Singer reconnects with rock and Rose

The former Skid Row singer is touring with Guns N' Roses.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
As far as Sebastian Bach is concerned, Axl Rose is raised from the dead.
For more than a decade, the reclusive Guns N' Roses singer was MIA after firing his bandmates (Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Clevelander Gilby Clark) and recording -- and re-recording and rewriting -- the highly anticipated album "Chinese Democracy," which may actually be released later this year.
Aside from a few unexpected appearances, including the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, Rose -- like to the rest of the world -- was an enigma to Bach, who befriended the singer in the late '80s and early '90s. In fact, Bach's erstwhile band Skid Row opened up for Guns N' Roses on the "Use Your Illusion" tour of 1991, including two memorable sold-out shows at the Richfield Coliseum.
Received message
It was earlier this year when Bach was working on his solo album in his basement that he received a text message that said, "Hey Bas, it's Axl. Are you still around New York and want to hang out?" Naturally, Bach thought someone was screwing with his mind. He found out he was right when he called the Los Angeles phone number back.
"He goes, 'Hello,'" said Bach, calling from his New Jersey home. "I said, 'Oh my God.' He just laughed that low Clint Eastwood laugh, 'Ha, ha, ha.' He's got that wildest voice ever. It's the lowest, deepest, loudest, resonant baritone speaking voice and the highest, loudest, most crazy a-- killer screaming, singing voice. I said, 'It's you.' And it was literally at the time like Howard Hughes calling your house. I just went, 'What's up dude?'"
Like two old friends who can instantly reconnect, Bach found himself back in the Rose camp. Soon he was jumping on stage with Rose to join him on the Guns N' Roses classic "My Michelle." This led to Bach asking and receiving the opportunity to open for Guns N' Roses on its European dates last summer, which carried over to the fall Stateside tour. You can see Bach and Rose's latest incarnation of Guns N' Roses on Friday at Quicken Loans Arena.
Tryout
What makes Bach's reconnection with Rose even more unique is the fact the ex-Skid Row member remained in touch with ex-Gunner's Slash, McKagan and Sorum, even trying out for what must be characterized as an earlier incarnation of Velvet Revolver.
The three members eventually went with ex-Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland.
"My life is hilarious because you can't make this s--- up," Bach said. "I was in that band for 15 seconds. Honestly, I have six tunes I did with them in the studio that are way more hard rock than what they ended up putting out. That was a long time ago, and the thing is I was on a six-month tour of 'Jesus Christ Superstar.' I was getting paid, and those guys at the time had no money coming in. I have kids, and so I could either have hung out in Hollywood with them or gone on the road. So I picked that at the time. It didn't surprise me when they chose Weiland."
When asked if he's still in contact with the ex-Gunners, he laughed, "No, kind of when I don't get picked for a band, I'm not calling up going, 'Hey, what's up?'"
Where he's been
Bach's life post-Skid Row has been an interesting ride, falling between the cracks of celebrity and rock star. Having appeared on numerous reality shows, including this past summer's VH-1 reality show "Supergroup," which featured Bach, Ted Nugent, Scott Ian, Evan Seinfeld and Jason Bonham forming the all-star hard rock band Damnocracy (he said fans shouldn't expect any release from the outfit), the 38-year-old rocker is doing what he can as a Gen X personality looking to make a living.
While he has a recurring role on the "Gilmour Girls" and appeared recently on "Celebrity Duets," you get the feeling Bach would throw it all away for another shot at rock success.
Music credibility isn't something he's enjoyed since he was blasting out "I'll Remember You" and "Monkey Business" as a member of Skid Row nearly 15 years ago. However, there's a new solo album in the works, due out next year, and Bach hopes the upcoming Guns N' Roses opening slot can do the impossible and position him as a viable and successful solo artist.
"That would be killer, dude," Bach said. "I'm not getting any younger, so let's do it now."