SEBASTIAN BACH repeats he was asked by NIKKI SIXX to join MÖTLEY CRÜE more than three decades ago
12-01-2026
In a new interview with Canada’s The Metal Voice, former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach once again addressed his claim that he was asked to replace Vince Neil in MÖTLEY CRÜE more than three decades ago.
Neil was fired from MÖTLEY CRÜE in 1992 due to personal differences and was replaced by John Corabi. With Corabi on vocals, MÖTLEY CRÜE released one critically acclaimed full-length CD, which ended up being a commercial failure in the wake of grunge despite a Top-Ten placing on the album chart.
Reflecting on how close he came to joining MÖTLEY CRÜE, Bach told The Metal Voice: “Well, I was never in the band, but I rehearsed with the band. I rehearsed with them, and Nikki (Sixx, MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist) asked me to join the band at the rehearsal in front of everybody. And then we had phone calls about that in the weeks after that, with Doug Thaler, the (then-MÖTLEY CRÜE) manager. And then it came down to the fact that Atlantic Records (SKID ROW‘s record label) would not let that happen. So, nothing happened. But I definitely rehearsed with them, and there’s an MTV interview with them where they say the same thing.”
After interviewer Jimmy Kay noted that Sebastian “had the vocal power to actually do something special” with MÖTLEY CRÜE, Sebastian said: “Well, I’m always gonna be a fan of that music no matter what, so… But I’m very happy for Vince. Vince Neil‘s the singer of MÖTLEY CRÜE. And he’s been through having strokes and everything and he’s still gonna be going on tour, so way to go, Vince.
Bach‘s comments come more than a decade after he and Sixx traded online barbs over his claim that he came close to joining MÖTLEY CRÜE. After Bach revealed in a a three-word tweet to a fan on August 29, 2013 that he was asked to join MÖTLEY CRÜE more than three decades ago, Sixx quickly retorted that Bach‘s version of events never happened. Sebastian then took to his Facebook page to describe in some detail the circumstances behind his being asked to join the CRÜE, which included taking part in a full day’s rehearsal with the band and a slew of phone calls between various managers, agents and label executives. “I was driven to rehearsal by Tommy Lee, and I spent a full day singing the MÖTLEY CRÜE set with the band MÖTLEY CRÜE,” Bach wrote. “I remember the songs that Nikki asked me to sing that day. I remember the whole road crew’s ecstatic reaction to us jamming together all day. And I remember Nikki‘s very generous, kind offer, at the end of our rehearsal, for me to join the band MÖTLEY CRÜE. I remember his exact words that he said to me in front of his whole road crew, Tommy and Mick as well. It’s not every day that your hero asks you to join his band.”
Bach didn’t reveal the full details of what went down that day, promising his Facebook followers that he would “tell the complete story of Nikki offering me to join MÖTLEY CRÜE in my upcoming book, which will be arriving on bookshelves soon,” apparently refencing his autobiography, “18 And Life On Skid Row”, which came out in December 2016 via Dey Street Books (formerly It Books),an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
He added: “I am not simply ‘making this up’… I am not a liar. I am working on my book right now and I look forward to you all reading it. I plan on my book having even more information in it than one of my tweets does.”
On September 13, 2013, Nikki tweeted what appeared to be a short response to Bach‘s online rant: “Someone needs attention to try and sell some books.” He then added: “I always liked the term ‘washed up.'”
In 2024, Sebastian Bach released a video — his fifth from his last album “Child Within The Man” — for “Future Of Youth” with special guest performer, singer, songwriter and guitarist Orianthi.
Watch the video for the single “Future Of Youth” below.
“I am so excited to share this song and video with the world!” says the singer, songwriter, author, Broadway star, and actor. “This collaboration with my friend Orianthi began many years ago. The song ‘Future of Youth’ has always been very listenable to my ears due to the musicians involved and also the unbeatable combination of Elvis Baskette and Robert Ludwig. The chorus is something I could hear on the radio.”
In tribute to the song’s title, “Future Of Youth” features the Las Vegas Academy Of The Arts Choir from Bach‘s recently adopted hometown of Las Vegas.
“To have the Las Vegas Academy Of The Arts Choir perform and sing in the video makes my heart pound with emotion,” Bach says, “because I fell in love with singing in my own church choir many, many years ago. It has always been a dream of mine to have an actual choir in one of my rock videos — to have one of the top choirs in the country rock out in ‘Future Of Youth’ is exactly what the message of the song is about. The future of youth belongs to the youth and no one else!”
Bach adds: “Thank you so much to Orianthi for the amazing guitars and riffs and to the Las Vegas Academy Of The Arts vocal director Matthew Ostlie — I can’t thank you enough for all of your incredible performances! Thank you so much to my record label Reigning Phoenix Music for making this happen!”
Watch the previously released “Freedom”, (Hold On) The The Dream” “Everybody Bleeds”and “What Do I Got To Lose?” below.
“I have been putting out records since the year 1989,” Sebastian says. “Thank YOU for 35 years of Bach N’ Roll…all leading up to ‘Child Within The Man’! If you like the records I have put out in the past, I can GUARANTEE that you will enjoy the new album. THIS is the kind of Rock N’ Roll that keeps you young ! Can’t wait for you all to crank up ‘Child Within The Man’ — a magical elixir to the Fountain of Youth! Gone Wild! Forever! It’s all one big song! TURN IT UP!”
The album artwork holds special meaning since it was designed by Bach‘s father, noted visual artist David Bierk.
“This album artwork was started in 1978 and finished in 2024!” Sebastian quips.
Bach adds: “RPM Records has provided me with the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll fantasy dream come true…to make my ultimate rock ‘n’ roll record! With the team of players & production on this album, I can honestly say we have made the best record that we could possibly make! The packaging is of the highest standard in every way. The vinyl, CD, & cassette formats all have been made to exact specifications! The 45 RPM double gatefold sleeve vinyl editions come in three eco-formats which are the highest standard of vinyl sound. Plus multicoloured variations including a Glow In The Dark special for all you rock collectors out there!”
“Child Within The Man” track listing is as follows:
01. Everybody Bleeds
02. Freedom(featuring John 5)
03. (Hold On) To The Dream
04. What Do I Got To Lose?
05. Hard Darkness
06. Future Of Youth (featuring Orianthi)
07. Vendetta
08. F.U. (featuring Steve Stevens)
09. Crucify Me
10. About To Break
11. To Live Again
The album’s first single, “What Do I Got To Lose?”, continues to build momentum at rock radio. It was co-written by Sebastian, Kennedy and Baskette, the latter of whom also served as the track’s producer.
In advance of the album’s release, Bach will hit the road in 2024 for an international tour with dates in Latin and North America. The “What Do I Got To Lose?” tour is a mix of solo gigs and festival appearances that kicks off with an international run of performances in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile before North American shows in the U.S. and Mexico. The stateside tour gets underway May 10 in Jefferson, Louisiana before wrapping June 29 in San Diego, California.
Bach performed “What Do I Got To Lose?” live for the first time during his February 24 concert at Palace Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Bach released the official music video for “What Do I Got To Lose?” in December. The clip was directed by Jim Louvau and Tony Aguilera. For the video, which shows Bach cruising through the desert in a convertible and performing with a full band, Sebastian was joined by his former SKID ROW bandmate, drummer Rob Affuso. The clip also features an appearance by actor and comedian Craig Gass and Sebastian‘s wife Suzanne, who plays a scantily clad car wash attendant.
“To me, ‘What Do I Got To Lose?’ is the perfect sentiment for me right now,” Sebastian said about the track. “It’s an anthem for coming back and crushing it. It’s time to lay down the law and put the hammer down old school-style.”
Four years ago, Sebastian told The Aquarian Weekly that his new album would be “heavy. In many ways it is my follow-up to (2007’s) ‘Angel Down’,” he said. “I am trying to make the best record I have ever made. There will be a lot of heavy (music) coming your way.”
Bach hasn’t released a full-length disc since “Give ‘Em Hell”, which came out in March 2014. Like its predecessor, 2011’s “Kicking & Screaming”, the disc was released through Frontiers Music Srl, the Italian label which specializes in what’s commonly called AOR, a term that once signified a popular radio format (“album-oriented rock”) but nowadays applies to acts whose airplay is marginal.
Although Bach had said in some of his interviews a few years ago that his next record would be less musically aggressive and it would be “more uplifting and fun,” he told WRIF in 2018 that he has since had a change of heart.
“Well, before (the new record deal) happened, I was thinking of doing more of an acoustic-based record because I’ve done a lot of solo records,” he said. “I’ve done ‘Angel Down’, which I’m very proud of that album,. Then ‘Kicking & Screaming’, which is a great album. ‘Give ‘Em Hell’… Not to mention ‘ABachalypse Now’, which is a three-record set. ‘Forever Wild’ DVD, ‘Bring ‘Em Bach Alive!’… I’ve put out a lot of records. And putting out the last one, when I put so much time and effort into it and it doesn’t get the attention that it deserves, for me as an artist, I’m, like, ‘Fuck!’ So I was, like, you know what? If I’m gonna put out another heavy metal, hard rock album, I need help. I need a company around me that’s gonna put the same kind of attention and time and effort into it as I am. So now that looks like it’s happening. So now I’m changing the way I’m looking at things.”
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