Former Skid Row singer Erik Grönwall has opened up about his departure from the band and his subsequent decision to tour with Michael Schenker, in an interview published by Louder Sound.
Grönwall addressed questions about why he left Skid Row after two years and clarified the circumstances surrounding his move to Michael Schenker’s band.
When asked, “You joined Skid Row in 2022. Why did you leave two years later?” Grönwall explained his need to prioritize his recovery following a bone marrow transplant.
“I wanted to slow down the touring. I was on the road with those guys for pretty much two years. I was still doing checkups and blood tests every third month back then, and I felt like I never really had the time to recover after my bone marrow transplant,” he said. “I suggested doing three weeks on the road, then one month off, and I was told it wasn’t feasible for them. But I had to prioritize my health.”
Grönwall also reflected on his relationship with his former bandmates following the split.
“I texted a bit with Snake [guitarist Dave ‘Snake’ Sabo]. He’s such a good guy. I miss him in my life. But I haven’t really talked to anyone else. We had a great thing going and it just felt like it ended too fast,” he said.
On the question of his former bandmates’ surprise at seeing him tour with Michael Schenker in 2025, Grönwall was quick to set the record straight.
“First, I never said I never wanted to tour again, I said I needed to tour less. And by that time I’d had a year to recover,” he said. “When I told Michael my history, he said: ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get a stand-in singer for if you can’t do something.’ He made me feel really safe.”
Grönwall’s comments shed light on the health-driven reasoning behind his exit from Skid Row and the accommodating arrangement that made his return to touring possible with Michael Schenker.
To understand the full weight of his decision, it helps to look back at the medical battle Grönwall has been fighting since 2021 — one that has shaped every career move he has made since.
Arrow Lords of Metal reported that Grönwall was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021 and was declared cancer-free just six months later after receiving a bone marrow transplant. The speed of his recovery was remarkable. It also meant he returned to professional life before his body had fully rebuilt itself.
Remarkably, Grönwall was already touring with Skid Row just six months after his transplant — an unusually short window for someone still recovering from chemotherapy and a major medical procedure. Blabbermouth noted that Grönwall has since documented his full story in a mini-documentary titled To Hell & Back, released in May 2026. In it, he reflects on his illness, his transplant, and his path back to music.
The physical toll of touring while still recovering eventually forced Skid Row to cancel shows in 2023, as Hot Metal Mag reported at the time. Grönwall publicly acknowledged: “For those of you who don’t know, two years ago I did a bone marrow transplant.” Those cancellations foreshadowed the eventual parting of ways between Grönwall and the band.
His immune system was still rebuilding throughout his time on the road with Skid Row, making the relentless touring schedule a genuine health risk rather than simply a matter of preference. The arrangement with Michael Schenker — which includes the option of a stand-in singer — represents a more sustainable model for an artist who has made clear that his health will always come first.
