Paul Black on early GN'R/Izzy

LINK TO METALSLUDGE INTERVIEW:http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1282&Itemid=52

BBG: Why did you leave L.A. Guns when you were about to sign a record deal?

Paul: I was the main songwriter, along with Tracii, and I started the band but right about the time we were about to get signed ?Guns n? Roses had just gotten signed ? and we all kind of continued to be the bad boys of rock n? roll. We did a lot of partying, me and Izzy (Stradlin, Guns n? Roses rhythm guitarist) we?re doing a lot of heroin together. Right before we were getting ready to be signed to Polygram; me and Izzy had gotten busted copping dope. We spent some time in jail. Really, just overnight in jail but we were facing charges and that sparked a lot of rumors that Guns n? Roses would lose their deal with Geffen over the drug and heroin use. It was very apparent that I was very strung out on drugs and partying a little too much, and it scared our label. Basically our management, a guy named Alan Jones, was friends with Phil Lewis. Alan said that L.A. Guns could have record deal, but "you need to let us put our singer in there." So our management bought a ticket for Phil Lewis to fly over (from England) so he could replace me. Tracii always said that he felt really bad that he didn?t stick up for me, and I guess he felt Phil was filling the job good enough. That happened 20 years ago and its all water under the bridge now. Tracii and I have buried the hatchet and become friends again. It caused a lot of bitterness, because not only was I replaced, but they also used my songs for the first two records, which were really successful. Phil Lewis got the credit for my songs. To this day, he?s still taking credit for my songs. I sued them and got my credit back, but the lawsuit dragged out for three years and I couldn?t sign my new band when I was in a lawsuit with a major label, and it caused bad feelings all around. I think it probably held L.A. Guns back a little too. We don?t know what the future holds for L.A. Guns and this lineup, but we have a tight unit right now. Tracii?s son (Jeremy) is doing a great job on bass. He?s 24 years old. Full of energy, looks great, he?s just like we were back in the day.