Ex-SKID ROW Drummer PHIL VARONE Says His Former Bandmates Are 'Clueless, Jealous Dummies'

Ex-SKID ROW drummer Phil Varone has slammed his former bandmates as "clueless, jealous dummies" whose recent "piece-of-shit records" are best used as "a set of drink coasters."

During an interview on the latest edition of "The Classic Metal Show", SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo was asked about "Waking Up Dead", the 2007 documentary from Varone which followed Phil through four years of drug abuse and wall-to-wall sex with groupies while drumming for the band. "I thought it was gross, man, to be quite honest with you," Sabo said. "See, that's just a lifestyle I never cared for or partook in. I never did drugs. The worst thing I ever did was drink too much vodka and puke, and that's basically the extent of my shit. So to live that and to see that, I thought it was pretty gross and disgusting, to be honest with you. I don't have any empathy for that situation at all, because you have choices. You make choices in life, and that was the choice that he made. And I don't wanna be a part of that or a party to it. So, I guess the only thing I can say is that I thought it was pretty gross."

In a 2006 interview with Metalshrine, SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan stated about "Waking Up Dead": "I haven't [seen it] and I don't support it at all… That's [Phil's] world. I don't do drugs and the guys in the band don't do drugs. I don't endorse it. That's his world and he wanted to put our image in it and being the fact that the guy was only in the band for two years.... The fact that he thinks he has the right to go out and use the SKID ROW name is preposterous. Yeah, that's his world, not ours."

After BLABBERMOUTH.NET published the above-mentioned quotes from Sabo and Bolan in a news story earlier today, Varone took to his Facebook page to respond. His statement in full reads as follows:

"Dear Dave 'Snake' Sabo ('snake' meaning a two-faced cunt and not the size of his tiny dick),

"I'm normally not one to acknowledge clueless, jealous dummies, but in this case, it's just too good to pass up and I'm sick and tired of these douchebags running their mouths.

"I always find it funny when the pot calls the kettle black and judging from the piece-of-shit records this sad cover band put out after I left, they are still clueless and still very much jealous.

"The good part about the recent SKID ROW records is you can buy four of them and have a set of drink coasters.

"If you were to buy four of them, that should bring the SoundScan up to about 11 sold and catapult it to plywood with an anchor.

"Hey, David, nothing like commenting on a documentary that came out seven years ago that not only you and the band are in, but you also signed releases and were paid for songs. But I guess seven years later, it's gross. It wasn't gross when SKID ROW begged me to come out and finish a tour after I left the band because your drummer sucked. And I guess it wasn't gross listening to how bad the band sounded when you could barely stand on stage and play 90% of the time? You know, like the time we played a bowling alley and you were at the bar at noon? You probably don't remember you (see what I did there?).

"Oh, my bad, I forgot you don't do drugs or drink.

"I remember many gross things being in that band, but nothing more gross than [the] galaxy of pimples on your disgusting back. But I have a solution to all of this: instead of being the fucking coward you are, why don't you come by my place and we can settle this once and for all? No press, no cameras, just me and you. And while you're at [it], tell Napoleon to put his bass down, put him in a baby seat and bring him along. That unoriginal 5' 8" walking cliché bass owner needs to be taught a lesson on how not to run his mouth. Now I understand why Tommy Lee sent him an email that said, 'I don't have enough middle fingers for you.' Make sure he puts his 6" platforms on, or he will never reach 5' 8".

"In closing, you really should be proud. Nothing like a bunch of 50-year-old washed-up rock stars in a SKID ROW cover band playing for six people a night.

"Oh, and by the way, Snake, if you're nice and a good boy, maybe I'll loan you some money some day, since we all know how good you are with accounting.

"I would put you in the adult business, but dicks the size of thimbles are not really in. Just saying.

"Regards, former SKID ROW drummer Phil Varone."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Varone filed a lawsuit against Sabo and James Southworth (a.k.a. Rachel Bolan) in February 2010, accusing his former bandmates of "spreading lies" and destroying his reputation. He claimed Sabo and Bolan "embarked on a crusade to spread vicious lies about Varone in an effort to destroy his professional and personal reputation" and "to prevent him from truthfully describing his career history as the drummer for SKID ROW, by contending that his use of the band name is trademark infringement."

In addition, he claimed the pair "had falsely informed people that Varone had slept with Sabo's wife, that Varone is a cocaine addict and that Varone is a liar," adding, "Its (SKID ROW's) complete omission from a description of Varone's professional experience deprives Varone from the benefits of his experience as a professional studio and live musician and rock star who toured the world, gave countless interviews, made hundreds of appearances and amassed thousands of fans worldwide." According to the complaint, Sabo, Southworth and their lawyer contacted night clubs and both Oprah Winfrey's and Tyra Banks' talk shows in advance of his appearance in connection with "Sex Rehab" and successfully prevented Varone from being identified as a former drummer of SKID ROW.

Also in 2010, Phil, who is currently a member of the reunited SAIGON KICK, responded to ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach's claim that Varone's decision to pose nude for the cover of the December 2010 issue of Playgirl magazine is "further proof that the name 'SKID ROW' has completely lost all credibility, cool, accuracy and is now devoid of all meaning in every way." Varone told the New York Post, "I'm grateful and proud of my time in SKID ROW and sorry [Sebastian] feels that way." Playgirl representative Daniel Nardicio defended Varone: "This coming from a man [Bach] who preceded David Hasselhoff in 'Jekyll & Hyde' on Broadway? Now that's the epitome of uncool."

Varone joined SKID ROW in 2000 — about four years after Bach parted ways with the group.

"Rise Of The Damnation Army - United World Rebellion: Chapter Two", the new EP from the current lineup of SKID ROW — Johnny Solinger (vocals),Scotti Hill (guitar),Rachel Bolan (bass),Dave "Snake" Sabo (guitar) and Rob Hammersmith (drums) — sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD came out on August 5 via Megaforce Records.