Skid Row - "Under the Skin: The Making of Thickskin"
ON RELEASE (18th AUGUST 2003)
Alternative Rock Review:
The companion piece to this year's 'Thick Skin' album, the
DVD offers an insight into the recording of the album, with plenty
of behind-the-scenes action. The DVD is very similar to the bonus
DVD attached to early copies of Metallica's 'St Anger', except
whereas the 'St Anger' DVD concentrated purely on "in the
rehearsal room" versions of the studio tracks, 'Under The
Skin' intersperses live footage, interviews and emphasis on how
new singer Johnny Solinger joined the band and what he has to
offer Skid Row. And I suppose the main reason for the DVD to
exist is to find out how well Skid Row cope with their charismatic
frontman Sebastian Bach after the band reformed in 1999. And
the answer is pretty well, as the band seem genuinely affectionate
toward Johnny, even going as far to say they knew he was the
right man for the job just after the first song they performed
together as a band.
What I found most interesting about the DVD was the scenes
when the band weren't playing their new songs, but the scenes
where the band saunter round Jon Bon Jovi's studio, when "Snake",
Rachel Bolan and the gang goof around in their house, and the
tales of how the band drank so much alcohol during the recording
sessions, Snake had to move out of his house to save his sanity.
The shots of the house where the band were living during the
album's recording time period mostly show members watching TV,
cooking and generally lounging around, with me hoping shots of
groupies, wild debauchery and distasteful pranks would be shown
instead. Oh well, it give the viewer a chance to focus on the
songs in its place, and whilst many come across as generic metal,
there a few choice moments, like the first song recorded for
the album 'Thick Is The Skin', bass heavy groove of 'New Generation'
and the pounding 'Beat Yourself Blind'.
It would be all too easy to say how the band are a shadow
of their former selves, as there's been hardly any publicity
in the mainstream press of the reunion, but take a chance and
you're be pleasantly surprised on how the band are enjoying themselves
making music they love and how the band come across on film as
one happy family. It's a testament to Skid Row's endurance in
today's ruthless music industry that the band is surviving on
their own terms.
Buy from: DVD UK Ltd
| Order Free Phone Line: 0800 328 9623
BACKSTORY:
Skid Row are currently one of the last hair metal bands around
who still sound as fresh as the day they were formed. Over the
past decade they have endured line-up changes and the grunge
era to remain a live favourite for many metal fans. Since the
band formed in 1987 they have toured the world numerous times
with other rock legends such as Bon Jovi, Kiss and Guns N' Roses.
This extensive touring has helped them gain a loyal fan base.
This DVD documentary follows two years in the life of Skid
Row and gives fans a tantalizing taste of their long awaited
studio album Thickskin. Skid Row - Under the Skin "The Making
of Thickskin" is released to own on DVD from 18th August
2003.
The DVD follows the band from when Johnny Solinger joined
in early 2002 to the Kiss tour and into the studio for the recording
of their latest album. This unique programme captures the creative
group as never seen before, and contains interviews and in-depth
footage of Skid Row.
Tracklisting -
New Generation
Ghost
Born a Beggar
Monkey Business
Slave to the Grind
Swallow Me
Mouth of Voodoo
I Remember You '02
One Light
Another Perfect Day
Down From Underground
See You Around
Thick Is The Skin
Skid Row were formed in 1987 when Dave 'the snake' gave co-worker
Rachel Bolan a demo tape. They began writing songs and decided
to put a band together and recruited Scotti Hill and Rob Affuso.
After letting go their original singer the band began to search
for an ultimate lead man. After nine months of searching, they
sent a tape to Sebastian Bach who had been spotted playing with
a band at a wedding party. The chemistry was instant, his talents
and attitude fitted perfectly with the bands ethos.
Two years later in 1989 they had a staggering year when they
not only supported Bon Jovi in their massive sell-out US tour;
but also released their debut self-titled album. The glossy pop-metal
release took the world of rock by storm. From it they released
18 And Life and I Remember You which were big hits on both sides
of the Atlantic.
Their next album was much heavier; Slave To The Grind released
in 1991 went into the UK top 5 and straight to the top of the
US charts. Worldwide it went on to sell over 4 million copies.
From this album they scored two more top 40 hits with Monkey
Business and Wasted Time. For the next three years the band continuously
toured. Whilst they only released one record Youth Gone Wild
they kept their fans happy by releasing two home-videos No Frills
Video which contained a compilation of music videos and Roadkill
which followed them on the Slave tour.
In 1995 they realised the album Subhuman Race a compilation
of live songs recorded in the UK. But infighting had begun and
eventually the members began pursuing solo projects. At the end
of 1999 Skid Row reformed without Bach. They auditioned several
vocalists and finally contacted Johnny Solinger who became their
new front man. Only a week later they landed the coveted opening
spot on the Kiss Tour. They decided to film their antics and
after the tour ended the cameras followed them into the studio
as they started recording their new album Thickskin.
The CD and DVD are both to be released in 2003. The band is
currently on tour in America. An ultimate antidote to today's
manufactured pop Skid Row's Under the Skin DVD will rock any
DVD collection like no other DVD.
DVD
Catalogue No: DVDUK036D
Release date: 18 August 2003
Certificate: E
Running Time: 60 minutes
RRP: £17.99
Buy from: DVD UK Ltd
| Order Free Phone Line: 0800 328 9623
Updated - 06 Sep 2003