Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Oh my god, my adrenaline is still pumping.? Yes, you read the headline correctly....I MET STEVEN ADLER!? ?8)? I must say, tonight has truly been one of the greatest nights of my life.

Steven played with the "Bad Boys of Metal" tonight near me.? I arrived at the show with my GNR Lies vinyl in hand, hoping like hell I'd get to meet Steven sometime during the night.? My prayers and so much more were answered on this night.

After the opening band (Wrecking Crew) played, I saw some kids who said they had met Steven earlier, so I started scanning the club for Steven sightings.? Just a few short minutes later, lo and behold, Steven fuckin' Adler walks into the club alongside the stage!? Without regard for any rules about fans behind the stage, I dashed back there and presented him with my GNR Lies record.? He gave me a big smile, and I told him I couldn't believe I was standing this close to Steven Adler!? He happily signed it twice -- on the front cover and on the inner sleeve above his picture.? I told him he was the greatest drummer alive and he smiled and modestly said, "well, we'll see tonight."? He shook my hand and then went to the bar area to get a drink.

So I was completely euphoric for the next few minutes with the signed record in my hand.? Bang Tango came out and played, and the singer said he would serve as the singer for Steven's performance tonight, and that he wanted us to "show Steven love" because Steven had "worked his ass off to get back into the swing" as of late.? He then noticed my GNR record which I proudly held high, so it was etched into his mind that I was standing there (at the front).

So then came Steven with the "Bad Boys" band!? Joe Leste (Bang Tango singer) saw me in the front singing every word and banging my head to every note, so he offered me the mic a couple times during "Jungle".? After the song, he then pointed at me and said "we've got a true Guns N fuckin' Roses freak up here!? I'm going to have you sing some of these songs with me!"? So after that, at various times during the show, Joe motioned to me and I stood on the stage (outside the barricade railing) and sang lyrics with him into the mic!

Just imagine that folks, bitter ol' Dizzy singing GNR songs in front of an audience on the same stage as Steven Adler!? ?8)? Joe fucked up the lyrics to "Rocket Queen" a little bit, so later he lamented "I definitely need your help, you know them (the lyrics) better than I do!"? Before they did "Mama Kin", he pointed at me and said "we're gonna do a song now, and I think you have the record."? I handed him my GNR Lies record, which has the Live Like a Suicide cover on the reverse side.? He held it up to the crowd and then showed that to Steven, and said "Steve, is this the right album for this next one?"? Steven nodded yes, and then Joe pointed at me and said "Steve, have you seen this dude tonight?? He's fuckin' rocking out here!"? Steven smiled at me and said "fuck yeah, I signed his record!"? Joe then handed it back to me, and Steven again gave me the thumbs up.? Steven also noticed me many other times (even when I wasn't singing with Joe) and waved and gave me the thumbs up sign throughout the set.

The guitarist for Bang Tango was the guitarist for Steven, and he noticed me as well, and he jammed right in front of me (practically in my face), so I strummed the record I was holding to the exact movement of the guitar strums.? He then handed me the pick when he was done with the solo.?

Setlist:

Welcome to the Jungle
It's So Easy
Mr. Brownstone
You Could Be Mine (Drum Intro Only -- Steven played Sorum's part to perfection!!)
Knockin on Heaven's Door
Sin City (AC/DC cover)
Rocket Queen
Mama Kin
Paradise City


Steven was on fire behind the drums all night long, he didn't miss one damn beat.? You'd never know this guy was recovering from a stroke.? Hell, you'd never know it wasn't 1988 all over again!? Yes, Steven was THAT DAMN GOOD!

Especially noteworthy was that Steven opened "Knockin on Heaven's Door" by playing the drum intro to "You Could Be Mine"!? I wish all the people from these forums could've seen that, all the bastards who say Sorum is a better drummer "technically", and that Steven could never play Sorum's parts.? Steven NAILED that intro and everything else tonight, proving himself to be THE definitive GNR drummer, no questions asked.

After their set ended (the only debit was its shortness), Steven started high fiving the crowd, one guy had an AFD record that Steven gladly signed, and he signed a few other items as well.? He worked his way down to me and when he saw me, he gave me a hug and said "you fuckin' rock man!"? Steven also proved he's a still a ladies' man as well; every girl in the front got a big kiss right on the lips from Steven as he made his way down the stage.

There were around 100 people there tonight, which may seem like very few, but this was a small club and it was pretty full.? Everybody rocked to the GNR tunes and gave Steven a huge ovation.? He was very gracious and obviously very happy to be doing what he loves to do, playing kickass rock n roll music.

So for those of you with the opportunity, go see Steven play, and maybe you'll get lucky like I did and get to meet the guy.? That guy is simply an amazing drummer and a great guy.? ?8)

I presume you didnt feel the urge to hit people at the concert with your cane, then?  :hihi:

How come you took your Lies album as opposed to AFD? (just curious).

Any photos to share?  :)

Oh Good ol' Diz...your childhood dream came out true   : ok:

If Jizzy Pearl quits, Steven has a good replacement then to take on the vocals spot then. It would've been priceless seen you singing in the same stage as Steven. Did you sound like Axl?

Did you tell him you were his strongest ally here in HTGTH?

Any groupies action you wanted to share with us Dizzy?

Good Stuff  : ok:

That's cool.  8)

You haven't seen Adler's Appetite? From what I've heard from others, you might enjoy that band even more.  : ok:


/jarmo

wow!! what a great day you had!

I can't believe they picked up a guy from a crowd to sing on the stage...and it was you!!

so you sang Rocket Queen. any others?

Not after having met Steven.? I was on the high of my life!? ?8)



I don't have AFD on vinyl, only Lies.? And records make a much better item to autograph than CDs.


I am trying to scan the record with Steven's autograph, if I can figure out how to post a scan.



Indeed.? ?8)


Hell no, I sounded terrible!? ?:hihi:? But the Bang Tango singer (though a good singer) didn't sound much like Axl either.? ? :D


I was too nervous to tell him much of anything!? I just told him the things I mentioned in my first post and that was all I could manage.? ?:)


There were these four hot blondes standing next to me that thought it was cool as shit that I met Steven.? They rocked along with me to the GNR material.? I was talking to them to all night, but unfortunately, their boyfriends were all keeping an eye on them from the bar, preventing anything other than "talking" from transpiring.? ?:crying:



No I haven't seen them yet.? I missed them last time they were at the same venue.? I'll definitely have to catch them the next time though, because seeing Steven live was something I would do over and over.? ?8)



I was in disbelief too, believe me!? ?8)


Just the first verse of "Rocket Queen", then the first verse of "Mama Kin", some of "Paradise City", and the ending of "Mr. Brownstone".? He also extended the mic to me and let me deliver a 'knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door' as well.? ?8)

Holy shit Dizzy!!!  What a fantastic night!  Sound like you had a few dreams come true!  Meeting Alder, singing with the band... wow!  Thanks for posting your experience! :) 

Okay, I scanned the autographs that Steven gave me, and emailed them to Jarmo.? So whenever he has the chance, he'll post them for me.? ?:)

(http://hem.bredband.net/jarmo/yabb/temp/StevenLiesCover-dizzy.jpg)


(http://hem.bredband.net/jarmo/yabb/temp/StevenInsideLies-dizzy.jpg)



Edit: Added pics /jarmo

C'mon Dizzy, you were the rock star last night. Rock stars don't care about boyfriends. Rock stars are all about sex, drugs and rock & roll. You definitely rocked last night, probably didn't do drugs, but you could've had a nice little orgy with the hotties...  8)

Me the rock star, right!   :hihi:  Unfortunately, I'm no Steven Adler, so I couldn't get away with kissing them on the lips like he did.  It was hilarious, because Steven didn't hesitate or ask permission.  He just leaned down and gave each girl a big smackeroo right on the mouth.   :D

Just please please tell me you did at least one Axl sway or something while singing.? I already liked Steven and considered him the best GNR drummer but your story makes me appreciate and like Steven even more.

I really do believe it's a shame that most people can't see past Adler's mistakes to appreciate his true greatness.


I'm sure it made him feel good having someone who dug him and wasn't all about "What's Axl Rose really like, etc etc."

I'm happy you didn't mention Here Today Gone to Hell myself. I mean the unfair bashing Adler receives around here would've sucked for him to read it.? What a slap in the face it must be for Adler to see people digging Matt Sorum over him.

I've posted a lot of that in the "fav. drummer" thread, so i won't elaborate too much here, but Adler is probably the only drummer that I've actually sang along with his drums. He's like a melodic drummer, which is rare.

Anyhow, congrats Diz on meeting Steven!!

You're one lucky dude. Steven will always be a legend in my book. : ok:

Nah, I wasn't up there enough, and since I actually on the stage outside the barricade railing, it was difficult to move around.? I was just kind of standing precariously on the edge of the stage, hanging onto the railing while the vocalist extended the mic to me.


Indeed.? I honestly think even Steven's biggest critics would enjoy seeing him perform, but I doubt they'd give him a chance.  It's sad, because he's such an amazing drummer and performer, and he's so much more accessible than the other original GNR members.


Yeah, as I said, I was some awestruck that I couldn't say much of anything, but even if I had been more emotionally coherent, the last thing I would've asked him about would be Axl Rose.? Because you're right, I'm sure that (like the rest of the ex-gunners) he gets tired of people asking him about Axl rather than about himself.? I agree that he appreciates people supporting him without needing to drag the other GNR members into conversation.


Yeah, I wouldn't have mentioned this site either for those very reasons.? I forgot one thing; I did tell Steven that I knew people who would envious of me for getting to meet him.? ?:)


Thanks dude!? ?8)


Mine too bro!? ?8)

Dizzy That's such a great story! You're enthusiasm is contagious! Y'know Steven's out there again, and I really believe that public opinion among the internet fans has shifted (we all remember the bashing that was prevelant just a short while back). Steven loves his fans, and out of GNR he is absolutely the coolest to them. I'm so glad dizzy finally got to find out for himself! BTW, whats' with "bitter ol' Dizzy..."? You always seem pretty happy to me!
Brook

This should be moved to the "Losing your innocent" thread...... :hihi:

Holy shit, i am so fucking jelous. Good for you man : ok:

Dizzy's legend status is now 100% secure here. That's gotta come just under Axl mentioning Jarmo in my books. Have a cold one on me Diz  :beer:

And everyone here knows in their heart of hearts that Steven could kick Matt's ass any day of the fuckin week. Good to see he was proving it.

I'm kinda pissed that Stevie wasn't in VR. How much better could it have been if it was a Bach/Slash/Izzy/Duff/Steven combo?

Much. I digress.

Dizzy=fuckin legend
Steven=fuckin legend

 :beer:

Oh, he's still bitter. The coot just needed a dose of Stevie to quell his anger for the time being :) ;)

the dirt ducks a swoop of Dizzy's cane


Glad you had a good time!

Awesome story Dizzy. Sounds like an amazing night

Fuck an A! Awesome story Dizzy. I like matt but have always preferred Steven's playing. It's awesome to hear storiues of guys liek that who havn't forgotten what it's like to be a fan and how a gesture or just being cool can mean so much to people. Congrads.
BTW when did Axl mention htgth?

In Belgium during the European mini-tour of 2002.  He said "How about here today, gone to Belgium, Jarmo?"

'do u pronouce the J?' getting a shout from Axl himself...wow

And Dizzy - meeting Steven fuckin' a! Well done mate to say i am envious wouldn't come close!

So, I guess that since I was with Steven and the band (AA) for 2 whole days  makes me more than a legend...  ;D

Maybe I should share my experiences with this board someday...

Dude, you already were a legend around here.   :D  ;)


Indeed.  I read you mention it a few times, but you were sort of vague.

Damn, that made me feel good...  ;D


Yeah, I might do it tonight or tomorrow... I'll post some pictures too...

I also met Steven Adler. I said who I was and that i was a big fan of GN'R. And then Adler said, "do you like shrimp?" I love it, my family has been making it for years."

"You can-
bake shrimp
saute shrimp
fry shrimp
grill shrimp salad
shrimp and eggs
baked stuffed shrimp
shrimp with coconuts
shrimp cocktail
shrimp with honey mustard sauce
shrimp stew
shrimp Oscar
shrimp with sirloin
shrimp with honey butter sauce
shrimp calzone
shrimp ala gratin
shrimp Marsala

and that's about it."

Someday me and Adler are going to open up our own scrimping boat. He's going to be the captain and I will be the first mate.

Adler is cool.  I'm glad he played a little You Could Be Mine.  I wish he never left GNR.

Same here, bro.

By the way, your sig is great!   :hihi:

Dizzy it is awesome your dream came true! : ok:


Meeting a GNR member is incredible but getting to sing along to him live is unbelivable!

Now theres a story for the grandkids Dizzy ;)

That's awesome bro', thanks for sharing the experience. 

Steven was the first drummer i looked up to. It was dissapointing for me not see him playing RIR II. At first i thought he was being replaced like past gigs, then i found out what was going on. It was fucking sad, there were no more original lineup  :crying:

Well years go by and the original lineup haven't reunited but all of them are doing well.
I'm glad to hear these kind of stories, they reinforce the legend and long time fans as well.
 :peace:

Very cool....i guess I meant from this very last run...

hes w/ the same line up as the Bad boys/metal tour...but doing 4 dates on the east coast...

any review...type of drumset..etc.!...would be cool

I saw him in Springfield, VA, which is very much on the East Coast.  But yes, that was during the previous leg of the "Bad Boys" tour.

Excellent story! Well done mate :smoking:

I defo agree with one of the posts above where it comes under the time when Axl mentioned Jarmo at Pukkelpop 02 ;D

It's great that Steven is out there with his problems behind him, and doing something he obviously loves. It's a shame that he never returned to GN'R at any point, like Izzy did.

When are Adler's Appetite coming to the UK I wanna know?! :beer:

Probably in February.