SEBASTIAN BACH: I Know When 'Chinese Democracy' Is Coming Out

Mike Osegueda of The Fresno Bee recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

The Fresno Bee: How do you sum up the difference between guesting on "Gilmore Girls" and touring with Axl Rose?

Bach: There's a question. One is family entertainment and one is not. "Gilmore Girls", I like to surprise people. I love that, actually. It's one of the things that I've always strove for, if that's a word. Striven. Strived.

The Fresno Bee: You've done all kinds of crazy stuff — from reality shows, to "Trailer Park Boys", to performing on Broadway. How do get yourself into these situations?

Bach: I am extremely lucky. I don't know how this happened. I am one of the luckiest performers in this world in that I do get to pick and choose what I do. I've been offered the package tours outdoors with a bunch of bands I didn't particularly like. I've always said I'm not gonna tour until it's really cool. Then my friend Axl Rose called.

The Fresno Bee: Yeah, how did the touring with GUNS N' ROSES thing come about?

Bach: They were playing at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City for four nights. Axl texted me and says: "Hey Baz, you in NYC? Wanna hang out?" I said, "Who is this texting me, pretending to be Axl Rose?" I called the number back, and he was like "Hello," and it was him. He has the most unmistakable voice. That was back in May, and here we are in December — still on tour. It's been the most incredible year of my life.

The Fresno Bee: You toured with GN'R in 1991 with SKID ROW. How do you compare that tour to this one?

Bach: Different band members, that's an obvious difference. But the thing is, music is the most visceral art form to me, being that when you hear a song that you loved for years and years and years, it completely takes you to the feeling inside your heart of when you first heard it. You can just feel it in the crowd. When we step on stage and we start into "18 and Life", it's on.

The Fresno Bee: So being on the road with GUNS N' ROSES, is it as crazy as people would think?

Bach: Yes. You know that episode of "SuperGroup" where I quit drinking? I lied. I did quit for like two months, then I got offered the tour. On the road with GUNS N' ROSES is not the optimum opportunity to quit drinking. We live it up. That's how we do. We have fun. You only have one life.

The Fresno Bee: What exactly should people expect from the show?

Bach: We have a nice long set. We also have HELMET on the bill and the SUICIDE GIRLS. I'm doing the hits and some new stuff, too. Just like every other musician. The GUNS N' ROSES fans are not just interested in old songs. They want to hear "Chinese Democracy". I even know when it's coming out, but I can't betray my confidence. If you want to hear the songs, come by the show. Axl plays a long time, it's like two and a half … hours.