Live to Rock tour with Skid Row

Live to Rock
AVA Amphitheatre
Tucson, AZ
22 July 2022

by Mary Andrews

The some of the best 1980’s metal hair bands made a stop in Tucson to a packed house at AVA Amphitheatre! They made their way through the blistering heat to keep the sold out crowd on their feet for four hours. The crowd consisted of an older generation of wild music loving metal heads that love the sounds of loud guitars strumming catchy rifts from days gone by. It was clear the fans were there to rock out. Quiet Riot, Winger, Warrant, and Skid Row graced the stage. All of the bands have gone through many changes over the last three decades. The bands have changed lineups often and you may not recognize the names of the few remaining members.

Quiet Riot started things with a 40 minute set of their hits. Quiet Riot was one of the first glam bands to skyrocket to the top of MTV. The band also raced to the top of Billboard charts with their 1983 Album, Metal Health and 1984’s Critical Condition.

None of the original members played on tonight’s show. Rudy Sarzo played the 5-string bass guitar and was a part of Quiet Riot’s Metal Health album.The remaining members included musicians Jizzy Pearl on lead vocals, Alex Grossi on guitar, and Johnny Kelly on drums.They opened their six-song set with “Run For Cover” and followed with “Slick Black Cadillac.” It was a great, high energy set. We will never see the band in it is original form since front man Kevin DuBow and metal guitarist Randy Rhoads have passed on. Click here for setlist.

Metal icon band, Winger, followed Quiet Riot. Winger provided an invigorating set of rock and roll. Kip Winger is the lead singer and guitarist, while John Roth and Reb Beach on guitar, Paul Taylor on keyboards, and Rod Morgenstein on drums. round out the band.  Standout songs during the short set were “Can’t Get Enuff,” “Down Incognito,” and “Headed for a Heartbreak.” Kip played keys for two of the songs.

Rockers, Warrant, quickly followed Winger. The band still has two of its original members: Erik Turner on guitar and Jerry Dixon on bass. Robert Mason provided lead vocals and Joey Allen was on guitar, and Steven Sweet was on drums. The release of their first album, Dirty Rotten Filthy Rich in the late 80s put them on the metal music map. Radio hits included “Heaven,” “Down Boys,” “Cherry Pie, “and “Sometime She Cries.” The ten-song set included these as well more of their well-known tunes. For a complete set list, click here for setlist.

Closing the show was legendary, glam rocker band, Skid Row. The band has thrilled crowds for four decades. There has been renewed interest in the band mainly due to their new Swedish vocalist, Erik Gronwall. The remainder of the band includes Dave “The Snake” Sabo on guitar, Rachel Bolan on bass, Scotti Hill on guitar, and Rob Hammersmith on drums.

The set was incredible. Sound and lighting was superb. No one in the crowd seemed to miss past lead singer, Sebastian Bach. Gronwall owned the stage giving the band a young frontman who moved across the stage with theatrics that mesmerized the fans. Songs covered were “18 and Life,” “Slave to the Grind,” and “Youth Gone Wild,” For a complete setlist, click here for setlist

The band recently announced a new upcoming album release The Gang’s All Here, due out October 14. They performed the title track from the album. A new album gives this band a creative edge over the bands that played earlier. If it’s good, we may hear from Skid Row for a long time to come and not just as a stroll down memory lane. Add the the buzz and excitement of having a new lead singer, Gronwall, to the mix and Skid Row has a winning combination. For a setlist, click here.