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Skid Row is an American heavy metal band which became the hard rock prototypes of the early 1990s metal scene, carving out a profitable niche until the Seattle grunge bands took over.
Skid Row was formed in New Jersey in 1986 by bassist Rachel Bolan and former Bon Jovi guitarist Dave "the Snake" Sabo. The pair added guitarist Scotti Hill, drummer Rob Affuso, and vocalist Sebastian Bach to the lineup by early 1987. The band began playing shows in clubs throughout eastern United States.
With the assistance of friend Jon Bon Jovi, Sabo secured a record deal for Skid Row with Mercury. In 1989, the band released their first album, Skid Row, which was an instant success, becoming the first metal album to debut an album at Number 1 in the American charts. The record which went multi-platinum, spawning the smash hit singles "18 and Life" and "I Remember You."
Ironically, the flamboyance of the volatile Bach, which played a critical role in helping to give the band its profile, also led to its ultimate downfall. However, the band is best known for the antics of their lead vocalist, Sebastian Bach (motto: "If you think, you stink"). Bach tended to have "incidents" brought on by his loud, in-your-face attitude.
In what is referred to as "The Bottle Incident" by fans of the band, Bach was arrested and tried on charges of assault and battery for throwing a bottle from the stage, then jumping into the crowd at a concert in Springfield, Massachusetts where Skid Row was opening for Aerosmith on December 27, 1989. Bach claimed he had been hit with the bottle, thrown onstage from the crowd, which is why he threw it back. After the fight, Bach returned to the stage to finish the show, antagonizing the crowd-goers all the while. [1] (http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1452918/03152002/bach_sebastian.jhtml) The incident was captured on video and can be seen on a tour video released by Skid Row called Oh Say Can You Scream? in 1990.
Shorty thereafter, Bach wore a t-shirt proclaiming the anti-gay slogan "AIDS Kills Fags Dead" in a magazine photo shoot. He first joked about it on MTV, then later apologized.
Skid Row's second album, Slave to the Grind (1991), debuted at number one is the American charts, despite the bad publicity generated by Bach. The album quickly disappeared from the charts, however, and the band's following album Subhuman Race (1995), performed poorly.
Eventually, Bach's brashness grew to be too much for his bandmates, and the remaining members went on to play briefly in a band called Ozone Monday.
Skid Row reformed in the late 1990s with new vocalist Johnny Solinger and drummer Phil Varone. Original drummer Rob Affuso had other committments that prevented him from staying in the band at the time, but he remains friends with Bolan, Sabo and Hill. After reforming, they opened for KISS on their farewell tour, and have also played with other 1980s metal bands such as Poison.
Skid Row has currently been touring every summer and released a new album in 2003. Bach is currently performing in Broadway musicals, hosting a show on VH1, and performing with his new band, Sebastian Bach & Friends.
Discography
Past and present members
- Rob Affuso (percussion, ex-member)
- Sebastian Bach (vocals, ex-member)
- Rachel Bolan (bass guitar, current, original member)
- Scotti Hill (guitar, current, original member)
- Dave "The Snake" Sabo (guitar, current, original member)
- Johnny Solinger (vocals, current, joined 1998)
- Phil Varone (percussion, current)
External links
The band was named after the American term skid row used for the rundown area of a city where alcoholics and vagrants congregate.
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