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Sebastian Bach is one of the most popular and talented singers to emerge out of the 80's. Sebastian first took the music industry by storm with Skid Row, as the band topped the Billboard Charts with such hits as,"18 and Life" and "I Remember You." The song "Youth Gone Wild" became the anthem for metal fans across the country.
In the late 90's, when grunge took over the industry and music charts, Sebastian left Skid Row. But unlike so many others, Sebastian managed to remain in the spotlight, whether it be acting, Broadway, or singing with his solo band. And even now, Sebastian Bach shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
Sebastian Bach has appeared on WB's The Gilmore Girls, Broadway plays such as "Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde," and "Jesus Christ Superstar."
2006 has proven to be one of the most successful years for the dynamic front man. Sebastian Bach along with his solo band which includes, Metal Mike Chlasciak on guitar, Steve Digiorgio on bass, Bobby Jarzombek on drums, and Johnny Chromatic on guitar on recently opened for Guns n’ Roses in Europe, and performed in China and Australia.
Well they say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but Sebastian Bach has once again landed the opening spot on the current Guns n' Roses U.S. Tour. The Guns n’ 'Roses/Sebastian Bach/Papa Roach Tour is one of the most anticipated tours this fall, as the show has already sold out Madison Square Garden on November 10.
I recently had the honor of speaking with with rock icon Sebastian Bach about the current tour, his new album "Angel Down", the music industry today, working with Axl Rose, and much more.
Ladies and Gentlemen, GlamMetal.com TM is honored to present to you a true rock and roll legend: Sebastian Bach. www.sebastianbach.com
Hey GlamMetal how are you doing?
Sebastian, I am doing great. First of all let me congratulate your opening for Guns n’ Roses on their current U.S. tour. I can't wait to see the tour. How are the shows going so far?
It is going great. Right now I am looking out the window. I am somewhere on Georgia on I- 95 I am in Savannah, I just saw a sign. We are coming from Jacksonville, Florida on our way to Greensboro, North Carolina. We have been on the road with Guns n’ Roses since June. It is November, so it is good to be the fuckin king.
Well the East Coast is gearing up for your shows next week in Portland, Maine on November 6, your solo show at The Webster Theatre in Hartford on November 7, The DCU Center on November 8 in Worcester, all leading up to the main event Madison Square Garden on November 10. Are you looking forward to the Madison Square Garden show?
Yes, it is sold out. With my old band the closest we ever got to Madison Square Garden was when we headlined the Felt Forum, which is in the same building, but it is like way, way smaller. That was in 1992. Here we are in 2006, when the tickets when on sale with Guns n’ Roses and Sebastian Bach, we sold out Madison Square Garden in a week. Meadowlands are almost sold out too. That is amazing. It is fuckin’ great. I have always known that the fans that I played to fifteen years ago, they are not all dead. I know they are out there. Rock and roll is back. That is a cool thing.
What can the fans expect to hear from your opening set this tour?
Depending on how the show is running, we go on first. The set varies from 45 minutes, last night we played one hour and ten minutes. We do all the hits of course, some new songs from my forth-coming record. I like to have surprises in the set, with lots of new music too.
Actually Sebastian, you opened for Guns n’ Roses with your old band Skid Row back on the ‘Use Your Illusion’ Tour. Well they say lightning doesn't hit twice, but here you are again having the great opportunity to be on the road and open for GNR again.
I am a lucky man. It is great for me to finally be able to really establish myself as a solo artist in the eyes of American rock fans with a gigantic arena tour. That feels really good to me.
Well Sebastian you deserve it. You are truly one of the best voices to emerge out of the 80's . So we have you and Axl Rose both on the same tour, it doesn't get much better than this.
Right on! Cool.
Will you be singing a duet with Axl on this tour?
Every night. Every single night I do a duet with him. He is my buddy. We're all friends that is for sure.
What is it like to share the stage with Axl Rose?
It's a trip. Ya know vocally it is a bit of a challenge really, to do my whole set, and then wait through Papa Roach, and then go back on and scream my ass off again. It is a lot of singing for me. But it is a good thing that I love to sing.
Do you do any special vocal techniques to keep your voice in shape for the tour?
I have a vocal instructor named Don Lawrence, he worked with Freddie Mercury, and he taught Christine Aguliera. When Axl did the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York in May, he got sick with a fever. He called me up and said "Dude I need your vocal guy." I helped him out, and he dedicated a show to me because my vocal guy really helped him when he needed some help. I do my vocal warm-ups every time that I sing, and it really makes my voice strong. If I go out there and scream without warming up, then I run the risk of straining my voice, so if I warm up properly every night, it really makes things stronger and makes it so I can go out for six months like I am now.
You were recently on Europe with Guns n' Roses. How did that leg of the tour go? Any highlights that you would like to share with us?
My solo band started the Guns n’ Roses tour in June. We started in Czechovakia. We did some headlining shows as well. We also got to play with Kiss and Alice and Chains in Japan in Osaka and Tokyo. We headlined Bulgaria, and then did the whole Guns n’ Roses UK Tour. We also played in Poland. We are just very fortunate that we do the biggest rooms in the whole world. It has been a great year for us.
How has the music industry changed since the 80's? It seems like music fans today are returning to bands like Guns n' Roses, and performers like yourself for quality music and dynamic stage shows. What are your thoughts?
Well, I always read articles in music magazines that say where are the rock stars of 2006? I am reading it and I am going dude I am right fuckin’ here what do you want? (Laughter) I have just been doing this all my life. It is a lot of fun. It is a dream comes true. I get emotional sometimes. I have had a great life, and a great career. It just keeps getting better. Our music has survived the test of time. It is amazing how much people still listen to the songs.
I think too that the fans never forgot, that you were always there for them, whether it be signing a poster, or a CD. It is really cool that you are a real person, and take time out to talk to your fans. I mean the fans have supported you since the early 90’s that are pretty cool.
I am a fan too. They know I am a rock fan. They know I won't change my direction and become punk or country, or any of that stupid crap. The way I see some of the other musicians doing.
Let's talk about your new album,” Angel Down” How is it coming along?
Well it’s not completed. I have a little more singing to do. Musically it is pretty much completed, but we are still working on some guitar solos. I have a little bit more singing to do on the record. We did record in June for three weeks with Roy Z. At this point in my career I am going to my grave trying to beat,” Slave to The Grind." Which I think is the best record I ever did. I just want to make an album that you can put in your I-pod next to the other albums I did and have it fit and make sense. Some of my favorite bands like Rush and AC/DC; they have 20 or 30 records. I got like five or six. That is what I want to do. I want to out a kick ass, fuckin hard rock sleazy, balls out rock and roll record.
Sebastian, You have managed to stay in the spotlight since the 80's. You recently appeared on the VH1 show Supergroup. Tell about that experience. Was it unnerving having he cameras in your face 24/7?
I didn't really mind having the cameras on me 24/7, except it gets annoying like when you are doing mundane boring day to day things. Like making coffee, or making a piece of toast. It is like why do you have five fuckin cameras on me when I making coffee. Who cares? (Laughter) I just look at very simply, in 1989 I was on MTV with "18 and Life", Youth Gone Wild" in 2006 it is Supergroup. The game changed, the players changed, but I am on there still. I am still in your living room. I am right there in your living room, you can get a bowl of popcorn and rock out to Sebastian Bach. That is cool. That is what they do show rockers in reality TV situations now, instead of rock videos. That is out of my control. I don't control that. But I am still on that channel; I am still in your living room that is my intention.
That is what counts. You are still in the public's eye. Sebastian you worked with a lot of great people on Supergroup. What was it like working with Ted Nugent? Is he one of your heroes?
Yes, he’s definitely one of my heroes. But I disagree with him sometimes. Like if you drink wine you are crazy and wild and out of control. I have a 93-year-old aunt who lives in California; she would drink a bottle of wine with her family every single night at dinner. Like the Italian families, the glass of wine. I don't think somebody is less of a person because of choices they make. Ted seems to think that. I always wondered why his lead singers didn’t stick around with him. Like Derek St. Holmes. Ted is really the top dog, who is not a bad thing; I mean he is Ted Fuckin’ Nugent. It is almost like there is too much testosterone up there with me. How much testosterone can you get on the stage?
I can see what you are saying. At least it must have been an interesting experience for you to work with him. Sebastian, you’re from Jersey. Do you feel that Jersey and New York are the melting pot for metal?
I really think for my career, a lot of the success has to do with the New Jersey being in close proximity to New York City. A lot of those VH1 shows that I do are because I live like 45 minutes from the studio. So they can either fly in some dude from California or say let's get Baz, he is down the street. For Broadway, I drove in and out every night and slept in my own bed, which not too many people have the chance to do. I think New York City is the epic center of the entertainment industry. New Jersey is right next store. I think that is a good thing.
So you were at the right place at the right time. What do you prefer Broadway or rock and roll?
I prefer rock and roll. I prefer Glam-metal. (Laughter)
Sebastian, you have had such an extensive career. What are some of your most memorable moments?
I think probably the highlight was when "Slave To The Grind" came out and debut on the Billboards charts at Number one. That was a highlight! (Laughter) We were the first band to debut at number one on the Billboards charts at number one since Michael Jackson. That really blew the industry away. I also remember the first time I ever got a full crowd on their feet was in Chicago, we were opening for Bon Jovi. We had been on the road for about a month in 89. People were just starting to get into Skid Row. I remember coming out in Chicago saying everybody get up, it's rock and roll. I raised my hand up, and all 20,000 people stood up. I'll never forget that.
Sebastian, Is there anything else that you would like to say to the fans about the tour?
Be prepared to stay all night possibly. It is a long night of rock and roll. Guns play a long time. Go to www.sebastianbach.com for the latest info. We will see you on tour with Guns n' Roses, Welcome to the Jungle of the Youth Gone Wild.
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