In a new interview with Nashville On The Rocks podcast host Lisa Karkos, SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan confirmed that the band is still actively searching for a new singer more than a year after Erik Grönwall’s departure.

Grönwall, now 37, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021. While he made a strong recovery and joined SKID ROW, he stepped down in March 2024, citing that it had become increasingly difficult to prioritize his health and full recovery while also fulfilling the demanding role of frontman.

Rachel Bolan on the Search Process

When asked how the search is going, Bolan admitted that it has been a unique challenge for the band:

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(Transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
“It’s kind of become a thing with SKID ROW, ’cause we’ve had quite a few [singers]. But we’re going to do something pretty big to find one, find the [right] person [to front the band].”

He went on to outline the band’s criteria:

(Transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
“We have a certain criteria, and I think the main part, you have to have strong pipes. You have to be able to tour a lot. And you have to be a good hang. I think that’s the main thing, is being a good hang.”

Bolan emphasized that personal chemistry is just as important as talent.

Band Chemistry Over Everything

(Transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
“It’s really hard doing it as long as we’ve been doing it… When you get someone in there that is out for themselves and doesn’t care about anything that’s going on around them, it’s tough.”

The bassist revealed that auditions have already taken place, with several promising candidates, but the decision must be unanimous:

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(Transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
“Some people came in and they were great — they were really great. But you have four guys that are looking at someone, and it’s, like, one guy might think they’re perfect, another guy might think they’re almost perfect, another person might think, ‘Eh,’ wasn’t feeling it. So all four of us — Rob Hammersmith, Snake Sabo, Scotti Hill and myself — we need to be a hundred percent on board.”

Taking Their Time

Bolan stressed that there’s no rush to finalize a new frontman:

(Transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
“We have the luxury of time on our side. Maybe not our ages [laughs], but we have the luxury of time. We don’t have any tours set up or anything like that… Our booking agent says those shows are still gonna be there. If it takes two years, three years, whatever, those shows are gonna be there, dude.”

Despite being a veteran band with decades of success, Bolan admitted the search feels uncertain at times:

 

(Transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
“When you’re as close to it as I am, it’s, like, you don’t look at us, like, ‘You guys are f-cking SKID ROW, man. You can do whatever the f-ck you want.’ I look at it as, like, ‘We’re SKID ROW. What the f-ck are we gonna do?’ We just told ourselves we’re not gonna stress. If it takes a long time, it takes a long time.”

Looking Ahead

While no official announcement has been made, Bolan confirmed that the band has met several impressive vocalists during the audition process — some of whom may end up collaborating with SKID ROW in other ways.

(Transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
“We’ve had people down that we’ve dug a lot. Something was there. Maybe there was pieces missing, an element missing, but it is what it is. And we’re meeting a lot of really cool people along the way — a lot of really cool people who I’m, like, ‘Wow.’ I’ll listen to some of their songs, and it’s, like, you look at someone and you’re, like, ‘Maybe we could work together on something else or write songs together.’”

For now, fans will need to wait patiently as Rachel Bolan and his bandmates — Snake Sabo, Scotti Hill, and Rob Hammersmith — take their time to find the perfect voice to carry SKID ROW forward.