In a candid and wide-ranging interview, former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach has delivered a powerful and unequivocal statement on the use of artificial intelligence in music, vowing to his fans that he will never use the technology in his work. Speaking on the Surviving Rocklahoma podcast, Bach dismissed AI as a threat to genuine artistry, arguing that human imperfection is a crucial component of rock and roll.
Bach minced no words when discussing the recent proliferation of AI music generators, which can mimic human-made songs with a simple prompt. In a direct address to his audience, he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “I’m just giving you my guarantee and my word that I’ll never do that. I will never give you any A.I. I won’t even give you ‘I’, and I certainly won’t give you ‘A’.” He contrasted the perceived perfection of AI with the raw, flawed beauty of human creativity, adding: “I’d rather have a real human mistake than a perfect artificial intelligence. F**k artificial, number one. How about real? That’s what you’re gonna get from me till the day that I stop doing this.”
The singer’s stance is rooted in a deep respect for the hard work and dedication that defined a generation of musicians. To illustrate his point, Bach invoked the late Rush drummer Neil Peart, whom he praised as a master of his craft. He argued that Peart‘s legendary skill was a product of relentless practice, not technology, a work ethic that he believes is being lost in the digital age.
“He didn’t have the benefit or the crutch of technology to rely upon, which all these kids are having click tracks and all this stuff in their head,” Bach said. “I don’t think we’re ever gonna see a drummer on that level ever again because none of them are gonna put in the time to practice that much as Neil Peart did.”
When asked if he feels that music is “losing its soul,” Bach offered a pragmatic and personal perspective, pointing to his demanding tour schedule as proof that rock music remains a powerful force. “I did 91 cities last year — 91… I have such a schedule of concerts coming up that I am overwhelmed,” he said.
Bach concluded with a final, pointed critique of AI’s broader implications, expressing his discomfort with the technology’s ability to generate disturbing content, such as posthumous images of deceased rock legends. “We don’t need them to write songs for us. That’s stupid,” he said. “We don’t need to have a meme of Michael Jackson and Ozzy and Dimebag Darrell in heaven having a drink. F**k all that weird s**t. That just gives me the creeps when I see that. It’s, like, ‘Get that off the screen.’ It’s like from hell or something.”
