High and low with Skid Row

Contributed photo by Craig Schwartz

It’s been 20 years since Skid Row burst onto the national consciousness with its multi-platinum debut. Much has changed in that time, including the exit of enigmatic lead singer Sebastian Bach, but the hair metal band from Toms River, N.J., is still rolling on.

Bach has divided his time between acting on Broadway, embarrassing himself on reality television programs and occasionally dabbling in music. Founding members Snake Sabo (guitar), Rachel Bolan (bass) and Scotti Hill have weathered some serious career peaks and valleys, but Skid Row has continued to create new music since 1999 with Johnny Solinger (vocals) and Dave Gara (drums).

Here are a few of the professional highs and lows of Bach and Skid Row:

1995: Skid Row releases its most uncompromising record, “Subhuman Race,” but in the post-grunge age the heavy metal record doesn’t find the commercial traction of the group’s first two Top 10 albums.

1996: Skid Row breaks up. While the other members ponder their next move, Bach forms the short-lived “super group” The Last Hard Men, with Kelly Deal of the Breeders.

1999: Sabo, Bolan and Hill reform Skid Row with Solinger and Gara. Bach takes acting classes.

2000: The reformed Skid Row jump-starts its career with an opening slot on the KISS “farewell” tour. Bach makes his Broadway debut in the title role in “Jekyll & Hyde.”

2001: Bach appears as Riff Raff in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” while Skid Row parlays the success of the KISS tour into the group’s own string of headlining dates.

2002: Skid Row works on new material while Bach hosts VH1’s “Forever Wild” and takes on the lead role in a touring production of “Jesus Chris Superstar.”

2003: Bach unsuccessfully auditions for Velvet Revolver. Skid Row releases “Thickskin,” its first album of all new material in eight years.

2004: Despite steady touring, “Thickskin” peaks at No. 62 on the Billboard album charts. Bach begins a three-year stint playing a recurring character on the CW series “Gilmore Girls.”

2006: Bach co-stars on the VH1 reality show “SuperGroup,” with Ted Nugent and Scott Ian. Skid Row releases “Revolutions Per Minute,” which reaches No. 40 on the album charts.

2007: Skid Row continues burning up the road, while Bach releases the solo album “Angel Down” and appears on the MTV reality show “Celebrity Rap Superstar.”

2009: Bach prepares to release two new albums while Skid Row continues to tour, including a stop at McGuffy’s House of Rock on Saturday, Sept. 19, and dates in South America in November.

CONTACT contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.

how to go

WHO: Skid Row, with Six Cloves and The Mighty Swine.

WHERE: McGuffy’s House of Rock, 5418 Burkhardt Road, Dayton.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 19. Doors open at 7 p.m.

COST: $20 advance, $25 day of show.

MORE INFO: (937) 256-3005 or wwwmcguffys.net.

ARTIST INFO: www.skidrow.com.