XX. Notes

Strokes Get Former Guns 'N Roses Members For New Video

The next video by New York buzz band the Strokes will feature appearances by former Guns 'N Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum. The clip, for the song "Someday," is being directed by Roman Coppola, son of famed film director Francis Ford Coppola.

However, the concept of the video and the roles in it for the famed rockers are not being revealed at this time, the Strokes' spokesperson tells LAUNCH.

Indie-rock heroes Guided By Voices will also appear in the video, but rumored appearances by members of Def Leppard and former Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez were not confirmed by the group's spokesperson.

A release date for the video has yet to be announced.

"Someday" is the next single off the Strokes' RCA Records debut, Is This It.

The Strokes have annouced the planned release of a new single, due to follow their festival dates this summer.

The new single from the band entitled 'Someday' will be released on September 23 via Rough Trade. 'Someday' will be available on CD and seven-inch vinyl, the single will feature demo versions of 'Is This It' and 'Alone Together'.

The video for the new single features cameo appearances by former Guns N' Roses men Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. Directed by Roman Coppola, the video also features a spoof of US TV show 'Family Feud', in which The Strokes compete against underground rock legends Guided By Voices.

The Strokes will return to the UK to headline both Reading and Leeds during the August bank holiday.

In related news, Slash is tentatively scheduled to join former GN'R bandmates Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums) during a special September 11th performance by McKagan's band LOADED at the Viper Room in West Hollywood. All proceeds from the gig will go to the West Hollywood Emergency Fund.

Slash, Ray Go Back to School

Ex-Guns members and Ray Charles jam with high school band

Three of the former members of Guns n' Roses -- Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum -- visited Ray Charles' studio in South Central Los Angeles yesterday. Charles was scheduled to record with the Washington Preparatory School Jazz Band from Inglewood, California and called in Slash, who played on Charles' 2001 remake of "God Bless America."

"Ray's just a legend," said Slash. Slash played guitar on the Louis Jordan classic, "Let the Good Times Roll," which was sung by fifteen-year-old Tyra Dennis, who made an immediate fan out of Sorum. "She's awesome! Maybe she should be our singer," joked Sorum, referring to the Guns vets' search to replace Axl Rose.

The recording session with Charles was first prize in the first annual Blues Off battle of the bands, sponsored by Blues Lab, a Hollywood-based charity that delivers donated equipment and instruction to schools, orphanages and juvenile probation facilities in underprivileged communities.

"I think there's less opportunity today," said Charles, 72. "I came up with good musicians, and they would have jam sessions. And if you were good, they'd let you sit in. They had places where musicians could just go and just play music. I don't see that today. Matter of fact, I don't think I would have made it if I came up today."

The eleven-member Washington Preparatory School Jazz Band beat out eleven others in the contest, held last November at Hollywood's Musician's Institute. "They sound very, very good," Charles said. "I mean, they're kids. You don't expect them to sound professional. But they sound good for what they're trying to do."

Only five of the kids ever heard of Guns n' Roses, and none recognized any members or knew their hit songs. Yet all were agog to be accompanying Charles, who scat-spoke musical directions such as "more dee-dee-ba, dee-da-ba" before lurching into his trademark piano bounce.

"Ray Charles is, like, my second inspiration," said Jeremy Jeffers, a sixteen-year-old piano player who, like Charles, was born legally blind. Jeffers' first inspiration? Stevie Wonder, of course.

COREY LEVITAN

WEILAND'S ARREST FOLLOWS TUMULTUOUS ADDICTION SPIRAL, FRIENDS SAY
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS FRONTMAN HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF REHAB SEVERAL TIMES LATELY.

GIL KAUFMAN
05/21/2003

Scott Weiland's arrest on drug charges Sunday came as no surprise to those who know the singer. Instead it was the latest sad movement in the symphony of misery and addiction that the Stone Temple Pilots frontman has lived for most of the past decade.

"I was a junkie for 31 years, but I was never crazy enough to do the things he does and the amounts [of drugs] he does," said Buddy Arnold, co-founder of the Musicians' Assistance Program, which helps provide treatment for musicians addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Arnold, who has worked closely with Weiland in the past, said he's disturbed by the singer's recent backslide and that he fears for Weiland's life. He said MAP helped place Weiland in a rehab facility within the past two weeks but that Weiland left early after failing a drug test.

"The thing I'm worried about is waking up one day and hearing a news report that he's dead," Arnold said. "I think it's possible for anyone to get clean, I just hope he does it before he overdoses and dies, because that's where he's going."

Weiland was arrested early Sunday morning when police found cocaine and heroin in the BMW he was in.

According to a spokesperson for "The Project," a supergroup with whom Weiland has been collaborating, the drugs did not belong to the singer, but to a female he was with. The Project includes ex-Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, and the band has recorded two songs with Weiland.

Regardless of whether the drugs were Weiland's, the singer is in need of serious help, Arnold said. "She may have bought the drugs, but what was he? Her chauffeur," Arnold said. "He spends more time detoxing than he does doing drugs. He comes out of one detox center and two days later he's in another. He's been in at least six different detoxes in the last 45 days."

Stone Temple Pilots manager Peter Katsis recently confirmed that the 35-year-old singer had been enrolled in several drug rehab programs.

"The last time I saw him," Arnold added, "I couldn't get him to sit down or look at anything, he's so wired all the time. He needs to be somewhere for quite some time so they can address what's wrong with him psychologically."

In addition to his struggle with addiction, Weiland suffers from bipolar disorder, a serious mental illness (also known as manic depressive disorder) for which he said he refuses to take medication due to its dulling effects on his personality.

Weiland is due to be arraigned June 2 and faces up to a year in county jail if convicted. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office said his prior convictions on drug charges in California could "more or less preclude him from being diverted" into a drug program to avoid jail time.

The STP frontman has been arrested three times in the past for possession, twice in California. Weiland was arrested in 1995 for possession of heroin and cocaine and was spared jail time on the condition that he undergo drug counseling. He received court-ordered hospitalization related to those charges in 1996.

Following his 1999 incarceration on heroin charges, Weiland remained sober for a full year, sources said, including six months of touring behind STP's No. 4 album. After years of frustration with Weiland's struggles, the period of sobriety marked a high point for the band's personal relationships and opened new possibilities artistically, which the group sought to capitalize on by immediately beginning work on its fifth album. It also marked a high point for Weiland, who married model Mary Forsberg in May of 2000 and welcomed their first child, Noah, later that year.

STP rented a Malibu mansion to record Shangri-La Dee Da, but the sessions were plagued with band strife. By early 2001, Weiland had relapsed and was taking prescription painkillers, and sources said he has consistently struggled since then.

It was an attempt to get his hands on prescription medication, Mary has said, that sparked a November 2001 argument that ended with Weiland being arrested on battery/domestic violence charges. The couple filed for divorce last September.

Sources close to the Project said Weiland's drug issues are a source of frustration for the rest of the bandmembers, several of whom have also previously struggled with addiction. Should Weiland be selected as their singer, plans are being made to help lessen the risk of a relapse, including methadone treatment and 24-hour supervision.

Velvet Revolver Are 'Loving The Aliens (Sometimes)'

Velvet Revolver spokesperson Arlett Vereecke has confirmed to blabbermouth.net that the group's one-song collaboration with producer Josh Abraham (Staind, Orgy, Powerman 5000) is going by the title "Loving The Aliens (Sometimes)". The group had previously recorded the tracks "Slither" and "Set Me Free" with producers Bob Ezrin (Kiss, Jane's Addiction, Pink Floyd) and Nick Raskulinecsz, respectively. All three cuts are expected to surface on Velvet Revolver's forthcoming debut album, tentatively due in February 2004 through RCA Records. Velvet Revolver, who feature in their ranks Guns N' Roses alumni Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, David Kushner of Suicidal Tendences and former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland, are currently trying out producers before commencing the recording process for their full-length CD.

Hello Velvet Revolver fans. I hate for my first message on the site to be of the negative variety but I feel that it is my responsibility to uphold the honor and integrity of my friend and producer/partner, and to let the truth be known. First off, Velvet Revolver spokesperson Arlett Vereecke is not a spokesperson. We speak on our own behalf. Secondly, she was fired two weeks ago for situations not unlike this. Last but not least, Josh Abraham is a genius producer and friend who produced an amazing rock track last week. This track was not titled "Loving the Alien (sometimes)". "Loving the Alien (sometimes)" is an art-rock ballad that was produced by Douglas Grean; an amazingly talented producer and friend who is so humble that he didn't even want me to write this response. But I'm sorry Doug, when it comes to the music that I write with my partners in V.R., the truth needs to be known. It's my responsibility to the producers, to the music, and to the fans.

Shame on you Arlett Vereecke.

Sincerely,
Scott Weiland

In response to Scott Weiland's letter that implicates me of wrong doing as a PR for Velvet Revolver, I firmly believed he acted on bad advice, that was not only detrimental to him but to Velver Revolver.

Nobody, except Scott Weiland and his representatives, was aware of his letter writing, hence the rest of the band especially Slash and Duff whom I've worked with for 17 years, and hold very dear, knew anything about it.

Scott Weiland did call me tonight to apologise for being misinformed and we will talk things out this weekend one-on-one.

The truth is, I'm not fired. The band ran out of money and until the record is finished VR will be laying low and therefore not in need of a full time publicist. I still do all the work that comes in, I'm just not paid for it... and you can quote me on that.

Sorry this is a public battle, but it was not my idea, and I do not hold a grudge towards Scott Weiland and accepted his apology.

Best regards,

ARLETT VEREECKE

Velvet Revolver release an official statement | 2/3/2004

Representatives for Scott Weiland today clarified some recent news about his recovery process, his legal status and plans for the future. Recent news reports stated that the Velvet Revolver frontman (and former Stone Temple Pilots singer) had walked out of, or was discharged from, a Pasadena, California recovery facility after one month. Although Weiland did move to a sober living facility, it was at the suggestion and approval of his doctors and recovery counselors.

Mike Nasatir, a Weiland attorney, says, "We were under the impression that Scott's move was not against the court's wishes and that Scott was in compliance with the court's orders."

Dr. Drew Pinsky, Weiland's primary recovery specialist and head of Las Encinas Hospital's Chemical Dependency Program, said, "We felt that Scott completed detox by achieving the goals we set for him; he struggled diligently against a bad disease and we felt it was time for him to go to a lower level of care. It was time for him to return into the sober community and get back to the basics of sobriety while he pursued other treatment, which is a long treatment -something that will take months and months- but that doesn't require a hospital. It is unclear to me what is to be gained by putting him back in an in-patient environment; I am not clear that this is a good use of resources for this patient."

Weiland has been complying with the court order as the court acknowledged in his January 9 progress report. Weiland, according to his attorneys, has not abused illegal drugs or alcohol and is under his doctor's care. Scott continues to proactively and successfully address mental health issues, which have an organic neuropsychological basis and are pharmacologically treatable.

Weiland wants nothing more than to successfully comply with the court's orders, continue his sobriety in the community, work with his bandmates and ultimately be reunited with his wife and children.

Ex-Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler was married January 23rd to his girlfriend Carolina of one year in a small private ceremony.

Ex- Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler, Quiet Riot vocalist Kevin DuBrow and Mötley Crüe screamer Vince Neil took a Las Vegas strip-club stage on New Year's Eve to rock out covers of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and ZZ Top's "Tush." They got to watch all the lovely ladies without paying the cover charge or buying drinks.

SULPHER

''Who the fuck wants to sound like The Black Crowes'' says Rob Holliday, Sulpher singer and guitarist in reply to Hammer's attempt to categorise the Brummie band's sound as industrial. ''But I wouldn't necessarily call Sulpher industrial either'', he continues. ''Just because you look a certain way and use machinery, people immediately try to pigeonhole you into a specific area. We just like to use whatever modern technology is available.'' But if Sulpher don't consider themselves industrial, that certainly hasn't stopped the UK's industrial fans embracing them as a shot in the arm for a scene that's become rather stagnant of late. History ain't exactly littered with bands who have gone from total unknowns to headline material in a matter of months, and it's even more unlikely considering that Sulpher's live appearances are barely pushing double figures, and the only recorded material available until recently was a solitary MP 3 on their website. Even the band are surprised about just how fast things are moving: ''we are extremely shocked to tell you the truth, but of course we are very pleased with the way we have gained a very loyal following quite quickly,'' Rob admits. ''I suppose we must be doing something right.''

Part of their appeal can be put down to the music, an accessible balls-out brand of industrial- tinged rock reminiscent of Broken- era NIN, but it's in a live setting where all the pieces really come together, and Sulpher are not slow to admit how much they enjoy it. ''Shit yeah, playing for your own audience is a fantastic feeling, knowing that they're there to hear your music. There's nothing better, and the more the fans are into it, the more we get into it.'' There can be a downside to letting the fans get involved, though, as Rob testifies. ''I gave my guitar out to a girl in the crowd at our last show so she could bash on it and make a racket. She was better than me, so I'm resigning!''

Before Sulpher, both Rob and his skins- pounding partner- in- crime Monti were involved with some fairly high profile acts, and between them have played with Curve (an influence you can detect in Sulpher), The Creatures, The Jesus And Mary Chain, and they produced Gary Numan's stunning comeback album. Rob was even one of the selected few dozen to have worked on Guns 'N' Roses long- awaited new album.

''Axl had been a fan of Curve and liked the Sulpher stuff he heard, so he invited me over to LA to lay a bunch of guitar parts down. He has had a whole load of guitarists involved from Dave Navarro to Brian May, so I don't know if any of my parts have survived.'' But if you want tales of megalomania, you'll have to go somewhere else. ''Axl was really cool, genuinely a nice guy, very focused on what he wants,'' says Rob. Sulpher have just put out live favourite One Of Us as a single and they have a debut album planned. And if Sulpher can distil into it half their live power, it should be awesome.

Akihiko says he is one of SLASH's biggest fans from Japan. He's now residing in Texas, and he agreed to translate the Burrn! article that appeared in their most recent issue. He's got the SLASH portion done and is working on the rest now.

Burrn asks about that EP SLASH and Duff recorded with Izzy in 2002. What's the status on that? SLASH replied that he didn't know what happened to it, and the EP was an Izzy solo thing so only Izzy knows about it. When Izzy was recording the EP, he asked SLASH and Duff to play on it; and they did. It's Izzy's to release or not. Some of the songs Izzy did later with Velvet Revolver will be on the VR album. SLASH says Izzy sang the songs when he was working with VR.

Burrn asked a prickly question next...what happened to the name Guns N'Roses. SLASH said the band name is now registered to Axl, and no one else can use it. How Axl got the GNR name goes way back to GNR's last stadium tour. At one time, Axl (who was showing up 2-3 hours late for the gigs) came out of his dressing room with papers for the others to sign. It was a contract saying that if the band split up, then Axl would hold all the rights to the name GNR. He insisted that if SLASH and Duff did not sign, he would not do the show that day. They were reluctant, but they felt they had no choice but to sign because they wanted to finish the tour without cancelling shows. SLASH added that Axl, with his attitude and new lineup, gave GNR a bad name. No matter what, SLASH does not want to come back to Axl or GNR. Burrn asked about what Axl said about SLASH on the GNR website. SLASH answered that he saw it, and it's full of bs. Ever since he quit Guns N'Roses, SLASH said that Axl keeps saying all this nonsense about SLASH for no reason. However, SLASH says he respects Axl and doesn't want to argue with him.

Next, they talked about the "new" GNR gig in Vegas on New Year's Eve 2001. SLASH and Perla were there and saw the show in the paper, so he and Perla were going to go to the show. Everyone in town knew he was there that day, and the GNR management found out. They tried every means to keep SLASH from going to the show, supposedly to keep Axl from going crazy. When SLASH showed up at the club, security guards were at the doors watching for him to prevent him from going in. Perla and SLASH had no choice but to go away. SLASH said he suspected that all this was from GNR management, not Axl.

Moving on to Velvet Revolver, Burrn asked about the Randy Castillo Tribute show where SLASH, Duff and Matt played with then-Buckcherry's Josh and Keith. The magazine asked if they got together afterward and wrote and/or recorded any songs together. SLASH answered that they played with Buckcherry because SLASH knew them personally and knew they were on hiatus. The morning after the show, SLASH was still excited about the strong chemistry he felt between himself, Matt and Duff and thought, "This is it!" Duff told him, "You know what, we should do this." So these ex-Gunners and Buckcherry guys kept jamming together for about 3 months. SLASH wasn't satisfied, so he pulled the plug and said this isn't working right. He says they wrote a lot of songs, but none of these will be on the new album. Now they were back to a threesome; and after awhile, Dave joined them. Back then, they contacted and gave a demo to Scott Weiland; but he was too busy with STP, and nothing happened. After 7-8 months, they contacted Scott again and this time he wasn't doing much, so they asked him to sing on the soundtrack for the movie The Hulk with them. By doing this, in a way, the band did "audition" him and thought he was the perfect one for the lead singer of Velvet Revolver.

Akihiko, we can't thank you enough for your translation! This was excellent and really interesting. We're looking forward to the later installments about the other band members. And we'd appreciate it if other sites did not pick this up and put it on their newsletters and sites. Akihiko spent a long time doing this for the SLASH fans. Create a link to this news section instead. Thanks!

Recently, the Japanese music magazine Burrn! interviewed the members of Velvet Revolver. The magazine has cool color, large pictures of the band on the cover and inside. Since the magazine is in Japanese, we asked one of SLASH's biggest fans to translate for us. Akihiko lives in Texas, and he's been sending us the interview texts. Thanks for this special help, Akihiko! The SLASH portion appeared last week (see September 2003 archive below), and this is the interview with Duff.

Burrn! first asks about the status of Duff's band, Loaded. Duff says Loaded is always there for him, but for now he is not working with them. Other Velvet Revolver members have their own bands also, but VR comes first right now. He keeps in touch with the Loaded band members, though. They next talk about Izzy's EP that Duff and SLASH worked on. Duff said it was all led by Izzy, and he doesn't know what happened to it. (This is also what SLASH said in his interview.) Sometimes Izzy just calls him out of nowhere and asks him to play for him, and that's always Izzy's way of doing things. They talk about Izzy's forthcoming album. Burrn! asks if Duff did anything with that one. Duff answers that he doesn't know anything about the new album, but he thinks there is a chance that songs he did with Izzy for "the mysterious EP" might end up on the record.

Next is a question about the Music Video Awards on MTV last year where Axl and the new GNR had an appearance. They want to know if Duff knows anything about that. Duff replies that it's like asking him, "Do you know what Iron Maiden are doing right now?" By that he means that he doesn't know much about the new GNR, what they did or are doing. Burrn! follows up by asking what his thought are on the riots that happened on the new GNR's last tour. Duff said he wasn't surprised because that was an everyday thing during his GNR career. He said he felt sorry for fans that come out to see the band play and for the crew who worked even on Christmas break because the were not getting the money they were supposed to get. Asked to speculate on the possibility of a GNR reunion, Duff said he doesn't think he wants to go back. In addition, the hope for Velvet Revolver is too bright to even think about a reunion. He says he's happier than ever in VR.

Burrn! asked about how they chose Scott Weiland over so many other talented singers that they auditioned. Duff said he came to know Scott because their wives were good friends. Duff and Scott had previously met twice, but they were both too drunk to remember anything about it. He says both wives (Scott's wife is an ex-wife at this time having sued for divorce after filing domestic abuse charges and citing Scott's drug and alcohol abuse) were excited about the idea of Scott joining Velvet Revolver, so they worked behind the scenes to hook them up. As SLASH said in his interview, Scott turned down the vocalist offer at first; but when VR got new management, one of the managers told Duff to call Scott again. So Duff called Scott's wife, and that's how this all came to be. Then, Duff was asked about a woman who tried out for lead vocalist. Duff said that Mike Clink, GNR's old producer, told the VR guys that he found a bad ass singer they should try out; but he didn't give them the singer's name. One day, Mike showed up at their rehearsal early and told them that he'd heard the singer a couple of times; and he was thrilled, but there's one thing the guys had to get over - the gender of the singer. All the members were shocked and said, "What, you brought a chick?"! And that was Beth Hart. Duff says they gave her an audition, and she sounded like Janis Joplin in a way and amazing, but soon they decided what they wanted was a male singer. Duff said they aren't sexist or anything, but the band feels they just wouldn't work with a woman singer right. Duff felt so guilty, he called up one of his sisters and asked her if she thought he was a male chauvinist. She assured him he wasn't, but she did say she thought the band wouldn't work well with a woman singer...she said she thought it couldn't possibly work out. And Duff was relieved.

At one time, the band was calling itself Reloaded, and the magazine wondered why they had changed it. Duff's version of the story is that everybody in the band but him wanted to use HIS band name, Loaded, at first. He joked around, saying that if that happened, he would have a lot of help selling his back catalog. In reality, he actually didn't want to use the name for this band, so they simply changed it to Reloaded. However, when the movie, The Matrix Reloaded came out, they thought they'd better rethink the band name. SLASH came up with Revolver. Then, they found out there were more than 50 bands named Revolver, so they finally settled on Velvet Revolver. Burrn! asks a final question which must have been painful...who is going to own the name Velvet Revolver (assuming the band were to break up, we guess, based on Duff's reply)? Duff simply says that he doesn't want anything like that to happen.

Thanks again to Akihiko for the translation which we've summarized for you. [Note to other sites: please do not copy this report. Akihiko did this work solely for this site...feel free to link to the News section.} The interviews with Matt and Dave are forthcoming.

This continues the interview that the Japanese magazine Burrn! did with Velvet Revolver (minus Scott). Each band member was interviewed individually, and the accompanying pictures are just great. Our translator is Akihiko from Texas, and we thank him very much for doing this. The summary is ours. (Other sites..provide link only.)

This interview is with Matt Sorum, and they lead off asking about the beginning of Velvet Revolver when they were jamming with the ex-Buck Cherry guys, Josh and Keith. (SLASH, Matt and Duff had enlisted Josh and Keith to play with them at the Randy Castillo benefit. The band got a huge reception, and the ex-Gunners continued to work with Josh and Keith in the studio.) Matt said that one day SLASH came into the studio and told him this was not right, and SLASH said that he quit! (Ed. - exclamation, ours) Matt asked, "What do you mean you quit?" And SLASH finally confessed he did not want to work with Josh. And he also didn't know if he really wanted to continue with The Project at all. Matt persuaded SLASH not to quit and just keep going. SLASH wanted to keep Keith, so they kept Keith and moved to a new studio. (Ed.-leaving no forwarding address for Josh!). After a couple more weeks, SLASH decided he didn't want to work with Keith either, so Matt and Duff had to do a tough job, asking Keith to leave the band.

Burrn! then asks, "So whose idea was it to ask Dave (Kushner) to join the band?" Matt says that was Duff's idea. Matt said he actually joked around with the band saying..."How about Izzy? How about Axl? We might as well restart that band again. Let's call them up! Call! Call!" And the other guys were like, "What the heck? What are you talking about, Matt?" For a time Izzy did join them, and left them fairly quickly; and Burrn wants to know why. Matt said one day Izzy just called them. (Akihiko says that every member has said that's THE Izzy style). Izzy was there about a month. Then, the Strokes band called them up asked if the band wanted to tour Europe with them. (Ed.-Matt, Duff and SLASH appeared on one of the Strokes videos not long ago). Izzy was totally up for the idea. SLASH said he didn't want to play till they had a lead singer. Izzy said there was no need for a lead singer because he and Duff could sing. SLASH didn't like that idea, and so Izzy left the band. Matt said he thought Izzy probably left because he didn't want to argue about it with them.

Burrn! wants to know about the band name and how it came to be Velvet Revolver. Matt answered that when they did the soundtrack for the movie The Hulk, people asked them what the band name was. The band was thinking of Revolver at first, and then Scott came in and said, "What about 'Dead Velvet Revolver'?" The guys thought it sounded like Stone Temple Pilots. Then SLASH suggested, "How about Velvet Revolver?" And a couple of days later, the official band name was Velvet Revolver. Matt said that this is the first band where he can say he is an official member, and it's his band. In the past, he has always been a hired gun.

Matt always has other side things going on, and Burrn wanted to know about those. He said he is working with several people, and one of them is Ian Astbury from The Cult. (Ed.- Matt was the drummer for The Cult recently). Matt said it was interesting that now Ian asks him to write songs with him ever since he heard "Set Me Free" and found out that Matt wrote most of it. Also, Matt is in the cover band Camp Freddy which finally got a record deal with Sanctuary. He said, "Hello, Axl" because the new GNR is signed with them, too. Speaking of Axl, Burrn asks if Matt saw last summer's MTV Music Video Awards where the new GNR played. Matt said, "Yeah, I saw it. And (pause) I wanted them to rock hard, but they didn't at all..." (laughs).

Thanks again to Akihiko. Our final installment coming soon is a summary of the interview with Dave Kunchner, possibly the least well known member of Velvet Revolver.

This is the final installment of the Japanese magazine Burrn!'s interview with Velvet Revolver. Each band member except Scott was interviewed individually, and this is the interview with Dave Kushner. The other interview summaries are below or in the archives. Thanks to SLASH fan Akihiko from Texas for the translation and typing! Burrn first gets into Dave's background, the bands he's been in including Duff's band, Loaded. Dave says he was in Infectious Grooves, a side project of some Suicidal Tendencies members, and he played on Grooves' first record. At one time, Dave was a member of the touring band, Zilch. It was a band formed by a Japanese guitar player, HIDE, who passed away soon after their first album was made. The other Zilch members wanted to do a farewell tour for HIDE, and Dave was asked to play on that tour. Loaded also participated in the tour, and that's when Dave and Duff met up. Eventually, Duff asked Dave to play in Loaded. Also, The Cult happened to open for the last day of the Zilch tour, so Matt also knew Dave. And Akihiko reminds us that SLASH and Dave went to the same school and have known each other since Dave was 15. Ever since then, SLASH and Dave have been friends and have kept in touch. So by the time Dave was asked to play with Velvet Revolver, all the band members knew Dave personally and professionally. Dave says SLASH has always been his hero, and there is nothing better than playing with SLASH.

Burrn! asks about Dave's musical influences other than SLASH. Dave said before he started playing guitar, he was into Led Zep, Hendrix, Black Sabbath and Van Halen. Then, after he started playing, he got more into punk bands like X, Circle Jerks, Black Flag. Once he tried to copy "Stairway to Heaven", but he gave up and didn't play guitar for two years! After that he started listening to other players like Yngwie Malmsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Doyle Bramhall.

The interview then turned to Velvet Revolver. Dave said he feels comfortable in the band. Of course, he's a new face compared to the three original ex-Gunners who have played together for so long, but he says the guys all made an effort to make him feel more at home and don't treat him as an outsider. Asked about Scott Weiland, Dave says he's known Scott for 14 years, back when they were both still unsigned. Dave's old band and Scott's old band used to play together many times. He and Scott go to the same gym.

Burrn! then asked about Scott's drug problems. Dave replied that as all the other members have said, they all went on this same path; and the band are very supportive in helping Scott kick his addiction. Dave says there is no better support group than Velvet Revolver. Thanks again to Akihiko for this great translation job and sharing it with those of us who don't read Japanese!

No matter how he looks at it, 35 year old Weiland can’t slither away from being compared to the notorious flame-haired Guns N’ Roses frontman, Axl Rose. When I asked him if he’s bothered by these inevitable comparisons, Weiland was quick to retort.

Weiland: “ I don’t think so. He’s a fat f***. I’m not here to talk about other singers. I’m here to talk about Velvet Revolver’s records. He’s got his own deal, his own band and his own issues. If people want to see Axl Rose, they’ll go see his version of Guns N’ Roses.”

Madagascar88: To Tracii, From the GNR Fan Forum

Hi Tracii,
All of us from the Guns N' Roses Mygnr.com fan forum (biggest GnR fan club online) just want to know, as Axl is currently STILL searching for a lead guitarist to fill in for the 2005 Chinese Democracy tour, whether there is any chance he has already contacted you about the job or if he did, whether you would accept/decline and reasons for it.

We all agree that as Slash is totally out of the picture w/ the situation between him and Axl and with Buckethead gone (not that anybody cares about that), that it would be totally hot if you were to re put-together the Guns w/ the Rose. Wouldn't that be a way to take back the world GnR style? Besides, it'd bring back the 80s w/ GnR and Motley touring at the same time and all.

Tracii: I sent Axl and email. I let him know I had a year off and that I would be willing to go kick some ass with him. I got no reply

Thanx For The support from the GnR fan forum

Love Tracii

7. You jammed with Guns n Roses in 1999. How did that come about? Did you hear any of the new material? And now that Buckethead has quit have you considered joining the band full time?

SS: As for GnR, jamming was mad fun. I must say I have played many stadiums and arenas in my life but i have never played as loud as i did with those guys that night but as I told people before it was a bit like a guns cover band playing the songs. I thought Bucket would not like it knowing him and I think the cd they were making then and the cd that will come out will be quite different. I think Axl was searching to be cutting edge but if you ask me Appetite is still as cutting edge as rock will ever hope to be.

8. Do you still keep in touch with Axl Rose?

SS: No Axl and I are not in touch, we are not friends at all, but i did email him recently so you never know!

Nolan said about five years ago he auditioned for Guns N' Roses, but singer Axl Rose's psychic, after pondering a photograph of Nolan, told Rose she didn't think he was right for the band.

During the second show [in Sydney], there was an incident where Scott angrily told some fans with an Axl Rose banner to leave the show. Scott said the banner insulted the band and other VR fans. Scott told them they were not invited, had wasted their money and to get out. "If you want to see a fat, bald guy who wears a wig, you'll have to wait another ten years."

[...]

2. You've worked with some pretty major acts like Marilyn Manson, Axl Rose, Trent Reznor and... er... Gwen Stefani. What's been the highlight of your career so far?

It's really a series of highlights, each with their own joys and trials. some of the hardest projects have the best memories.
a few highlights include:
- sitting next to Trent as he sat curled up in a chair singing "Hurt" into a beta 58 and the tears in our eyes as he finished the song.
- being asked by Trent and Manson to mix Antichrist Superstar.
- Michael Beinhorn, Barry Goldberg, Rob Brill and I rolling on the floor of the studio in spontaneous hysterical laughter during the Mechanical Animals sessions. Something that Michael and I continue to do to each other to this day.
- The entire Moth record "Provisions, Fiction, and Gear".
- experiencing the love and family atmosphere around the wonderful Gwen, Tony, Adrian, Tom, and Gabe of "No Doubt."
- the 45 minute stand up sessions with Axl as he warmed up to sing. My sides would ache!
- actually recording between 4 player halo sessions while producing the extraordinary Kill Hannah record "For Never and Ever".
- being "The Denominator" for the next great band of the mid 2000's "My Darling Murder".
of course there are many many more. I didn't even get into touring. It's been a priviledge and an honor to work with such creative people. I cherish it.

[...]

5. You of course worked on the infamous "Chinese Democracy" album. What's it like working with Axl? What was the album sounding like at the time? (Will we ever get to hear it?)

Axl is a very thoughtful and loyal guy. He's also really funny. A great joke and story teller. It's been a long time since I was involved, but I'm sure Axl has a few tricks up his sleeve. We'll have to wait and see.

6. Are you still in touch with Axl? Are you a regular on his Halloween party guest list - fancy trying to get me an invite?

We are still friends, but I haven't been up to his place since 1999. He does throw quite a bash. It's really really fun for the kids.

Paul Westerberg still left of the dial

Greg Kot, Tribune music critic

Don't try to figure out Paul Westerberg. Just when it seemed the former Replacements singer had decided to confine his career to making basement recordings so he could spend more time with his wife and 6-year-old son at his Minneapolis home, he's out touring with a band for the first time since the 1990s, with a concert April 15 at the Riviera.

Plus, he's working on music for a "Toy Story"-like animated movie, "Open Season," that has briefly reunited him with his estranged Replacements sidekick Tommy Stinson. For the first time in years, he's talking about possible future collaborations with Stinson. A solo greatest hits, "Besterberg" (Rhino), is due next month, the Replacements back catalogue will be reissued in the fall, and a Replacements box set is due next year. On the phone from his home, Westerberg discussed the state of his world.

[...]

On working with Tommy Stinson: "Tommy, [drummer] Josh Freese and I cut the opening song for the animated movie. It was fun, but it felt a little weird too, because he and I hadn't seen each other in about eight years. We were both a little uncomfortable. But I saw him in L.A. again last week, and we went out and hung out a little bit. I've got a few more things going on now, and he's turned a corner where he's realizing there's money to be made. It's a waste of his obvious talent and time hanging around with the other guy [Stinson is a member of Axl Rose's decade-plus-in-the-making Guns N' Roses album]."

The Replacements, again? "I think Tommy wants to get together again and play. I don't know if we could call it the Replacements if it was just me and him and two other guys. I'd be a liar if I said I wouldn't enjoy the adulation. But we were always the exception to the rule when it came to the way things were done. And I'd like to see us maintain that mystique. There's the great problem of us getting back together and sucking the bag, and ruining the reputation forever. Maybe we should just sit tight and let people think we were great. We were about youth and rebellion and fun and wildness, and all the things that don't necessarily sit well as we get older. We were never big jammers or played long, slow music that would make sense to revisit now that we're all better musicians. So I wouldn't look for any reunion soon. If I dropped dead, I think that's the safest bet you could make to see all of us in one place."

While appearing on Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones' Los Angeles radio show earlier this week, Westerberg revealed he recently recorded a song with Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson, which is expected to appear in Cameron Crowe's forthcoming film "Elizabethtown."

And while the likelihood of a Replacements reunion remains slim ("It can't be the Replacements without Chris [Mars] the drummer, and he's moved on into art and doesn't really want to come back," Westerberg told Jones), a host of reissues are in the works.

What do you remember - if anything - about touring with Guns N' Roses in 1992?

Chris Cornell: There were two main things: First, they had this enormous aluminum stage with catwalks, and at the end of each catwalk was a teleprompter so Axl could read the lyrics to his own songs. Which I thought was a little weird, since they only had two albums. The other thing was that you were not allowed to be in a hallway or anywhere where Axl might see you when he was walking between the dressing room and the stage... unless you were Chris Cornell. So, one day, I see a security guard walking him down this long corridor where there's no one except for me, and it's like they want me to see him. He's wearing his Axl Rose tennis shoes that say AXL ROSE on them and these teeny-tiny, painted-on red shorts, a backwards baseball cap and a fur coat that goes to the floor. And he just walks by and goes, "Hey, bro!" And that was it. At that point, it's one of those moments where you think about your life as a comic book - and this isn't really happening.

7. Guns n Roses, I appreciate that contractually you can't really talk about them, but dare I ask, what did you do? And what can you say about the "sound" of the album, is it in the old Guns style?

no comment (sorry)

8. Are you still in touch with Axl Rose?

no comment (sorry)

6. Do you regret not joining GnR?

No, my life in the RHCP was really great for me and I would have missed that. I worked with Axl on a song for a movie years ago, I'm in Camp Freddy with Matt Sorum and have jammed with Slash, Izzy and Duff many times. Kind of like the best of both worlds.

Versailles Records is presently completing work on a forthcoming millennium tribute to GUNS N' ROSES, which will feature current and former members of MÖTLEY CRÜE, GUNS N' ROSES, FASTER PUSSYCAT, RATT, SCORPIONS, LOVE/HATE, L.A. GUNS, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, THE SCREAM, UNION, ADLER'S APPETITE and THRILLS FOR KILLS, as well as Jasy Andrews, Richard Kendrick, THE ISSUES, Ross Stevens of STRAITJACKET SMILE, Andrew Walker of DRAMA QUEEN DIE, John Spinner, and Corey Craven. Release is set for late summer 2005 in the U.S., and a licensing deal has been secured with Netherlands-based Mascot-Provogue Records.

Blackstar wrote:E-mail supposedly sent to a fan by Richard, posted on HTGTH message board on Sept. 28, 2005:
--------------------------

Richard: I will tell you that I understand the frustration of the fans. I hate it that people feel like we are stringing them along. I assure you that we have no intentions of doing this. We honestly want to move forward with this as much as you guys want us too. We aren't lying to anyone. We would have nothing to gain from that. I understand that Guns has probably alienated most of the old Gn'R fans out there in some way, and at this point, the only way we could possibly redeem ourselves, is to release a great fucking record and start touring again. That's all we want to do.

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=22762.0

Even though Axl Rose is facing legal problems, it didn't stop him from chatting and signing an autograph for a fan in Malibu a few weeks ago. Axl told the fan "Chinese Democracy" will be released early next year, and Guns N Rose's is also looking to put a new song on "The Da Vinci Code" movie soundtrack. The movie, based on Dan Brown's controversial best-selling novel, is currently in production and stars Tom Hanks. Could 2006 be the year for legendary Axl Rose?

A Rosy November?

November 2005 appears to be yet another important month in the ongoing saga of Guns N' Roses and their forthcoming album, 'Chinese Democracy'.

A flurry of comments and gossip over recent months has made it clear that the new album has been 'finished' for a few months and that Axl has been spending his time recently planning GN'R's grand return to the music scene through planning tour dates and seeking out promotional vehicles and opportunities to push his new album into the minds of the masses.

One vehicle that has caught they public eye is the forthcoming 'Da Vinci Code' movie due out next May. Sanctuary were almost pushing this one under our noses, but it may not be as clear-cut as we think. A spokesperson for the Da Vinci Code movie told Splat that the soundtrack is currently far from complete and that any rumours should be treated with caution. Maybe Sanctuary were using fans to sell the GN'R idea to Sony?

As far as' Chinese Democracy' itself goes, it appears that Guns N' Roses have been set yet another November deadline by Universal, not in a threatening tone though. Basically, if Chinese Democracy is not released, then a Greatest Hits II package will be put together and pushed out next March. Jim Urie, President of Universal Distribution, has said that the situation regarding to the two albums, "should be clarified in a couple of weeks", so watch this space.

Whatever does happen though, just hope that a Greatest Hits 2 package doesn't hit the release roster because that could be very telling.

Meanwhile, the following item appeared in today's edition of the New York Post:

"Axl Rose never got to the birthday party photographer David LaChappelle threw for his transsexual muse, Amanda Lapore, at Spa Thursday night (Dec. 5). The Guns N' Roses frontman arrived at about 3 a.m., but he was wearing a fur coat, and the club has a policy against fur. One of the women in Axl's entourage checked her fur at a nearby parking garage, but angry Axl stalked off as his friends went in to find Robert Downey Jr., who confessed he was a big fan of LaChappelle's photos of Lapore's fake breasts. Downe asked if he could kiss them. Sure, she said. So he did."

Mail-intervju - Brook Ellis, författare / The Fleshgodz

[...]

First off, who´s Brooke David Ellis?

Well, before I answer that, I'd like to state that I don't believe anyone gives a fuck who I am! But since you asked, I'm just a guy who lives in Los Angeles County of California. I write movie screenplays, although I haven't sold one yet. I act in short films. I sing and write songs for the band, The Fleshgodz, a Guns N' Roses - influenced group that people can hear at MySpace.com/thefleshgodz. I have been an eccentric GNR fan since '88. I collect all sorts of memorbillia, and it's really been a passion of mine. I have run the Official Steven Adler Fansite for five years now. From time to time I've gotten flak for the site's low-budget, but I tell people this is a FAN site. It's just one fan telling other fans what Steven's been up to. However, I am slowly moving the sites' entire contents to StevenAdler.Net. I have this great friend, Cat, who wants to update the site as regularly as Snakepit.Org, a favorite of both of ours. So that's the plan right now. Thanks to Steven's candid nature and liberal attitude, I think it's been one of the most honest sites on the net!

Was it Steven´s idea to write a book and in what way have you helped him?

The funny thing is, it wasn't Steven's idea initially. It's really been the farthest thing from his mind as of late, what with his band doing so well...His mother Deanna, a truly wonderful woman, and his cool-as-hell brother Kenny, have been the motivating force behind getting the book out there. Knowing that I ran the Fansite, Deanna asked me to post that she was in need of a literary agent. I had become friendly with a writer/producer named Ray Herbeck, Jr.. In fact, he had helped guide my writing career and took an interest in my work early on. I felt that he could help her get in touch with the right people. He didn't believe that what they had written at the time was quite ready to be published - in fact it was only about a hundred pages - so he recommended me for the job. I had no idea, but then I got a call from Deanna, and the rest is history. As for how I had helped Steven, y'know back in the day, the guy was in a rock n' roll daze, always smiling, forever partying. He was living the lifestyle to the hilt. For him, a lot of it is a blur. I'm very familiar with the bands' history. I was able to get him to talk about specific events, in chronological order. I also did some investigating, unearthing stories that even the most learned fan has never heard! Some are disturbing, some are hilarious!

I guess you´ve known Steven for a while. Tell us some fun memories from back in the day!

Well some highlights of knowing Steven, for me, are: Hanging out with and getting to know Randy Castillo at the Rainbow, having steak and lobster with Stevie & Carmine Appice, my band opening for Adler's Appetite on New Years Eve in Vegas, hanging out on various tour busses meeting guys like Vince Neil, Jani Lane and Kevin DuBrow; singing "Knockin' on Heavens' Door" with Steven, Chip Z'Nuff & Billy Morris on stage, being at the Keyclub when Izzy and Slash showed up, getting backstage at concerts, etc...

What´s happening with the book? Any deal yet and is it really all written?

I'm not sure exactly what's happening right now. Remember I said that the family had already written quite a bit before I was brought on? Well, what was actually completed was Deanna's story, her life dealing with her troubled son. She witnessed the whole ordeal. She watched her son achieve fame and fortune and then dealt with his subsequent spiral into a drug induced abyss. Y'know, getting the calls in the middle of the night, telling her that Steven has OD'd or is in jail. She also writes of the last time Steven saw his father, and the violent circumstances therein. It's all very interesting, intense stuff. Well, my assignment was just to get Stevens' story. I guess they felt it would be best to leave it up to the publisher on how they want to work the two stories in with each other. That could be a potential cause for the delay. Personally I'd like to do it for them. In fact, since the book has been completed, so much has happened! Plus, Steven has so many great new stories that could to be included!

Tell us about the book! Is it about Steven´s life from birth till present day or just about GnR and the 80's?

Literally from birth. Steven was out of control since Kindergarden! I shit you not, the guys life before rock n' roll is just as wild as anything that happened after he became famous. He was couch-surfing and roaming the streets of Hollywood since he was twelve years old. Saul Hudson, who of course later became Slash, was his best friend. Saul was very artistic and had fashioned fake ID's for the two of them when they were thirteen. They became regulars at Hollywoods' top spots, including The Rainbow , The Starwood, and Osco's Disco. The latter of which was sort of LA's version of the infamous Club 54 in NY. Steven and Slash were already partying with celebrities when they were barely teenagers! The fantastic ride of GNR's success is well documented, absolutely. The years after his dismissal from the band are some of the darkest pages you'll ever read. We finished the book a year ago. I'd like to go back in and really elaborate on Steven's comeback. If you had seen Steven five years ago...I mean personally, I felt that his days were numbered. The fact that he turned himself around like he did and is out there making music again has got to be one of the greatest personal triumphs ever.

Any interesting stories in it that you could tell us a bit about?

There's so much great stuff! He and Slash would hang out in the Hollywood Hills at parties thrown by hippies. Steven was fourteen and he would have sex with women twice his age. On one such occasion he was banging a older girl in her bedroom. When they finished, she got up and went to the bathroom. Steven spied a bag of fresh mushrooms (the hallucinagenic kind) on the floor. He grabbed them and took off. Upon returning home, his grandma tells him that she is feeling harrassed by an angry fellow calling over and over again for Steven. When he finally reaches him over the phone, the man shouts, "My woman says you stole mushrooms from me!" Steven denied the accusation, claiming "I didn't take shit from you!" but did admit, "I did fuck your woman though!"

The first time a 18 year old Steven Adler smoked coke was at a well known, platinum award-winning musicians house. Steven was invited to live there, partying non-stop for a month. When he moved out, his buddy Izzy moved in and ended up staying thru the next month! The bands well known trip to Seattle in '85 is told in detail, too. When the bands car broke down, the guys were tired and bummed out. Steven was the optimist and he was the one that stood out on the side of the road and hitchhiked rides for them. A good hearted Mexican man with his son pulled over in a dumpy pick up truck. The guys piled in the back. The weight was too much for the vehicle and the frame was scraping against asphalt, generating a thick smokey fog. Needless to say, he had to drop them off after only a quarter mile. Nevertheless, they scored big when a couple of heavy-set Hippie chicks picked them up. They had weed and fed the boys pot brownies. Steven was in heaven! It was an adventure just getting to the gigs.

Also, we examine the rare kind of comraderie that the band had. There was bonding. One of the most touching stories comes when Steven experiences his first OD. The band was in Frisco hired to do two days of filming for the Clint Eastwood flick, "The Dead Pool". After the first days' shooting was completed, Steven was picked up by a girl who brought him back to her place. She slipped something in his beer. He passed out while she was molesting him. He woke up in the hospital. The first person he saw was Axl, who had chosen to wait by Steven's bedside while the other guys shot their final scenes. Axl was truly concerned and said something like, "I thought you blew it, bro". That's why you don't see Steven or Axl on the boat scenes of the film.

Then there's the stories from the nineties. One time, Steven was high and left his home to get a Slurpee at 7-11. What he didn't realise was that he didn't have any clothes on, except for a pair of boxers. A cop pulls along side him and Steven asks, "Can you take me to the 7-11? I just want to get a Slurpee." The cop eyes him up and down, says "You're on your own!" then screeches off. So Adler makes his way to the store only to discover he had no cash. His old house, which he had just sold to ex-MTV VJ Martha Quinn, was of closer proximity so he made his way there. He knocked at the door and her husband answered. Steven said, "Do you have 75 cents? I just want to get a Slurpee." So Martha's husband takes him back to the store only to find, after all that, the Slurpee machine is out of order!

Will the book include any unpublished pictures and stuff from Steven´s private collection?

I hope so, that would be great! It probably will, I think the book could be a big deal, y'know?

What's the title of the book?

It is tentatively entitled, "No Bed of Roses" coming soon to a bookstore near you!

Who came up with the title for the book?

I believe that was Steven and Deanna. They had the name for years now, in fact I think they had a different author working on it back in like '95. But that fell through, completelty, though.

Do you know any of the other Gunners?

Well, I had been such a fan. Since I was a teenager I've tried to meet the guys and get autographs. Now I have countless signed items! I'll never forget this one time, Doug Goldstein came out and handed a brown paper bag - I have no idea what was in it - to a limo driver and said, "This is Duff's medication, I need you to bring it to him" The driver said "Sure". After Doug left I asked the driver, "Hey can you give Duff this tape of my band?" and he slipped that in the bag too. I just thought that was funny. That same night I met West Arkeen, he was with the hottest black chick who was twice as tall as him! He was stoned out of his mind, but so, so friendly! I got to hang out with Slash a number of times, one time it was just me, him and my buddy Kent Helbig sitting at the Rainbow, shooting the shit. I was surprised that he paid his bill, I figured he was such a staple of the place that he drank for free! Recently, my band opened for the StarFuckers which features Gilby and Dizzy. They allowed me to sing "Knockin' on Heavens' Door" with them - that was awesome.

I mean, I guess they're all non-events, really, but I'll cherish those memories.

Tell us a bit about some of the GnR shows you got to see! Did you attend any gigs prior to "Appetite..." was released or right after it was released?

Oh, no! It sucks but I didn't see them until '91! I moved here from New Jersey a week after they did the "Secret Gig" at the Hollywood Palladium. I could have gone had I got there just a bit earlier, 'cause I immediately started working at Tower Records and all the employees had got to go. I saw them at the LA Forum when Shannon Hoon got on stage to sing, then at the Pacific Ampitheatre, and both shows with Metallica here. I went to all the "Drunk Fux" shows in '91 and '92 - I don't think they had anymore after that. In fact I lost my job at Tower 'cause I went to a Drunk Fux show! I came into work on a Sunday afternoon, and right away the guys on the Ticketmaster machine were like "Brook, there's a show you'll be interested in! It's all of Guns N' Roses except for Axl with Tommy Lee, too! So, I was like "Print those!" then they said "Who are you going to get to work for you?" I said that I'd find someone, then they said, "But, it's tonight!" I thought about it for a second, and said "See ya!" That night at the show, this hot chick was all grabbing my ass and I hooked up with her. So when I found out I lost my job the next day, I was like "It was worth it!" Plus, I went to the first "new" Guns N' Roses show in Vegas on New Years Eve '01, too. I gotta admit, that was fucking awesome.

Do you remember your first encounter with Steven?

Oh yeah, we went to different high schools together! Brothers of different mothers! No, it was at a Namm sponsored show at the Whiskey, in like, what, '99? Steven was onstage and someone said "Thank you, Steven Adler!" And I squinted and said "THAT's Steven Adler?" I never would have recognised him! Anyways, we met him outside and I told him I was a big fan and I had like 40 shows on video. He said "No way! Dude, you gotta bring those over!". I mean, just like that, that's how cool this guy is. We've been friends ever since.

Do you know anything about the song "Do you love me" that Steven recently recorded with Izzy?

Yes! Izzy and Steven had been hanging out a lot. Izzy invited Steven to his place in Arizona for a few days, and Izzy recorded and mixed it on his small 8 track studio. My site was the one that offered it as a download. It was given to me specifically. But then a buddy of mine told me I might need to be concerned about some legal issues, so it was only up for like a day! Now, everyone is taking credit for getting it out there.

Is there any fun and crazy backstage stories from a GnR show you could tell us about?

Sorry, bro, I wasn't there.

Tell us a bit more about your band!

The Fleshgodz! Thank you for asking! We kick ass, man! We've been together since July '03! We've had some great, big shows! We've played with Adler's Appetite, LA Guns, Mike Watt (from The MinuteMen), Steven Perkins (from Janes Addiction), Marky Ramone, Lizzy Borden's new band "Starwood", we've been on TV twice, we had a big write up in the newspaper! Tommy Madari on lead guitar, I call him my very own Slash! Right now we got Jim Thompson on drums, the guy is a shredder! I play bass and sing. I emailed some songs to Carolina (Steven's lovely wife) and she played it for Steven and said "Guess who this is?" and he said, "Is that Axl?" - we always have a good laugh about that!

1. Describe Paul Stenning in 3 words.

Obsessed with music.

2. What inspired you to write "The Band That Time Forgot"?

Many things really. The original book I was scheduled to write for the publishers at that time was a Cradle Of Filth biog, which I didn’t particularly want to do. The publisher then changed his mind and wondered who he could possibly find to write a Guns' book, thinking I might not be interested because I'm mainly a metal fan. But I jumped at the chance because out of all time favourite bands Guns' are right up there with my other desert island artists…

The way I approached the story is to write the basic tale of how the members got together but also to do it in a way no one else had ever done. Whatever anyone thinks of the book they would probably concede I achieved that. It might not be to everyone's taste but I think it's important to explain the problems Axl faced growing up, and also the way he lives his life now because those factors are vital to the Gn'R story. But above all else I grew up with the band and like every other true fan I just want them to get it together and put out a new record; this book is something to tide fans over with the telling of the whole saga, including what has taken 'Chinese Democracy' so long and the tale of that entire process.

One thing that since popped up in forums and reviews is the meaning of the title. For the record I did not write the book to coincide with the ‘Greatest Hits’, the book was written full stop, if anything it was to coincide with the possible release of ‘Chinese Democracy’ but this wasn’t guaranteed so it’s virtually irrelevant. The reason for the title is simple, Guns… have not released any new material since 1999, and even then it was just one song. Time had forgotten the band before the re-release of videos and a shoddy ‘hits’ package, time is a very relevant word when referring to Axl, so I hope fans understand. They should also appreciate I am not suggesting WE, the fans have forgotten them, merely time itself. Time is of no consequence to Axl Rose, hence the title.

3. You have a revised edition coming out later this month, what's new in the book?

Well the big downside to the first one was the printing errors that occurred. Many gave the book a poor review because of it but it was an unfortunate accident in the printing process, certain things were done that made it look like I couldn’t spell or write, which I strongly refute! So firstly there should now be no errors of this type in there and the whole thing should flow a little better. I've added a few anecdotes and stories along the way, and updated the 'Chinese Democracy' section, as well as included a section on Buckethead (shame he left the band just after it went to press!)

But the main addition is a chapter on Velvet Revolver. Everyone agreed that although it certainly isn’t Guns N' Roses, for now it’s the next best thing and the story linked in with Gn'R because for sheer relevance you have to include what Slash, Duff and Matt are up to in 2005.

4. The "blurb" on Amazon US states that Chinese Democracy is due out this year, was that information you were told by someone you spoke to or is that based on the very active rumourmill surrounding the album?

It's nothing to do with me but as you say the rumours are signalling this year so the publishers are probably going with that. Having said that the first edition was meant to go alongside the album, or at least just before it, and that didn’t happen.

5. Which former or current band members have you interviewed for the book? Did you ever try and speak to Axl?

Believe me I tried to reach Axl but there is no human way possible (short of flying to L.A. and stalking him) to get through to him, past all the suits, minders and people who are doing a very good job of protecting him. It makes sense to me that they're doing that, but unfortunately the 1% of people who want to talk to Axl and are not psychopaths or stalkers or indeed harmful (quite the contrary in fact), and just want to get the real version of events from him, are also pushed out by the protectors. Once I couldn’t get hold of Axl I decided that unless I could get Slash and/or Duff then it wasn’t worth doing interviews. I had Steven Adler and Gilby Clarke lined up but had to decline to use them because of an incident with Slash's publicist. I'll get to that in a minute, but let me just explain that I did not want to put out an unofficial book without it being balanced. I'm a very impartial person and like to cover every side of a story so with only one or two peoples' input it didn’t seem fair to me, especially as most would have an aversion to Axl and that would then create just another typical Axl Rose slagging platform.

Anyway, thanks to Slash's publicist (Arlett Verleecke) my plans to talk to Slash were scuppered. Because she thought I was associated with Mick Wall (which I'm not nor ever have been) she was incredibly rude and nasty with me when all I was trying to do was get the real events from Slash. That seriously changed my opinion of Slash, having this parasitic leech working for him, Axl I can understand but Slash hasn’t got much to really protect or hide. Has he?

6. Did you try and speak to Merck Mercuriadis, or any Sanctuary or Geffen workers for your book?

I did and the upshot was no one knows what's going on, at either label! They barely know how to get in touch with their own artist, and though they were helpful, they seriously couldn’t tell whether Gn'R was even still on their label. It's obviously not their fault, they're just holding out in hope for this album they've funded for years. Once I realised how clueless they all are I decided I would do it all myself.

7. Would you say that you are more of an Axl Rose fan than a Guns n Roses fan? What are your views on Velvet Revolver?

That’s a good question and I understand why you are asking it, but in all honesty I would not say I'm more of an Axl fan. The first thing I was drawn to in 1987 was the music and it remains the prominent factor in why I like Guns N' Roses. However I do believe that in 2005 and since the mid nineties Axl IS Gn'R and probably now will always be. In truth once UYI came out it was pretty clear it was starting to become a one-man show. Not because the other members could not contribute, but because Axl is a visionary and the others were too caught up in the trappings of, er, rock n' roll decadence and more basic music. There's a place for both but with Gn'R I think Axl is rightly carrying the can. So, in direct answer, for me the two are synonymous and have been for a long time. I love the whole aura and what I believe is a deep down wonderful personality of Axl the man so on a personal level I think he is awe-inspiring, from the huge source of information I have about him. Yet, as a music fan and journalist I am certainly able to separate personality from band output. If Axl and Gn'R come out with a record that sucks I won't love it just because it's Axl. But then, when has he ever put out a record that sucks?

Velvet Revolver took a long while to sink into my psyche. At first I hated the whole idea of them and didn’t think Scott Weiland really belonged with such a batch of musicians. He has a lot of talent but it's a different form of talent to Slash and Duff and as such I couldn’t see how he could possibly match their vision. Yet to his credit the album is a great rock record and they do compliment each other well. It's inevitable they will be compared with Gn'R but they are truly a separate entity.

8. Did you get the chance to hear any of the new material whilst writing your book?

I did and although they are poor quality live versions (in terms of sound not performance) I think they prove the material Axl is working on will be the best ever. I would love to hear the finished studio version of 'Madagascar' because I think that has the potential to be the greatest rock song in modern times, I'm getting goosebumps just writing about it.

9. Was there any attempt by people in the Guns n Roses camp to block the release of the book?

You'd think there would have been wouldn’t you?! But strangely, and mercifully enough there hasn’t been. You know I think one of the reasons is because I have portrayed the band truthfully and with integrity which no other journalist has ever done before. I don’t consider myself a rock writer above being a fan of music, I always prefer to print the words that come out of an artist's mouth directly, and maintain a good relationship with any band. I'm not in this field to stir shit or find a big story, that doesn’t interest me. I seek to display the truth to those who want to read about a new band or a band they already like. It's my belief anyone surrounding Axl who has seen the book realises it. In some magazines it got bad reviews and I'm really not surprised, because the mainstream music press cannot handle a tome that gives Axl Rose a good name, and portrays him respectfully and truthfully. It's far too easy to slag people off and drag their name through the dirt, but the people who have done, and continue to do this to Axl have one thousanth of his talent and I'm pretty sure these days it doesn’t bother him anymore. If someone slags my book off I don’t take it personally, it's just another slur on the Gn'R name and I now empathise even more with what it must be like to put out an integral product and have it slated. Fuck these people, the book is written for the true Guns' fan and that’s why I'm delighted I've had so many people write to me telling me how much they enjoyed it. That is really who I wrote it for, fans who believe in Axl and the band and I think anyone associated with them sees that. Either that or the book is so miniscule on the grand scheme of things that they don’t give a shit!

10. Rumours currently suggest that the album will come out in the last part of 2005, do you think we'll see it this year?

No probably not. I find it amusing when the typical Gn'R detractor says it will never come out, but then there is that nagging doubt right in the back of my mind that almost can see that happening. I'm 80% certain the album will come out at some point, but I expect it to be 2006 or even '07. Any longer than that and I would be surprised if the band were given any more money or attention from a record company. Then again, Axl is probably contracted to put something out so what that will be I have no idea, let's hope it's 'Chinese Democracy' with all the tracks that have been played live so far and many more classics. A UYI deal would be the best thing and would make up for lost time in many ways.

Note from Paul - "I'm happy to receive any email from fans asking questions about the book or whatever: czechzebra@yahoo.com"

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Slash approves of The Band That Time Forgot
Current mood: accomplished

Yes yes y'all you read it here first. As Slash's wife Perla Hudson recently told me, Slash has seen The Band That Time Forgot and whole heartedly approves! I was surprised but very pleased with this. According to Perla Slash said "it was probably one of the most accurate writings on the band"... So now you have no excuse not to buy an unauthorised biography as it's endorsed by the man himself!

I'm surprised not only that Slash read the book but at the fact he was happy with the portrayal of the band, mainly because if I'm honest the book does centre on Axl and he and Slash are notoriously no longer friends. Perhaps Slash felt I dealt with the hostility and life of Axl in a balanced, diplomatic way? I hope so, as this was my intention, and I always felt Slash would be intelligent enough to read through the bullshit and see what I was trying to accomplish.

I fell out with his publicist before the book came out, and I wrongly attributed her shitty attitude as being representative of Slash but Perla tells me that was all down to Arlett, and not Slash himself. I was happy to hear that because Arlett Verleecke is one fucking bitch who seriously tried to mess things up for me, and succeeded in some ways. Yet, I now know she is out of the picture, hence the mail from Perla apologising.

I won't go into everything she said as some of it is private but I thought you would all like to know this book is appreciated by one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and he has actually sat down and read it himself...huge kudos to Saul Hudson and what more can I say? The doubters can just use their illusions...

Ex-Guns N' Roses Guitarist Stradlin Subject Of Upcoming Biography

Black Market Publishing has formally announced plans for the first-ever biography of legendary Guns N’ Roses rhythm guitar player and lead songwriter Izzy Stradlin. Set to be released in the spring of 2004, this biography promises to deliver for fans the full story on one of hard rock's most intriguing and elusive icons, chronicling Izzy's rise with hard rock's most notorious frontman W. Axl Rose from Lafayette, Indiana to the streets of Hollywood in the early 1980s, where the two rose through the Sunset Strip underground via Hollywood Rose toward stardom in what would become the biggest rock band in the world at their peak, Guns N’ Roses. As Axl Rose's companion and principle songwriting partner for the better half of two decades, Izzy Stradlin carved out his niche as one of the most respected rhythm guitar players in hard rock history, writing many of Guns N’ Roses most famous anthems along the way, becoming a multi-millionaire in the process, and then, disappearing at the peak of Guns N’ Roses ' popularity. Authored by Jake Brown (prior published credits include books on Death Row Records' Marion Suge Knight, Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx, R&B; star R. Kelly, and late rapper the Notorious B.I.G. — currently being written for release in fall, 2003), the biography will feature exclusive interviews with many current and former GN'R insiders, as well as members of Izzy's solo band, The Ju Ju Hounds, and other relevant sources.
For more information, visit www.blackmarketpublishing.com, or contact the publisher directly at hardrockbooks@hotmail.com.

Izzy Stradlin Biography Due In February

According to Black Market Publishing (web site), "Dust N' Bones: The Untold Story of Izzy Stradlin" is now available for pre-order from them for $21.00, payable in cash, check or money order.

The book's official release date is February 17, 2005, but the customers who pre-order the book now will be eligible for a special of two books for $30.00 deal, a $12 savings.

You can pre-order the book by e-mailing a confirmation of your pre-order to Black Market Publishing at hardrockbooks@hotmail.com or malibupress@yahoo.com.

They expect to begin shipping pre-orders in the middle to end of January 2005.

Jimmy Ashhurst (bass player for Izzy Stradlin And The Ju Ju Hounds) who was interviewed for the unofficial Izzy Stradlin biography Dust N' Bones, posted the following on the beenafix.com board:
---

"I was surprised to see all of the negative comments about the book by Jake Brown "Dust n Bones...bla bla" Believe me, had I known how it was to come out in the end I would never have granted the interview...there's just no way to determine what the guy was going to do at the time...I tried as best I could to be careful and the guy promised me that it would be a quality product and would not be any kind of tabloid gossip type of publication...I was concerned about how Izzy would react as well, and tried very hard not to address any personal topics or to put the author in a position to slam him in any way. I was assured many times that this was going to be a book that was going to be accurate and informative and as I know Izzy would never put anything out there himself, I believed that it would have been a great source of information for his true fans around the world. Alas, this appears to not be the case and it would seem as though it was just another moneymaking opportunity and another example of shloc journalism. You can be sure I will be more careful and not make the same mistake in the future...and I'm sorry that the thing was so disappointing to the real fans. Its a shame really because it could have been really cool had it been done right.

However, in all fairness I haven't yet read the book myself...I'm waiting right now for my copy to arrive (I had to buy my own copy from Amazon...which says a lot about the publisher in itself) so I'll try and reserve any further comments I have until after I've read it for myself...but for now I trust you guys' opinions, for if there's anyone who knows it would definitely be you guys...

OK! bye for now...I promise to be back with any cool news in the future.

Jimmy "Two Fingers" Ashhurst"

Dust n’ Bones: The Untold Story of Izzy Stradlin author Jake Brown discussed Izzy asking him to pull the book through a third party in a new Guns N’ Roses Central interview.

“That Izzy Stradlin book is consistently a really highly ranked eBay search item because it’s so hard to find. The reason it’s so hard to find is I was asked personally by Izzy through his guitar player to pull it.

The reasons he wanted it pulled, I don’t know how much he would say about this now, but the message that was delivered to me through third parties was essentially that he was very private about his life. At that point, he just really didn’t want it to come out.

Out of respect, and it’s the only time I’ve ever done this actually, but out of such respect I have for Izzy, I didn’t want any problem with him, just in the context of maybe someday down the road he’ll want to do an authorized biography someday.”

16.05.05 - Rick Richards Answers Your Questions. . .

First of all thank you for all the fanmail sent in to Rick. Here are the answers to all the questions sent in:

From Edwin (Netherlands): Is Izzy still planning on releasing Like A Dog or has he moved on onto new projects?

Rick: We have a new project in the mixing stages that we cut in Miama at Criteria Studios. Thanks for the compliments. Later, Rick Richards.

From Scott Jenkins (New York): Don't know or expect you to remember me but I'm from New York. Last time (as far as I know) that you played here (as the Satellites) was in Vernon, NY opening for BTO. I raised a sign that said "Play Memphis" which you did. Later on, myself and my 2 friends were invited by you and Rick Price to
party which we definitley did, backstage. We talked about Izzy and a whole buncha crap. I think I mentioned to you that if you ever cut a solo album you should cover Woodys' "We All Get Old". Just wondering if ya remember that and when the hell are you coming to upstate New York again, as Satellites, Hell Hounds or whatever!

Rick: Scott I remember you from New York... Hope to be up there again soon. There's no solo project in the works, yet... but I have new material with Izzy in the mixing stages... Should be released one of these days~Cheers, Rick Richards

From Andrew (UK): I just wanted to show my support and hope you will come back to the UK for a few gigs soon?

Rick: Andy, Hey, would love to come back to the UK...maybe in the next couple years! Thanks man! Rick Richards.

From Will Villiers (UK): A few years ago I read that you, Jimmy Ashhurst and Charlie Quintana were going to tour as the Ju Ju Hounds again. Did anything ever come of this?

Rick: Will, Jimmys playing with Buck Cherry and Chalo with Social Distortion... would love to see the old Ju Ju Hounds together... but don't think it'll happen...

A lot of questions were repeated by many different people. Here is a summary for those who asked:

Do you still tour? Where can I find the information?
Pollstar.com

Who are your musical influences?
Beatles, Stones, Faces, Dylan, Cream, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, George Jones...

Amazon.co.uk has a listing for a new unofficial book about Axl Rose. The book is called Axl Life & Times of Mysterious Mr Rose and it's by Sorelle Saidman.

The hardcover version of the book is supposed to have 256 pages and is scheduled to be published on October 6th, 2005 by Virgin Hardbacks.

The book's ISBN# is 1852272422.

According to Amazon.com, the new unofficial book about Guns N' Roses' reclusive frontman Axl Rose, entitled "Axl Life & Times of Mysterious Mr. Rose", has had its release date pushed back to February 2006 from the previously announced October 2005. The 256-page book, written by Sorelle Saidman, will be published by Virgin Hardbacks. To pre-order a copy, visit Amazon.com.

(Thanks: Here Today... Gone to Hell!)

Saidman Speaks To Splat About New Axl Book
5 October 2005, 7:31 PM

Sorelle Saidman has spoken to Splat about her forthcoming book, "Axl : The Life and Times of Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses".

Instead of spinning the information into a huge story, I'll just give you her bulleted email, as it is much easier to read;

- The book was never scheduled for an October release, it was always scheduled for 2006. I did NOT write the blurb that appeared on Amazon.com, nor did I provide the information. (What’s in there is old news and it is not correct).

- I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a book on Axl and Guns N’ Rose since the mid-nineties when I started reporting on them weekly for the Rollingstone.com website. After RS, I went to MTV New Online for four years, and also wrote extensively for CDNow/Allstar (GNR was still my favorite topic), and I did various GNR-related interviews for those outlets.

- I worked on the Spin cover piece with Marc Spitz in 1999. My own book research was already underway, but I agreed to help in exchange for permission to use all the mag research, so the book became sort of an extension of that piece. At that time, we did over 40 interviews, and less than 5% of that material (at best) was published.

- I also worked on a VH1 special on GNR in 2002 that never aired (I believe it was a pilot for a new series that died on the vine after the company was restructured), and made the same deal with them – I retained transcripts of those interviews.

- Since that time, I’ve conducted dozens and dozens of new interviews exclusively for the book. (I believe the count is well over 150 interviews with over 120 sources).

- I’ve sorted through thousands (quite possibly tens of thousands) of pages of court documents and other records and clippings in Indiana and California. Its pretty safe to say that at least 3/4 of the material in the book hasn't been seen before by even the most ardent fans.

- I’m handing in most of the book this week (it was supposed to be in September 15, but I’ve been under the weather). I’m holding off on a few things until as late as possible to try and have it as current as possible.

- The publisher and their lawyers are going through the first draft while I continue to fact check. The book is not written chronologically, it’s in segments, I can continue making changes to certain segments, and I can add segments for the next month or two, but only if they are really compelling.

Now this is the part where you come in. Sorelle is wanting some feedback from fans as to what they would want to see in this book. You can take this to your own forums if you like, but what we need here is some good adult feedback and comments, if you can manage it.

Written by bigboss

AXL ROSE: More Details About Unofficial Book Revealed

Sorelle Saidman, author of the upcoming unofficial book about GUNS N' ROSES' reclusive frontman Axl Rose, entitled "Axl: The Life and Times of Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses", has contacted blabbermouth.net to clear up some of the previously published erroneous details regarding the project. Sorelle's letter reads as follows:

"Hi guys, just correcting some Amazon.com info about my book, 'Axl'.

"The book is actually being published through Harper-Collins in the U.S., no idea if Virgin's involved, but nobody's sent me any checks.

"As per the Amazon blurb, it was never scheduled for an October release, it was always scheduled for April 2006. (Whether that holds true or not I'm sure is up to the lawyers). I did NOT write the blurb that appeared on Amazon.com (rest assured, I know John Bonham is a drummer!), and the book details that Mr. Rose is NOT a drug abuser.

"I've been working on this book for six years. I worked on the Spin cover piece with Marc Spitz in 1999. My own book research was already underway, but I agreed to help in exchange for permission to use all the mag research, so the book became sort of an extension of that piece. At that time, we did over 40 interviews, and less than 5% of that material (at best) was published. I also worked on a VH1 special on [Guns N' Roses] in 2002 that never aired (I believe it was a pilot for a new series that died on the vine after the company was restructured), and made the same deal with them — I retained transcripts of those interviews. Over the years I've conducted my own interviews with band personnel for my writing/research jobs with MTV, Rolling Stone and Allstar/CD Now. And since that time, I've conducted dozens and dozens of new interviews exclusively for the book, many of them with people who have never been interviewed before. I believe the count is well over 130 original sources, and I've sorted through well over 10,000 pages of documents.

"It's a very detailed portrayal of a very complicated artist, as well as the inside story of the birth and break up of the original Guns N' Roses, the new band and the new album, and I'm sure will provide no end of revelations, none of which can be discussed as yet.

"I've handed in most of the book. The publisher and their lawyers are going through the first draft while I continue to fact check and augment."

To pre-order a copy of "Axl: The Life and Times of Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses", visit Amazon.com.