Sebastian Bach Doesn’t Mind Bands Using Backing Tracks, As Long As They’re Old
When
is
it
appropriate
for
bands
to
rely
on
backing
tracks
during
live
gigs?
For
some,
it’s
never
acceptable,
while
others
find
it’s
a
morally
gray
question.
Ask
ex-Skid
Row
frontman
Sebastian
Bach,
and
you’ll
find
it’s
less
a
talent
question
and
more
about
age.
During
a
recent
appearance
on
Rocktails
with
Ahmet
Zappa
(as
transcribed
by
Blabbermouth),
Bach
was
discussing
the
apparent
rumors
running
around
that
KISS
was
using
playback
tracks
during
some
concerts.
And
while
he
says
he’s
a
massive
KISS
superfan,
Bach
said
he
was
willing
to
give
the
now
(allegedly)
retired
rock
band
a
lot
of
slack,
given
how
old
they
are
and
what
they’re
trying
to
do
on
stage.
“We
live
in
a
world
now
where
technology
is
taking
over,
and
so
many
bands
rely
on
backing
tracks.
It’s
well
known.
That’s
the
way
it
is
now.
My
position
on
that…
I
always
hear
people,
Paul
Stanley
of
KISS
is
using
a
backing
track.
And
my
thing
is
Paul
Stanley
has
given
us
all
fucking
50
years
of
entertainment.
All
he’s
trying
to
do
is
keep
doing
it
one
more
time.
The
dude
is
in
his
70s.
He
has
to
put
on
foot-high
platform
boots,
makeup,
make
his
body
fucking
skinny
and
rock.
He
has
to
strap
himself
on
to
wires
and
fly
across
the
arena.
My
mom
is
82
—
I
love
my
mom.
I
can’t
see
her
strapping
on
boots
and
spitting
blood
and
breathing
fire.”
When
KISS
finally
called
it
quits
this
past
December,
the
band
announced
that
the
show
would
go
on
thanks
to
digital
avatars.
And
honestly,
that’s
probably
for
the
best
since
Paul
Stanley
was
71,
Gene
Simmons
was
74,
Eric
Singer
was
65,
and
Tommy
Thayer
was
63
when
they
closed
out
the
band’s
final
show
in
Madison
Square
Garden.
If
they
were
to
continue
in
person,
Bach
reiterated
that
a
band
like
KISS
would
be
totally
fine
using
backing
tracks
to
get
through
a
show.
“My
point
is
if
Paul
Stanley
or
somebody
in
their
70s,
if
somebody
that
is
older
is
trying
to
put
on
a
entertainment
show
and
they
need
some
technology
to
help
them
get
through
it,
and
they’re
that
old,
I
don’t
mind
that.
What
I
do
mind
is
having
a
band
that’s
23
open
for
me
that
doesn’t
even
try
to
fucking
do
the
singing
or
the
backgrounds;
they’re
just
gonna
run
that
shit.
That’s
ridiculous
to
me.
But
if
you’ve
got,
like,
Phil
Collins
in
a
fucking
wheelchair,
give
him
a
break.
My
point
is
have
some
respect
for
all
that
these
guys
have
done.
That’s
the
way
I
look
at
it.”
At
55
years
old
himself,
Bach
isn’t
exactly
the
young
man
he
once
was.
That
being
said,
the
dude
can
still
sing
his
balls
off,
so
by
his
logic,
he
won’t
need
backing
tracks
for
a
loooong
time
still.
So
what
do
you
guys
think?
Should
backing
tracks
be
okay
for
older
rockers
or
do
you
think
that’s
a
sign
to
hang
it
up?
Let
us
know
below.