Sebastian Bach

Curiously, although released in 2004, Sebastian Bach's first official DVD, Forever Wild centers on a live concert shot all the way back in 1998, at Los Angeles' Whisky A Go-Go. As if this long delay wasn't turn-off enough, the fact that said footage looks and sounds awful grainy and spotty (the show itself, not the actual DVD, mind you), and contains generally lackluster performances from Seb's hack backing band hardly makes for an auspicious digital video debut, my friends. In fact, it's rather troublesome when that post-glam atrocity of a backing band goes by the name of the the Last Hard Men, but is most distinguished by some Brian Eno-looking bald dude in silver-sparkle batwings! In any case (and before we get totally lost in the details here), Skid Row tunes like "Slave to the Grind," "18 & Life," "Riot Act," and "I Remember You," rightfully dominate proceedings, and are only rarely alternated with disappointing solo fare -- best of which may be the Judas Priest-inspired "Blasphemer." With all these knocks against it, the DVD's saving grace may well be the numerous scenes from Bach's short-lived VH1 show named Forever Wild. These come intertwined with the concert footage and its standout moments find Bach visiting with the ever entertaining Ted Nugent, nervously chatting with The Sopranos star Drea DeMattea, and, in a show of truly reckless stupidity, racing cars with Mötley Crüe singer (and drunk-driving poster boy) Vince Neil! Bonus materials also help this DVD's cause greatly, by including a comprehensive "Bachography" listing all of the artist's numerous Skid Row and solo releases (made more interesting by Sebastian's commentary); additional outtakes from the VH1 show (Seb's encounter with a dozen alligators offering another highlight); yet another Joey Ramone-introduced live song by the Last Hard Men; a rendition of Jekyll & Hyde's "This Is the Moment"; and, best of all, an Easter-egg-featuring home video of ten-year-old Sebastian mugging through Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me." Other DVD options include 5.1 surround sound, French and Spanish subtitles, and, together with the bonuses listed above, will hopefully get Sebastian Bach fans their money's worth. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide