Background and career
Sebastian Philip Bierk (born April 3, 1968), known professionally as Sebastian Bach, is a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal singer, songwriter, and actor who is best known as the frontman of the hard rock band Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. He continues his career as a solo artist and since 2026, as the lead singer of Twisted Sister. Bach has also acted on Broadway and has made appearances in film and television such as Trailer Park Boys, The Masked Singer and Gilmore Girls.
Bach was born in the Bahamas, the son of artist David Bierk and was raised in Peterborough, Ontario after the family moved to Canada in the early 1970s for his father's teaching job. His father was a noted painter who painted the cover of Skid Row's album Slave to the Grind and the inside cover art of Subhuman Race, as well as the album cover of Bach's solo effort Angel Down and inside art for its follow-up, Give 'Em Hell. Sebastian is one of seven children. His brother Zac Bierk is a former professional ice hockey player. Bach decided that he wanted to be a singer after he joined a church choir when he was eight years old. He attended Lakefield College School in Lakefield, Ontario.
The members of Kid Wikkid were based in Peterborough, Ontario. Upon hearing of the band and unaware of their ages, 14-year-old Bach auditioned for the group, and was hired by guitar player and band leader Jason Delorme.
Skid Row initially formed in the mid-1980s with lead vocalist Matt Fallon fronting the group, and they began playing at various clubs around the New Jersey area. Fallon left the band in 1987, leaving Skid Row in search of a lead vocalist. Bach was spotted singing at rock photographer Mark Weiss's wedding by Jon Bon Jovi's parents, who subsequently approached him and suggested he get in touch with their son's friend, Dave Sabo, who was looking for a lead vocalist for his band. .
Following disagreements over musical material and infuriating Bolan, Bach was fired from the band in 1996. However, rumors circulated that he had left the band due to his other bandmates believing they should not play as an opening act for Kiss. Bandmate Rachel Bolan also had a side project, a punk band, Prunella Scales, who were playing at the same time as the planned Kiss show. The rift between Bach and the other band members subsequently led to his leaving Skid Row. Four years later, Skid Row was one of the opening acts for the 2000 Kiss Farewell Tour, without Bach.
In 2000, Bach began performing in Broadway productions. He made his Broadway debut with the title role(s) in Jekyll & Hyde in April 2000. He also appeared as Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show in 2001. On November 28, 2001 Bach appeared at New York Steel, a benefit concert held in response to 9/11. In 2003, Bach tried out for Velvet Revolver before the band found Scott Weiland, but was turned down because, according to Slash, "We sounded like Skid Roses!" From 2003 to 2007, Bach had a recurring role on the WB television show Gilmore Girls as "Gil", the lead guitarist in Lane Kim's band, Hep Alien.
