Scotti Hill of Skid Row and his brown guitar made from Warmoth parts.

When Skid Row’s eponymous debut album arrived in 1989 it was an immediate success, and has since been certified 5x platinum. It generated two Billboard top-ten hits – “18 and Life” and “I Remember You”. Not long thereafter they took part in the Moscow Music Peace Festival, performing to more than 100,000 people. In 1991 their follow-up album Slave to the Grind sold 134,000 copies in its first week, on its way to becoming certified 2x platinum. In 1995 they released their third album Subhuman Race, which would prove to be the last with the original lineup.

After a multi-year hiatus Skid Row reformed in 1999, and in the years since have continued to release new albums despite various personnel changes, most notably in the lead vocal spot. However, in 2022 the band found new life when singer Erik Grönwall took up the mic. The resulting album, The Gang’s All Here has garnered critical acclaim, and may very well go down as one of the best late-career albums in hard rock and metal.

Remarkably, three core members of Skid Row have remained together throughout the band’s nearly 40-year run: bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarists Snake Sabo and Scotti Hill. As they passed through Atlanta on their recent tour in support of the new album, Scotti was gracious enough to spend a few minutes with me. We talked about the band’s history, the new album, and the various guitars built from Warmoth parts - each one assuming the title of "brown guitar" - that have played such in important part in Scotti's musical journey.

When you were working on that first Skid Row album did you have any sense of what was to come and where it would take you? Were you one of those guys who was dead certain you were bound for fame, or did it catch you by surprise?

Scotti: Yes, it took me by surprise. It all just seemed too good to be true. Being a great band, in the studio with the well-known producer and having a record deal. I mean, how much better could it get? When I got into this, my goal was to just be able to make a living playing guitar in a band. I never had any expectations of becoming known on a national level. Of course it’s something you dream about, kind of like buying a lottery ticket. You don’t really think you’re going to win. So yes, I was surprised. Over and over again.

I know that Rachel is Skid Row’s primary songwriter. How much do his ideas change and morph once he presents a song to the band?

As far as songwriting goes, Rachel and Snake have a great chemistry. They are the primary songwriters, and their collaboration is essential to the band. But once they bring it to the band, it takes on a different life, it becomes Skid Row. I enjoy the process very much. Taking a rough sketch and turning it into a polished piece.

Skid Row has been through a few singers since the original lineup, but you all seem to have found solid footing and new energy with Erik in that spot. The new album The Gang’s All Here is just fantastic. How does it rank for you personally in the Skid Row catalog?

I remember while we were making Gangs All Here saying to the guys that it felt like we were doing something special. When we first started speaking with our producer Nick Raskulinecz said he felt we needed to get back to our roots. So that’s what we did. The whole process of making that record was a positive one. So overall, I would say it ranks pretty high in my personal experience of making records with the band.

Skid Row’s 2023 tour had a few stops and starts due to Erik’s health, but overall it seems a big success. The crowds in the US have been strong, but the images I see form overseas and South American look bonkers. Do you feel like the popularity of hard rock and metal music has remained stronger in those places than in the states?

In comparison to the United States, Europe and South America have a long history of being loyal to heavy metal and hard rock. There has always been a solid audience. That’s not to say we don’t have loyal fans in the US but there’s a noticeable difference when you travel to these countries and see the sizes of the crowds and their great enthusiasm.

You’ve told me your sound is basically a Marshall JCM900 with a Tube Screamer in front of it. Most players think of the JCM800 as the holy grail of rock guitar one. Why the 900?

The tone I use with Skid Row has a lot of gain. Normally I would adapt my tone according to what project I’m playing on. The 900 has always felt more comfortable to me than the 800. Although the 800 does serve a purpose, and a very good one. But in the end I’m not super picky about it. I’ll find something that works and use it.

And now you’re using a Kemper on stage for consistency. Did you model your own JCM900 rig, or are you using stock sounds?

I found a JCM 900 in the Kemper that I liked. I believe it was one of the stock sounds but I don’t recall. Then I added what they call “the green overdrive” which, as far as I can tell, is a TS 808 tube screamer. A few tweaks and I was there.

I know your famous Brown Guitar was made with a Warmoth soloist body. That guitar seems like a beast that has been everywhere. Has it finally been retired?

There are a number of brown guitars of various varieties. All retired at this point. But most recently, I built a Warmoth Brown guitar with a beautiful Birdseye maple neck and mahogany body, stainless steel fats, FU-Tone bridge, and a 3rd Power MagFrag Riotbucker in the bridge. I don’t recall what I put in the neck position but it’s a single coil. But the guitar turned out gorgeous and plays incredible.

Are you a tinkerer when it comes to guitars?

I’m not too picky about them, but if I hear something I don’t like I change it. Otherwise I just go with what’s there. I have a drawer full of old pickups. I’ve been a fan of Warmoth since seeing quarter page ads in the back of Guitar Player magazine decades ago.

I know we all have our little things. For example, I’m super picky about installing a certain kind of strap button on all my guitars. I know you prefer a Tele switch tip on your selector switches. What other things are you particular about when it comes to your guitars or amps?

I love working on my guitars. Nobody can get them playing the way I like better than I do. I work on the electronics, neck, adjustments, shims, intonation and everything Floyd Rose. The only thing I haven’t tried yet is anything that involves files. I still haven’t learned any fret dressing skills. But I really do enjoy working on the guitars. I highly recommend learning these basic skills. I believe that understanding how the guitar works can make you a better guitar player.

And I also have little things I like to do. For example, the tele switch tip. I use it on all my of super Strats. Another thing I do to personalize my guitars is to install a Japanese ¥50 coin under the strap button like a washer. This coin has a hole in the middle with some decorative flowers on the backside. I think it looks cool and adds a personal touch. it all started many years ago when we were touring Japan and a guitar tech needed a washer and that’s all that was available. It has become a thing for me.

Are you a guy who can adjust to any neck, or are you picky about the profile, nut width, and frets?

I pretty much adapt to things quickly. The two Les Paul’s that I’m currently touring with big fat 50 style necks. Comparing that to the speedy necks on the brown guitars is quite a contrast. But if something comes along I like, I use it. I think obsessing over the small stuff is a waste of time. But having said that, I can definitely tell when I don’t like something. 

We have both been fortunate enough to be involved in music since the 70’s and 80’s. I imagine the last 40 years have been an especially amazing ride for you. If you could go back now and impart some of your hard-earned wisdom to your younger self, what would you say?

Write a great song. And as a guitar player serve that song. Be open minded about music. Listen to everything! You will never be the best guitar player. There’s no such thing. Be the best guitar player you can be. Find your musical voice, and that is what will set you apart from everyone else.

What’s next for Scotti Hill? Does Skid Row have another album in their future?

Skid Row will most certainly release more albums. We still have some touring to do but we’re always writing and thinking about the next recording. I also have some solo material that has yet to be released. Maybe one of these days I’ll send it into the world. I’ve also been working on a few small side projects and playing on some records for friends. Recently took up slide again and love it. During the pandemic, I also started building guitar pedals from kits. That has turned into building my own circuits and my own pedals by hand. So far it’s just a hobby, but I may wind up going further than that. I’ve had a lot of requests for them. 

As I mentioned, I have been a long time Warmoth fan and user. I am flattered to have my name associated with your brand.