Skid Row by Chuck Arland
Being in a band can be difficult. There are generally several different personalities that present themselves in the practice room, recording studio or tour bus. And that’s just the bass player … Seriously, though, why aren’t sociologists doing longitudinal studies on human interaction and creativity under duress by watching bands?
Consider Skid Row, formed in 1986, and try to imagine the ups and downs there. Bandmates are like lovers and sometimes love is hell and then it’s just gone. And while metal doesn’t have a monopoly on grandiose, volatile or abrasive personalities, it’s still metal. But a band can survive its metal-ness, and Skid Row are proof.
Skid Row used to be fronted by the leonine screamer Sebastian Bach but, news flash, Bach hasn’t been in that band since the ’90s. What Skid Row is today, is actually a more primal version of the group that made the charts way back when with headbanging nuggets such as “18 and Life,” “I Remember You” and “Youth Gone Wild.”
Skid Row’s new studio album, “The Gang’s All Here” — their first in 16 years — is a decent amalgamation of ’80s guitar rock a la Sunset Strip-era Mötley Crüe with a healthy slathering of AC/DC boogie. The riffs drive and the backbeats pound, and if your idea of a good time is drinking beers and raising hell, you could do a lot worse than to refresh your party mix with this new clutch of tracks.
Skid Row founders Rachel Bolan and Dave “The Snake” Sabo have hung tough through decades and multiple singers. Say hello to former Swedish “Idol” winner and umlaut wielder Erik Grönwall, who replaces ZP Theart, who replaced Johnny Sollinger, who replaced Bach. In 2023 Skid Row look to be moving into the boogie-rock, biker outlaw sound and aesthetic. For a band that didn’t fit with the poodle-metal scene but weren’t punk enough to be grunge, and were too glam for the new wave of British heavy metal crowd, Skid Row may have finally found their happy place.
Skid Row and Buckcherry play 7pm Wednesday March 22 at Revolution in Fort Lauderdale. @officialskidrow ~ Tim Moffatt
