-being, he has chosen to step back from the band’s rigorous touring lifestyle to focus on his recovery and personal life. Consequently, the band’s longtime friend Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM will temporarily assume vocal duties for their upcoming four concerts.
Expressing gratitude for their collaboration with Erik over the past two years, SKID ROW members acknowledge the achievements and creative endeavors they’ve shared. They extend their best wishes for Erik‘s health and future endeavors. Additionally, to commemorate their time together, the band plans to release a live album capturing the essence of the past two years, marking a significant chapter in SKID ROW‘s extensive 35-year history. Further details about the album will be announced soon.
Erik said: “I got the opportunity to join this incredible band six months after my treatment against leukemia. And one month after that, I was on a world tour with SKID f**** ROW. Wow! It was a dream come true. However, it proved challenging touring the world with an impaired immune system, which is a result of my bone marrow transplant.
“I respect and understand that SKID ROW is a touring band, but since I can’t prioritize my health being in the band, I have decided that it’s better for me to step aside.
“I love SKID ROW, I have nothing but respect for the guys in the band but I love and respect my health more. I’m getting stronger and healthier every day but after consulting my doctor I need to allow myself more time to recover, which I can’t do as the lead singer of SKID ROW. That’s why I have reached the tough decision to move on.
“I want to thank the guys for this incredible opportunity. And I want to thank all the SKID ROW fans who accepted me as the lead singer of this iconic band. Health first!”
Grönwall‘s vocal talents were showcased across four studio albums during his tenure with H.E.A.T. These albums include “Address The Nation” (2012), “Tearing Down The Walls” (2014), “Into The Great Unknown” (2017), and “H.E.A.T II” (2020).
In September 2021, Grönwall expanded his musical repertoire by releasing a new cover version of “18 And Life” on various streaming platforms.
His introduction to the American audience occurred in 2018 through a significant performance on NBC’s live broadcast of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s and Tim Rice‘s musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.” In front of an audience of 10 million viewers, Grönwall portrayed the pivotal role of Simon Zealotes alongside renowned artists such as John Legend, Alice Cooper, and Sara Bareilles.
