'Metal' Mike Chlasciak: 'Axl And His Crew Were Nothing But Awesome To Us'

Metal Thrashing Mad! Mitch Lafon's Exclusive Conversation with "Metal" Mike Chlasciak

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Polish born guitarist, "Metal" Mike Chlasciak has been living the American heavy metal dream for over a decade now having recorded and toured with legends Rob Halford (Judas Priest) and Sebastian Bach (Ex-Skid Row).

KNAC.COM: Let me pick up on one thing ? you mentioned Sebastian Bach before. I saw you on the Guns N? Roses tour In Quebec City. What happened with Sebastian and you? Was it musical differences or a personality thing? Why did you leave his band?

CHLASCIAK: Well? It just stopped feeling comfortable for me. It was fun and I had a really good time, but I just really wanted to get back to guitar playing. I felt like I had a lot more to say. If you want to do the rocker/ rock ?n roll lifestyle thing it?s perfect, but it was time for me to get back to my love; which is playing heavy metal guitar.

KNAC.COM: How was it being around the Guns N? Roses camp?

CHLASCIAK: It was absolutely incredibly good. They have really good professional people on board. The band guys are cool and Axl took Sebastian and his band in his circle of friends and it was very cool. Axl and his crew were nothing but awesome to us. We never talked smack about GNR or Axl and the reason we didn?t was because there was no smack to talk about. It was cool and he was great. It?s weird, but I feel like I?m disappointing people when I tell them that. Everybody in that band is a kick ass player and the people around it work on a high-end level. They make miracles happen. I?ve seen Axl come off the stage and tell the monitor man to pack his bags. He?s out. Next morning, boom ? Mariah Carey?s monitor guy will show up. Shit happens. It?s not a put your diaper on and get learning tour. It?s full on ? private jets and Victoria?s Secret model type band. That?s what Guns N? Roses is. Axl is one of those guys like Rob Halford. He?s connected to the big guy above in many ways. It was cool and it made me a better player in many ways because I had to play outside of my comfort zone.

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