Former SKID ROW singer Johnny Solinger dead at 55

28 June 2021

Former SKID ROW singer Johnny Solinger has died at the age of 55.

The news was confirmed in a social media post by Solinger's wife, the actress Paula Marcenaro, who wrote, "Johnny has passed. I was holding his hand. He went in peace. Thank you all. I will take a break from everything but please know I am forever grateful for your love."

The news was also shared by SKID ROW, who posted, "We are saddened to hear the news of our brother Johnny Solinger. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans. Godspeed Singo. Say hello to Scrappy for us."

Solinger's passing comes a month after he revealed he was suffering was liver disease. In a Facebook post, Solinger revealed that he had been hospitalised, and that the prognosis was not favourable.

"As with most musicians I do not have health insurance and it’s very difficult to get proper care without it," Solinger wrote. "I am currently under at least seven different medications and I need to have my abdomen drained off fluid that gets accumulated every couple of days. I have lost a lot of strength and will require physical therapy as well."

Solinger was hired to replace original SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach in 1999, after bassist Rachel Bolan discovered him via the internet. He appeared on two of the band's album – Thickskin and Revolutions Per Minute – as well as two EPs: United World Rebellion: Chapter One and Rise of the Damnation Army – United World Rebellion: Chapter Two.

Solinger left SKID ROW after 14 years in 2015, saying he was ready to pursue a solo career. The band quickly replaced him with former TNT vocalist Tony Harnell, and insisted it was their decision to let him go.