SKID ROW’s ROB HAMMERSMITH: ‘We Are Still In An Active Search For Our Next Lead Singer’
skid Row Drummer Rob hammersmith on the Hunt for a New voice
Table of Contents
- skid Row Drummer Rob hammersmith on the Hunt for a New voice
- Skid Row Still Searching for New Lead Singer, Reunion with Sebastian Bach Off the Table
- Skid Row Shuts Down Reunion rumors, Citing Desire for happiness and Unity
- Skid Row reunion Fizzles, leaving Sebastian Bach Bitter
- Skid Row: Searching for a New Voice, Shutting Down Reunion Rumors
Rock veterans skid Row are still searching for a new frontman after Erik Grönwall‘s departure earlier this year.
In a recent interview with the Metal Summit, drummer Rob Hammersmith provided an update on the band’s ongoing search, assuring fans that the process is moving forward.”We’re still in an active search for the next led singer of Skid Row,” Hammersmith said. “We’ve had some really good, some really strong candidates. At this point, no news, no official announcements. We’re making progress. We’re getting there.”
Grönwall, who joined Skid Row in 2022, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2021. While he was able to perform with the band for a time, his immunocompromised status made touring increasingly difficult.
following Grönwall’s exit, Skid Row enlisted the powerful vocals of Lzzy Hale from Halestorm for a series of shows. However, the band is now focused on finding a permanent replacement.
“We will break for the holidays and then we will reconvene in January and move forward with that process,” Hammersmith explained. “It’s a long process and it always takes longer than you would like for it to take. So we’ll see. Hopefully early [in 2025] we’ll have some big announcements for everybody.”
Hammersmith emphasized that the band is taking a thoughtful approach to the search, considering not only vocal talent but also the long-term fit within the band’s dynamic.
“We really did want to take a minute to say to ourselves and then to each other, how do we really wanna go about doing something like this in a way that maybe we can do it differently than we’ve done in the past?” he said.
“It’s been a really interesting process,” he continued. “You really have to sit down and examine, as a band, what are your goals? What is important to you? What do you envision the future of your band looking like?”
The drummer acknowledged that the search is a two-way street, with potential candidates also evaluating the band and its future.”Everybody comes to the table with their own different set of criteria,” he said.
skid Row fans eagerly await news of the band’s next chapter,hoping for a new voice to carry on the legacy of hard-hitting rock anthems.
Skid Row Still Searching for New Lead Singer, Reunion with Sebastian Bach Off the Table
Los angeles, CA – Iconic heavy metal band Skid Row continues its search for a new permanent vocalist following the departure of Erik Grönwall in 2023. While the band has been taking its time to find the right fit, bassist Rachel Bolan assures fans they are actively auditioning potential candidates.
“We’re taking our time as we have time,” Bolan shared during a Q&A session at the Days of the Dead convention last July.”We’ve got a couple guys on the radar that we’re gonna audition, and there’s also a couple of our friends that wanna do what Lzzy Hale did and sit in [on lead vocals] for a few shows. That’s fun too.”
Hale, the powerhouse vocalist of Halestorm, filled in for Grönwall during a series of shows in 2023, much to the delight of fans.
Bolan confirmed in May 2024 that the band has been in discussions with several singers, though none are household names.
Though,one name that won’t be returning to the Skid Row fold is former frontman Sebastian Bach. Guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo definitively ruled out a reunion with Bach in a May 2024 interview, stating, “It’s not gonna happen.And I say the same thing every time. I’m thankful that people have such an interest in wanting to see that happen,but I also have to reiterate that this is about being happy in the situation that you’re in.”
Sabo emphasized that the decision not to reunite with Bach is a collective one made by himself, Bolan, and guitarist Scotti Hill.
“The reason that this isn’t happening is because there’s three of us who’ve had conversations about this, and we’ve all been on the same page that we don’t wanna go down that road again,” Sabo explained.”We just — we don’t.”
Sabo also addressed the persistent rumors blaming Bolan for the band’s split with Bach, calling them “a load of bullshit.”
“Rachel has taken a beating over this through the years,” Sabo said. “He’s the one who’s been blamed for this. ‘Oh, it’s Rachel’s ego.’ ‘It’s this and that.’ No, that is not true. And I feel bad because he’s really, really had to shoulder that blame and has never said anything derogatory or anything like that.”
Sabo stressed that the band’s decision is based on a desire to move forward in a positive direction.
“We enjoy being happy in this band and we’re really happy,” Sabo said. “It’s been such a grate experience for the last though, 35 years, everything, all the ups, all the downs, everything, but we just don’t wanna revisit that particular aspect of our history.”
For now,Skid Row fans will have to wait and see who will step up to the mic and carry on the band’s legacy.
Skid Row Shuts Down Reunion rumors, Citing Desire for happiness and Unity
Legendary hard rock band Skid Row has definitively squashed rumors of a reunion with former frontman Sebastian Bach, emphasizing their commitment to happiness, unity, and musical integrity.
In a recent interview, guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo and bassist Rachel Bolan addressed the persistent speculation surrounding a potential reunion.
“We’ve been just ripped apart by ex-members of the band and stuff — ripped apart,” Sabo shared. “Some really shitty stuff [has been] said about all of us. And we just choose not to [respond]. It’s not who I am. It’s not who we are.We won’t go down that road. We just wanna play music and be happy.”
Bolan echoed Sabo’s sentiments, stating, “It’s not about the money, man. I choose my happiness, my willingness to continue to be a really good friend to my best friends and a really good husband and a really good dad and bandmate and person. And I don’t wanna endanger that in any way.”
The band has faced numerous lineup changes as Bach’s departure in 1996, with singers Johnny Solinger, Tony Harnell, ZP Theart, and most recently, Erik Grönwall, taking the helm. Despite the revolving door of vocalists, Skid Row has remained steadfast in their decision to move forward without Bach.
Five years ago, Bolan acknowledged that the band had considered a reunion with Bach, but quickly dismissed the possibility, stating, “well… Here’s the soundbite for blabbermouth. I wouldn’t say we were friends [when we were in a band together]. We were bandmates. You know what I mean? We’re two very different people.”
Bach himself has publicly expressed his desire for a reunion,attributing the lack of progress to financial disagreements and management issues. However, Skid Row’s current members remain focused on their present lineup and their commitment to creating music together.
“This has really never been about a monetary aspect of things because it’s known that we’ve been offered a good amount of money to do shows together and to reunite [with Sebastian] and whatever,” Sabo explained. “But it’s just never been about the money, man.”
Skid Row reunion Fizzles, leaving Sebastian Bach Bitter
Sebastian Bach, former frontman of the iconic 80s hair metal band Skid Row, recently expressed his disappointment over a failed reunion attempt.
Speaking on his podcast, “That Metal Show,” Bach revealed that the band had been “close to reuniting” but ultimately couldn’t make it work. “We all go on that stage as a band and we all get paid equally. We’re in this together. There’s no egos,” Bach said, emphasizing his desire for a collaborative and equitable reunion.
However, guitarist Snake Sabo offered a different outlook on the situation. In an email to Rolling Stone, Sabo stated that while the band “entertained the idea” of a reunion, they quickly realized why they had parted ways with Bach in the first place.
“Snake and I went as far as talking with agents and promoters about money,” Sabo explained. “But we quickly learned after a few text conversations, why we fired him in the first place. Nothing is worth your happiness and peace of mind.”
Bach,known for his powerful vocals and flamboyant stage presence,was fired from Skid Row in 1996.The band has continued to tour and record with various vocalists, but the original lineup has remained elusive.
The news of the failed reunion has left many fans disappointed, as a Skid Row reunion with Bach at the helm would have been a major event in the world of hard rock.
While the future of Skid Row remains uncertain, Bach’s comments suggest that he is still open to the possibility of a reunion down the line.
Skid Row: Searching for a New Voice, Shutting Down Reunion Rumors
Iconic heavy metal band Skid Row is facing a pivotal moment in its history, navigating the search for a new lead singer while firmly stating that a reunion with former frontman Sebastian Bach is off the table.
the Search for a New Voice
Since the departure of Erik Grönwall in 2023, Skid Row has been actively auditioning potential candidates to fill the role. Bassist Rachel Bolan assured fans that the band is dedicated to finding the right fit, even hinting at the possibility of bringing in musicians for guest appearances like Lzzy Hale of Halestorm did in 2023.
“We’re taking our time as we have time,” Bolan shared. “We’ve got a couple guys on the radar that we’re gonna audition, and there’s also a couple of our friends that wanna do what Lzzy Hale did and sit in [on lead vocals] for a few shows.
No Reunion with Sebastian Bach
Guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo has been crystal clear: a reunion with Bach is not happening.He has emphasized that this decision is a collective one, with both himself, Bolan, and guitarist Scotti Hill agreeing it’s not in the band’s best interest.
“It’s not gonna happen.and I say the same thing every time. I’m thankful that people have such an interest in wanting to see that happen, but I also have to reiterate that this is about being happy in the situation that you’re in,” Sabo stated.
Sabo also addressed ongoing rumors blaming Bolan for the split with Bach, calling them “a load of bullshit”. He defended bolan, saying he has “taken a beating over this through the years” and that he’s “really, really had to shoulder that blame and has never said anything derogatory or anything like that”.
Moving Forward with Positivity
Sabo stressed that the band’s decision to move on without Bach is driven by a desire for positive growth and unity. “We enjoy being happy in this band and we’re really happy,” sabo said. “It’s been such a grate experience for the last 35 years, everything, all the ups, all the downs, everything, but we just don’t wanna revisit that particular aspect of our history.
Looking Ahead
Skid Row fans eagerly await news on the band’s next chapter, hoping for a new voice that will carry on their legacy of hard-hitting rock anthems. The search for a new lead singer continues, with the band committed to finding the right person who shares their vision and passion.