Steven Adler's Role on Use Your Illusion 2

[ChrisPittman]

I have to ask this question, as its always bugged me, but since theres been so much interest in Adler's version of Knocking On Heavens Door (from the Days of Thunder Soundtrack 1990) then I have to ask what actually made Axl keep his version of Civil War on the album? I know it is well documented it took them a long time to make the song, and that it was the song that decided Adler's fate, but was it more punishment from the band to show Adler what he was missing out...or did Slash genuinely feel bad and decide he should make a little money from the new album...why didnt they just re-record Civil War with Matt Sorum?

[bringbackadler]

I have to ask this question, as its always bugged me, but since theres been so much interest in Adler's version of Knocking On Heavens Door (from the Days of Thunder Soundtrack 1990) then I have to ask what actually made Axl keep his version of Civil War on the album? I know it is well documented it took them a long time to make the song, and that it was the song that decided Adler's fate, but was it more punishment from the band to show Adler what he was missing out...or did Slash genuinely feel bad and decide he should make a little money from the new album...why didnt they just re-record Civil War with Matt Sorum?

This is a good question indeed.

I don't believe there was ever a "formal reason" given by the band as to why they decided to keep Adler's work on Civil War.

You're probably right though. I'd guess that Slash and Izzy's input was to keep Adler's drumming on this track. Neither wanted Adler to go and I'm sure some of it had to do with helping Adler receive royalties for his share of the work.

It may have been the only song that he appeared on, but it was not the only song that he came up with the drum tracks for.

Although I think Sorum did well considering the shoes that he had to step into, I believe Adler's drumming on the rest of the tracks would have only strengthened the Illusions.

When Adler was around, there was no need for two drummers.? ?



*bba*

[CaughtMeInaComa]

Finally a thread i love to read.

I think adler's versionof Civil War was keep because it was already released on a compilation album in 1990. and was no need to re-record it. As for KOHD, the version on the TOM CRUISE soundtrack is matt sorum. But it sounds like It has a totally different mix than the final version.

I have an aricle with Steven and he says he "Kicked Ass" on the drum tracks on UYI. But he said the tracks were stolen by some "Jerk-off". I wish those track would leak at some point, but who knows?

[jarmo]

I'd guess that Slash and Izzy's input was to keep Adler's drumming on this track. Neither wanted Adler to go and I'm sure some of it had to do with helping Adler receive royalties for his share of the work.

"We tried our best to get Steven back together," Slash sounds choked. "Steven - he's always been the child of the band, the one that was always just the happy-go-lucky, sex, drugs and rock'n'roll and that's it. He couldn't understand why the drugs were so separated from rock'n'roll all of a sudden; why he couldn't be a junkie and be in a rock'n'roll band, because the twain are supposed to meet on the same ground. But after a while it's really not like that. You have to take care of yourself. People will not go around wiping your ass for you. So a year went by (three visits to rehab) and I finally said, Steven, you've got to go."

Q July 1991

---

Slash talks about Steven now - for the first time since Adler filed his infamous legal action against the band last year - because he wants to set some things straight.

"We turned him onto drugs? My f?!king ass!" Slash say about Adler's allegation. "That's so pathetic. Steven is scared to death of me. If he sees me in public, he just turns into a grovelling heap of defeatism. He just doesn't know what to say. He mumbles. I ask him a straightforward question, 'What's your motivation behind this?"' and he doesn't know what to say. Until now I haven't said a word about Steven to the press. I haven't attacked him; I haven't insulted him. I felt sorry for him. I didn't want to hurt him. We gave him a year to get his shit together. He couldn't play any of the new shit anyway. It got to a point where the material was way beyond him. I can't believe this little f?!ker. I read the shit he said about us in Circus. By the way, f?!k that magazine. If any rag has ever gotten off on sensationalism, it's that magazine. And I don't regret what Axl said on 'Get in the Ring,' because that's got to be one of the most exploitative publications out there. Anyway, back to Steven. He said in that article he's sober now, but every time I've seen him, he's been wasted. I don't know what he's wasted on; I don't even care. I lost all concern and feeling for the guy. And I know a drug lie when I see one. We couldn't get any work done at Rumbo [the original studio where the band started work on Use Your Illusion three years ago]. He cost us a fortune. We had to edit the drum track to 'Civil War' just so we could play to it."

Slash stops for a moment to collect his thoughts. The subject of Adler is a sensitive one for him, not only because of the lawsuit, but because the two go way back to the very beginning together. There was a bond, and that bond has been shattered. The bitterness runs deep.

"At Rumbo, Steven would nod out to the point where he would be on a stool, but his head would be touching the floor. He'd say, 'I'm tired. I'm sleepy,' and he couldn't play. That was basically it. We gave him so many chances to turn around. We took him to Indiana, to play Farm Aid, and he jumps on the drum riser and almost breaks his f?!king neck. Look, Steven was a part of what made Guns N' Roses happen. He had a great energy. He wasn't an insanely great drummer, but he had tons of attitude. When the sex and drugs and the whole bit started to get out of hand, he went right along with it. But there's a certain time when you really have to control your life. I'm not preaching - I'm in no position to preach - but you must be aware of your own existence and take care of your own business. You just can't be loaded all the time and expect everything to be okay. Trust me, I know. As far as the rest of us, we bounced back, we straightened up. Steven never did. We always told each other when it was getting real bad. Everybody was there for the individual who needed help. That's how we're survived as a band. But Steven would never cop to anything, as far as telling us how bad it was. And now he's suing us. Thank you very much."


RIP March 1992

---

DEL: Want to talk about another former member of Guns, drummer Steven Adler?

AXL: The misconception is that we kicked him out for the hell of it, and that I was the dictator behind it. The truth is, I probably fought a little harder to keep him in the band, because I wasn't working with him on a daily basis like the other guys were. They grew tired of not being able to get their work done because Steven wasn't capable of it. I've read interviews where he's saying that he's straight. Most of the time he isn't. He's the type of person who wants everything handed to him, and he did get it handed to him. He got it handed to him from me. At one point, in order to keep this band together, it was necessary for me to give him a portion of my publishing rights. That was one of the biggest mistakes I've made in my life, but he threw such a fit, saying he wasn't going to stay in the band. We were worried about not being able to record our first album, so I did what I felt I had to do. In the long run I paid very extensively for keeping Steven in Guns N' Roses. I paid $1.5 million by giving him 15% of my publishing off of Appetite For Destruction. He didn't write one goddamn note, but he calls me a selfish dick! He's been able to live off of that money, buy a shitload of drugs and hire lawyers to sue me. If and when he loses the lawsuit he has against us, and he has to pay those lawyers, if he has any money left, it'll be the money that came from Guns N' Roses and myself. At this point I really don't care what happens to Steven Adler, because he's taken himself out of my life, out of my care and concern. I feel bad for him in ways, because he's a real damaged person, but he's making choices to keep himself in that damage. There's nothing we can do at this point. We took him to rehabs, we threatened his drug dealers, we helped him when he slashed his wrists. I even forgave him after he nearly killed my wife. I had to spend a night with her in an intensive-care unit because her heart had stopped thanks to Steven. She was hysterical, and he shot her up with a speedball. She had never done jack shit as far as drugs go, and he shoots her up with a mixture of heroin and cocaine? I kept myself from doing anything to him. I kept the man from being killed by members of her family. I saved him from having to go to court, because her mother wanted him held responsible for his actions. And the sonofabitch turns on me? I mean, yeah, I'm a difficult person to deal with, and I'm a pain in the ass to understand, and I've had my share of problems, but Steven benefited greatly from his involvement with me - more than I did from knowing him. Steven had a lot of fans, but he was a real pain in the ass. I need to keep him in my life for you? F?!k you!

RIP October 1992



/jarmo

[Jim Bob]

So that would mean Axl was the last member to agree on letting Steven go and bring in a new drummer. 

[MJ23]

I think that those interviews clearly show that Steven was incapable of doing anything beyond "Civil War" as far as recording "Illusions" is concerned. He had for sure done some major work on the drumming for the new songs, but I doubt he was able to play them in one take.
It's better to have two drummers in a band than to have one drug-addict who is busy with himself and -like Steven said- the three "P's" (Pot, Pussy, Percussion). Steven was great on Appetite but he wasted his life and talent.

[ChrisPittman]

Its a pity because its well documented that Steven played on Dont Cry, Yesterdays, Knocking On Heavens Door and other tracks with the band when they played them live around the same time as they were trying to get signed. I actually liked his solo project, Adlers Appetite, and it was re enforced for me because of the inclusion of Robbie Crane and Keri Kelli. Jizzy Pearl sealed the deal, but when that fell apart, I was just so pissed off because he wasted another major oppurtunity to get his act back together

[Lafayettecopssuck]

if jarmo had ever put a needle in his vein, he might have a clue

[monkeychow]

I would guess that they left his version on the album simply because there were so many other songs to record...those albums would have been a massive undertaking...why fix what isn't broken....

[Sharky-dude]

if jarmo had ever put a needle in his vein, he might have a clue

Huh?
Where the hell did that come from? 

[bringbackadler]

if jarmo had ever put a needle in his vein, he might have a clue

Huh?
Where the hell did that come from??

Yeah, "Mr. 6 Posts" is going to have a long run here w/ that kind of attitude.   




*bba*

[Jim Bob]

if jarmo had ever put a needle in his vein, he might have a clue

Huh?
Where the hell did that come from? 

Yeah, "Mr. 6 Posts" is going to have a long run here w/ that kind of attitude.   




*bba*

maybe not, you've posted almost 600 times and you haven't been banned yet.

[shaxon]

It seems that sometimes it's OK to quote Slash. And sometimes it's not...

IMO, all the members of GNR were drug addicts and it was an hypocritical move to fire Steven. Without him, things didn't go well, the band didn't sound great anymore.

[ChrisPittman]

Jarmo, while your comments and quotes from Slash were inciteful, it didnt actually address my one question....which is why Steven's drumtracks were left on 'Civil War' as im well aware he was fired because he was the worst drug addict of the group but I'm wondering why Axl, apparently a man of perfection, would leave one song with his drumtracks on it (as Adler claims he recorded a lot more for the UYI sessions) and not get Matt Sorum to re-record that track

[shaxon]

Axl, apparently a man of perfection,

Source ?

I mean, how can you let something as "My World" on a GNR album if you are a man of perfection ?

[shaxon]

He didn't write one goddamn note,

That's certainly debatable.

As Izzy said : "Adler's drumming made the band; he made a big musical difference. His sense of swing was the push and pull that gave those songs their feel, afterwards, nothing worked." 

[shaxon]

Ex-Adler's Appetite singer talks on Steven (new interview):

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=44109.msg892464#msg892464

[ChrisPittman]

Axl, apparently a man of perfection,

Source ?

Why do I suddenly need a source for this? What else would you call a man whose taken several years to release an album thats been recorded and reproduced several times, spent thousands of pounds on recording time and not released one single song since 1999, and no single or video or album since 1994? What else would you call a man who had two entire tours cancelled twice, and then a major festival apperance, and simply blamed it on his tour manager and his ex-Guitarist. I love Axl as much as the next person but perfectionism is a flaw that he has and it will kill him.

[slane92]

He didn't write one goddamn note,

That's certainly debatable.

As Izzy said : "Adler's drumming made the band; he made a big musical difference. His sense of swing was the push and pull that gave those songs their feel, afterwards, nothing worked."?

Respect for what Izzy said. Just a shame that Steven went off the rails completely.

[Jim Bob]

Just a shame that Steven went off the rails completely.

I feel bad for him sometimes, but really, he did it to himself.   You can't keep feeling sorry for someone who keeps making the same mistake.  All due respect to Popcorn, but he put himself where he is at today.