Alice Cooper Talks Guns N' Roses Reunion: 'Where's Izzy?'

[Spirit]

Alice Cooper Talks Guns N' Roses Reunion: 'Where's Izzy?'

"You'd think if Slash and Axl are working together ... Izzy would be a shoo-in," singer says

By Kory Grow February 9, 2016

As Alice Cooper began preparing to debut a new Hollywood Vampires tune and pay tribute to Mot?rhead's Lemmy Kilmister at the Grammy Awards, he marveled at how he and his bandmates, which include Johnny Depp and Joe Perry, could coordinate schedules. One new challenge has been working around Guns N' Roses' recent reunion, since erstwhile GN'R members bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum double in Vampires.

"I had a feeling it was going to happen," Cooper says of the reunited GN'R, which officially welcomed McKagan and guitarist Slash back into Axl Rose's world. "Guns N' Roses is always unpredictable, which makes them exciting. I think those gigs will go through."

The one thing that has Cooper scratching his head though is the apparent absence of founding GN'R guitarist Izzy Stradlin, who played with the band from 1985 through 1991. "I'm just wondering why isn't Izzy in there?" he says. "I don't know about drums, but certainly Izzy is viable. You'd think if Slash and Axl are working together ? and Duff is one of those guys that gets along with everybody ? then at least Izzy would be one of the guys who would be a shoo-in.

"And maybe he is, I don't know," Cooper says, continuing speculation. "I don't what their setup is with him. But it's like not having Brian Jones with the Rolling Stones, if he were available."

Since Guns N' Roses announced the reunion, Cooper says McKagan has seemed reinvigorated, even in Hollywood Vampires. "Duff is great, man," he says. "One of the great things about when we put the Vampires together is how the bass and drums make the songs move. You've got two guys that have played together for 20 years. They're locked in. It's really good."

Cooper, who recorded a version of his "Under My Wheels" with Rose and Slash in 1988 and later guested on GN'R's "The Garden," also remembered taking Guns N' Roses out on the road with him in 1987, shortly after the release of Appetite for Destruction. "They were great," he says. "They were never late." He laughs. "They were one of those bands that, when they go on before you, you have to look at your band and be like, 'Hey guys, we better be good tonight because those guys were great.' You always want the opening band to push you. That's always a good thing."



http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/alice-cooper-talks-guns-n-roses-reunion-wheres-izzy-20160209

[JAEBALL]

I agree with all of that!

[Spirit]

Musically it certainly makes sense to have Izzy in the band. I think it comes more down to Izzy's own "dislike" for big commitments ? like a giant world tour or something.

Izzy certainly is friendly with everybody, so I think they did probably approach him about this. I do think he most likely has the same deal as before, "show up when and wherever you want", if you want to join in with us during the tour.

[johnreed3344]

what people who aren't true fans don't get is Izzy's just way of going about things. He doesn't want to dive into this huge commitments that's fine. Let him show up time to time and do his thing.

For sure he will have an impact on this reunion.

[JAEBALL]

Musically it certainly makes sense to have Izzy in the band. I think it comes more down to Izzy's own "dislike" for big commitments ? like a giant world tour or something.

Izzy certainly is friendly with everybody, so I think they did probably approach him about this. I do think he most likely has the same deal as before, "show up when and wherever you want", if you want to join in with us during the tour.

Agreed.

I know this doesn't sit well with some folks... but what Alice said about Matt and Duff playing together for so long... I do wish Matt was the full time drummer w/ Steven sprinkled in.  It just makes sense... If you are going back to that era... bring on the drummer too. Matt has such a connection with Slash and Duff. No disrespect to Frank is meant.

I also like Matt's wise ass mouth.  

The drummer seat is always a fun argument around here isn't it?

[Spirit]

For sure he will have an impact on this reunion.

Yes, I will actually be surprised if Izzy doesn't show up here and there to play with the band.

[D-GenerationX]

I know this doesn't sit well with some folks... but what Alice said about Matt and Duff playing together for so long... I do wish Matt was the full time drummer w/ Steven sprinkled in.  It just makes sense... If you are going back to that era... bring on the drummer too. Matt has such a connection with Slash and Duff. No disrespect to Frank is meant.

I'm right with you.

In what will be an even more unpopular opinion (I'm guessing) is that I find Frank's inclusion more than a little forced.  And all about Axl trying to keep as much of his most recent line-up as he can and not make it seem like he's trying to downplay it.

I find the selection of Frank to be more about optics and the way Axl wants things to appear than anything else.

But, ultimately, I consider the drumming in this particular band to be the FAR least important part, so I'm really not all that moved by it either way.

[JAEBALL]

For sure he will have an impact on this reunion.

Yes, I will actually be surprised if Izzy doesn't show up here and there to play with the band.

I think we are all just hoping that Izzy shows up at one of the shows that we attend !

[Spirit]

For sure he will have an impact on this reunion.

Yes, I will actually be surprised if Izzy doesn't show up here and there to play with the band.

I think we are all just hoping that Izzy shows up at one of the shows that we attend !

Haha, yeah that will probably be a gamble.

[JAEBALL]

I know this doesn't sit well with some folks... but what Alice said about Matt and Duff playing together for so long... I do wish Matt was the full time drummer w/ Steven sprinkled in.  It just makes sense... If you are going back to that era... bring on the drummer too. Matt has such a connection with Slash and Duff. No disrespect to Frank is meant.

I'm right with you.

In what will be an even more unpopular opinion (I'm guessing) is that I find Frank's inclusion more than a little forced.  And all about Axl trying to keep as much of his most recent line-up as he can and not make it seem like he's trying to downplay it.

I find the selection of Frank to be more about optics and the way Axl wants things to appear than anything else.

But, ultimately, I consider the drumming in this particular band to be the FAR least important part, so I'm really not all that moved by it either way.

We would just be guessing as to why Frank over Matt or why Axl may just not like the guy ... but one was involved with a good chunk of the music... and one isn't... one has a 20 year history with Slash and Duff and one doesn't...

So the scales certainly weigh one direction....

[Spirit]

Since Guns N' Roses announced the reunion, Cooper says McKagan has seemed reinvigorated, even in Hollywood Vampires.

This gives me a real good feeling about the GN'R stuff coming up.

[Thorned Rose]

I don't see why Izzy wouldn't play at some of the shows. I think it is almost certain that he plays a few or comes on stage at some point at the very least.

I would hope he would do the Vegas/Coachella gigs though. Or maybe he just does the US tour, then someone fills in?

I would rather this be a rock solid lineup and no revolving doors (we've all been there... fuck  )

Axl, Slash, Izzy, Duff, Matt, Steven, Dizzy

That is what I want. They need Dizzy for the UYI songs and he's a important background guy. I have Matt in there because I just don't think Steven can handle something so big like this.

The best he's done is like 200-300 people at little clubs. this might get too big for him and overwhelm him. And you just DON'T need 3 guitarists and a bassist. I always thought that was stupid as hell.

Let Steven play some of the UYI songs too. Just don't bring him out for the AFD stuff or just an encore. Let them play 1 show with 1 drummer and 1 eith the other? Or just split or something. Whatever. To me... Steven is the better drummer.

[JAEBALL]

Since Guns N' Roses announced the reunion, Cooper says McKagan has seemed reinvigorated, even in Hollywood Vampires.

This gives me a real good feeling about the GN'R stuff coming up.

I get the sense that this will be really special to him. Not that Slash and Axl won't appreciate and or enjoy this... but to Duff... you really get the sense this is important to him and that he is going to cherish every second of it.

Plus Axl and Slash can got heir separate ways and do their own things musically with ease anyway... Duff can't go off with Loaded and sell x y and z.

[Thorned Rose]

Damn... this was a Izzy post right? I want off on a Steven thing.

If a new album is made at some point IZZY has to be included. It would strengthen the album's writing process for sure. I could see them all recording and Axl might feel a them vs me feeling in the studio.

Izzy would help things on so many levels

[D-GenerationX]

We would just be guessing as to why Frank over Matt or why Axl may just not like the guy ... but one was involved with a good chunk of the music... and one isn't... one has a 20 year history with Slash and Duff and one doesn't...

So the scales certainly weigh one direction....

I never got the impression Axl and Matt were tight.  There are several examples of that support this.

It's just that once he patches it up with Slash, can't imagine there is any other fence he would not be able to mend.

[Thorned Rose]

Yeah Matt and Axl are clearly not cool as of last year.

It has been reported over the years several times that Matt stood up to Axl and told him what's up and Axl flipped, then over the years there's been barbs from Matt to Axl.

[JAEBALL]

Well I guess we will wait and see...

Definitely looking forward to some confirmation about the drums and other guitar parts.

Axl, Slash, Duff, Izzy and Richard with any drummer and Dizzy is such a freaking monster...

Never in my wildest dreams... so jacked up.

[Thorned Rose]

Yeah I never truly thought I'd see Slash and Axl together.

I kinda thought maybe in their 60s or something maybe. But never really thought it through or anything. I was one of those "Well if its not happened yet then its not" kinda people.

Excited no matter who is in.

[Voodoochild]

Since Guns N' Roses announced the reunion, Cooper says McKagan has seemed reinvigorated, even in Hollywood Vampires.

This gives me a real good feeling about the GN'R stuff coming up.

Yeah. I just hope it has the same effect in Axl.

[TokyoRose]

People keep thinking its a classic line up reunion.  It's not.  It's really just reuniting Axl and Slash together along with the newer line up of G n R.

G N R have never officially called it a reunion because they never intended it to be one imo.  It's just adding Slash back in, and Duff permanently.