ORIGINAL GUNS N’ ROSES DRUMMER STEVEN ADLER SAYS THAT DUFF MCKAGAN “DOESN’T THINK I’M COOL AND THAT I AM NOT THAT GREAT A DRUMMER.” ADDS SLASH “DOESN’T BELIEVE I HAVE 21 MONTHS SOBER”
Original Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler was Eddie’s guest on the September 28th broadcast of Sirius/XM show, Eddie Trunk Live. Excerpts from the interview appear below, transcription courtesy of Blabbermouth.net.
When asked if he knows anything about a rumored reunion of Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction lineup, Adler told Eddie Trunk, “Nothing. Even if it was happening, I don’t think Slash would tell me, because he knows how excited I get and that I would probably say something before I should. I would be the last one to know.”
He later continued, “I love those guys, and I always will, but Duff, he doesn’t think I’m cool..He doesn’t think I’m a cool guy. This is what people tell me. And he doesn’t think I’m cool and that I’m not that great of a drummer. And Slash, he doesn’t believe that I have 21 months and 21 days sober. He doesn’t believe it. I don’t know why, but they forget that at one time in their life, they were doing drugs and drinking and they were f–king up. They forget that they were like that too. Duff has got 20 years sober or more, Slash has got, like, 11 or 12 years sober, and I’ve got a year, nine months and 21 days. So everybody gets it at a different time. I’m just thankful I got it.”
“….”They don’t think I’m cool and they don’t think I can play drums that great and they don’t think I’m sober. Duff, he has a right, in a way, but, like I said, he forgets where he came from too. But we did do some shows [together] in Japan [in 2013], and Duff invited [Steven’s current band] Adler to come down, and I was still drinking then. And the second I got to the airport, I made a beeline for the bar, and I just started doing shots of Jäger. And the whole trip I was sick and I was just a mess. And, you know, Duff’s sober and he’s very judgmental and forgetful of where he came from. And he was just so bummed and pissed at me. I mean, the playing part, the shows when we actually were performing, that went all right, but everything else… So I kind of ruined it and gave him the excuse to be able to say, ‘Well, he’s not cool and he’s not that good.’ But I stopped doing that. They stopped doing that. Just because they stopped doing it before I did doesn’t make them any better. We’re all people who have addiction problems. I was just able to get a grip on it later on in life than they did.”
Adler stated that he is still in touch with Slash but that it is difficult to get him to meet up. “I’m always trying to get [Slash] to go to Crossroads, this vegan restaurant. I [tell him], ‘Get your girlfriend and come meet me and my wife over… And John 5. I say, meet me and John 5 and Rita over at Crossroads for brunch or dinner.’ [And he writes back] ‘Ehh, I can’t. I’m working.’ I’m going, ‘You’ve gotta be home way more than that. Just come meet with me. Let’s go have a cup of coffee.’
Adler also expressed frustration over the fact that so many world-famous musicians, including Guns N’ Roses, cannot seem to overcome personal differences and reunite for the sake of their fans.
“I don’t understand what the problem is,” he said. “We’re just rock bands. We all started practicing in our garage or our bedroom. We met each other, and we started playing in our garage, then we worked on songs. This is what we wanted to do. Our dreams came true. I don’t know why it’s so difficult for people that have been successful and still can moderately successful…Of course, nobody’s gonna be like they were in the ’80s; that was our generation. It’s a new generation now of music and people and kids. But there are bands like Bon Jovi and Metallica and the Guns N’ Roses reunion; [if that were to happen] that would be huge.”
Adler added: “I don’t get it. We just play music. We’re living our dream. Why does everybody have to be such a dick and so fucking crazy? It’s, like, hey, we play music. When we’re together, we play it really great. Let’s just do it. What’s the problem?”
additional source: blabbermouth.net
Well Steven, just prove them wrong, just let the music do the talking, and maybe they will listen.
Alright already!!!!! I have been sober For 12 years& have got a chance 2 see Adler’s Appetite about 4years ago in Brooklyn. That show was one of the best I ever seen. Steven ruled that night!! Hey Steven if u are reading this listen close…U Don’t need Slash,Duff or that other guy(Axl). See some people sober up & think they are Better.. When they have their own problems locked inside..U Proved 2 me & everybody that night how Great u Can be!!!!! Look how good u played at The Hall of Fame. All I have read or seen is u trying your best & not giving the proper respect u Deserve. It is not easy 2 be sober,trust me I know. Come back 2 NYC we(Your Fans) want u back!!!! Also your book help me a lot!!
How not to be part of potential major band reunion and cashing in….just start talking s–t about other people in the band. Brilliant.
I hate to break this to you Steven, but ex-alcoholics determined to stay that way tend to avoid those still drinking. It’s not snobbishness. Far from forgetting where they came from, they remember how it all started.
Yeah, I hate to be insensitive, and I don’t want to kick a man when he’s down, but there comes a time when you have to look in the mirror. It’s not Slash and Duff, man. It’s you. I would bet my Les Paul that even if a Guns reunion WAS to happen, Matt Sorum would be on drums. Why would you risk that? Why would you risk a massive fail on a drummer that hasn’t done a world tour in decades, and the time in between has been, shall we say, less than responsible?
Ths guy has a touch of down for sure. Everytime he gets interviewed its well I`ve slipped up again but I`ve been sober for 2 months now and I feel great. Also him talking about hear say that duff and slash have said about him just proves that he is still an idiot and doesn`t belong in the band even if they were to back together This guy would be talking shit the whole time and would create all kinds of tension. Plus like I`ve said before his skillset is horrible these days and he would be a total f- up behind the kit. Personnally I don`t think they would invite him back and I think he pretty much knows it judging by this interview. Eddie must have been shaking his head inside listening to this bozo talk crap and blowing any chance of playing with them if a reunion would happen.