Former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach recently revealed the real reason behind why he didn’t join Mötley Crüe despite receiving an offer from bassist Nikki Sixx. He shared details about the rehearsal process and subsequent negotiations in an interview with The Metal Voice.
Bach explained how he actually rehearsed with the legendary rock band and received a direct invitation to join from Nikki Sixx during those sessions.
“Well, I was never in the band [Mötley Crüe], but I rehearsed with the band,” Bach said. “I rehearsed with them, and Nikki [Sixx] asked me to join the band at the rehearsal in front of everybody. And then we had phone calls about that in the weeks after that, with Doug Thaler, the [then-Mötley Crüe] manager.”
However, Bach revealed that the potential collaboration was ultimately blocked by his record label.
“And then it came down to the fact that Atlantic Records would not let that happen,” he continued. “So, nothing happened. But I definitely rehearsed with them, and there’s an MTV interview with them where they say the same thing.”
This revelation provides insight into what could have been a significant lineup change for one of rock’s most iconic bands.
The rehearsal session that Bach described was more extensive than many fans might realize. It involved a full day of performing with the band during a critical period in Mötley Crüe’s history.
Blabbermouth reported that Bach was driven to the rehearsal by Tommy Lee himself and spent a full day singing the Mötley Crüe set with the band. This wasn’t just a casual audition but a comprehensive trial run that demonstrated the potential chemistry between Bach and the remaining members.
The timing of these rehearsals was significant. Alternative Nation noted that Vince Neil was fired from Mötley Crüe in 1992 due to personal differences with the band. This created an opening that the band needed to fill, and Bach emerged as a serious candidate during this transitional period.
Arrow Lords of Metal revealed that Nikki Sixx made the offer to Bach in front of the entire road crew, including Tommy Lee and Mick Mars. This underscores the seriousness of the proposition. The public nature of the offer suggests that the band members were genuinely considering Bach as Neil’s replacement.
The band ultimately chose John Corabi as Neil’s temporary replacement before eventually reuniting with their original vocalist. Bach’s account provides a fascinating glimpse into what might have been one of rock music’s most intriguing “what if” scenarios, had Atlantic Records not intervened to block the potential collaboration.
