Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Thanks to redlips from the Izzy board who translated it from Spanish into English :)


"It's hard to stay sane when you're surrounded by madness."

In the only interview Izzy gave this year, he tells our Brazilian correspondent Thiago Sarkis right what any other colleague of him might wish to know:
Why he decided to get back in touch with Axl Rose, how he feels about a GnR-reunion, how his relations to Duff, Slash and Steven and co. are, and how he remembers the years of glory of the band.
Exclusively for Popular 1: Izzy Stradlin.

Thiago: What have you been doing the last two or three years? Sometimes its difficult to follow your trace. Tell us something about the albums "Miami" and "Fire".

Izzy: Good. I record some new stuff every year. The album "Miami" was recorded years ago in Miami, Florida, in an old studio, people like James Brown, The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac have already been recording there, a great place.
After that album Fire was recorded in a very short period of time. This one is a simpler and more basic version of what I usually do.

Thiago: Do you think the fans appreciate the new facets of your writing as a solo artist, that were not appearing in GnR's music?

Izzy: Each song I have published since I left Guns n Roses is the same type of song I used to write former times with the band. What happened in the band is that, when I had written a song, Axl added his part, then Slash added his part, and so it became Guns n Roses.
Whereas, when put one of my records on, what you hear is the same ideas, the same inspiration as in GnR, just without Axl and Slash.
It's the more basic version of composing.

Thiago: What are your plans for your future solo career?

Izzy: Currently I'm in contact with a guy from Argentina who wants that we play there, and I would really like to do that. And I've just published another record called "Concrete" that is now available on i-Tunes.

Thiago: Before you had mentioned the song writing process of Guns n Roses. With the time Slash became an icon, thanks to his attitude, his image and his style as guitarist. Nevertheless, as we followed GnR from the beginning on, we know that you were one of the main song writers of the band. How would you describe the way of working together with Slash and Axl?

Izzy: The chemistry was good. Sometimes out way write songs was slow and complicated, if I compare it to now, but the habitual thing was that the results were very good. With the guys I work with now composing is way more simple. Now I do not have to discuss with two others guys whenever I compose a theme.

Thiago: Do you think your role in the band was the one of the creative composer while Slash  mainly showed up as the guitar hero?

Izzy: The other day I read somewhere the Slash was the last guitar her in history, I don't know, I don't know what to reply.

Thiago: How was your relation to Slash musical and personal?

Izzy: Musically we contributed stuff mutually, and we tried to play more powerfully than the others. (Laughter)? and at a personal level, well, we took many drugs together back in the 80s, but after a time it became repetitive (boring) and we quit. I still consider him as a friend and we stay in contact.

Thiago: In 2006 you performed again with GnR. How did you retake the contact with Axl?

Izzy: I don't know... That's two years ago... I don't remember... I think they gave me his mobile number. No, now I know it, I went to his place and soon he invited me because they were going to do a show in New York.
And I was like: 'Hey, why don't I play there? It could be good." And we did it. Soon we toured on Europe.

Thiago: By that time, you had already patched things up with him?

Izzy: See, I know him for so many years, there is a familiarity between us. We grew up in the same place, the same atmosphere and I think this part of your friendship will always be existant.

Thiago: You were always described as calm an reserved, someone who does not like to turn or to be  far away from home for too long. What made you feel like returning to GnR then?

Izzy: You know, there is a very special connection between listening to Rock n Roll and the desire to experience that again. When you play such energetic songs as Nightrain, Mr. Brownstone or Welcome to the Jungle, there is instantly a connection between the band and the audience. This is something electrifying, and I just had to feel that again.

Thiago: How did you feel during that first show with New GnR?

Izzy: I arrived at Heathrow Airport, got into a van and they took me to Donington Festival. It was awful because of the jet leg, but when I arrived at the scene I felt great from one moment to the next. It's like magic.

Thiago: The present line-up of Guns n Roses has been a big topic. What is your opinion about the present band compared to the original GnR?

Izzy: At our time we were more fused. (Laughter) Those guys are great musicians. We were more spontanious.

Thiago: But you like that way they interpret the songs? Or do you prefer your style in the 80s, more wild and direct?

Izzy: During that tour I only performed four or five songs each night and didn?t see most of the shows, so I can't really tell.

Thiago: Which GnR song has a special meaning for you, and why?

Izzy: Knockin' on heaven's door was brilliant. We took that old song from Bob Dylan and turned it into that kind of hymn. That was special.
Thaigo: How was that for you to play four or five songs with GnR each night? Did you have to learn some of them again? Which one was the one that cost you most effort?

Izzy: Nighttrain... I continuously forgot that part in the middle... Don't know why, after all I wrote it!

Thiago: I've heard that you stay in contact with all the original members of Guns n Roses. How is your relation to them?

Izzy: Slash, Duff, Matt and also Steven Adler, we all call each other on the phone from time to time, and sometimes we meet in LA or somewhere. We have a very good relation, we are still good friends.

Thiago: Steven Adler has spoken openly about his wish for a GnR reunion. Tell me what do you think about that and how is your relation to Steven?

Izzy: Steven lives a very messed up life

Thiago: But if the case would occur, would you consider a reunion as possible?

Izzy: Yes, of course. I wrote a big part of that material.

Thiago: Sometimes it was said that when Matt Sorum came to the band you missed the style of Steven. What differences would you say are between them?

Izzy: Steven had a more accidently style, and Matt plays more precise.

Thiago: Did you read Slash's autobiography?

Izzy: No, I haven't read it. But I listened to something on the radio the other day, and it seemed quite cool to me.
 
Thiago: Slash says in the last book that the shows before you left the band were the first shows where Axl was concerned about being punctual.

Izzy: Axl continued to arriving at each concert behind the schedule. In 91 the habitual thing was that Axl delayed each show for like, minimum, two hours.

Thiago: What's the reason you rejected the invitation to join Velvet Revolver?

Izzy: I wanted a quartet: Slash, Duff, Matt and I, but they really wanted a singer so much, and, as we know, the singing one is the quite problematic one sometimes. So I decided to simply go on with pursuing my solo interests.

Thiago: It is certain that you suggested that Duff and you would do the vocals in the band?

Izzy: Yes. That would have been the best solution.

Thiago: How did they respond on that idea?

Izzy: I think Duff liked the idea, but Slash didn't.

Thiago: Do you think Scott Weiland was no good choice for them after they had had so many problems with Axl in the past?

Izzy: That is a very legitimate question, but I don't have an answer for it.

Thiago: It was impossible that it would work.

Izzy: I agree.

Thiago: As commented before your public image is the one of a calm and reserved man. Is it hard for you to respond all the questions on GnR from fans and press?

Izzy: You are the first journalist with whom I have spoken this year, so it is not something that happens very often. (Laughter)

Thiago: Oh thanks.

Izzy: In the last years I limited myself to release one album a year with i-Tunes, and I don't give any interviews.

Thiago: But how does it feel to be an ex-member of such an influential band of rock history?

Izzy: It is delirious when I am going to a store to buy cords for my guitar, and the young employee tries to sell me one Les Paul to whom Slash has yielded his name. (Laughter) the guy asks me: "You have seen the new Les Paul from Slash?" I respond no, and he says to me: "Oh, there just have arrived five today!"
 
Thiago: (Laughter) That must be strange for you, but at the same time, I imagine that it feels good to know you were part of the same band.

Izzy: Good, at some time in the middle of 80's, when I listened to a song of mine on the radio for the first time, that was then when I felt that something important had happened. Still, from time to time I listen to songs that I composed and recorded on the 80s on the radio, and I to say myself  "Wow, incredible, I am there, but I still was a teenager and just wanted to play guitar."


Thiago: What you think about the fact that "Live... Like to Suicide" and especially "Appetite For Destruction" became that popular?

Izzy: I did not have any idea that the band would become so great. Our style of life was veryself-destructive, but at the same time we were very motivated by music. Nevertheless, I never imagined that we would ever become so famous.

Thaigo: How do you remember the edition of the record  "Lies"?

Izzy: Good... Those were very crazy times. I have memories of recording sessions, runnings of videos, tours, more sessions of recording, more videos... It is a circle that was repeated during seven or eight years.

Thiago: People think that being a rockstar is easy, but of course it is not it.

Izzy: It is hard to stay sane when you are surrounded by madness.

Thiago: What do you think is the reason that Guns N' Roses ended up separating? You think that the drugs had a great part of the fault in the break up of the band?

Izzy: I don't know if the drugs were the reason... When I left the band, I was clean for two years and a half, concretely from 1989 on. And when I was myself again, I really do not know what happened, because I was not there anylonger.

Thiago: But, the drug consumption in the band caused that you made the decision from leave?

 Izzy: Yes. As I told you, I was clean two years and a half already, I was seeing how my friendly were killed, and some time came that I decided that already it had had enough. I did not want to continue being a part of that. Now are all clean, and that is important.

Thaigo: Most of  the fans blame Axl of the break up of Guns N' Roses. He is as problematic as he seems?

Izzy: Axl is a very complicated type, but very talented.

Thiago: Yes, but everything seems to indicate that he was the person in charge of which the band separated.

Izzy: As I said, I was not there anymore, so I can't know.

Thiago: Yes, but in your last years with the band, I suppose that you saw something coming that......

Izzy: Then, my opinion was that the band must have taken a year off. But there was nothing to do. When that flame is ignited, it's very difficult to say: "OK, now we will take a rest..." That never works.
After you have spent so many years sober, you think that it is possible for you to return to playing with your old companions?

Izzy: Yes. Duff, in fact, appears in three songs of my new album. I spoke with Slash the other day and I was on the brink of performing a show with him, but it did not work. All are very active, healthy have lots of work to do.

Thiago: You believe in Chinese democracy? And I do not talk about if there is democracy in China.

Izzy: (Laughter) I believe that somewhere  is a disc with the title "Chinese Democracy". (Laughter) I have listened to some tracks of the record and I liked it.

Thiago: After a delay of the release of  "Chinese Democracy" for so many years, the possibility that the record is published already with the original line up of Guns N' Reunited Roses has not crossed your mind?

Izzy: No. (Laughter)

Thiago: Thanks for your time, Izzy. This is your first interview for this year, so it is a great honor for us.

Izzy: Thanks to you for contacting me.

Thiago:  It was not easy to contact  you again, so, thank you very much to take the time. In order to finish,  we always ask the musicians who has been interviewed which his five favourite albums are. So choose five albums that have had great impact in your life, please.

Izzy: "Dark Side Of The Moon" by Pink Floyd, "Toys In The Attic" by Aerosmith, "Never Mind The Bollocks" by Sex Pistols, "Road To Ruin" by Ramons and "Exile On Main Street" by The Rolling Stones.

Izzy likes the KOHD cover  :o  I wasn't expecting that at all.

Thanks to all the folks who brought this interview to us!

Izzy rules.

"Izzy: I wanted a quartet: Slash, Duff, Matt and I, but they really wanted a singer so much, and, as we know, the singing one is the quite problematic one sometimes. So I decided to simply go on with pursuing my solo interests."

Thats too bad. 

Now that they have another chance, I think they should try that out.

That would have been sooo much better than VR it's ludicrous. I understand the financial reasoning and all that but come on! It's izzy! The guy may be the greatest songwriter of the past 30 years.

As always Izzy is his classy self...and what a songwriter.   : ok:

that was an AWESOME interview. Thanks heaps guys..

Izzy is defs got his head screwed on right. Most chilled guy ever

Izzy: Currently I'm in contact with a guy from Argentina who wants that we play there, and I would really like to do that. And I've just published another record called "Concrete" that is now available on i-Tunes.

 :beer:

cool, thanks :beer:

That was a great interview!  Thanks! 

Now, is anyone going to start whining that "all he ever talks about is GnR" or "he just can't stop talking about GnR"? (I'm being sarcastic -  :P)

Great insight to GNR.  I noticed he said old GNR was more spontaneus.

I would be happy to hear Izzy order lunch at McDonalds...he is not a real interview hound.  Gotta respect that - when he does open his mouth, it makes it that much more important.

I appreciate the sarcasm, but it's pretty obvious that Izzy doesn't use past endeavors that he gave up on to further himself now.  How many interviews, pr/interview stuff does the guy do on average?  Not many, in fact, it kinda reminds me of... Axl.

It's always such a treat to hear from Izzy.

If Thiago knew Izzy so well, maybe Thiago should have interviewed himself.  ::)

Very grateful for the interview, but the dude's hounding got annoying real fast.

I thought the questions were excellent, not the standard cliche we-all-know-the-answer questions but the right ones, straight to the point. Especially since Izzy hasn't give us an interview for year now.. it's cool to know view on some new things.

The homeboy Thiago just kept going ON and ON about how it was Axl's fault that the former members left.


Thaigo: Most of  the fans blame Axl of the break up of Guns N' Roses. He is as problematic as he seems?

Izzy: Axl is a very complicated type, but very talented.

Thiago: Yes, but everything seems to indicate that he was the person in charge of which the band separated.

Izzy: As I said, I was not there anymore, so I can't know.

Thiago: Yes, but in your last years with the band, I suppose that you saw something coming that......

Izzy: Then, my opinion was that the band must have taken a year off. But there was nothing to do. When that flame is ignited, it's very difficult to say: "OK, now we will take a rest..." That never works

^ Well it's kinda true don't ya think? :P

In the words of the great Mr. Stradlin', "I don't know, I wasn't there."

Well in some older interviews I've read he's was less political about it ;)

Doesn't matter though cause it's all in the past.. hopefully we'll see a new Izzy album soon next year 8)

i got a funny feeling that we will see izzy on the next guns tour

well, I?VE got a funny feeling there?s something wrong today
I?ve got a funny feeling and it won?t go away  : ok:

i almost said that in my first post!! GUNNERS think alike  :peace:

Izzy: ?At some point in the mid-?80s, I heard a song of mine on the radio and for the first time, I felt that something really important had happened. Still, from time to time I listen to songs that I composed and recorded in the ?80s on the radio, and I to say myself ?Wow, incredible, there I am, but I was still just a teenager who just wanted to play the guitar.?

What do you think about the fact that Live ? Like a Suicide and especially Appetite For Destruction became so popular?

Izzy: ?I didn?t have any idea that the band would become so big. Our lifestyle was very self-destructive, but at the same time we were very motivated by music. Nevertheless, I never imagined that we would ever become so famous.?

What do you remember about the record GN?R Lies?

Izzy: ?Good times. Those were very crazy times. I have memories of recording sessions, filming videos, touring, more recording sessions, more videos? It?s a cycle that was repeated for seven or eight years.?

People think that being a Rock Star is easy, but of course it isn?t.

Izzy: ?It is hard to stay sane when you are surrounded by madness.?

What do you think is the reason that Guns N? Roses ended up separating? Do you think that the drugs played a great role in the breakup of the band?

Izzy: ?I don?t know if the drugs were the reason. When I left the band, I was completely clean for two and a half years, from 1989 on. And when I was myself again, I really didn?t know what happened, because I wasn?t there any longer.?

But, the drug consumption in the band caused you to make the decision to leave?

Izzy: ?Yes. As I told you, I was clean for two and a half years already. I was seeing how my friends were dying, and after some time of that I decided that I?d had enough. I didn?t want to continue being a part of that. Now we?re all clean, and that?s great.?

Most of the fans blame Axl Rose for the breakup of Guns N? Roses. Is he as problematic as he seems?

Izzy: ?Axl is a very complicated guy, but very talented.?

Yes, but everything seems to point to the fact that he was in charge when the band separated.

Izzy: ?As I said, I wasn?t there anymore, so I don?t know.?

Yes, but in your last years with the band, I suppose that you saw it coming?

Izzy: ?At that time, my opinion was that the band should?ve taken a year off. But there was no where to go. When the flame is burning, it?s very difficult to say: ?OK, now we?ll take a break.? That never works.?

After spending so many years sober, do you think it?s possible for you to return to playing with your old friends?

Izzy: ?Yes. Duff, in fact, appears on three songs on my new album. I spoke with Slash the other day and I was on the brink of performing a show with him, but it didn?t work. Everyone is very active, healthy, and have lots of work to do.?

Do you believe in Chinese Democracy? And I?m not talking about if there is democracy in China.

Izzy: (Laughter) ?I believe that somewhere there?s a disc with the title Chinese Democracy. (Laughter) I have listened to some tracks off the record and I enjoyed them.?

With the album delayed for so many years, have you ever considered the possibility of re-recording Chinese Democracy with the original GN?R lineup?

Izzy: No. (Laughter)

Thanks for your time, Izzy. This is the first interview you?ve given this year, so it?s a great honor for us.

Izzy: ?Thanks for calling me.?

It wasn?t easy to get in touch with you again, so, thank you very much for taking the time. In closing, we always ask the musicians we interview what their five favorite albums are. So, can you please choose five albums that have had the greatest impact in your life?

Izzy: ?Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith, Never Mind the Bollocks by The Sex Pistols, Road to Ruin by The Ramones and Exile on Main St by The Rolling Stones.?

If this isn't the right place to post this I apologize...and redirect me towards the right way to go...

^ Did you translate it yourself? Cause this one's a bit better :yes:

It would be great if you could do the first part too :P

Wow....that was a great read of Izzy!!! Thanks for posting that one.........its good to hear that Izzy is still writing and recording. Hope he releases something for his fans.......: )

At least now we know that Izzy and Steven at least want to get the old crew back together so they just fucking should

So I wonder what the other old band members think about the idea  ???

"Steven has a messed up life."

I dunno if Izzy is really good FREINDS with Steven as much as just hangs with him for the heck of it...

Well, what difference does it make anyway?

I gotta add on, very significant review.  Izzy "not being there" really adds another few thoghts to the band's story.

I think Izzy was just trying to prevent talking bad/negative about Axl in this situation.. especially since they're friends again. This reply is the most easiest and respectfull way towards Axl the other original GN'R guys on those questions.

However there are other interviews, JJH era up until 2001 were he stated a number of reasons (all of them the same in each interview) which I will sum up for you.

- Axl's dicatorship behaviour; UYI recording taking too long (post basic tracks that were done in 2 weeks), coming up hours to late for a show, the riots. He's said (quote) the final drop was a contract that Axl shoved him under his face which would lower him down the totempole. It would cut his paycheck and said where he could and could not go on the stage.

- Slash and Duff's drug and alcohol abuse. It was very hard for him to be in their presence while he was clean, watching them slowy dying.

All in all, the music took a backseat to all the bullshit.


Actually, Izzy has mentioned in 2001 interview that Axl called him for RIR3. But he declined and after that he was bad-mouthing Izzy again.

yea but you know Slash is prob clean now cus hes a dad and his wife most likely dosnt let him do the crazy stuff he did back in the day and just wants to play somin and that he dosent care if he just has to do it by himself so rock on Slash  :peace:

They should have Izzy be the lead singer for VR

              That was a great interview....and I really....really wanted Axl to answer my Izzy Stradlin question the other night. I think Axl and Izzy had a very Paul McCartney/John Lennon relationship. The 2 had this friendship beyond the music and could really help each other song writing wise. The best thing for me would be to hear :  "Guns n Roses is proud to annouce Izzy Stradlin is rejoining the band." 

                    It won't happen. But I'd love to see it.

true that Axl and Izzy have been friends from high school and they both grew up together one day Izzy might rejoin the band

I think Izzy said that as a humorous reply to Steven's wishes for a reunion.  That's the way I interpreted it anyway.  I doubt he'd hang around with him if they weren't friends.

NICE...THANX FOR POSTING! : ok: