From the Great White Way to glam metal.
That’s the story of Justin Sargent.
The Broadway alum has been named the new lead singer of Skid Row, the band announced on Thursday. Sargent was chosen after an extensive international search.
“We were so fortunate to receive so many audition submissions from singers wanting to front the band,” Dave “Snake” Sabo, the band’s guitarist, said in a statement, as quoted by Blabbermouth. “We wanna thank everyone for their time and effort. There are some truly amazing singers out there! But I think that the moment Justin walked in the door we all kind of knew he was the guy. Everything about him; his voice, his attitude, his demeanor, it all just fit.”
Sargent has appeared in Broadway productions such as Rock of Ages, Bonnie and Clyde and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
“I’ve been singing Skid Row songs for years, but never imagined I’d actually be joining the band!” Sargent said in the statement. “It’s an incredible honor to be part of something with such a legendary history. The chemistry and energy we’ve found together over the past several months has been amazing.”
On Thursday, Skid Row debuted a cover of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” its first song with Sargent. The band also announced dates for a 2027 tour that begins March 5 at The Show at Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Skid Row burst onto the glam metal scene with their 1989 self-titled debut album that went five times platinum and charted two top 10 hits. The follow-up, 1991’s Slave to the Grind, became the first metal album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Lead singer Sebastian Bach, who replaced Matt Fallon in 1987 and sang on the band’s biggest hits, left in 1996. Skid Row cycled through several replacements before choosing Sargent.
“Honestly, for me, it felt like he had been here from the beginning as soon as he walked in the room. He was one of us. A lifer. Then he sang with so much power and conviction, it blew me away. It was amazing,” bassist Rachel Bolan said.
