Biography
Sebastian Bach first rose to prominence in the late 1980s as the lead singer of the multiplatinum heavy metal outfit Skid Row, and over the span of his long career he has also built a reputation as an actor and television personality. Departing the group during the mid-nineties, he carried his forceful singing approach and outsized stage presence into his 1999 solo debut Bring 'Em Bach Alive, qualities that likewise suited him for the Broadway stage in productions of Jekyll & Hyde and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Beginning in the 2000s he has interwoven appearances on reality programs, recurring parts in series such as Gilmore Girls and Californication, and film roles including Rock of Ages with ongoing musical releases. Works like 2007's Angel Down earned acclaim for their catchier, more aggressive, and enjoyable character compared with his earlier band output, while 2014's Give 'Em Hell and 2024's Child Within the Man displayed a streamlined intensity that paid tribute to his origins and confirmed his continued standing in rock during the twenty-first century.
Raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Bach drew motivation from hearing his mother and aunt perform around the house. He launched his professional path at a young age, successfully trying out for the regional band Kid Wikkid at fourteen. His performance at the wedding of rock photographer Mark Weiss drew the notice of Jon Bon Jovi's parents, who suggested he contact Dave "The Snake" Sabo, the onetime Bon Jovi guitarist whose band Skid Row required a fresh vocalist. After listening to the group's demo recordings, Bach traveled to New Jersey for an audition and joined Skid Row as its singer in early 1987.
Atlantic signed the act, which delivered its self-titled debut album in 1989. An opening position on Bon Jovi's U.S. trek, paired with extensive MTV rotation of the clip for "Youth Gone Wild," propelled the band to fame: the singles "18 and Life" and "I Remember You" both entered the Top Ten, and Skid Row ultimately earned multiple-times platinum certification. Bach's wildman image rapidly positioned him as the central point of fan and press focus. The band's follow-up, 1991's Slave to the Grind, entered at number one, a feat never before achieved by a metal act. Although it produced no major radio successes, Grind garnered stronger critical response and later attained platinum status. Skid Row then paused before resurfacing with the harder-edged 1995 Top 40 release Subhuman Race.
After the Subhuman Race tour the group split, prompting Bach to form the Last Hard Men alongside Smashing Pumpkins' Jimmy Chamberlin, the Frogs' Jimmy Flemion, and the Breeders' Kelley Deal in 1996. The ensemble cut an album's worth of material, among them a version of Alice Cooper's "School's Out," which surfaced on the original soundtrack for the film Scream. The Last Hard Men's self-titled record appeared on Deal's Nice Records imprint in 1998 (later reissued by Spitfire in 2001 with extra tracks), yet by then Bach had already begun his solo endeavors. He introduced himself with November 1999's Bring 'Em Bach Alive, a set blending live interpretations of Skid Row numbers with studio cuts such as the singles "Superjerk, Superstar, Supertears" and "Rock 'N' Roll." Around the same period he entered acting with roles in the films Final Rinse (1999) and Point Doom (2000). He also took to the Broadway stage, debuting in April 2000 by portraying both title characters in Jekyll & Hyde and appearing as Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 2001. That same year he performed at the 9/11 benefit concert New York Steel and released Bach 2 Basics, a compilation of covers drawn from foundational artists including Kiss, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Ozzy Osbourne.
During the early 2000s Bach expanded into television work. In 2002, while performing in the national touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar, he became host of VH-1's hard rock series Forever Wild (a 2004 DVD of the same title compiled segments from the program along with a 1998 Whisky A Go-Go concert). He began his recurring Gilmore Girls role as Gil, guitarist for Lane Kim's band Hep Alien, in 2003, and appeared on the VH1 program I Married … in 2004. The next year he contributed vocals to Frameshift's album Absence of Empathy, and in 2006 he joined Guns N' Roses onstage for several dates of their world tour to perform "My Michelle." Also in 2006 Bach starred in the VH-1 reality series Supergroup, which followed the band Damocracy—formed by Bach, Ted Nugent, Jason Bonham, and Evan Seinfeld—as its members resided together in a Las Vegas mansion and created music. He resumed his solo work with November 2007's Angel Down. His first studio album under his own name, it reached the top of the Billboard Heatseekers chart and included Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose on three tracks. He further competed on MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar, delivering Onyx's "Slam" during the series. In 2008 Bach again collaborated with Guns N' Roses, supplying backing vocals on Chinese Democracy. That year he also toured with Poison and Dokken and won Gone Country 2, the second season of CMT's country-oriented celebrity reality competition hosted by Big & Rich's John Rich.
As the 2000s drew to a close Bach stayed active across multiple fields. In addition to issuing the EP Finding My Way in 2009, he joined Guns N' Roses on the Chinese Democracy tour and made an uncredited appearance in Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day. The following year he voiced Prince Triton, the defiant son of King Neptune, in an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. September 2011 brought the release of Kicking & Screaming. Produced by Bob Marlette and featuring guitarist John 5, the hard-hitting collection reached number six on the U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums chart; a deluxe edition with bonus DVD was also made available. In 2012 Bach appeared in a cameo in the film Rock of Ages and in an episode of Californication. He further joined the all-star band Big Noize as lead singer for its Kavarna Rock Festival date and the 2013 South American tour. Alongside turns in the TV film Yukon Kornelius and the live album Abachalypse Now, he returned to the studio with Marlette and John 5 to create April 2014's Give 'Em Hell. Featuring additional contributions from Duff McKagan and Steve Stevens, the album climbed to number three on the U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums chart and received favorable notices. While touring behind the record Bach also appeared in episodes of Trailer Park Boys and in Swearnet: The Movie. In 2016 he reprised his Gilmore Girls character and issued his memoir, 18 and Life. After an uncredited role in 2017's American Satan, Bach embarked on a 2019 tour performing Skid Row's debut album in full to mark the thirtieth anniversary of its release. In similar fashion he played the band's second album, Slave to the Grind, in its entirety during his 2021 live dates. In 2023 Bach participated in season ten of the popular top-secret vocal competition The Masked Singer and issued his first new single in a decade, "What Do I Got to Lose." The track appeared on the full-length Child Within the Man the following year.
Raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Bach drew motivation from hearing his mother and aunt perform around the house. He launched his professional path at a young age, successfully trying out for the regional band Kid Wikkid at fourteen. His performance at the wedding of rock photographer Mark Weiss drew the notice of Jon Bon Jovi's parents, who suggested he contact Dave "The Snake" Sabo, the onetime Bon Jovi guitarist whose band Skid Row required a fresh vocalist. After listening to the group's demo recordings, Bach traveled to New Jersey for an audition and joined Skid Row as its singer in early 1987.
Atlantic signed the act, which delivered its self-titled debut album in 1989. An opening position on Bon Jovi's U.S. trek, paired with extensive MTV rotation of the clip for "Youth Gone Wild," propelled the band to fame: the singles "18 and Life" and "I Remember You" both entered the Top Ten, and Skid Row ultimately earned multiple-times platinum certification. Bach's wildman image rapidly positioned him as the central point of fan and press focus. The band's follow-up, 1991's Slave to the Grind, entered at number one, a feat never before achieved by a metal act. Although it produced no major radio successes, Grind garnered stronger critical response and later attained platinum status. Skid Row then paused before resurfacing with the harder-edged 1995 Top 40 release Subhuman Race.
After the Subhuman Race tour the group split, prompting Bach to form the Last Hard Men alongside Smashing Pumpkins' Jimmy Chamberlin, the Frogs' Jimmy Flemion, and the Breeders' Kelley Deal in 1996. The ensemble cut an album's worth of material, among them a version of Alice Cooper's "School's Out," which surfaced on the original soundtrack for the film Scream. The Last Hard Men's self-titled record appeared on Deal's Nice Records imprint in 1998 (later reissued by Spitfire in 2001 with extra tracks), yet by then Bach had already begun his solo endeavors. He introduced himself with November 1999's Bring 'Em Bach Alive, a set blending live interpretations of Skid Row numbers with studio cuts such as the singles "Superjerk, Superstar, Supertears" and "Rock 'N' Roll." Around the same period he entered acting with roles in the films Final Rinse (1999) and Point Doom (2000). He also took to the Broadway stage, debuting in April 2000 by portraying both title characters in Jekyll & Hyde and appearing as Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 2001. That same year he performed at the 9/11 benefit concert New York Steel and released Bach 2 Basics, a compilation of covers drawn from foundational artists including Kiss, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Ozzy Osbourne.
During the early 2000s Bach expanded into television work. In 2002, while performing in the national touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar, he became host of VH-1's hard rock series Forever Wild (a 2004 DVD of the same title compiled segments from the program along with a 1998 Whisky A Go-Go concert). He began his recurring Gilmore Girls role as Gil, guitarist for Lane Kim's band Hep Alien, in 2003, and appeared on the VH1 program I Married … in 2004. The next year he contributed vocals to Frameshift's album Absence of Empathy, and in 2006 he joined Guns N' Roses onstage for several dates of their world tour to perform "My Michelle." Also in 2006 Bach starred in the VH-1 reality series Supergroup, which followed the band Damocracy—formed by Bach, Ted Nugent, Jason Bonham, and Evan Seinfeld—as its members resided together in a Las Vegas mansion and created music. He resumed his solo work with November 2007's Angel Down. His first studio album under his own name, it reached the top of the Billboard Heatseekers chart and included Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose on three tracks. He further competed on MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar, delivering Onyx's "Slam" during the series. In 2008 Bach again collaborated with Guns N' Roses, supplying backing vocals on Chinese Democracy. That year he also toured with Poison and Dokken and won Gone Country 2, the second season of CMT's country-oriented celebrity reality competition hosted by Big & Rich's John Rich.
As the 2000s drew to a close Bach stayed active across multiple fields. In addition to issuing the EP Finding My Way in 2009, he joined Guns N' Roses on the Chinese Democracy tour and made an uncredited appearance in Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day. The following year he voiced Prince Triton, the defiant son of King Neptune, in an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. September 2011 brought the release of Kicking & Screaming. Produced by Bob Marlette and featuring guitarist John 5, the hard-hitting collection reached number six on the U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums chart; a deluxe edition with bonus DVD was also made available. In 2012 Bach appeared in a cameo in the film Rock of Ages and in an episode of Californication. He further joined the all-star band Big Noize as lead singer for its Kavarna Rock Festival date and the 2013 South American tour. Alongside turns in the TV film Yukon Kornelius and the live album Abachalypse Now, he returned to the studio with Marlette and John 5 to create April 2014's Give 'Em Hell. Featuring additional contributions from Duff McKagan and Steve Stevens, the album climbed to number three on the U.S. Top Hard Rock Albums chart and received favorable notices. While touring behind the record Bach also appeared in episodes of Trailer Park Boys and in Swearnet: The Movie. In 2016 he reprised his Gilmore Girls character and issued his memoir, 18 and Life. After an uncredited role in 2017's American Satan, Bach embarked on a 2019 tour performing Skid Row's debut album in full to mark the thirtieth anniversary of its release. In similar fashion he played the band's second album, Slave to the Grind, in its entirety during his 2021 live dates. In 2023 Bach participated in season ten of the popular top-secret vocal competition The Masked Singer and issued his first new single in a decade, "What Do I Got to Lose." The track appeared on the full-length Child Within the Man the following year.
Albums
Child Within The Man
2024
Give 'Em Hell
2014
Monster Mayer & CO.
2014
Monstermäßige Abenteuer
2013
Abachalypse Now
2013
Kicking & Screaming
2011
Finding My Way
2009
Past Talk
2007
Angel Down
2007
Singles
