Izzy Stradlin - Ride On

Izzy Stradlin, Ride On (1999)

Ride On marks the beginning of Izzy's ride on into obscurity.

Available only in Japan, until recently when iTunes began offering them, this LP marks the beginning of the 10-songs-low-production-value era that Iz continues to this day.

Featuring the usual solid lineup of Izzy, Taz Bentley, Rick Richards and Duff McKagan, this really is a guitar album.

The songs are pretty light-hearted, with subjects ranging from love, pretty girls, and California, to motorcyles and the Mexican border.

"Here Comes the Rain" is the real classic track - it has a quiet interlude in the middle and at the end reminiscent of 1971 Rolling Stones.

"Spazed" is an easy highlight. "Needles" has the great melody that we rely on from Iz - and it's not a drug song.

"Trance Mission" is a short instrumental that I would describe as a cross between "Hotel California" and Dick Dale.

"Here Comes the Rain," "California," and the title track all have that Stonesy/"Can't You Hear Me Knockin'"/Sticky Fingers guitar interlude that really makes the album.

It's these quiet moments that demonstrate how these songs were all made to be performed live (which is probably why Izzy toured in support of this album). Izzy did a very short tour of Japan in the Spring of 2000 (with Duff on bass), and has not toured as a solo artist since. He played nearly every song from this record, as well as selections from his first 2 LPs.

At the Osaka show, Duff sings "Attitude" (from The Spaghetti Incident).

Izzy's only taken the stage rarely since those dates. He's played as a guest with Adler's Appetite, Velvet Revolver, and with Axl's new Guns N' Roses in 2006.

You can watch a fan-made video for "Here Comes the Rain (live from Japan)" below.



-Mack