Over the years (the new) Skid Row and Sebastian Bach have been asked about the possible reunion in just about any interview they conducted, but the reunion never happened. And despite the musical and emotional connection I have to this band, I hope that this reunion never does happen.

Why?

Well there are few different reasons really… Most of them are connected with what has happened with both sides since the break-up of the original line-up.

Since the break-up Skid Row and Bach have released one good album each and sure there are couple of good songs, here and there, on some of the other albums, but they never managed to create something truly memorable. That might seem as a reason for them to get back together, but there are just way to many aspects that seem to point that such an reunion would be a total trainwreck.

• There is lots of bad blood between Bach and some of the original members of the band. So much so that Skid Row is not considering the hiring him as a singer even after being on their third singer since the break-up. Previous one managed to be in the band for only couple of months. Any kind of reunion would have hard time coming accross as genuine.

• Speaking of genuine; Bach has been very vocal about the fact that he would do a reunion tour, not because he wants to, but he would do it for the fans. I guess Bach was trying to appear large and put some pressure on Skid Row, but instead he came across as a moron. I mean who in the world wants to see a concert with a band that doesn’t want to play together, but does it anyway? As a fan of music Bach must know the importance of chemistry and passion of the live performance.

• Since dismantle of Skid Row both parties’ live performances have heavily relied on playing the songs from those first three albums to a such a degree that on a current “An Evening With” tour Sebastian Bach (or “The Original Voice of Skid Row” as he markets the tour) usually plays only one of his solo songs with the rest being Skid Row songs and few other covers. Some might say that that is the reason for the band to get back together. Perhaps only when these five are together they can create some amazing music? Perhaps. But while I do believe that the dynamics between certain people can be the key for creating something bigger, I can’t believe that those dynamics solely rely on that. There is more to it and chemistry (and the fact that you don’t hate and shit all over each other) is a huge part. Talent and dynamics alone are not enough to create something memorable.

• Bach’s performance on Slave To The Grind (and Subhuman Race) is simply amazing. On fire! Emotional! Technically superb! That was then. Bach can still sing, but nowhere near his glory days. Nowadays he’s often not doing those old Skid Row songs justice, when performing live. I guess he’s no Axl Rose.

• Quite recently Bach used social medias to verbally attack and even threaten an online critic who wrote a not so flattering review of his concert. Think about it. Think about the level of desperation and lack of brain activity that it takes to do that as a public person. Sure we can divide music from personality as we should, why else would we be listening some great music from some horrible human beings, but Bach’s reaction here makes you realize that such a person could never pull a big scale reunion in an professional matter. Axl Rose comes agin to mind. Think about the level of pressure and negativity he has been over the years (decades actually), and think about the way he has handled it. I guess that's why he could pull off Chinese Democracy, GN'R reunion and singing for AC/DC.

• Revolutions per Minute and United World Rebellion sugest that Bolan and Sabo have their best songwriting days are behind them.

Taking into consideration what Skid Row was and what they’ve created during their short run it’s hard not to be tempted by the idea of a reunion, but wishful (nostalgic) thinking aside, such an reunion seems unlikely to succeed od any level. Therefore I prefer to have my love of Affuso Bach, Bolan, Hill and Sabo left as it is – magical and ever-rewarding. And as for all the musical ventures the 5 members have undertaken since Subhuman Race – I've alwayes followed them, I’ll continue to do so in the future. Some of it I’ll enjoy, but that era has always suffered of a syndrome I like to call “Slave to the Mild”. A syndrome that just prevents you from creating anything tryly memorable.

Regardless, now I’ll hit that “PLAY” button on my CD-player (yes I’m aware that the year is 2016 and music can be streamed) and enjoy the magic that is Slave To The Grind. The intro to “Monkey Business” starts as I write this and the main riff is just about to kick in. How can that … not make me smile?