DJ Ashba APPRECIATION Thread

[FunkyMonkey]

For some reason Metal Sludge is featuring the "20 Questions" interview with DJ from 2002 on their homepage.  I hadn't seen it before...

20 Questions with DJ Ashba, 10/15/02

About a month ago, we put up Random Thoughts On A Stupid Press release. It was something that DJ's publicist sent out and it was pretty entertaining. A couple days later, we decided to find out if DJ really does answer all his email and we asked him to do 20 Questions. He then lived up to his word and not only responded but agreed to do it. So here they are! Enjoy!

1. What are you up to? This is the only chance to promote your numerous activities.
I am shopping a record deal for my new band.

2. In your opinion, what was the biggest reason that Beautiful Creatures didn't take off? What was the problem?
Well I can't say we didn't get a fair shake from WB. Prior to the release we were the number one priority (we had $X amount put into the band, we toured and played with some of the biggest bands including Kiss, Ozzfest 2001, Manson, ect...) I believe we made a great rock record at the wrong time, WB was going through some executive changes right when our record was released and we got lost in the shuffle along with alot of other really good bands. Our album didn't hit the stores until 2 days after Ozzfest was over, everything was just poorly timed.

3. How many emails have you answered today?
201

4. What hard rock/heavy metal band should give it up and call it a day?
No matter what you do in life, I think if you give up, your a fuckin' pussy

5. Rate the following guitarists on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being somebody who sucks and 10 being Guitar God!
Michael Thomas = 5
Steve Stevens = 8
Steve Vai = 10
Keri Kelli = 4
C.C. DeVille = 3
Warren DeMartini = 7
George Lynch = 9
Mick Mars = 6
Ace Frehley = 5
Jason Hook = 4

6. Don't you think it's a bit obnoxious to have a press release sent out that calls yourself a "guitar-god?" Shouldn't that be a title you earn and not call yourself?
Yes I do, I also believe most press releases are a bit obnoxious, but what some people call "bad press" I call "free advertising." But I do know that anyone that has met me or knows me, knows that I would never refer to myself as a guitar god.

7. The press release was also referring to you as a 'kid." Now there is no doubt that you look younger than your age but shouldn't that refer to a teenager or maybe someone in their early 20s? You turn 30 in November, so why the "kid" shit?
Beats the fuck outta me, I guess it's because I look young.

8. Who's idea was it to put out a press release like that and what were you hoping to accomplish?
My publicist, the press release was not meant to be breaking news, it went out to a very targeted list of industry trades to inform them that I have a new band and to start a little buzz, and I guess it worked.

9. Would you rather the world forget that you were once in the BulletBoys?
I don't give a fuck, I had a great time, I toured with them in 1998 and that's were I met Joe Le'Ste.

10. Yes or no, has DJ ever:
Seen Anthony Focx's fog machine = No
Thought your publicist was in love with you = No
Seen Joe LeSte leave a tip bigger than 20% = Yes
Known anybody who has actually spent "AshbaCash" = No
Lied about your age = Yes
Regretted a tattoo = No
Answered 300 emails a day = No
Dressed up like a member of Kiss = No, Not that I recall
Really believed that one day you'll receive a platinum album = Yes, Abso-fuckin-lutly
Thought wearing cat contact lenses were cool = No

11. Paul Gargano manages Beautiful Creatures now. Have you ever thought about getting Gerri Miller to manage you?
No

12. When Beautiful Creatures was dropped, there were reports that Warner Brothers retained you. What was that all about because obviously you don't have a record deal.
WB never retained me, we were dropped as a band and then WB offered me a seperate deal. I felt it was in my best interest to wait rather than jumping the gun.

13. Originally, your website was all pay members, then it went to free. Was that out of the kindness of your heart or were you lonely with only the stalkers there?
My website and membership has always been free, at one time I considered charging a fee for a VIP section which would have included alot of extra features, but felt it was not necessary, so I changed it into a free 24/7 live chat room instead.

14. The last of DJ Ashba:
Last time you "packed" the Viper Room = Aug.12th
Last CD you purchased = Charlie Daniels "Greatest Hits"
Last strip club you were at = Cheetah's
Last rock star you talked to on the phone = Nikki Sixx
Last band you jammed with = mine
Last movie you saw = Stephen Kings Rose Red
Last time you lied = About 30 minutes ago, I told my manager I wouldn't do Metal Sludge's 20 questions
Last thing you regretted = I don't regret, just learn from my mistakes and move on.
Last time you masturbated = yesterday, but I'm planning on updating that as soon as I'm done here.
Last time you broke a guitar string live = Aug. 24th

15. Is it true that your wife, Sandy Beaches, worked for years at the Valley Ball to support you, bought you all your gear, drove you to your gigs, allowed you to cheat, and then when you became famous you dumped her for a stripper from Crazy Girls?
It is true that she did work at the Valley Ball, however 90% of all my gear I have recieved through endorsments, she never drove a car in the 7 years we were married, we've been through hell and back together. She has helped me more than you know, and for that I will always be grateful to her, and no I did not dump her for a stripper at Crazy Girls, our split was mutual, and we remain best friends to this day. As far as cheating, it's only cheating if the other person doesn't know about it or doesn't allow it, we had a very open fucked up Hollywood relationship, and we were both always honest with each other. She had her girls on the side, and I had mine.

16. You have a portion of the confederate flag on your right arm. What is the significance of that and are you a true rebel from Indiana?
I'm a big Dukes of Hazzard fan

17. The Beautiful Creatures CD was advertised as coming with the "special metallic cover" for the first 50,000 copies only. What did you do with all the ones you had left?
I bought 10 copies the day it came out, i was so fuckin excited, I have one with my CD collection in my car, the rest are in the same bag I bought them in.

18. 7 Million Page views since last March? C'mon dude, have you ever worked for Arthur Anderson?
7 M page views means there have been 7 M clicks on the site since March, it does not mean I have had 7 M unique viewers.

19. Are your vocals really "always sexy" or once in awhile do you come across as more of a traditional vocalist?
I realize you can't please everyone in this business, good or bad. I have always enjoyed singing as much as playing, I'm having a blast just makin music, staying true to myself and not giving a fuck what everyone thinks.

20. Don't you think the name DJ Ashba sounds more like a guy with baggy pants behind a turn-table than the name of a "guitar-god?"
Yes

21. Time for Metal Sludge's Word Association. We mention a name and you give us your thoughts.
Paul Gargano = Metal Edge
Marq Torien = David Lee Roth
Paul Chase = GhostDance
Paul Stanley = Amazing frontman/marketing genius
Anthony Focx = "Party On"
Creed = not my thing
Jani Lane = he has always been cool to me
LeeAnn Tweeden = very close friend
Tommy Lee = cool motherfucker/amazing drummer
Sebastian Bach = great voice
Joe LeSte = great friend

Actually, DJ didn't do a bad job and at least he didn't try to lie about his age, unlike a certain other guitar player in Beautiful Creatures.

For the latest on DJ's attempt to join 'label-land' you can visit his world famous website at www.djashba.com.

http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=451&Itemid=52

[FunkyMonkey]

9. Would you rather the world forget that you were once in the BulletBoys?

I don't give a fuck, I had a great time, I toured with them in 1998 and that's were I met Joe Le'Ste.

I didn't know who the Bulletboys were so I looked.  That was a long time ago, I don't even recognize DJ in these photos:

http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1481&Itemid=42

[GNRVahland]

from  http://www.facebook.com/KatarinaBenzova

[MrMojoRa]

DJ:

When I started this thread 2 years ago, I hadn't seen you jam live.

Now I have. You did not disappoint. You blew my mind. Best live guitar player in my world. I've been to 30+ rock concerts since 82. I've seen the best, Slash, Eddie Van Halen, Ted Nugent, Kirk Hammett, Zakk Wylde, etc.......

I've been witnessing Guns N' Roses live every time they toured since the late 80's when they were opening Aerosmith.

You are the best all-around performer. Your energy, your moves, your style, your solos are Unfuckingbelieveable!!!


My main goal was to record your Mi Amor solo and then cut it after you finished the opening of SCOM. I did that. No disrespect to the rest of the song, because it is my all-time favorite GNR song, but I wanted to put the phone away and go crazy the rest of the song.

DJ ASHBA- Mi Amor & SCOM (Opening Solo Only)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r80qetNZ584


Your solo during Chinese Democracy, beginning around the 2:40 mark, says it all. The robotic moves you made during that solo are legendary. Amazing man. That's me at the 0:29 mark announcing your arrival, to my wife, because I had talked you up the days before the concert. She saw Axl's new & improved version of GNR twice (Hammerstein & MSG), but this was her first time seeing the EVEN better version of the band since you joined.

Chinese Democracy 11/26/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSeRrutuVLQ


Thanks DJ.........please stick around. Guns N' Roses would never be the same again without you.

And tell Axl to put you all over Chinese Democracy II and then get him to put it on our hands.



Edited to add This I Love video


This I Love (beginning with Dj's Solo)
http://youtu.be/iV8uvG2kWkM

[Axl4Prez2004]

DJ Ashba, fucking amazing!
Seeing this guy live, paired up with Axl's vocals...
 
I think had a fucking eargasm! 

DJ racing from one side of the stage and Axl on the other side racing in the opposite direction! Full sprint!  Loved it! 
DJ bouncing off of walls. 
This guy impressed the shit out of me and my crew.
 

p.s. props to Kev Money for posting the Mi Amor vid.     ..I was tending to my drunk bro-in-law in medical and fucking missed it live! 
Family first, right? GAH!!!

[COMAMOTIVE]

The guy is the real deal and pleasure to have as part of the band. I'm not one who can really differentiate the guitar work/sound of different players on stage just by ear, so I will say this about this guy: He wants to be here and it shows - and that is appreciated

Big fan of Robin F, especially as time went on, but I never really got the sense that he was fully on board - I could be off-base on that one, though...just a certain vibe that generates from live performances.

This current lineup is f*cking tight and I sure hope they are the ones who are responsible for the chapter in Gnr albums

[Bodhi]

This thread hasn't been posted in in a while, but this certainly fits here.  This is from DJ's Facebook.  It is a picture of a kid dressed up like DJ greeting him at the airport, and a really awesome post by DJ about the encounter underneath.  This dude gets it, he is truly grateful for the position he is in.  DJ has always been my favorite guitar player in the band, and its not hard to root for the guy when you see stuff like this.



This picture means more to me than you will ever know. You see, when I was a young boy, music was in my blood. I always knew that's what I wanted to do, so I left my friends and family and everything I'd ever known to pursue my dreams. I used everyone that was negative in my life, Ya know the ones who cut you down for no reason and tell you your wasting your time, as motivation and determination to reach my goals. I looked up and became inspired by so many of the great musicians. When I would watch them perform my eyes would light up. The hairs on the back of my neck would stand up. It just pierced my soul. All my mentors gave me the strength to keep pushing on, no matter how tough is got. They were living proof that my dream was reachable. I remember asking my good friend @nikkisixxpixx one day long before @SixxAM a question. The question that intrigued me was "how do you know?" "How do you know when you go to bed a normal guy and wake up famous?" I'll never forget his answer, he simply looked at me and smiled and said, "You will just know." At the time I didn't really understand what he meant by it, but now it makes perfect sense. You see, success isn't about fame or money, it's about touching someone's heart the way someone once touched yours. To inspire someone the way someone inspired you. To give someone hope and belief that they to, can reach their dreams. When I walked off the plane and saw the look in this little guys eyes, it reminded me of me as a boy with a dream. Thank you all for the love and support that you continue to show me! You will never know how much it means. I am grateful for everything, I take nothing for granted and I'm proud that I haven't let fame, success, money or this industry strip me from that. Much love and God Bless! ~DJA

[jarmo]

Thanks for posting that. 




/jarmo

[faldor]

That's a nice story. I saw the full picture of the kid on DJ's Twitter. Mini DJ Ashba. The kid pulled it off with style. That had to be surreal seeing that coming off a plane. Talk about a warm welcome.