Gavin Evick, son of Bret Michaels’ solo band member Pete Evick, recently discussed his audition to become Skid Row’s new singer. This follows the band’s collaboration with Sweetwater to launch a worldwide search, as reported on Border City Rock Talk.
Evick shared his thoughts on the challenges facing any potential new vocalist for the band. He particularly focused on the inevitable comparisons to former frontman Sebastian Bach.
“When Erik Grönwall left, I was like, you know, it’d be cool to do it, but you know, the more and more I think about it. No matter how good you are, you’re going to be hated because you’re not Sebastian Bach,” Evick said. “Erik definitely kept to the record a little bit more than Sebastian was probably a technically better singer for Skid Row as far as getting close to the record, but you still see all the hate comments of, ‘Oh, he’s not Sebastian, he’s not this, he’s not that.’ So, it’s that just proof no matter how good you are, people are going to hate you. Even if you’re living your dream, you’re the villain to a lot of people because you’re not Sebastian.”
Despite these challenges, Evick expressed his determination to audition after observing the public audition process.
“So I kind of been like, ‘Okay, you know what? Skid Row is gonna find the best person possible. Then the public auditions came and I’m like I hope they find the best person possible. And watching a lot of these auditions, there’s a lot of great people and a lot of great singers, but I don’t know if there’s that one person that clicks yet,” he continued. “I don’t know if you’ve been watching any of the auditions and I’m like, you know what? I don’t think I’m better than anybody. I don’t think I am a better singer than a lot of these people, but I’m going to try.”
Evick also shared his perspective on what type of vocalist the band needs at this stage in their career.
“I think they’re in a position right now where they’ve had so many singers that they need to pull kind of a Hail Mary right now. I don’t think that they’re in a position where they can pull like a 40 or 50 year old, you know, guy that, you know, could probably sing and he’s probably great, but it’s like you need a Hail Mary type of thing right now with Skid Row,” he explained. “I think you either get a an amazing amazing female singer, something just out of, you know, the, you know, left field or whatever it is, or you just get a young guy that can do it, you know, and really sing.”
Evick’s comments come amid an extensive search process that has captured significant attention from the rock music community. The process has also drawn interest from aspiring vocalists worldwide.
The search for Skid Row’s new vocalist began in September 2024 after Erik Grönwall’s departure due to his ongoing health issues from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blabbermouth.net reported that the worldwide audition process has drawn over 4,000 video submissions from aspiring vocalists across the globe. This demonstrates the massive interest in joining the legendary rock band.
Grönwall joined Skid Row in 2021. He had performed high-energy tours including Monsters of Rock cruises before stepping down to prioritize his treatment and family. Rolling Stone noted that his departure marked another significant transition for the band. The band has experienced multiple vocalist changes throughout its history since Sebastian Bach’s exit in the 1990s.
The collaboration with Sweetwater for the singer search represents an innovative approach to finding new talent in the modern music industry. The partnership has allowed the band to reach a global audience of potential candidates. This moves beyond traditional industry connections to discover fresh voices.
The extensive response to the audition call highlights both the enduring appeal of Skid Row’s music and the challenges facing any new vocalist. Any new singer must fill the shoes of previous singers while establishing their own identity with the band. As Evick noted, the pressure of living up to fan expectations while dealing with inevitable comparisons remains a significant hurdle for any candidate.
The search for Skid Row’s new vocalist continues as the band seeks to fill the position left vacant after Erik Grönwall’s departure. Thousands of hopefuls are vying for the opportunity to front one of rock’s most recognizable acts.
