Justin Sargent said he captured the exact moment Skid Row offered him the lead singer job during a FaceTime call, told Skid Row’s official YouTube channel. He thought bassist Rachel Bolan had more interview questions waiting for him, but instead she presented him with the band’s biggest offer.
Sargent explained what happened when Bolan set up the video call. He said the band was checking in on the final details before making their decision.
“Rachel asked, ‘Hey, you know, we have, we got a couple more questions for you. Do you mind if you get on a, on a FaceTime with me and the rest of the guys?’” Sargent said. “Rachel said, you know, ‘I guess really the big question we have is, how would you like to be the new lead singer of Skid Row?’”
“And I was like, ‘What? This is amazing,’ and I made a lot of noise and it was really embarrassing. But it was just one of those moments that I will never forget,” he continued.
Sargent added a detail he kept to himself in the moment. “And I don’t think they know this, but I actually, I snapped a screenshot of that moment. … I kept it on my phone. So it’ll probably be the Christmas card this year for these guys.”
The comments came as Sargent reflected on how he joined the band as their new frontman. His private keepsake from the call shows how much the moment meant to him.
Sargent’s selection came after more than two years without a lead singer for the New Jersey rock band. The band had conducted an extensive global search to find the right person to fill the role, and Sargent’s powerful vocals and connection to their music made him stand out. The band got to know him through months of conversations and rehearsals before making their decision.
Sargent is a singer and actor with experience on Broadway. He has starred as Peter Parker in “Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark,” which featured music by Bono and The Edge, and he performed in the rock musical “Rock Of Ages” and the original Broadway cast of “Bonnie & Clyde.” His background in performing helped him bring depth to the role with Skid Row.
The band’s previous frontman, Erik Grönwall, left the group in March 2024 to prioritize his recovery after receiving treatment for leukemia. Lzzy Hale of Halestorm filled in on live dates before leaving. In October 2026, Sargent officially joined Skid Row after the band completed its search and rehearsals.
To introduce Sargent to fans, Skid Row released a cover of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” with a music video directed by Dale “Rage” Resteghini. The band had been working together for several months before making the lineup change public. The move marked a new chapter for the band as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.
