Skid Row

Skid Row was formed in 1986 in Toms River, New Jersey, by bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarist Dave Sabo. They recruited guitarist Scotti Hill and drummer Rob Affuso through newspaper ads. Lead vocalist Sebastian Bach joined in early 1987 after being spotted by the band at age 18. Sabo and Jon Bon Jovi had a prior agreement to assist each other if one achieved success, leading Bon Jovi’s manager, Doc McGhee, to secure Skid Row a record deal with Atlantic Records in 1988.

The band’s debut album, “Skid Row,” released in January 1989, achieved immediate success, going 5x platinum. It produced hits like “18 and Life” and “I Remember You,” both reaching the Top 10. Skid Row supported the album by opening for Bon Jovi on their “New Jersey” tour and appearing at the Moscow Music Peace Festival. Their second studio album, “Slave to the Grind,” released in June 1991, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and achieved 2x platinum status. This album represented a heavier sound for the band. After touring globally in support of “Slave to the Grind,” including supporting Guns N’ Roses and performing at Monsters of Rock in 1992, the band released the covers EP “B-Side Ourselves” in September 1992.

Skid Row took a hiatus in 1993. In 1994, they returned to the studio to record “Subhuman Race” with producer Bob Rock, released in 1995. While critically acclaimed, it did not match the commercial success of its predecessors. Sebastian Bach was fired in late 1996, leading to a three-year hiatus. The band reformed in 1999 with Johnny Solinger as the new lead vocalist and Phil Varone on drums, releasing “Thickskin” in 2003 and “Revolutions per Minute” in 2006. Subsequent vocalists included Tony Harnell, ZP Theart, and Erik Grönwall. Their most recent studio album, “The Gang’s All Here,” was released in October 2022. Grönwall departed in March 2024 due to health issues, with Lzzy Hale temporarily filling in.