Popular Post gunsguy Posted May 2, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted May 2, 2014 (edited) Craig Duswalt Exclusive Interview - Mygnrforum.comCraig Duswalt is the creator of the RockStar System For Success - How to Achieve RockStar Status in Your Industry.Craig's background includes touring with Guns N' Roses (as Axl Rose's personal manager) and Air Supply (as the band's personal assistant).In his presentations, Craig shares numerous stories of his days with Guns N' Roses and Air Supply, and behind-the-scenes encounters with some of the biggest names in entertainment: people like Bono, U2, Metallica, Queen, Kurt Cobain, Steven Tyler, Liz Taylor, Liza Minnelli, George Michael, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Robert Plant, Elton John, Gianni Versace, the Rolling Stones, Nine Inch Nails, Dave Navarro, Rick Springfield, Eddie Money, Michael Hutchence, and a bunch more.Craig was also an award-winning copywriter, working as a Creative Director for a Los Angeles-based ad agency until opening up his own ad agency, Green Room Design & Advertising, which was named the 2002 Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year.Craig combined his backgrounds in both music and marketing, and is now a professional speaker and author, promoting his RockStar System for Success all over the country -- teaching entrepreneurs, speakers, authors, coaches and info-marketers how to promote themselves and their business by thinking outside the box at his 3-Day RockStar Marketing BootCamp every March and September in Los Angeles.Craig Duswalt also speaks to corporations on how to market like a RockStar; to colleges, about drug awareness; and at numerous seminars, associations and conferences on how to use outside the box marketing techniques to attract clients, and how to stand out from the competition by throwing televisions out hotel windows — Like a RockStar.We had a chance to interview him recently; here it is:May 1st 2014------Mygnrforum: Hello Craig, it is nice to chat with you!Craig: Hey Justin. Thanks for having me. Haven’t had a GNR interview in a while, but I suspect I will be doing a lot of these over the next year or so.Mygnrforum: We understand you were Axl Rose's Personal Manager from 1991-1994. Can you help us understand what it means to be his Personal Manager, how you got there and what duties that entails?Craig: I was hired as Axl’s “second” personal assistant, under another guy named Blake. Prior to touring with GNR, I toured with the band Air Supply for about six years. In about 1985 or 1986 Doug Goldstein took over as Air Supply’s head security guy, and we became great friends. Doug went on to become GNR’s manager, and one day Doug called me out of the blue to see if I was interested in going on the road again. I said yes. So I joined the Use Your Illusion tour and became Axl’s personal assistant. After I was there for a few months, Blake quit, and I became Axl’s main guy for the next three years.I basically handled everything to do with Axl. If someone wanted to talk to Axl it either went through me or Doug Goldstein. I was responsible for his house, his backstage area, and his hotel room. I handled his money, set up his travel with our travel agent, scheduled limos to and from everywhere, and coordinated all his appointments. I had an assistant that would also handle shopping for Axl, and run regular, everyday errands. I supervised that as well. I was also responsible for making sure Axl got to the gigs “on time” — the most challenging part of my job.I also ran Axl’s teleprompter for a while until I handed that job over to another person. There were millions of little things as well, but that was the main stuff.Mygnrforum: We believe in your book you mention the Freddie Tribute gig and how amazing that was to be at. Can you tell us more and what was your next most memorable time while working with him?Craig: The Freddie Mercury tribute was truly the 5th best day of my life, behind my marriage and the birth of my three sons. It was an amazing day because I was such a huge Queen fan — something Axl and I had in common. We all met so many icons in the music industry and it was a day where all egos were put aside and everyone acted like a “regular” person. It was very cool to see a different side to the RockStars I met that day.So many interesting and cool things happened during my time with Axl and GNR, that besides the Freddie Mercury Tribute, nothing else really stands out, because they were all so great. Here’s an idea — buy the book, and you can hear the 50 cools things that happened to me on the road.Mygnrforum: Have you kept up with what's going on with Axl/GN'R since the late 90s? What is your view on how the group has changed?Criag: I have a little bit. I keep in touch with Del James a little — he recently hooked my cousin up with some tickets in New York, and of course, Beta. I personally wish the band had never broken up because they were all really great friends of mine, and I hated to see that end. It was an amazing three years. But I’m also a realist, and by the end of the tour I think the writing was on the wall that it would never last.I’m a big Axl fan, so I’ve wished him all the best over the years with the new lineups, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t want the lineup I toured with to get back together.Mygnrforum: Did you have any personal dealings with Beta Lebeis, and why do you think her role has evolved into GNR manager?Craig: Beta is a very dear friend. We’ve talked for hours at a time over all the years. We have each been a sounding board for each other and she was very helpful when I was working with Axl in the last year that I was there.But I haven’t heard this — is she the band’s manager now? Damn, I’m really out of the loop.Mygnrforum: Have you supported the GNR line-ups from 2001 onwards, and have you seen any shows?Craig: I support Axl. He was very good to me and my family. I last saw GNR at Universal Amphitheater in 2006, and the show was amazing. After the concert, my friends and I were invited backstage to Axl’s dressing room. Usually my wife Natasha would have come, but she had been diagnosed with cancer and was going through chemo and didn’t have the strength to go to the show. Del James and Beta walk us to Axl’s dressing room — I hadn’t seen Axl in a few years. I go back to Axl’s personal area and Axl gives me a hug, and the first thing out of his mouth was “How’s Natasha?” That is exactly who Axl Rose is.Mygnrforum: Although you had long parted company with Axl when Chinese Democracy finally dropped, what did you think of the record?Craig: Loved it. While I was on tour, and while I worked with Axl after the tour ended, I had heard so many versions of the songs that were supposed to be on the album, so it was interesting to hear what finally made it on the album.I loved the ballad, “This I Love” for two reasons. First, it’s an awesome song, and second, I was there while Axl was writing that song in his hotel rooms during the Use Your Illusion tour. It’s really cool to hear how a song goes through different variations, and what finally ends up on an album.Mygnrforum: How did you react to Axl being honoured at the recent Golden Gods ceremony? Of all his lifetime achievements, what would you pinpoint as being his most important moment?Craig: He deserved it.When I was on the road with him, one of the biggest concerts we played was the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. I remember him saying, after he walked off the stage, that he felt he had “made it.” His dream was always to play the Rose Bowl. Since then, I’m sure he’s had many more accomplishments, including the Golden Gods. I’m happy for him.Mygnrforum: Thanks a lot for chatting with us, can you tell us what your currently working on?Craig: First I want to say that my book, “Welcome to My Jungle” IS NOT a tell-all book. If you’re buying the book because you think I’m going to share all the dirt, save your money — you will be disappointed. Over the last twenty years, everyone I meet who knows I toured with Guns N’ Roses, always asks me to tell a story or two. Well, my book is filled with these stories — funny and interesting things that happened on the road, touring with one of the biggest bands of all time.I am currently a speaker, author, radio host and creator of the RockStar System For Success. I teach RockStar Marketing where I help regular business people become ROCKSTARS in their industry.Every March and September I hold large large RockStar Marketing BootCamps for between 400 – 500 entrepreneurs in Los Angeles. And just to keep with the theme of “RockStar” I always have a RockStar come as a Special Guest. Past RockStars include Duff McKagan, Gilby and Daniella Clarke, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees, John Waite, Eddie Money, Ray Parker Jr., and Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply.To register for the next RockStar Marketing BootCamp, September 18 – 20, 2014, please visit www.RockStarMarketingBootCamp.comMygnrforum: Great! Thanks again for your time, Craig!Craig: Thank you Justin. It was a pleasure.If you would like to order my new Guns N’ Roses book, please go to Amazon.com and order it there. The book will be released on May 13, 2014.You can hear more about my book at www.CraigDuswalt.com------Gunsguy Edit - Special thanks to NGOG and the entire mygnrforum team for the input and help on this one! Edited May 2, 2014 by Estranged Reality 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Exclusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunsguy Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 Exclusive.Well in THIS case it truly is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtle Signs Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 I guess this shows how big of Gn'R-nerds we really are that you had to tell this guy about Beta's role these days. Cool little interview though especially the part about TIL. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thin White Duke Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Since when manager and assistant are the same thing? Oh well, nevermind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunsguy Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 Since when manager and assistant are the same thing? Oh well, nevermind. I think at the time they were one in the same. Even now Beta seems to do both roles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 I just finished reading. That was an interesting interview.Thanks GG. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerthGNR Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IncitingChaos Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Very cool! It seems everyone has a story about Axl that shows his compassion. I guess it's another way Axl is unique. He's not so caught up in himself that he forgets about the people in his life and what's going on in their life as well. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPoe Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 If Craig's book is going to discuss the original lineup, will he be put in the same Axl Rose purgatory that Marc Canter is in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thin White Duke Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Good job GG. No surprise to know that Axl had already trouble getting on time back then. Then it was the others' fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoSoRose Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Ngog should have done this...Good job gunsguy! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunsguy Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 Ngog should have done this...Good job gunsguy!We work as a team, in that spirit, it is "our" interview, I just happened to be the one who was able to get in touch with Craig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOLGER Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Would've asked about the illusions tour documentary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highvoltage Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Ngog should have done this...Good job gunsguy!That's a bit rude mate. Gunsguy did an excellent job contacting Craig, and getting the whole thing done and organised quickly and professionally.They work together on every interview, NGOG helped with some of the questions. They're a team.GG set this one up, so he deserved to post it. Thanks to both of you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batman007 Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Great interview! Good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnT Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 short interview, but awsome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuddy Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercool Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 (edited) Product Description : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Welcome-My-Jungle-Unauthorized-Wallabies-ebook/dp/B00IC8VGAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399000235&sr=8-1&keywords=how+a+regular+guy+guns+roses Guns N’ Roses fans know the Use Your Illusion tour went on nonstop from 1991 to 1993. They know that concerts sold out in minutes all over the world so fans could hear chart-topping singles Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child of Mine, Paradise City, and November Rain live. They know the Use Your Illusion tour was the last for the band with Slash and Duff. But they’ve only heard rumors of the behind-the-scenes shenanigans. Fortunately for fans, Craig Duswalt hasn’t just heard rumors—he knows what went on backstage on one of the longest and most popular music events because he lived it. As Axl Rose’s personal manager during the ridiculously long world tour, Duswalt experienced things that would make most people run the other way and never look back. And in Welcome to My Jungle, he shares the sometimes hilarious, sometimes just plain reckless, and always insane actual happenings on the tour. A true must-read for Guns N’ Roses fans, Welcome to My Jungle delights readers with hilarious and entertaining exclusive firsthand stories like: •The day Axl Rose, Kurt Cobain, and Courtney Love got into a “huge war” backstage at the MTV Awards •Why Guns N’ Roses are forever linked to Charles Manson •The night Liz Taylor walked in on a very nude Slash—and stayed a while Featuring little-known facts for the ultimate GN’R fan, Welcome To My Jungle gives an inside look at what it’s really like to live and work with a hugely popular band, from the middle of a rock and roll hurricane. Edited May 2, 2014 by supercool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estranged Reality Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 great job, guys! i was pleasantly surprised by the...depth of the responses? this guy actually took time to give thoughtful answers, which is great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesecake Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 •The night Liz Taylor walked in on a very nude Slash—and stayed a while BTW Thanks for doing this interview! Neat!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rock4eva Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 It goes to show that although he seems aloof & elusive at the best of times he does care about the people he's had friendships with in his life.To ask about Craig's wife even though they hadn't been in touch for a while was nice, he's not so up himself that nobody else matters.Thanks Gunsguy for this interview & I look forward to reading the book.Although Axl mixes with the models & the other famous crowds I am hearing from fans that wait for him at hotels etc that he also seems to enjoy mixing with the ordinary everyday people by pushing security aside to join in with the fans. If the people don't all crowd him and yell out to him he's happy to stand in a group of people having photos taken & telling stories. It's the pushy ones where security is needed which is a shame. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguy Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Nice exclusive! I'll check his book out if the library gets a copy. Axl really was one of the last rockstars, in that he behaved more like a pop star or film star. Having an assistant handle everything? Can you imagine any current rock musician doing that? No way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superloconoriega Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 seems like a really nice guy. Respect for him saying that it wasnt a "tell all" type of book. Gonna try to buy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padme Posted May 2, 2014 Share Posted May 2, 2014 Thanks GG, interested interview. I´m surprised he didn´t know Beta is the manager now. Looking at what he said he found out about it during this intereview with Mygnrforum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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