DJ says Joining GNR gave him his first experierience with online haters

[EmilyGNR]

For a lot of us, dealing with negative comments is just part of online life, and you never know when something you say or do will provoke an angry outburst from a stranger behind the safety of a keyboard. But guitarist DJ Ashba says he had no idea how negative the internet could be until he joined Guns N? Roses.

Speaking with attendees at this year?s Sweetwater GearFest in Fort Wayne, Ind., Ashba ? as captured in the video above ? looked back on the days after he joined the GNR roster in 2009 and admitted, ?Even after I accepted and everything, I had no idea that the shoes I was stepping into were pretty hardcore.?

Obviously aware of the accomplishments of the classic Guns lineup, Ashba says he was nonetheless caught off guard by how vehemently opposed some fans were to the idea of anyone trying to pick up where an original member left off. ?I?d never read a bad thing about me on the internet ever ? it was like, ?You?re not Slash. F? you!? And I?m like, ?Oh s?, this is a whole different thing.? That kind of blindsided me, because my head wasn?t even there,? he continues in the clip. ?I was like, ?I?m a fan of the band. I?m just trying to help keep that music alive.??

But all?s well that ends well for Ashba, whose low-key approach to the Guns gig started with an audition where he insists he didn?t even know he was trying out and ?just wanted to say hi to everybody.? Now that he?s been in the band for awhile, he says he?s felt some of that early online hatred subside: ?I finally slowly won some of them over, so that?s good.?




Read More: DJ Ashba Says Joining Guns N' Roses Gave Him First Experience With Online Haters | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/dj-ashba-online-haters/?trackback=tsmclip

[FunkyMonkey]

That's from the same Q&A where DJ say GN'R auditioned over 100 guitar players.

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=65960.msg1388541#msg1388541

Ultimate Classic Rock lifted the Blabbermouth story.

The full quote:

GUNS N' ROSES Auditioned 'Over A Hundred Guitar Players' Before Settling On DJ ASHBA

June 17, 2015

Speaking about how he landed the GUNS N' ROSES guitarist gig six years ago, Ashba said: "GUNS N' ROSES management called me, which, actually, was my personal manager too, so that kind of helped. But they said, you know, 'GUNS had been auditioning guitar players on the down low. They've been through over a hundred guitar players. Would you wanna come down and check it out?' And I honestly never saw myself doing it. I was, like, man, me and Axl [Rose, GUNS N' ROSES singer] are both from Indiana. I'd met him. Sharon Osbourne introduced me. When I was doing a BEAUTIFUL CREATURES record, they were next door doing the 'Chinese Democracy' record. And I was, like, 'Yeah, I'll go down. I'd love to see Axl again and say hi.' And he wasn't there, but he caught wind that I was gonna come down. And he called management and said, 'If he even shows up, he has the gig.' And that's kind of how it happened. It wasn't a real audition process, and I didn't even know that I was getting the gig. I just wanted to go down and, kind of, say hi to everybody."

He continued: "I didn't have a clue? Even after I accepted and everything, I had no idea that the shoes I was stepping into were pretty hardcore; it was a hardcore thing. I'd never read a bad thing about me on the Internet ever [before], and [now it was], like, 'You're not Slash. Fuck you!' And I'm, like, 'Oh, shit! This is a whole different thing.' I mean, that kind of blindsided me, 'cause my head wasn't even there. I was, like, 'I'm a fan of the band. I'm just trying to help keep that music alive.' But, you know, I finally slowly won those? some of them over, so it's good."

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/guns-n-roses-auditioned-over-a-hundred-guitar-players-before-settling-on-dj-ashba/

[D-GenerationX]

DJ is given far too hard a time, in my view.

If your whole deal is that he is not Slash, well, then no one will ever pass your test except the man himself.  You will hate anyone that's not Slash.

If your whole deal is that he's a poser and spends too much time crafting an image...I have a gallery of about 347 posters and photos of the old band I could point you to where the same exact thing was done.

If your whole deal is that he has yet to appear on even on GNR song...is that his fault?  Maybe your beef is actually with someone else in the fold.

So, basically, give DJ a break.  At least, in my opinion.  At minimum, take a look at some of your arguments and see if they are fair.

[TheBaconman]

DJ is given far too hard a time, in my view.

If your whole deal is that he is not Slash, well, then no one will ever pass your test except the man himself.  You will hate anyone that's not Slash.

If your whole deal is that he's a poser and spends too much time crafting an image...I have a gallery of about 347 posters and photos of the old band I could point you to where the same exact thing was done.

If your whole deal is that he has yet to appear on even on GNR song...is that his fault?  Maybe your beef is actually with someone else in the fold.

So, basically, give DJ a break.  At least, in my opinion.  At minimum, take a look at some of your arguments and see if they are fair.

I think there are far more lovey lovey DJ posts like this these days that there are hateful ones..

[D-GenerationX]

I think there are far more lovey lovey DJ posts like this these days that there are hateful ones..

Here, maybe.  And even here, its more like 50/50.

Anywhere else?  Its 95/5 against.  And they are vicious.

[TheBaconman]

I think there are far more lovey lovey DJ posts like this these days that there are hateful ones..

Here, maybe.  And even here, its more like 50/50.

Anywhere else?  Its 95/5 against.  And they are vicious.

There arnt that many other places really to talk GNR.  If you are talking MYGNR, that site has very little to say nice about anyone/anything, let alone DJ.  (Site died to me years ago)

Then there is the general public....  Who may have been a little harsh towards the line up in the great Buckhead and Robin years.  I used to hear the crap all the time, "thats not slash!  this is garbage..  yada yada."

These days, DJ may bring enough of his own fan base to a guns show than that are there to see any other member of the band (other than Axl) combined.

[LongGoneDay]

DJ is given far too hard a time, in my view.

If your whole deal is that he is not Slash, well, then no one will ever pass your test except the man himself.  You will hate anyone that's not Slash.

If your whole deal is that he's a poser and spends too much time crafting an image...I have a gallery of about 347 posters and photos of the old band I could point you to where the same exact thing was done.

If your whole deal is that he has yet to appear on even on GNR song...is that his fault?  Maybe your beef is actually with someone else in the fold.

So, basically, give DJ a break.  At least, in my opinion.  At minimum, take a look at some of your arguments and see if they are fair.

I don?t hate DJ.
So far, he hasn?t written anything particularly memorable to my ears, and he wasn?t very impressive at the show I attended, so I can?t say I?m a fan yet, either.
Granted, he?s being asked to step into shoes he never had the chops to fill, so I will keep my expectations low and hope to be pleasantly surprised should he get a chance to record with GN?R.

As far as the ?posing? goes though, there is no comparison.
DJ seems much more image conscious and it comes across as forced.
With classic GN?R it was obvious the music came first.
They were real deal train wreck drunks/drug addicts.
The last thing on an addicts mind is their wardrobe.

DJ is a designer so it?s his job to care.

I?m not saying one is better than the other, just saying I don?t think they are cut from the same cloth.

In the end, it?s the music, if ever released, that will make fans of DJ era Guns.
Until then, Guns opens themselves up to criticism by doing little more than merely existing.

[D-GenerationX]

Well, if an album ever actually come out with DJ on it, its just going to him adding on to something written and recorded by others.

I don't know how much that can really tell you.

As for live, I think his solo spots are quite good.  They you hear him try and put his spin on 'Patience' and you want to shoot him.  Or yourself.

[TheBaconman]

Well, if an album ever actually come out with DJ on it, its just going to him adding on to something written and recorded by others.

I don't know how much that can really tell you.

As for live, I think his solo spots are quite good.  They you hear him try and put his spin on 'Patience' and you want to shoot him.  Or yourself.

I dont think anyone has every said the classic songs where ever hard to play, so DJ better be able to pull off a Slash classic solo. (Not taking anything away from the work Slash did, becuase aint no one else writing hits like that)

When it comes to the songs on CD, I feel the solos are mostly above DJ

Also give DJ credit.  He at least does media.  He is overly possitive.  He actually wants to be a guitar player in guns, in a time and age where, we dont even have a full line up and some other guitar players cant even be bothered with the band any more

[D-GenerationX]

Also give DJ credit.  He at least does media.  He is overly possitive.  He actually wants to be a guitar player in guns, in a time and age where, we dont even have a full line up and some other guitar players cant even be bothered with the band any more

Oh, be careful there.

I suggested such a thing a few weeks back, and I thought we were going to have to hose Jarmo down.

[TheBaconman]

Also give DJ credit.  He at least does media.  He is overly possitive.  He actually wants to be a guitar player in guns, in a time and age where, we dont even have a full line up and some other guitar players cant even be bothered with the band any more

Oh, be careful there.

I suggested such a thing a few weeks back, and I thought we were going to have to hose Jarmo down.

My rope is a little longer...  hahaha

I While "cant be bothered" may sound a little harsh...   It is true, from a certain point of view...

Bucket (left/fired/quit??  Only 1 interview given about his time in guns I could find online and it was in spanish), never played with the band again....

Robin (left/Quit, doesnt seem to be any bad blood on either side.  Both parties have gone there own ways.  I have only been able to pull up 1 interview from Robin as well, about his time in guns.  He has played 1 guest spot with the band I believe)

Ron (left/quitt/fired/contract not redone?...   He is not short of interviews......   He doesnt seem to interested in having any future with guns and it might be a mutual feeling from guns)

So those are the last 3 "lead" guitar players in this band.....  Its not a bad thing.....    Its just a thing,

Its also a compliment to DJ, with they way previous guys have left and never looked back, DJ seems very loyal

[D-GenerationX]

I do not think Bucket, Robin, or Ron want anything to do with GNR going forward.  I don't see a strong argument for any of the three.

[TheBaconman]

I do not think Bucket, Robin, or Ron want anything to do with GNR going forward.  I don't see a strong argument for any of the three.

If there was 1 to pick out of the 3 for  doing future work with the band, I would have to say Robin... 

I would be willing to say that none of the 3 ever do anything with guns again though..

I have read and heard more possitive things from members of the classic lineup than I have these three..   

TheBaconmans order of former guitar players performing live with GNR (1 equals most likely)

1.  Izzy
2.  Robin
3.  Paul
4.  Ron
5.  Gilby
6.  Slash
7.  Bucket

[EmilyGNR]

That's from the same Q&A where DJ say GN'R auditioned over 100 guitar players.

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=65960.msg1388541#msg1388541

Ultimate Classic Rock lifted the Blabbermouth story.

The full quote:

GUNS N' ROSES Auditioned 'Over A Hundred Guitar Players' Before Settling On DJ ASHBA

June 17, 2015

Speaking about how he landed the GUNS N' ROSES guitarist gig six years ago, Ashba said: "GUNS N' ROSES management called me, which, actually, was my personal manager too, so that kind of helped. But they said, you know, 'GUNS had been auditioning guitar players on the down low. They've been through over a hundred guitar players. Would you wanna come down and check it out?' And I honestly never saw myself doing it. I was, like, man, me and Axl [Rose, GUNS N' ROSES singer] are both from Indiana. I'd met him. Sharon Osbourne introduced me. When I was doing a BEAUTIFUL CREATURES record, they were next door doing the 'Chinese Democracy' record. And I was, like, 'Yeah, I'll go down. I'd love to see Axl again and say hi.' And he wasn't there, but he caught wind that I was gonna come down. And he called management and said, 'If he even shows up, he has the gig.' And that's kind of how it happened. It wasn't a real audition process, and I didn't even know that I was getting the gig. I just wanted to go down and, kind of, say hi to everybody."

He continued: "I didn't have a clue? Even after I accepted and everything, I had no idea that the shoes I was stepping into were pretty hardcore; it was a hardcore thing. I'd never read a bad thing about me on the Internet ever [before], and [now it was], like, 'You're not Slash. Fuck you!' And I'm, like, 'Oh, shit! This is a whole different thing.' I mean, that kind of blindsided me, 'cause my head wasn't even there. I was, like, 'I'm a fan of the band. I'm just trying to help keep that music alive.' But, you know, I finally slowly won those? some of them over, so it's good."

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/guns-n-roses-auditioned-over-a-hundred-guitar-players-before-settling-on-dj-ashba/

I realize that it was an excerpt taken from a previous interview, but I thought we could use a new topic.

[Bodhi]

I have definitely seen more hate thrown DJ's way than any other GNR guitarist in the last 20 years.  Now a lot of that is probably because social media is becoming much more popular at an alarming rate, so everyone has a voice and they love to use it.  There are so many avenues for people to post their opinions, and that just didn't exist back in 2002.

DJ is probably my favorite guitar player that GNR has had since the original line up disbanded.  I have heard people complain about his playing chops, but they are more than adequate for the old GNR material.  If you listen to any of his SIXX:AM stuff you will see what a great songwriter he is.  He is especially good at writing a solo that FITS the song perfectly, which is not something everyone knows how to do, and something that I feel is the most important thing for a guitar player.  Anyone can just shred a million miles an hour, but try writing something meaningful while doing less, not easy.

 In rock, having great chops is meaningless at the end of the day if you don't know how to use them.  That is why I will take guys like Billie Joe Armstrong, Tom Delonge, Izzy Stradlin, Noel Gallagher or Kurt Cobain over guys like Yngwie Malmsteen or Joe Satriani any day of the week

[LIGuns]

He has been a great addition..Looking forward to his studio input....

[jarmo]

People were ridiculing Paul's importance for years, until the album with the song credits was released.

And Paul was "just" a rhythm player!
Imagine that kind of hate and multiple it due to Dj being in the lead guitarist position...



/jarmo

[pilferk]

To clarify:

Bucket left.  And he basically said it was because the band was not productive enough to satisfy his soul. He feels a burning need to release music (and he's pretty much put his money where his mouth is, considering he's released roughly 2 albums a month for the better part of 2 years).  He seems to need to write and release music as almost cathartic therapy (which is a bad way to phrase it, I know...but I can't think of a better way).

Robin left to join NIN.  That doesn't surprise me.  While his sound fit GnR very well....I think HE felt he "fit" better in NIN.  I don't recall him ever giving a detailed explanation as to why he left, or saying a bad word about his time with GnR.

[pilferk]

Well, if an album ever actually come out with DJ on it, its just going to him adding on to something written and recorded by others.

I don't know how much that can really tell you.

As for live, I think his solo spots are quite good.  They you hear him try and put his spin on 'Patience' and you want to shoot him.  Or yourself.

See, I felt the same way about Robin, early on (2002 tour), too.

But he seemed to sort of "figure it out" as time went on.

I think, as an ARTIST, you have to balance respect for the old material with installing a bit of yourself into the notes you're playing.  It takes awhile to find that balance, I think.  Longer with some material...maybe material that doesn't resonate as closely with you...than with other material.

[D-GenerationX]

People were ridiculing Paul's importance for years, until the album with the song credits was released.

Sure, but that's because (right or wrong) he was so tied to the demise of the old band in the eyes of many.

A lot of folks saw it as Slash/Duff vs. Paul...and Axl picked Paul.  It didn't make a lot of sense to people.

I would put myself both in that camp that questioned the swap, but also one that softened my stance once I saw the writing credits.  I still think overall its a bad trade where everybody ultimately lost, but I don't think its fair to say Paul was not a huge part of putting the new material together.  He clearly was.