Erik Grönwall, former Skid Row vocalist, has explained his departure from the band and his current collaboration with Michael Schenker in a new video on his YouTube channel.
“First of all, if you take time to recover and if you do it well and if you’re lucky you start to feel better,” Grönwall said. “So what I did when I decided to leave the band was I never said that I didn’t want to tour at all. The thing I said was that I needed more time in between tours to recover. My proposal was 3 weeks on the road and one month off.”
“I completely understand that Skid Row is a touring band, and they’ve done this since before I was born actually,” he continued. “So they didn’t find that feasible, and that’s fine. But now, it’s been a year. I’m feeling much better. Actually, I feel really good out here. Something I didn’t know before the tour started.”
“But with Michael [Schenker], it’s also a completely different setup. When I brought this up with Michael like, ‘Hey, just so you know this is my medical history this is what I’ve been through. I just want you to know that,'” Grönwall explained. “He was like, ‘Okay, don’t worry. I’ll make sure we have a singer ready to jump in for you if you should feel like you want to sit one out.’ And that’s like the optimal scenario for me. He was so cool about it.”
Grönwall’s move to Michael Schenker’s band highlights the contrasting approaches to tour scheduling between the two projects.
His decision to leave Skid Row stems directly from his ongoing health journey and recovery process.
Chaoszine revealed that Skid Row announced Grönwall’s departure in March 2024. The singer had been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia since his diagnosis in March 2021.
Blabbermouth noted that some fans and band members initially questioned his health-related departure. However, Grönwall maintained his focus on recovery as his top priority.
The vocalist’s dedication to health hasn’t hindered his musical pursuits. Ultimate Guitar documented Grönwall’s plans for 2025. These include releasing his memoirs and touring with Michael Schenker under more flexible arrangements.
His collaboration with Michael Schenker offers a more manageable touring schedule. This new arrangement better accommodates Grönwall’s health needs while enabling him to continue performing.
