Skid Row are officially throwing the doors wide open.
Veteran hard rock band Skid Row have announced a worldwide partnership with Sweetwater to search for their next lead vocalist, marking what they describe as a genuine, ongoing hunt rather than a publicity stunt.
The move comes as Skid Row approach their 40th anniversary in 2026, with the band signalling a clear intent to usher in a new era.
“This is not a contest or a gimmick,” the band stated.
“It’s a genuine search for the right voice, presence, and authenticity to carry SKID ROW forward.”
Auditions opened on Thursday (February 5th), with no submission deadline in place, submissions will remain open until the band finds the right person to step into one of hard rock’s most demanding frontperson roles.
Sweetwater content creator Nick Bowcott welcomed the collaboration, saying (per Blabbermouth):
“I first saw SKID ROW play in New Jersey before they were signed, and they totally blew me away with the sheer quality of their songs, and the infectious high-energy of their performance. We at Sweetwater are excited to partner with the group to host this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Departure of Erik Grönwall
The search follows the March 2024 departure of Erik Grönwall, who stepped away to prioritise his health after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2021, since then the band have been methodically auditioning vocalists while resisting the urge to rush the process.
Guitarist Scotti Hill recently confirmed the band were ramping things up, saying: “Yes, we are working on that. We’re gonna really get it kicking in here in a few weeks… we’re gonna get the right person for the job and we’re gonna get back out there.”
Bassist Rachel Bolan echoed that sentiment, emphasising chemistry over speed.
“We have a certain criteria, and I think the main part, you have to have strong pipes,” he said.
“You have to be able to tour a lot. And you have to be a good hang.”
Drummer Rob Hammersmith added that the band remains open minded about who that person might be, noting: “We would be open to either of those scenarios… preserving the history and honoring the history is very important to us.”
With no tours locked and time on their side, Skid Row are taking a rare luxury in modern rock: patience.
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