Skid Row Albums – Learn Their History
This American heavy metal band was formed in 1986 in Toms River in New Jersey. With five full-length Skid Row albums to date, and having sold over 20 million copies, the band is definitely at the forefront of the heavy metal music scene. Unlike most bands, it took them only three years to finally release their debut album ‘Skid Row’. They are most successful during the late 1980s and the early 1990s.
The band was started by Rachel Bolan (bass guitar) and Dave “The Snake” Sabo (guitar). Their current line up also includes Scotti Hill (guitar), Rob Hammersmith (drums), and Johnny Solinger (vocals). Their original vocalist was Sebastian Bach who had a falling out with the rest of the group after he booked the band as an opening act for KISS. The rest of the guys did not like it and as a result Back left the band.
They also experienced some difficulties with their relationship with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. While they were still getting started, they had given up a big percentage of their publishing rights to the two members of Bon Jovi. This caused a big problem as the band started to become famous. Eventually Sambora gave in and gave back a percentage of the publishing rights to the band.
‘Skid Row’ is their debut album and it was released on January 24, 1989 and since become five times platinum record awardee by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was able to reach the number 6 spot in the Billboard 200. It was then that demand for their Skid Row merch got started.
‘Slave to the Grind’ was released on the 11th of June 1991. It was considered a major success for the group as it ranked number 1 on Billboard 200. It was also considered an improvement for their music as it contained heavier lyrics that deals with wider social problems.
‘Subhuman Race’ is the third of the Skid Row albums and was released on March 28, 1995. It was the last album in which Sebastian Bach recorded with the band. The album was notable for the shift in the band’s sound from pure heavy metal to more of an alternative metal sound.
‘Thickskin’, their next album after almost 10 years since the last, was released on August 5, 2003. It was notable for featuring for the first time their new lead vocalist, Johnny Solinger. But another band member had also left and this time it was Phil Varone.
Their latest album was released on the 24th of October, 2006 and was titled ‘Revolutions per Minute’. It was negative received by many music critics. The album was notable for it again paired the band with Michael Wagener, the famed producer who also produced their second album.
While it takes them a few years to come up with the next album, it is safe to say that we can expect more Skid Row albums in coming years. The band’s fame has not diminished, as proved by the demand for their band merch and studio albums.