ALAN NIVEN: NO REUNION WITH IZZY AND ADLER. IT'S MORE LIKE VELVET ROSES

[HBK]

ALAN NIVEN: NO REUNION WITH IZZY AND ADLER. IT'S MORE LIKE VELVET ROSES

Former Guns N? Roses manager Alan Niven reckons cash is the motivation behind the band?s partial reunion tour ? and he says reuniting without Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler means it will be more of a Velvet Roses show rather than a classic GNR show.

In an exclusive interview with Eric Mackinnon of New Rock Times, Niven spoke frankly and openly about his thoughts on the forthcoming shows which will see Axl Rose and Slash join musical forces again for the first time in 22-years.

?We live in what the Chinese might call call 'interesting times', began Niven when asked why now? Why this year for Guns to mend the fences which divided and eventually splintered the Most Dangerous Band in the World. I wish I could tell you that it is incontrovertible that Ax called Iz and said "I have a handful of songs that we have to record and perform. I have some observations about the world I wanna get out there. I have titles like Demagogue. Illuminated. Armageddon. My Better Life. Think of it as Masonic Democracy. Lets get them done and, fuck it, lets get the old crew back together to take them on the road. Lets put that to bed at the same time. Unfortunately, all things considered, I can only assume that its only for the money. How else to explain the lack of statements about creativity, or even who the band is? ?How else to explain a ticket price of $1250 for row H.?

A signed drum head being auctioned off for charity in Michigan looks to have let the cat out of the bag at last on a confirmed line-up for the new era of Guns N? Roses. Axl, Slash, Duff, Dizzy Reed are joined by more recent members of the new Guns line-up Richard Fortus and Frank Ferrer on drums.

The emission of classic-era stick-man Steven Adler, Illusion-era drummer Sorum and rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, who Niven has openly described as ?the heart of GNR' in the past has been the subject of much discussion amongst fans.

And Niven agrees with the thinking all could, and should, be involved in some capacity.

?For that matter, without Izzy and Steven can it be called a Guns n Roses re-union? Without them it?s really just Velvet Roses. Why aren't those two included? Maybe there is not enough money to go around - after all, rumour has it that AEG are only paying $26,000,000 for two Coachella shows and two shows in Vegas. I can only guess at Izzy's position based on his Twitter postings ... and knowing him to a certain degree I'd say you'd find his answer in the lyrics of the two songs he posted. What is clear is that he was, originally, amenable. After all, he tried to get Axl to come to the RRHOF event. But if he's not going to be treated with equality and respect he's not going to be involved. Sad really, since he was, to my memory, the most crucial member of the band - the most adept at expressing the band attitude and character in song. No Izzy, no Guns. The obvious solution would have been to have Matt play the UYI material in the initial set, along with a couple of Democracy songs with Frank [if they made the set list], and then save some AFD songs for an encore with the original five together. That way you would let everyone contribute and guarantee two moments of extreme excitement in the night. It?s probably a financial decision.?

 

http://www.newrocktimes.com/news/2016/3/16/5ea8s42j4hj5qexgar3ddxu7kkok44

[johnreed3344]

do people not understand that IZZY is just being IZZY and doesn't want to commit to a full tour?!?!?!?!? how many times do we have to explain that and for Steven I get why Axl wouldn't want to fully include him because of the past being kicked out and that fact he might not be stable enough to do a full tour.

That being said I am optimistic we will see BOTH in these stretch of shows

[HBK]

People Believe This Is... BURGUER KING

 

[Annie]

The amount of bitter people who refuse to let go of the past never cease to amaze me. Who cares about this guy's opinion. How is he in any way relevant?  And for the guy who wrote the article, your rock journalism career is getting off to a stellar start-NOT!! Talking to bitter people with no current connections to the band and/or their current management is Pulitizer prize winning journalism for sure.

[Sosso]

Nobody called it a "full reunion"  . It's just Axl, Slash and Duff coming back together.

[Wooody]

Not that I care what Alan Niven says, but what where the lyrics to the songs izzy posted?

[sky dog]

For the record, has Izzy said why he isn't involved? No. So how do you people know "Izzy is just being Izzy and doesn't want to commit to a full tour".

Maybe Izzy wasn't ask.....

[HBK]

All Is MAYBE

 

[Soori]

If Izzy does not want to take part. Then it's his issue. I am sure Axl has asked him etc. Get over it.

[Thorned Rose]

While I'm glad to see Slash and Axl back together mainly as we all are... Niven is kinda right.

Without Izzy and Steven it really isn't a true reunion.

And yeah the media calls it a reunion now... so for that purpose we must address it here.

I never called it a reunion, well maybe a reunion in the sense of singer/guitarist with the worst bad blood ever getting back together.

I'm happy with the lineup, Frank is good and Richard is awesome. Lets roll

[allwaystired]

While I disagree with a lot of what Alan Niven says (I personally like the mix of members) I don't think any of us could realistically argue with him about it being all about the money.
He's totally right on his observations of ticket price and stuff. I mean, it is what it is, but he's saying something we can't really not accept. It's about money.

[Wooody]

Is it really about money?

I mean wasnt Axl the one pouring millions of dollars into an album without expecting anything in return ?

[EmilyGNR]

While I disagree with a lot of what Alan Niven says (I personally like the mix of members) I don't think any of us could realistically argue with him about it being all about the money.
He's totally right on his observations of ticket price and stuff. I mean, it is what it is, but he's saying something we can't really not accept. It's about money.

Niven is a bitter, butthurt little man, similar to some "fans".

He isn't relevant, credible nor in touch with what is happening, he clearly said Izzy was involved and writing with the band, when Izzy denied both- at this time.

IF it were all for the money, huge offers have been on the table for countless years for a GNR reunion, and nobody jumped at it. A regrouping was only announced after difficulties had been somewhat resolved.

And again, this has not been advertised, nor promoted as a reunion by official sources.

[Nikki_Sixx]

The amount of bitter people who refuse to let go of the past never cease to amaze me. Who cares about this guy's opinion. How is he in any way relevant? 

Alan Niven has contributed way more to GNR than Fortus or Ferrer ever will, so yes his opinion is very relevant.

[jamillos22]

Quite a bunch of presumptuous shit, I dare say. This man has always been against anything that wasn?t AFD.

[EmilyGNR]

The amount of bitter people who refuse to let go of the past never cease to amaze me. Who cares about this guy's opinion. How is he in any way relevant? 

Alan Niven has contributed way more to GNR than Fortus or Ferrer ever will, so yes his opinion is very relevant.

No, he has a former relationship with the band, is no longer relevant, is no longer connected, but keeps on trying to milk that for attention like Vicky Hamilton and Doug Goldstein.

Niven was wrong about Izzy being involved and writing with the band, and yet you choose to believe him on this?

Sure  

[Thorned Rose]

Wow someone is anti-Old Gn'R...

How does it sound to get it twisted up? To have someone twist your words around diva?

[GNR4L]

The amount of bitter people who refuse to let go of the past never cease to amaze me. Who cares about this guy's opinion. How is he in any way relevant? 

Alan Niven has contributed way more to GNR than Fortus or Ferrer ever will, so yes his opinion is very relevant.

 

[EmilyGNR]

Wow someone is anti-Old Gn'R...

How does it sound to get it twisted up? To have someone twist your words around diva?

Once again, I am a fan of GNR- all eras, all lineups. 

I first saw GNR in the late 80's and have been a fan every since, I'm not anti-GNR anything.

 I am anti - "fan" though, and anti-idiot. 

[D-GenerationX]

No, its not a reunion.

Who gives a shit?  It's the best line-up in 2 decades.