Sebastian Bach returns to the Garden State for performance

Sebastian Bach: "As soon as we got on the parkway I could literally feel the vibe of Bon Jovi and Bruce [Springsteen] … and I thought, 'I want this.' "

Sebastian Bach is turning down the volume, at least offstage. "I went to my doctor last summer to check on my ears," the singer said by phone. "My doctor said my ears are fine, but if you don't start turning it down now, then in 10 years you'll wish that you had.

"I've always listened to music very loud," Bach said. "Now on my hourlong runs I don't crank my iPhone. There's actually an advantage to that. At a lower volume I'm hearing things in songs I've never heard before."

The former longtime New Jersey resident and original singer for Garden State hard rockers Skid Row performs on Friday in Sayreville. Bach's sensory wakeup call is especially timely given the news in April that AC/DC singer Brian Johnson was told by doctors that he could suffer complete hearing loss if he continued touring. Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose is taking Johnson's place on AC/DC's current and fall tours.

"When I read about Brian Johnson losing his hearing I couldn't think of a more nightmarish scenario," said Bach, 48. "I don't think I could live without playing or listening to music."

Bach's show on Friday will include a new feature, a short introductory set during which he will perform rearranged versions of several songs. "I've arranged the songs more in a way like the Broadway shows I've done," he said. "I've done this thing called a sound check for decades. You go to the venue and then sing songs for nobody. I thought, 'Why don't I sing four songs in front of people?' The fans have been loving it."

He said his main set will feature a high-energy dose of Skid Row classics like late 1980s and early 1990s hits such as "Youth Gone Wild," "18 and Life," "I Remember You" and "Slave to the Grind," as well as rarities like "Sweet Little Sister" and "Rattlesnake Shake." All showcase Bach's instantly recognizable, multi-octave vocals.

Questions about a Skid Row reunion have swirled for years. Bach left the band in 1996 on acrimonious terms, and Skid Row has carried on with different singers. He said he's open to the idea of joining forces once again. "I do think it would be cool," Bach said. "I have no animosity toward those guys."

Bach will be embarking on another tour later this year whose itinerary consists of bookstores rather than concert venues. His autobiography, "18 and Life on Skid Row," is scheduled for release on June 28.

Bach said he had to prove to his publishing company, Harper Collins, that he could write more than lyrics. "I locked myself in my bedroom for 2½ weeks and just wrote and they loved it," he said. "That was one of the greatest moments in my career."

The Peterborough, Ontario, native has much to take pride in. Skid Row has sold more than 20 million records worldwide, and their sophomore effort, "Slave to the Grind" (1991), hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. Bach's late father, an artist, painted the record's cover art. He has also released four well-received solo albums.

Bach has also starred on Broadway. He made his debut in 2000 playing the lead role in "Jekyll & Hyde" and appeared on the Great White Way in "The Rocky Horror Show." He played the title role in the national touring production of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

"Broadway looks for singers that can sing every night for months at a time, and I'm very lucky I can do that," Bach said. "The more I sing my voice just gets stronger."

Bach joined Sayreville-based Skid Row in 1987 when he was 19. The band's 1989 self-titled debut was an instant hit, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard chart and selling more than 5 million copies in America. The band released two additional original albums with Bach as well as a covers record.

Bach said he was excited to come to New Jersey from Detroit, where his previous band was based. "As soon as we got on the parkway I could literally feel the vibe of Bon Jovi and Bruce [Springsteen] and Little Steven [Van Zandt]. I could feel the Jersey vibe and I thought, 'I want this.' "