In a conversation on The Hook Rocks podcast, the guitarist revealed that Skid Row hasn’t yet chosen a new lead singer following Erik Grönwall’s departure. He commended Lzzy Hale for her impressive performance while filling in and mentioned that the band is open to both male and female vocalists. When asked if his stance on reuniting with Bach had changed, Sabo said:

“Well, the answer has been the same for — I don’t know — 20,000 years now. It’s not gonna happen. And I say the same thing every time. I’m thankful that people have such an interest in wanting to see that happen, but I also have to reiterate that this is about being happy in the situation that you’re in. So I’ll speak for myself personally.”

Later in the interview, Sabo explained that he, Scotti Hill, and Rachel Bolan all agree that they don’t want to reunite with Bach. They are content with the current band lineup and prefer to avoid any past conflicts. He emphasized that their decision isn’t about ego or money:

“We’ve been just ripped apart by ex-members of the band and stuff — ripped apart. Some really sh*tty stuff [has been] said about all of us. And we just choose not to [respond]. It’s not who I am. It’s not who we are. We won’t go down that road. We just wanna play music and be happy.”

Sabo acknowledged that they had received lucrative offers to reunite with Sebastian Bach:

“This has really never been about a monetary aspect of things because it’s known that we’ve been offered a good amount of money to do shows together and to reunite [with Sebastian] and whatever, but it’s just never been about the money, man.”

Sabo emphasized the importance of maintaining his happiness and well-being:

“I choose my happiness, my willingness to continue to be a really good friend to my best friends and a really good husband and a really good dad and bandmate and person. And I don’t wanna endanger that in any way. So the people that we choose to play with, those choices are made in order to keep those particular things in line for all of us.”

Conversely, Sebastian Bach remains hopeful about a potential reunion with Skid Row. In an interview with Eddie Trunk earlier this month, Bach expressed his belief that a reunion could happen:

“I can just tell the world that there’s a good chance that’ll happen because there’s no f*cking reason not to. Because right now why it hasn’t happened is a miscommunication. That’s all I can say. There’s a miscommunication.”

Bach also shared his dream of a peaceful reunion, although he often has nightmares about being unprepared and forgetting important gear. Grönwall left the band in March due to his battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which has made touring difficult for him. Lzzy Hale is now fronting the band for their upcoming shows.

Recently, the Red Rocker shared a video from one of his shows, captioning it:

“A little clip from Saturday night at the island in Vegas.”

In the comments, a fan reminisced about seeing Sammy perform live in the ’80s:

“Saw this guy go OFF THE CHAIN at The Texas Jam at The Astrodome in the early ’80s. Promoters thought it wise to put him on in front of Styx when they were insistent on doing the entire theatrical presentation of ‘Mr. Roboto.’ Hagar climbed the light rig, smashed every guitar on stage (including a vintage P bass that his bass player did NOT want to give up). Needless to say, my 14-year-old self went apeshit, and when Styx came out? Mr. Roboto was pummeled with garbage and beer cups. But… I still like Van Halen better with DLR.”

Hagar’s Thoughts on Van Halen’s Legacy

Hagar saw the comment and responded:

“Damn, I love this comment. And let it be known you and everyone else have the right to like whatever music you want—freedom of expression and freedom of speech. I love those early Van Halen records. And right now, it’s not about Van Halen anymore. Other than Wolfie, there is no Van Halen. Come out and see Mike [Anthony], Joe Satriani, Jason [Bonham], and myself this summer. I promise you a couple of goosebumps.”

Another user asked:

“Sam, do you think there’s a shot of getting Wolf to show up at one of the shows this summer?”

Sammy responded with a fingers-crossed emoji, suggesting that Wolfgang might join them for their upcoming Van Halen tribute shows. In a December interview with Q104.3’s Out of the Box With Jonathan Clarke, Wolfgang expressed excitement about Hagar’s summer 2024 tour:

“Yeah, that’s super cool, man. I’m stoked for it. I’m actually gonna be seeing Mike in Vegas, so I’m excited to give him a hug.”

In early May, Michael Anthony also extended an invitation to Alex Van Halen to join them on stage. The tour kicks off on July 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida, and runs until the end of August.

In a recent interview with Gotts of 95.9 The Rat, Halestorm’s frontwoman Lzzy Hale reflected on the importance of band dynamics. The interviewer praised the band’s ability to maintain strong relationships after 20 years together, to which Lzzy responded:

“Yeah, it’s really nuts. It’s disheartening to see that there are so many bands… Like we’ve been out and we’ve been touring with people for years and even recently meeting up with some people that you’ve known and you’ve toured with, you can tell when bands don’t speak before they even get on stage or they don’t want to practice together, they don’t want to work on the set or they don’t want to write music together anymore, or someone still holds a grudge about who spilled whose milk on whose shirt.”

Hale expressed her gratitude for her good relationship with the rest of Halestorm:

“It’s disheartening because… but it also makes me incredibly grateful for what we have. It’s work. It’s like I married three other dudes and one of them is my brother. The term ‘don’t sh*t where you eat’ does not apply to me, I guess, but it’s a magical thing. It takes work, and a lot of people don’t want to put that in.”

In a 2018 interview with Metal Talk, Halestorm drummer Arejay Hale discussed the band’s enduring lineup and familial bond:

“I think a big part of it is having that family dynamic. My sister [frontwoman Lzzy Hale] and I have, of course, been together our whole lives, playing music since we were kids. We kind of had tunnel vision, and luckily, we had lots of parental support; our parents actually toured with us in our earlier tours. That whole family theme rubs off not just on Joe [Hottinger, guitar] and Josh [Smith, bass], but our crew and everybody involved.”

He continued:

“Another cool thing is that we’ve had the same crew for a long, long time as well. We just acquired a new crew member this [latest European] tour, our good friend Joe Miller, who was previously with Black Stone Cherry. That’s a band we’ve known for a long time and they’re like family to us too, so it was an easy transition bringing him into the crew. We were talking about it the other day, and us and Black Stone Cherry are two of the only bands to keep the same lineup since the beginning. We wear that family badge with honor — everyone on our team does.”

Halestorm’s upcoming shows are set for July in the United States. They will also embark on a co-headlining tour with Evanescence in Canada, starting on October 15 in Vancouver and concluding on October 29 in London, Ontario.

Sebastian Bach addressed the possibility of reuniting with Skid Row in a recent interview with That Fuzzing Rock Show. Despite his former bandmate Dave Sabo rejecting the idea, Bach remains hopeful. When asked about the reunion rumors, he clarified:

“Well, there’s nothing happening on that front right now other than me and Rob, the drummer of Skid Row, are making videos together and hanging out and getting along great. I’m too busy with my own stuff to even think about that. It would be cool to happen, I think, mostly for the fans, but there’s nothing happening right now.”

Why Sabo Declined Bach’s Reunion Offer

Despite a significant offer on the table, Sabo turned down the opportunity to reunite with Bach. After Erik Grönwall departed the band two months ago to focus on his health, Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale stepped in as lead vocalist, allowing the band to continue performing.

In an interview on The Hook Rocks podcast, Sabo explained that the band hasn’t finalized a new singer since Grönwall’s departure but praised their current vocalist. When asked about reconsidering a reunion with Bach, Sabo stated:

“Well, the answer has been the same for — I don’t know — 20,000 years now. It’s not gonna happen. And I say the same thing every time. I’m thankful that people have such an interest in wanting to see that happen, but I also have to reiterate that this is about being happy in the situation that you’re in. So I’ll speak for myself personally.”

Sabo further explained that all original members agreed against reuniting with Bach, emphasizing that their decision was not driven by ego or money:

“This has really never been about a monetary aspect of things because it’s known that we’ve been offered a good amount of money to do shows together and to reunite and whatever, but it’s just never been about the money, man.”

Bach’s Reaction to Hale Joining Skid Row

Bach has expressed his desire to rejoin the band in various interviews. However, following Hale’s temporary stint as the lead vocalist, Bach unfollowed her on social media, indicating his discontent with her involvement.

Erik Grönwall, the former frontman of Skid Row, made a notable appearance with the band Europe on May 23 at Gröna Lund in Stockholm, Sweden. They energized the crowd with a powerful performance of Europe’s classic hit ‘Cherokee.’ Fans enthusiastically documented and shared the event across social media platforms.

This performance marked two months since Grönwall’s departure from Skid Row.

Grönwall shared his gratitude on social media, posting photos from the event and writing:

“Thank you, Europe, for having me. It was an honor sharing the stage with you for a few seconds! And what an incredible show you guys did on your home turf.”

Grönwall has been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia since March 2021. In March of this year, he decided to leave Skid Row, citing the incompatibility of touring with his health and recovery needs. He opted for a lifestyle more conducive to his well-being and family life.

During his absence, Skid Row’s longtime friend Lzzy Hale stepped in as lead vocalist for two recent performances.

The members of Skid Row expressed pride in their collaboration with Erik over the past few years and wished him well on his health journey. In celebration, the band announced the release of a special live album, stating:

“To celebrate the last two years, the band will be releasing a live album that perfectly captures this moment in the band’s 35-plus-year history, to be announced soon.”

Stryper’s frontman, Michael Sweet, believes his band might be the most reviled in music history.

Formed in 1983, Stryper has faced criticism and hostility from detractors ever since. Recently, Sweet took to Instagram to reflect on the band’s journey and their ability to defy the odds, stating:

“Despite all the challenges, we broke new ground, shattered barriers, and overcame stereotypes, proving all the naysayers wrong.”

He continued:

“We might just be the most ‘hated’ band ever, but we’ve endured and are still going strong. We are The Yellow & Black Attack. We are Stryper.”

The Reality of Stryper’s Reputation

Sweet has often confronted negative comments and skepticism throughout his career. Addressing headlines that labeled Stryper as the worst band in metal history, Sweet acknowledged the criticism but also saw a glimmer of truth:

“These headlines, while amusing, reflect the opinions of writers who have never given us a fair chance, often forming judgments without really listening to our music with an open mind.”

He added that he finds “cool stuff” in Stryper’s music and takes pride in their sound:

“When I listen to Stryper (trying to be as objective as possible), I hear some pretty impressive elements. At the risk of sounding egotistical, I think Oz and I make a strong guitar duo, whether in the studio or on stage. Maybe I’m deluding myself and we do suck. But if this is what ‘sucking’ looks and sounds like, I’m fine with it.”

In a recent discussion with TribLive, Ann Wilson shared some exciting news for Heart fans about a potential new album:

“I think it’s likely. We’ve just started this tour, and the idea was to see how it feels and to get inspired for new songs. The guys from Tripsitter, who are part of our band now, are fantastic songwriters with great musical ideas. Nancy and I are always on the lookout for fresh inspiration, and I believe it’s only a matter of time before we start creating new material.”

Wilson is enthusiastic about working on fresh content.

Heart’s last album, ‘Beautiful Broken,’ was released in 2016. In a Billboard interview last month, Wilson reiterated her desire to craft new music:

“We’re really hoping to write more together. We don’t have concrete plans yet, and we’re not looking too far ahead. Right now, we’re focused on this tour and seeing where it leads us. If a song emerges from this experience, it will be genuine and heartfelt. It’s all about Nancy and me finding the right moment to dive into songwriting.”

In the same Billboard interview, Wilson revealed that Heart has been working on a new song called ‘Roll the Dice,’ co-written with her long-time collaborator Sue Ennis. They’ve even performed it during some shows on their ongoing Royal Flush Tour. Nancy Wilson and Ennis have been exchanging ideas via text and meeting to record demos as part of their songwriting process.

Heart’s tour is currently in the United States and will move to Europe in June. After the European dates, they’ll return to the States at the end of July, with the Royal Flush Tour running until mid-December.

Eric Clapton isn’t a fan of concertgoers using their phones during live performances.

In a recent interview with The Real Music Observer, the legendary guitarist expressed his frustration with audience members who are more focused on their devices than the music:

“I feel like they’re not truly listening. I try to connect with them, to see their eyes, but they’re often too busy looking at their phones. They’re only partially present, more concerned with capturing the moment than experiencing it fully.”

Clapton, who has a clear view of the audience at the Royal Albert Hall, elaborated on the unique environment of the venue:

“The Royal Albert Hall is such a circular space that it almost puts everyone on display. It’s brightly lit, so if someone pulls out their phone, it’s noticeable. The audience there tends to be more self-aware, and I’ve seen instances where someone next to them will nudge them to put it away.”

He went on to explain how this affects his performance:

“There’s a certain level of respect for the artists that I can feel, having been in the industry for so long. I know when people are genuinely engaged with the music. I often want to tell the crowd, ‘We’ll give a better performance if we know you’re really listening. It benefits everyone if you just put your phones away.'”

Clapton isn’t alone in his sentiments. Maynard James Keenan of Tool has also voiced his displeasure with fans using phones at concerts, going as far as to call out individuals during shows and ask them to put their devices away.