SKID ROW: Rachel/Snake on GRÖNWALL's Motives

[Zabooka]

When host Chris Akin noted that Erik's explanation for exiting SKID ROW sounded a little "fishy" to him and other SKID ROW fans in light of the fact that Grönwall had immediately announced that he was releasing his autobiography and was planning to go on tour with Michael Schenker in 2025.

Rachel said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I'll put it this way: we understand exactly what you're saying. And I'd be a liar if I said sometimes I don't feel the same way. We were told exactly what he announced to the rest of the world via his YouTube channel. That's exactly what we were told. That's exactly what he sent in a text to Snake. I'm not gonna sit here and shit talk the guy because it's not gonna do anything. But we had a really, really, really good thing going, and we're here now."

Bolan continued: "You're not the first person to say this to any of us. We've all been DMed and a lot of fans thought think the same thing, and, like I said, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I thought the same thing at times, but we're just going by what he told to us."


Bolan and Sabo also touched upon the fact that Grönwall recently released a demo version of a song called "Can't Kill What's Dead" which Erik said he co-wrote with his producer Jona Tee for possible inclusion on a new SKID ROW album while he was still in the band.

"Yeah, I heard the song for the first time in [Erik's October 2024] post," Rachel said. "So I'm not even sure what he was talking about."

After Akin clarified that Erik said "Can't Kill What's Dead" was one of three songs Grönwall co-wrote with Tee for potential inclusion on a new SKID ROW album, Rachel said: "That's creative wording. That's for sure."

Added Snake: "That's news to us. I mean, I guess we would have to play on it for it to be on a SKID ROW record."

Rachel continued: "Yeah, I saw the post and I was, like, 'Huh. Okay.' I was as confused as everyone else. I'm, like, 'Okay.'"

LINK: https://blabbermouth.net/news/skid-rows ... -departure

[Rocker4Real]

They're trying not to call Erik a liar.

[SexxAtraxxion]

Snake and Rachel are the problem here, they’ve never created a welcoming environment for any of the new singers. Grönwall has faced serious health challenges but has worked tirelessly to try to keep the band on track.

This just proves that Sebastian was right about those guys.

[FreddyFender]

I mean ultimately it sounds like Erik made an excuse for quitting (health) instead of just coming out and saying "Hey this isn't working out like I thought it would. Good luck to you."

It isn't some scandal in the grander scheme of things.

Snake and Bolan fired their last singer and put a lot of effort into bringing Gronwall into the band, but that's a risk they decided to take.

It's kind of like when Rob quit Anthrax to join Volbeat and gave the a BS reason instead of just telling them he was jumping ship. He quit - it doesn't really matter why.

[Wednesday 13 Fan]

If that's the case, Erik is going to have one hell of a wake up call. He was known because he was in Skid Row...now he isn't.

I personally don't think that is the case, but he's just as screwed as the Skid Row guys are now.

[Anthrax442]

If that's the case, Erik is going to have one hell of a wake up call. He was known because he was in Skid Row...now he isn't.

I personally don't think that is the case, but he's just as screwed as the Skid Row guys are now.

He'll be just fine sticking to touring Europe, like he had before with H.E.A.T.

Schenker is a good gig for getting his name out there for other bands that might be looking at singers. If his health holds up, he could be the next Ronnie Romero.

[Rocker4Real]

The free casino buffets weren't worth the 12 hour flights.

[HoldenSSV]

Aren't Snake and Sabo the same fucking person?

[Zabooka]

Aren't Snake and Sabo the same fucking person?

Hahaha oops. I'll fix that.

[Hair I Go Again]

Not all tours are created equal.

The Schenker tour is 13 shows over three weeks in countries that are a quick flight away from Gronwall's home country of Sweden (and more importantly, access to health care). Plus, if something happens to him, Schenker can find another singer. No harm done.

Last fall, Skid Row did 16 shows over 3.5 weeks and was scheduled to do 14 more starting a week and a half later (guessing Gronwall would have had to fly back to Sweden in between), but the latter batch of shows had to be postponed because of Gronwall's health issues. Lzzy's four shows notwithstanding, they couldn't just go out and find someone else to fill in. If he goes down for whatever reason, he's the bad guy -- to fans, to the crew, to the band, to everyone.

Looking at setlist.fm, the band played 128 shows in 2022/2023, which was the band's highest two-year total since 2014/2015. Lots of the 2022 shows were weekend warrior-style, which would have also entailed lots of traveling back and forth from one continent to the other. Guessing that's not easy when you're immunocompromised. You can say all day long that if that's the gig, Gronwall should have known better than to sign up for it, but I honestly don't think anyone in their camp (himself included) had any idea that he would be so well-received and that the band would have a mild resurgence. In other words, the gig kept growing -- see the Buckcherry tour growing from one leg to four -- but he unfortunately wasn't able to grow with it.

TL; DR = it's a bummer it didn't work out, and it's a bummer that this will surely be the first volley in a shit-talk circle jerk that will make both sides look bad.

[ParaDime77]

Since Bach’s ejection, the only thing Snake/Rachel have done with this band is sabotage it on repeat. 5 lead singers and 2 common denominator’s.

[Playboyliquor59]

Why wouldn’t he get a place in the states knowing very well the way skid row plays shows? I’m sure after the honey moon phase was over he realized going back and forth with a band who plays weekends and random shows was never going to work logistically or financially. Skid row should have also thought of this before taking him on.

[Anthrax442]

TL; DR = it's a bummer it didn't work out, and it's a bummer that this will surely be the first volley in a shit-talk circle jerk that will make both sides look bad.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but they're walking a fine line here by even discussing the situation, when they should be moving on with whomever their next singer is, and doing press based on that. There's zero benefit in them going on a show and answering questions about a guy who was only in the band for two years.

Hell, ZP was in the band for SIX years, and had sang on three of the songs for Gang's All Here when they fired him, and they didn't really say much about all that, other than that things didn't work out. I guess the difference is Erik has gone public with a few things, including whatever's in that book, so they've felt like they needed to respond, but I'd still just move the fuck on. They don't need to get into public bitchfights with two ex lead singers.

[Wednesday 13 Fan]

Why wouldn’t he get a place in the states knowing very well the way skid row plays shows? I’m sure after the honey moon phase was over he realized going back and forth with a band who plays weekends and random shows was never going to work logistically or financially. Skid row should have also thought of this before taking him on.

Probably because if some medical thing happened to him, he'd be screwed.

[PBFSUCKS]

[quote=Playboyliquor59 post_id=7803542 time=<a href="tel:1731029996">1731029996</a> user_id=496592]
Why wouldn’t he get a place in the states knowing very well the way skid row plays shows? I’m sure after the honey moon phase was over he realized going back and forth with a band who plays weekends and random shows was never going to work logistically or financially. Skid row should have also thought of this before taking him on.

Probably because if some medical thing happened to him, he'd be screwed.
[/quote]

That and I’m guessing that Skid Row isn’t paying “get a second place in the states” type of money to a replacement singer.

[Black Stuff]

Why wouldn’t he get a place in the states knowing very well the way skid row plays shows? I’m sure after the honey moon phase was over he realized going back and forth with a band who plays weekends and random shows was never going to work logistically or financially. Skid row should have also thought of this before taking him on.

was thinking the same thing. Easy to do