As they celebrate their 40th anniversary, hard rock icons Skid Row are turning the page to a new chapter. The band has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Sweetwater, the global giant in online music retail, to conduct a worldwide search for their next lead singer.
The collaboration aims to find a frontman capable of honoring the group’s multi-platinum history while helping to shape its future. While reality TV competitions have become a norm for filling vacancies in classic rock bands, Skid Row is keen to distinguish this process from mere entertainment.
“This is not a contest or a gimmick,” the band said. “It’s a genuine search for the right voice, presence, and authenticity to carry Skid Row forward.”
The timing of the search coincides with the band’s four-decade milestone. Since forming in New Jersey, Skid Row has remained a staple of rock radio with enduring anthems like “18 And Life“, “I Remember You“, “Monkey Business”, and “Youth Gone Wild“.
The submission process officially opens today, February 5. In a move designed to ensure they find the perfect fit rather than a quick fix, the band has set no deadline for entries. They intend to review submissions indefinitely until the right candidate is identified.
Nick Bowcott, Sweetwater‘s resident rocker and content creator, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, recalling his early memories of the band’s raw power.
“I first saw Skid Row play in New Jersey before they were signed, and they totally blew me away with the sheer quality of their songs, and the infectious high-energy of their performance,” commented Nick. “We at Sweetwater are excited to partner with the group to host this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Singers interested in auditioning can find full details and submission guidelines via the Sweetwater website.
Speaking with “The Music Universe” during Primary Wave Music’s 20th anniversary pre-Grammy party in Beverly Hills on January 31, Scotti Hill revealed that a formal announcement regarding the search is imminent.
”Yes, we are working on that,” Hill said. “We’re gonna really get it kicking in here in a few weeks. Let me see — in about a week we’re gonna make an announcement for a real push, and we’re gonna get it done and we’re gonna get the right person for the job and we’re gonna get back out there.”
The guitarist acknowledged that filling the vacancy is no small feat, noting that the specific demands of the Skid Row catalog require a vocalist of exceptional caliber. Beyond technical ability, however, Hill stressed that the interpersonal dynamic is the deciding factor.
“It’s not an easy job. It’s not an easy job, really. I mean, that stuff is really hard to sing,” Hill explained. “And it’s gotta be the right chemistry, because in our band we get along really great. We get along really well. We’re family, and we need somebody to be family with us.”
As his former bandmates scour the globe for a new voice, original frontman Sebastian Bach has been vocal about his desire to see the classic lineup restored, a sentiment fueled by recent activity from other Canadian rock icons.
During a recent appearance on “The Metal Voice“, Bach expressed his enthusiasm for the return of Triumph, recalling how their concerts shaped him as a youth in Peterborough, Ontario.
“I’m happy for Triumph. I think it’s incredible. I’ve always loved Triumph,” Bach said. “I bought a ticket when I was like 10 years old to the Peterborough Memorial Center. I saw the poster of Triumph on the wall at A&A Records and Tapes in the Peterborough Square and it was the poster of Gil Moore on the drum kit with his hand up in the air and then there was pyro going off and Rik Emmett was playing his double neck. I thought, I got to go to this show.”
He recounted the profound impression left by drummer Gil Moore‘s command of the crowd.
“I couldn’t believe it when Gil Moore came down off the drum throne and started talking to the crowd because I never saw a drummer do that. Moore said, ‘Hey, Peterborough, what’s going on?’ and I was like, ‘Oh, he’s the drummer. Like, how’s that happening right now?’ I thought Rik Emmett was going to be talking to the crowd. No, Gil’s in charge. So, I love the band. I’ve always loved a band. Well, I was happy to be part of the tribute album, Magic Power. I got to do ’24 Hours A Day’ and then ‘Rock And Roll Machine’.”
For Bach, witnessing these reunions inevitably leads to frustration regarding his own situation with Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo.
“And when I see Triumph get together, I’m like, ‘Hey, Snake and Rachel, what do you think of the Triumph tour? What do you think? What are your opinions on this? Well, if Triumph is going back on tour and Rush is going back on tour, what is our problem? Like what the heck’s wrong with us?’ Like it’s just silly.”
Despite his confusion over the estrangement, Bach clarified that his career is not paused in anticipation of a reunion.
“I mean, but I’m not waiting around either at the same time. I got my own band. I got my own albums and I play tons of shows. I’m extremely busy.”
In a previous interview on “Get On The Bus“, Bach elaborated on the “business matter” that keeps the parties separated, admitting that the inability to play with his old bandmates is a lingering regret.
“Well, yeah, the fact that Skid Row is not together doesn’t make any sense,” Bach stated. “We’re five guys that are playing the same set, but we’re not together. Well, they don’t have a singer right now, but… I play with everybody. I’m in a band, Kings Of Chaos, with Matt Sorum, and I’m in a band called Royal Machines with Billy Morrison, and I play with all kinds of musicians all the time. So it doesn’t make sense that I can’t play with those guys.”
He added: “But as I said, it’s a business matter and maybe someday the business can get sorted out. That is a regret, that that band broke up. Yeah, that’s a regret.”
However, Bach also admitted that discussing the topic publicly often makes him uncomfortable, given the band’s steadfast refusal to engage with him.
“I do, but when I read myself talk about this, I kind of cringe ’cause it’s not up to me,” Bach said. “Those guys are currently on their eighth or ninth replacement for me. And there’s been a miscommunication from my camp to theirs that I will attempt to clear up, but I am way too focused on what I’m doing in my career to even really even think about that right now, to be honest with you. I’m just not thinking about the old days right now. I’m thinking about the fact that I’ve got a new song on the radio. ‘What Do I Got To Lose?’ is on FM radio across the country. That video is almost two million views in 2024. And in my day, two million views was double platinum. [Laughs] So, I’m not thinking about 1989; I’m not thinking about 1991.”
He concluded by emphasizing his satisfaction with his current creative output.
“I am overjoyed to hear my voice on the radio in 2024. That is more important to me than thinking about what happened in ’91. I just don’t think about that, really. Not to say that I wouldn’t get the band back together, but I’m just focused like a laser beam on what I’m doing right now. So that’s gonna have to take a back seat, like for real. This is more interesting to me. My album, the way it sounds and the reaction that people are giving it is more exciting and interesting, and creating new music instead of just playing the same old songs over and over. I love having new songs to play, even though I haven’t learned how to play them yet. [Laughs]”
