Metal
Skid Row have unveiled Justin Sargent as their new singer. The band found him in New Jersey, the state where they formed in 1986, in Toms River, although Sargent was born in Murphysboro, Illinois, and raised in Florida. The first thing to hear from him is a cover of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, which the earMUSIC label released with a video on the day of the announcement.
The job had been vacant since March 2024, when Erik Grönwall left the band to recover from leukaemia treatment; Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale filled in for him at several shows. According to the announcement, Skid Row hadn’t played live in more than two years and ran a worldwide search for a singer, teaming up this year with retailer Sweetwater. Sargent caught their attention last year, and months of rehearsals followed.
“Honestly, for me, it felt like he had been here from the beginning as soon as he walked in the room. He was one of us,” says bassist Rachel Bolan. Sargent adds: “I’ve been singing Skid Row songs for years, but never imagined I’d actually be joining the band!”
The cover was produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who also produced “The Gang’s All Here” (2022), the band’s latest studio album and the first with Grönwall. Alongside Sargent are Bolan, Dave “Snake” Sabo, Scotti Hill and Rob Hammersmith. The band has announced fifteen 2027 dates in the US and Canada, from 5 March to 25 September, the first with Sargent, and the cover will also come out as a hand-signed 7-inch single limited to 500 copies. Nothing is said about a new album.
Text by Roger Estivill