Concert Review
Stephen Pearcy
Sebastian Bach
Saturday June 14, 2025
OLG Stage At Fallsview
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
One way or another the promoter was going to make the rock double bill happen. It was announced that due to circumstances beyond his control Motley Crue singer Vince Neil would be unable to perform with Stephen Pearcy. Lo and behold they managed to pull a rabbit out of a hat and were able to land former Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach.
Bach opened the show with a solid 70-minute set that featured three songs from his 2024 release Child Within A Man. The rest of the set was rounded out with many Skid Row standards. He also did a stirring rendition of Motley Crue’s “Shout at the Devil” in honor of the absent Vince Neil. Since he was back home in Canada, the Peterborough native also honored Neil Peart who grew up not too far away near St. Catharines.
His band included his son Paris Bach on drums. Bach joked if he screwed up the next song he may have him mow the lawn. Always the class clown Bach said if he does well he may take him to Harvey’s. For those not familiar, Harvey’s is a famous hamburger chain in Ontario. As he mentioned their famous slogan “Harvey’s makes a hamburger a beautiful thing” Bach quipped “did you think you were gonna hear that tonight?” Rounding out the 2025 version of the band were guitarist Brody DeRozie and bassist Fede Delfino.
To me there is nothing like hearing the original singer sing the Skid Row classics. Bach can still play them admirably. The unpredictability of Bach makes the show fresh every time out which is a good thing as you never know what he will say. Being back in his homeland, Bach had many family members and friends in the crowd and it was good to see him inn. a larger venue like OLG Stage.
Stephen Pearcy cut his teeth in San Diego before attacking the sunset strip in the early 1980s. He formed Mickey Ratt whose name was shortened to Ratt and the rest they say is history. The debut album Out Of The Cellar exploded all over radio thanks to lead single and still a classic rock radio staple today in “Round and Round”. It peaked at #12 on the top 40 and remains Ratt’s biggest song to date. Out Of The Cellar would go on to sell over 3 million copies to date in the U.S. alone.
Pearcy’s band were no slouches. The guitar tandem included Johnny Monaco (who had fronted Enuff Z’Nuff for a while after Donnie Vie left) and Erik Ferrentinos (who has played with Pearcy since 2001). The rhythm section featured Matt Thorr on bass and drummer Blas Elias who has played with Slaughter and Blue Man Group.
Pearcy seemed to lose the crowd at times with his stage banter. As he introduced “Nobody Rides For Free” a song from the film Point Break which starred Keanu Reeves the crowd seemed to have no clue who he was. Strangely enough Reeves grew up in Toronto.
The band sounded real good especially on some of the songs the band rarely plays like “You’re In Trouble”, “I’m Insane” and “You Should Know By Now”. As the band came back out for the encore, Pearcy stated “I think we forgot a song” before launching into “Round and Round” which saw the crowd at its most liveliest point of the night.
Overall another win for Fallsview with another solid 80s package. They had one earlier with Great White, Slaughter and Vixen as well. These packages seem to do well and hopefully we will see many more down the road.
Sebastian Bach
Set Lists
Stephen Pearcy
Wanted Man
Slip of the Lip
Way Cool Jr.
The Morning After
You’re In Trouble
You’re In Love
Lay It Down
Lack of Communication
I Want A Woman
You Should Know By Now
Lovin’ You’s A Dirty Job
I’m Insane
Nobody Rides For Free
Back For More
Encore
Round and Round
Sebastian Bach
What Do I Got To Lose?
Slave to the Grind
Here I Am
Big Guns
Sweet Little Sister
18 and Life
Freedom
Piece of Me
Future of Youth
Monkey Business
Tom Sawyer (Rush Cover)
Shout at the Devil (Motley Crue Cover)
Carefree Highway/Sundown (Snippets in honor of Canadien Legend Gordon Lightfoot)
I Remember You
Youth Gone Wild
