SEBASTIAN BACH: I Am ‘One Of The Last’ Musicians Who Are Still Not Using Pre-Recorded Tracks At Live Shows

Sebastian Bach

In a recent interview with Consequence Of Sound, former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach talked about the artists who use pre-recorded tracks at their live shows, saying that “it’s becoming very rare” to see bands “not miming or doing silly moves while a tape is running.”

He said: “I don’t know how much longer I can say to you that I don’t use tapes onstage, because I don’t, and I never have. And I still don’t. I’m not going to for this tour. I feel like I’m one of the last people. When I have opening bands, and they’re using tapes, and then I come out and I don’t use tapes… sometimes, it makes me feel stupid, because I’m like, ‘What am I doing, when all these kids half my age can come onstage and do all of my moves, but they don’t have to warm up for an hour before the show, or weeks, before the first show?’ Sometimes, I’m like, ‘Why do I even bother, if the public is so used to this other way’?”

Bach continued: “I just did this cruise, called the Legends Of Rock cruise, and there were all older bands — like KANSAS and Edgar Winter. These guys come onstage and destroy you with their musicality. None of these bands on this cruise used tapes. And KANSAS, I was hanging out with that dude with the eyepatch [guitarist Rich Williams], and he said, ‘I tell people, ‘Come see this while it still exists,” because it’s becoming very rare to come see a good band that’s actually a real band — that’s not miming or doing silly moves while a tape is running. It just becomes more rare as the years go on.”

He added: “I’m very happy to say that this tour that we’re doing, we’re going to attempt — our best, as human beings — to play the record in its entirety. And my band is Bobby Jarzombekon drums, who I’ve been with since 2004, from FATES WARNING and HALFORD, and then Rob De Luca on bass from UFO, and [guitarist] Brent Woods from VINCE NEIL and CHEVY METAL. I’ve had these guys for a long, long time, so you’re not getting some new surprise. ‘Surprise, surprise, I bought a ticket… what the f*ck is this?’ [Laughs] You know what you’re getting with me. It’s like Coca-Cola.”

Asked why he thinks artists using pre-recorded tracks live seems much more prevalent nowadays, Bach said: “Because everybody films everything on their phones, and then posts it all. That’s the reason. Nobody wants to jump around too much and then hit a bad note, and then have it be posted on the internet, and people say, ‘He’s not singing it like the record.’ Well, nobody is jumping around when they’re on the record. So, you can either freeze or sit in a chair — that’s how you make a record — and if you want to do that, it’s going to be a pretty boring show.

He went on to say: “Most performers say, ‘Singing is too hard.’ I’m not from that school. I’ve done four Broadway shows — I don’t transpose the keys down; I can still hit all the notes. I might not hit them all just like the record on any given night. I might not be as good as I once was… but I’m good once as I ever was. [Laughs]”

Bach will celebrate the 30th anniversary of SKID ROW’s acclaimed, self-titled breakout debut album with a U.S. Tour where he’ll be performing the record in its entirety plus other songs from his celebrated catalog.

The tour will kick off in Nashville, TN on August 30th and will end in Pinellas Park, FL on November 2nd. Tickets and VIP Meet N’ Greet upgrades go on sale Friday, June 7th at this location.

In a statement from Bach: “In 1989 we put out the first record Skid Row. 30 years later, people still dig the music we created in a garage all those years ago. In commemoration of this 30th Anniversary digital deluxe release, my band is going to perform the first SKID ROW record, in its entirety, on the road, LIVE this fall!

“It’s going to be fun to do something that has never been done live before! We are looking forward to seeing you all for this one time event! Note: This concert is 100% live in every way! All real! All the time! No tapes! No fakes! Come and see a real rock band while they still exist! We give it to you straight from the heart ‘cuz that’s the only way we know how! See you on the road!”

Released in the winter of 1989, SKID ROW’s self-titled record is one of heavy rock’s most successful debut albums, landing in Billboard’s Top 10 and going on to sell millions of copies around the world. 

The record transformed the band from local New Jersey quintet into a global phenomenon whose rebellious attitude and jaw-dropping talent set the bar and tone for rock music in the late 80’s and early 90’s. SKID ROW’ssingles, “18 and Life,” “Youth Gone Wild” and “I Remember You,” are among the decade’s most recognizable rock anthems that still receive heavy airplay on radio stations across the country.

The group again achieved commercial success with its second record Slave to the Grind (1991) certified multi-platinum, reaching number one on the Billboard 200.