SEBASTIAN BACH On AXL ROSE: 'I Wouldn't Want To Do Anything To Jeopardize Our Friendship'

Australia's I'm With The Band recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach. A couple of excerpts follow.

I'm With The Band: What's different about the rock world now compared to when you were starting out with SKID ROW?

Bach: Well, the main difference would be that back then you had to pay for music. But the live experience seems to have taken on an even more important part of rock because you can't download a live show. The experience of watching a band perform in front of your face is something you can't get on the internet.

I'm With The Band: What have you learned from your friendship with Axl [Rose of GUNS N' ROSES]?

Bach: He's a fascinating individual and he does things a lot differently to what I do. He doesn't do any interviews at all and I do millions of them. It's an incredible experience to be talking to him before he goes on stage. I'll be backstage in his room and he carries on a conversation as we're walking to the stage. The whole [arena] is going nuts and Axl will be telling me about what he did last night or the day before, and he doesn't break a stride. I'll be like, "Well, ok, you're going on stage now," and he'll say, "OK, I'll talk to you later." He'll walk out there and all of Sydney's Acer Arena crowd is like, "Ahhh, there he is. Oh, my God!" People can't believe that he's actually standing there. It's such an intense moment every night. It's a crazy situation, because he doesn't show himself to too many people and he's always been there for me. I think it's funny that when Scott Weiland left VELVET REVOLVER, the last thing he said was, "I think Sebastian Bach would be a good choice for you guys." I think that's because he's alluding to the fact that you can't get away from GUNS N' ROSES. They're like THE BEATLES or THE ROLLING STONES. I'm sure he felt frustrated in trying to fill Axl's shoes. Axl texted me right away and asked if I was joining VELVET REVOLVER, and I said, "No, not that I know of." Axl has been so nice to me, I wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize our friendship. I'm in the middle of all these huge rock icons who are calling me at the same time, and I'm sitting there thinking, "How does this f**king happen to me?" Axl said to me, "Dude, the way that you sing is rare." The way that Axl sings is rare too. There's not a lot of guys anymore that can sing in the range that we sing in.

I'm With The Band: Would Axl be unhappy if you were to sing for VELVET REVOLVER?

Bach: I think it would be awkward. I opened for two GUNS N ROSES tours. Axl sang on my record and I sing on "Chinese Democracy". We're very close friends. For me to join a band and then sing all of his songs would be kinda weird. But "Angel Down" is what's in my heart and I can't wait to get out there and tour it. That's what I'll be doing for the foreseeable future.

Read the entire interview at I'm With The Band.