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Rachel Bolan - SKID ROW Bassist (December 2003)

Skid Row released 3 successful albums and an EP within the years 1989-1995.  You know their hits like "Youth Gone Wild", "I Remember You", "Monkey Business" and "Slave to the Grind".

After a half decade hiatus, key songwriters, Rachel Bolan and Snake Sabo, along with Scotti Hill, returned with a new lead singer and drummer to tour with the likes of Kiss, Poison and Def Leppard, as well as headlining their own shows.

In early August '03, the band released their first taste of new music, with "THICKSKIN", an excellent record filled with hard rock hooks (New Generation, Swallow Me, Lamb) and a newfound pop sensibility (Ghost, Born a Beggar, See You Around).

Here is what Rachel Bolan had to say about the past, present and future of SKID ROW!!!
 

1. Name 3 highlights from the “Atlantic Records” years?

Getting signed, going gold and getting off the label.

2. During the years between Subhuman Race and Thickskin, you had two bands, Ozone Monday and Prunella Scales.  Who was in each band with you and how did each band differ? How many shows did you do with each band?

Prunella was: L. Wood, Tommy Southard, Phil Varone and myself.

Ozone was: Scotti Hill, Snake Sabo, Shawn McCabe, Rob Affuso, Charlie Mills and myself.

PS was pure aggression and experimentation. I was the only member that knew everyone else in
the band. The other three didn’t meet until the first rehearsal. We wrote songs through the mail and
crazy shit like that. When we played it was magic. There were never four people with more different
approaches to music in one room. It was fun.

Ozone was more of a project than a band. We wrote some great songs and had some fun, but it never felt like a band.

I did about 20 shows with Prunella Scales including a Japanese tour and with Ozone Monday I did about 10 including 4 shows with KISS.

3. Sebastian Bach has said in interviews that “Skid Row didn’t get a new singer. Ozone Monday got a better name”. What are your comments on that statement?

That sounds like something desperate he would say.

    

4. At what point did you, Snake and Scotti decide to reform as Skid Row? What made you decide to continue without Sebastian or Rob Affuso?

First off, Rob is still a brother. He had a lot going on in his life when we put the band back together, so it was more important that he focus on that. We decided to get back together once we decompressed from the fallout of the first go around. Things were not fun. It became an uncreative, dysfunctional place to be. When you don’t enjoy what you do, you should do something else.

After a few years away from each other we missed it. We knew from the onset that we would get a new singer because that’s where our problem lied.

5. How did you hook up with Johnny and Phil?
We had known Phil for years and I played with him in Prunella Scales so he was an easy choice.

We found Johnny through a friend of a friend type thing. When we were looking for a singer, a friend of ours suggested that we check out his website. Well, she was right. He had audio and video.  It made things so easy. I wrote him an email, we spoke on the phone then he flew up from Texas and smoked the audition. It was that simple. If the internet was around 12 years ago he would have been here from the beginning. We are happier now than ever. It is truly a band.

6. What is the oldest and what is the newest song on “Thickskin”?

The oldest is “Born a Beggar”. It’s actually an Ozone Monday song. The newest is “New Generation”.

7. Were any of the “Thickskin” songs written or performed while Sebastian was in the band?

No.

8. Are any official singles going to be released to radio? (See you around is my personal favorite). Any videos?

No, we are letting radio decide what they want to play. Ghost seems to be the big winner. We might shoot a video for Ghost.

9. How do you feel your songwriting has changed over the years?

I’m not sure. I don’t pay attention to it. There are no regulations or borders on creating. When I write, I write from within. It’s not calculated. If I had to say anything it would be that the songwriting process as a whole has become more relaxed.

    

10. How would you compare touring on your own vs. being part of a package tour (Kiss, Poison, Def Leppard, etc.)?

Well, the obvious would be that being part of a package is more of an event. The downside is the shorter set. Playing 40 minutes sucks. When we do our own shows it’s an hour and forty five minutes. Which gives us time to let loose. You don’t have to worry about your tour manager pointing at his watch to let you know times almost up. All that said, I love playing live so if it’s only 40 minutes, I’ll take it. I love performing.

11. Your music has taken you around the world, which is very inspiring.  Do you have any stories that you'd like to share about your travels?  Where do you like to go?  How does it differ from the U.S.?

I can adapt to just about anywhere. We recently did a UK tour and we stopped in a little town in England. I think the name was The Bury of Edmund. Anyway, we went to a pub and hung out with a bunch of really cool people and partied well into the morning. We just sat around telling stories and taking the piss out of each other for our accents, it was great. That’s the kind of things I love about traveling. As far as differing from the states, people aren’t so fad oriented overseas. If they like the band they won’t write you off if you haven’t been around in a while.

12. Do you feel that being part of the 80's hard rock scene has ever held the band back from certain opportunities?

There is something I will never understand. We came out in 1989 yet we are still considered an 80’s band. We missed a lot of opportunities but I don’t think being an “80’s” band was the problem.

13. What are your thoughts on Sebastian Bach performing in musicals, in recent years? Also, how do you feel about his solo band performing Skid Row songs? Has that created a problem in touring/booking?

I don’t give a shit what he does. It doesn’t affect me one way or the other.

14. In the road reports you wrote at FoundryMusic.com, it seems as though you drank every day. Exactly how much do you drink? What effect does alcohol have on you, personally?

No, I didn’t drink everyday. And most of the time when I drink it’s not to get hammered. I’ll have a beer and a hamburger or something to that effect. But sometimes like anyone else, alcohol is part of a festivity. I shouldn’t drink Tequila. That has a bad effect on me. Otherwise I don’t like to get smashed around people I don’t know. I like to maintain. When I’ve had enough, I go to bed.

15. Write liner notes for the following 10 songs (you can choose #9 and #10).

Youth Gone Wild – Our generations flag of discontent.

I Remember You – A song I wasn’t sure would connect with anyone. I’m happy to say I was wrong.

Livin’ on a Chain Gang – This song says “ If you’re not the lead dog. You’re always looking up someone elses ass!”

Wasted Time – The biggest piece of shit we ever recorded.

Breakin’ Down – Not too fond of this song either.

Ghost – Lyrically, this song took it out of me. I was going through some heavy shit in my life and it spilled out onto the paper. I love this song. It cleansed me of a lot of demons.

Born a Beggar – I wish I could take most of the credit for this one because it’s a fucking great song, but this was Scotti’s baby. I’m really proud of him.

See You Around – Breaking up is easy, staying friends is not.

New Generation – Whether you like us or not we’re not going away!

Thick is the Skin – The first Skid Row song Snake and I wrote for “Thickskin.” We went through the fucking ceiling when we finished it.

16. How and when did you get involved in car racing (www.rachelbolanmotorsports.com)?

I’ve been a race fan since I was a kid. My brother Richie got me into it. I would race some charity stuff from time to time and really got into it. So when 600 Racing gave me the opportunity to race, I jumped on it. The rush is great. Check out www.600racing.com

17. What are your plans for Christmas and New Years? What are your plans for 2004?

For Christmas I’m going to visit my family in NJ. I’ll visit some friends in NYC as well. New Years I’m not sure yet. I might go visit friends in Nashville. 2004 will bring more touring of the states as well as Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Canada, Europe and possibly South America and Australia.

I just want to add a big THANK YOU to all the true believers in Skid Row. Thanks for being there, thanks for all the support through thick and thin. It does not go unnoticed. Have a safe and happy holiday. We’ll see you next year.

Check Out Skid Row "Thickskin"

www.skidrow.com (official site)

www.skidrowfans.com (fan site)