Skid Row Return 16 Years On

For the first time in 16 years, under-rated hard rock veterans Skid Row are bound for Australia in October. The New Jersey band unleashed its debut album in 1989 and is still going strong. They released their fifth album  Revolutions Per Minute in 2006, they continue to tour the world.

Skid Row were more than leather clad posers – they were a very good hard rock band that managed to connect on an emotional level with their audience while maintaining theor punk rock aesthetic. Their  self titled debut album sold over 5 million copies in the U.S.A.

In 1992 the band released their second record Slave To The Grind which debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, making them the first Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band to do so. The album rockets to multi-platinum status.

In 1995 relationships within the band were  severely strained, but they reluctantly go into the studio to record what was thought to be their final release Subhuman Race. Soon after, the band parted ways.

That was until late 1999 when founding members Rachel Bolan, Scotti Hill, and Snake Sabo decided that Skid Row meant far too much to them to let the music fade into rock obscurity. There were changes to be made – the question was “who”. Enter Texan singer Johnny Solinger. With a new front man in place the band needed a rock solid drummer. They turned to Atlanta native Dave Gara.

In 2000 Skid Row landed the coveted opening slot on the Kiss “Farewell Tour”. It brought Skid Row music back to the hungry masses. Since then the band has logged a few hundred thousand bus miles and some hundreds of shows during which the band was busy writing new songs for their album Thickskin that was released in 2003.

In 2006 Skid Row released Revolutions Per Minute. This reunited the band with producer and long time friend Michael Wagener who produced their first two records. The band is playing and touring all over the world in 2009… And sees them return to Australia for the first time in 16 years, since supporting Guns’n’Roses in 1993.

Skid Row play these three shows in October. Tickets on sale now.

Thursday October 8 – Palace Theatre, Melbourne

Friday October 9 – The Tivoli, Brisbane

Saturday October 10 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney