Axl Rose stepped out of his house, and showed up ON TIME for a sit down interview with Jimmy Kimmel last night. He talked about his tardiness, voting for Obama, Halloween decorations, dressing up like corn with corn rows, and how members of G'N'R used to work at Tower Records on Sunset where Axl was a manager. Check out the videos below.
Yeah, that's what really happens. Even Slash has to go through security. Yesterday, the halls of the offices here were alive with excitement. It takes a pretty HUGE rock star to get the secretaries and accountants excited, and Slash is the very definition of a rock star!
I fetched him some coffee, (see what I mean? I haven't fetched someone coffee since I was Hill-Man's intern in 1993) and escorted him into our video studio, for an extended interview for the website. He complimented me on my hair, and my Harley riding boots, and I told him that his black leather Converse were the perfect choice for Boston, since they were made here. He tipped me off, that reps from Converse were headed to the HOB later on that night, to hook him up with the latest Chuck T styles...
Before the mics and cameras were turned on, he asked me if I planned to ask him any 'uncomfortable' Axl questions. I told him that I had to bring it up at some point, but that I wouldn't be an asshole about it. I know he's sick of the questions, but on Facebook and Twitter our listeners OVERWHELMINGLY told me to ask about it, so I have to!
We talked about everything... How he likes his coffee, everything in his career, the Hollywood star, the Hall of Fame induction, Guitar Hero, his kids, his autobiography, and all of the amazing people that he has crossed paths with over the years. He had great stories about Lemmy, Ozzy, Joe Perry, Fergie, Quentin Tarantino, and even Betty Betty White!
The first of many videos from this interview is below!
Then it was into the WAAF studio, for the live, on-air interview before he rushed back to sound check for the show. He couldn't have been nicer to everyone in the halls. He's a quiet guy, and you can tell that crowds of people freak him out. I guess after years of screaming fans trying to get a glimpse of you, touch you, talk your ears off, you get to be a little nervous. He had someone watching his back every step, until it was time to 'work'... Then, we were left alone to talk.
Below, you can listen to the on air breaks that we did live.
After the interview, we snapped a few pictures, and right before the first was taken, Slash yelled out "Say Herpes". It was hilarious!
That explains the stupid grin on my face. And just like that... he was gone. Headed to 'work'.
Later on that night, I headed to the House of Blues to watch Slash do what he does best... play live.
I was asked to go up on stage and say a few things. For a guy that doesn't like crowds, I can tell you, that the view from a packed stage, is pretty intimidating, and he is in his element up there. I'm used to sitting by myself in the sometimes stinky WAAF studio.
When Slash hit the stage, it had to have been 150* in there. The place was packed! The band was tight, loud, and awesome. The setlist (that Slash worked on in our studio) was packed with new and old songs alike. GNR classics sounded amazing, and the crowd sang along to every word. Lemmy even showed up to do a song with the band!
Thanks to Slash, for a great day and an awesome night!
Do you remember where you were the first time that you heard Guns 'N' Roses? I do...
I was sitting in my parents basement, watching Headbangers Ball on MTV when the video for Welcome to the Jungle came on. Hearing just 5 seconds of the opening riff, it was obvious to me that Rock music had changed forever!
It was loud, and in your face. In 1987 I was really into the 80's hair bands that were all the rage at the time... But GNR was different. They weren't pretty, they weren't polished, they were in your face and if you didn't like it F*CK OFF!
I remember reading about them in Metal Edge magazine, and learning all of their names. I thought maybe these guys are in hiding from the law, because none of them use their real names... Axl, Slash, Izzy, Duff, and Popcorn (Steven Adlers nickname).
Shortly after that night in my parents basement, the stories about GNR and their crazy behavior on and off stage were in every magazine, on MTV news, and it seemed everyone was talking about them. Even the album cover pissed people off, and they had to change it.
My Mom heard about it and said 'That's disgusting"... She still says that about a lot of the things that I do, say, buy, and watch. Some things never change.
I wish that I bought the album on vinyl, and I really wish that I had the original version on vinyl... I bet it's worth a TON of money... But, my first and second copies were on cassette. I think I played the first one so much that I wore out the tape.
For a teenage girl in the New England suburbs, GNR taught me a lot about life... I learned what Mr. Brownstone was referring to. What riding the Nightrain was. How romantic guys could be, "turn around bitch I've got a use for you, besides you ain't got nuthin' better to do, and I'm bored". See? Real life lessons... No wonder my Mom said "That's disgusting", she was right, it was... and it was awesome!
Appetite for Destruction was the best selling debut album of the 80's, and one of the best selling Rock albums of all time. Why? Because it's still loud, and it's still in your face. Other bands have tried to do what GNR did. Hell, even GNR themselves have tried to do what Appetite did, and everyone including themselves have failed. No matter the fueds, lineup changes, solo projects, rehab stints, and future attempts at relaunching the band, GNR will always be 5 pissed off guys, holding up a cracked mirror to the world, saying F*CK OFF. Like Marilyn Monroe will always be beautiful, GNR will always be badass.
Everyone has their favorite song off of Appetite, and there is always a story that goes along with it. I would have to say (and yes I am aware that my answer is boring) that Welcome to the Jungle is my favorite. Why? Because every time I hear it, I remember being in my parents basement, watching in wonder, unaware of the world, unsure of my own future and what it would bring. A time when everything was in front of me, and the possibilities were endless. I can't believe it was 25 years ago!
According to NME, Axl doesn't even want Slash's image inside G'n'R shows. Fans caught wearing Slash gear are being asked to remove it or leave. According to the article "During the band's gig at London's O2 Arena last night (May 31), an NME source noticed that a member of the crowd was bare-chested under his jacket. When asked why, 18-year old James Revell said he was told to remove his top because no one was allowed in wearing a Slash T-shirt."
If you are going to start listing all of the things that should be banned from a GNR show, I have a few to add myself.
Looking like Dick Tracy onstage!
Wearing cornrows!
AND, being 3 f'ing hours late for your set, while your devoted fans wait for your ass!
