In a new interview with Metal Hammer, guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo spoke at length about the making of the album with writer Clay Marshall.
When asked about memorable touring interaction with a band while “Skid Row” was being recorded, he said:
“The one thing that did stand out was DEF LEPPARD. They all stayed at the Americana. The guys and the guys in BON JOVI were friends, so I think Jon and Richie had said something to the DEF LEPPARD guys, like, ‘We’re working with this group that’s doing a record there, just to let you know. If you get a chance, say hello.’
Those guys set a tone for us that I still carry with me to this day. I think we all do. That is to be humble and gracious and kind to your fellow brethren in other bands and other musicians. They could not have been nicer. They really, really showed us that no matter how successful you are, you owe it all to the fans, and be humble in your success, and be gracious, and be kind.
We had seen that with the BON JOVI guys, but they were our friends, and I had grown up with Jon, so it was different. To see it from another band that I had admired from afar — I bought ‘On Through The Night’ at Licorice Pizza in L.A. because I looked at the back cover and it was a bunch of young kids. I was like, ‘Oh my god — I’ve got to have this record. These guys are, like, my age.’
It inspired me, because if these guys can do it, what’s stopping me? Here they are — I think it was the ‘Hysteria’ tour — and they came down to the studio and introduced themselves. All of them were just unbelievable.
Phil [Collen; DEF LEPPARD guitarist] came down to the studios, like, ‘Hey, I’m taking a helicopter over to the amphitheater. Do you want to come with me?’ I’m, like, ‘What?’ His mother was with him, and I flew on a helicopter with him over to do the soundcheck. I’m, like, ‘Are you kidding me, man?’ All of them, they were just so nice.
They had done multiples there, so they spent a few days there, and when they were leaving, they came down to the studio and brought us a bunch of bottles of champagne and wished us luck. It was the way you do things — so classy. It really, really taught us an incredible lesson, and I’m forever thankful.
In fact, when the news came out that they were being inducted into the [Rock And Roll] Hall Of Fame, I sent them an e-mail saying, ‘I don’t know if anyone is more deserving of this honor than you guys. I’ll never forget the summer of 1988 and how kind and considerate and gracious and wonderful and amazing and inviting you were to us, as a bunch of unknown idiots doing their first record.’ They passed that on to me, and I think we’ve been able to pass that on to other people as well. That was an incredible experience.”