by Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan recently provided an update on the band’s ongoing search for a new vocalist. He indicated that the process may take significantly longer than initially expected. His comments were shared during an interview with Nashville On The Rocks.
When asked about the search for a new Skid Row singer, Bolan explained the challenges the band faces in reaching unanimous agreement among all members.
“We’re going to start up in hopefully October again. Because we’ve auditioned some people, and some people came in and they were great — they were really great. But you have four guys that are looking at someone, and it’s, like, one guy might think they’re perfect, another guy might think they’re almost perfect, another person might think, ‘Eh,’ wasn’t feeling it,” Bolan said. “So all four of us — Rob Hammersmith [Skid Row drummer], Snake [Skid Row guitarist Dave Sabo], Scotti Hill [Skid Row guitarist] and myself — we need to be a hundred percent on board.”
The bassist emphasized that the band is not under pressure to rush their decision due to scheduling constraints.
“We have the luxury of time on our side. Maybe not our ages [laughs], but we have the luxury of time. We don’t have any tours set up or anything like that, that we have to just like kind of get someone in place… Our booking agent says those shows are still gonna be there. If it takes two years, three years, whatever, those shows are gonna be there, dude,” he continued.
Bolan also reflected on the band’s approach to the selection process and the positive aspects of their extended search.
“And it makes you feel good, because when you’re as close to it as I am, it’s, like, you don’t look at us, like, ‘You guys are fucking Skid Row, man. You can do whatever the fuck you want.’ I look at it as, like, ‘We’re Skid Row. What the fuck are we gonna do?’ We just told ourselves we’re not gonna stress. If it takes a long time, it takes a long time,” Bolan said. “And like I said, we’ve had people down that we’ve dug a lot. Something was there. Maybe there was pieces missing, an element missing, but it is what it is. And we’re meeting a lot of really cool people along the way — a lot of really cool people who I’m, like, ‘Wow.’ I’ll listen to some of their songs, and it’s, like, you look at someone and you’re, like, ‘Maybe we could work together on something else or write songs together.’”
The band’s current search for a new vocalist reflects a pattern of lineup changes that has defined Skid Row’s journey over the past two decades.
Skid Row’s vocalist position has been a revolving door since the departure of original frontman Sebastian Bach in the late 1990s. Wikipedia reported that the band re-formed in 1999 with Johnny Solinger as their new lead vocalist. This marked the beginning of a new era for the New Jersey rockers. Solinger remained with the band for over two decades before his departure in 2015.
The band’s most recent lineup change occurred in March 2024 when Erik Grönwall stepped down from his role as lead vocalist. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that Grönwall’s departure was due to health concerns as he prioritized his recovery from leukemia treatment. His exit came just two years after joining the band and contributing to their 2022 album “The Gang’s All Here.” This album marked Skid Row’s first studio release in 16 years.
Between Solinger and Grönwall, the band experimented with other vocalists including Tony Harnell and ZP Theart. Neither tenure lasted long. Classic Rock History documented that this pattern of frequent vocalist changes has become a defining characteristic of the band’s modern era. Each singer brought their own style while attempting to fill the considerable shoes left by Sebastian Bach.
The band’s cautious approach to selecting their next vocalist demonstrates their commitment to finding the right fit rather than rushing into another potentially short-lived partnership. Skid Row has no immediate touring obligations and the luxury of time. The band appears determined to break the cycle of frequent lineup changes that has marked their post-Bach era.
The band plans to resume auditions in October. No definitive timeline has been established for announcing their new vocalist.
