Former members talking about the RRHOF

[vicariousexistence]

http://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/matt-sorum-issues-statement-on-guns-n-roses-rock-hall-of-fame-induction-539873

Dear Friends and Fans of Guns N' Roses,

I am releasing this statement to bring closure to the night's events at the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, and to all things Guns N' Roses. This will alleviate numerous press statements and interviews about the subject, which I have already addressed on my Twitter.

In these last few months since getting notice about being inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame, many emotions and feelings have gone through my head and heart, as well as the original five members of GN'R: Axl, Slash, Duff, Izzy and Steven. I was also chosen to be inducted, along with Dizzy Reed.

It was slightly awkward for me in some ways knowing some fans have the original five in their hearts for a reunion. I chose to say to Slash and Duff, 'Please have Steven play, and let me know what you would like me to do.'

Two days before the event. Axl made his statement known. And it was apparent he wouldn't be attending. In respect to him, that is his decision and should be honored. Also, Izzy declined. So I suggested Slash call Gilby, who was left out of the proceedings.

Gilby was a member of the band and contributing to the 'Use Your Illusions' World Tour, which took us around the globe for three years, as well as playing guitar on 'Spaghetti Incident' and 'The Live Era' albums. It felt like the right thing to do.

In fairness to the rest of the original line-up and myself, we decided to go ahead and attend. This is an honor that is once in a lifetime and couldn't be missed, especially for fans of the band. To us, it was honoring them as well. Regarding playing live, we agreed that we would share the stage together, joined by Myles Kennedy as guest singer, who did a fine job filling big shoes. Steven graciously offered 'Brownstone' and played two other 'Appetite' tracks, and I sang and joined him near the kit on 'Paradise City.'

It felt perfect for all involved.

In my speech, I made references to drugs and Steven being dismissed from the band, in which I referred to, "How could someone be fired from Guns N' Roses for doing too many drugs??"

It was meant to be light-hearted. But knowing the struggles Steven has endured all these years. I felt I needed to clarify that Steven was onstage, healthy, and ready to rock.

It is well known that the rest of the band has endured addiction and alcoholism and at this point in our lives, we are all healthy and sober. Not to make light of drugs and alcohol?we were all full-blown addicts when the band split. What started out as a party and what we believed was part of the makeup of the band turned on all of us in the end.

Many years of soul searching and reconnecting with our inner selves have brought glorious gifts: Velvet Revolver with millions of records sold and a Grammy, Steven with his new band, and more. We are now all playing music and making records on our own that is truly what we love, before any of the business of music came into play. The music has always been the passion, before anything else.

Stevens's passion for GN'R is something that no one can explain but him: it's a true love gone, but never forgotten. How many people have felt that in their lifetime?

I told Steven and the rest of the guys the night of the Induction that night was for them and what they created on the streets of Hollywood, and it can never be taken away. The music will live on. And that's what counts. Not about who was there at the Induction. That the music will always be theirs and no can ever take that away.

Also, I have much respect for my former band, The Cult. And all the musicians I have played with over the years. They have all taught me so much.

I also need to thank my dearest and closest confidante, Ace Harper, who is my fianc?e' and has made me a better man. She has walked beside in times of darkness, and has been there for me when all the stage lights and backstage parties were over.

This is where life is for all of us now survivors of a Rock & Roll era you will never see the likes of again: Married men Slash with two wonderful boys, Duff with two beautiful girls, Steven happy with a beautiful wife.

Life is good, my friends?we are alive! God Bless the fans of GN'R.

Long Live Rock N Roll,

Matt Sorum

(GN'R: "Use Your Illusion 1 and 2," "The Spaghetti Incident," "The Live Era)"

[WAR41]

Long Live Rock N Roll,

Matt Sorum

(GN'R: "Use Your Illusion 1 and 2," "The Spaghetti Incident," "The Live Era)"

He also forgot to add Sympathy for the Devil 

All in all I think its a great letter actually.  Very nice of him to say that.

How long until this is moved to the VR section?

[cyllan]

Good heavens, as if his acceptance speech wasn't long-winded enough.   

[peter7411226]

Classy. Good to see someone from the previous era comment in the festivity.

[3STRANG3D]

Viva La RockStardome!

[Walapino]

Cool letter!

[vicariousexistence]

surprised more people didnt comment on this.  i was pretty floored by it.

[AxlReznor]

Both Matt and Steven on the night seem to have exhibited unprecedented levels of maturity (for them). This is pretty cool. He should have probably waited until this came out before saying he wouldn't speak about GN'R again, though.

[Falcon]

Both Matt and Steven on the night seem to have exhibited unprecedented levels of maturity (for them). This is pretty cool. He should have probably waited until this came out before saying he wouldn't speak about GN'R again, though.

Cool for sure, he seems to be truly honored by his inclusion and grateful for the experience.

I think his "no more GNR talk" was probably aimed more at future possibilities of playing together again than never discussing his time in the band again, that'll be virtually impossible - especially after they brought down the house
at the induction ceremony.

[draguns]

That's pretty awesome!

[Hudson]

Great letter and classy. Thanks Matt for recognizing and appreciating your fans.

[Smokey]

Matt has a good view on everything GN'R and how he fits in with respect to Steven.
I dont get why some people always like to talk crap about Matt. I met VR in Dublin in '08 and Matt was by far the coolest one there.

[FunkyMonkey]

SLASH Says 'Rest Of The Guys' Suggested Singer MYLES KENNEDY For GN'R's ROCK HALL Performance - Apr. 19, 2012

Former GUNS N' ROSES members Slash, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke performed three "Appetite For Destruction" songs with Myles Kennedy at the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony this past Saturday night (April 14) in Cleveland, Ohio. Kennedy, who handles lead vocals in Slash's solo band and ALTER BRIDGE, sang "Mr. Brownstone", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City", with "Use Your Illusion"-era member Sorum sitting behind the drum kit on "Brownstone" and the man he replaced in GN'R, Adler, pounding the skins for the other two songs.

"The rest of the guys/inductees suggested we get Myles to sing," says Slash, "and I thought it was a great idea."

GREEN DAY's Billie Joe Armstrong delivered the induction speech for GN'R, saying, "The first time I saw GUNS N' ROSES on MTV, I thought, 'One of these guys could end up dead or in jail,'" He raved about "Appetite For Destruction", calling it "the best debut album in the history of rock and roll."

"It turned out to be a very special evening," says Slash.

The 27th Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame will air on HBO Saturday, May 5 at 9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT.

http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=172822

[FunkyMonkey]

GUNS N' ROSES: Video Footage Of Entire ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME Induction Performance - Apr. 23, 2012

Former GUNS N' ROSES members Slash, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke performed three "Appetite For Destruction" songs with Myles Kennedy at the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony on April 14 in Cleveland, Ohio. Kennedy, who handles lead vocals in Slash's solo band and ALTER BRIDGE, sang "Mr. Brownstone", "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City", with "Use Your Illusion"-era member Sorum sitting behind the drum kit on "Brownstone" and the man he replaced in GN'R, Adler, pounding the skins for the other two songs.

Fan-filmed video footage of the entire performance can be seen below.

http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=172948

[FunkyMonkey]

Steven Adler on Axl Rose: 'I'm Done With Him'

'I have no desire to know him or work with him or do anything with him again,' says former Guns N' Roses drummer

APRIL 23, 2012

When we spoke to former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler in December he was still hoping that Axl Rose would come to his senses and agree to perform with the group at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. "I know there's love between all five of us," he said. "I know there is. Not just four of us, five of us. We owe it to the fans. The LEAST we can do is give them one great performance."

Adler also says this is the last interview he'll ever give about Axl. "He showed his true colors to the world," the drummer says. "I?m done with him, I?m never mentioning him or talking about him again."

How did the induction ceremony go for you?
It was the greatest way to end that chapter of my life. It couldn?t have gone better. It ended that chapter of my life great, and it?s starting this new chapter of my life, with my new band, even bigger and better. It?s very exciting. It?s fucking exciting. Life is exciting again.

You think the Guns N' Roses chapter is closed?
That?s done. That?s totally out of my system. I was hoping that the five of us would have been there to play and show our respect to the fans, but the three of us who really do care about what our fans think and how much they?ve done for us were there, and we showed our love and respect.  In my thank-you speech, I ended it with the words of the late, great Freddie Mercury. "I?ve taken my bows, my curtain calls, you?ve brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it, and I thank you all." I think that says it. It couldn?t have gone better. I showed my thanks and my love. Slash is really the main person from that band that is really super-duper?they?re all important, but Slash is the most important, because we grew up together, we started the whole thing together, so it was really great ending that chapter with him.

How did it feel playing those songs with Slash and Duff again?
It was great, and Myles Kennedy did a fabulous job?This is the only thing I?m going to say about Axl, and this is the last thing I?m ever going to say, ever, you?re getting it, is I feel blessed and thankful that he was a part of my life for that chapter of my life, but that?s it. That?s it. I have no desire to know him or work with him or do anything with him again. Letting go of that was like a huge weight was lifted off my body. I feel fucking free. Yay!

You and all the fans have wanted that reunion for years. That desire is gone on your part?
Yeah, it?s gone. If it was going to happen, that?s when it was going to happen, and in Axl?s letter, he showed his true colors to the world. After that, that?s it. Like I said, the main person I wanted to end that chapter with, and I?m going to start a new chapter with, was Slash.

What true colors did he show in that letter?
I think it?s disrespect. He's not for the fans, which is everybody in the world. Basically, he told everybody in the world, "Fuck you, I don?t give a shit what you think."

He mentioned you in his first letter. He said, "Steven was at our show at the Hard Rock, later in '06 in Las Vegas, where I invited him to our after-party and was rewarded with his subsequent interviews filled with reunion lies. Lesson learned."

That doesn?t even make any sense. That?s Axl, he doesn?t make any sense, and that?s it, I?m done with him, I?m never mentioning him or talking about him again. That?s it. One last thing ? god bless him.

How did the rest of the night go? Did you meet any cool people?
I have to say, the coolest person I ever met in my whole life is John Mellencamp. I never met a person who was more secure about himself and his person. It was just incredible, he?s the coolest person I?ve ever met in my life. Steven Tyler?s the greatest person I ever met in my life, one of the most wonderful people I ever met, but John Cougar, the coolest motherfucker on this planet. This guy is so secure about who he is and what he does, and I thought that was the coolest thing in the world.

You also got to see your old friends Flea and Anthony Kiedis.
Anthony?s wonderful, I?ve known him for decades, he?s great. Flea is the greatest, it was so great, the way he mentioned me, and he mentioned my grandmother. He used to practice his trumpet for my grandmother, we used to play football in the street, and he?d come home from school and have his trumpet and practice for my grandmother. He mentioned it, and that was so great. That and he sent me a text saying the coolest thing that a rhythm brother could say to another rhythm brother, he said, "Stevie, last night, you were so deep in the pocket, it was beautiful." So that was the coolest thing for Flea to say that, because he?s like the greatest bass player in the world.

The evening turned out pretty great ? especially considering Axl and Rod Stewart didn't show up.
Yeah, Myles Kennedy did a number on that other redhead. He did a phenomenal job, stepping into those big redheaded shoes. He?s got a powerful voice. Other than my new singer, if it wasn?t Myles Kennedy singing, I?d have wanted my singer to sing, because this guy?s amazing. I have the greatest new band, and it?s so great being part of a new band, being part of something that?s fun again and real. It?s real and it?s fun, and our new record we just finished, I recorded a whole record, I have 12 songs. In two weeks when Jeff Pilson gets back, he?s on tour with Foreigner, when he gets back, we?re going to do one more song. 13 songs. The new record will be done. I haven?t been finished with something in 22 years.

Do you see the Hall of Fame induction as the biggest moment of your career?
It?s the biggest moment of my career. Any musician who gets to be a part of that, it?s the biggest moment of their careers, of their life. It?s like winning the Super Bowl. I won the friggin? Super Bowl, it?s the coolest thing in the world. I have a ring and trophy and everything. I didn?t get a ring, but I got a trophy.

I watched it on video, my guitar player came over with his computer and showed it to me. I was nervous, I don?t know how I sounded or how I looked, because it was me, and I was doing it. I saw it and said, "Oh man?" I was proud of myself. If I didn?t know me, I?d have been proud of me, and I was proud of me.

You guys really proved the band is bigger than one person.
Yeah. I?m telling the truth, I never heard a boo like that in my life [when Axl's name was mentioned]. It was frightening. I was sitting there going, "Man, god forbid they were doing that at me." That would be soul-crushing, you would think. But that redheaded guy, I was standing onstage, I looked at Duff and said, "You know what the crazy thing is, Axl?s so back-ass backwards that he probably likes it." Instead of going, "Wow, that?s harsh," he?s going, "Yeah, fuck yeah, I love it."

Do you understand why that redhead seems so angry at everyone?
He?s got nothing in the world to be angry about. It?s so great to move on from that, to get that out of my life and out of my system. You ever have somebody that you know, but they?re not in your life, you don?t see them, you don?t talk to them, but you think about them, and it makes your stomach get all tight, and you go, "Son of a bitch," and you don?t even talk to the guy or see them ? that?s what that asshole would do to me. It?s just great to not have that feeling in my stomach anymore. It?s good to move on. It?s like getting off of heroin, "Oh, I feel so much better, my god, what a relief, I?m not sick anymore."

You're sober now, right?
Yeah. I smoke cigarettes, and I?m really tired of it, I?m going to go see this doctor about taking that Chantix. I tried it before, it gives you terrible dreams.

What's the secret to staying clean this time?
I got to a point of being sick and tired of being sick and tired, and it just got too much. I survived, and I think once you survive it and go through it, you grow up and you just start feeling different about things and about your life. When I was a teenager in my early twenties, I would get in a fight pretty easily, and I wouldn?t mind getting punched in the face. But I?m 47 years old now, I mind it now. So you just grow up and change how you feel about things.

It's gotta be nice to finally be in a functional band.
It?s so great being part of a group, a group of guys. We?re all on the same page. We all want the same thing, we all have the same goals, and we all respect one another.

Are you going to put any Guns N' Roses songs into your live set?
Out of the respect I have for what I did accomplish, my part of Guns N? Roses, I am so friggin? proud of ? my part. So I?m fucking proud of that, and the fans are proud of that, and I love that, so of course, I?m going to play one or two, but it?s all about the new band and the new songs. Obviously, it would only be Appetite for Destruction, and I?m proud of that, but that?s 25 years ago. Every 15, 20, 25 years, a new rock and roll record needs to come out and a new rock and roll band needs to come out. We?re just the guys to fucking do it, and we?re going to do it. The last great rock band that came out was the Foo Fighters, and they were like 15 years ago, right? It?s 15, 20 years, the world is due.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steven-adler-on-axl-rose-he-showed-his-true-colors-to-the-world-im-done-with-him-20120423

[westcoast_junkie]

How did it feel playing those songs with Slash and Duff again?
It was great, and Myles Kennedy did a fabulous job?This is the only thing I?m going to say about Axl, and this is the last thing I?m ever going to say, ever, you?re getting it, is I feel blessed and thankful that he was a part of my life for that chapter of my life, but that?s it. That?s it. I have no desire to know him or work with him or do anything with him again. Letting go of that was like a huge weight was lifted off my body. I feel fucking free. Yay!

You and all the fans have wanted that reunion for years. That desire is gone on your part?
Yeah, it?s gone. If it was going to happen, that?s when it was going to happen, and in Axl?s letter, he showed his true colors to the world. After that, that?s it. Like I said, the main person I wanted to end that chapter with, and I?m going to start a new chapter with, was Slash.

What true colors did he show in that letter?
I think it?s disrespect. He's not for the fans, which is everybody in the world. Basically, he told everybody in the world, "Fuck you, I don?t give a shit what you think."

He mentioned you in his first letter. He said, "Steven was at our show at the Hard Rock, later in '06 in Las Vegas, where I invited him to our after-party and was rewarded with his subsequent interviews filled with reunion lies. Lesson learned."

That doesn?t even make any sense. That?s Axl, he doesn?t make any sense, and that?s it, I?m done with him, I?m never mentioning him or talking about him again. That?s it. One last thing ? god bless him.

Well, that was a long time without saying anything about him Steven. 

[NicoRourke]

My God... I want to beat him and I don't even know the guy...

He must be high to be this incoherent and all over the place

Thank you Axl for staying away from that.

[FunkyMonkey]

SLASH: Being At The ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME Turned Out To Be A Really Great Experience - Apr. 23, 2012

During a press conference in Italy to promote his second solo album, "Apocalyptic Love" (see video below), legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES) was asked what it felt like to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame without singer Axl Rose, who refused to attend the ceremony and be inducted with his former bandmates.

"I specifically don't talk about [Axl]," Slash replied. "But being at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, in and of itself, turned out to be a really great experience. It was a mixed feeling going into? in the months leading up to the induction. It was not necessarily positive, but once I sort of decided, 'OK, I'm gonna go, and Duff [McKagan, former GN'R bassist] decided he was gonna go and Gilby [Clarke, former GN'R guitarist] and Steven [Adler, former GN'R drummer], and all that. Actually being there, being inducted was a really positive and pleasant experience. We recruited Myles Kennedy [of ALTER BRIDGE and Slash's solo band] to sing [at the induction] at the very, very last minute ? like the morning of the flight [on our way to Cleveland]. It wasn't my idea this time [to get Myles involved]; it was Duff's idea."

http://legacy.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=173001

[Bridge]

Fantastic and humble letter from Matt.  Very cool how gracious and respectful he is to Steven.

While I don't agree with everything Steven said in his interview, I expected Steven to react the way he did, especially the way Axl addressed him in his letter.  Let's just hope that Steven sticks to his word and doesn't mention Axl or a reunion again.  As much as I love Steven, he did come off as really desperate.  He's got plenty of things going for him and he needs to focus on that.

This is where life is for all of us now survivors of a Rock & Roll era you will never see the likes of again: Married men Slash with two wonderful boys, Duff with two beautiful girls, Steven happy with a beautiful wife.

You got right that Matt... it chills me to the bone to think about it, but it's so true that we'll never see a rock n roll era like GNR's heydey ever again.   

[FunkyMonkey]

Exclusive: Slash on 'Closing The Book on Guns N' Roses' at the Hall of Fame

'In my heart of hearts I wanted to have the whole original band get together and actually perform'

APRIL 25, 2012

Like most Guns N' Roses fans, Slash hoped that the original line-up of the band would have been able to put aside their differences earlier this month at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and perform one last time. Needless to say, that didn't happen. A few days after the event Slash jumped on the phone with Rolling Stone's Brian Hiatt while on a train between Holland and France to share his feelings about the evening.

Did you ever consider just not going to the induction ceremony?
My whole thing was that I really, in my heart of hearts, wanted to have the whole original band get together and actually perform, which I sort of knew was wishful thinking. When the whole thing first came up, that?s basically what I wanted to do. It became apparent that that wasn?t going to happen. I was like, "Oh fuck," and I was sort of disillusioned with the whole thing, but there was that commitment that was sort of made that I was going to go, and I thought Axl was still going to go, and it wasn?t until the last minute that I heard that he wasn?t coming, and that?s when we all decided we were just going to go ahead and play anyway. Early on, when it was probably more confusing than necessary, I have to admit, I was like, "Oh fuck, I don?t really want to go to this if we?re not going to play," though I never said, "No, I?m not going to go." But it was sort of a black cloud for a few months there. Before that I thought we were just going to show up and not play, which is what I was resigned to.

At what point did you decide to play?
It was literally two days before the actual ceremony. The day that the press release came out and Axl said he wasn?t coming, we had the Golden Gods awards, and it was in the dressing room there that Duff and I talked. We said, "OK, we?re just going to fucking get together and play," and Duff goes, "We should get Myles." I was talking to Duff about who was going to sing, I thought Duff would sing, him and Gilby, but Duff said, "What about Myles?" It hadn?t occurred to me, really. I talked to Myles about it, he was apprehensive about getting put in that position, so at first, he turned it down, but finally he said, "OK, I?ll do it." We got it all together and we put together a little rehearsal the night before and did our thing.

What was it like rehearsing? Watching it, it?s not that different from Velvet Revolver, but it felt super different.
I hadn?t played with Gilby in a long time, and I hadn?t played Guns N? Roses songs with Steven in fucking 18 years or something like that. It was all sort of a little bit foreign at first, the first five, 10 minutes of whatever the first songs were we were playing, it took a second, and after a couple of minutes, it started to fall into place. It was fun, I had a really fucking good time.

This had been weighing on Steven for a long time, and he said he feels like the chapter is closed and he can move on.
Yeah, I think it did that for all of us. I didn?t have any illusions or delusions of GNR getting back together for anything. I maybe tried to see it happen for this one particular event, I didn?t have high hopes for that, I didn?t feel confident it was going to happen, but having done this one gig, and for the event itself, when it was all said and done, it really felt like closing the book on the whole thing.

The other way of looking at is that with Myles, you sound good doing those songs. That could be a thing.
No, I don?t think it went that way. It?s way too complicated an idea at this point, but it was fun doing it. It was definitely a special moment for everybody involved, going up there and jamming those songs. I wasn?t totally sure, you?ve probably heard this a million times, the sort of whole concept of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction prior to doing it, it was like there?s so much bad blood that?s gone on over the last 25 years, it was hard to appreciate it. So it was hard to get excited about it, but once we were actually there, it was a really, really cool event, and there was a sense of accomplishment at that point, doing the actual acceptance and going out and playing.

Some people could say you played so well because it was a fuck you to someone who wasn?t there, but it sounds like it came from a more positive place.
Yeah, it had nothing to do with that. It might have come together because basically we felt a sense of loyalty to the enthusiasm from the fans.  We?re proud of this moment, and I?m talking about legions of Guns fans who are really excited about the prospects of something happening so we can accept this fucking acknowledgement or whatever. I think that was really the glue that held us all together to get past whatever the differences were and just go up and be there. So it was a really good feeling for all the right reasons. It wasn?t because we were trying to wag our finger at anybody or try to be vengeful in any way. It was an homage to the fans, and then standing there and individually accepting the honor, you really felt we?d arrived at a certain place, the band as a whole, the records that we?ve made and all that stuff. 

It?s what you were setting out to do from the beginning, you were aiming for that brass ring, you wanted to be one of the all time great bands. You weren?t trying to be a big hair metal band.
All things considered, yeah, we did sort of set out to be fucking the shit. We knew above all and any other bands around of our peers at the time that we were the baddest fucking rock & roll band around. I don?t know if we aspired to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, that was years later. One of the big issues about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and something that sort of gave me personally mixed feelings was how come Guns N? Roses gets nominated and consequently inducted when a whole slew of other bands haven?t? That was always a really big issue, I think that was the only personal bias I had, was how we could beat out a band like Deep Purple? What is the criteria for getting inducted?

There was something about the event itself where the thing that stuck out to me the most was when they had the Blue Caps and Crickets and the Fabulous Flames and Comets and all those guys get up there and get inducted. That was a heavy moment for me. I was like, "Wow," all these guys in their 80s and 90s, some in their wheelchairs, some not even there because they?re dead, all lined up getting this honor, this recognition. That really pulled at my heartstrings. That sort of erased for me all the questions that I have. I was like, "I guess everybody gets it in due time."

Between that and the fact that Rod Stewart and your guy wasn?t there, it felt like rock was bigger than lead singers that night.
All things considered, most of the groups that were there were incomplete, from the Beastie Boys to the Chili Peppers to the Faces, and for us, as well, so it?s very interesting, that this whole thing goes on regardless. That was one of the things that came to me. We?re inducted already, it?s happening regardless of whether we show up or don?t show up or who shows up. It?s bigger than all of us.

Myles is in your band, could he also be in Velvet Revolver, or is that too complicated?
Initially, Myles came up in Velvet Revolver a couple of times. Once in 2002 and another time in 2008. The first time around, we sent him a demo and we never heard from him again, and in 2008, he was in Alter Bridge, and it would just be sort of a betrayal of his band to entertain the idea of performing with Velvet Revolver, which is actually the first thing, even though I?d never met him before. I didn?t know him, but the thing I admired about him then was his loyalty. Working with me, it?s a little bit more flexible, we juggled the whole Alter Bridge thing, but with Velvet Revolver, it would have been one or the other.

Seeing you play those songs so well, there?s a sense that you?re reclaiming your rights to these songs, reminding people that you have as much right to these songs as the singer does.
Yeah, it was never a question in my mind, because I know how much I had to do with those songs, so I just do them. It was really gratifying to meet Myles when I did, when I was starting to put a band together to support my first solo record, the last record I put out, then he came out at the very tail end and I thought, "This guy?s amazing," we recorded a couple of songs on that record, then I asked him to do the tour, because I had a gut feeling he could handle the diversity of all the material I was going to do on the road, and that turned into a really successful tour, which turned was what prompted the record that we just completed that?s coming out next month.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-slash-on-closing-the-book-on-guns-n-roses-at-the-hall-of-fame-20120425