James Richard Southworth, known as Rachel Bolan, was born 9 February 1964 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. He began playing bass in adolescence and joined Dave Sabo’s band Darkness, renamed Skid Row in 1986, where he served as principal bassist and songwriter. Skid Row released Slave to the Grind (1989), Subhuman Race (1991), and Bigger Than Life (1996), with the single "18 and Life" reaching number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. After leaving the band in 1998, Rachel Bolan provided background vocals on Mötley Crüe’s Dr. Feelgood (1998) and played bass on Stone Sour’s House of Gold & Bones albums (2010‑2012). In 2026 he launched a solo career, issuing the singles "At War with Yourself" and "Anything but You" and the album Gargoyle of the Garden State, produced by Nick Raskulinecz. The album featured guests such as Danko Jones, Damon Johnson, Nuno Bettencourt, Snake Sabo, Steve Conte, Corey Taylor, Scotti Hill, and Rob Hammersmith. Rachel Bolan has also produced for Rockets to Ruin, Luchagors, and Godspeed.
