Edmonton Journal (www.canada.com) has issued the following report from Sandra Sperounes:

It's not often you hear someone jump for joy when they pick up the phone to do their bazillionth interview. But SEBASTIAN BACH is clearly enjoying every moment of his latest flirtation with fame.

"Right on!" his gravelly, surfer-dude voice chirps across the line from his hotel room in Ames, Iowa.

Long banished to performing in small clubs and appearing on reality TV shows, the ex-SKID ROW frontman is now back where he belongs - playing in huge hockey arenas as the opener for Axl Rose's latest version of GUNS N' ROSES.

"I'm getting ready to kick Edmonton's ass!" Bach yells. "I've waited so long to play an arena tour. This is perfect. It's so much fun ... I do prefer the huge stages because that's what I did. Plus, I'm just plain tall and I've got the moves and voice that deserves a big, huge place. I sing differently in an arena. I mean, I don't know if I do, but the way my voice sounds in an arena sounds pretty good to me."

Rose isn't doing interviews, but Bach is more than happy to talk about his crazy tour mate.

Yes, he's heard GN'R's long-delayed album, Chinese Democracy, and thinks it totally rocks.

Yes, openers EAGLES OF DEATH METAL were kicked off the tour in Cleveland, Ohio, but they've been replaced by HELMET, a metal act from the '90s. WHY?

Yes, Rose recently cancelled two dates - due to venue bylaws and illness - but Bach promises a killer show at Rexall Place.

Yes, GN'R doesn't usually get on stage until close to midnight, but it's not because Rose is waiting for his personal psychic to give him the OK.

"That's totally not true," laughs Bach. "Do you know who the psychic is? Sebastian Bach. I know every single person on this tour and there's no psychic. That's ridiculous.

"A lot of people aren't used to a true rock star like Axl, but I am. I've known him for a long time, I opened up the whole Use Your Illusion tour, so we've worked together before and we kick ass every night. It's a good relationship. I love the guy. It's a great tour. He's not motivated by money, he's motivated by his art."

But Bach, a 38-year-old Peterborough, ON native, really wants to blab about himself.

His story isn't quite as wild and wacky as GN'R's tale. It's actually kind of sad.

Bach, too, is estranged from his former bandmates.

After nine years of service and two hair-metal hits - '18 And Life', 'I Remember You' - Skid Row kicked him out in 1996, forgetting who was the real star of the band.

He tried to start his own groups, including LAST HARD MEN and starred in a few musicals, such as Jesus Christ Superstar. He also auditioned for VELVET REVOLVER - starring Rose's ex-bandmates - and won a role on Gilmore Girls. Bach plays Gil, a wannabe rockstar, on the mother-daughter TV show.

"I do pick and choose what I do," he says. "I watched the show, the dialogue really intrigued me, they talk almost as fast as I do. The references to pop culture, I thought, were well done, plus it was an hour-long show."
"I couldn't believe I was asked to create a character. I get along with everybody on the set. It's a fun environment to work in. And I like proving to people that I can do things like learn really hard lines and deliver them. I kick ass on the set, too."

He didn't have as much fun when he joined VH1's SuperGroup, a made-for-TV band featuring redneck rocker TED NUGENT and ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian. They ended up calling themselves DAMNOCRACY, bickering a lot and playing a show in Vegas.

"Music channels don't play rock videos anymore," says Bach of his decision to do a reality TV show.

"They may change the game, but I'm still a player. They can change the way you see rock 'n' roll, but I'm still one of the guys on there. I consider myself extremely fortunate in that respect. I ain't leaving your living room."

Damnocracy is officially dead - Bach plans to release a solo album after he finishes taping his last episode of Gilmore Girls in the new year. It will be his first record since 2001's Bach 2 Basics.

"Why would I do anything else but my solo stuff?" he says. "The people are finally understanding that I can do it without my old band, which is all I ever wanted. So that's what I'm doing."

Right on.