20. NOVEMBER 1996-AUGUST 1997: ROBIN REPLACES SLASH BUT MATT AND DUFF QUITS

Shortly after it was announced that Slash would be leaving Guns N' Roses, rumours started to swirl that the band's management had had a role [The Baltimore Sun, December 6, 1996]. The management would be Doug Goldstein who operated Big F.D Entertainment, mostly focusing on Guns N' Roses and Axl [Rolling Stone, May 11, 2000].

An anonymous music-industry source would describe Axl and Goldstein's relationship:



In 2015, Goldstein would be asked about why he didn't play more hardball with Axl, and explain his motive was only to keep the band together:



Later, Slash would imply that some people in Axl's circle hadn't "doing [them] any good":





Goldstein would respond to Slash's comments and argue that he had to keep Slash and Axl separated otherwise they would fight, and that with Slash rejoining Guns N' Roses a guy to take the fall was needed and Slash had picked him:



Dizzy would also claim the lack of communication was the fault of "the powers that be":



This would also be implied in this quote from Duff:




Slash would also emphasize Goldstein's role in the demise of the lineup in his biograpy:



Slash would later talk about how Goldstein had been a snake in the grass:



And when asked which living person he despised the most, Slash would mention Goldstein:



In 2015, Goldstein would defend himself and say it was a misunderstanding:



And blame Alan Niven for the fall-out, claiming he had performed black magic on Axl and Goldstein:



In 2018, Slash would again allude to outside forces "playing guys against each other":



In early 2019, Duff would talk about the financials of the Use Your Illusion touring and imply that Goldstein (or possibly Niven) had been earning more than what they had:





In 2013, while talking about topics for a forthcoming interview, Alan Niven would indicate that Goldstein had a role in the break-up of the band but say it would be more entertaining to discuss Sharon and Elliot Maynard from Sedona in Arizona and how they had been "primary forces in the breakup of the band", without indicating how this had happened:

By late 1996 Duff was still single and living a quiet life:




Duff had divorced his wife, Linda [The Howard Stern Show, July 25, 1996], likely in late 1994 or 1995. The marriage had lasted three years [The Howard Stern Show, July 25, 1996].

In September 1996, Duff would be asked if he was interested in a second solo album but state that he was too busy with other projects at the moment:



Yet, not long after, in early December, he had started working on his second solo album [Online Chat, December 17, 1996].

Despite Slash being out of the band, media would report that the band was aiming for a summer 1997 release [Philadelphia Daily News, November 1, 1996; The Orlando Sentinel, November 1, 1996].

According to a band representative, the band expected to work more efficiently now:



Duff would also concur that he thought the band was better off now than a year previously [Online Chat, December 17, 1996].

It would be reported that Axl had "seven works in progress" and that he was considering which producer to use [Daily Press, November 22, 1996].

Duff would later briefly mention the songs they were working on:



Yet, when asked in December, Duff would imply that they would be entering the studio first in February, 1997.

Duff would also be asked about the rumours that Axl wanted a different musical style for Guns N' Roses, to which Duff would prevaricate:



Matt would end up leaving the band in April 1997 [see later section], and he would later discuss what had been done by the time he left:



By March 1997, a GN'R source would claim that at the moment they had 300 DAT tapes with "ideas, loops and sketches" that was not "that different from the sound you know" and "electronic influenced" [Addicted to Noise, March 19, 1997].

Todd Sullivan, the talent executive at Geffen, and possibly the source for the quote above, would say something similar:





Paul was still involved, and it would be reported that it wasn't only Slash who had been opposed to Paul, but also Matt and Duff [News Pilot, November 15, 1996]. Allegedly, Axl had been working with Paul continuously throughout the past periods and Slash had refused to enter the studio to work on the new album if Axl or Paul was there [News Pilot, November 15, 1996].

From an earlier interview in August, while Slash was still in the band, it would be implied that Paul's role was only to help teach Axl guitar:



In 2012, Matt would be asked if Axl was playing rhythm guitar in 1997:



That Paul was indeed still in the picture would be indicated from other sources too [Metal Edge, November 1996]. But the fact that Paul wasn't immediately and officially part of the lineup now that Slash was out [Daily Press, November 22, 1996], could be explained by Duff and Matt also not being warm to him and that his intended role was more to work in the background.

Later, in 2004, Dizzy would discuss working on new music in the late 1990s and say complimentary things about Paul:





Rumours would also be claiming that Duff was leaving the band, which he would deny:

Being a member of Guns N' Roses wasn't always easy. Matt would allude to this when he in September 1996 talked about his relationship with Axl:



In a Rolling Stone Magazine issue from presumable late 1996, and which we don't have in our archive, it is implied that Axl was now completely in control of the band and that the other band members would have to jump when he said so. Duff was confronted by this and replied:



But later Duff would point to problems with Axl acting like a "dictator":



And Matt would indicate this too, when looking back at the band in 2005:



Slash would indicate something similar:



And Goldstein would, in 2015, suggest it was true:



Duff would explain why it had come to this:



And more:





Despite Duff arguing that the band had become a dictatorship, Axl would insist that the new version of Guns N' Roses in 1999 was a proper band and that the "new material has been composed collaboratively with the new players":




Chris Cornell, who was working with Josh in 1999, would confirm this:



But as far as deciding what to play at shows, Axl called the shots:



Tommy would later talk more about how Axl wanted everybody to contribute and interestingly suggest this was due to how it had been back in the old version of Guns N' Roses:



Interestingly, Gilby would provide a synthesis for these apparently different views on Axl:



See later chapter for more details on how the Chinese Democracy sessions took place with all band members contributing.

In 2011, Axl would talk about all the misconceptions about him and refer to Izzy comparing him to Ayatollah in an early interview:



In 2016, Axl would talk about the perception that he was a dictator:

Slash would comment on the break-up repeatedly and often indicate that he and Axl might find back together again:



Slash's manager, Tom Maher, would also echo this:



Somewhat later, Slash would claim he hadn't officially quit the band, even implying it was exaggerated by the media:



And again he would indicate this could be just temporarily and that it was a disagreement over musical direction that caused the split:



And later:



In April he would state that, despite Axl's fax to MTV, he wasn't officially out of the band [San Antonio Express-News, April 4, 1997].



In May, Slash would indicate that the decision to go their separate ways wasn't necessarily mutual between him and Axl:



In September, he would be open to get back into GN'T but say his focus right now was on his other projects:



And in December he would admit the break wasn't at all amicable:



Interestingly, in an interview published in December 1997, Slash would disregard the most recent problems with Axl from late 1996 entirely when discussing when he left the band, and say he left the band three years ago, in other words in 1994 when he started focusing on Snakepit [Fuzz Magazine, December 1997]. This sort of aligns with Axl's fax to MTV [see earlier chapter] where Axl, too, would say that Slash had been out of the band for a while except for a few weeks of rehearsal trials.

This would probably be alluded to be Del James:



Things weren't much better between them in 1998:

According to a GN'R spokesperson, in March and April 1997 it would be reported that Axl had met with several possible producers for the band's next record [MTV, April 18, 1997]. One of these was Moby [Allstarmag, March 18, 1997; MTV, March 18, 1997; Addicted to Noise, March 19, 1997]. Apparently, according to the sources, Axl and Moby had "spent time together, and gotten along well on a personal level, and now they're going to see if they can make some musical magic together" [Addicted to Noise, March 19, 1997].

Years later, Moby would tell an anecdote that highlighted how Axl was a fan of his music:



Moby had earlier talked about Guns N' Roses and was said to like the band and had also defended Axl Rose for speaking his mind [New Musical Express, October 26, 1991].

The news that Moby was working with Guns N' Roses was first announced by Moby himself on a panel at the SXSW festival [Addicted to Noise, March 19, 1997], which lasted from March 8-17, 1997.



Another newspaper would present Moby's quote slightly different:



Chris Vrenna, who worked with the band in April 1997, would discuss Moby's involvement:



In May, MTV News would report that Moby is "producing some tracks for the next Guns n' Roses album" [MTV News, May 28, 1997].

Later, in October and November, 1997, Moby would talk about his role and indicate that he likely wouldn't do the job:




And in February 1998, it would be confirmed by Bryn Bridenthal that Moby wouldn't produce the record [MTV News, February 11, 1998].

Talking about his decision to decline the project:



Despite Moby's decision, Doug Goldstein would still say Axl was interested in letting Moby hear the music and offer his insights [Rolling Stone, February 20, 1998].

Moby developed a strong relationship with Axl and would defend him from criticism, particularly from Alan Niven who would publicly lambast Axl for what happened to Guns N' Roses [see previous chapter]:



Moby would continue to talk about Axl and Guns N' Roses to the media in the years to come [see other chapters], resulting in Axl exclaiming:



In 2000 Doug Goldstein would talk about the various producers who had been involved, and indicate that Moby's role had been very small:



And in 2018 Alan Niven would discuss Moby's involvement:



In 2019 Moby would explain that he had had a falling out with Axl when Moby had asked about vocals, suggesting that the decision to not work together may have been mutual and not solely Moby's:

____________________________________________

In early April 1997, reports would surface saying Matt left the band and was replaced by Igor Cavalera, former drummer in Sepultura [News Pilot, April 4, 1997]. Nothing seems to have come out of the Cavalera rumour.

In an article from October 1997, when listing the band members, neither Matt or anyone else would be mentioned [Icon Magazine, October 1997], indicating that Matt had indeed left the band.

In February 1998, when asked about what the current lineup was, Bryn Bridenthal would not confirm that Matt was out [MTV News, February 11, 1998]. Around the same time, Doug Goldstein would say the following regarding Matt's status while confirming the band had rehearsed new drummers:



Later, Duff and Goldstein would shed some light on what had happened:




And elaborate on what the issue between Matt and Axl had been:



Axl would also discuss Matt's departure:



And Matt would give his version and indicate that Paul had been central to the final argument between Matt and Axl:












Later Matt would say that it had been impossible to tour with Neurotic Outsiders because Slash would ask him to come back and record with Guns N' Roses, but then Slash wouldn't come to the studio, leading to so much frustration that Matt eventually quit:



It is also possible Matt is referring to Axl not showing up at the studio.

In 2005, it would be reported that Matt received a one-time settlement of $125,000 when he quit the band [The London Times, March 18, 2005].

After leaving Guns N' Roses, Matt played jazz with The Buddy Rich Orchestra, did a one-off Christmas performance with Billy Idol, produced a record for Candlebox, and collaborated on Poe's hits, "Angry Johnny" and "Hello" [Lawrence Journal World, June 28, 2001]. He formed a production company called Orange Curtains Productions with his partner Larry Cordola, but eventually quit:




In November 1997 it would be reported that Matt would have a role in an indie movie called "The Sound Man" [MTV News, November 25, 1997] and together with Slash, Duff and Joh Taylor, Matt would make the soundtrack for the movie [Lawrence Journal World, June 28, 2001].

At some point in likely early 1998, Matt would describe himself as "happily divorced" [Rock Express, 1998]. He would also talk about his hobbies:



The same year he would also go to rehab and meet Scott Weiland:



Matt would also talk about getting sober, although it is not clear when this happened although it could of course have been spurred on by the rehab in 1998:




To get sober Matt spent time in rehab, and there he would share a room with Scott Weiland [The Howard Stern Show, May 24, 2004].

A few years later, Matt relapsed:



Matt went to rehab, where Duff was also admitted [Rolling Stone, August 9, 2007].

And talking about his friends:



In late 2009, Matt would talk about possibly marrying his girlfriend Ace Harper (from the Darling Stilettos) [Vegas DeLuxe, December 18, 2009]. They got engaged in December 2011 [US Weekly, October 12, 2013] and the wedding took place on October 12, 2013 [Blabbermouth, December 2, 2011; US Weekly, October 12, 2013].





In connection with his 50th birthday in 2010, Matt posted the following update:



At the start of 2020, Matt would summarize the last decade in an Instagram update and highlight his religiosity:





In 2008, Matt would launch his own brand of clothing, Sorum Noce:








In June 2009 it would be reported that Matt had partnered with the music industry pioneers to launch a new label concept called Dead Conflict in which artists would retain ownership of their music:





In 2011, Matt would also have the first sale of his painting [Press Release, July 14, 2011].









On his Fierce Joy album, Matt would reveal himself as an advocate for environmentalism, and in 2014 he also got involved in rescuing bears in Asia that are kept in captivity for bile collecting [Animals Asia, August 26, 2014].











Talking about idea:




Artists would be paid in cryptocurrency:

Immediately after the announcement that Slash was out of the band media would report that the band was looking for a guitarist to replace him [Philadelphia Daily News, November 1, 1996]. In early 1997, the rumours had it that Steve Jones, band mate with Duff in the Neurotic Outsiders and previously of the Sex Pistols, would take Slash's place, but this was denied by a source at Geffen [Addicted to Noise, January 13, 1997].

In March it would be said that the band was still looking for a new guitar player and had worked with a few to record "sketches and ideas for guitar parts on the demos", according to a band source [Addicted to Noise, March 19, 1997]. One of these guitar players was allegedly a young and unnamed player who Axl particularly liked [Addicted to Noise, March 19, 1997].



Matt would say that it was he who found Robin playing at Cirque Du Soleil and that he recommended Robin to Axl as a replacement for Gilby:



Robin would explain how it happened:








According to Robin, it took some time before he fully joined the band:




Talking about coming down to the studio for the first time:



Chris Vrenna, who was working with the band in April, would discuss that Robin was in the band when he joined [see earlier chapter].





The circus stayed in Santa Monica in Los Angeles from April 16 to May 20, and then travelled north to Oakland, CA. MTV News on May 22 would state that Robin was replacing Slash [MTV News, May 22, 1997]. This fits well with the timing of the circus leaving Los Angeles. Just a few days later, MTV News would report that GN'R spokespeople refused to confirm the hiring of Robin [MTV News, May 28, 1997]. If the hiring of Robin took place just before the circus would leave LA, and Robin played with the band for 6-8 weeks before accepting to become a band member, Axl must have visited the circus and seen Robin just when it started in Santa Monico on April 16, or possibly in Costa Mesa where it was from January to March 1997.





Duff would talk about playing with Robin before Duff quit the band:



And Robin would later talk about how he was conscious about was not trying to be Slash:

Robin tried playing the guitar when he was really young but really got into it around 1984/1985 when he was in high school:



Some of his early bands were Sik Dik, Bat Your Lashes, Prowess and Impotent Seak Snakes [Allstarmag, August 4, 1999; Ultimate Guitar, January 17, 2014].



Talking about early guitar inspiration:



Before making it with Nine Inch Nails, Robin lived in a storage room at the Masquerade venue:




Robin was just about to go back to school when NIN contacted him:





Robin joined NIN in February 1994 for The Downward Spiral tour:






But he quit the band two months after NIN's tour with David Bowie ended in October 1995.







After quitting NIN Robin spent a year in New Orleans:



Before joining Cirque du Soleil as the guitarist in the orchestra and its musical director [Kerrang! December 11, 1999], and did that gig up until joining GNR.

In April 1997, reports would surface saying that Matt had left the band and was replaced by Chris Vrenna (aka Podboy) [Rolling Stone, April 4, 1997; MTV, April 18, 1997]. Vrenna was a friend of Robin and had played in Nine Inch Nails previously.

Talking about how he got into the band:





The lineup at the time was Axl, Duff, Chris Vrenna, Paul Huge and Dizzy [Al.com, October 23, 2018].




Talking about working with Axl:







At the time of Vrenna's involvement, it was not disclosed to the public that had come in to replace Matt, and Vrenna soon left the band to focus on his own project, Tweaker:




It is not clear how long Vrenna's involvement with Guns N' Roses was. Vrenna came in after Matt left, which was reported in April and thus possibly happened some time earlier, maybe in March, and it was reported that Vrenna worked with the band in April, so he might have joined in March, too, depending on how long it took Axl to get him in after Matt left [Rolling Stone, April 4, 1997; MTV, April 18, 1997]. Vrenna was there when Abbruzzese came in, also in April [see later chapter] and Vrenna and Abbruzzese did at least some sessions together [see later chapter], indicating that Vrenna was out of the band at some point in April. But Vrenna would also talk about still being involved with the band when Duff quit, which according to Duff [see later chapter] happened in August. Maybe Vrenna still talked to Axl after having left the band and was thus around when Duff quit, or maybe he was also working with the band until August, or maybe Duff is wrong and he actually quit the band earlier than August when Vrenna was still involved?

Chris Vrenna would describe Paul and Axl's relationship:



Matt would later discuss what had been done by the time he left the band in April 1997:



In May, Matt talked about the progress while attending Music West conference in Vancouver, Canada, and claim they had recorded "4,800 hours of music" and that they had "15 really strong songs" which will be ready "hopefully by next year" [MTV News, May 22, 1997]. Matt would also state that the music was leaning towards a Soundgarden style of rock although there were tracks where the Nine Inch Nails influence was evident [MTV News, May 22, 1997]. Matt told the small crowd that Axl's new favorite saying has been "loop it, loop it!" [MTV News, May 22, 1997].

Duff was attending the same conference and would say that "things had come together in the studio for Guns n' Roses just over the last month and a half" [MTV News, May 22, 1997].

Chris Vrenna would discuss the music writing process:



And also Axl's intentions for evolving the sound of the band:



The unstable lineup caused problems, as implied by Vrenna:



And Vrenna would discuss how he thought the record would turn out:



And discuss Dizzy's setup:



Robin, who joined started playing with the band around April 1997, would soon start bringing in his own music ideas:



Also in April, the new lineup would play through Appetite together:



In an article published in October 1997, Moby who was now involved as a possible producer, would comment on the mood in the band and recording studio:




Around the same time a "source close to the band" would describe the music:




Later, in an article published in 2000, Moby would again describe the music and project around this time:



The lineup at this time would be comprised of Axl, Robin, Paul, Duff and Dizzy, with Mike Clink being involved [Icon Magazine, October 1997].

In October 1997, spokesperson at Geffen Publicity would indicate that the record wouldn't be out until 1998, at the earliest:





In april 1997, Shaquille O'Neal would take "a break from his own recording session in the same building and rapped over some Guns music":



Dizzy would later explain what happened:



In 2008, Axl would comment on this event and suggest the media attention it got was mean-spirited:

In late May 1997, Dave Abbruzzese (formerly of Pearl Jam) was said to be rehearsing with the band while the band management refused to confirm Matt was out of the picture [MTV News, May 22, 1997].

Abbruzzese would later be asked if Axl had partaked in any rehearsals:



Before Vrenna (nicknamed Pod Boy) left the project (probably in late April 1997), he and Abbruzzese rehearsed together as a drummer-duo, suggesting Axl had considered having two drummers in the band at the same time:



If Chris Vrenna was out of the project by late April 1997, it would suggest that Abbruzzese started being connected to the band at least that early.

It seems that Abbruzzese played with them until early 1998 [Michael Bland, personal communication, April 27, 2021], before he was eventually replaced by Josh Freese.



Interestingly, Chris Vrenna, who played drums before Abbruzzese would claim the Joey Castillo played with the band for "quite a while" before he joined Queens of the Stone Age:



Castillo joined Queens of the Stone Age in late 2002 with Guns N' Roses settling on Josh Freese as the drummer in 1998, indicating that Vrenna is wrong regarding Castillo's tenure with the band. More likely Castillo only did a few sessions with the band, probably before Michael Bland auditioned in early 1998, before the band settled on Freese, so likely in late 1997, which would mean there would be some overlap between Abbruzzese's tenure and Castillo's involvement, indicating the fluidity of the lineup in this period before Freese.

Billy Howerdel was a computer engineer/guitar tech that worked with the band. Robin knew Howerdel and initiated the contact at some point in 1997, likely not long after having joined himself in April [Instragram, February 7, 2023].



Howerdel was present when Josh did his auditions in late 1997 or early 1998 [see previous chapter], confirming that Howerdel came in early. Howerdel had left the project by May 2000 [Rolling Stone, May 11, 2000] and he would later state that he left in September 1999:












Discussing the work he did:



And looking back at having worked how to make records from working with Axl on Chinese Democracy:



He would also tell an anecdote about his and Axl bonding over a shared appreciation of the 1998 movie What Dreams May Come with Robin Williams:



The new band Howerdel would found was A Perfect Circle:



Chris talking about Howerdel:



Keenan and Doug Goldstein would later indicate that Axl had been angry about Keenan taking Howerdel away from Guns N' Roses:




Goldstein would also imply that Axl's dislike of Keenan came from his "spiritual advisor" Sharon Maynard [for more on Maynard and Axl's belief in the supernatural, see later chapters]:



Josh would later quit Guns N' Roses and join A Perfect Circle, too.

______________________________________________

After the UYI touring and especially as that lineup disintegrated, Axl was keeping a very low profile and was rarely spotted. In April 1996 he was spotted backstage at a Red Hot Chili Peppers show:



Other musicians would joke about his vanishing act:





As Gerri Miller of "Metal Edge" would say:



Tommy Lee from Motley Crue would also have a theory:



Bryn Bridenthal would comment on the speculations:



In July 1999, Spin magazine would release a large feature about Axl Rose and his current life [Spin, July 1999]. Marc Spitz, addistant editor for Spin, and one of the researchers of the project, interviewed 40 people as part of the article but was not able to get an interview or comments from Axl [Indianapolis News, June 22, 1999]. "Through the grapewine, Spitz had received the information that Axl thought the article was a bit premature:



And the editor of Spin at the time, Alan Light, would tell that Axl had called him up at night when he heard the plans of a Spin cover story [Spin, February 2017].

Spitz would say the following about Axl:





Moby would indicate that Axl had not being doing good mentally:





Later, Izzy would indicate that Axl's isolation wasn't doing him any good:



Youth, who was involved with Guns N' Roses as a potential producer in 1997/1998 [see later chapter], would also indicate Axl was suffering from depression:





In March 1998, likely without Axl's blessing, a musical satire was under development loosely based on Axl, called "White Trash Wins Lotto" [E! News Online, March 6, 1998]. In October 1998 the musical would be performed in Hollywood [Los Angeles Daily News, October 9, 1998].

Media was quickly speculating on when the new record would be released, Bryn Bridenthal would comment:



The quote above indicates Axl had no intention of rushing the process.

There would also be suggestions that Axl wouldn't be able to pull it off and release a new Guns N' Roses record. Alan Niven would muse on the reasons:



When asked when the band would be ready to release the album, an anonymous source close to the band would say in 1997:



Later, Tom Zutaut, who was involved with the project in 2001-2002, would in 2007 discuss why the next album (which had been named by then) took so long to get out:

With Axl leaving the public life in 1993/1994, the media would speculate about his looks and life. In particular would Axl's old enemies take the opportunity to ridicule him, like Courtney Love who would spread the rumour that Axl was balding. Moby would be asked about this and say:





In August it would be speculated that the band hadn't played any live shows because Axl had put on considerable weight [City Pages, August 5, 1998].

In November 1999, Axl would do an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, and be described like this:



Later, an anonymous friend of Axl would state:



And another "friend":



In 2001, media would spread rumors that Axl had gone through a hair transplant with bad results [KNAC.com, May 11, 2001].

When the press finally got to see him in early 2001 it would be reported he was a bit stockier than in his youth. Beta Lebeis would defend his looks:



Izzy would not:



Media would occasionally discuss Axl's appearance, and occasionally former band mates would take the bait:

Despite Moby recently being confirmed as the producer select, an MTV News report from May 1997 would claim the band had settled on Mike Clink [MTV News, May 22, 1997]. This did not exclude Moby, and a source at Geffen refused to confirm that Moby would participate but state that "I expect he'll be working on a couple of tracks" [MTV News, May 22, 1997].

Later, in November 1998, Rolling Stone magazine would claim Clink had left the project after just a few months [Rolling Stone, November 14, 1998].

Clink would comment on what Axl was doing:



Later, Goldstein would talk about producers who had been involved, and not mention Clink [MTV News, April 28, 2000].



In late 1996, Axl was considering which producer to use [Daily Press, November 22, 1996]. At some point in 1997, Todd Sullivan who was a talent executive at Geffen, sent Axl a sampling of CDs produced by different people, encouraging Axl to choose one for Chinese Democracy, only to be informed later that Axl had run over the CDs with his car [The New York Times, March 6, 2005].

At the same time as Mike Clink was said to be the producer of the next record, or at least parts of it, Matt would say that Rick Rubin was involved in the project [MTV News, May 22, 1997]. This rumour was quickly shot down, though, when a spokesperson for Rubin said it had been discussed a while ago but that "it didn't work out" [MTV News, May 22, 1997].

Later, Doug Goldstein would talk about producers who had been involved, and not mention Rubin [MTV News, April 28, 2000].

On June 2, 1997, the following story would be published by MTV News:



The next day it would be reported that Arkeen's manager, Dan McConomy, confirmed it was an opiate overdose and that West had been using opiates as a pain killer after suffereing severe burns from a barbeque accident [AP/The Sacramento Bee, June 3, 1997; MTV News, June 3, 1997].

Duff would write a song inspired by Arkeen called 'Missing You' intended for his album 'Beautiful Disease', which was never released:



Lyrics to Missing You by Duff:

_____________________________________

In August 1997 Duff quit the band [Popular 1, July 2000; Duff's biography]. It apparently wasn't etched in stone, though, because in February 1998, when asked about what the current lineup looked like, Bryn Bridenthal would not confirm that Duff was out, but say it was "difficult" to predict his status in the band [MTV News, February 11, 1998]. And around the same time Doug Goldstein would say the spot was open to Duff, and indicate he had decided to quit because he had recently become a father [Rolling Stone, February 20, 1998].









Although Duff didn't agree with Axl and his decisions to continue with Guns N' Roses, he would stress they were still friends:



Later, Axl would emphasize that it had been Duff's decision to quit and that he hadn't forced anyone out:



Despite this, it seems like the press would indicate Duff had been fired, because in an interview from December 1999, Duff was eager to point out he left of his own free will:





And later Doug Goldstein would also stress that Duff wasn't fired:



Later Duff would shed more light on his decision to leave and Axl's becoming a dictator:



And that the band had become a "disaster":




And Axl's insistence that Paul was in the band, was also a major issue to Duff:



And also Axl's desire to modernize the sound of the band:



Duff would also said he had been put in an unattainable position by the, presumably, Doug Goldstein, in trying to get Slash back to the band, but that when it was clear that wouldn't happen, he quit too:




Fernando Lebeis would later discuss Duff quitting and indicate that Axl and Duff were friends at the time but that they later lost contact:

From the following quote it can seem like Axl offered more money to Duff for joining the band again:



Later it would be revealed that this money likely came from an offered show in Germany:

On August 27, 1997, Duff and his girlfriend Susan Holmes became parents to Grace [Online Chat, March 16, 1999; Guitar, September 1998; Los Angeles Time, November 27, 1998], and later they had their second daughter, Mae [Loaded Online, February 21, 2002].

In August 1999, Duff and Susan married [Popular 1, July 2000].





The same month it would also be reported that he was selling his house at Lake Arrowhead [Los Angeles Times, August 19, 1999].

Duff would later credit his family for his will to live:



Duff would also keep himself in good shape:







Looking back at having left Guns N' Roses and whether he has a love/hate relationship with the band:



In 2010, Duff had to undergo surgery because of a hole in his sinuses due to his past excessive cocaine snorting [Blabbermouth, December 15, 2010].



In 2011, Susan was part of the cast for E!'s new reality show, Married To Rock, which meant that Duff begrudgingly became part of a reality series:



Talking about his life:

In 2002 and 2003 when Velvet Revolver was starting to become a reality, the band members would get more questions about a proper reunion involving Axl:



And about the rumour that a manager had already got the five of them in therapy somewhere:



As Slash when Velvet Revolver became serious, Duff would close the door to a reunion [The Howard Stern Show, May 24, 2004].



Later Duff would seem more open to it again:








Then, in October 2010, Duff and Axl reconnected in London, England, and Duff joined Guns N' Roses on stage for a few songs [see later chapter for details]. After the show, questions about a reunion intensified:












And yes, Axl was pissed at Duff and suggest it came down to Duff's support of Slash:



In late 2002 Duff would say that that previous comments between band members have been misconstrued and taken out of context, he would also be reluctant to say anything about Axl because of fear of hurting the brand (Guns N' Roses Inc.) to which he still was a partner:



Duff would describe Axl as a bitter man:




Despite claiming he would never say shit about Axl in the quote above, the following quote appeared in a newspaper in October 2004 where he claimed that Axl would take credit for writing songs he hadn't taken part in writing:



After the publication of this story, Duff went public to retract the comment:




The interviewer of The Times-Picayune' article, Keith Spera, would also be contacted by Duff:



Despite Duff's retraction, not long after he made a similar comment to Mojo:



Around the same time, Duff would refer to Axl as an asshole for putting fans at risk when he came late to shows:



Being asked if drugs were the reason the band fell apart:



Being asked if he still has a relationship with Axl:



In March 2006, Axl would counter-sue Duff and Slash after they have sued him in 2005 (see later chapter), and in an associated statement released to the press, Axl would scathingly attack Slash and Duff:



The statement would also claim that Slash had made a visit to Axl's home in October 2005, where he, allegedly, badmouthed his bandmates in Velvet Revolver, including calling Duff "spineless":



Duff's response:



In 2008, Duff would state there had been no communication between him and Axl:



And also describe Axl graciously:



And in 2009 he would talk about wanting to reconnect with Axl:




Then, in October 2010, Duff and Axl reconnected in London, England [see later chapter for details]. The reconnection with Axl would make Duff reconsider his own role in the fall-out:

In 1999, Duff would be asked why Steven wasn't playing on his second solo album:



And in 2000 Duff would talk more about Steven:



And when asked if Steven is doing anything musically, Duff simply replied, "No" [Popular 1, July 2000].

In October 2000 Steven tried reuniting with Slash at a Snakepit gig, but was turned away:



In 2001, Steven met Duff and Izzy:



Also in 2001, Slash would talk about staying in contact with Steven, but that he was broken:



In March 2003, Steven hung out with Slash at the Whiskey Sky Bar in the Green Valley Casino in Vegas and even got to play with him:



In 2005, Steven would say he was reconciling with Slash:



On September 21, 2003, Adler's Appetite did a concert at the Key Club in Los Angeles with Izzy and Slash guesting on Mr. Brownstone, Knockin' on Heaven's Door and Paradise City:




Slash would later talk about the experience and how Steven's band was only a cover band playing shit versions of GN'R songs:



In March 2004 the admin of Steven's official fansite would report that Steven had been recording with Izzy:




On December 24, 2004, the cover of "Do You Love Me" was released on Steven's website.

In the early 2000s Steven would make lots of disparaging comments towards Axl [for more detail see later chapters including Steven's comments on Axl continuing Guns N' Roses and Axl's relationship with past band members]. When Dizzy was asked if he felt sorry for Steven, Dizzy responded:



Some time in 2005, Dizzy played with Steven:



In 2006, Steven would talk about Slash and complain about Slash never wanting him in his bands:



And talk about Izzy:



Slash was somehow involved in helping Steven out of drugs in 2007-2009 and it seems like their friendship was rekindled:



Apparently, Slash had promised Steven he could play on one song on his forthcoming solo record:




He also tried to keep in touch with Izzy and Duff:



In November 2009, Steven would play with Slash and Duff at the LAYN Benefit show:




And in 2010 he would say he had stopped blaming his former band mates for his struggles:



And he would talk more about his friendship witt Slash:



And mention that apologizing to Slash had been part of his sobering process:






In addition to apologizing to Slash, Steven would also apologize to the entire band and accept he was at fault for how it had ended:




On February 28, 2011, Duff joined Adler's Appetite on stage in London for My Michelle and It's So Easy [Blabbermouth, February 28, 2011].

Slash would play on one song of Steven's 'Adler' debut album, and Steven would praise their friendship:




When reunion rumours were spreading in 2015, Steven would talk about how Slash and Duff didn't like him:



Steven had also tried to meet Slash:





In February 1997 was involved in a domestic violence case, but failed to turn up in court for sentencing, resulting in a warrant for his arrest [MTV News, September 24, 1998]. As a result of this, Steven was sentenced to 4 days in jail, to attend 52 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and was placed on a three-year summary probation [MTV News, September 24, 1998].

In 1998 he violated this probation when he again committed domestic violence, against two different women [MTV News, September 24, 1998]. These two incidents happened on January 27 and June 7, 1998 [MTV News, September 24, 1998]. The January incident happened as a result of a fight with a 43-year old women over Steven's drug use [MTV News, September 24, 1998]. Steven fled the scene and wasn't found until the spring, living in a condominium in Century City, California [MTV News, September 24, 1998]. The June incident happened while Steven was awaiting his trial for the January incident [MTV News, September 24, 1998]. In this incident Steven was fighting with a woman over money and pushed her head into a wall and threw her clothes off a balcony [MTV News, September 24, 1998].

Steven pled no contest and was sentenced to 150 days in jail and three years of summary probation including one year of domestic violence counseling and a ban on drugs [MTV News, September 24, 1998]. In addition, both victims of the attacks received protective orders [MTV News, September 24, 1998].

In October 1998 Steven started serving his sentence at L.A.'s county jail [MTV News, December 8, 1998]. After some time he was moved into a minimum security lock-up, but when he failed to show up again after a doctor's appointment, he was returned to county jail [MTV News, December 8, 1998].





In early 1999, Steven would be sued by his former lawyer, Peter Paterno [Allmusic, February 12, 1999]. After Steven was fired from Guns N' Roses, Steven sued Paterno's law firm for "legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary obligation, fraud and misrepresentation and negligent misrepresentation", but lost [Allmusic, February 12, 1999]. Paterno was now suing Steven for "compensatory, exemplary and punitive damages in the $25,000 range" [Allmusic, February 12, 1999].







There was no love lost between Matt and Steven:




Later Steven would take the high road:



And after seeing Velvet Revolver live, Steven was almost gracious:



In January 2006, Metal Sludge would ask Steven to rate various famous drummers on a scale of 1 to 10. Steven gave everyone a 10 except Tommy Lee ("fucking amazing!"), Alex Van Halen ("Ten Thousand!"), Neil Peart ("Umm…I don’t think the number is high enough"), Carmine Appice ("Is God!"), Terry Bozzio ("he’s in the Ten thousands too!"), and Matt Sorum:



In 2007, Steven would again complain about Matt:



After Matt had suggested a possible GN'R reunion should include both he and Steven, Steven was asked about this and responded:



Then in July 2009, Steven and Matt would hang out at Slash's birthday bash:



And although he still believed he was a better drummer for GN'R than Matt, in 2010 he would be less negative:



Not long after this, Steven would publicly apologize to Matt for what he had said in interviews:



But he would still steadfastly insist Use Your Illusions had been better with him on drums:



At New Year party in 2010, Steven would play Paradise City with Camp Freddy, with Matt introducing him before the song [Blabbermouth, January 3, 2011].

And after the band was formally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Steven would continue to be gracious towards Matt:



While Matt would appear amused by their friendship:



In connection with the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Matt would talk kindly about Steven:



Talking about having harbored a grudge:





Matt being asked if he met Steven when he joined Guns N' Roses:



And explaining Steven's bitterness towards him:



In 2015, when rumours were spreading about a reunion tour, Steven would be asked how he would react if he had to share drumming duties with Matt:



And talk about their differences as drummer:



In 2017, Steven would talk nicely about Matt:





On January 23, 2002, Steven would marry his girlfriend Carolina [KNAC.com, March 4, 2002].



In late 2004, Steven would take a break from working with Adler's Appetite to tour with the Bad Boys of Metal, also featuring Kevin DuBrow and Bang Tango [Glam Metal, August 18, 2004].



When confronted with DuBrow referring to the tour as the most "untogether and unpleasant" he'd ever experienced, slamming Steven for "buffoonery", drunkenness and even the cancellation of one particular show [Classic Rock, April 2005], Steven responded:









In July 2009, a restraining order prohibiting Lisa Jill Martin-Cahn from contacting Steven or Slash would be issued [TMZ, July 29, 2009]. Martin-Cahn had stalked Steven for quite some time and allegedly hired three separate private detectives to try to hunt him down [TMZ, July 29, 2009]. In her efforts to get in contact with Steven she had pestered Slash, which was the reason for that restraining order [TMZ, July 29, 2009].

In August, 2009, Martin-Cahn was jailed for violating the restraining order against Steven when she sent letters to Steven's lawyer [TMZ, August 13, 2009]. The "letters" were copies of the restraining order where she had scribbled on the back side[ TMZ, August 13, 2009]. In the letters she wrote that she believed Steven wanted to communicate with her this way, and that she was his "runaway kitty cat" [TMZ, August 13, 2009].



In 2009 it would be reported that Steven would play the role of Stevie in the upcoming comedy-horror movie "Dahmer vs Gacy" [Blabbermouth, February 24, 2009].

When 'Live Era' was released in 1999, Matt was listed as "additional musician":




And on talking to Axl:



In 2002 Axl would mention that he didn't consider Matt an important past member of the band:



After Velvet Revolver started Matt would get more questions about Axl, and also about his new looks:





Yet, Matt would not deny Axl's greatness:




But say he didn't like him:



In April, 2006, Matt met Axl in New York and they seem to have squared up:





In may 2008, after Scott Weiland had left Velvet Revolver to return to Stone Temple Pilots, Matt would favorably compare the two frontmen:



Talking about Axl as a great frontman and lyricist:













Matt would also reveal Velvet Revolver had been offered an opening slot for Guns N' Roses in Lisbon, Portugal:



In 2008, Matt would say he was certain Guns N' Roses would reunite, but that he was also certain he wouldn't be involved:



And in 2009 he would suggest if there was to be a reunion, both he and Steven should be involved:



In late 2011, Matt would joke about doing it for the right amount of money but that it wasn't important to him:



In 2012, after the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inclusion, Matt was still interested:



And also in 2014 when asked if he would do a show with GN'R if Axl called:





In April 2012, it would be speculated that Matt had plans of writing a Guns N' Rose screenplay after he made the following comments:

Dizzy would befriend the Christian musician Larry Norman and eventually be featured on at least two of Norman's albums, A Moment In Time (1994) and Copper Wires (1998).

Talking about his collaboration with Norman:

After leaving Guns N' Roses, Matt played jazz with The Buddy Rich Orchestra, did a one-off Christmas performance with Billy Idol, produced a record for Candlebox, and collaborated on Poe's hits, "Angry Johnny" and "Hello" [Lawrence Journal World, June 28, 2001]. He formed a production company called Orange Curtains Productions with his partner Larry Cordola, but eventually quit:




In November 1997 it would be reported that Matt would have a role in an indie movie called "The Sound Man" [MTV News, November 25, 1997] and together with Slash, Duff and Joh Taylor, Matt would make the soundtrack for the movie [Lawrence Journal World, June 28, 2001].



In April 2000, Matt would rejoin with Billy Duff and Ian Astbury from The Cult at a Neurotic Outsiders show at The Viper Room in Hollywood [Music News Of The World, April 6, 1999]. They would play three Cult songs together [Music News Of The World, April 6, 1999].









In 2002, The Cult had been dropped by their label:







In 2000 he would guest with the supergroup Wonder Girls which featured among others Stone Temple Pilot's Scott Weiland [Loudside, April 9, 2000].







From May 2002, Matt would be playing in the cover band Camp Freddy together with Dave Navarro and others [Blabbermouth, September 17, 2002]. The band would have a lineup of five members but feature many different guests [Blabbermouth, September 17, 2002]. On June 14, 2002, Camp Freddy played a show at the Moomba and Slash and Moby would guest [Moby.com, June 16. 2002].

In October 2003, it would be reported that Camp Freddy had signed with Sanctuary Records [Blabbermouth, October 8, 2003] and in January 2004 they were working on their debut album [Blabbermouth, January 28, 2004].

In February 2006, Matt would announce that Scott Weiland had been added as a member in Camp Freddy [Blabbermouth, February 16, 2006; originally from ABC News Radio].





In 2001 Matt been working on a solo album called Hollywood Zen:






He also planned on turning it into a band and play live:



On June 1, 2004, the record was finally released.










Matt summarizing his past up to 2004:



Velvet Revolver is discussed elsewhere.



In late 2008 it would be reported that Matt was playing with Stevie Salas [Fazer, November 26, 2008]. Salas had previously auditioned for Guns N' Roses [see previous chapter].





In 2009, Matt would also tour with Motörhead after their drummer, Mikkey Dee, was busy taking part in his country’s version of TV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!





Being asked how it came about:



Looking back at having played with Motorhead:





In 2010, Matt would talk about setting up a show with the band The darling Stilettos, fronted by his girlfriend Ace Harper, in Las Vegas:




Explaining the dance element:



Discussing why he formed the Darling Stilettos:



And being asked if they planned to record and album and tour:



And if it is difficult to work so closely with his girlfriend:





In 2011, Matt would launch a new band called Diamond Baby that he referred to as "electro-rock" and his new character to go with it, Baron Von Storm [Rolling Stone, July 21, 2011]. Ace Harper, now his wife, would also be part of Diamond Baby under the name Ace of Diamonds:



Talking about the music:



In July, Matt would release a video for the song The Last Rockstar featuring Glee‘s Jane Lynch, actress Juliette Lewis, Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister and actor Verne Troyer:



About his new name:





In 2010, Matt would produce The Runaway's Cherie Currie's new album, Blvds of Splendour [Blabbermouth, January 20, 2011]. The album would feature both Slash and Duff:



The album was intended to be released in 2011, then shelved, and then scheduled to be released in 2016 [Blabbermouth, Sept. 13, 2016].



The album would finally get a limited release in 2019 and a full release in 2020 [Blabbermouth, April 21, 2020].






In January 2013, it was reported Matt was working on a solo album:



Matt would talk about the record:








Explaining why he is not drumming on the record:



Talking about the rest of the band:



Being asked if he is a confident singer:



On March 11, 2014, Matt Sorum's Fierce Joy released the album titled Stratosphere [Press Release, February 19, 2014].











Talking about why he released a second solo album:



Being asked if he intended to tour the album:



Talking about the musicians in Fierce Joy:




Being asked how it was to not play the drums:



And the name of the band:



Excerpt of review in antiMusic:









In 2015, Matt would join the celebrity band Hollywood Vampires together with among others Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry.

Talking about touring with the band:



By 2018, Matt was finished with the band:





In 2018, Matt formed Deadland Ritual with Frankie Perez, Geezer Butler, and Steve Stevens:

As discussed in previous chapters, Axl had at different times considered releasing a solo album. Why then did he decide to continue with Guns N' Roses when the personell had changed so significantly since Appetite For Destruction and the Use Your Illusions?

Chris Vrenna would talk about discussing this with Axl after Matt left and state that Axl explained the reasons by not wanting to throw away a valuable brand that he had managed to establish:



Moby would be clear that Axl didn't consider Guns N' Roses his solo band, but wanted the entire band to contribute:



And an anonymous source "close to the band":



Axl's decision to continue Guns N' Roses would also come in the face of harsh critique from the media:



In late 1999, Axl would finally shed some lights on the process, and remark that a change in lineup was overdue and imply that other band members hadn't been interested in figuring out how a modern GN'R record should sound:



After having talked to Axl in June 2000, Gilby would indicate that this could be the case:



Axl would also imply he felt obligated to keep the band going:





Axl would also express being hurt with people who didn't have any faith in him continuing with the band:



In 2002 he would go in more detail:



In 2008, Axl would talk more on this issue:





Alan Niven would scornfully comment on this:



In addition to these personal reasons, Axl would also point out that the industry expected him to release music under the Guns N' Roses name:




And that he wouldn't buckle because of any public demand caused by a former band member's lies (extremely likely to be Slash he is referring to):



And that he hadn't any other choice:




And talk about his commitment to the band:



And what "Guns N' Roses" means to him:



He would also mention that with the name came responsibilities and public expectations that made them work harder:





As for what could make him change the name of the band: