SKID ROW partners with SWEETWATER to search for singer
11-02-2026
Legendary hard rock band SKID ROW has announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with U.S. company Sweetwater, the world’s leading online retailer of musical instruments and pro-audio equipment, to search worldwide for their next lead vocalist. The collaboration invites singers from around the world to audition for the opportunity to front one of rock’s most enduring and respected bands.
In 2026, SKID ROW marks its 40th anniversary. Over four decades, the band has delivered some of hard rock’s most iconic anthems, including “18 And Life”, “I Remember You”, “Monkey Business” and “Youth Gone Wild”. With multi-platinum albums, chart-topping releases, and a global touring legacy, the band has remained a defining force in rock music. Now, SKID ROW is opening the door to a new era — seeking a vocalist who can honor their legacy and shape the future.
“This is not a contest or a gimmick,” the band emphasizes. “It’s a genuine search for the right voice, presence, and authenticity to carry SKID ROW forward.”
Worldwide auditions officially opened February 5, with no submission deadline. SKID ROW will continue reviewing submissions until the right singer is found.
“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,” commented Sweetwater‘s resident rocker and content creator Nick Bowcott. “We at Sweetwater are excited to partner with the group to host this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
For more information, visit Sweetwater.
On January 31, SKID ROW guitarist Scotti Hill was asked by The Music Universe about the band’s singer search following the March 2024 departure of Erik Grönwall. Scotti said: ”Yes, we are working on that. We’re gonna really get it kicking in here in a few weeks. Let me see — in about a week we’re gonna make an announcement for a real push, and we’re gonna get it done and we’re gonna get the right person for the job and we’re gonna get back out there.”
After the interviewer noted that the “singer has to be really top-notch” to be able to handle the SKID ROW material, Scotti concurred. “It’s not an easy job. It’s not an easy job, really,” he said. “I mean, that stuff is really hard to sing. And it’s gotta be the right chemistry, because in our band we get along really great. We get along really well. We’re family, and we need somebody to be family with us.”
Erik Grönwall, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021, has offered a lengthy explanation for his decision to leave SKID ROW, saying that he wanted to focus on his “full recovery”.
On Wednesday, March 27, the 36-year-old Swedish singer shared the following statement via his social media: “Yes, I have decided to leave SKID ROW. The main reason being that it’s proved difficult to prioritize my health and full recovery as the lead singer of the band. ⠀⠀
“In 2021 I was undergoing treatment against leukemia and that gave me a superpower called perspective. I decided to use that perspective and write down the values I wanted to live by for the rest of my life. On top of that list it says ‘health first’.⠀⠀
“I’ve had to look at that list a lot of times this last year, questioning if I’m really living according to my values. At the end of the day I realized the answer was no. ⠀⠀
“As a result of the treatments and transplant my immune system was impaired. You can think of my immune system as a 4 year old kid bringing home all kinds of viruses from preschool. It takes awhile to build up that resistance again but my immune system is getting stronger every day. However I’m still doing regular check ups (blood tests) at the hematology department in Sweden, which has proved challenging while keeping up with the SKID ROW schedule. I have way too much respect for my medical history to push myself to the limit.⠀
“I love SKID ROW, I have nothing but respect for the guys in the band but I love and respect my health more. I understand that SKID ROW is a touring band but like I told the guys: ‘if I can’t prioritize my health, then I’m not the right guy for the job’.⠀⠀
“Please note, I’m NOT sick and it’s not that I don’t want to tour. I love being on the road. And of course we have tried to find the right balance together but at the end of the day I realized that it was better for me to step aside. ⠀
“So now I’m going to focus on my full recovery, and come back stronger than ever. Meanwhile I’m finalizing my biography. And I’m going to start writing my own music again. ⠀⠀
“Lastly, once again thank you to everyone who accepted me as the singer of this iconic band. ⠀⠀
“Always remember that no job, no money, no fame is worth your health or well being. Health first always. I owe this decision to the guy in the second picture in the post below and I’m proud to be able to say that I kept my promise to him. Health first!”
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