Cool Steven interview from 1988

[Dizzy]

From Steven's site, an interview from 1988.  It's really cool, we never got to read too many interviews with Steven.


Superstar Facts & Pix - No.16 - 1988

One-on-one with Guns N' Roses' drum dynamo Steven Adler.


Q: How's the tour going?
A: Great. I love meeting all the different people in the different cities. I really get into how everybody's so unique and yet so much the same. Meeting them all and being onstage and playing for them and seeing them clap their hands and stamp their feet is the greatest. When I see them scream and have such a good time, it makes me give 150%.

Q: The kids really went wild for you guys tonight!
A: That's right, man. These kids go to the show and they don't want to think about their jobs or their mother or their teachers. They come to have a good time and get everything out of their head... not think about a damn thing! And that's what I like.

Q: Your early live shows are legendary. Do you feel the band is more controlled onstage now that you're such big stars?
A: Not at all. It's even crazier now. And better. We're a much better band now than we were when we were playing in Los Angeles.

Q: Usually when a band gets big...
A: It gets lazy. I know. But not us. We're not toning it down for anybody! I go out there and have a damn ball every night. And it keeps on getting better. Practice makes perfect, y'know? Every night I get better and so does the band. It's getting crazier and crazier too!

Q: I've heard you were self-taught. True?
A: That's right. I never took a drum lesson in my life. I learned from watching and listening very closely to other drummers. That plus wanting it real bad and believing in myself.

Q: There's a lesson there somewhere. Who are some of the people you watched and learned from?
A: Roger Taylor of Queen... John "Bonzo" Bonham of Led Zeppelin... Keith Moon of The Who... and jazz drummers Gene Krups and Buddy Rich.

Q: Out of those great drummers, Roger Taylor's the only guy still alive!
A: (laughing) Yeah, I guess so. I learned more from watching a five-minute drum solo that Buddy Rich once did on "The Tonight Show" than almost anything else ever. He tore that snare drum right up!

Q: Let's switch tracks. What do you look for in a girl?
A: Right now, I just scored bigtime on a real nice girl. I like a smart girl who can take care of herself and who doesn't have to look up to me or expect me to give her anything. I like a girl who wants to go out and pursue her own thing, not rely on me all the time.

Q: What would be your idea of a dream date?
A: I haven't gone on a date in so long! I guess my dream date would be to go to Las Vegas. I just like going to drive-in movies or out for a good dinner. I like to do the things that the girl likes to do. I'm not always the super bad guy, y'know!

Q: What is your earliest music recollection?
A: The first record I remember ever putting on was "Working My Way Back To You, Babe" by The Four Seasons. I love The Four Seasons, man! I met 'em all! I got to meet Frankie Valli in Las Vegas once. Mr. T was there and it was the best! I been into The Four Seasons since I was five years old.

Q: What would you be doing if you weren't doing this?
A: I'd probably be an actor. I love to entertain. I got to do a movie recently but I didn't get to do much acting in it.

Q: Which movie?
A: The new Clint Eastwood film, Dead Pool. The whole band's in it. We didn't have that great or that big of a scene. I got sick the day we did it so Slash, Duff, and Izzy got to do most of it. They got to harpoon some dude. They were super bad guys! I played a dude at some musician's funeral and I was hanging out by the coffin.

Q: What turns you on more than anything else?
A: The lights going out just before we hit the stage. Hearing that energy from the crowd before we even start. That turns me on more than anything else in the world. I really love playing live. There's nothing like it. When those kids start screaming, I get a serious rush. Drugs ain't got a clue on what a good time really is.

Q: How 'bout a self-description?
A: I'm pretty down-to-earth. I really don't care too much about causing problems for other people. I just want to do my own thing and if I can help somebody, I'll do what I can. I'm just a nice guy, I guess. I have no enemies... that I know about. I like to take it easy when I have the chance. I like to relax.

Q: That's different from all the badboy press you guys have been generating.
A: It's sorta good we had all those stories because it made people very skeptical about what we were and who we were... but they did want to hear our music because of it. I mean, we have done some crazy things, but never really bad things to hurt anybody or screw anybody up. We're not into that. We're into having fun. As long as we don't hurt anybody or rip anybody off, there's nothing wrong with having a good time.

Q: How 'bout all those stories about you guys wrecking furniture and breaking windows and stuff?
A: So what? We didn't hurt anybody. So we broke some stuff. So we had a few too many drinks. So what of it? I personally have thrown everything out of my hotel window. I got twisted, man! It's like the golden rule of rock: if you get this far in the business, you have to do these things. You have to break things. You have to go to jail. You have to throw everything out of your hotel window. It's just one of those things. You have to do it. We never hurt anybody. I went to jail in Chicago once. We got into this big fight, a major fight in the bar of a hotel. But I better not say anything else about that.

Q: The kids love you.
A: We know what the kids want to hear and we know what they want to see. 'Cause we're kids too! We may be a little older than them now... but not that much older. Hey, we've been 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 years old before. I've been to rock 'n' roll shows and I know what I liked and I know what I didn't like. Now, maybe I got more responsibilities. Maybe the kids don't have a lot of responsibilities yet but they will. They'll have plenty soon enough. Hey, we eat, drink, sleep, burp and fart just like the rest of 'em. There ain't no difference.

Q: Speaking of sleep, how do you ever get any?
A: Y'know, you get so wound up and so excited after a show that it's really hard to sleep at all. You keep thinking about those faces in the crowd. Each city is another trip. The faces change. The halls change. Yet all our crowds basically get down the same way. There's only one way to clap your hands!

Q: What can you tell us about the upcoming album?
A: There'll be stuff both old and new on it. We recorded "I Used To Love Her But I Had To Kill Her," "Patience" and an acoustic version of "You're Crazy," with congas, maraccas, tambourines and a little bit of light drums I put in there. It's pretty cool. Plus, there's gonna be some real surprises: songs that you'd never expect us to do. There's one about 15 minutes long with strings, synthesizers, piano, and a lot of big drums.

Q: Wasn't "Anything Goes" 12? minutes at one time?
A: Yeah, I used to get tired playing that song! We shortened it for the first album. It was totally different too. We put it on our demo tape. Y'know, we did that demo tape for only $300 in five hours and that's how we got our record contract.

Q: I bet you never thought your audience would be as diverse as it is.
A: Did so, man. I knew it right from the jump. I wanted the 15-year olds to get into us as well as the 30-year olds and that's exactly what happened. We got fans 10 years old and 40 years old. Some of the old guys at Geffen Records are past 60 and they're digging it! They play the LP all the time. And my mom! It's so weird! She turns all her friends on to it. They play my tape at her beauty salon.

Q: Your mother must be a hero to all her friends by now.
A: Oh yeah, you got it, man. She's a waitress at a deli in the valley and kids come in there just to meet her and get HER autograph. It's really funny! My mom's having a better time out of all this than I am! And my dad! He works at the railroad and all the older dudes, they get into it. They say, "So what's your son doing? I saw him on MTV." These guys are 70 years old! Even my grandfather who's past 70. He loves it.

Q: Well, thanks for the interview, Steve. We know how busy your schedule is.
A: Oh no problem, man. I always wanted to be in those teenage magazines. I used to read 'em all the time and fantasize about how great it would be when I'd be featured.

Fast Facts

Name: Steven Adler
Instrument: Drums
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
Birth Date: January 22, 1965
Height: 5 foot 7
Weight: 135
Currently Lives: Hermosa Beach, California
Favorite Band: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Favorite Musicians: Slash and Duff "I look up to those two guys more than anybody else."
Favorite City: New Orleans
Favorite Actor: Marlon Brando
Favorite Actress: Raquel Welch
Favorite Movie: The Poseidon Adventure/The Bad News Bears
Favorite TV Shows: Cheers/Taxi
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite Sports: Football/Hockey
Favorite Book: The Hardy Boys
Least Favorite Thing About Traveling: Not enough to eat/no sleep
First Concert: KISS
First Favorite Band: KISS
Former Jobs: Mopping bowling alley lanes/sweeping floors/washing dishes/waiting on tables/warehouse worker/paperboy - "I had a lot of goofy jobs."

[Slashly]

Cool interview Dizzy!!
It was just when Gn?r were in the highest of highest points in terms of brotherhood!!

So what? We didn't hurt anybody. So we broke some stuff. So we had a few too many drinks. So what of it? I personally have thrown everything out of my hotel window. I got twisted, man! It's like the golden rule of rock: if you get this far in the business, you have to do these things. You have to break things. You have to go to jail. You have to throw everything out of your hotel window. It's just one of those things. You have to do it. We never hurt anybody.

3 words:cool rock cliche!!!!!!

[matt88]

Man steven has a fucken spot on idea what rock n roll is all about. If we had muscians like that today the music industry wouldnt be as bleak

[Izzy]

It's pretty cool. Plus, there's gonna be some real surprises: songs that you'd never expect us to do. There's one about 15 minutes long with strings, synthesizers, piano, and a lot of big drums.

November Rain?

Steven rocks, if only he had got himself detoxed.......who knows maybe the band would have lasted longer...

[Ignatius]

Where GNR already big in '88? When did GNR reach #1?

Fun interview. Lots of cliches but fun:" right now, I've just scored big time on a real nice girl" Didn't somebody report he had had sex with 2,000 girls?

[Doc Emmett Brown]

Thanks Dizzy.  He comes across as very, I dunno, innocent.  

Plus, there's gonna be some real surprises: songs that you'd never expect us to do. There's one about 15 minutes long with strings, synthesizers, piano, and a lot of big drums.

Which song is this?  November Rain?

Favorite Musicians: Slash and Duff "I look up to those two guys more than anybody else."

That's very touching.  And also heartbreaking  

[Izzy]

Favorite Musicians: Slash and Duff "I look up to those two guys more than anybody else."

That's very touching.  And also heartbreaking  

I know - those bastards betrayed him and left him for dead

[Dizzy]

Where GNR already big in '88? When did GNR reach #1?

AFD reached #1 in mid 1988, but it had been certified gold in February, so they were already becoming big at the beginning of the year.

right now, I've just scored big time on a real nice girl" Didn't somebody report he had had sex with 2,000 girls?

Ya gotta read more carefully Chinasky.    He said "right now I've scored big time on a real nice girl."  I'm sure he scored big time with tons more "real nice girls" after right now ended.  

Which song is this?  November Rain?

Yeah, it has to be.  Slash has said several times that it was around 15 minutes long when it was first written, and it was very piano-laden.

I know - those bastards betrayed him and left him for dead

Yeah, Steven's 1988 sentiments about Slash and Duff lend heart-wrenching foresight into how it must have felt for him to have been fucked over that way by those guys.

[Izzy]

I know - those bastards betrayed him and left him for dead

Yeah, Steven's 1988 sentiments about Slash and Duff lend heart-wrenching foresight into how it must have felt for him to have been fucked over that way by those guys.

It is sad to think that they were his best friends and yet they kicked him out because he had a drug problem - its not as if the others were in a position to criticise!

I suppose in their defence they had been trying for months, maybe even years to get Steven sorted out (Axl's rant at the other members dancing with Mr Brownstone), they mentioned they even beat up his drug dealer etc - and Steven was kicked out of the band before as well but they let him back in - i suppose they had done their best, but even so it's pretty sad the way they screwed him out of all his royalties and left a man with a crippling drug problem to fend for himself - without any money

[blues_rock_axeman]

Great interview, thanks Dizzy!

One small point:

Q: What turns you on more than anything else?
A: The lights going out just before we hit the stage. Hearing that energy from the crowd before we even start. That turns me on more than anything else in the world. I really love playing live. There's nothing like it. When those kids start screaming, I get a serious rush. Drugs ain't got a clue on what a good time really is.

Shame he was hooked on the drugs when the music was taken from him.

[erose]

i honestly believe that if they never got rid of the "hollywood shuffle" gn'r would be intact for several more records. and it's also the reason izzy left which ultimately fucked it all up, fuck! rock n' roll decadence...

steven rocks big time!!

[Slashly]

It was what we can call a "Domino Reaction":
Steven was fiered, Izzy didn?t like this at all, so he wen?t out, In that moment Axl felt the king of the world and dicided to start acting like the king of the world, duff and Slash didn?t like this at all, so they wen?t out.
And we all know the rest.....

[Doc Emmett Brown]

Steven was fiered, Izzy didn?t like this at all, so he wen?t out, In that moment Axl felt the king of the world and dicided to start acting like the king of the world, duff and Slash didn?t like this at all, so they wen?t out.

GNR history in a nutshell  

[John Daniels]

I know - those bastards betrayed him and left him for dead

Yeah, Steven's 1988 sentiments about Slash and Duff lend heart-wrenching foresight into how it must have felt for him to have been fucked over that way by those guys.

It is sad to think that they were his best friends and yet they kicked him out because he had a drug problem - its not as if the others were in a position to criticise!

I suppose in their defence they had been trying for months, maybe even years to get Steven sorted out (Axl's rant at the other members dancing with Mr Brownstone), they mentioned they even beat up his drug dealer etc - and Steven was kicked out of the band before as well but they let him back in - i suppose they had done their best, but even so it's pretty sad the way they screwed him out of all his royalties and left a man with a crippling drug problem to fend for himself - without any money

doesn't Steven get his royalties from Appetite? I guess he does..so what was the deal with the royalties he didn't get...?

[Izzy]

I know - those bastards betrayed him and left him for dead

Yeah, Steven's 1988 sentiments about Slash and Duff lend heart-wrenching foresight into how it must have felt for him to have been fucked over that way by those guys.

It is sad to think that they were his best friends and yet they kicked him out because he had a drug problem - its not as if the others were in a position to criticise!

I suppose in their defence they had been trying for months, maybe even years to get Steven sorted out (Axl's rant at the other members dancing with Mr Brownstone), they mentioned they even beat up his drug dealer etc - and Steven was kicked out of the band before as well but they let him back in - i suppose they had done their best, but even so it's pretty sad the way they screwed him out of all his royalties and left a man with a crippling drug problem to fend for himself - without any money

doesn't Steven get his royalties from Appetite? I guess he does..so what was the deal with the royalties he didn't get...?

Yeah but he had to sue them to get those royalties, the band tricked him into giving them up.

[John Daniels]

I know - those bastards betrayed him and left him for dead

Yeah, Steven's 1988 sentiments about Slash and Duff lend heart-wrenching foresight into how it must have felt for him to have been fucked over that way by those guys.

It is sad to think that they were his best friends and yet they kicked him out because he had a drug problem - its not as if the others were in a position to criticise!

I suppose in their defence they had been trying for months, maybe even years to get Steven sorted out (Axl's rant at the other members dancing with Mr Brownstone), they mentioned they even beat up his drug dealer etc - and Steven was kicked out of the band before as well but they let him back in - i suppose they had done their best, but even so it's pretty sad the way they screwed him out of all his royalties and left a man with a crippling drug problem to fend for himself - without any money

doesn't Steven get his royalties from Appetite? I guess he does..so what was the deal with the royalties he didn't get...?

Yeah but he had to sue them to get those royalties, the band tricked him into giving them up.

Okay, now I remember...


I found this quote from Steven's official web site.

Courtney asks: Did you make enough money from Guns to keep you from having to work the rest of your life, or did you end up screwed, having to scramble?

When they kicked me out of the band the intent was to screw me. Right off the bat, they had me sign papers that I didn't, couldn't read 'cause it was a stack about five inches thick! They took every penny from me. They were going to give me $2000 and say "that's it" like I never existed. That's why I sued them. I got my money back. I thank God, Jesus, and my Grandmother for being able to support myself and my family.


then again..Axl has said about the lawsuit that "Steven didn't write a damn note"

[Izzy]

then again..Axl has said about the lawsuit that "Steven didn't write a damn note"

I've never understood this - do the drums no longer count in music?

Surely writing credit should go to every person that contributed to the song - vocals/guitars/bass/drums etc

[blues_rock_axeman]

I've never understood this - do the drums no longer count in music?

Surely writing credit should go to every person that contributed to the song - vocals/guitars/bass/drums etc

I agree entirely- my band wouldn't sound anything like it does if not for our drummer- he really helps make the song sound individual.

Would Nightrain have had the swing that it did if not for Steven? Hell no. It's not like Sorum could swing like Steven could.

Izzy said how 'nothing worked' after Steven left, and that the 'sense of push-and-pull' shaped the songs.

I'd say that was significant contribution.

I'd also like to point out to Axl that you can't write notes for drum pieces...

[John Daniels]

I've never understood this - do the drums no longer count in music?

Surely writing credit should go to every person that contributed to the song - vocals/guitars/bass/drums etc

I agree entirely- my band wouldn't sound anything like it does if not for our drummer- he really helps make the song sound individual.

Would Nightrain have had the swing that it did if not for Steven? Hell no. It's not like Sorum could swing like Steven could.

Izzy said how 'nothing worked' after Steven left, and that the 'sense of push-and-pull' shaped the songs.

I'd say that was significant contribution.

I'd also like to point out to Axl that you can't write notes for drum pieces...

well perhaps Axl meant that others made the songs..lyrics, melody, riffs.....Steven just played drums patterns onto the melody/riff/lyrics that others had done....I mean does the drumbeat turn the song to be a hit/important or lyrics/riffs/melodies.. I guess Axl sees that Steven got nothing to do with the success of GN'R..he just played drums over songs that had been made by others..

[Dizzy]

I guess Axl sees that Steven got nothing to do with the success of GN'R..he just played drums over songs that had been made by others..

There's no doubt that Axl sees it that way, but unfortunately for uncle Axl, that doesn't make it so.  Steven's drum intros to "Mr. Brownstone" and "Paradise City" are incredible and contribute greatly to both songs.

[Slashly]

Yeah, Dizzy, those songs wouldn?t have been the same without Steven on them!!


Slashly//

[John Daniels]

I guess Axl sees that Steven got nothing to do with the success of GN'R..he just played drums over songs that had been made by others..

There's no doubt that Axl sees it that way, but unfortunately for uncle Axl, that doesn't make it so.  Steven's drum intros to "Mr. Brownstone" and "Paradise City" are incredible and contribute greatly to both songs.

well that's true.

[Slashly]

I have a question concerning Steven:
Haven?t you realized Slash allways says that Matt is the best dummer out there ??Well, do you think it?s because Matt is in the band and he doesn?t wan?t to say that Steven is the best drumer or because he really thinks Matt?s the best??



Baby Slash//

[Izzy]

I have a question concerning Steven:
Haven?t you realized Slash allways says that Matt is the best dummer out there ??Well, do you think it?s because Matt is in the band and he doesn?t wan?t to say that Steven is the best drumer or because he really thinks Matt?s the best??



Baby Slash//

Because he's in the band - ur not going to turn round to a mate of 14 years and so 'oh by the way, your crap on drums'

[Slashly]

I have a question concerning Steven:
Haven?t you realized Slash allways says that Matt is the best dummer out there ??Well, do you think it?s because Matt is in the band and he doesn?t wan?t to say that Steven is the best drumer or because he really thinks Matt?s the best??



Baby Slash//

Because he's in the band - ur not going to turn round to a mate of 14 years and so 'oh by the way, your crap on drums'

That?s what I thought, thanx Izzy.





Baby Slash//

[Izzy]

It can't be denied that despite Matt's best efforts to prove other wise he is a fantastic drummer - his GNR work is excellent and while his VR work is not stunning its still good.

[Dizzy]

As of late, Slash has always pretty much said that Steven was the best drummer for Guns N Roses.  He just thinks Matt's the best drummer alive right now, and for VR.  Being the best drummer alive doesn't mean you were the best for GNR, and Slash acknowledges this.  He said in that Aloha interview a few days ago that all the problems in GNR started with Steven's dismissal, and how much they missed Steven and Izzy during the UYI recordings.

[Ignatius]

Well, well, well....

Dizzy, Are you starting a Steven fan club and haven't invited me to join???

As of late, Slash has always pretty much said that Steven was the best drummer for Guns N Roses.  He just thinks Matt's the best drummer alive right now, and for VR.  Being the best drummer alive doesn't mean you were the best for GNR, and Slash acknowledges this.

Slash should've been a diplomatic.  Next thing he'll say, " Axl, he was the best frontman for GNR, but Scott is the best frontman alive, the best for VR ( shit, even Duff and Matt say Scott is the best now....)

Where was Slash 14 years ago when Steven was sacked? Even Steven recently said he hadnt talked to Slash in 6-7 years!! I remember reading Steven bumped into Slash once in the mid 90's but Slash would turn around ignoring the guy. It's so easy now to say nice things like" Steven was the best drummer" or " everything went down the hill after Steven's dismissal" None of his bandmates stood up for him, none.

I'm not gonna beat the dead horse again. I won't get into Steven's involvement in the song writing because I've already done so in many other threads. What I'm gonna enphasize though is the fact that wasn't no angel. He got sacked because he became a liability. Period.

Steven would bring his drugs to the "civil War" recording sessions in 1990 when Izzy and Slash  were trying to sober up. Steven was asked to go the same road as Slash and Izzy's but he refused. Even Duff and Slash tried to reach Steven's drug dealer a couple of times so he would not sell him any more drugs. Then he was involved in Axl's gilrfriend overdose when he was made responsible of suppling her with a heavy combination of heroin and cocaine. Things were beyond control with Steven and GNR camp made a decision.

Truth is, GNR management should've come up with much more than a $2,000 check. They went to court and Steven won, fair enough. But Do Not overlook the fact that Steven was fired because GNR camp  and members thought there was a reason for it. Steven wasn't ready to take the band into a different level so the band had to hire another drummer.

By the way, when you say " he was tricked into signing a those papers" the first thing coming to mind is...was he hypnoticed with a fucking yo-yo? C'mon guys! a thick stack of papers?? Steven signed that because he is not the brightest kid ( actually, none of the original five were) and  didn't have any clue what the hell he was signing.  He wasn't lied to..he could've read the papers.End of the story.

Believe or not, I do like Steven, AFD wouldn't have been the same without him, but he gambled his life and became unreliable. His bandmates didn't fucking help them either (Not just Axl, Slash, Izzy, Duff...)

He said in that Aloha interview a few days ago that all the problems in GNR started with Steven's dismissal, and how much they missed Steven and Izzy during the UYI recordings.

Bullshit. How come they missed Izzy during the UYI recordings? Have they suddenly forgotten Izzy didn't quit until November'91? The Illusions had already been recorded and released.

[Izzy]

He said in that Aloha interview a few days ago that all the problems in GNR started with Steven's dismissal, and how much they missed Steven and Izzy during the UYI recordings.

I adore Slash as a musician - he is the very best around

But as a human being he is despicable

He is a patholgical liar - 'it all went wrong with Steven going' - fuck's sake - he was the one that went up to Adler and announched he was out - he was at the heart of the decision to sack him.

What even worse - in 14 years he has barely spoken to a man he went through life and death with, not good.

[Dizzy]

Even Steven recently said he hadnt talked to Slash in 6-7 years!!

Where?

Steven said last year during a radio interview that it felt great that he and Slash had been getting along in recent years.  And then of course, Slash and Izzy joined him onstage last year during the Adler's Appetite Key Club gig.

None of his bandmates stood up for him, none.

Izzy did, he was just overruled.  Plus, it seems he wasn't around enough to offer a strong enough objection to the decision.

He wasn't lied to..he could've read the papers.  End of the story.

Okay, you're flat out incorrect.  Steven was lied to.  Doug Goldstein told him the papers were probationary papers he was signing.  True, Steven could've read them, but the fact is, Steven had no reason not to trust Goldstein's word on what they were, because he was the band's manager.  It turned out, they were not probationary papers at all.  Rather, he was signing away his partnership and his rights to all his royalties.

From a TV special called the "Secret History of Rock N Roll".....

Steven was told he was being put on probation until the drugs were kicked.  He was told to sign a series of papers stating that he would detox on deadline.

STEVEN: "All I remember is Doug telling me 'sign here, sign there'.  I had no idea what I was doing."

It turned out, Steven was not on probation after all.  He was out of the band, signing away his partnership, his rights to royalties, his reason to live.

STEVEN: "I tried to kill myself.  Rather than finish cleaning myself up, I went back into heavy drugs with the hope of never making it out alive."


Besides, how in the hell can you even doubt that they lied to Steven?  Do you really think Steven would've smiled and said "Sure Doug!  I'll sign away my partnership and all my royalties!", if they had been honest with him about what those papers were?  They had to lie to him to get him to sign them, and it ended up biting them in the ass, because the shady circumstances proved fodder for Steven's lawsuit against the band.

Bullshit. How come they missed Izzy during the UYI recordings? Have they suddenly forgotten Izzy didn't quit until November'91? The Illusions had already been recorded and released.

I tell you, you don't know your GNR history very well do you?  You'd do well to visit Jarmo's article section and read, because the information is all there.  You definitely strike me as the kind of guy who makes blind assumptions based on general facts rather than reading all the information that is out there in official interviews.

I had a lot of resentment towards Izzy for not playing on the UYI records.  I had to double up guitars for him on most of it.  He didn't play very much.

--Slash, 1992

We tried to work with Izzy, we had him play one part, and then after we'd determined whether or not it was usable with the rest of the song, we'd ask him to record it again, and he'd say "why, I've already done it?"  It got really frustrating.

--Axl, 1992

We had to work really hard on Izzy's parts to make them up to par, because he didn't play very much.

--Slash, interview with Paris press, 1992

[Dizzy]

He is a patholgical liar -- - he was at the heart of the decision to sack him.

While this is true, that doesn't make him a liar.  Hell, it's been 14 years.  Slash can look back in retrospect and realize what went wrong, from a more mature, reasonable standpoint.  Granted, Steven was treated badly by his bandmates, Slash in particular, but Slash obviously did what he felt was right at the time, and now he is looking back and realizing that it was the wrong decision.  That doesn't make him a liar or "despicable".  Jeez, you're starting to sound like Axl now.  

What even worse - in 14 years he has barely spoken to a man he went through life and death with, not good.

Not true.  In 2000, Slash stated in an interview that he talked to Steven all the time.  Steven backed this up in a radio interview last year, saying how wonderful it was that he and Slash had been getting along so well in the past few years.

[Izzy]

Not true.  In 2000, Slash stated in an interview that he talked to Steven all the time.  Steven backed this up in a radio interview last year, saying how wonderful it was that he and Slash had been getting along so well in the past few years.

Well there was the 10 year interval - he may be speaking to him now but 1990-2000.......

[Dizzy]

Well there was the 10 year interval - he may be speaking to him now but 1990-2000.......

Very true.  Bottom line is, just like the rest of the band, Slash needed time to grow up.  He admitted himself in a 1999 interview that during the UYI tour, they were "a pretty volatile band that hadn't grown up much...".  But it's obvious that he's wiser now that he's gotten older.  You know what they say, hindsight is always 20/20.  I think that definitely applies to this situation.

[Doc Emmett Brown]

This thread is still going strong!  Dizzy is holding down the fort in the Ex-Gunners section  

Posted by: Dizzy  Posted on: May 22, 2004, 04:28:49 pm  
Quote from: John Daniels on May 22, 2004, 04:08:16 pm
I guess Axl sees that Steven got nothing to do with the success of GN'R..he just played drums over songs that had been made by others..
 
 
There's no doubt that Axl sees it that way, but unfortunately for uncle Axl, that doesn't make it so.

I remember reading somewhere that Axl said Estranged is about Steven (dont ask me where)... and this how I interpret the song as well.  I also feel the same way about Madagascar.  

Axl, when he speaks, is mostly cock & bull, but in his lyrics, he shows his true self, IMO.  And then you see that he really does care about all the Gunners.  

[Izzy]

I remember reading somewhere that Axl said Estranged is about Steven (dont ask me where)... and this how I interpret the song as well.  I also feel the same way about Madagascar.  

Alledgedly he said that in the making the video thing for Estranged - i haven't seen it though

I don't think Estranged is about him - mainly because that would be very gay - this song is aimed at a woman (Erin?)

Axl certainly doesn't care about Steven - no doubt he orchestrated screwing him out of all his money as he tried with Izzy with the infamous new contract he offered him.....

[Dizzy]

"Estranged" was about Axl's relationship with Erin.  But....

It's a song about being hurt or angry at a person, but still caring about that person enough to not want them to destroy themselves.  The song could be applied to many different situations.  It could be a song about Steven Adler... (paraphrase)

--Axl, "The Making of Estranged"


It's interesting that Axl could've said anybody when describing what/whom else the song could be about, but Steven Adler was the first name out of his mouth.

[Ignatius]

Where?

Steven said last year during a radio interview that it felt great that he and Slash had been getting along in recent years.  And then of course, Slash and Izzy joined him onstage last year during the Adler's Appetite Key Club gig.

Yes. I'm sure he is happy that Slash is doing well & sure they had lost of fun las year when thery performed together but the fact is where the hell was Slash when Steven was sacked and 10 years later?  

Izzy did, he was just overruled.  Plus, it seems he wasn't around enough to offer a strong enough objection to the decision.

He was just overruled?? Ok, first of all, since you seem to give me quotes for everything you post, I'll appreciate one here as well. Also, when Steven was fired you should know ( it looks like you should take another look to your GNR history books as well) no one was really around anyway. 1990 was pretty much a sabatic year for the band as a band( with the execption of " Civil War " recordings and " Farm Aid").

Okay, you're flat out incorrect.  Steven was lied to.  Doug Goldstein told him the papers were probationary papers he was signing.  True, Steven could've read them, but the fact is, Steven had no reason not to trust Goldstein's word on what they were, because he was the band's manager.  It turned out, they were not probationary papers at all.  Rather, he was signing away his partnership and his rights to all his royalties.

Yes you are correct. He was told they were probationary papers and signed then. Still, he should've read them.

I tell you, you don't know your GNR history very well do you?  You'd do well to visit Jarmo's article section and read, because the information is all there.  You definitely strike me as the kind of guy who makes blind assumptions based on general facts rather than reading all the information that is out there in official interviews.

If you assume things, you make and ass out of you and me. You are telling me I make blind assumptions based on general facts rather than....you have just made an assumption about me. From now on, Please refrain yourself from doing so.

I had a lot of resentment towards Izzy for not playing on the UYI records.  I had to double up guitars for him on most of it.  He didn't play very much.

Ok, if in order to post I have to back up everything I say with quotes, I would go crazy. By saying they missed Steven and Adler during the recording of UYI you either are implying that Slash is a liar or you are. Yes, I have read that quote before ( thanx again for reminding me to go through Jarmo's " band History" section) and I don't buy for shit. Slash said that in 1992 when GNR had just left a year earlier...woudn't you think Slash was still resented about Izz's absence? None of the things I heard/read about Izzy in 1992/1993 had Axl/Slash praising Izzy...

By the way, be more specific when you post things
 

like He said in that Aloha interview a few days ago that all the problems in GNR started with Steven's dismissal, and how much they missed Steven and Izzy during the UYI recordings.

 

Not all of us have saved every quote Slash and the boys have made in the past 15 years in files in alphabetical order and two printed back up versions just in case. This is me just joking, so don't take it the wrong way  

[Dizzy]

Yes. I'm sure he is happy that Slash is doing well & sure they had lost of fun las year when thery performed together but the fact is where the hell was Slash when Steven was sacked and 10 years later?  

I've already explained that in replies to Izzy's posts.

He was just overruled?? Ok, first of all, since you seem to give me quotes for everything you post, I'll appreciate one here as well.

I knew it was the beginning of the end when Steven was voted out of the band for using drugs.  This coming from a bunch of guys who'd spent the last five years doing groupies and acting like idiots!

--Izzy, 1993

By criticizing the other guys for Steven's termination, and by using the term "voted out", he implies that he wasn't part of the "let's get rid of Steven" crusade, rather, he was against it.  But obviously, three guys (Axl, Slash, Duff) were for it, so he was overruled.

Also, when Steven was fired you should know ( it looks like you should take another look to your GNR history books as well) no one was really around anyway. 1990 was pretty much a sabatic year for the band as a band( with the execption of " Civil War " recordings and " Farm Aid").

I'd be happy to take another look into my GNR history books.

According to Slash's January 1991 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, almost all the music (though not vocals) for the UYI albums was recorded in 1990.

Besides, your statement doesn't really make sense.  Why do you think Steven was fired?  Because they were trying to record in 1990, and decided that they couldn't because of Steven.  My statement that "Izzy wasn't around" was in relation to Slash's and Axl's assertion that Izzy didn't play much on the UYI albums, hence he wasn't around much when Steven was ousted.

Yes you are correct. He was told they were probationary papers and signed then. Still, he should've read them.

Yes he should've, but that wasn't the point.  My point was that they deceived a guy (a guy who trusted them) into signing his life away.

You are telling me I make blind assumptions based on general facts rather than....you have just made an assumption about me. From now on, Please refrain yourself from doing so.

Fair enough, but perhaps my assumption was based on the fact that you've made flagrant assumptions to begin with which led me to believe my "assumption" was true.  Perhaps you should refrain from making assumptions in the first place, especially when they contradict facts that have been documented about the band.  And yes, I read your joke at the end of your post about not having all the statements on file, but that begs the question as to what you're doing debating matters such as these when you admit that you don't have all the facts.

By saying they missed Steven and Adler during the recording of UYI you either are implying that Slash is a liar or you are.

Um no, and I've already explained this in response to Izzy's comments above.  Slash obviously felt he was right at the time they dismissed Steven, but in retrospect, he realizes it wasn't a wise decision.  That happens sometimes you know.  People do things thinking they are right, but in hindsight realize they weren't.  It's human nature.  That doesn't mean Slash is a liar, and it certainly doesn't make me a liar, I'm just presenting the case as it stands.

Slash said that in 1992 when GNR had just left a year earlier...woudn't you think Slash was still resented about Izz's absence? None of the things I heard/read about Izzy in 1992/1993 had Axl/Slash praising Izzy...

Okay I am not sure what the hell you're talking about now.  In the year 2004, Slash stated that Izzy was missed during the UYI tour.  Again, a statement made in retrospect, from a man who's had time to grow up and look bad from a more rational, reasonable standpoint.  You're right, neither he nor Axl praised Izzy in 1992, and I never stated that they did.

By the way, be more specific when you post things

Let's see, I explain my case thoroughly and post quotes/articles from band members involved in the case to buttress my statements.  How much more specific can I get?

[matt88]

After reading this last page of this thread, i've come to realize what a big part Steven had on this band.

It really was a different GN'R without him and he was unfairly screwed out of money and luckily got what he deserved, his fair share of money.

He had a big part in the music and the bands attitude. Fucken luv ya Steve

[Slashly]

Also, if you come to think, Izzy?s quote (Stevens playing mak the big musical diference....) is totally true.AFD would had been a lot more metal than it was, and that was mainly because of Stevens playing!!He made some of the AFD songs sound much more hard rocker.Steven (well, and Slash and Duff and Izzy) is the king!!!




Baby Slash//

[Izzy]

I'm a massive Steven Adler fan but one thing we must always bear in mind is that Steven got himself fired at the end of the day - okay the rest of them betrayed him but it was Steven who was doing the drugs that prevented him from functioning, it was Steven who had been warned about this for years - he wouldn't have been fired if he had got his act together.

It wasn't as if one day they all decided to do away with him - his dismissal was the culmination of 2 years worth of efforts by the other members to get him sorted out - while the way he was sacked was very wrong ultimately he was failing in his job - and that means u get fired.

Maybe that is being bit unsumpathetic to a man that was suffering from a criplling addiction - but it was possible to give up as the other members demonstrated - and he had been given the time to do so.

[Dizzy]

It wasn't as if one day they all decided to do away with him - his dismissal was the culmination of 2 years worth of efforts by the other members to get him sorted out -

Two years, really? ?And what 'other members' do you speak of? ?That's funny, because during the documented 1989 writing/demo sessions in Chicago, Slash, Duff, and Steven were the only ones there working on new material. ?Axl and Izzy were off cleaning themselves of a heroin problem, something Izzy openly admitted. ?According to both Slash and Steven, Axl didn't even show up there until the very end of those sessions, and Izzy apparently never showed up at all.

Also...ever notice that Axl and Izzy aren't in very much of the "Paradise City" video (excluding the concert footage)? ?According to Steven, that's because they were off doing heroin while he, Slash, and Duff were on set shooting the "backstage" portions of the video. ?If you watch the video, you'll notice that Axl and Izzy are only in maybe one or two shots of the backstage part of the video, while Slash, Duff, and Steven are all over the place in it.

Also, Izzy was cleaning himself of the heroin addiction right around the time Steven was fired, and Izzy barely played at all on the UYI records, which we know pissed Axl and Slash off. ?So why wasn't Izzy fired too? ?Why wasn't Axl fired for hardly attending the 1989 Chicago sessions? ?I guess it was okay for the two of them to delay the UYI records, eh?

I was sick and couldn't go into the studios much [in 1990, not the Chicago sessions], and they were frustrated with me. ?If one of them was sick, it would have been postponed. ?We just weren't a team anymore.
--Steven

[Izzy]

It wasn't as if one day they all decided to do away with him - his dismissal was the culmination of 2 years worth of efforts by the other members to get him sorted out -

Two years, really?  And what 'other members' do you speak of?  That's funny, because during the documented 1989 writing/demo sessions in Chicago, Slash, Duff, and Steven were the only ones there working on new material.  Axl and Izzy were off cleaning themselves of a heroin problem, something Izzy openly admitted, and something that Axl wrote "Coma" about.  According to both Slash and Steven, Axl didn't even show up there until the very end of those sessions, and Izzy apparently never showed up at all.

Also...ever notice that Axl and Izzy aren't in very much of the "Paradise City" video (excluding the concert footage)?  According to Steven, that's because they were off doing heroin while he, Slash, and Duff were on set shooting the "backstage" portions of the video.  If you watch the video, you'll notice that Axl and Izzy are only in maybe one or two shots of the backstage part of the video, while Slash, Duff, and Steven are all over the place in it.

Also, Izzy was cleaning himself of the heroin addiction right around the time Steven was fired, and Izzy barely played at all on the UYI records, which we know pissed Axl and Slash off.  So why wasn't Izzy fired too?  Why wasn't Axl fired for hardly attending the 1989 Chicago sessions?  I guess it was okay for the two of them to delay the UYI records, eh?

I was sick and couldn't go into the studios much [in 1990, not the Chicago sessions], and they were frustrated with me.  If one of them was sick, it would have been postponed.  We just weren't a team anymore.
--Steven

Yes all of them were battling away with drugs but the rest of them were atleast starting to bring their habit under control, as you yourself mentioned in your post.

Don't put to much faith in Steven's comment at the end - that smacks of bitterness

Also u refer to why Izzy wasn't fired for never being around - well i'm sure you remember Axl was working to reduce Izzy's 'pay' because of this - the infamous new contract that pushed Izzy out of the band - maybe they would have taken more action if he was as far gone as Steven was.

At the end of the day Steven's problem was far worse than the rest of them - the other members refer to such on many occaisions, thats why a different response was needed.

[AdZ]

Axl and Izzy were off cleaning themselves of a heroin problem, something Izzy openly admitted, and something that Axl wrote "Coma" about

____________________________

Also, Izzy was cleaning himself of the heroin addiction right around the time Steven was fired, and Izzy barely played at all on the UYI records, which we know pissed Axl and Slash off.  So why wasn't Izzy fired too?  Why wasn't Axl fired for hardly attending the 1989 Chicago sessions?  I guess it was okay for the two of them to delay the UYI records, eh?

Actually I think Axl wrote it about ODing on pills:
Axl: I started writing about when I OD'ed 4 years ago. And the reason I OD'ed was cos of stress - I couldn't take it. And
I just grabbed this bottle of pills, in an argument, and just gulped them down. And I ended up in the hospital. But I liked that I wasn't in the fight anymore. And I was fully concious that I was leaving. I liked that. But then I go - all of the sudden my first real thoughts were that 'ok, you havn't toured enough, the records not gonna last, it's gonna be forgotten, listen man, you have work to do. Get out of this!' And I went 'no', and I woke up, and pulled myself out of it.

____________________________

Maybe Izzy wasn't fired because he contributed more to the band? He certainly wrote a lot more songs.

[jarmo]

Axl and Izzy were off cleaning themselves of a heroin problem, something Izzy openly admitted, and something that Axl wrote "Coma" about.

That's the first time I heard about that.

I heard Axl was in Paris or something.....



/jarmo

[Dizzy]

Yes all of them were battling away with drugs but the rest of them were atleast starting to bring their habit under control, as you yourself mentioned in your post.

Steven was obviously sober enough in 1989 to attend the Chicago sessions, where he was rehearsing and writing with Slash and Duff. ?So where were Axl and Izzy then, when Steven was ready to record the new material (and did record some demos)? ?It's funny how those two were given time to clean themselves up, even though the other three guys were ready to work on the UYI albums in 1989. ?No matter how long the UYI albums were delayed, the other guys were given the time to sober up. ?But then when Steven's problems worsened, it was suddenly urgent to record the albums right then, no matter how much time and studio money Axl and Izzy had wasted during the previous recording sessions.

Don't put to much faith in Steven's comment at the end - that smacks of bitterness

Actually, it "smacks" of what is obviously the truth, because Izzy wasn't fired for the delays he caused in the UYI albums, neither was Axl. ?Rather, Steven was the scapegoat for the entire band's problems.

well i'm sure you remember Axl was working to reduce Izzy's 'pay' because of this - the infamous new contract that pushed Izzy out of the band -

This is incorrect. ?Axl wanted to reduce Izzy's pay because he didn't move around enough onstage during their shows.
 
The final straw was Axl, who was like Adolf. ?[He] had a contract drawn up that said my wages should be reduced because I didn't move about enough on stage. ?When I heard that, I was like 'fuck this guy'.

--Izzy

At the end of the day Steven's problem was far worse than the rest of them - the other members refer to such on many occaisions, thats why a different response was needed.

Yes, Steven's problems were so much worse that Slash admits he doesn't even remember chunks of the UYI tour and Duff's pancreas exploded in 1994.

Actually I think Axl wrote it about ODing on pills:
Axl: I started writing about when I OD'ed 4 years ago. And the reason I OD'ed was cos of stress - I couldn't take it. And
I just grabbed this bottle of pills, in an argument, and just gulped them down. And I ended up in the hospital. But I liked that I wasn't in the fight anymore. And I was fully concious that I was leaving. I liked that. But then I go - all of the sudden my first real thoughts were that 'ok, you havn't toured enough, the records not gonna last, it's gonna be forgotten, listen man, you have work to do. Get out of this!' And I went 'no', and I woke up, and pulled myself out of it.

Could be, I just read that Axl had battled with heroin, and Steven had said that was why Axl and Izzy weren't in the 1989 video shoot for "Paradise City", so I was thinking he'd written "Coma" about that.

Maybe Izzy wasn't fired because he contributed more to the band? He certainly wrote a lot more songs.

Oh I see. ?So because Izzy contributed more, his problems were tolerated. ?So this implies that Steven was fired not because he was a guy with a problem, but because he was a "guy who didn't write as much" with a problem.

[Koskenkorvasieni]

Wow, there's a lot of stuff in this thread that I never knew about. They really fucked Steven over big-time. Then again, Slash and Duff were probably so wasted that they were easily manipulable by Axl, or unable to think rationally by themselves..

[Dizzy]

Wow, there's a lot of stuff in this thread that I never knew about.

Hey, I'm always happy to provide the story of my favorite band to those willing to learn about them.     Notice how, ultimately, I am unchallenged in my arguments.  Nobody can top the bitter old man when it comes to frivolous pop culture knowledge, and Izzy (the poster) and Chinasky know it!   

[Ignatius]

Wow, there's a lot of stuff in this thread that I never knew about.

Hey, I'm always happy to provide the story of my favorite band to those willing to learn about them.? ?? Notice how, ultimately, I am unchallenged in my arguments.? Nobody can top the bitter old man when it comes to frivolous pop culture knowledge, and Izzy (the poster) and Chinasky know it!? ?

Oh lord...I thought we had enough Steven's threads already. Frivolous pop culture knowledge? totally agree, imagine the bitter old man singing " Heaven is a place on earth"??

I know you are obsessed with Belinda Carlisle!!!!