Sebastian Bach's metal mentality

• By MICHAEL FARRAR
• Special to 2theadvocate.com
• Published: Jul 23, 2008 - UPDATED: 9:22 p.m

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Sebastian Bach wants you to know that Skid Row was 20 years ago and he has moved on. While the singer still proudly plays the band's hits like "I Remember You" and "18 and Life," Bach is not stuck in the past, so don't look for a Skid Row reunion.

"I have a great solo CD out called ‘Angel Down.’” Bach said. “We've sold about 100,000 copies worldwide, which in 2008 is a great number but compared to my sales of Skid Row, I got a lot of promotion to do, because you know, we sold over 22 million copies."

Bach was just a teen himself when the unknown band picked him as their lead singer. Skid Row soon found themselves living the rock star life.

"The reason the song, "Youth Gone Wild" was such a big hit and kind of touched that whole generation was because I really was a youth gone wild. There was no joking around about that!" Bach said.

So what can fans expect at today's Sebastian Bach live show?

"They can expect the best of the new songs and the best of the old songs. I love making new CDs, I love making new music," Bach said.

But he gets the fact that he is the actual poster boy for late ’80s hair bands.

Still, there are rumors that Bach might join the metal group Velvet Revolver now that their lead singer, Scott Weiland, left to rejoin his old band, the Stone Temple Pilots. It's really a metal soap opera, since Velvet Revolver is primarily made of former Guns N Roses members who left that supergroup rather than deal with G.N.R. front man Axl Rose. Bach and Rose are actually good pals, but will that last? Even Bach can't be sure.

"I've always asked myself why (Axl Rose) is so nice to me, because he doesn't open himself up to so many people. I am one of the very few that he allows in his world, and he's a good friend of mine. We'll stay up all night after a show, drinking and talking," Bach said.

Rose even sang on three tracks of Bach’s "Angel Down" CD, and Bach returned the favor by singing parts on Guns N Roses' still-not-released "Chinese Democracy" CD. Despite the fact that Bach is rock star status himself, he recognizes that Rose's star is in orbit far above his.

"I am totally not on his level of fame. I have walked down the street with him, and it's just unbelievable what he has to go through to be who he is. Walking around in public is almost a joke. It's almost not even an option. It's incredible to see, and it must be real heard to deal with, that level of fame," Bach said.

One big surprise to Bach was how video games are helping bring back his brand of metal.

"Since Guitar Hero came out, little kids love rock. My song "18 and Life" by Skid Row is in that game. So, that's led to kids getting into the music," he said.