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.
Elvis did it. So did Elton John and Celine Dion. The Las Vegas residency is a plum gig for any entertainer and Guns N’ Roses have finally made it. They’ll be right up there with Frank and Dean-O and Siegfried and Roy. From Halloween through Thanksgiving you’ll be able to see the spectacle at The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel while sipping a few specially made cocktails mixed up for the occasion.
- Patience Punch – This tasty treat consists of Ketel One, Triple Sec, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine. Knock one back for $10.
- November Rain – The tart concoction consists of Belvedere Lemon Tea and fresh lemonade. It costs $10.
- Liquid Dream Shot – This fruity libation features a mix of Absolut Raspberry, Absolut Vanilla, Blue Curacao, pineapple juice and grenadine. Drink one down for $9.
- Paradise City Limits – Consists of Cruzan Rum, Watermelon Pucker, pineapple juice and grenadine. It costs $8.
- Welcome to the Jungle – Just like the song, this one packs a punch. The drink includes Jim Beam, Triple Sec, Midori, Blue Curacao, pineapple juice and sweet and sour. It costs $8.
- The Axl Rose – Bound to be a favorite, this drink comes with Champagne, cranberry juice and belvedere vodka. It costs $10. It also comes to your table three hours late so if you’re a hardcore fan you’ll wait. It will also walk off your table if the sound isn’t right. Yeah, I made up that last part.
After looking the ingredients for these they should call the show “Welcome To Diabetes”! This is an impressive list of Girl Drinks for sure. According to his book, While GnR were in Chicago writing for the “Use Your Illusion” albums, he and Duff McKagen would pack a red roadie cup full of crushed ice and fill it with vodka to keep by their beds so they could have a cold one when they woke up. I don’t see that on the list. Then again, Slash isn’t with the band anymore, so any Jack Daniels drinks are probably forbidden.
I’ve thought up a couple more:
-The Rocket Queen – Jagermeister, ginger brandy, and rubbing alcohol poured down your throat through a funnel by a skanky groupie. Comes with a flaming shot of Bacardi 151 on the side so you can light your vomit on fire.
- The Estranged- Red Wine, Peppermint Schnapps, and Orange Soda with a splash of Cocaine. Garnished with a supermodel girlfriend you can viciously beat and lock in a closet for 12 hours.
-The Nightrain – Bottle of Nightrain in a paper bag.
-The Mr. Brownstone- 2 parts shitty vodka and 1 part heroin with a splash of human blood. After two of these you’ll lock yourself in a van right before show time while the rest of your band tries to coax you out. Then you will fire the drummer for being a junky.
If you have any ideas for Guns N Roses cocktails leave them in the comment section below and I’ll forward them to the Hard Rock Casino.
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!
When the nominations for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame were first announced I had mixed emotions but, in an effort to be positive, wanting to make the most of things for the fans and with their enthusiasm, I was honored, excited and hoped that somehow this would be a good thing. Of course I realized as things stood, if Guns N' Roses were to be inducted it'd be somewhat of a complicated or awkward situation.
Since then we've listened to fans, talked with members of the board of the Hall Of Fame, communicated with and read various public comments and jabs from former members of Guns N' Roses, had discussions with the president of the Hall Of Fame, read various press (some legit, some contrived) and read other artists' comments weighing in publicly on Guns and the Hall with their thoughts.
Under the circumstances I feel we've been polite, courteous, and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out. Taking into consideration the history of Guns N' Roses, those who plan to attend along with those the Hall for reasons of their own, have chosen to include in "our" induction (that for the record are decisions I don't agree with, support or feel the Hall has any right to make), and how (albeit no easy task) those involved with the Hall have handled things... no offense meant to anyone but the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected.
For the record, I would not begrudge anyone from Guns their accomplishments or recognition for such. Neither I or anyone in my camp has made any requests or demands of the Hall Of Fame. It's their show not mine.
That said, I won't be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of "Guns N' Roses".
This decision is personal. This letter is to help clarify things from my and my camp's perspective. Neither is meant to offend, attack or condemn. Though unfortunately I'm sure there will be those who take offense (God knows how long I'll have to contend with the fallout), I certainly don't intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision. Since the announcement of the nomination we've actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, "damned if I do, damned if I don't" scenario all the way around.
In regard to a reunion of any kind of either the Appetite or Illusion lineups, I've publicly made myself more than clear. Nothing's changed.
The only reason, at this point, under the circumstances, in my opinion whether under the guise of "for the fans" or whatever justification of the moment, for anyone to continue to ask, suggest or demand a reunion are misguided attempts to distract from our efforts with our current lineup of myself, Dizzy Reed, Tommy Stinson, Frank Ferrer, Richard Fortus, Chris Pitman, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and DJ Ashba.
Izzy came out with us a few times back in '06 and I invited him to join us at our LA Forum show last year. Steven was at our show at the Hard Rock, later in '06 in Las Vegas, where I invited him to our after-party and was rewarded with his subsequent interviews filled with reunion lies. Lesson learned. Duff joined us in 2010 and again in '11 along with his band, Loaded, opening in Seattle and Vancouver. For me, with the exception of Izzy or Duff joining us on stage if they were so inclined somewhere in the future for a song or two, that's enough.
There's a seemingly endless amount of revisionism and fantasies out there for the sake of self-promotion and business opportunities masking the actual realities. Until every single one of those generating from or originating with the earlier lineups has been brought out in the light, there isn't room to consider a conversation let alone a reunion.
Maybe if it were you it'd be different. Maybe you'd do it for this reason or that. Peace, whatever. I love our band now. We're there for each other when the going get's rough. We love our fans and work to give them every ounce of energy and heart we can.
So let sleeping dogs lie or lying dogs sleep or whatever. Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn't owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another's, or in this case several others', expense.
But hey if ya gotta then maybe we can get the "no show, grandstanding, publicity stunt, disrespectful, he doesn't care about the fans" crap out of the way as quickly as we can and let's move on. No one's taking the ball and going home. Don't get it twisted. For more than a decade and a half we've endured the double standards, the greed of this industry and the ever present seemingly limitless supply of wannabes and unscrupulous, irresponsible media types. Not to imply anything in this particular circumstance, but from my perspective in regard to both the Hall and a reunion, the ball's never been in our court.
In closing, regardless of this decision and as hard to believe or as ironic as it may seem, I'd like to sincerely thank the board for their nomination and their votes for Guns' induction. More importantly I'd like to thank the fans for being there over the years, making any success we've had possible and for enjoying and supporting Guns N' Roses music.
I wish the Hall a great show, congratulations to all the other artists being inducted and to our fans we look forward to seeing you on tour!!
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