Skid Row was formed in 1986 by two rebels from New Jersey.
They were Dave Szabo and Rachel Bolan, and the guitar/bass band was originally called That. They wanted to make a revolution in the minds of young people, but the scene was chosen as the battlefield, and their music became the weapon. Their motto "We against them" meant a challenge to the whole world.
Subsequently, two more like-minded people joined the guys: Scotty Hill (guitarist) and Rob Affuso (drummer). The group was renamed Skid Row, which means homeless vagrants, if translated from American slang.
The search for a bright and charismatic frontman
But somehow it didn't work out with the vocalists. Everyone they tested for the vacant frontman position fell short of it.
It seems that Matt Fallon liked it, but the timbre of his voice was very reminiscent of Jon Bon Jovi. For a debuting team, this was a very inappropriate circumstance.
The guys realized who they needed when they saw and heard the performance of the Canadian performer Sebastian Björk, who later performed under the pseudonym of Sebastian Bach, his brilliant "namesake" - the German composer.
But the circumstances were complicated by the contract of the Canadian performer, concluded with another team. His former employers demanded an exorbitant amount that Skid Row did not have. Jon Bon Jovi rescued, it was he who paid the "ransom" for Sebastian Björk.
For his part, Sebastian Bach was also imbued with the desire to be the soloist of the new band, as soon as he got acquainted with the song Youth Gone Wild, according to the musician, he felt that this hit was created for him personally.
The first victories on the "rebellious front"
This is how a real team of like-minded rebels appeared, ready to storm the world on any venues, having in their “arsenal” musical works of a new alternative sound.
Their first performance took place on the first day of the new year 1988 in Canada, in Toronto. An ordinary rock club Rock N' Roll Heaven was chosen as the venue for the performance, but later this place became famous, even symbolic for ardent fans of Skid Row.
In 1989, the famous guys from the Bon Jovi group invited young performers to their tour, they were offered to perform "as an opening act". This turn of events gave the group the opportunity to show what they are capable of, so to speak, in all its glory.
Debut album by Skid Row
After the tour, they signed with Atlantic Records. Under the label, their self-titled debut album, Skid Row, was released. The success became overwhelming, the disc was sold in significant circulation. It was sold about 3 million copies, first became "gold" and then "platinum".
The most famous hit on the disc was the single 18 and Life, it was put into rotation on the MTV channel. The public also liked the single Youth Gone Wild in the charismatic performance of Bach. Fans of a less harsh sound appreciated the ballad I Remember You.
The disc peaked at number 6 on the Billboard hits parade. At the Peace Festival, the young band was able to perform on the same stage with the celestials and demigods of rock, such as: Bon Jovi, Montley Crue and Aerosmith.
Skid Row's second album
1991 was the next step for the group on the road to success and fame. They released their second album Slave to the Grind. It was already a more confident work of professionals who created their own style of sound. The lyrics of the songs protested against the ordinary peaceful life, which develops slavish habits among the townsfolk.
The discs of the album were sold instantly in 20 countries of the world, their circulation amounted to a total of 4 million copies. The most famous hits on the disc were: Quick Sand Jesus, Wasted Time, Slave to the Grind.
In the same year, Skid Row took part in joint concerts with such "luminaries from rock" as Guns N' Roses and Pantera, having traveled half the world. The teams gathered venues with spectators of more than 70 thousand people.
In 1992, the next album was released, however, it consisted entirely of versions of classic rock compositions, remade for their performance, loved by the public. The disc was called B-Side Ouerselves, it was a win-win option, the disc quickly sold out, becoming "gold".
The first failures and the collapse of the group
In 1995, the band recorded their last album with the usual line-up. The soloist was their brightest and most charismatic frontman Sebastian Bach. The album was called Subhumen Race.
After so many years of success, he became a fly in the ointment. The album was received very reservedly and sluggishly. Bach himself later criticized his offspring, expressing dissatisfaction with the result.
1996 is considered by many to be the end of the existence of the Skid Row band, since its vocalist left the band with a scandal. Sebastian Bach chose a solo career and created his own group, participated in musicals and became a film artist.
The musicians who perform under the famous name of Skid Row are no longer the ones who collected stadiums and created super hits, some critics say. Although after the unsuccessful album Subhumen Race, three more came out: Forty Seasons (1998), Thickskin (2003) and Revolutions per Minute (2006).
Death of Skid Row vocalist
Johnny Solinger, who devoted 15 years to the Skid Row team, passed away on June 26, 2021. A month ago, he told fans that he was suffering from liver failure. The artist spent the last few weeks in a hospital bed.
