Born Sebastian Bierk and raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Sebastian Bach's music career began at the tender age of 14 when he joined a local hard rock band by the name of Kid Wikkid in 1983. However, that band would only last until 1985, and after they split Bierk began singing wherever he could, and in 1987, that took him to rock photographer Mark Weiss's wedding. Also attending the wedding were members of the New Jersey glam metal band Skid Row, whose singer had recently left the band. They were all impressed with the 18 year old up on stage, and shortly after the wedding, they asked Bach to join the band, which he gladly accepted. Skid Row went on to become the last truly enormous glam metal band before grunge arrived and shut it all down, with their self-titled debut album going five times Platinum within months of its release.
Of course, Skid Row wouldn't have been a true glam metal band without inner tension and pettiness, and it all came to a head in 1996, when Bach booked a show for the band opening for KISS. The other band members resented this, claiming that the band were too big to open for anyone, and the resulting arguments lead to Bach leaving the band in the same year. Ever since then, Bach has succeeded in everything he's tried his hand at, from his solo career which began in 1999, a Broadway career which began a year later in the title role of Jekyll And Hyde and a screen acting career that's seen him show up in everything from The Trailer Park Boys to Spongebob Squarepants. He's one of heavy metal's great survivors, and thirty years after his first foray into rock music, he still comes highly recommended.
Lita Ford joined a rock band called The Runaways in the mid to late 1970s as a lead guitarist and was partly responsible for the bands signature sound. Unfortunately, the band broke up in April 1979, and Ford decided to pursue a solo career.
Ford released her debut full-length studio album entitled “Out for Blood” but unfortunately didn’t chart, however her sophomore album, “Dancin’ on the Edge” managed to achieve a little success at least charting in the Top 100 of the UK and the US, and even a Grammy Award nomination.
It was Ford’s third album that secured her place in rock history, which was simply just called “Lita”. The album was released on February 2nd 1988 and featured a collaborative single with Ozzy Osbourne on the song “Close My Eyes Forever” thanks to Sharon Osbourne being her manager at the time. The album reached number 29 on the Billboard 200, whilst the single managed to reach number 8 on the Hot 100. “Kiss Me Deadly”, also from the album managed number 12 on the Hot 100. The album was later certified Platinum by the RIAA.
On May 15th 1990, Ford released the album “Stiletto” which was recorded in New York City. It featured the single “Hungry” which reached number 14 in the US Mainstream Rock Charts, and number 63 in the UK. The album managed to reach number 52 in the Billboard 200. Following this album came “Dangerous Curves” which was released on November 12th 1991. This album produced the single “Shot of Poison” which was nominated for a Grammy Award for ‘Best Female Rock Vocal Performance’ in 1993. Ford released a greatest hits compilation in 1992, which included some of her biggest singles to date and on Valentine’s Day in 1995; she released an album called “Black” which took her music in a completely different direction inviting influences from Blues and Grunge.
Ford didn’t release another album until “Wicked Wonderland” in October 2nd 2009. The album reached number 38 in the US Independent Chart.
I had the pleasure of attending The Sebastian Bach show at the Islington O2 last night. Having been a fan for over 20 years I wasn't sure he could cut it live after all these years. Well I was wrong even though he had done eleven shows in twelve days he was still going strong full of energy and a great show man with witty banter throughout the set that included plenty of Skid Row fan favorites. Sebastians vocals aren't as strong as they were two decades ago but the crowd had no problem helping out at times with a few of the classics. At one point he even joked that Axl Rose was coming out to do a song with him. I had the opportunity of meeting him after the show for an interview before he and the band headed off to Germany. Obviously fatigued he was in good spirits (possibly due to the huge coffee he was making at the time). Telling me in a matter of fact drawl not to believe what you read about him online! Supposedly that he auditioned for 'Dragonforce' no less.Quoting "I mean Who the F**K are Dragonforce anyway!
Gene and his band absolutely rocked last nite. He put on an amazing show. Hopefully he comes back again. If he does I will be there...the venue was great... the only thing they need to offer a better variety of cocktails..
I came to hear about Lita Ford in an interesting manner. I watched the Hollywood film The Runaways with Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stuart, and was compelled to find out more about their music. After falling in love with their metal rock, I was interested to see what Lita was playing nowadays, and was pleasantly surprised with her fresh heavy metal sound. Although she’s been playing solo since the 80s, I think her back catalogue of music is timeless, and really relevant to the charts today. Seeing the tour where she released and performed Living Like a Runaway was absolutely epic. It was great to hear her music return to its earlier routes and regain that real metal rock vibe about it. When Lita came onto the stage, you could tell that she’d only recently returned from her hiatus, as she was timid and a little awkward introducing herself. However, as soon as she picked up her guitar and her drummer counted the song in, she was back in her comfort zone, and began what turned out to be a phenomenal show.
Between the songs from the new album, she revisited some of her old hits and even did a Runaways track, although I didn’t know it myself. She was wonderful at engaging the audience, clapping her hands, encouraging singing along, and holding out the microphone to keen audience members. It was a pretty long show, and still I didn’t want it to end! Fabulous performance.