David Michael Sabo (born September 16, 1964), nicknamed The Snake, is an American musician best known as one of the guitarists of heavy metal band Skid Row.[1][2]
Dave "The Snake" Sabo | |
|---|---|
 Sabo with Skid Row in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | September 16, 1964 Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Member of | Skid Row |
| Formerly of | Bon Jovi |
| Website | skidrow |
Biography
editPre-Skid Row
editSabo was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey[3] and grew up in nearby Sayreville, in the same neighborhood as childhood friend Jon Bon Jovi.[4] His mother, Dorothy, raised him and his brothers as a single mother. Inspired by the likes of Kiss, Aerosmith, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Black Sabbath, as well as the Rolling Stones, Sabo began playing guitar at the age of 14 on a $40 Sears guitar his mother had purchased for his older brother years earlier. His guitar teacher was Al Parinello, who also taught Jon Bon Jovi. [5] Sabo was also a promising athlete, even being professionally scouted while a high school baseball player. Seeing Kiss play live as a teenager was the catalyst for Sabo to give up sports and focus on music full time.[6]
Sabo's friendship with Jon Bon Jovi led to him becoming the original lead guitarist for Bon Jovi in 1983. Sabo took part in a short three-week tour to support a demo version of Bon Jovi's debut single "Runaway" which became a surprise New York City-area hit in 1983.[7] Sabo's time in Bon Jovi was brief, and he was soon replaced by Richie Sambora as the band's lead guitarist. While working in Toms River, New Jersey, Sabo met local bassist Rachel Bolan and the pair agreed to form a band which would eventually become famous American rock band Skid Row.
Skid Row
edit
Bolan and Sabo recruited guitarist Scotti Hill, drummer Rob Affuso and vocalist Matt Fallon and christened the new band Skid Row. Fallon was replaced by Sebastian Bach in 1987 and the band began playing shows in clubs throughout the eastern United States.[8] With some help from childhood friend Jon Bon Jovi, Sabo was instrumental in securing a record deal for Skid Row with Atlantic.[6] In 1989, the band released their debut album, Skid Row, which was an instant success. The record went multi-platinum and produced the hit singles "18 and Life", "I Remember You" and "Youth Gone Wild". Skid Row turned in a heavier direction on their double-platinum follow-up, the 1991 album "Slave to the Grind".
Other work
editSabo played lead guitar on "Trial of the Soul", a track by the band Kryst the Conqueror featuring former members of the Misfits as well as Jeff Scott Soto of the Yngwie Malmsteen band. Scott is credited under the pseudonym "Kryst the Conqueror" as he was under contract to Malmsteen and forced to remain anonymous.[9]
Sabo was briefly a touring guitarist for Anthrax during their "Attack of the Killer A's" tour in early 2000.[10]
Family
editSabo is the uncle of former Association of Tennis Professionals player Matt Sabo.[11]
References
edit- ^ Ryan, Jim. "Dave 'Snake' Sabo And Rachel Bolan On Skid Row's Approach To Business, Branding". Forbes. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "Skid Row's Dave Sabo Shares Opinion on Grunge: 'They Provided New Voices and Presented as Something Different From Us'". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Jordan, Chris. "Happy Birthday, Jon Bon Jovi! A look back as the New Jersey rocker turns 59". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ Makin, Robert. "Kiss it Goodbye" Archived November 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Courier News (New Jersey), June 8, 2000. Accessed February 15, 2011. "Lifelong members of the Kiss Army, such as guitarist Dave 'Snake' Sabo of Sayreville and music writer Jeff Kitts of Scotch Plains ..."
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Biography: Bon Jovi". AllMusic. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- ^ a b "Snake Sabo (Skid Row) 2013 Interview on the Signals of Intuition". The Signals of Intuition. 99.1 CJAM-FM. May 28, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ^ L.M Matin. Jon Bon Jovi: The Sinner and the Saint.: The New Unauthorised Biography. BookBaby, August 20, 2013; Chapter 4
- ^ Weber, Barry. "Biography: Skid Row". Allmusic. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- ^ "Kryst the Conqueror on Misfits Central". Misfitscentral.com. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
- ^ "Anthrax And Sebastian Bach Swap Guitarists". Mtv.com. February 2, 2000. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
- ^ "Matt Sabo". Atpworldtour.com. September 16, 2002. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
External links
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Media related to Dave Sabo at Wikimedia Commons
