Erik Grönwall has announced that he will leave Skid Row as he needs to prioritise his health. “I love Skid Row,” he said. “I have nothing but respect for the guys in the band.” Erik says the Skid Row schedule makes it difficult to prioritise his health as he is still having regular checkups. Lzzy Hale from Halestorm will cover vocals for the upcoming Skid Row shows.
“Yes, I have decided to leave Skid Row,” Erik Grönwall said. “The main reason being that it’s proved difficult to prioritise my health and full recovery as the lead singer of the band.”
The journey Erik Grönwall took with Skid Row was impressive. “I’ve learnt so much from these guys,” Erik told MetalTalk last year. “I thought I kinda had it figured out regarding the way a show should be and how I should act on stage, but I feel so much more calmer and confident as an artist now. They’ve taught me how to be more dynamic during a set.
“I’m privileged because I get to wake up every day and do something that I love. It feels amazing. If you work really hard for something and believe in yourself, I know this is a cliche now, but you can make it happen.”
Grönwall was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in March 2021. “I was undergoing treatment against leukaemia, and that gave me a superpower called perspective. I decided to use that perspective and write down the values I wanted to live by for the rest of my life. On top of that list it says ‘health first’.
“I’ve had to look at that list a lot of times this last year, questioning if I’m really living according to my values. At the end of the day, I realised the answer was no.
“As a result of the treatments and transplant, my immune system was impaired. You can think of my immune system as a four-year-old kid bringing home all kinds of viruses from preschool. It takes a while to build up that resistance again but my immune system is getting stronger every day.
“However, I’m still doing regular checkups (blood tests) at the haematology department in Sweden, which has proved challenging while keeping up with the Skid Row schedule. I have way too much respect for my medical history to push myself to the limit.
“I love Skid Row. I have nothing but respect for the guys in the band, but I love and respect my health more. I understand that Skid Row is a touring band, but like I told the guys, if I can’t prioritise my health, then I’m not the right guy for the job.
“Please note, I’m NOT sick, and it’s not that I don’t want to tour. I love being on the road. And of course, we have tried to find the right balance together, but at the end of the day, I realised that it was better for me to step aside.
“So now I’m going to focus on my full recovery and come back stronger than ever. Meanwhile, I’m finalising my biography. And I’m going to start writing my own music again.
“Lastly, once again, thank you to everyone who accepted me as the singer of this iconic band.
“Always remember that no job, no money, no fame is worth your health or well being. Health first always. I owe this decision to the guy in the second picture and I’m proud to be able to say that I kept my promise to him. Health first!”
Skid Row said they were proud of what they have created and accomplished with Erik over the past two years and wish nothing but the best to him and his health.
“To celebrate the last two years, the band will be releasing a live album that perfectly captures this moment of time in the band’s 35-plus-year history, to be announced soon.”
Skid Row and Lzzy Hale play:
May 17 – Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort – Carterville, IL
May 18 – Riverside Casino & Golf Resort – Riverside, IA
May 31 – Nugget Casino Resort – Sparks, NV
June 01 – Hard Rock Live Sacramento – Wheatland, CA
