Skid Row are a heavy metal, hard rock band that began life in the late eighties and had a huge success with their first two albums. In fact their second, "Slave To The Grind", became the first ever such type of album to enter the Billboard charts at
Skid Row are a heavy metal, hard rock band that began life in the late eighties and had a huge success with their first two albums. In fact their second, "Slave To The Grind", became the first ever such type of album to enter the Billboard charts at number one and went platimum worldwide.
The band are now back with a couple of new members, vocalist Johnny Solinger and drummer Phil Varone. After a successful tour supporting KISS in 2000, they began recording the album, "Thickskin". This is their story and the making of that album.
Review
This is basically a "Making Of" featurette without the main feature, the album "Thickskin". It's built around 12 of the band's music tracks where we get to see them playing a bit of the track followed by interview or rehersal material and so on.
The video varies in format and quality throughout. Some parts are widescreen and some are fullscreen but given the content, it's perfectly acceptable. Sound options are Dolby Digital 5.1 or stereo and again, given the fact that we only get one track played all the way through, you don't really get to appreciate the music fully.
Musically, the band are very competent - excellent vocals from Solinger; solid lead guitar work from Snake and Scotti; good thumping bass from Rachel and cracking drumming from Val.
If you're interested in the band or the type of music they play, then their will be something of interest here for you. I let my 15 year-old son, who's a serious rock/metal music fan, have a look at it and he thought it was okay, some good guitar solos, but there wasn't enough there to make him want to buy it as a stand-alone DVD. I quite like this kind of music so I might have a look for Slave to the Grind and Thickskin but I'd need to hear more before parting with any cash.
Extras
Each of the extra features focuses on a single member of the band. Some are music related and some not…
Cooking With Johnny - Join vocalist Johnny Solinger in the kitchen as he creates a Mexican chicken dish to his own recipe while listening to Mexican music and downing large quantities of beer and tequila.
Snake Solo "Beat Yourself Blind" - A four minute short during which guitarist Snake plays the guitar solo from "Beat Yourself Blind".
Timmy Tapper "Armless Drummer" and Thick is the Skin - Five minutes worth of drum solo from drummer Phil Varone. Can't say as I'm a fan of drum solos but I'm sure that someone out there might appreciate it.
Scotti Solo "Monkey Business" - Another guitar solo. This one featuring guitarist Scotti playing the guitar solo from "Monkey Business". Lasts only about one and half minutes.
Rachel Bolan Motorsports - A five minute piece where bass guitarist Rachel Bolan introduces us to his other love - 600 Racing. Follow the cars being built to Rachel racing his own on the track.
Scottis Picture Gallery - Some stills from guitarist Scotti and played over about two and half minutes to some of the bands music.
Overall
This disc would have made an excellent extra to the Thickskin album but by itself it feels incomplete. The main feature is basically what we'd normally consider an extra and, other than the solos, the extras are pretty much just filler.
If you're a Skid Row fan or followed them in their heyday, then you might get something from this disc. However, I'm not sure that it offers enough to lure anyone new to them as it only really gives a taster of their music and a brief introduction to the band members.