Here's what are lead GNR player had to say about Steven's playing:
K : What about Steven Adler, your drummer? First he?s out of the band, then he?s back again. What?s the story right now?
A : He is back in the band. He was definitely out of the band. He wasn?t necessarily fired, we worked with Adam Maples, we worked with Martin Chambers, and Steven did the Guns N? Roses thing and got his shit together. And it worked, and he did it, and he plays the songs better than any of ?em, just bad-assed, and he?s GNR. And so if he doesn?t blow it, we?re going to try the album with him, and the tour.
Maybe CD is taking so long because AXL is tying to convert Brain into Steven (regarding drumming feel with the songs)
Mark N' Roses
What year is this interview from?