Izzy Stradlin tries to explain absence from Guns N’ Roses tour
The partial reunion of Guns N’ Roses classic lineup has gone on to become one of the highest grossing tours in the history of music, sitting pretty at nearly half a billion dollars at last count. While the return of guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan to the band kept alive by frontman Axl Rose for the better part of two decades has been wildly successful, the eternal question remains, “Where’s Izzy?”
Rhythm guitarist and cofounder of GNR, Izzy Stradlin was unquestionably a creative force in the band, having written or co-written hits like “Paradise City,” “Don’t Cry” and “Patience.” According to many, he was the lynchpin, responsible for the raw and loose sound that defined the group. But, when it came time to roll back the clock with his former bandmates, the elusive axe-slinger was nowhere to be seen.
Since the ‘Not in This Lifetime…’ jaunt kicked off in the spring of 2016, there have been conflicting reports about Stradlin’s non-participation. When interviewed that September by a South American publication, Rose addressed the issue regarding his childhood friend.
“With Izzy, that’s just something that ... I can’t really describe to say ... I don’t really know what to say about Izzy,” the singer said. “It’s, like, you could have a conversation and think it’s one way and the next day it’s another way. And I’m not trying to take any shots at Izzy. It’s just his thing is kind of his thing, whatever that is.”
Days later, in an unverified Twitter account attributed to Stradlin, the guitarist refuted the statement by Rose, indicating his absence was more about the money in a tweet that has since been deleted.
“[Expletive]. They didn’t want to split the loot equally. Simple as that. Moving right along .... ” he wrote.
Later, a supposed Guns N’ Roses insider claimed on an unofficial message board that Stradlin had been in negotiations with the band to appear at certain shows on the tour, much like original drummer Steven Adler, and that equal pay was never on the table, and a five-figure number was more like it.
Then, earlier this year, Guns’ former manager, Alan Niven, said in an interview Stradlin showed up at an undisclosed date in the Midwest, soundchecked with the group but then left without taking part in the show.
“Obviously had it gone well and everybody had been happy, and there had been a little bit of brotherhood, I’m sure he would have stayed with it,” Niven said. “But something must have really upset him, because he left after the soundcheck, and never turned up for another one or an appearance. I would think right now he is probably a little [expletive] off.”
This past weekend, Stradlin finally went on the record, officially, about why he declined to take part in the reunion. Speaking via e-mail with the Wall Street Journal, he gave a brief statement, one in which he seemed to be rather blasé about the whole situation.
“The current GNR tour has been a great success for the guys,” he said. “My nonparticipation was simply not being able to reach a happy middle ground through the negotiation process. That’s life, sometimes things don’t work out.”
It’s not like Stradlin has been completely off the radar after his abrupt exit from Guns N’ Roses at the height of their fame. He has released 11 albums since 1992, including the critically acclaimed ‘Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Jounds’ that year. Six of the records have been self-released.
“As a kid growing up in a small town, I sensed that if I could create music... one day I might make [a] connection with other people around the world,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “Nowadays, I constantly write songs, travel a bit and make the most of each day. Life is impermanent. I try to keep this in mind as I make my way along.”
Over the same period of time, he’s had a bit of strange relationship with the members of his former band, appearing here and there in the most unexpected of places to support them.
Just a year and a half removed from the group, he returned for four shows in Europe when his replacement in Guns, Gilby Clarke, broke his wrist. When Slash, McKagan, Adler’s replacement Matt Sorum and guitarist Dave Kushner started a band in 2002, Stradlin took part in the writing sessions for a number of weeks before bowing out. Eventually settling on ex-Stone Temple Pilots, the outfit named themselves Velvet Revolver.
Stradlin joined Rose in the revamped Guns N’ Roses lineup for more than a dozen shows in 2006, including one in New York City. In 2012 he did the same, shortly after the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a ceremony which neither he nor Rose took part.