Skid Row Re-Record '18 and Life' and I Lose It

This is completely absurd. Skid Row just re-recorded "18 and Life" with new singer Tony Harnell. You can hear it below. I don't understand why anyone would think this is a good idea. The original (the only) "18 and Life" features Sebastian Bach on vocals! The Skid Row debut was a slice of magic. It can't be recreated. Heck, not even the guitar parts sound as good in this 2015 re-recorded version. This just seems like a lousy thing to do - like the members of Skid Row are hell-bent on destroying whatever positive legacy they had left or something.

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Comments

[The Cheap Seats]

Here is my tweet, word for word, after hearing this:

So Skid Row re-recorded 18 & Life with Tony Harnell. If I had never heard the original, I would like it. But no Sebastian, no thanks.

I'm with you, Allyson.

[Ace Steele]

You obviously don't get it. The Skids have been on the Skids for so long, and they only have the public's attention for a few moments this week, while everybody is paying attention to their latest lead vocalist personnel shift.

People are wondering if Tony Harnell is up to the task. This quickly shows that he IS.

Sebastian is the distant past, they don't want him back, Sollinger is the recent past, & he's gone.

This quickly shows that with Tony Harnell at the mic, Skid Row may actually still have some sort of future.

[B Lucas]

Yes, I agree with Ace. I think that they wanted to prove to the fans that the new guy would sound good, if not great. He does and way better than Johnny. I was never impressed with Johnny's voice. I haven't bought anything from this band since SB left, but with Harnell, I might.

[Metalboy!]

They should have called it "44 and Life" since it came out in 1989.

I hear where your coming from, Ace... but since it falls short (but, thankfully not flat), since it's not going to get that much attention, why not pull something unreleased, or better yet, crank out an original with Harnell to avoid all the rehash with yet more rehash... It's not too late... They should rush to put out a killer new track with him!

[Will]

If they are going to live in the past, just bury the hatchet with the singer from the past and bring him back. Couldnt agree more, re recording this is pretty absurd.

[JAT]

I love it. It makes sense to me for them to show the world what a great singer they have now.

[Badland]

Sounds good to me. Was never a fan of Solinger before or during SR. Always liked early TNT back in the day. Hope it works out and we get some new tunes worth listening to.

[Mike]

Tony has a good voice, but this is karaoke.

It's like current Great White and Warrant - yeah good singers but the personality is missing.

I gave SR an honest shot with Solinger singing, bottom line is the songs weren't there.

Sad, they were such a great band in their prime.

[Kixchix]

Yes Tony can sing. We know that. All this proves is that all they proved is the last 15 years or so with Johnny were a WASTE!!! I can picture Dave & Snake going...."yeah Tony's awesome man, let's re-record 18& life to show how great he is". Dumb move. The world wants Baz and all you did was recommit yourselves to more karaoke style nostalgia in front of 200 people when it could be 2000 people goin crazy!!!!

[Kenny Ozz]

It sounds like a really good singer doing a very good version of this song at karaoke. But, sadly, thats pathetic in all honesty. Tony can sing, but there is absolutely no balls in this.

Sebastian wins. AGAIN.

[JAT]

If anyone has seen Tony perform, he is incredible. Great singer live and a great frontman...karaoke....I don't think so. But to each his/her own I guess. I think this is the best possible candidate outside of Bas who they were never going to ask back anyways.

[Metalboy!]

Tony Mills woulda done better, hahaha!!!

Still... Will says it best above.

p.s. Also, I believe Tony Mills' best moment was TNT's best moment, 1992's "Realized Fantasies", a Pop Metal Masterpiece, and TNT's best album. BTW, Will! Where the h*ll ya been, man?

[Brian C.]

I'm with Allison. This does NOTHING. To make me want to see this version of Skid Row.

[Metalboy!]

Man... I really can't get my Tony's right... Tony Harnell's best moment was TNT's "Realized Fantasies" album from 1992!

[Dj]

He seems like an okay singer, but in my opinion it just sounds like it should be sang and then left in a karaoke bar. Sebastian Bach has one of the greatest voices in metal of all time, if they wanna be Skid Row, they should get Baz back. If it is anyone else, it is not worth it to me.

[PrYmAgEn]

Listen Baz is not replaceable period. I understand Skid Row doing what their doing but don't relive the past with these types of songs. It make them look bad! Baz will always be better than any singer Skid Row will ever have. This again proves it. Bad move on Skid Rows part on this one. Song sounds terrible. Sounds like he is trying to be Baz! Karaoke for sure. Get some original material for your new singer! He is not Baz! Stop trying to make him sing like Baz!

I have not purchased a Skid Row album since the departure of Baz. Apparently that won't change! Skid Row will never be anything without Baz. The sooner they learn that the better! Burry the hatchet already! Grow up bring Baz back and make more great music! There is still
Time!

[Jason]

My take is that they put this out there to show that Harnell is more than capable of doing the job. I read some comments on the web that people didn't think his voice was suited to the classic Skid Row songs. I have to add that anyone thinks that Sebastian in 2015 is a better singer than Tony Harnell is overdue for a hearing test.

I don't really have much of an opinion on it either way. Plenty of bands have re-recorded past songs for one reason or another...both with who originally sang the songs and/or with a different singer. I think Harnell sounds fine, but I didn't need to hear it to know he would.

And lastly, to reply to PrYmAgEn's comments...even though Sebastian has offered to bury the hatchet, I'd still say the "grow up" part should be more geared towards him. He's the one who has displayed immature behavior over the years, which continues to this day. As for "reliving the past," Bas can release as many new albums as he wants, his setlist is still 60-70% Skid Row songs...almost all of which HE DIDN'T WRITE. Speaking of songs he didn't write, on Twitter, he's been hashtagging his upcoming West Coast tour dates as #YouthGoneWildWest.

[Him]

I am a broken record (see previous Skid post), so I apologize in advance.

But a new version with Bach handling the pipes would likely sound worse than this. It is what it is, for an increasingly select group of people (both those who would gripe and those who would celebrate). If the men in charge like it, so be it.

In terms of moving them up or down (sales, venues, etc.), this doesn't hurt or help. It simply keeps things moving.