Both bands had the same management and in 1989 Skid Row landed a coveted tour slot opening for Bon Jovi. Sabo was also was good friends with fellow Jersey-ite Jon Bon Jovi, and the connection proved a profitable one. With songs that had the aggressive bite of metal and a couple of the power ballads thrown in for good measure, the album launched several top ten hits, including 'I Remember You' and '18 and Life.' Attracting male and female fans alike, Skid Row became of one of the most popular bands of the genre and graced magazine covers worldwide. An accessible hard rock or 'hair metal' band with an edge, Skid Row released their self-titled debut in the United States and the album became tremendously successful, selling more than five million copies in America alone. That same year Skid Row signed with Atlantic Records. Skid Row played their first gig as a full lineup on January 1, 1988, in a now-defunct Toronto club called Rock and Roll Heaven. When Sebastian Bach flew to New Jersey for an audition, the band gelled automatically. Weiss caught one of Bach's gigs, was impressed, and soon dropped his name to a then-struggling New Jersey band in search of a singer. Bach played with several Canadian bands including Madame X and Kid Wikked before catching the eye of renowned rock photographer Mark Weiss. Born in Freeport, Bahamas, and raised in Peterborough, Canada, he developed a love for rock music at an early age and moved to Toronto as a teenager to pursue it as a career. Rob Affuso, another of Sabo's acquaintances, joined the band after joining them in the studio for a jam session on 'Midnight Tornado.' They eventually recruited guitarist Scotti Hill, who had jammed with Bolan in another group and worked at Garden State Music with Sabo. Bolan was inspired by original punk rock, telling Maddog Rock Radio, 'The aggression, humor and honesty that made up the spirit of punk rock really lit me up.' The two began writing songs together and decided to form a band. Sabo was heavily influenced by the glammy hard rock group Kiss, especially guitarist Ace Frehley. Skid Row was launched in 1986 in New Jersey by guitarist Dave 'the Snake' Sabo and bassist Rachel Bolan. Over the years they have appeared in various incarnations and lineups, and although they are not as popular as they were in their heyday the group has maintained a fan base and continues to perform and record.

Their youth, ambition, and knack for writing catchy songs helped attract a worldwide following. Skid Row arrived on the tail end of the late-1980s hair metal craze and quickly became a predominant force in the genre.

Phil from skidrow