Duff on VR, GN'R & Rock N Roll Hall of Fame

Joe Bosso of MusicRadar.com recently conducted an interview with Duff. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

MusicRadar.com: If my calculations are correct, next year Guns N' Roses are eligible to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Duff: "Yeah, there are a lot of 'ifs' in that…

"I'd be lying to you if I said I didn't know it was coming. I've been made aware of it. I don't sit around and do the calculations: 'Oh yeah, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, that's where I gotta be…'

"So yeah, I guess we could be eligible. But I think it's a real 'cross-that-bridge-when-you-come-to-it' kind of thing. I haven't done any thorough thinking about it or reaching out to anyone about it.

"My only experience with the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was when VR played it and we were inducting Van Halen. That whole band was supposed to be there, including David Lee Roth — we were going to do a song with him. It all started falling apart in the two weeks leading up to the gig. It was sad to watch…

"We were just the innocent band that was there to play Van Halen songs, and we saw their whole thing crumble. To see Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar show up, when it was supposed to be everybody... Michael and Sammy were really cool guys and good sports about it, but they took all the heat over the situation. A lot of heat.

"I don't know if I want to set myself up for heat. It's going to be a debacle, isn't it? A press debacle. I just don't know what else to say about it, Joe. I have to come up with some good quotes!" [laughs]

MusicRadar.com: Let's talk about Velvet Revolver. I spoke with Slash before the holidays, and he indicated to me that things would be figured out soon. [McKagan laughs] Then, around the start of 2011, rumors circulated that Corey Taylor might be the new vocalist.

Duff: "We recorded a bunch of songs with Corey. I think he's fucking great. Whether he's in VR or not…'cause I'm at a point where I can see things with a bigger view, you know, it's not all about me… I think he's the best voice of a new generation. The best rock 'n' voice out there. He's got a lot of positive energy. I'd be proud to do anything with him.

"But the truth is…I can't see Velvet Revolver happening till fall, maybe. Slash is touring, I'm just starting to tour… We'll just see. Joe, I just don't have an answer. I don't."

MusicRadar.com: On to another group — GUNS N' ROSES. Last year, you played with the band in England, but afterwards — and I want to make sure I get this right — you said that you felt it was a mistake to have done so.

Duff: "It wasn't a mistake. Everything happens in life for a reason. See, I have a another business that has nothing to do with music at all, and my partners are with a London-based firm. As a result, I go to London from time to time. So I'm in London on a business trip, and the hotel manager is showing me and my wife to our room. Nothing's odd at all, everything's fine. Then the manager says to me, 'You're playing tonight.' And I'm like, 'No, I'm not playing.' He looked at me strangely, and then he said, 'Is it going to be a problem if your room is next to Axl's [Rose]?' And I said, 'No, there won't be any problem.' At that moment, I said to myself, 'This is the time when it's gonna happen, that he and I reconnect.'

"You know, say what you want, but some of us guys went through a bunch of shit together. You can't take that away, and you can't put yourself in our positions. People have quipped wise about our situation, but what it comes down to is that you're in a room with a guy you went to fucking war with. Everybody said we wouldn't make it, that we sucked. We played gigs to three people. But we believed in ourselves and we got huge, and we went through all of that together, too.

"I hadn't talked to Axl in some time, but you know… I'm a grown-up. Martial arts has really taught me how to deal with a lot of things. The biggest thing is, Don't be a pussy. Not just with that situation, but in general — in life."

Read the entire interview from MusicRadar.com.

Adler: Singer "wasted a lot of our time and a lot of our money"

metal sludge
In a video interview with Gary Gittelson of Metal Sludge, Steven Adler talked about the recent exit of the Adler's Appetite's lead singer, Rick Stitch.

"I think he went about it the wrong way, 'cause I didn't even find out that he quit the band from him, I found out from someone else."

"Right now we're still going on with our tours. Our tour starts May 5. We have other singers that we've been talking to — even before he decided to quit, we were talking to other singers. And we wanna get more of a solid guitar player, 'cause the one that we hired for the European tour wasn't as solid as we thought."

"It's a shame that the singer we were working with decided not to work with us. Because we're going into the studio in the next three weeks, which he's gonna miss out on. And what he did to me personally I didn't appreciate. We were planning on him being in the band — that's why we did the recordings with him. So, basically, he wasted a lot of our time and a lot of our money. In fact, if he was gonna do it that way, we would have thrown him out a long time ago, we would have never used him."

"I think he's an asshole for doing it to me, or doing it to us. But God bless him all the same. . . I haven't talked to him yet. That's the kind of person I'm dealing with. I found out that he was quitting the band because somebody told me he saw it on his Facebook. I had no idea. So you can take any story you want out of that, 'cause that's how it happened."

"The next person that we work with is gonna be... obviously, he's gonna be a better singer, and a better all-around person that what we were dealing with."

A Hard Day’s Night Meets Inception in Duff McKagan Movie

gibson.com
Former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan is making a film to coincide with the release of his band’s new album. Duff McKagan’s Loaded is releasing The Taking on April 19.

“We’re making a movie for it which is hopefully as funny as we think it’s going to be,” McKagan told The CelebrityCafe.com.

The rocker said that the movie is about the band’s drummer being kidnapped, that it takes place in one day and that it might be a dream.



“We kind of act [in the movie],” he said. “It’s kind of A Hard Day’s Night/Inception… is it a dream?”

McKagan also talked about his hatred for reality television, despite being on the E! series Married to Rock.

“If you notice in Married I love my wife. I do. I love my wife. It's no secret around my house since reality shows came, it’s [expletive] garbage,” he said. “Then my wife [says] ‘They want me to be in a reality show.’ ‘Good for you, honey. Go do that thing.’ ‘But they kind of want you in it, too.’ And I’m kinda like ‘No. Nuh-uh. Why do they want me?’ ‘Well, it’s called Married to Rock and you’re like the rock that I'm married to.’

“So I’m married and when you’re married when you’re right, you’re wrong and when you’re wrong, you’re wrong. So if you notice in that show I’m kind of like only in it… But no, it hasn't changed. I hate reality… I don’t watch any of it.”

Oh My God (Evader Remix)

in their own words 2

"Rock musicians, like the guys in this band, anyway, are all such fucking sensitive and volatile individuals. That's where the drug problems have come from."

-Slash, 1992

"There was that rape charge, which is basically old news ... Three of us supposedly OD'd. We had been busted on drug charges in England and had been dropped from our label. I was supposedly this bisexual heroin addict who had AIDS and was into small animals. There's been a rumor a week about this band ..."

-Axl, June 1987

"It's strange, but tragedy and pain seem to dog our career. A lot of weird shit happens to this band. We seem to attract it. I dunno, I can't help wondering if the reason Slash and Izzy were so strung out on 'certain substances' recently was their way of attempting to hide and numb the pain they felt."

-Duff, June 1989

"The only thing that bothered me was the drug thing. I've dabbled in it and everything, but nothing like what you hear that they do! When I went into it I thought I'd be walking into an opium den!"

-Matt Sorum, September 1991

"Drugs were doing me in. I felt like shit all the time. I went somewhere where I knew I couldn't score, I had some Codeine with me and a few Valium to take the edge off, and I basically sweated it out. I made it through the 72-hour period but then I started drinking like a fish. I gave that up as well a couple of months later. I've been told that alcohol's no good for American-Indian blood which I've got in me. Alcohol really does fuck me up. It makes me crazy. I become impossible to deal with. I knew that I couldn't afford to fuck up anymore. I'd used up all my 'Get Out of Jail Free' cards."

-Izzy, 1992

"Axl is just another version of the Ayatollah."

-Slash, 1986

"I must say that Axl has fucking balls."

-Duff, January 1990

"I sing in about five or six different voices that are all a part of me, it's not contrived ..."

-Axl, June 1987

"Before, Axl used to be one of those guys who, if he thought someone was looking at him weird, would just haul off and smack 'em. And sometimes, y'know, the people he went for weren't even looking at him."

-Izzy, October 1991

"Axl's, you know, a different kind of cat."

-Matt Sorum, September 1991

"Maybe it would've been best for the purists if we'd died or broken up."

-Axl, 1992

"It's a brotherhood."

-Duff, July 1991

"This is the most highly organized unorganized bunch of people in the whole world."

-Axl, January 1991

"Steven Adler's sacking will be the last line-up change we make. The current band is it. I wouldn't want to see anyone else go."

-Slash, October 1991

"We may be fuck-offs in life, but we're not fuck-offs in the studio."

-Slash, September 1991

"There's no way of getting this band in any kind of regimented routine."

-Slash, October 1991

"There's only one photograph of the six of us in existence, can you believe that? Getting all the members of Guns N' Roses in the same room at the same time is very difficult."

-Matt Sorum, October 1991

Chinese Democracy Can Now Be Yours For Just $1.99

via Blabbermouth
BEST BUY, which was the exclusive US retailer for Axl Rose's decade-plus-in-the-making album Chinese Democracy, is offering a special deal on copies of the CD. You can now purchase the album via the bestbuy.com web site for just $1.99.

Chinese Democracy was a commercial disappointment upon its release in November 2008, selling just 614,000 copies in the US so far, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The CD was officially certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 3, 2009 for shipments in the United States in excess of one million copies.

Best Buy paid $14 million for 1.6 million copies of the album, according to Hits.

Aside from Billboard and Spinner interviews and answering a number of fan questions at a GN'R message boards, singer Axl Rose has done no promotion for the album.

Guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal threw cold water on remarks by fellow Guns axeman Dj Ashba, who was quoted as saying at a party in Los Angeles late last year that the band was "throwing around a bunch of ideas" for a new album. Thal took to his Facebook page to set the record straight, saying, "We've yet to get in a room and write as a band. (I) know Dj mentioned something about a new album, but don't want y'all expecting anything soon. Other than old unreleased songs, songs need to be written, jammed, recorded, tweaked, re-worked, re-recorded, mixed, re-mixed, mastered, re-mastered, art, new art, label approval, a game plan from the label that Axl approves . . . not as simple when it's on such a big scale . . . Just don't want ya getting frustrated if a GN'R album doesn't happen quick."

Chinese Democracy came out 15 years after its predecessor, 1993's all-covers-album "The Spaghetti Incident?". It took more than a decade to record, during which every original member of the band except Rose was replaced and four different producers were used.

Nevertheless, Rose hinted in a 2002 interview that the lengthy sessions for the record had left him with enough material for two follow-ups.

Discussion.

Rick Stitch and Alex Grossi Quit Adler's Appetite

via Blabbermouth
Vocalist Rick Stitch has left Adler's Appetite in order to concentrate on his Los Angeles-based original project Ladyjack.

Stitch's Ladyjack bandmate Robo (guitar), who was filling in for Adler's Appetite guitarist Alex Grossi on the latter group's most recent European tour, will not be continuing with Adler's outfit.

Grossi recently left Adler's Appetite in order to focus on his work with the resurrected Quiet Riot.

"I am extremely grateful to have had the experience of writing, recording and performing with Steven and company," says Stitch. "But it is now time for me to concentrate all of my time on Ladyjack."

As reported earlier this month, Steven Adler will be returning to VH1's Celebrity Rehab, for its fifth season.

Remaining Adler's Appetite members:

Steven Adler (Guns N' Roses) - Drums
Michael Thomas (Faster Pussycat) - Guitar
Chip Z'nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff) - Bass

Analyzing the Official Band Drawing on DjAshba.com

I see this as a clever artist's subtle way of showing his thoughts on the way GN'R is currently operated.

The cords wrapped around everyone (which are all connected to Axl's mic) seem to symbolize that Axl has all of the members bound and gagged.

Yes, Axl is tied up by the cords too, but that just symbolizes how Axl causes his own problems and limitations.

As you can see, the mic is placed next to his head, meaning he could untie himself since he has the end of the string. In other words, only Axl has the power to fix the problems he has bestowed upon himself. However, instead of doing what would be the most logical thing, and using the end of the cord (the mic) to untie himself, he seems to be attempting to force the cords off of him, which symbolizes how he attempts to force FakeGN'R on the general public.

Thoughts?

Written by: bacardimayne

Suggesting a New Album on its Heels, GN'R Headlines Rock in Rio for Third Time

http://www.rockinrio.com.br/es/america-latina-%C2%BFdonde-llevar-el-mayor-festival-de-musica-del-mundo/
Axl's Chinese Democracy tour has stopped in Brazil six times in the last decade. This latest announcement suggests that a new album is on the way.

Alan Niven Chat Part Three

RockAAA.com
Adlers departure – beginning of the end for GN’R

In the final part of Alan Niven’s chat with RockAAA he says Adler was his own worst enemy and Stradlin was the band’s heart and soul

Former Guns N' Roses manager Alan Niven has told Steven Adler to stop feeling sorry for himself, and playing the victim, insisting the band had no other option than to fire the then-drug addicted drummer.

Adler was booted out of the band in 1990 because of an alleged heroin addiction but ever since Adler has campaigned for a reunion and claimed his band mates turned their backs on him.

But Niven reveals that in addition to his substance abuse problems he was also having problems playing the band's new tracks leaving them with no option but to show him the door.
Niven explained:

"I agreed with the final exasperated decision (to fire Adler), with reluctance, because once you change the structure of the molecule that is the band it can become volatile and unstable.

And, from an emotional point of view, you don’t want to lose anyone along the way but we had tried all we could to help Steven win his battle with smack, but only he could win his war.

We tried to get him into the material but he just could not connect with Axl's longer piano based compositions.

There were constant complaints that Steven would not play the pieces consistently and it annoys me even today that Steven plays victim as he was given every chance over a long period of time.

What is more he had been paid composer royalties he did not earn as a courtesy – no one fucked him over but himself."



Niven does believe the departure of the drummer set the ball rolling on the ultimate destruction of the band of which none of the members’ subsequent projects – Axl's Chinese Democracy-era Guns N' Roses line-up or Velvet Revolver – have ever harnassed the magic they created as a quintet.

He added, "How often do you hear those records on the radio or on satellite compared to how often do you hear a track from Appetite? The latter is a daily occurrence here – almost 25 years later.

The crack appeared when Steven was fired and burst open when Izzy decided he had had enough. Izzy, was, to me, the heart of the soul of the band."

Part One
Part Two

"Let's Start a Rumor"

Stuff.co.nz
The Original Guns N' Roses

Last night I sat and watched Guns N' Roses in New York: Live at The Ritz 1988 - a bootleg DVD of a famous concert recorded as an MTV special just after Guns N' Roses had released its breakthrough debut album, Appetite for Destruction.

I consider Appetite for Destruction to be the greatest rock record released in my lifetime - which is to say it's the most special to me; the most relevant. I remember the impact of that album, its initial bite, every time I play it. It's also an album I still play - not just a nostalgic favourite to ponder; it's a record that gets better the more you play it.

There are plenty of clips of the Ritz concert on YouTube, but this was the first time I sat down to watch the entire show. I saw Guns N' Roses in Auckland in 1993 - I was still very much a fan but the pomposity of their double album Use Your Illusion I and II and the change of lineup - augmented with sexy saxophone ladies and backing singers - was far closer to the ego of W. Axl Rose than to the fire and attitude of the original quintet.

The original Guns N' Roses was everything a rock band - especially for that time - should be. They were lifted up above and beyond the other hair-metal/glam bands of the time. Deservedly. Guns N' Roses might have had the look, the attitude, the image, the "bad-boy" appeal making them desirable to men and women with the cliché that the men wanted to be them and the women wanted to be with them - but, most importantly, these guys had the chops. They could play. They were sloppy too - which is important.

There are several mistakes throughout the Ritz concert - guitars out of tune, a couple of fluffed drum-fills, some improvised sections - risks - that don't always pay off. And this all helps the feel of the concert - makes it real. Guns N' Roses was a good band - a great band - and part of the reason the band was so great was because it offered a vital, raw, visceral experience.

It was also a band that worked because every single member contributed to the sound.

Steven Adler used to be written off as sloppy, a drunk, a junkie. He of course - due to all of those things - has now (mostly) written himself off. But he was a great drummer - the Ritz concert shows him in fine form. Those sloshy hi-hats driving the beat - he might be metal's Charlie Watts or Ringo Starr; underrated, maligned and for no real reason. Listen closely: this is an innovative player who never gets in the way of the song. He also had a great drum sound. I'd rather listen to him than Lars Ulrich or most of the shoebox-beating double-bass drum-hards that followed.

Izzy Stradlin is one of the great rhythm guitar players, important to the band for his songwriting contributions. He's also an anchor on stage - essentially the straight man (however ironic/inappropriate the term "straight" might be in conjunction with this band).

Duff McKagan gives the band a lot of its punk energy and feel. Check out the versions of "Nightrain" and "Out Ta Get Me" from the gig. It's Duff driving it - he embodies the punk feel that was an important (often overlooked) part of the GN'R vibe/look/sound.

Slash might have a limited scope and might be killing his own legacy with everything he attempts to do post-GN'R but hear (and watch) him in context. He is a huge presence - uber-cool - and he is the most distinctive, influential guitarist of his generation. He can widdly-widdly (that solo to "Nightrain" is a ripper) but he can also kick back and play simple. That oily riff to "Sweet Child O' Mine" is something every guitarist has a go at; a signature sound. And Slash has several signature riffs/solos - his voice is felt as a guitarist. In that sense you can draw a line - there's Hendrix and the Yardbirds gang (Clapton, Beck, Page) then there's Eddie Van Halen. After that it's Slash - and he's been the lasting presence in rock guitar. Really it's only Jack White that follows - and, well, he's not exactly breaking new ground.

Axl Rose lives inside every song during the Ritz performance, the way a lead singer (for this style of music) must. His sashaying snake on roller-skates dance might have some obvious antecedents (cf: Jagger, Mick and Tyler, Steven) but it's his move-set; he owns it. And that voice - as much as it polarises - watch him in his prime, he's a great rock vocalist.

Live at The Ritz is an important document - it's a simple, sweaty gig from a simple, sweaty rock band. Every song is a hit - it's essentially the Appetite album (minus a couple of songs) and an early version of their "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" cover. It's a band with the world at its feet. It's a band with nothing to lose and everything to prove - an arrogant nonchalance pervades it. There's a unity though - a solidarity in this group providing/creating a group-sound. It was always vulnerable too, always fragile. We know that it fell apart and it's easy to see why - but this moment, frozen in time, shows them to be the best.

Now, let's start a rumour because - well, why not?

I believe that despite all the bad blood, the comments directed toward one another from Axl and Slash, that the original Guns N' Roses lineup will re-form and tour. I believe this. I think it will happen. And I think it should happen.

Appetite for Destruction is the best kind of masterpiece: created for the need to put a lifestyle down on paper, on record. The distillation of influences - if it's not that good then there would be several albums that sound like it. But there are none that come close. This is perfectly imperfect rock'n'roll created by the imperfectly perfect rock'n'roll band of the 1980s.

The 1990s might have killed Guns N' Roses - and what's left of the legacy might be getting chopped up by all of them now (I blame Slash the most) but I think they'll give in and re-form. Not only that - I think they should.

What do you think? And since we're just dealing with a hypothetical here - would you be interested in seeing the original Guns N' Roses? Would you like to hear Appetite for Destruction in its entirety played live?

And while I'm interested in your opinion/s, let me end with this fact: Guns N' Roses was the last great rock'n'roll band - the last to deliver on record and live, the last to live the lifestyle and go from zero-to-hero (and back again).

Postscript: Don't worry about Steven Adler - he plays in a Guns N' Roses tribute band! He'll be able to deliver.

GN'R Tipped to Play Rock in Rio in September

Globo
Guns N' Roses is listed for Rock in Rio, says newspaper.

Guns N' Roses is tipped to play at Rock in Rio in September, acording to Ancelmo Goia's column in Globo news.

Roberto Medina, the event organizer, spoke last week with the band's frontman, Axl Rose, and chances are good that the group is confirmed in the festival.

The official announcement is scheduled for Sunday, March 20.

Guns N' Roses has performed in the second and third editions of the event in 1991 and 2001.

"Axl Was Always Axl – He Just Became More Axl"

Rock AAA
In part 2 of Alan Niven's exclusive interview with RockAAA he explains his time in the early days with GN'R, how he steered them to glory and his eventual fall-out with Axl

Reported by Eric MacKinnon

“Axl was always Axl – he just became 'more Axl," smiles former Guns N' Roses manager Alan Niven.

The former manager of the band who earned the moniker of the Most Dangerous Band in the World – the hard way – knows only too well what happens if you get on the wrong side of GN'R main man Axl Rose.

Niven was unceremoniously fired by Rose in 1991 despite having helped steer the band to global superstardom and as he reveals, rescuing the band from the brink of being dropped by their label.

Guns N' Roses were chewing up managers across the industry and eating up the patience of Geffen Records when Niven, at the third time of asking, finally relented and took the band under his wing.

"When Tom Zutaut (Geffen A&R) came and asked me, for the third time, to talk with the band, things were in pretty poor shape," began Niven in an exclusive interview with RockAAA.

The band had already blown their advance, divvied up a significant amount of money on Zutaut's office floor, stuffed it into their boots and gone and raged down the length and breadth of Sunset Boulevard.

Their hellion rep was absolutely deserved and Ed Rosenblatt (President of Geffen) apparently told Zoots I had but three months to get matters productive. Zoots forgot to mention the time limit to me as it happens. I had, at first, been reluctant to divide my focus.

I had another band newly signed to Capitol and secondly after doing some research into GN'R I thought Zoots had bitten off more than anyone could chew. But he was desperate to get help with them, all other major management firms having passed on the band.

So I agreed to take a meeting and go see them and I caught the vibe from Izzy and Duff."

Niven played his part in harnessing the raw energy of the band and lit a fire under their then-slow-burning debut record Appetite for Destruction which subsequently exploded from sales of just 250,000 and into the millions but he confessed nobody knew just how big a hit they had on their hands.

"No one had any idea the album would be as big as it became and there was an element of magic in that occurring and if anyone claims that they always knew it would be so mega they are either certifiable or a liar.

I thought the band would be a work project, something of an underground entity, and hoped to maybe replicate a Metallica development.

As for "Sweet Child O' Mine" the momentum had hit in March of 1988, with "Welcome to the Jungle" getting MTV airplay after being ignored for six or so months – so I by that time I figured we would have a real shot at going beyond two million sales in the US.

How far it went still amazes me and it is at almost 18,000,000 in the US today alone.

And yes, I was somewhat stunned when Rosenblatt asked me, in December '87, to prep the band for a follow up album – after all we had been through at that point, and still getting to a quarter of a million sales, on the strength of touring alone, with no airplay and no MTV support.

My point was simple – imagine what might happen if we got that support."

In addition to both smash hit singles "Sweet Child O' Mine" and Welcome to the Jungle" the band also recorded a video for "It's So Easy" but it was quickly canned with Niven admitting the subject matter was more than a little risqué.

"Axl had a propensity to want to make videos that were about him rather than about the band and he shot film involving Erin Everly that was not exactly family fare,” explained Niven.

"Under the guise of persuading everyone that the album was in danger of being overexposed I managed to get the video shelved. I think, in light of the fact that after his divorce from Erin that Axl apparently was very keen to get every copy and destroy the video, I might have, again, made the right decision for him."

The successes kept coming for the band and Niven who oversaw pre-production of their next three albums and even pulled off a masterstroke by successfully renegotiating the band's record deal – something rock legends Aerosmith or Whitesnake had been able to do.

He continued, "the management of the bands you mentioned went and asked for a re-negotiation in light of their sales and were rebuffed.

Informed of this I obviously realised that if one asked one would not get. Oliver’s wretched bowl would not be refilled with crumbs from the label table so I did what I obviously had to do which was to tell David Geffen that if he did not improve their remuneration then the album he desperately wanted to sell prior to his sale of DGC would remain an illusion and that I would take the band out on the road, headlining for the first time, where they would make pots of money and have a great time.

David wasn’t thrilled, but he came to the table. That was the difference."

But in 1991 the relationship between Niven and Rose splintered and there was only ever going to be one winner as the frontman gave their manager the boot in a move he believes was simply to push through a control issue Niven would never have allowed.

But Niven remains philosophical on Axl and the rest of the band suggesting success didn't instantly change them although the way other people acted towards them did.

He added, "the famous tend to have to catch up with the change of behaviour in those who come to think of them as famous.

As Joe Walsh put it 'I stayed the same and everyone else changed.' However the lyric in 'Life's Been Good to Me' goes, put simply, success amplifies characteristics, and he who does not know himself will be defined by fame and consumed by ego and arrogance.

Axl was always Axl – he just became 'more Axl.'"

Perry Farrell Says Duff McKagan Got Annoyed With Jane's Addiction

Rolling Stone
Jane's Addiction hasn't had it easy these last few years, as plans for the band's first new album since 2003 have been repeatedly sidelined by delays and the abrupt exits of bassists Eric Avery and Duff McKagan. Singer-ringmaster Perry Farrell describes the wait as excruciating. "It's definitely like, as Brian Wilson puts it: The dry hump," he tells Rolling Stone. "We're waiting and waiting and waiting to release this record. It's like watching something that you really want. You become an animal. Your desire grows and grows."

Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro and drummer Stephen Perkins are reaching beyond the Zeppelin-sized swirl of 1988's Nothing's Shocking and 1990's Ritual de lo Habitual to a modern, forward-looking sound with the help of Dave Sitek from the Brooklyn art-rockers TV On the Radio.

The band's evolving sound comes after several false starts. In 2008, Jane's reunited with founding bassist Avery for the first time since the original band's 1991 breakup, but he quit again after a busy year of touring and some recording sessions produced by Trent Reznor. His replacement was McKagan, which seemed like a masterstroke until he also quit after just six months of live gigs and songwriting work.

"He wasn't really comfortable hanging with us," says Farrell. "We thought it was a good idea, but it ended up that we annoyed him."

Songs written with McKagan might still make the final album, including the rocker "Soulmate," though dramatically reworked with Sitek. "We had probably 15 songs, and then he pulled out and we went into a little bit of a tailspin. It was a drag, man," Farrell recalls of McKagan's exit. "Some of the guys in the group said, screw it – they didn't want to use any of the material we had written with Duff because they were so pissed off. I said, 'Don't be mad at the material, because we have some good things there.'"

Sitek has declined the band's invitations to tour this year as live bassist with the Los Angeles alt-rock trailblazers, so when the album is finally done, Jane's Addiction will begin searching for a bass-player one more time. "My head's not in that place right now. There's no lack of great musicians out there," insists Navarro. "The prospects are good. I am super-inspired and enthusiastic about what we're doing right now - probably more so than I have been in a decade."

Alan Niven Tips GN'R Reunion For Live Ground Zero Event

RockAAA.com
In the first of an exclusive three part interview with former Guns N' Roses manager Alan Niven, he disagrees with Slash about reunion but agrees with him on Axl.

Former Guns N' Roses manager Alan Niven has laughed off suggestions the original lineup will reunite for a special appearance at next year’s SuperBowl – but he has insisted they will eventually put their differences aside and return to the stage together.

And in keeping with tradition he says any reformation of the original five members of the group once dubbed the "most dangerous band in the world" would have to be a global event.

In a RockAAA exclusive he said, "forget it – the SuperBowl is an absurd circumstance. It would be better to do a pay per view and play a full set 'Live from Ground Zero' when the World Trade Centre rises up from the ashes.

That’s truly Phoenix like – resurrection and resilience expressed in a relevant circumstance – now that would be cool.

And if Axl started packing now he might make the stage on time.

My 25-year-old son saw them play with The Stones so figure out how old he was at the time. There is a whole generation who would love to see that reunion happen so that's reason enough.

For me, if they were to do it, I’d like to see them write and record something contemporary and relevant and magical.

I have never been a betting man, but if I were I would definitely bet on a reunion because the odds would be so good."

Niven managed Guns N' Roses for five years and oversaw the massive success of Appetite for Destruction as well as pre-production of GN'R Lies and the double Use Your Illusion releases before being infamously sacked by GN'R main man Axl Rose in 1991.

He admits he hasn’t spoken to Rose since, in a move he believes was engineered to allow the enigmatic singer to wrestle control of the Guns N' Roses name and rights from the rest of the band.

Niven added, "Axl called me in March of '91 and stated he could not work with me anymore. I had put the first headline dates up, Wembley had been sold out.

Merchandising and sub-publishing contracts had been re-negotiated. The re-negotiation with Geffen was underway. So with all that done he obviously felt I was now disposable and I would not stand in his way when he took control of the name and trade mark.

I suggested we meet in LA to have dinner and discuss matters. I was on the East Coast at the time he called. He said 'OK' and that was the last time we spoke.

Now I have heard a wild rumour that Axl has bought property in the mountain town I live in, so I have been wondering if we might not chance upon each other in an aisle of the local Fry’s supermarket 'clean up on aisle 13!'

It would only be good manners to offer a 'hello,' a handshake, and after all, we shared an amazing experience and that’s something I always respect and honor.

If he wanted to, I would share a coffee with him and I suspect we might find it interesting to compare notes as to what happened in '90-'91 – and why."


Gun's N' Roses - Don't Cry by Doflamingo

Discussion: http://www.gunsnfnroses.com/index.php?/topic/3122-alan-niven-tips-gnr-reunion-for-live-ground-zero-event/

Thanks to: BBA

Slash Says Axl Rose is the Reason Guns N' Roses Broke Up

Photo: Debbie
Text: Bangkok Post

Appetite for Destruction came out in 1987 and sold 20 million copies worldwide. "Sweet Child O' Mine" became the band's first number hit, and two decades later, it's still a timeless classic together with many other materials from GN'R. Slash's riffs and solo in the track are hailed as indestructible-the kind of creation that guitarists can dream about for years on end and can never achieve.

"Obviously, [with] "Sweet Child O' Mine," I didn't it was a big deal at the time. I just thought it was an interesting riff. I had no idea it was gonna be as iconic as it became. So you just have these riffs, and you just think 'oh, that sounds cool'," said Slash.

In 1991, Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II came out, and GN'R was unstoppable. Even before the big time fame, GN'R was credited as "the Most Dangerous Band in the World," and the boys lived up to expectation to the fullest. Sex, drugs and rock n' roll, you name it.

The fans loved GN'R to be bad, and they couldn't have been happier to oblige.

It's a common knowledge that Slash consumed a half a gallon of vodka everyday for ten years. The lifestyle finally caught up with him, and now he's living with an internal defibrillator.

"I think it was alcohol poisoning. They told me I had eight days or weeks to live. So they put it in. But I miraculously reversed the condition, and they're gonna take it out."

"The Spaghetti Incident?", a cover album of '70s glam rock, came out in 1993. Things had always been rocky in GN'R camp despite their continuing popularity. Members came and went. Slash finally called it quite in 1996. Axl Rose still tours as Guns N' Roses with none of the original nor classic line up. There are still legal matters and public fueds to be settled until the present days. So when the million dollar question abound concerning the possible reunion, Slash was firm that there would be none of that.

"Do you feel like you're the only person in this whole room who's thinking about that question on this planet?" he said, not rudely. "No."

"It's been, what, 15, 16 years. No one in the original Guns N' Roses ever said 'let's try to put the band back together.' Also, it's all about Axl. The reason that everybody left was because in the back of his mind I think that's the way he wanted it. So the reason why there's no Guns N' Roses was because of him. I've got nothing to do with it. I quit for the same reason that everybody did. So it's really his problem," added Slash.

Complete interview here.

Slash Postpones Japan Shows in Wake of Tsunami

Ultimate Guitar
The devastation brought to Japan by the recent earthquake and ensuing tsunami has forced the legendary guitarist Slash to postpone several concert dates in the country.

Speaking via his Facebook page, Slash told fans "It's logistically not possible for us to do the Tokyo & Yokohama shows as scheduled. We will try to reschedule them asap."

The guitarist did, however, manage to play a show in Osaka, Japan on Monday. He wrote afterwards that the audience in attendance was in "great spirits, despite all that has happened."

Slash assured fans that he will make up the postponed shows, saying, "we're positively coming back soon to play Tokyo & Yokohama. In the meantime, lots of love to the Japanese fans. You will make it through these difficult times."

"It's one of the most surreal, unnerving events that has happened in recent years," Slash told Kerrang! "It's displaced so many people, not to mention claiming so many lives, and it's really tragic.

"I honestly feel that the Japanese are so fucking resilient that they'll get through it," he adds. "But God, what a painful experience for everybody."

Slash, who was on tour in Japan when the tsunami struck its Pacific coast on March 11, managed to play one of his scheduled dates in Osaka last March 14.

The 9.0 magnitude earthquake and massive tsunami that recently struck the Land of the Rising Sun have caused untold devastation, wiping out entire towns and leaving a death toll in the thousands.

Google has set up a Crisis Response Page if you’d like to find out how you can help the people of Japan.

Jumpin' Ax Flash Niven Demos

Jumpin' Ax Flash Niven Demos (Professionally Remastered)
Here are the Jumpin' Ax Flash Niven Demos professionally remastered to beautiful sound quality. These got the works from multi-band limiting, EQ and compression to light hiss removal and stereo correcting. They all sound like they could be right from an official release, I couldn't be happier with the outcome. You'll really enjoy this.

You're Crazy
Heartbreak Hotel
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Mama Kin
Move to the City
Reckless Life
Shadow of Your Love
Welcome to the Jungle
Cornshucker
Used to Love Her/Cornshucker No. 2

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VEWRZN3Q

These sound sooo good. They really sound like they could be from an official release. "Jungle" is especially clear. The separation between the instruments is amazing. Honestly, everyone should have a copy of these.

Vanity Fair Interview with Duff McKagan

Vanity Fair
Marc Spitz: Those who only know you as a famous bass player might assume that you’re not as smart and well read as you actually are. Does that ever present a problem?

Duff McKagan: I could give two shits, to be honest. After getting sober, I really started to read and reflect. I read the really great authors. I started playing in punk-rock bands and touring when I was 15, so I missed high school.

What authors were you drawn to?

I played catchup. I read everything by Hemingway, everything by Upton Sinclair, a book on Ernest Shackleton. Ernest Shackleton got stuck at the South Pole in 1913, when the South Pole was like Mars. At the time, I felt like I was on a desolate little island myself, sober and alone in LA I didn’t know about AA or anything. I was just riding my mountain bike uphill.

You’re writing columns for three different outlets now. How did you forge this second career as a columnist and blogger?

Flash forward to 2003, I started becoming aware of the Internet forums. There was this new Velvet Revolver fan site. We didn’t even have the band name yet. But people could post “you guys suck,” or “you guys should do this.” The names were usually Anonymous. Then I met one of the posters, and he turned out to be a 14-year-old kid. So when I started writing for the Seattle Weekly, I wrote a column about that. I said, “Papers are going away, so it’s time for us to buck up. If you’re going to write something, post your name. We have to rise to the occasion and carry forth intelligent discourse or we’re gong to be a generation of faceless name callers, and I’m not interested in doing that.” I really pressed people to identify themselves.

And to form a community?

Yeah, my column at the Weekly really turned into that. People have risen up. I got a really great letter from a woman from Seattle living in Egypt about February 11. She wrote very politically, but I was more interested in how much a loaf of bread cost, gas and electricity.

At ESPN, it’s a whole new challenge, but I’m not changing my tune at ESPN. I’m not going to be the jock guy. I write like I write and I question things. I question myself. I like to take the piss out of myself. I’m really not about changing my image. I’m not Cormac McCarthy, but I can get my point across in a thousand words.

I loved the post about being at a show in Silver Lake in LA and getting approached by hipster fans who wanted to take a picture with you but didn’t want their friends in the club to see.

Hipsters. I was trying to be funny. I’d been to Silver Lake before, but it was really cute to see people looking at me out of the corner of their eyes. When I went out to my car, a guy came up to me and said, “hey, dude, can I get a picture?” I said, “why didn’t you ask for a picture inside? You embarrassed?” He said, “no, man, fucking Appetite was the best!”

You cover a number of genres on the new Loaded record that surprised me, too. You have metal and punk, but a lot of pop as well, “KROQ songs.” I admit, I was expecting a punk record.

It’s an easy label. With Velvet Revolver, people were always saying, “you’re the punk influence.” I’ve played in punk bands since I was 15, but then Guns were sort of a mishmash of things. For me, punk rock died in about ’83. Punk rock for me was a long time ago. I saw the Clash in ’79 at the Paramount in Seattle, and it changed my whole life. I saw Iggy that same year. Black Flag with Ron Reyes, DOA. But to your point, I never set out before a record to say, “I’m going to try to get this across,” the same way I never outline a column. I just start.

What happened with Jane’s Addiction?

Eric had just left and Perry Farrell was pretty crestfallen about the whole situation. He asked me if I could come in and help them write a record. I said we could try, so we went into Perry’s garage. Steven Adler and I used to go watch Jane’s at the Music Machine in LA There wasn’t a lot going on in LA back then.

Flash forward 25 fucking years, and here I am. I talked to Eric on the phone, and he said, “you have my blessing. Go.” So I went. I like trying new things and I love Perry. I’ve known the guys for a long time. I tried to do my best to help them out. They’d become my comrades, and Eric’s departure hit them hard. We wrote some really great songs, but when I started recording with Loaded in August, I really discovered I can only do one or the other.

What about Velvet Revolver? Are you still searching for a new lead singer to replace Scott Weiland?

There was a sort-of search going on.

So is the band defunct?

I wouldn’t say that. You never know what’s going to happen. Slash has been on tour and I’m about to start touring. Let’s just say this: for the next five months, I highly doubt that anything will happen, but I could be wrong.

You’re also one of only two original Guns to play with the new lineup. How did that happen and what was it like to be back onstage with Axl?

It happened out of the blue. I was in London and Axl and I were in the same hotel. The hotel manager told me that Axl was in the room next to mine, of all the hotels in the world. It was more about us bumping into each other. We’d been through a lot together. We’d had the extraordinary circumstance of being thrown into a fish bowl. As far as the gig, I was really jet-lagged and on Red Bull. From the first song, I thought, I’m going to have to do interviews about this forever. It was the first thing that popped in my head.

People still have enormous affection for the original lineup. What happens when Guns N’ Roses gets elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Do you foresee everyone being civil, or will it be awkward like Van Halen’s notorious induction?

Velvet Revolver was the band that played instead of Van Halen. It was really awkward for us, but I don’t know. You just presented me with a lot of ifs. All I know is hopefully I can make the right decision if that comes up. I don’t know what the right thing to do is. I really don’t.

You’ve gotten sober and helped other people get sober. I feel like I have to ask your thoughts on Charlie Sheen. Would you be there for him if he called you in the middle of the night?

Of course. Whether it’s Charlie Sheen or a guy I met at the VA hospital, it doesn’t matter. I pick up those phone calls. That’s part of being of service.

He insists he’s fine.

I said I was fine until I ended up at the fucking emergency room. He doesn’t live very far from my house, though, but it only works if you want the help.

Judge Sets Trial Date in Axl Rose Lawsuit Vs. Activision

Hollywood Reporter
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge is allowing Axl Rose to pursue a $20 million lawsuit against video game publisher Activision Blizzard over allegedly breaching a deal not to include former Guns N' Roses bandmate Slash in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

The lawsuit was filed in November by Rose, who alleged that Activision fraudulently induced Rose into authorizing "Welcome to the Jungle" for use in the game by telling him in negotiations that it wouldn't feature ex-guitarist Saul Hudson (aka Slash).

"[Activision] began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and VR prominently in GH III but also promote the game by emphasizing and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N' Roses and the band's song 'Welcome to the Jungle,' " the complaint states.

At a conference this month with attorneys, Judge Charles Palmer scheduled a trial for January 23, 2012, according to the Edmonton Sun.

Rose isn't the only musician pursuing Activision for allegedly going too far with licensed rights.

Gwen Stefani and No Doubt have similar claims pending against Activision after its game "Band Hero" let game-players do stuff with their avatars they didn't appreciate. After No Doubt sued the game publisher for violating a deal by allowing gamers to have Stefani sing about prostitutes in a male voice and make unrealistic dance moves, Activision struck back with an anti-SLAPP motion that attempted to get the lawsuit dismissed for stifling its free speech.

Last month, a California appeals court rejected Activision's moves to dismiss the case, also setting it on track for a trial.

"Steven ... and ... his mother."

via Blabbermouth
HarperCollins is tentatively scheduled to release Sweet Child Of Mine: How I Lost My Son to Guns N' Roses (formerly No Bed Of Roses), the tell-all book from Deanna Adler — the mother of original Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler — On November 1, 2011.

In the bestselling tradition of Come Back and Augusta, Gone, comes her story of heartache and strength as Deanna Adler stood by her son at his most troubled times.

During the last quarter century, Deanna Adler kept her diaries, journals, and personal letters, as well as a dozen scrapbooks and hundreds of photographs, putting them aside for safekeeping. Sweet Child Of Mine is her stunning book about raising her son, and the travails of keeping him alive and herself sane.

Deanna's son has had a turbulent life in GN'R and afterward; he struggled with drug addiction, financial ruin after being kicked out of GN'R, and health problems that almost claimed his life several times — two heart attacks, a suicide attempt, and a debilitating stroke. Now, he appears to have finally beaten his epic twenty-year addiction to crack and heroin. But through it all, his mother was by his side. Deanna offers a window into the world of rock 'n' roll and addiction while at the same time providing deep insights into her son's tortured years.

These are the memoirs of a mother's love for an infamous son whose phenomenal success is only surpassed by his astounding capacity for self destruction. Her pages are filled with moments of profound joy and crippling heartbreak. Sweet Child Of Mine will inform and inspire others to find the strength to help their loved ones.

Deanna Adler appeared on the second season of Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew, on which Steven was a cast member. During the season's episode five, Dr. Drew, Dr. Sophy and Steven sat down for a meeting with Deanna in a what was described as "a tense whirlwind of accusations, denials and resentment. Steven is so flustered that he storms out of the room, leaving the many issues between he and Deanna unresolved, possibly forever."

Having been kicked out of his mother's house on numerous occasions before he was old enough to vote, Steven Adler reportedly started skipping school and doing drugs when he was 11.

Steven Adler was the drummer for Guns N' Roses from 1985 to 1990. He was eventually fired from the band due to his drug addiction, which caused him to spiral down into depression and more drug use.

Steven Adler's autobiography, My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses, came out in July 2010. In the book, Adler tells all, fearlessly addressing his struggles with heroin and crack addiction; his financial ruin after being kicked out of GN'R; his shattered marriage; and the severe health problems that nearly claimed his life on several occasions.


Earlier this month, Steven Adler has confirmed that he has joined the cast of Celebrity Rehab for another season.

Adler appeared on season two of Rehab and the first season of the spin-off show Sober House back in late 2008 and early 2009. Adler then went on to stints in real rehab centers after being ordered to by a judge as part of a DUI bust.

In a series of postings on his Twitter profile, Adler wrote, "As you all may already know, I'm back here at Celebrity Rehab again. Working on making sure I stay on the right track! I'm working with Dr. Drew and Bob Forrest and it's going great so far!

Thanks again as always for all of your prayers, love and support! Everything will be fine! I'm feeling great and it will only get better!

I'm here for just a good tune-up!! Thank you all !!! It feels good to be alive!"

Also scheduled to appear on Season 5 of Celebrity Rehab are Michael Lohan, Jeremy Jackson, Dwight Gooden, Michaele Salahi and Bai Ling.

Sober House included footage of Adler being arrested on July 18, 2008 after he showed up at a sober-living home high and in possession of heroin, and could barely stand up because he was so blitzed.

in their own words

"When we started we wanted to be the coolest, sexiest, meanest, nastiest, loudest, funnest band. There was a group consciousness of rape, pillage, search and destroy!"

-Axl, June 1992


"We didn't have any money, but we had a lot of hangers on and girls we could basically live off. Things were just too easy."

-Izzy, 1987

"For years I was living out of a duffel-bag and I was happy."

-Slash

"We were just making a record. Seriously, we didn't think about if it would sell ten copies, never mind one million copies. We didn't know. We didn't really care. We just recorded the music we'd been playing two years before that."

-Duff, April 1990

"Me, I like to party. I'm like your typical drummer, I guess. Sometimes I go overboard."

-Matt Sorum, September 1991

"There's one song that's kind of like Black Sabbath goes to Ireland ..."

-Axl, June 1987

"We're definitely, positively, absolutely going to start thinking about considering starting work on the album quite soon ... I think."

-Izzy, June 1989

"I'm a complete road dog"

-Slash, July 1991

"He [Axl] ain't EVER going to lose this anger!"

-Duff, May 1988

"I just try to slam the drums as hard as possible,and make the band crunch, as heavy as possible."

-Matt Sorum, September 1991

"I just think it's a really weird job. I'm not saying it's a bad job, I'm not saying it's a great job. But you know, it's just the work that goes into being that athletic. I mean, do you want to go out every night and jump off, like, your car? And have to do that? It's like it becomes your job. That doesn't take away the sincerity or the honesty of it, but it is a job. And sometimes I'd rather be dong something else."

-Axl, April 1992

"Axl isn't really 24, he's a million years old ... he's seen everything."

-Izzy, 1986

"When we get up in the afternoon to do a soundcheck we drink so much that we can't play, because our hands are shaking like windmills. So what happens? We drink! We drink more and more, and then we're fine and we wake up the next day with some floozy ... you don't know her name ... you've got weird shit on your dick ... your bed's all wet from pissing in it, and you go, 'Listen, will you do me a favor and find me some booze and some pizza?'"

-Slash, 1987

"Kids need a band like us."

-Duff, January 1990

"This band is what it is. It ain't no bullshit. It isn't sitting around thinking up ideas for publicity. This stuff really happens! They're just being themselves. So this is it, take it or leave it, love it or hate it, that's why it works."

-Matt Sorum, September 1991

French Interview avec Bumblefoot

Bumblefoot gave an interview to a french metal webzine called MetalSickness after the Sturgis show (August 13).

MetalSickness: GN'R is an enormous engine. Was it easy to fit in ?

Bumblefoot: Sometimes I feel like I'm with my family and that we are an unstoppable engine and at times I think "I'm not in the right band. I shouldn't be here, this is not my spot."

I refuse to overthink it because it's easy to feel like you're in the wrong place. But when business problems break you, you become vulnerable. And it tarnishes the whole picture. I often end up feeling stronger emotions, more extreme emotions. After our last but one show, I thought it was the best show we had ever done, while during our last show (Sturgis) I had to leave the stage in the middle of the set because I couldn't handle my fucking rage and I had to calm down before it got the best of me.

MetalSickness: What did this experience change in the way you handle your job ?

Bumblefoot: I do not smile anymore.

Mike Starr Remembered By Matt Sorum, Nikki Sixx, Steven Adler

MTV.COM

Mike Starr's friends and fans have taken to Twitter to express their grief about the ex-Alice in Chains bassist's death on Tuesday, March 8.

"Devastating to hear of Mike Starr succumbing to his illness," tweeted Dr. Drew Pinsky, who treated Starr on VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" and the spin-off show "Sober House." "So very sad. Our prayers are with his family."

Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler — another founding member of a hard-rock powerhouse whose career was sidelined by drug addiction — also hit Twitter: "R.I.P. Mike Starr!! Such a sad day! :( :(" Adler is also a "Celebrity Rehab" alum, though the two men appeared on separate seasons. Starr would have turned 45 next month.

"Drugs and alcohol aren't a joke," tweeted Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum, who replaced Adler in GN'R. "Please take care of yourself and respect yourself. We lost Mike Starr today. Rest in Peace man."

Ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, who filled in with Avenged Sevenfold after they lost Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan to an overdose, had this to say via Twitter: "RIP Mike Starr... I watched his struggle on Celebrity Rehab and had my fingers crossed for his recovery... this disease kills... sad stuff..."

Starr was found dead in a Salt Lake City house on Tuesday. He played bass for Alice in Chains from their inception in the late '80s until 1993, when he left the Seattle grunge stars while touring for their second album, Dirt.

Alice in Chains have several songs dealing with addiction. "You can't understand a user's mind," former singer Layne Staley sings on "Junkhead." Staley died in 2002 after overdosing on a mixture of heroin and cocaine.

Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx — a fellow hard-rock bassist who has made his own struggles with heroin very public (even calling his book and accompanying album with side project Sixx AM The Heroin Diaries) — tweeted: "RIP Mike Starr. Another fallen Soldier to addiction... :("

"Mike Starr was a great and troubled guy," tweeted actress Mackenzie Phillips, who appeared on "Celebrity Rehab" with Starr. "I loved him. He would be so happy to know he's a #TT right now. Rest in Peace, brother. #dopekills"

Another of Starr's season-three castmates, Lisa D'Amato from "America's Next Top Model," tweeted: "My stomach is in my throat. We love U, Mike. #RIPMikey," with @ replies to Dr. Drew, Phillips, counselor Bob Forrest and Jennifer Gimenez, the actress known to reality-TV watchers as the house manager on VH1's "Sober House."

"I'm SHOCKED and SADDENED for the loss of MIKE STARR," Gimenez tweeted.

"Mike Starr was my homey," D'Amato tweeted a short time later. "He had a larger than life heart. My last visit w/him was a funny & sweet one. I'll always rmbr that. <3 #RIPMike."

"Mike Starr may you RIP," tweeted comedian Dane Cook. "Your music loves on forever."

Pro wrestler and hard-rock musician Chris Jericho tweeted, "Sorry to hear about Mike Starr's death. Amid all of the joking about tiger blood and winning, let's not forget that drugs kill people."

"Horrible news," tweeted Mark Morton, guitarist with heavy-metal band Lamb of God. "RIP Mike Starr."

Share your condolences for Starr's family and friends in the comments.

Steven Adler Returning to Rehab

via TMZ
If at first you don't succeed ... try, try again - and with that idea in mind, Steven Adler is going back for another season of Celebrity Rehab.

Adler appeared on season two of Rehab and the first season of the spin-off show Sober House back in late 2008, early 2009. Adler then went on to stints in real rehab centers after being ordered to by a judge as part of a DUI bust.

Steven will join the likes of Michael Lohan, Jeremy Jackson, Dwight Gooden, Michaele Salahi and Bai Ling on the latest season of Dr. Drew's show.

Bumblefoot: "We Could do More to Establish the Current Band as its Own Band"

radiometal.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. You can now stream the one-hour chat at this location. A few excerpts follow.

On the current lineup of GN'R:

Thal: "If we had band photos, then people would say, 'Oh, yeah, they're a band. But we haven't had a fucking real band photo or anything like that! So we are not presenting ourselves to the world as a band even though we are one, and because of that, people, unless they know us or they have been to twenty shows or hung out with us after shows and stuff, they know but the rest of the world is just going to say, 'Alright, all of the famous pictures of Guns N' Roses, they have the five guys from the Appetite lineup,' and, yeah, that doesn't help us. (laughs) I feel that we could do more to establish the current band as its own band. It shouldn't be in the shadow of the past."

On GN'R starting its concerts later than scheduled:

Thal: "Well, first thing, people don't realize that it is such a big show with so much going on that at minimum there has to be 45 minutes between bands. What happens after that? I don't know! (laughs) I mean, I'm there. I get there early. I take the earliest van that I can take to get to the venue from the hotel and I eat dinner with the crew or the other bandmembers that arrived there early. I play my guitar, I warm up and I watch the opening act. That's it. And then I just make sure that I'm ready and that I'm there. Then I just wait to get on stage. As far as what delays the show? I know where the finger is pointing, but I'm not going to get into that! (laughs) I mean, sometimes it's for stupid reasons! There have been times where Axlis on his way over and the driver got lost for like a half hour. He gets there and everyone is pissed, like, 'What the fuck?! How does that happen?' You can literally see the venue from the hotel and it's a five-minute drive but the driver got lost for a half ... fucking ... hour."

On GN'R'S future plans:

Thal: "If you ask me about my stuff, I can tell you all kinds of plans for the future and what's going to happen. If you ask about GN'R, it's all a big question mark and it really is. It's not like anything is being hidden, it's just that nothing can be predicted. [Laughs] It's a weird fucking thing, man!"

On how he would feel if a reunion of the classic lineup ever happened:

Thal: "If a reunion ever happens, I would hope that they would give me some free passes so that me and my wife could go. [Laughs] You know, that doesn't bother me. I have no problems with anybody. I mean, shit, I just did a signing last weekend with Duff. So does it bother me that people want a reunion? No! You know what?! I love KISS, I love a whole shitload of bands and if there was a lineup that did an album that I totally loved, I would love to go see that lineup do those songs. It's normal. And it doesn't mean that I hate what's going on now."

On Axl Rose:

Thal: "There has been no other singer that I have ever worked with in my fucking life that cares as much and that gives as much and that kicks as much ass on a stage and that works as hard as that guy. Everyone wants to think of his as this kind of dictator just because he's the last man standing from… I mean, he started the band and he's still there and he's not going to end the band no matter who leaves until he decides that he wants to stop. You can do anything. I'll wear whatever I want, I'll play whatever I want and he's got no problem with it. Because we don't do a lot of press as a band, people don't see that side of things. They don't see us joking around or having fun. Either that or they don't want to see it, because it's more fun to talk about the character that people have in their own minds about others than the people that they truly are."

On feeling down on stage:

Thal: "There's time when we are getting on stage so late and the audience has not been entertained at all for like two hours and so they are all angry and upset. I'm angry and upset with them. I found out the way to resolve that for me, because it's not something that I am going to be able to change and it isn't helping anyone as they are just watching some angry miserable guy on stage, it's not like, 'Well, we waited for two hours to see the band and now we get to see the band but the band is pissed off,' we have to give them a great show. I found that half a shot of Jägermeister before I go on stage and I am the happiest motherfucker in the world! [Laughs] It took me 40 years to figure that out! Yes, Jägermeister, I call it my liquid smile. Jäger helps everything! They should get rid of all antibiotics, they should get rid of casts, they should get rid of hospitals and all kinds of medication and surgery and just give everybody Jägermeister! And everything will be fine. Wars will end. Everything will be cool. Domestic disputes will end in nice dinners. Yes, Jägermeister! Or at least it does for me."

On practicing as a musician:

Thal: "People practice too much. If you spend 10 hours a day, every day for years playing, then in those 10 hours you are not going to get as much out of it as in a very concentrated two hours. The rest of the time you should be spending living your life. It's wrong to be sitting in your room, not experiencing life and just slaving away. If you want to make interesting music then you have to live an interesting life."

On why Chinese Democracy came out when it did:

Thal: "I don’t know. I don’t know why it came out then and not sooner. Everything that happened before me I can’t really comment in because I wasn’t there and I really don’t know. All I know is that I got in the band, we toured and in between legs we recorded and then the album came out. So for me, it wasn’t that long of a wait. I think what happened is that the music is done, the album is done and then trying to work things out with the label and trying to come out with a marketing plan or just figuring out the right business when you’re dealing with something so big. I think that when you’re dealing with something that has a potential to bring in a lot of money, people start thinking about their own pockets. This is not just in GN’R, this is in general. Like if people are going to make a song for free and give it out, I think that everyone will just say “Ok well what looks best for the art?”. Whereas when it’s something where a lot of money was spent, then people will start coming up with plans for how they are going to make money. This isn’t necessarily about GN’R , this is about anything in life. I think that it gets in the way and it causes conflict, distrust and a lot of battles when it’s me looking out for me versus you looking out for you. In my experience of dealing with record labels, it’s usually not a good experience (laughs). I can only assume that once the album was done, it was not a simple task to work out all of the business between the band, the label, management and any other hands that may be trying to get into the cookie jar. I’m sure that it’s like that for any band that’s making a lot of sales and there is a lot of money invested, spent and planned to be spent. That’s just how it is."

On Axl's reluctance to promote the album:

Thal: "Well I know that I feel that way about my own albums (laughs)! By the time it’s done, the last thing I want to do is think about it or play it or anything. You know, when it comes to that it’s like, I’ve seen everybody blame everybody. The record label says it’s this person’s fault or the distributors will say that it was this one’s or the band will say it was this one’s… And I don’t know! I would have loved to go out there and immediately start touring and immediately start promoting. In fact I kind of did you know? A few weeks after the album came out, I went to Europe and I did a meet & greet in Paris and London and Berlin. I also did some interviews and stuff. I just did that myself, just to be supportive (laughs). I can’t answer, I can’t get into other people’s heads and I don’t want to speak for anybody else because it’s not really my place to go and do that. People have got to go out there and speak for themselves about things. But for me, I would have loved to get out there and start promoting immediately. So here it is, like it or not. We are exposing it and giving it to you. Check it out, that’s all. You don’t have to like it, just check it out. If you like it then great, but not everybody is going to like everything. That’s how anything is, whether it’s food on your plate or an album that you’re checking out or a piece of art hanging on a wall. So yeah… I mean, despite any lack of promotion, I think it still did 4 or 5 million sales around the world. But you know what? Imagine if we did promote it! (laughs) I think that there is so much controversy about the album that it’s going to be twenty years before people can look back on it and say “alright, what do we think of the music?”. Because at this point, I mean like in this conversation, we haven’t even yet talked about the music on the album (laughs)! We are talking about how much it cost and how long it took, because those are real things that are part of the baggage that come with this album. I think that it’s going to be a while before people stop feeling the weight of that baggage and look back at it thinking “hey check out that album! What a weird experimental introspective album they came out with! And look how many people contributed! No album has ever been like that!” It’s just that kind of album that people are going to talk about and have opinions about before even hearing it. It’s an interesting album with a lot of things to talk about."

On when we can expect the rest of the supposed "trilogy" of material:

Thal: "At this point? (laughs) Erm… You know I really can’t say because there’s nothing to tell. It’s frustrating for me because there is nothing to tell about the future of GN’R because it changes minute to minute. As far as a trilogy is concerned, I don’t know. There is enough music for another two albums, but these are all 10 year old recordings from the Chinese Democracy sessions. Those songs are not new songs and this current band, this relevant band that contains me and DJ and Richard and Frank on drums, we have yet to get in a studio together and sit down on the floor with guitars and just start writing. We have not done that. The only music that is going to be coming out at this point that I see from GN’R is going to be from 10 years ago with players that have been gone for 5 years and maybe alternative mixes of songs. So it’s like a big chapter in Axl’s musical life that has yet to be closed. I have no idea. I mean shit! We are supposed to tour the US in February and it’s the end of January and no one has even like…. yeah. You can’t make plans. You cannot make any plans when dealing with Guns N’ Roses. Things are just going to happen and they are not going to happen when you think that they are going to happen. That’s just how it is and it can’t be controlled, it can’t be changed. This is just how it is in GN’R world. And you just roll with it and say “alright”. We were going to tour and then now we are not. It will happen when it is going to happen, and it does. It’s not the kind of thing where… Like if you ask me about my stuff, I can tell you all kinds of plans for the future and what’s going to happen. If you ask about GN’R, it’s all a big question mark and it really is. It’s not like anything is being hidden, it’s just that nothing can be predicted (big laugh). It’s a weird fucking thing man! (big laugh again)"

On Axl's love for KFC buckets and bee wing guitars:

Thal: "Figure that one out! (laughs) Axl has diverse taste. You know, it’s like he can run a full gamut by having a bluesy guy playing in the band with a guy who plays a guitar shaped like a foot, and he loves it! Actually, he hated that foot guitar. I would be doing solos, playing live and the whole time he would be saying stuff into my ear monitors that only I could hear. He was like “when are you gonna get rid of that fucking toy?! Get a real guitar!” and just like fucking with me, trying to make me trip up and screw up (big laugh)."

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