Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach recently discussed how he is processing the recent deaths of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne and Kiss legend Ace Frehley. During an appearance on the “Loudwire Nights” radio show with host Chuck Armstrong, the vocalist shared his deeply personal perspective on handling grief.
“I think the grief process for people is different. For me, that sadness comes in waves, or it’ll hit me when I’m not expecting it. Like with Ace Frehley. I mean, I love Ozzy, but Ace is a childhood… That’s like Santa Claus to me. That’s like a character. Well, so is Ozzy, but, but Kiss with the makeup and the costumes and the comic books and the toys, that’s a whole different thing.”
He detailed how revisiting classic music often triggers those waves of emotion, specifically pointing out early Kiss material and Frehley‘s solo work.
“I’ll be listening on the airplane to the first Ace solo album, and, and a song like ‘What’s On Your Mind?‘” he continued. “I don’t know how deep cuts you go, but there’s certain songs where the way he plays his guitar just melts my heart. And even “Got To Choose” off [Kiss‘] Hotter Than Hell [album]. His sense of melody was so beautiful and unique. The notes that he chose in those songs are just incredible.”
Despite the profound sadness of losing people he admires, Bach explained that a devastating personal tragedy early in his life forced him to change how he copes with death.
“So I’m not walking around bawling my eyes out, because, to be honest with you, when my dad died back in 2002, I did walk around bawling my eyes up for, like, a year,” Bach admitted. “And I said, ‘F**k this.’ I go, ‘I’m not gonna let somebody’s dying take me off my game any anymore.’ I cried so many tears for my own dad that I said…”
“I think every one of us, we have to learn how to compartmentalize. We have to learn how to deal with something like somebody close to us dying, but we can’t quit our job,” Bach added.
He admitted that while grief can bring deep sadness, it can also spark irrational feelings of anger toward loved ones who pass too soon, acknowledging that such emotions are a complicated but human part of loss.
“We can’t just stay in our house and cry all day. I did that when my dad died. I did. That was a long time ago… I lost my cousin last year as well, who was friends with Ace, which is weird. And we were total Kiss freaks as kids, and he was only 52. And if I was really gonna think about somebody dying, I do think of him. But at the same time, part of me is mad at him for dying, ’cause he was so young. Like, f**k you. Why do you do this at your age? And that’s a really ridiculous way to think, ’cause obviously he didn’t wanna die. But part of me gets angry when somebody leaves me. And it’s irrational. It’s an irrational thought. But I think we all might go through that.”
Both of the late musicians held significant places in Bach‘s career. He previously paid tribute to the Prince of Darkness by covering the classic tracks “Crazy Train” and “I Don’t Know” during a July 2025 performance at the Labadie Rib Fest in Bay City, Michigan.
Before launching into “Crazy Train,” the fourth song of his set, Sebastian Bach addressed the crowd with an emotional dedication. “You know, they called him the Prince Of Darkness, but all he did was make us all f**king happy, man. That’s it,” he declared.
“This show tonight is dedicated to f**king Ozzy Osbourne tonight, Bay City. And they said that when he died, he was surrounded by his family and his friends after doing the best concert that he ever did in his whole life. We all love Ozzy. How many people wanna go fing crazy tonight? Let’s go off the rails on the crazy train.”
He shared a studio with Frehley back in 2002. The duo collaborated on the track “Know Where You Go” for drummer Anton Fig‘s solo record, Figments. Reflecting on that session at the time, Bach called the experience “a dream come true and an honor.”
One night after the passing of Ace Frehley, Sebastian delivered an emotional and powerful on-stage tribute to his friend and hero, performing the Kiss classic “Shock Me” and declaring to the crowd: “I wouldn’t be doing this without f**king Ace Frehley.”
The heartfelt tribute took place during Bach‘s solo concert at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Friday, October 17. Before launching into the Frehley-penned song, Bach took a moment to address the audience and honor the late guitarist, who was a resident of Connecticut.
“[Have] we got any f**king Kiss fans in the audience tonight?” Bach began. “You know how lucky we are right now to be alive with our friends, playing rock and f**king roll music… We are lucky. And I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be doing this without f**king Ace Frehley, lead guitar… This is your hometown boy right here. So in honor of Space Ace, Space Ace from Connecticut — Ace Frehley, lead guitar. ‘Shock Me‘.”
