From Skid Row to YouTube Sensation: Erik Grönwall’s Journey and Viral Covers
In April 2024, the ex-frontman of the legendary heavy metal band Skid Row posted a viral cover of “I Will Always Love You” on YouTube, shocking the internet and amassing 1.1M views in just a couple of months!
Erik Grönwall, whose recent album with Skid Row includes tracks like “Not Dead Yet” and “World on Fire,” might seem an unlikely choice to tackle a Whitney Houston cover. However, his unique approach, combining rock elements with soul-stirring falsettos and angelic choruses, has captivated listeners.
Starting tenderly, Erik’s seamless voice navigates Whitney’s challenging vocal runs flawlessly, adding his own luster to the tones. He then transitions into a rock star’s trademark falsetto “Yeahh!” before a blissful saxophone solo.
Electric guitars amplify the song’s final chorus, blending with Erik’s crystal-clear voice and supernatural harmonies. Erik hits Whitney Houston’s iconic high notes with a powerful chest voice, showcasing his rock vocalist roots.
Stockholm-born rock and metal singer Erik Grönwall, aged 36 at the time of his viral cover, rose to fame in 2009 after winning the Swedish TV show “Idol.” His debut single “Higher” and eponymous album both peaked at #1 on the Swedish charts, with “Higher” securing the #2 spot on the Year-end charts.
A year later, Erik joined the Swedish hard rock/heavy metal band H.E.A.T. as their lead frontman, replacing original vocalist Kenny Leckremo. He recorded four studio albums with the band over a ten-year span until his departure in 2021 due to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
After a bone marrow transplant and a lengthy recovery process, Erik joined Skid Row for a brief period from 2022 to 2024, recording vocals for the band’s first album in 16 years: “The Gang’s All Here.” However, due to health concerns and the pressures of touring, Erik decided to step down.
In a powerful statement to Blabbermouth, Erik clarified: “I just wanna say, before the media starts with all this f*****g clickbait s**t, let me be perfectly clear. Listen carefully: I am not sick. And it’s not like I don’t wanna tour. I love being on the road. I just need a better balance. And, of course, we have tried to find the right balance together as a band multiple times. But at the end of the day, I realized that it was better for me to just step aside.”
Fortunately, Erik has found success on YouTube, posting covers, vlogs, and insights to his audience of 117k subscribers. His vocal covers, including “I Will Always Love You,” “Without You” by Mariah Carey, and “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi, have gone viral.
