Skid Row’s journey to stardom had an unexpected twist involving Bon Jovi, which recently resurfaced in a candid conversation with Sebastian Bach. During his appearance on Steve-O’s Wild Ride Podcast, Bach shared the story of how the band’s early connection with Jon Bon Jovi shaped their rise to fame—and the contentious demands that came with it.
According to Bach, the band’s first significant deal wasn’t a traditional record deal. Instead, it was tied to an agreement with Jon Bon Jovi himself, who offered them an opportunity to join his tour. Reflecting on the arrangement, Bach explained:
“We signed a deal with [Jon Bon Jovi], and the condition was that he would take us on tour. We were just nobodies at the time, and suddenly, we were playing in arenas. That kind of opportunity doesn’t come along every day.”
When asked why they opted for this arrangement instead of pursuing a record deal, Bach clarified:
“To get on tour with Bon Jovi. That’s what it was.”
However, as Skid Row’s career began to pick up momentum, Bach realized the terms of their agreement weren’t as beneficial as they initially seemed. He admitted:
“No one dangled me off a balcony or anything, but I started to understand that what we signed wasn’t great for us. Back then, making it big in music was like finding a unicorn. There were so many bands, but only a few ever really made it. Once I realized the deal’s flaws, I told them, ‘I’m not doing this again,’ and I quit the band.”
This led to a pivotal moment in Skid Row’s career. Bach demanded renegotiation and laid out an ultimatum to his bandmates and their lawyer, Michael Guido (who later became a prominent figure in Jay-Z’s business ventures):
“I said, ‘I’m quitting unless we renegotiate this deal with Bon Jovi, and I get 25% of everything in the band.’ With five guys in the band, that was a bold move, but they agreed. We restructured the deal, got out of the old one, and then our next record debuted at number one.”
Rising Tensions and a Heated Rivalry
While Skid Row owed part of their initial break to Bon Jovi, their rapid success soon led to tension between the two camps. As Skid Row began selling more albums and merchandise than Bon Jovi, the relationship soured. What started as playful pranks escalated into a heated feud, involving Bon Jovi’s crew—reportedly around 60 people—and Bach’s team.
At the height of the rivalry, Jon Bon Jovi’s father took matters into his own hands. Recalling the incident, Bach revealed:
“Jon’s dad grabbed me, slammed me against the wall, and said, ‘I’ll f*cking kill you.’ It was intense—there was a lot of yelling and threats before things finally calmed down.”
Despite the drama, Skid Row emerged stronger, carving out their own path in the music industry. Their rise from obscurity to fame remains a testament to their resilience and determination.
For more details, you can watch Sebastian Bach’s full interview below.
