Dave Sabo
{{Short description|American guitarist (born 1964)}}
{{BLP sources|date=June 2010}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Dave "The Snake" Sabo
| image = Dave Sabo – Wacken Open Air 2014 03.jpg
| caption = Sabo with Skid Row in 2014
| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{Birth date and age|1964|9|16}}}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| birth_place = Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Musician
- songwriter
}}
| instruments = Guitar
| years_active = 1978–present
| current_member_of = Skid Row
| past_member_of = Bon Jovi
| website = {{URL|skidrow.com}}
}}
David Michael Sabo (born September 16, 1964), nicknamed The Snake, is an American musician best known as one of the guitarists of heavy metal band Skid Row.{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Jim |title=Dave 'Snake' Sabo And Rachel Bolan On Skid Row's Approach To Business, Branding |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimryan1/2024/01/31/dave-snake-sabo-and-rachel-bolan-on-skid-rows-approach-to-business-branding/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Skid Row's Dave Sabo Shares Opinion on Grunge: 'They Provided New Voices and Presented as Something Different From Us' |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/skid_rows_dave_sabo_shares_opinion_on_grunge_they_provided_new_voices_and_presented_as_something_different_from_us.html |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}
Biography
=Pre-Skid Row=
Sabo was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey{{Cite web|last=Jordan|first=Chris|title=Happy Birthday, Jon Bon Jovi! A look back as the New Jersey rocker turns 59|url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/03/02/jon-bon-jovi-birthday-new-jersey-rocker-turns-59/6888090002/|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Asbury Park Press|language=en-US}} and grew up in nearby Sayreville, in the same neighborhood as childhood friend Jon Bon Jovi.Makin, Robert. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mycentraljersey/access/1844714981.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+08%2C+2000&author=Robert+Makin&pub=Courier+-+News&desc=KISS+IT+GOODBYE&pqatl=google "Kiss it Goodbye"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105151433/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mycentraljersey/access/1844714981.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+08%2C+2000&author=Robert+Makin&pub=Courier+-+News&desc=KISS+IT+GOODBYE&pqatl=google |date=November 5, 2012 }}, Courier News (New Jersey), June 8, 2000. Accessed February 15, 2011. "Lifelong members of the Kiss Army, such as guitarist Dave 'Snake' Sabo of Sayreville and music writer Jeff Kitts of Scotch Plains{{nbsp}}..." His mother, Dorothy, raised him and his brothers as a single mother. Inspired by the likes of Kiss, Aerosmith, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Black Sabbath, as well as the Rolling Stones, Sabo began playing guitar at the age of 14 on a $40 Sears guitar his mother had purchased for his older brother years earlier. His guitar teacher was Al Parinello, who also taught Jon Bon Jovi. {{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p3734/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Bon Jovi|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=June 10, 2010}} Sabo was also a promising athlete, even being professionally scouted while a high school baseball player. Seeing Kiss play live as a teenager was the catalyst for Sabo to give up sports and focus on music full time."Snake Sabo (Skid Row) 2013 Interview on the Signals of Intuition". The Signals of Intuition. 99.1 CJAM-FM. May 28, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
Sabo's friendship with Jon Bon Jovi led to him becoming the original lead guitarist for Bon Jovi in 1983. Sabo took part in a short three-week tour to support a demo version of Bon Jovi's debut single "Runaway" which became a surprise New York City-area hit in 1983.L.M Matin. Jon Bon Jovi: The Sinner and the Saint.: The New Unauthorised Biography. BookBaby, August 20, 2013; Chapter 4 Sabo's time in Bon Jovi was brief, and he was soon replaced by Richie Sambora as the band's lead guitarist. While working in Toms River, New Jersey, Sabo met local bassist Rachel Bolan and the pair agreed to form a band which would eventually become famous American rock band Skid Row.
=Skid Row=
{{Main Article|Skid Row (American band)}}
File:Dave Sabo – Wacken Open Air 2014 02.jpg 2014]]
Bolan and Sabo recruited guitarist Scotti Hill, drummer Rob Affuso and vocalist Matt Fallon and christened the new band Skid Row. Fallon was replaced by Sebastian Bach in 1987 and the band began playing shows in clubs throughout the eastern United States.{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5444/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Skid Row|last=Weber|first=Barry|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=June 10, 2010}} With some help from childhood friend Jon Bon Jovi, Sabo was instrumental in securing a record deal for Skid Row with Atlantic. In 1989, the band released their debut album, Skid Row, which was an instant success. The record went multi-platinum and produced the hit singles "18 and Life", "I Remember You" and "Youth Gone Wild". Skid Row turned in a heavier direction on their double-platinum follow-up, the 1991 album "Slave to the Grind".
=Other work=
Sabo played lead guitar on "Trial of the Soul", a track by the band Kryst the Conqueror featuring former members of the Misfits as well as Jeff Scott Soto of the Yngwie Malmsteen band. Scott is credited under the pseudonym "Kryst the Conqueror" as he was under contract to Malmsteen and forced to remain anonymous.{{cite web|url=http://www.misfitscentral.com/bands/kryst-the-conqueror.php |title=Kryst the Conqueror on Misfits Central |publisher=Misfitscentral.com |access-date=May 6, 2019}}
Sabo was briefly a touring guitarist for Anthrax during their "Attack of the Killer A's" tour in early 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1424939/anthrax-and-sebastian-bach-swap-guitarists/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927001154/http://www.mtv.com/news/1424939/anthrax-and-sebastian-bach-swap-guitarists/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2017 |title=Anthrax And Sebastian Bach Swap Guitarists |publisher=Mtv.com |date=February 2, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2019}}
Family
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commonscatinline}}
{{Skid Row}}
{{Bon Jovi}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sabo, Dave}}
Category:Skid Row (American band) members
Category:American heavy metal guitarists
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:American lead guitarists
Category:Entertainers from Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Category:People from Sayreville, New Jersey