Erik Grönwall Reflects on Illness, Recovery and New Music in To Hell & Back
Erik Grönwall has released a personal video titled To Hell & Back, in which he reflects on the defining moments of his career and the health battle that nearly ended it.
In the video, Grönwall recounts how he was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 33, describing the moment he received the news and the intensity of the treatment that followed, including a bone marrow transplant. During that period, he made a decision that would shape everything that came after, promising himself that he would continue singing for the rest of his life if he recovered.
Before his illness, Grönwall had already established himself as a recognizable name in rock. He first gained attention after winning Swedish Idol and later became the frontman of H.E.A.T., where he spent a decade recording and touring. That period played a key role in defining his identity as a singer and performer.
His recovery led to an unexpected opportunity when Rachel Bolan contacted him about joining Skid Row. The offer came only months after his transplant, and after consulting with his doctors, Grönwall accepted. Within six months, he was performing live with the band in Las Vegas and later recorded an album with them before stepping away to focus on his long-term recovery.
Following that period, he returned to performing and collaborated with Michael Schenker, while also beginning to focus on his own material. In the video, he explains that after years of working within bands, he wanted to explore his own identity as an artist and songwriter.
That process resulted in his upcoming solo album Bad Bones, which he describes as his most personal work to date. The album was developed in collaboration with producer Fredrik Thomander and H.E.A.T keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Jona Tee, with sessions taking place at Palma Music Studios.
To Hell & Back serves as both a summary of Grönwall’s journey and an introduction to this next phase of his career. The video presents a straightforward account of his experiences, from early success to illness and recovery, and places the new album in the context of that story.
The album Bad Bones is scheduled for release on May 22.
