Skid Row
Press Conference

10.05.2011

Legendary U.S. glam rockers (or heavy metallers – depending on what album you take into account) Skid Row have a special status in Russia. For dozens of thousands of people who visited the Moscow International Peace Festival back in 1989 this band is a synonym to their reckless youth. It took Skid Row 21 years to get back to this country, and the line-up that played at Club PiPL this time was far from classic, but the fact that many of the visitors were not even born at the time when “Skids” rocked the stage of Luzhniki Stadium, proves that the band is still relevant today. The day after the show Skid Row attended a press conference where they answered all the questions that Russian reporters could come up with. The most interesting moments of the chat are available for you below.

First of all I would like to ask you about yesterday’s show. What was your impression of it?

Dave “Snake” Sabo (guitar): A great enthusiastic crowd. We had a really great time, really enjoyed it. It’s my impression.
Rachel Bolan (bass): People are awesome. Everyone there was fantastic. After being gone for such a long time it’s really exciting to be back here. To see people singing your songs here in Russia is pretty incredible.

Can you compare the city that you saw 20 years ago and what you saw yesterday?

Rachel: Traffic. (everybody laughs)
Dave: It’s a beautiful city and it’s very colorful and exciting, billboards… Traffic. (laughs)

Why didn’t you play any songs from the album “Revolutions Per Minute” (2006) yesterday?

(Everybody looks at Rachel Bolan and laughs).
Rachel: You’re right, we didn’t! I forgot! We usually play what’s in the setlist, like robots. (everybody laughs) We have to play only what is in there.

Actually all of us are waiting for a new Skid Row album. What’s going on with it?

Dave: We have few songs so far, but they are pretty exciting. We have such a great atmosphere among five of us. We have so much fun to be able to get back to our background, to that writing philosophy, telling stories again. We are looking forward to people’s reaction, I think everybody will be happy with the new stuff.

Dave, you used to play with Jon Bon Jovi…

Dave: Oh my god! I was a child!

Do you have any good memories from this period?

Dave: No. Probably the best memory for me was the moment I was fired. (everybody laughs)

Do you have some memories about the Moscow International Peace Festival in 1989?

Dave: We actually saw hotel Ukraine and it was unbelievable to be here. We had such a great time with all of our friends and all these bands… Some of them were here for the first time. But my favorite memory is Ozzy with a bottle on the plane. It was supposed to be no alcohol on the plane, but we also had a bottle. So, it was a lot of fun to hang out for five days.
Scotti Hill (guitar): Well, Snake, Rachel and I worked in a music shop the year before. Our lives changed so fast… We heard about these bands when we were kids and here we are in Moscow with the greatest bands in the world. A Really cool experience.
Dave: That time was unbelievable. We were doing interviews that were broadcasted in 80 countries. And as Scotty said, the year before we worked in a music shop. So, for 23-old kids from New Jersey it was like a dream come true. And I just remember before we went on the lighting of the Olympic torch. I really was blown away by that. We were playing on an Olympic stadium, it was fucking crazy! 75,000 people behind you! I still can’t realize that!

Talking about the Moscow Peace Festival, there were some rumors that Doc McGhee wanted to do the second part of it in Moscow the following year. Have you heard anything about it?

Rachel: Yeah.

Were you invited to this festival?

Rachel: No, I heard about it, but we were not invited. (laughs). I am sure we would be, but it was just talking.

A question to Johnny Solinger (vocals): three years ago you released a country music album. Tell us about that experience.

Johnny: Oh, well. I am from Texas and I grew up listening to both hard rock and country. At parties was common to hear AC/DC and Jonny Cash back to back. So we had some time off, and I had an opportunity and I took it. Before that we were working quite a lot, so it was a nice side project to go and do it.

You got a conflict with your ex-drummer Phil Varone about the Skid Row brand. What was the reason of this conflict?

Dave: It was about that we felt the misuse of our band’s name. We took that name in 1986 and we pride with it and we felt the same all that time. It was being misused, damaging what took so long to build. So we settled it. (smiles)

Rachel, are you going to continue your side project called Prunella Scales?

Rachel: Prunella Scales always stay there. If I have more than two weeks off, I try to be with them. I always have a lot of side projects, but my priority is Skid Row. In January after the holidays we will start to compose some new songs with Prunella Scales.

Do you still race? (Rachel is a big fan of racing)

Rachel: Yeah. Time after time I race, if I have a chance. That is a passion of mine. When I was a kid I always loved racing, I used go on track with my big brother and we had a lot of fun. When I’ve got a chance, on a weekend I and couple of my friends go out and race.
Sabo: By the way this is our new drummer Rob Hammersmith, a new member of the band.
Rob: Heeey!
Sabo: He’s actually joined the band when we were on the road.

Just a while ago you split up with your previous drummer Dave Gara. Why did that happen? And how did you managed to find Rob?

Dave: Dave has to take care of his life.
Rachel: I have known Rob from a band he played before Skid Row (Rockets To Ruin). I produced their record (“Love Drugs Rebellion”, 2006) and Rob and I became friends.
Dave: So, after Dave’s departure, Rob was the first candidate.

OK, a question to Rob: What did you feel when you were invited to Skid Row?

Rob: It’s an honor. It’s an honor to be in such band with such fans. I worked with Rachel Bolan and he is one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever worked with. So, I am lucky.

Some time ago, you guys were endorsers of Kramer guitars. What about now?

Scotti: I play now the guitar I built from different parts. I ordered them in a company called Warman (they specialize in different guitar parts – ed.). I ordered it about five years ago. I order the neck, the order body, make it together and play it. So, this way I got what I wanted. The old stuff we sometimes we play on our guitars of that time, Snake’s still doing it.

Dave, do you have your old Kramer with you?

Dave: No, unfortunately it is back home. Mine is the guitar that was built for us by one of our old guitar technicians Chris Hofschneider, a Black Hawk guitar. I started using them since “Slave To The Grind” (1991) and I still use them.
Rachel: I still play my Spectors. They make both guitars and bass guitars. I am still with them, since 1988.

What do you think about festivals like Rocklahoma that gather together old bands? What do you think about old school rock as a genre?. Will it survive?

Dave: In States it may be in resurgence. These festivals are great. You know, old school rockers bring there their kids and they get into this music. Like it was with me, because of my father. And these kids bring their friends.
Johnny: There were little kids yesterday too. It blew my mind, really cool.
Rachel: In States there were very few festivals several years ago, but now there are a lot. It’s good. Good for the genre, good for a lot of bands.

What is more interesting for you: to play with your old friends (I mean bands) or with new ones?

Dave: For me both, because I love to hear that young kids still do really good rock music. I think it’s really important. This music never goes away, whether it was in top charts or in the underground. So it’s great to hear when young bands carry on your traditions. It’s an entertainment thing, music make you feel good. You can get away from normal everyday life.
Rachel: It blows my mind when you see a band - like it was on one festival, Lamb Of God was playing and the guitar player came up and said, “I am the biggest Skid Row fan”. If you are a Skid Row fan, why do you do this? (imitates a typical Lamb Of God guitar riff). It’s a good feeling that you know that you inspired someone. We have new bands come out and sometimes we see some talented young bands and take them for a few more shows. It’s a new generation, so we help them somehow. We are fortunate enough to live by our songs. Every night we see people singing these songs. We thank God for that, it’s amazing.
Johnny: For example, yesterday we had a great time. We flew from the States and were a bit tired, but when you see the right crowd it’s like an injection.

Looking back what your band can say about your career as a rock star?

Rachel: It doesn’t suck! (everybody laughs) Really cool! You don’t have to wake up early.
Dave: We highly recommend it! (laughs) When we started the band, our goals were to stay for a really long time, and in fact we are still doing it 21 years later, 24 years already. It is amazing.

What does a world tour mean to you?

Johnny: The more you go on tour the smaller the world becomes. Like Scotti said, today we play a show here, tomorrow we will go to Wales to play a show, then two shows in Italy, then fly home.

Are there any places still left for Skid Row to play?

Johnny: I will tell you. Last year we went to China, it was the first show for the band there. And I still haven’t been to Japan and I would like to go.
Rachel: And Portugal either.
Johnny: We also haven’t played in Alaska, because it’s cold. Like in Moscow maybe. I am from Texas and I have never felt such cold before. I realized that I need a big coat.

Do you like it?

Johhny: Do I like it? (surprised) Of course! Oh, the cold? Oh, hell no.

You haven’t seen other parts of Russia, it is very huge…

Rachel: Yes. We’d love to go to St. Petersburg. It’s a beautiful city.

How do you know?

Rachel: I was in Russia with a band I manage. And I like it so much, architecture is great.

Skid Row on the Internet: http://www.skidrow.com

Special thanks to SM-Media for accreditation at the press conference

Typing and editing by Sergei “BoBr” Bobrik
Photos by Andrei Kolesnikov
December 2, 2010
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