Sebastian Bach and Slaughter

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.

Rising out of the ashes of Vinnie Vincent Invasion, members Mark Slaughter (lead vocals/rhythm guitar) and Dana Strum (bass) brought in Tim Kelly (lead guitar) and Blas Elias (drums) to form Slaughter in 1988. The band quickly got to work developing their sound, fusing catchy pop melodies with their driving metal in the hope that they could find crossover appeal between rock fans and pop fans alike.

Success was not long awaited for Slaughter, with their debut album becoming a huge breakthrough hit. Bolstered by three hit singles, “Fly to the Angels,” “Up All Night” and “Spend My Life,” the debut recording went on to be certified double-Platinum in the US. Having been requested by Orion Pictures, the band then recorded the single “Shout it Out,” which appeared in the film, “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey,” gaining heavy airplay and finding new fans from this exposure.

Their second effort, “The Wild Life,” appeared in 1992, achieving moderate success through the hit, “Real Love,” becoming certified Gold. Plans to return to the studio for a third album were set back by Kelly’s arrest for drug trafficking, as well as a motorcycle accident that prevented Strum from being gable to play due to his injuries. The album was finally completed in 1994 but by then it was released upon a changing musical market and the band were soon dropped from their label.

Signing to CMC Records, they returned with 1995’s “Fear No Evil,” a commercial failure in the US but the band had found a huge market in Japan. After releasing 1997’s “Revolution,” a more psychedelic affair, the band were struck with tragedy, following the sudden death of guitarist Kelly. Despite being deeply affected by the loss, Slaughter continued, releasing 199’s “Back to Reality,” which found commercial success once again through a number of successful singles.

Whilst not returning to the studio, the band have since toured extensively alongside the likes of Mötley Crüe member Vince Neil, Skid Row, Quiet Riot and Firehouse amongst others, helping to keep the hair metal fandom alive.