Interview with Sebastian Bach: From Skid Row To New Horizons

Before we close, can you say a bit about the album’s cover art?

Oh, that’s done by my dad, David Bierk, who died at the age of 57 in 2002. It’s a painting called David Watching and the funny thing about it is that the meaning of that image always changes to me. Part of me–with CD sales being what they are and looking at that cover–it’s like a beautiful painting of Jesus that nobody’s looking at! (Laughs) And it’s like, every time I look at it I get a different meaning from it so that’s good art right there. I love the image and on July 21, in England, the record company’s releasing a vinyl version of the record. It’s a picture-disc coming in a double gatefold sleeve. I’ve designed the cover to be kind of like Houses Of The Holy with that whole cover image going all the way around with as little writing as possible, just the artwork. I love doing that. I can’t believe I’m designing a double gatefold sleeve for a picture disc in 2008! That fucking rocks!

I did want to touch on Axl Rose’s appearance on Angel Down.

He sounds great. He sounds amazing! And I’d like to thank Dr. Pepper because they offered free soda to everybody in America if Axl put out a record this year. I said in an interview in Florida, ‘Well, fuck, I put out a record with him in November 2007. Can’t I get a free Dr. Pepper out of that? That’s pretty close!’ Dr. Pepper read it and they sent me a bunch of shit, like a bunch of t- shirts and hats and soda. My kid’s wearing a Dr. Pepper shirt right now! So at least I got some free Dr. Pepper out of this! And he sounds incredible!

To me, my favorite part is at the end of the song ‘Stuck Inside’ where his voice goes into this Axl Rose-only territory. He’s the only one allowed in that club. He gets up into that range; it’s so piercing and incredible sounding. I could not be more proud of it. I’m very, very proud of it.

Is there a chance of seeing him on this tour, as a guest?

I don’t think you’ll be seeing him coming out on this tour, no. But we’ve talked about me and him doing some more shows, possibly around Christmas time. There’s nothing confirmed yet, but that could happen in the future. But in the meantime I’ll see you at PNC and Jones Beach! Whoo’ee!

Catch Sebastian Bach on tour with Poison and Dokken on July 30 at Nikkon at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY, and on Aug. 12 at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. For more info visit sebastianbach.com

Photo Credit: Caster Curry