“You might read online my old bass player, and my old guitar player, ‘Oh, we came up with 98 percent of that shit.’ Well, if you look in the credits, I co-wrote that last song, I’ll have you know. I co-wrote these lyrics.“
— Sebastian Bach
Metal Sludge — You’re not seeing double, it’s a new article, but it’s the same story with Skid Row and their former singer.
This is the latest; “He said, he said” from the New Jersey based band and their longtime disgruntled ex-frontman.
Sebastian Bach has reacted to a recent claim, that Rachel Bolan and Dave ‘Snake’ Sabo, along with the band Skid Row had already written 98% of their debut before Bach joined the group.
We covered that story and shared this Metal Sludge article back in late December 2023: ‘SKID ROW … RACHEL BOLAN Confirms Their Debut Album Was ’98 Percent’ Written Before SEBASTIAN BACH Even Joined The Band.’
Now it’s a few months later, and Bach seems to be taking issue with Bolan‘s words.
In a new article at Blabbermouth, the following was reported: “In a December 2023 interview with the “Radio Forrest” podcast, Rachel was asked if it’s true that 1989’s “Skid Row” LP was “completely written and done” before Sebastian came into the group and laid down his vocals on it. Rachel responded: “Yeah, pretty much — all except for a couple things here and there, but I would say about 98 percent were written and done, for sure.”
He added: “That’s the way it just worked out. Snake [SKID ROW guitarist Dave Sabo] and I, when we first met, we just started writing songs. We each had our own band, and we didn’t commit to a band. And we each did our own gigs and whatever, but we’d get together and write songs. And then once we saw, like, ‘Wow. These songs are really cool. Let’s put something together and just start playing them for people.’ And that’s how SKID ROW was born. It was kind of like a two- or three-step process. And so Snake and I just ended up the main songwriters. It’s not to say that we didn’t want anyone else’s contributions, ’cause that’s not the case.”
Bolan continued: “You know as soon as you start playing an idea for the guys whether they like it or not, whether it’s a good idea or not. ‘Cause sometimes I think that I have the next ‘Stairway To Heaven’ and I’ll bring it to rehearsal and everyone’s, like, ‘Eh.’ And you’re just, like, ‘Oh, that hurts.’ But it is what it is. All five of you have to have to get off on it for it to become a SKID ROW song.”
Now Bach is on tour, supporting his latest single “What Do I Got To Lose” and he has addressed the recent Bolan and Sabo claims.
Blabbermouth writes: “Bach addressed Bolan‘s comments during his February 24 solo concert at Palace Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota. After performing the song “Makin A Mess” from “Skid Row”, Sebastian told the crowd (see video from Melvin Zoopers below): “You might read online, you might read online my old bass player, and my old guitar player, ‘Oh, we came up with 98 percent of that shit.’ Well, if you look in the credits, I co-wrote that last song, I’ll have you know. I co-wrote these lyrics. I co-wrote these lyrics. It goes, ‘One, two, baby what you do / Three, four, let me show you the door / You’re better off dead than makin’ a mess of me / Five, six, take your last licks / Seven, eight, I’m gonna give it to you straight.’ It’s like fucking Shakespeare. Those are some rhyming couplets that I just laid on you.”
Bach joined SKID ROW in 1988 as the replacement for the band’s original lead singer Matt Fallon, who sang on demo versions of songs that were eventually re-recorded for SKID ROW‘s multi-platinum 1989 eponymous LP.”
You can check out more at Metal Sludge about Sebastian Bach and Skid Row below, in various articles from throughout the years.
April 4th 2000
CLASSIC 20 QUESTIONS … Skid Row guitarist Dave ‘The Snake” Sabo in his tell-all interview with Metal Sludge back on April 4th 2000
May 13th 2003
SLUDGE FLASHBACK … 20 Questions with Producer Extraordinaire Michael Wagener – Date: May 13th 2003
December 30th 2015
DISRESPECTED “I was not fired from SKID ROW. I Quit.” Tony Harnell
January 1st 2019
DIARRHEA MOUTH … Sebastian Bach unloads on Skid Row (again): “Maybe you’re hard to work with!”
January 21st 2019
30 & LIFE … Rhino Records releases SKID ROW debut for 30th Anniversary, w/ Bonus track + 10 Live tracks
June 14th 2021
F-BOMB MELTDOWN … Sebastian Bach goes on a Twitter tirade feuding with a fan about Skid Row song credits
September 6th 2021
BAZ DEMANDS REUNION … Sebastian Bach says: ‘There Is No Reason’ why Classic Skid Row shouldn’t Reunite
January 12th 2022
SLIM TO THE GRIND … Ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach goes on crash diet and loses 35 pounds
March 8th 2022
PACKAGE TOUR … Skid Row, Warrant, Winger and Quiet Riot team up for ‘LIVE TO ROCK’ 2022 Summer Tour
March 23rd 2022
SWEDEN ROW … Skid Row introduce new singer, Swedish Idol star Erik Grönwall formerly of H.E.A.T
June 28th 2022
SKID ROWZ … Sebastian Bach and former Skid Row band-mates appear in new ‘Breaking the Band’ episode on REELZ
September 25th 2022
SKID ROW … Rachel Bolan Talks to 80’s Metal Recycle Bin podcast about Everything from Bon Jovi to Grönwall but Not a Peep about Bach
September 3rd 2023
DEAD HORSE … Sebastian Bach talks in depth on Backing Tracks, says it is Okay for KISS to Use them but Not an Athlete (like Chris Jericho) who does Jumping Jacks on Stage
December 6th 2023
HE’S BACH … Sebastian Bach drops new single “What Do I Got To Lose”
Stay tuned to Metal Sludge for Breaking News, Updates and Features along with both new and classic interviews.
