2002.07.09 - Metal Hammer - The New Guns N' Roses?

It seems the "Cherry Roses" or "Buck N' Guns" show in April featuring Guns N' Roses alumni Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum and Buckcherry's Josh Todd and Keith Nelson got the wheels-a-turnin' for the former Gunsmen.

Word has it that Slash, Duff, and Matt have been rehearsing -– and are trying quite hard to get former GNR guitarist Izzy Stradlin back in the mix –- with the hopes of possibly touring together. However, we hear that Buckcherry singer Josh Todd won't be the frontman and the three are looking for a singer.

The likeliness of Slash, Duff, and Matt getting their shit together on this one, though, is probably as likely as GNR's Chinese Democracy ever seeing the light of day.

Despite the cattiness of the last paragraph, it certainly an interesting thought. SLASH says he usually jams with Duff when Duff is in L.A., and Matt is at home right now. Where's Izzy?...that's a question we can't answer! One idea SLASH has always had is the possibility of getting the Gunners together again, but Axl refused to consider this so far, and now they may be a little more serious. What this means to The Cult or Loaded, we don't know. As always, SLASH feels this is working but may turn out to be just for fun. Or, it goes somewhere and turns into a real project. Depending on your reunion feelings, you can hope for a real band to develop or that these are practice sessions. If they do go out, even doing mostly old GNR songs, the singer is critical. We personally thought Buckcherry's Josh was better than average but would fail to compare well with Axl. And let's face it, you have to be at least as good; or they might as well do instrumentals. We'd like to hear Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20 do a few with them...not that he is available! Well, something to mull over when you're sitting on the porch with your stoli and cranberry juice.

About the rumor that SLASH, Duff and Matt are forming a new band with possible help from Izzy, we told you all that SLASH had said last time... he likes to play with these guys. They work on new and old material; and if something comes of it, great; but no one is really focused completely on this. We checked this out with Duff's webmaster, Lori. Duff says he won't deny that Matt, SLASH and himself have been rehearsing together. They are trying to get a singer to work with as it did not work out with Josh Todd of Buckcherry. The ex-Gunners have absolutely no plans right now; but they are having fun together, and what they are doing feels right. Duff says that if they could find the right singer and if something happens with this group, then they will go for it. But it is not in the plans! They are not expecting anything from it other than to work as musicians with friends they like to play with. For those who saw the cancellation of some of Duff's European Loaded shows as a sign he is staying home to work with this band, Duff says that is wrong. For financial reasons, they will not be doing those shows. However, Loaded will be doing European shows at the end of August/early September. They will play Spain at the end of July. That's what SLASH and Duff have to say, and it comes down to a way for them to do some work along with Matt and enjoy it and see what they can make of it. It is not anyone's driving force...at least not yet!

There are some rumours around about Duff in rehersal with Matt and Slash. This is what Duff answered me when I asked him about it.

Matt, Slash and himself they do rehersal together almost everyday and they are trying to get a singer (none of the Buckcherry guys). Duff said that they have absolutely no plans but they are having fun together and it feels right, IF they do get a singer and IF something happens they will go for it BUT it is not in their plans! They are not expecting anything.

Also, no Izzy won't be part of it!