Former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach recently opened up about dealing with grief and loss. He explained his approach to handling the deaths of close friends and family members in an interview with Loudwire Nights.
Bach discussed how he processes grief differently now compared to when his father passed away in 2002. He shared his thoughts on losing music legends and personal friends.
“I think the grief process for people is different. For me, that sadness comes in waves, or it’ll hit me when I’m not expecting it. Like with Ace Frehley. I mean, I love Ozzy, but Ace is a childhood… That’s like Santa Claus to me. That’s like a character. Well, so is Ozzy, but, but KISS with the makeup and the costumes and the comic books and the toys, that’s a whole different thing,” Bach said.
The singer explained how his father’s death taught him an important lesson about managing grief while continuing with life responsibilities.
“I’m not walking around bawling my eyes out, because, to be honest with you, when my dad died back in 2002, I did walk around bawling my eyes up for, like, a year. And I said, ‘F*ck this.’ I go, ‘I’m not gonna let somebody’s dying take me off my game any anymore.’ I cried so many tears for my own dad that I said,” he continued.
Bach emphasized the importance of compartmentalizing grief while maintaining daily responsibilities.
“I think every one of us, we have to learn how to compartmentalize. We have to learn how to deal with something like somebody close to us dying, but we can’t quit our job. We can’t just stay in our house and cry all day. I did that when my dad died. I did. That was a long time ago…” he explained.
The musician also revealed his complex emotions regarding the recent loss of his cousin, who was only 52 years old.
“I lost my cousin last year as well, who was friends with Ace, which is weird. And we were total KISS freaks as kids, and he was only 52. And if I was really gonna think about somebody dying, I do think of him. But at the same time, part of me is mad at him for dying, ’cause he was so young. Like, f*ck you. Why do you do this at your age? And that’s a really ridiculous way to think, ’cause obviously he didn’t wanna die. But part of me gets angry when somebody leaves me. And it’s irrational. It’s an irrational thought. But I think we all might go through that,” Bach concluded.
Bach’s emotional connection to Ace Frehley runs deeper than typical fan admiration. It is rooted in decades of personal and professional history that makes the guitarist’s recent health struggles particularly difficult for the former Skid Row frontman.
The relationship between Bach and Frehley began in the late 1980s when Bach was still establishing himself in the rock scene. ZRockR reported that Bach first met Ace Frehley in 1987 at a Toronto rock club. This meeting marked the beginning of a friendship that would span decades. This initial meeting evolved into a collaborative relationship. The two musicians worked together on various projects throughout the years.
Their professional partnership became more concrete in the early 2000s. Blabbermouth noted that Bach and Frehley worked together on the track “Know Where You Go” for drummer Anton Fig’s solo album “Figments,” which was released in 2002. This collaboration occurred during the same period when Bach was dealing with his father’s death. This timing added another layer of significance to their working relationship.
The depth of Bach’s concern for Frehley became evident in recent months when reports about the KISS guitarist’s health began circulating. Metal Wani revealed that Bach sent Frehley a heartfelt final text message that read: “Hey Ace man, how are you doing brother? Reading some crazy sh*t online. I hope it’s not true man! Love you all with my heart. Your friend Sebastian.” The message went unanswered. It reflects the genuine care and friendship that developed between the two musicians over the years.
Bach’s approach to handling grief and loss, as outlined in his recent interview, demonstrates how his personal experiences with death have shaped his perspective on maintaining professional and personal responsibilities while processing emotional pain. His candid discussion about compartmentalizing grief while continuing to work provides insight into how musicians in the industry cope with the inevitable losses that come with age and time in the business.
