SKID ROW, a project assembled by guitarist Dave 'Snake' Sabo and bassist Rachel Bolan, have leapt from the small time club circuit to international stardom with an exhaustive touring schedule based around a brace of impressive early albums. SKID ROW appeal to both genders of the rock fraternity, vocalist Sebastian Bach's rebellious image tempered by his almost feminine pretty boy looks allied to Bolan's punk stance complete with nose chain lend the band an impressive visual air. The global impact of ballad hits ' I Remember You' and '18 And Life' belie the fact that SKID ROW can inject enough grunt into their music to satisfy the most hardened of headbangers. Indeed SKID ROW, despite capitalising on the glam rock boom, are quick to cite old school Metal acts as inspirators.

Bolan had SKID ROW assembled a number of years prior to the line up most fans are familiar with, although things began moving once he's teamed up with axe slinger Dave Sabo. Sabo, known as Snake to his buddies, had grown up with near neighbour and school friend JON BON JOVI in Sayreville, New Jersey. In union with Bolan Sabo had finally found the true vehicle for his talents, Snake having gone from band to band with little success. Snake had a five year stint in one outfit that also featured Billy Childs and Johnny Dee pre-BRITNY FOX, even helping out Jon Bon Jovi in a couple of groups prior to the emergence of BON JOVI in 1983.

Having worked with a variety of musicians Bolan and Sabo eventually brought in a stable line-up comprising second guitarist Scotti Hill and drummer Rob Affuso before looking for the perfect frontman. SKID ROW's original choice of vocalist was Philadelphia native John Corabi, but he turned the opportunity down in order to concentrate on his own project in Los Angeles (subsequently journeying through RACER X, THE SCREAM and MÖTLEY CRÜE). Other early candidates included local boy Robert Mason (later to join LYNCH MOB) and Richard Black (SHARK ISLAND).

The New Jerseyites eventually emerged with a young Canadian kid called Sebastian Bierk, who went under the more illustrious sounding stage name of Sebastian Bach. They had poached him from the disintegrating final line-up of MADAM X. Bach had previously played in Toronto based acts KID WIKKID, who contributed a stand-out cut to the 'Maple Leaf Mayhem' compilation of unsigned Canadian bands, and VO5. Other Toronto outfits fronted by Bach included HOPE and SEBASTIAN. A demo track by the latter band, 'Saved By Love Again', scored Bach the job with SKID ROW.

Previous to Bach's involvement though SKID ROW were fronted at the time by former ANTHRAX singer Matt Fallon, but, questioning Fallon's ability, the band had spotted Bach jamming at a wedding. The singer was in good company too, the All Star makeshift band comprising of OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist ZAKK WYLDE, TWISTED SISTER frontman DEE SNIDER and QUIET RIOT's Kevin Dubrow. Bach's performance was enough to convince SKID ROW that he was their man. But it came at a price. Bach was still contracted to an ex manager and reputedly had to pay $200'000 to free himself from the contract. Bach didn't have the money

this time Snake had played the band's demo tapes to Jon Bon Jovi who had taken the band under his wing as a favour to his old school buddy. He not only financed the recording of a more professional demo but allegedly gave Bach the money he needed for his freedom to join SKID ROW.

Jon then convinced Doc McGhee and brother Scott that SKID ROW be added to the McGhee Entertainment stable. Derek Shulman at PolyGram remained unconvinced and passed on the chance to sign the band to PolyGram. Atlantic did pick up on them, especially when it became evident that both Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were helping SKID ROW in areas such as song arrangement and co-writing and pre-production.

More importantly, SKID ROW entered into a publishing deal with Jon Bon Jovi's newly established Underground Music Company, set up in 1987 to handle Jon's royalties on his collaborations writing songs with other artists. The contract entered into with SKID ROW ensured that the band waive their rights to publishing royalties which would be paid to Jon and Richie, although the BON JOVI duo were never officially credited on SKID ROW's debut album for such a substantial involvement.

The quintet went into Royal Recorders studio at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to carve their debut album. With noted metal producer Michael Wagener at the helm, SKID ROW crafted an album with just the right blend of quality songs, guitar muscle and American sass.

No sooner had the album been released SKID ROW were out on the road with BON JOVI on the 'New Jersey' tour, a pairing that had been announced before SKID ROW's debut had hit the racks, making their arena debut in Dallas, Texas. With McGhee struggling to extricate himself from his drugs conviction SKID ROW aided his cause by recording their version of the SEX PISTOLS 'Holiday In The Sun' for the anti-drugs compilation album 'Make A Difference'. SKID ROW also appeared with BON JOVI, OZZY OSBOURNE, MÖTLEY CRÜE, SCORPIONS and CINDERELLA for the gigantic 'Make A Difference' peace festival in Moscow in August 1989.

1989 had the band supporting BON JOVI Stateside. A British festival opening a festival at Milton Keynes together with BON JOVI, EUROPE and VIXEN and an impromptu 'secret' gig at London's Marquee club ensued. The last gig was recorded and 'Rattlesnake Shake' making the B side of the 'Youth Gone Wild' single. A European jaunt with MÖTLEY CRÜE and WHITE LION then AEROSMITH followed before the band were back on the road in America and Canada.

In spite of the band's worldwide profile all was not well beneath the surface. SKID ROW had a major falling out with Jon Bon Jovi over the publishing deal that Bach was keen to make public giving the media the full scam that Bon Jovi's early assistance had a high price to pay in the form an alleged 100% payback on all publishing royalties. SKID ROW deemed it to be unfair and after much ugly publicity Bon Jovi relented with BON JOVI guitarist RICHIE SAMBORA actually making it plain he was giving his 50% share back to SKID ROW.

An AEROSMITH date at Springfield, Massachusetts was also to throw the band into controversy. Bach was hit by a projectile thrown from the audience and promptly retaliated by leaping into the crowd to take on the offender. Regrettably the vocalist had first thrown a bottle back at his assailant missing him but hitting a girl giving her facial injuries. Needless to say Bach, nursing a wound that required seven stitches, was full of remorse but the incident would come back to haunt him as a trial ensued in which the singer was given a suspended sentence and a $15'000 fine. Worse was to follow as the Canadian government decided that Bach would be banned for life from his home country. To Bach, a Canadian native, despite being born in the Bahamas, it was a heavy blow.

After the AEROSMITH trek a batch of seven Japanese shows gave SKID ROW a first taste of stardom in the far East and then it was back to America for headliners with Dutch act SLEEZ BEEZ guesting. A further British visit, this time top of the bill over VAIN, provided ample evidence of the band's meteoric rise to fame with every gig sold out. The close of the tour at London's Hammersmith Odeon saw MOTÖRHEAD's infamous Lemmy joining the band for an encore rendition of 'Train Kept A Rollin'.

As SKID ROW toured, the debut album clocked up multi-platinum status spawning numerous hit singles. Anthems '18 And Life' and 'Youth Gone Wild' packed rock club dance floors across the globe.

SKID ROW put in their last live bash backing the debut album on May 26th 1990 on a festival bill at Milwaukee's Alpine Valley Music Theater sharing a stage with WHITESNAKE, BAD ENGLISH, GREAT WHITE and HERICANE ALICE.

The sophomore release 'Slave To The Grind' saw a shift in approach as SKID ROW got undoubtedly heavier. Despite it's complete lack of commerciality the record shot to the coveted number 1 position in America. The band scored the huge coup of being requested to tour as special guests to GUNS N' ROSES throughout America in 1991 starting in May putting SKID ROW in front of enormous audiences each night.

SKID ROW utilised a few days off in Los Angeles during July 1991 by going into the studio to record intended B sides for the future. Many of these cuts made it onto future releases but RUSH's 'Finding My way' and WILD CHERRY's 'Play That Funky Music' have yet to emerge. Bach, Affuso and Sabo also put in an appearance on GUNS N' ROSES bassist DUFF McKAGAN's solo album 'Believe In Me'.

The band were then asked to follow GUNS N' ROSES into Europe. Bach once again created a furor when onstage at Wembley Arena he delivered an expletive laden rap that was to backfire. The crowd lapped it up but Brent Council replied by banning SKID ROW for life from the venue.

South American shows with the SCORPIONS in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina were undertaken before SKID ROW returned to British shores putting in a triumphal performance at the 'Monsters Of Rock' Castle Donington festival headlined by IRON MAIDEN. Further dates in Japan and yet more American gigs with PANTERA as second on the bill rounded off this 20 month glut of live work.

The 1992 stop-gap release 'B Sides Themselves' accrued intended B sides onto one mini-album. The record comprised of covers 'Psycho Therapy' by THE RAMONES, featuring Bolan on lead vocals and FASTER PUSSYCAT's Taime Down on backing vocals, the KISS track 'C'mon And Love Me', JUDAS PRIEST's 'Delivering The Goods' that included PRIEST frontman Rob Halford on guest vocal, RUSH's 'What You're Doing' and JIMI HENDRIX's 'Little Wing'.

Bolan gained his first production credits in 1993 lending his studio talents to New Jersey brethren GODSPEED. Bach meanwhile went into the famous New York Electric Ladyland studios to record a projected album with ex-HANOI ROCKS guitarist Andy McCoy. These album tracks, financed by Atlantic Records, have yet to surface. Affuso guested on ex GUNS N' ROSES guitarist GILBY CLARKE's 'Pawnshop Guitars' album in 1994.

Although the band was effectively on hold after the 'Subhuman Race' tour, various side projects were undertaken. Rachel Bolan put PRUNELLA SCALES together with Phil Varone from SAIGON KICK, whilst Bach formed THE LAST HARDMEN with, ironically, Kelley Deal of the BREEDERS fame. Whilst PRUNELLA SCALES's album was released on Mutiny Records in the spring of 1997, Sebastian's THE LAST HARDMEN were expected to issue their debut offering through Atlantic later in the year in addition to contributing a cover of 'TNT' to a planned AC/DC tribute album. Bach had also recorded 'Little Lover' with WARREN DE MARTINI and Bobby Blotzer of RATT fame for the same album as well as covers of 'The Immigrant Song' and 'Communication Breakdown' with ex-GUNS N' ROSES man Slash for a LED ZEPPELIN tribute.

In addition, the extremely busy vocalist had cut 'Tonight's The Night' for a ROD STEWART tribute album with Deal and Jimmy Flemion from THE LAST HARDMEN and SMASHING PUMPKINS' D'arcy.

Indeed, it soon became far from clear as to whether SKID ROW would reappear, at least in their original incarnation, as Bach's relationship with Bolan had deterioated to the point where the bassist had refused to work with the frontman. However, during November 1997 Bach not only announced that he would undertake a solo tour of America but also that he would re-unite with his colleagues for recording of new tracks set to complete a scheduled SKID ROW compilation album tentatively titled '40 Seasons'. These new songs would, unfortunately, not be recorded.

to the long-term future Bolan, Sabo, Affuso and Hill founded a new project enlisting a new vocalist simply known as Sean. Eventually Sean (whose surname would soon be revealed as McCabe) would be announced as the new vocalist in SKID ROW. However, later reports suggested that the group would actually cease to exist as SKID ROW and be relaunched as a completely new band with a radically different sound.

The new group's name was announced in mid 1998 as OZONE MONDAY but singer Sean, becoming Sean Mars, subsequently found MARS NEEDS WOMEN scoring a deal with Warner Bros. Bach, meantime, set up a distribution deal with Sony for a solo album he intended to release through his own Get Off My Bach label. Rehearsals were undertaken with ex LOVE/HATE vocalist Jizzy Pearl but after time the two parties opted to go separate ways with Pearl joining RATT for live work then refounding LOVE/HATE.

1999 finally found SKID ROW back in action with a new drummer Charlie Mills from OZONE MONDAY, STRENGTH and DEE SNIDER. The much vaunted replacement for Bach was Johnny Solinger. The Dallas born singer had previously fronted SOLINGER, an act that had three albums under it's belt including the 1999 effort 'Chain Link Fence'.

Before SKID ROW could get back on the road Snake deputised for ANTHRAX, filling in on the last 5 shows of their American tour. SKID ROW themselves were announced as openers to the KISS farewell tour alongside TED NUGENT.

Mid way through the KISS shows Mills departed and was succeeded by former PRUNELLA SCALES / SIAGON KICK drummer Phil Varone. The band would continue to gig hard throughout the year on dates billed as the "Thick Skin" tour. Later US shows had the band opening for for BON JOVI once again. Into 2002 SKID ROW, finally issuing new product to radio in the form of a track 'Thick Is The Skin', would be announced as co-headliners for an American summer package tour billed with TESLA, VINCE NEIL and JACKYL. SKID ROW and VINCE NEIL would also put in a short run of Canadian dates during June. Gaps in the tour schedule would be filled by sessions in the recording studio to finish up a new album projected for October release, backed up by a string of headline club shows. It would be revealed that a brand new version of the band's monster hit 'I Remember You' had been laid down with Solinger on vocals and simply re-billed 'I Remember You 2002'. Further news emerged which revealed that the album, entitled 'ThickSkin', had in fact been re-recorded.

An interesting union appeared to be on the cards when word was leaked that Rob Affuso was working up a fresh band project with TWISTED SISTER guitarist Eddie Ojeda billed obviously enough SKID SISTER. Affuso briefly re-united with SKID ROW at the band's Poughkeepsie, New York show on October 4th, the original drummer joining his former band mates for a run through of 'Monkey Business'.

The band joined POISON and VINCE NEIL for a summer arena tour of North America in May, following this with a European excursion supporting DEF LEPPARD in November then UK headline shows. Phil Varone made his exit in January of 2004, being replaced by Orlando, Florida native, Tim DiDuro for US touring throughout February. However, by early March Varone had rejoined the ranks, DiDuro going on to join SLAUGHTER. Gigs in May saw SKID ROW playing new pastures with a concert on the West Indies isle of Trinidad but then Varone exited once again. New man on the drums would be Dave Gara, drum tech for NASHVILLE PUSSY and holding band credits with GARGANTUA, the Atlanta based BITCH and BETTY BLOWTORCH. Later that year Rachel Bolan took time out to session for the German melodic rock outfit BRUNOROCK.

With SKID ROW commencing work on a new album in December with producer Michael Wagener, bassist Rachel Bolan would also work on a side project dubbed THE QUAZIMOTORS. SKID ROW got back into live action by performing at US military bases in South Korea in May 2005 in an alliance with QUIET RIOT.

High profile Swedish Pop singer SOFIA recorded a cover of SKID ROW's 'Wasted Time' for inclusion on her July 2005 debut album 'Lifetraveller'. Ex-SKID ROW singer SEBASTIAN BACH made his band's appearance at the June 'Sweden Rock' event particularly noteworthy by inviting SOFIA onstage to duet 'Wasted Life'.

SKID ROW's Autumn UK and US tour dates would see the BIG BANG BABIES, PRETTY BOY FLOYD, RUBBER, DAD'S PORNO MAG, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, RATT, WARRANT, L.A. GUNS, BULLETBOYS and ADLER'S APPETITE credited guitarist Keri Kelli filling in for Snake Sabo. The longstanding guitarist revealed he was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and required surgery.

In December Rachel Bolan took time out to act as producer on the debut album from Atlanta, Georgia based ROCKETS TO RUIN. In January 2006 ex-drummer Phil Varone founded Los Angeles based AMERICAN HEADTRIP.

Leading Swedish Heavy Metal band HAMMERFALL covered 'Youth Gone Wild' on their 2008 cover versions album 'Masterpieces'.