Johnny Solinger, Former Skid Row Singer, Has Died Aged 55
Johnny Solinger, former frontman of US rock band Skid Row, has died at the age of 55, after announcing he was suffering from liver failure. Solinger was the group’s longest-serving vocalist, appearing on four releases between 1999 and 2015.
He died on Saturday, as announced in a post on the band’s social media channels in the early hours of Sunday morning. Skid Row’s five current band members – Rachel Bolan, ZP Theart, Snake Sabo, Rob Hammersmith and Scotti Hill – signed off the message, adding: “Much love.”
Solinger announced on social media in May that he had been admitted to hospital with liver failure and that the “prognosis is not so good”. “As with most musicians I do not have health insurance and it’s very difficult to get proper care without it,” he added. The musician launched an online fundraising campaign to pay for his medical bills, which had raised more than 16,000 US dollars (£11,500).
Formed in 1986 in New Jersey, Skid Row achieved huge commercial success in the late 80s and early 90s with their first two albums – Skid Row (1989) and Slave To The Grind (1991). The band, whose hits include Youth Gone Wild and Wasted Time, had sold around 20 million albums globally by the end of 1996. Solinger joined Skid Row in 1999, replacing Sebastian Bach on vocals, and remained in the band until 2015 when he was replaced by former TNT singer Tony Harnell. During his time with the band, Solinger appeared on two of their albums (2003’s Thickskin, 2006’s Revolutions Per Minute) and two EPs (2013’s United World Rebellion: Chapter One and 2014’s Rise of the Damnation Army — United World Rebellion.)
Before joining the band, he had formed his own rock group named Solinger and released four albums. In 2008, Solinger also launched a country music career during his time with Skid Row.