By John Johnson
If you’re over 35 and even the slightest bit into rock music than you know who Sebastian Bach is. Whether it’s because of his being the original singer in Skid Row (and all that that entails), or the various acts he’s performed with over the last 30 plus years, or maybe his stints on Broadway. Yes Broadway, where he received rave revues for his various roles including Jeckle AND Hyde, Riff Raff in Rocky Horror or as the Lord himself in Jesus Christ Superstar. Or maybe, early on, it may have been from the myriad of moments he made it into the press, for good or bad. Whatever the reason you’re aware of Sebastian Bach, Bas as he’s referred to here, it’s most assuredly because of the intensity he brings to most everything he undertakes. And although he’ll be turning 58 this Friday, and no doubt tearing up the stage at Ferg’s, there’s an excellent chance it’ll be done with the same intensity.
I caught up with Bas on a short but sweet 14 minute Zoom interview. He seemed somewhere between soundchecks and sunsets, as I viewed him briefly before video was turned off, I noticed he was sitting poolside. He tells me he’s in Jacksonville, soaking in one of those rare quiet moments that don’t come easy when “the tour never ended,” as he put it. Since I’m such a rule follower (snicker), I had my video turned off.
“I can’t see you, but… that’s alright,” he laughed early on, already in that loose, road-worn rhythm that only comes from living out of buses and backstage green rooms. The schedule is still relentless, three cities in three nights, with just a handful of shows left before he rolls into St. Petersburg for a very specific kind of party. As mentioned, this Friday, April 3rd, Bas will celebrate his birthday on stage at Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill, and also as stated above, you know it won’t be subtle.
“What are the odds?” he said about the timing. “We’re playing on my birthday, and then my son, my drummer, his birthday is the next day, and we’re playing that night too.”
Yeah, his drummer is his son, Paris Bierk (Bas’ actual last name). And yeah, that son is pushing 40.
“It is crazy,” Bas admitted. “If he messes up the song after the show, I’m gonna go make him mow the lawn.” He says with a laugh. One that you can recognize comes from the voice of a rock singer, slightly gravelly and from the diaphragm.
That paternal disciplinary quip aside, that’s about as close as things get to “normal” on this tour. Because while the stories of the late ‘80s, he name-checked the chaos of that era when I ask if the road is still “wild” with your offspring in tow. “It’s definitely not like ’89 with Pantera and Motley Crue. NO, not like that.” with a knowing chuckle, Bas’ version of wild has evolved. “Wild these days is going to Ruth’s Chris, having a glass of wine, and going to bed,” he said. “That’s about as crazy as I get.”
But don’t confuse that with a mellow stage presence. Not even close.
“I go up there like a fucking animal,” he told me, contrasting himself with singers he admires like Robin Zander, who came up when I mentioned working with Cheap Trick. “Robin is so cool, composed, barely breaking a sweat.” Bas? He’s still all long hair slinging and head banging, still throwing himself into every note like it’s still 1989. Even he admits he’s trying to dial it back…a little.
“I look at those guys, I’m like, ‘Sebastian, you don’t have to kill yourself up there.’ But then once you get there… I can’t help it. I feel the music in a really intense way.”
That intensity is about to find a new home. Somewhere in the middle of the conversation, I bring up his next “role” as he’s stepping in as the new singer of Twisted Sister later this year.
“To me, it fits because I’m a real fan,” he said. “I’m influenced by Dee Snider’s energy, his stage raps, his moves. I’ll be paying tribute to his legacy. That’s the reason I’m doing it.” After briefly mentioning the contentious relationship with his former Skid Row bandmates from way back, he’s almost is surprised by his “new” comrades in Twisted Sister. “The guys are great. They’re actually nice to me. Well that’s not very fucking rock and roll” he shares as we both laugh about the contrast between his past frontman gig to the latest one.
It’s not a full replacement situation, more like a project, at least for now. And most definitely not shutting his own thing down to become a “Sister”. I ask if there’s a tour set. “Six dates are on the books”, he says and he’s quick to point out his solo band isn’t going anywhere.
“I love my band. I love the fans coming out more than ever,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”
And yes, that energy is already bleeding into his current set. I enquire if there are certain songs added to the current setlist. “We are doing some Twisted Sister,” he confirmed with a grin you could hear through the phone.
So when he hits the stage at Ferg’s on April 3rd, it won’t just be a birthday show, it’ll be a collision of eras. Skid Row classics, solo material, a taste of Twisted Sister, and a head banging frontman who still refuses to do anything halfway.
Before we wrapped, I told him we’d get the whole place to sing “Happy Birthday.”
He replies somewhat humbly “Thanks brother. I’m gonna be 58, man. Here we go!”
And somehow, even from a pool chair in North Florida, it doesn’t sound like slowing down in the least. It sounds like yet another gear in the engine that is Sebastian Bach.
Now. Go Out and See, Hear and Feel Live Music.