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Sebastian Bach

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This article is about the heavy metal singer. For the baroque composer, see Johann Sebastian Bach.
Sebastian Bach
Bach in 2012
Bach in 2012
Background information
Birth nameSebastian Philip Bierk
Born (1968-04-03) April 3, 1968 (age 56)
Freeport, Bahamas
OriginPeterborough, Ontario, Canada
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active1983–present
Labels
Formerly of
Spouses
Maria Aquinar
​
​
(m. 1992; div. 2010)​
Suzanne Le
​
​
(m. 2015; sep. 2024)​

Sebastian Philip Bierk (born April 3, 1968), known professionally as Sebastian Bach, is a Canadian-American[1] singer who achieved mainstream success as the frontman of the hard rock band Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. He has acted on Broadway and has made appearances in film and television such as Trailer Park Boys, The Masked Singer and Gilmore Girls. He continues his music career as a solo artist.

Early years

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Bach was born in the Bahamas and was raised in Peterborough, Ontario.[2] He is one of eight children. His brother Zac Bierk is a retired ice hockey player.

His father, David Bierk (d. 2002), was a noted painter. He painted the cover of Skid Row's album Slave to the Grind and inside cover art of Subhuman Race, as well as the album cover of Bach's solo effort Angel Down and inside art for its follow-up, Give 'Em Hell.[3]

Bach joined a church choir when he was eight years old, and found much joy in singing "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" with them. He knew while singing the hymn that he would sing for the rest of his life.[4][5]

Career

[edit]

Kid Wikkid (1983–1985)

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The members of Kid Wikkid were based in Peterborough, Ontario. Upon hearing of the band and unaware of their ages, 14-year-old Bach auditioned for the group, and was hired by guitar player and band leader Jason Delorme. Kid Wikkid moved back to Toronto, and Bach's dad eventually allowed Bach to move in with an aunt.[citation needed]

Skid Row (1987–1996)

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Skid Row initially formed in the mid-1980s with lead vocalist Matt Fallon fronting the group, and they began playing at various clubs around the New Jersey area. Fallon left the band in 1987, leaving Skid Row in search of a lead vocalist. Bach was spotted singing at rock photographer Mark Weiss's wedding by Jon Bon Jovi's parents, who subsequently approached him and suggested he get in touch with their son's friend, Dave Sabo, who was looking for a lead vocalist for his band.[6] Bach was wary of joining another US-based band after briefly being a member of Detroit's Madam X. Upon hearing Skid Row's demo tapes, however, Bach flew to New Jersey to audition and became the up-and-coming band's lead vocalist in early 1987.

Rachel Bolan (left) and Bach opening for Mötley Crüe in 1989

Skid Row achieved commercial success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with its first two albums Skid Row (1989) and Slave to the Grind (1991) certified multi-platinum, the latter of which reached number one on the Billboard 200. The band's third album Subhuman Race (1995) was also critically acclaimed.

Bach has received criticism for a photo, taken in 1989, in which he is wearing a T-shirt reading "AIDS Kills Fags Dead", a play on the tagline at the time for the insecticide Raid, "Raid Kills Bugs Dead". In a 2003 interview, he stated about the controversy, "That was really stupid and wrong for me to wear that for one-half hour in my life. What nobody brings up is in 2000, when I was in 'Jekyll & Hyde,' and at an auction for Broadway Cares, I donated $12,000 of my own money to fight AIDS."[7]

Following disagreements over musical material and infuriating Bolan, Bach was fired from the band in 1996. However, rumors circulated that he had left the band due to his other bandmates believing they should not play as an opening act for Kiss.[8][9] Bandmate Rachel Bolan also had a side project, a punk band Prunella Scales who were playing at the same time as the planned Kiss show. The rift between Bach and the other band members subsequently led to his leaving Skid Row.[10][11] Four years later, Skid Row was one of the opening acts for the 2000 Kiss Farewell Tour, without Bach.[12][13]

Broadway and other projects (1996–2006)

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In 1993, Bach shortly toured with Triumph after the release of their album Edge of Excess, providing lead vocals up until the band broke up later the same year.[citation needed]

In 1996, Bach joined The Last Hard Men, an alternative rock supergroup formed by Breeders lead guitarist Kelley Deal, which also included Frogs guitarist Jimmy Flemion and Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. The group recorded a full-length self-titled album for Atlantic Records, who then opted not to release it. In 1998 it was released on Kelley Deal's label, Nice Records, with no fanfare and a very limited pressing of 1,000 CDs. The band also recorded a cover of the Alice Cooper song "School's Out" for the soundtrack album of the 1996 film Scream.

In 1999, Bach released his debut solo album Bring 'Em Bach Alive!, his first release after his departure from Skid Row. Mainly a live album of Bach's Skid Row songs, it also presented five new studio recordings, including the single "Superjerk, Superstar, Supertears".

In 2000, Bach began performing in Broadway productions. He made his Broadway debut with the title role(s) in Jekyll & Hyde in April 2000. He also appeared as Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show in 2001. On November 28, 2001 Bach appeared at New York Steel, a benefit concert held in response to 9/11.[14]

In early 2002, he became the host of VH1's Forever Wild. In October of that year, Bach was signed to perform in the national touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar, playing the title role alongside JCS veteran Carl Anderson.

A DVD video of live performances called Forever Wild was released in June 2004. That same year, he reprised the title role(s) in another showing of Jekyll & Hyde.[15]

In 2003, Bach tried out for Velvet Revolver before the band found Scott Weiland, but was turned down because, according to Slash, "We sounded like Skid Roses!" From 2003 to 2007, Bach had a recurring role on the WB television show Gilmore Girls as "Gil", the lead guitarist in Lane Kim's band, Hep Alien.[16] Members of Bach Tight Five (a project initiated by Bach in 2004, but dissolved shortly thereafter) lived with Bach and his family as documented on VH1's I Married ...Sebastian Bach, one of the "I Married ..." series. In 2005, Bach collaborated with Henning Pauly to be the singer on the Frameshift album called An Absence of Empathy, released in April 2005. He was recommended to Henning by Dream Theater's James LaBrie.

Bach performing in 2006

On May 12 and 14, 2006, at the Guns N' Roses' warmup show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, Bach joined Axl Rose on stage for the song "My Michelle". He joined Rose and the rest for a third time the following night (May 15) to sing "My Michelle" once again. He also joined them for their Pre-Download Festival show in the Apollo Hammersmith, London, singing My Michelle. Rose introduced Bach by saying that the two had rekindled their friendship in the previous week after 13 years of not speaking. On June 4, 9 & 11 he again joined Rose on stage at the 2006 Gods of Metal Festival (Milan), Download Festival in RDS Dublin and in Donington, respectively. On September 23, 2006, he joined Axl on stage once again at KROQ-FM's Inland Invasion festival in California for a rendition of "My Michelle".[citation needed]

Reality TV and Angel Down (2006–2010)

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Bach starred in the 2006 VH1 reality show Supergroup, in which he, along with Ted Nugent, Scott Ian, Jason Bonham and Evan Seinfeld, were tasked with forming a heavy metal supergroup, with Bach as the lead vocalist. The seven-episode series was filmed during a twelve-day period when the musicians all lived together in a mansion in Las Vegas. The resulting band, originally called "Fist", was eventually named Damnocracy; both names were Bach's ideas. Damnocracy had no recorded output.[17]

In 2007, Bach announced a partnership record label with EMI to jointly create a label owned by him, including his album Angel Down, which was released on November 20, 2007.[18] Bach also recorded backing vocals for the track "Sorry" on Guns N' Roses' long-delayed Chinese Democracy, which was released in November 2008.[19] He spent the summer of 2008 playing with Poison and Dokken.[20]

He competed on the 2007 MTV reality show Celebrity Rap Superstar, coming in third place.

Bach was the winner of the second season of the CMT reality show Gone Country, which aired in 2008.[21]

Kicking & Screaming and Sterling's departure (2010–2012)

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Bach toured as an opening act for Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy Tour" 2009–2010, and performed "My Michelle" with Axl Rose in Quebec City on February 1, 2010. On January 5, 2011, he was featured on NBC's Jimmy Fallon Show in a live performance and a subsequent video of "We Are The Ducks", a power ballad written for University of Oregon Ducks, set to play in the BCS national championship game Monday, January 10, 2011. In 2011, Bach was interviewed by British metalcore band Asking Alexandria in the March/April issue of Revolver. The band are fans of Skid Row and covered two of their songs the preceding year of the interview.[22] The same year, Bach performed "Youth Gone Wild" with the band live at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards and Rock on the Range.[23] Bach was also filmed in their music video "Closure".

Bach provided the voice of Prince Triton, King Neptune's rebellious son, in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode, "SpongeBob and the Clash of Triton" in 2010. On June 15, 2011, Bach revealed the title of his upcoming solo album would be Kicking & Screaming. On July 8, 2011 track list, cover art and title of the first single were revealed. It was released September 27, 2011 for North America and worldwide and September 23, 2011 for Europe on Frontiers Records. On August 13, 2012, Nick Sterling was fired by Bach after refusing to sign an agreement to appear on an undisclosed TV show.[24]

Big Noize (2012–2013)

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Formed in 2007, Big Noize was an supergroup consisting in founder member and drummer Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell) plus other "monsters" such as guitarist Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot), later replaced by George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne) and vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow). Turner was replaced by Bach for the Kavarna Rock festival on July 14, 2012 and for a tour to South America, starting in Chile on July 9, 2013.[25]

Give 'Em Hell and touring (2013–2023)

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Bach being interviewed in 2014

On April 30, 2013, Bach confirmed via Twitter that a new studio album was in the works. He went on to say that Bob Marlette would be returning as producer.[26] Bach had collaboration work for the upcoming album with John 5, Duff McKagan, and Steve Stevens. On January 13, 2014, Give 'Em Hell was announced with a prospective release date of April 22, 2014.[27] He also appeared in two Trailer Park Boys episodes from their 2014 season. In 2014, Bach completed his Give 'Em Hell tour and in 2015, Bach went on another tour titled the "18 and LIVE" tour.

In 2019, Bach toured behind the 30th anniversary of Skid Row's self-titled debut album, playing it live in its entirety.[28] On July 20, 2021, it was announced that Bach would be doing a tour in the fall for the 30th anniversary of Skid Row's Slave to the Grind.[29]

Child Within the Man (2023–present)

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In 2023, Bach competed in season ten of The Masked Singer as "Tiki". He was eliminated in "I Wanna Rock" alongside Ginuwine as "Husky".[30] Also in December 2023, he released his first new song in nearly ten years, "What Do I Got to Lose?"[31]

In March 2024, Bach announced his forthcoming album Child Within the Man. It was released on May 10.[32]

Personal life

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At one time, Bach lived in Red Bank, New Jersey.[33] In August 2011, his New Jersey home was damaged by Hurricane Irene and declared uninhabitable. Several Kiss and Skid Row artifacts (including Skid Row master tapes) were in the house, but none were damaged.[34] His father's art, comic books, and the Kiss gargoyles from their 1979 tour were also salvaged.[35]

In the mid-1980s, Bach began dating Maria Aquinar. The couple had a son, Paris, in 1988. Bach and Aquinar married in July 1992 and had another son, London, in 1994 and a daughter, Sebastiana, born in 2007. Bach and Aquinar split up in April 2010.[36]

In December 2010, Bach began dating model Minnie Gupta. They were engaged in April 2012 but ended their engagement in late 2014.

On December 28, 2014, Bach became engaged to Suzanne Le after two months of dating. They married in August 2015 and currently live in Los Angeles.[37][38]

On July 13, 2017, Bach underwent "singing-related" hernia surgery.[39] He started to recover a month later and then explained that the operation was needed, "because [he] literally screamed [his] guts out."[40]

Bach endorsed US Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election.[41]

Solo band members

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Current

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  • Sebastian Bach – vocals (1997–present)
  • Clay Eubank – bass (2024–present)
  • Brody DeRozie – guitars (2024–present)
  • Paris Bach – drums (2024–present)

Former

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  • Mark "Bam Bam" McConnell – drums (1997–2005)
  • Jimmy Flemion – guitars (1997–1999)
  • Larry Fisher– bass (1997–1999)
  • Richie Scarlet – guitars (1998–2002)
  • Anton Fig – drums (1998–2000)
  • Paul Crook – guitars (1999–2004)
  • Johnny Chromatic – guitars (2004–2014)
  • Ralph Santolla – guitars (2004–2005)
  • Randall X. Rawlings – guitars (2004–2005)
  • Adam Albright – guitar (2004–2005)
  • Cheeze (né Brian Hall) – bass (2004–2005)
  • Mike Dover – drums (2004)
  • Bobby Jarzombek – drums (2005–2019)
  • "Metal" Mike Chlasciak – guitars (2005–2008)
  • Steve Di Giorgio – bass (2005–2007)
  • Nick Sterling – guitars (2009–2012)
  • Jason Christopher – bass (2012–2014)
  • Jeff George – guitars (2012–2013)
  • Devin Bronson – guitars (2013–2014)
  • Brent Woods – guitars (2014–2024)
  • Rob De Luca – bass (2005–2012, 2014–2024)
  • Jeremy Colson – drums (2019–2024)

Discography

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Main article: Sebastian Bach discography

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Himself Joking backstage with Slash and Lars Ulrich, imitating MTV host Riki Rachtman, and former guitarist Dave Mustaine during 1992 stadium tour
1999 Final Rinse Buddy
2000 Point Doom Slim
2009 Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day Randy's customer/John (uncredited)
2010 Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage Himself
2012 Asking Alexandria: Through Sin and Self-Destruction Himself
2012 Rock of Ages Rocker Cameo
2013 Sebastian Bach: Kicking and Screaming and Touring Himself
2013 Yukon Kornelius Television film
2014 Swearnet: The Movie Himself
2016 Deserted Archer
2017 American Satan Himself (uncredited)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 Saturday Night Live Himself Episode: "Charles Barkley / Nirvana"
2000 MTV Cribs Himself
2001 Strange Frequency Grim Reaper Episode: "Don't Fear the Reaper"
2002 I Love the '80s Himself
2002 Never Mind the Buzzcocks Himself
2003–2007 Gilmore Girls Gil 13 episodes
2003 I Love the '80s Strikes Back Himself
2004 Kiss Loves You Himself
2004 I Love the '90s Himself
2006 Heavy: The Story of Metal Himself
2006 Supergroup Himself 7 episodes
2007 Trailer Park Boys Himself 5 episodes
2007 Celebrity Rap Superstar Himself
2008 Robot Chicken Wildman
Martian Manhunter 		Voice; episode: "They Took My Thumbs"
2008 Z Rock Himself Episode: "Paul and David Nearly Miss a Huge Gig"
2008–09 Gone Country Himself 8 episodes
2008 VH1 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs Himself
2010 Celebrity Fit Club Himself 5 episodes
2010 SpongeBob SquarePants Triton Voice, episode: "The Clash of Triton"
2011 Adults Only Shifty
2012 The Eric André New Year's Eve Spooktacular Himself
2013 Californication Tony (Dead Rock Star) Episode: "Dead Rock Stars"
2014 Trailer Park Boys Himself 2 episodes
2014 Sing Your Face Off Himself 6 episodes
2016 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Gil 1 episode
2016 Trailer Park Boys: Out of the Park - Europe Himself 1 Episode
2017 Trailer Park Boys: Out of the Park - US Himself 1 Episode
2022 Hell's Kitchen Himself Episode: "Slipping Down to Hell"
2023 The Masked Singer Himself/Tiki Season 10 contestant; 3 episodes

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 Jekyll & Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde
2001 The Rocky Horror Show Riff Raff
2002–2003 Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus of Nazareth
2004 Jekyll & Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde Raleigh Memorial Auditorium

References

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  1. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH - "I'm Going To Go To My Grave Trying To Top The Slave To The Grind Album"". Brave Words. July 12, 2004. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "Rex Brown & Sebastian Bach". VH1. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013.
  3. ^ BraveWords. "SEBASTIAN BACH Seeking Lost Family Portrait Painted By His Father". bravewords.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  4. ^ "'High Times' And High Notes: The Life Of Sebastian Bach". NPR.org. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "Rocker Sebastian Bach recalls his Peterborough musical roots in new memoir 18 and Life on Skid Row". thepeterboroughexaminer.com. December 28, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Sebastian Bach profile Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, GossipRocks.com; accessed October 11, 2014.
  7. ^ Manes, Billy (January 9, 2003). "Columns Story – Rockin' out with Jesus". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  8. ^ "Sebastian Bach on his split from Skid Row". bravewords.com.
  9. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH On His Split From SKID ROW - "I Was 100% Fired From The Band"". bravewords.com.
  10. ^ Stevens, Michael (December 30, 2014). "Skid Row Sebastian Bach Engaged: Former Model Engaged To Bach On Birthday". NewsOXY. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  11. ^ Schwinden, Richard (June 15, 2013). "SKID ROW 1986-1998". Roseville Patch. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  12. ^ "Skid Row/Ted Nugent/ KISS - Jones Beach June 9th 2000". KISS Asylum. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "Skid Row". High Tide Concerts. Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  14. ^ "New York Steel Raises the Roof". Gibson. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  15. ^ "Sebastian Bach/Kate Shindle Make October Return to Jekyll & Hyde in North Carolina". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  16. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH On How He Landed Role on Gilmore Girls". Brave Words. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  17. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH Says DAMNOCRACY Ended Up With 'More Ideas Than We Had Time To Record'". Blabbermouth. March 13, 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  18. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH Inks 'New-Model' Record Deal with MEROVINGIAN MUSIC". Blabbermouth. July 23, 2007. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  19. ^ "Chinese Democracy". Guns'n'Roses. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  20. ^ "Poison "Live, Raw & Uncut Tour" with Dokken & Sebastian Bach". Metal Sludge. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  21. ^ "Cast Announced for Season Two of Gone Country". CMT. May 6, 2008. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  22. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (2011). "Rebel Meets Rebels" Danny Worsnop and Ben Bruce interview Sebastian Bach". Revolver: 48–52. ISSN 1527-408X.
  23. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH Performs With ASKING ALEXANDRIA At ROCK ON THE RANGE (Video)". Blabbermouth. May 24, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  24. ^ "Sebastian Bach Fires Young Guitarist". Ultimate-Guitar.
  25. ^ "BIG NOIZE Featuring SEBASTIAN BACH, GEORGE LYNCH: Fan-Filmed Footage of Santiago Concert". July 11, 2013.
  26. ^ Twitter/sebastianbach: NEW STUDIO ALBUM UPDATE
  27. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH: New Solo Album Title Revealed". BlabberMouth. January 13, 2014.
  28. ^ "Sebastian Bach to Perform Skid Row's Debut Album in Entirety on Tour". Loudwire. June 4, 2019.
  29. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH Announces Fall 2021 'Slave To The Grind' 30th-Anniversary Tour". Blabbermouth.net. July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  30. ^ Schneider, Michael (December 6, 2023). "'The Masked Singer' Reveals Identity of Husky and Tiki: Here Are the Celebrities Under the Costumes". Variety=. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  31. ^ "Sebastian Bach unveils his first new song in 10 years". December 11, 2023.
  32. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH Announces 'Child within the Man' Album, Shares 'Everybody Bleeds' Single". March 15, 2024.
  33. ^ "KISS PUCKERS UP FOR THE '90S: THE GHOULISH POP-METAL BAND IS BACK, WOWING THREE GENERATIONS AT ONCE", The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 1, 1996; accessed March 5, 2011. "But Sebastian Bach, the lead singer of Skid Row, is jumping around the backstage area of Tiger Stadium as if his heroes were in full swing. Bach has driven all the way from his home in Red Bank, N.J., and is clearly stoked for the return of one of the most flamboyant acts in rock."
  34. ^ "Sebastian Bach Wikipedia Fact or Fiction June 1, 2016". Loudwire.com. June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  35. ^ Needles, Tim (September 20, 2011). "Sebastian Bach talks Life after Skid Row, his new album Kicking & Screaming, and much more". Short and Sweet NYC. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  36. ^ "How DAVID DRAIMAN Introduced SEBASTIAN BACH To His Wife". Blabbermouth.net. March 21, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  37. ^ Hyman, Vicki (January 21, 2016). "Skid Row's Sebastian Bach sells Lincroft home, says Jersey 'haunted' for him now". NJ.com. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  38. ^ "Sebastian Bach Finally Sells Former New Jersey Home". bravewords.com. January 21, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  39. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH To Undergo 'Singing-Related' Surgery". Blabbermouth.net. July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  40. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH Is 'Starting To Feel Normal Again' After Undergoing Hernia Operation". Blabbermouth.net. August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  41. ^ "SEBASTIAN BACH Officially Endorses KAMALA HARRIS in Presidential Race Against DONALD TRUMP".
  42. ^ "Sebastian Bach Announces Child Within the Man Album, Shares "Everybody Bleeds" Single". Blabbermouth.net. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
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