In a revealing new interview with music journalist Joel Gausten, former Appetite for Destruction-era Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven shares his thoughts on why the band was never the same following the departures of guitarist Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler.
Niven praises Stradlin’s “unimpeachable, lyrical streetwise vernacular” and contributions to the band’s iconic early sound before the guitarist quit the group in 1991.
“I loved his right hand. His rhythm playing and sense of syncopation (were) perfect for accentuating and establishing groove. That was a disaster for G N’ R to lose him. Stupid – utterly stupid. Losing Izzy, that’s when I go, ‘Okay, whatever it is from now, it’s not the Guns N’ Roses that I came to love.’ Losing Izzy was the worst thing they could do.”
Niven also shares complimentary words for Adler, who was fired from the group in 1990 and replaced by Matt Sorum.
“What they lost when they lost Stevie was swing. They haven’t had a drummer who can play with swing since. They’ve had heavy hitters – drummers with heavy hands. When I’m feeling a little bit cynical and unkind, I call them ‘concrete hands.’ Stevie (is) not the best drummer in the world, but he could play with a swing. The other thing about Stevie was that he loved being in that band so much that there was an incredible ebullience that came through him into his kit. That informed his playing and the swing and the feel of those tracks. So, losing him was tough.”
Watch the Stradlin / Adler clip and the complete interview below.
On Saturday, May 17, Guns N’ Roses performed in India for the first time in nearly 13 years. The concert took place at Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai.
Guns N’ Roses had previously played India on December 12, 2012 in Gurgaon, outside of New Delhi. However, it should be noted that show took place prior to vocalist Axl Rose’s 2016 reunion with guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan.
Amateur footage of Guns N’ Roses bringing their Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things tour to Mumbai, India can be enjoyed below.
Setlist:
“Welcome To The Jungle”
“Bad Obsession”
“Mr. Brownstone”
“Live And Let Die” (Wings cover)
“Chinese Democracy”
“Locomotive”
“It’s So Easy”
“Slither” (Velvet Revolver cover)
“Pretty Tied Up”
“Estranged”
“Double Talkin’ Jive”
“Absurd”
“Yesterdays”
“You Could Be Mine”
“Rocket Queen”
“New Rose” (The Damned cover)
“Better”
“Civil War”
– Slash guitar solo –
“Sweet Child O’ Mine”
“November Rain”
“Wichita Lineman” (Jimmy Webb cover)
“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” (Bob Dylan cover)
“Hard Skool”
“Don’t Cry”
“Nightrain”
“Patience”
“Paradise City”
Their complete tour schedule can be found here.
Follow BraveWords on social media… Facebook page, Facebook Group, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and YouTube.
Visit https://linktr.ee/bravewords
The post Former GUNS N’ ROSES Manager ALAN NIVEN – “Losing IZZY STRADLIN Was The Worst Thing They Could Do” (Video) appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
Niven praises Stradlin’s “unimpeachable, lyrical streetwise vernacular” and contributions to the band’s iconic early sound before the guitarist quit the group in 1991.
“I loved his right hand. His rhythm playing and sense of syncopation (were) perfect for accentuating and establishing groove. That was a disaster for G N’ R to lose him. Stupid – utterly stupid. Losing Izzy, that’s when I go, ‘Okay, whatever it is from now, it’s not the Guns N’ Roses that I came to love.’ Losing Izzy was the worst thing they could do.”
Niven also shares complimentary words for Adler, who was fired from the group in 1990 and replaced by Matt Sorum.
“What they lost when they lost Stevie was swing. They haven’t had a drummer who can play with swing since. They’ve had heavy hitters – drummers with heavy hands. When I’m feeling a little bit cynical and unkind, I call them ‘concrete hands.’ Stevie (is) not the best drummer in the world, but he could play with a swing. The other thing about Stevie was that he loved being in that band so much that there was an incredible ebullience that came through him into his kit. That informed his playing and the swing and the feel of those tracks. So, losing him was tough.”
Watch the Stradlin / Adler clip and the complete interview below.
On Saturday, May 17, Guns N’ Roses performed in India for the first time in nearly 13 years. The concert took place at Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai.
Guns N’ Roses had previously played India on December 12, 2012 in Gurgaon, outside of New Delhi. However, it should be noted that show took place prior to vocalist Axl Rose’s 2016 reunion with guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan.
Amateur footage of Guns N’ Roses bringing their Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things tour to Mumbai, India can be enjoyed below.
Setlist:
“Welcome To The Jungle”
“Bad Obsession”
“Mr. Brownstone”
“Live And Let Die” (Wings cover)
“Chinese Democracy”
“Locomotive”
“It’s So Easy”
“Slither” (Velvet Revolver cover)
“Pretty Tied Up”
“Estranged”
“Double Talkin’ Jive”
“Absurd”
“Yesterdays”
“You Could Be Mine”
“Rocket Queen”
“New Rose” (The Damned cover)
“Better”
“Civil War”
– Slash guitar solo –
“Sweet Child O’ Mine”
“November Rain”
“Wichita Lineman” (Jimmy Webb cover)
“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” (Bob Dylan cover)
“Hard Skool”
“Don’t Cry”
“Nightrain”
“Patience”
“Paradise City”
Their complete tour schedule can be found here.
Follow BraveWords on social media… Facebook page, Facebook Group, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and YouTube.
Visit https://linktr.ee/bravewords
The post Former GUNS N’ ROSES Manager ALAN NIVEN – “Losing IZZY STRADLIN Was The Worst Thing They Could Do” (Video) appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...