Skid Row

                                                                SKID ROW

   Skid Row is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1986 in Toms River, New Jersey. They were very successful in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their first three multi-platinum albums. In their years of greatest success the band consisted of Sebastian Bach (vocals), Dave "The Snake" Sabo (guitar), Scotti Hill (guitar), Rachel Bolan (bass) and Rob Affuso (drums). As of 2010, the band consists of Sabo, Hill, Bolan, Johnny Solinger (vocals), and Rob Hammersmith (drums). At the end of 1996 the band had sold 20 million albums worldwide.

   To date, Skid Row has released five full-length albums, an EP, a compilation album, and a live album. For album and single sales information, see the Skid Row discography page. They became popular with their first two albums, Skid Row and Slave to the Grind, which are often considered their best-known works to date. Their 1995 follow-up, Subhuman Race was also critically acclaimed. Skid Row's latest albums, Thickskin and Revolutions per Minute, came out in 2003 and 2006 and received highly negative reception.

                                                                  The new Skid Row:

   Skid Row re-formed in 1999 with new lead vocalist Johnny Solinger, formerly of Solinger, and drummer Charlie Mills. Mills soon left the band and was replaced with an interim drummer. After re-forming, they opened for KISS on their farewell tour, and have also played with other 1980s metal bands such as Poison. They have been on tour every summer. In 2002 they were part of the Rock Never Stops Tour. The new lineup has shared the stage with such acts as Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Def Leppard, Sammy Hagar, as well as many others from their genre.

                                                                  Current members:

• Dave Sabo - rhythm & lead guitars, backing vocals (1986–present)

• Rachel Bolan - bass, backing vocals (1986–present)

• Scotti Hill - lead & rhythm guitars (1987–present)

• Johnny Solinger - lead vocals (1999–present)

• Rob Hammersmith - drums (2010–present)

   Discography:

 SKID ROW

 (1989)

   Skid Row is the first album by the American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on January 24, 1989. The album charted at #6 on The Billboard 200 and is certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA. Released from the album were the top 10 singles "18 and Life" and "I Remember You" and the mainstream rock hit "Youth Gone Wild." It is the band's most commercially successful album. The album has since sold five million copies in the United States alone.

SLAVE TO THE GRIND

(1991)

   Slave to the Grind is Skid Row's second album, released on June 11, 1991. Slave to the Grind is notable for being the first heavy metal album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 during the SoundScan era.

   Two different versions were released: the original version, and the "clean" (censored) version. The clean version replaced the song "Get the Fuck Out" with the less-offensive "Beggar's Day".

   Slave to the Grind marked the band's move towards a heavier sound. The lyrics were more complex, criticizing modern ways of life, authority, politics, drugs, and organized religion, among other topics.

   Sebastian Bach's father painted the cover art, which is actually a long mural, continued inside the album's booklet. It is set in the medieval era (remake of Caravaggio's Burial of St. Lucy(1608)), yet has people using modern technological gadgets. John F. Kennedy is in the crowd.

SUBHUMAN RACE

(1995)

   Subhuman Race is the third full-length album by the New Jersey heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released on March 28, 1995, and shows the band moving from their original heavy metal sound to one more influenced by alternative metal, with hints of Anthrax, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while retaining the Guns N' Roses-style hard rock aesthetic on which they based their sound. The album's sonic range runs the gamut from the blazingly fast and aggressive "Bonehead" and title track, to chugging midtempo "Iron Will" to the saccharine "Firesign". Subhuman Race is the last Skid Row album recorded with singer Sebastian Bach and drummer Rob Affuso.

   Subhuman Race charted at #35 on the Billboard 200.Despite obtaining gold status and receiving positive reviews, it was not as successful as the band's first two albums. Certain tracks from the album were remixed for the bands compilation 40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row, given more tender, slightly cleaner mixes to fit better with the other tracks. To promote Subhuman Race, Skid Row supported Van Halen on the North American tour.

THICKSKIN

(2003)

   Thickskin is the fourth full-length studio album released by Skid Row, and first to feature Sebastian Bach replacement Johnny Solinger and both first and last to feature drummer Phil Varone. The album charted at number 46 on the Top Independent albums chart

   "Ghost" released as a single was made a music video and filmed in Miami, Florida. A video was also made for "Thick is the Skin" and a promo video was made for "New Generation" both of which featuring on the DVD "Skid Row - Under the Skin (The Making of Thickskin)".

   "I Remember You Two" is a remake of the band's classic hit single "I Remember You" in a more punk rock influenced fashion.

REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE

(2006)

   Revolutions per Minute is the fifth full-length studio album by Skid Row, released on October 24, 2006. It is the band's first and only release with drummer Dave Gara.

   Michael Wagener temporarily reunited with Skid Row and became their producer for this album. It was 15 years since he co-produced the band's 1991 second album Slave to the Grind.

   The album received some negative reviews and only charted in Japan at #266

   "Shut Up Baby, I Love You" was released as a single and "Strength" is a cover song originally performed by The Alarm.

And now, it's high time you enjoyed some masterpieces of Skid Row: