Skid Row

For the new album The Gang's All Here, producer Nick Raskulinecz challenged Skid Row to deconstruct good ideas and rebuild them into something even better. Says Rachel Bolan, “Nick got us back to that train of thought: what approach did we take on those first two records? What were we doing?” “I wound up feeling the same as when we wrote “18 and Life” and “Youth Gone Wild,” he says. “I felt like, whoa! We're doing something really cool here!”

That led to writing new songs during rehearsal.“We've never done that,” Rachel says. “The other guys giving their input from square one, that really makes you work off instinct. A lot of the songs are fun. They’re songs you can sing and move to, which is what our first two records did. You can fight to these songs. Drink to them. Strip to them. All the bases are covered.”

Raskulinecz encouraged them to not be afraid to incorporate the signature accents that define their classic songs. “Nick is completely cognizant and respectful of the past,” Snake Sabo says.

Another déjà vu is Erik Grönwall. “We wanted him to show his range,” Rachel says. “We wanted him to really draw on his influences — Skid Row just happens to be one of them — but mainly just let go and do what he does best.” “That was my approach,” says Erik. “ A good balance between the old school stuff and the way I sing. I just had so much fun recording this album because I really enjoy singing this kind of music.”