Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach has described bass player Rachel Bolan as “the band’s Bill Ward.”
Bach – who was fired by Skid Row in 1996 – says Bolan is the only member of the band who has a problem with him. Comparing the situation to the one that exists between Black Sabbath’s estranged drummer Ward and frontman Ozzy Osbourne, Bach hints that jealousy could be at the heart of Bolan’s dislike of him.
He tells Metal Injection, “I’ve talked to all of those guys except the bass player, and he is the one that has it in for me. Some of these musicians like to use this term “lead singer’s disease,” and I think that’s a way of dealing with the extra attention that the frontman gets. And it’s not just Skid Row — it’s Aerosmith, Van Halen, KISS and Black Sabbath. I guess Rachel is, like, the Bill Ward of Skid Row. I think that’s really what it is. Because I haven’t given that guy any reason to dislike me in 19 years.”
Skid Row eventually replaced Bach with singer Johnny Solinger, who was himself replaced by former TNT frontman Tony Harnell this year.
Meanwhile, former Skid Row drummer Rob Affuso says he has tried many times to get Bach and Bolan back on terms and to reunite the classic lineup of which he was also a part.
Affuso tells the Jim Chinnici Radio Show, “I have tried, unsuccessfully, three times, to get it back together, to try to get Rachel and Sebastian in a room and talk. And, inevitably, either Sebastian would say something stupid two weeks prior and then piss Rachel off or whatever. I don’t wanna say ‘stupid’, but he’d say something to piss Rachel off. And then Rachel would be, like, ‘Well, fuck you.’ And that happened, like, literally three times. And the one time I thought it was about to happen, and it just fell apart. I don’t see it happening, I really don’t. I’ve tried.”
Bach recently appeared on Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider’s podcast stating he is the most recognizable member of the band.
additional source: classicrock.teamrock.com
11 Responses
Last I checked Rachel was still IN the band, while the prima donna who won’t shut his mouth up about a reunion is OUT of the band. That makes YOU the Bill Ward of the band!
Sure, but does anyone really care about Skid Row without Bach? I don’t. Sounds harsh, but it’s true, obviously. All the headlines are always about Bach.
Did anyone really care that that much Bill Ward wasn’t drumming with Sabbath on the last tour? Obviously not, I’m sure their ticket sales were fine.
Skid Row had some great songs pre- 95, but like all the other bands of their day, there time as a relevant musical act is quickly being eclipsed. Better play 18 and Life a thousand more times to pay the bills.
You have now become a stalker of the band (you are not in). Skid row. WOW. get a grip.
I’d rather pay my $ to watch Sebastian Bach sing Skid Row songs than to see Skid Row perform the Sebastian Bach era songs with another lead singer.
I agree. I guess I am not a big enough fan to follow them with a new singer. I saw them in 92 on the Slave To The Grind tour. Great album.
Sebastian, maybe you’ll understand Rachel’s position in these terms. Your brother was in the NHL, but you’ve got to stop thinking hockey, dude. In that game, the winner takes all.
Think instead of that great Canadian pastime – curling.
You can move your rock into the scoring zone, and that way you can win.
But if you can’t move it there, you can also win by making sure your opponent’s rock doesn’t enter the zone either.
That’s Rachel’s strategy. He knows the status quo with Skid isn’t lucrative for him. But he knows it isn’t lucrative for you either. Maybe that’s good enough to win.
I could just see the band doing a show with Sebastian, getting an amazing response (like KISS or Van Halen would have with all original members), and then Sebastian (with a big smile on is face) looking back at Rachel, basically saying “See Dude, you NEED me!, I showed you!, do you really want to go back to playing county fairs and clubs now!?!?” It would benefit Sebastian short term, but make it all but impossible for Skid Row to get more gigs without him moving forward. The two of them should just go back to Casa Comida like old times, drink margarita’s and hug it out.
I think what many forget is that Bas was the one for years that shot down talk of a reunion and even mentioning Skid Row. I recall something to the effect of “move on” being barked many times. I love all of these guys but there are many sides to all of this. Should they do a reunion? Sure, would love to see it. But as long as sniping in the press continues it gets further away. See who hasn’t been sniping lately? GnR….. Just sayin