Why was Izzy's amp unplugged during the '91 UYI tour?

[smoking guns]

[tentonneskeleton]

But theres a difference between playing pranks on your bandmates, and then a bandmate who just disappears, isolates himself, and then has his lawyer show up with what was practically a letter of resignation.

That's a pretty loose definition of prank. That's more spiteful than a joke.

then a bandmate who just disappears, isolates himself, and then has his lawyer show up with what was practically a letter of resignation.

Sounds just like Axl.

All I'm really saying is, I'm not surprised they didn't try and beg him to come back. Whether they were just too pissed off to do it, or they didn't think it would do them any good, who knows?

[SoulMonster]

These Slash 1993 quotes badtalking Izzy are really hard to believe because everybody knows that Slash and Duff were out of this planet during the Illusion era.

According to everybody around them, and according to themselves, they were basically zombie-like-drunks-and-junkies in 1991-1992-1993. Many people have described them like that in that era, including Axl, Izzy and Slash and Duff themselves.

That doesn't mean they are unable to express discontent with a fellow band mate, does it?

On "general comments about his playing style and contributions", please add what Slash (now sober) had to say about Izzy in a very recent interview, he seems to have changed his mind a lot.

Sure! Slash has said lots of nice things about Izzy's guitar skills. The reason why I didn't post them was that my objective was to substantiate the argument that Izzy wasn't cutting it during the 5 shows in 1993. Slash comments from that period clearly imply that Izzy was ill-prepared, didn't make an effort, and that the shows suffered as a result.

Here are all my quotes where Slash talks about Izzy's guitar playing (please send me more if you have!):

When we first met we didn't click musically at all. lzzy and Axl had a band together. I wanted to get Axl and I didn't want to work with another guitar player because I'd never done it before. Working with other guitar players. I couldn't be in control of what was happening on the guitar. I wanted to get Axl away from lzzy, which was impossible. At the time when I met Axl we started a band and lzzy was in it, but he split to join a band called London. which I had just quit. That was cool, so me and Axl had a band going. That broke up. Eventually Axl joined L.A. Guns. Then lzzy joined L.A. Guns because everybody just wanted to be in a band and be working. That didn't work out and I got this call that said, do you want to come back and play with us? At first I didn't want to do it because me and Axl had been through some bad times together. I did it and worked with lzzy because that's what was happening. It was the only band I could find that I could relate to. If you listen to the record, me and lzzy don't play anything alike. Our sound is completely different. He doesn't play lead hardly at all, but his rhythm style is cool. I was a lot heavier than he was. But we worked it out and it wasn't even a conscious thing. We just played together and eventually got better and better and now we sort of jell more [Guitar For The Practising Musician, September 1988]

About Izzy's contributions to Appetite for Destruction: Izzy's stuff was one take - there's no way he was going to come down and rerecord it, and he didn't have to: his playing is so here and there, just the essence of great rhythm guitar playing, that spending too much time on it, or recording it on top of the live track, is just silly. Basically, what Izzy played was the simple heart of the songs, no matter who wrote them; if everything else was taken off one of our songs, you'd hear the grace of Izzy's simple scratch rhythms (...) Izzy played all around the riffs that I'd be playing beside Duff: he and I would do Led Zeppelin-style single.note riffs while Izzy brought simple chords patterns that fell around the beat instead of on it. For every downbeat, Izzy had an upbeat. It made for a pretty complex-sounding rock-and-roll band, but at its core it was very simple executed [bozza, Anthony, & Slash (2007). Slash. Harper Entertainment: New York. p. 172]

We don't work out our parts. If it's Izzy's song I might turn the riff around a little bit and add something. But he'll play his part the way he wrote it - very loose, very Stonesy. When it comes to my tunes, I write riffs that are a lot more intricate - that's my style. So he just takes his style and and adds it to my riffs. Usually, for every five notes on that side [points left and chuckles]. [...] Izzy keeps it loose; he's got a great rhythm style [slash - The Hands Behind The Hype, Guitar Player, December 2012]

About The Spaghetti Incident?: I love recording like this. During Appetite..., Lies and Use Your... I had to put up with Izzy the whole time. I never liked playing with him. It was wonderful to escape him on this record. It sounds tighter and so much cooler than anything we've done before. I always got irritated over Izzy's way of playing. It didn't sound right. Before "Spaghetti", we erased his guitar and Gilby put on a new one. It sounded perfect! [Okej, November? 1993]

I really looked forward to playing with him again and really hoped that he had changed. I booked a place before the first gigs in Tel Aviv to rehearse. But Izzy thought it was unnecessary, that it was just wasted time. He hadn't changed one bit and therefore the gigs turned out the way they did. [...] Izzy simply doesn't like playing rock at the level where we are right no. We understand it no and I'm personally very fucking disappointed at his previous behavior slash#1234">[Metal Zone, December 1993]

Izzy basically left while we were recording the "...Illusion" records. He's not on half of those records. He hardly even played on his own songs! [Kerrang! January 1994]

It was my idea to call Izzy; I thought it would be interesting. I didn't know he hadn't picked up his guitar in the last fucking year! It was really nice at first, because regardless of whatever animosity, it wasn't anything so deep-rooted that it didn't blow over. So, we hung out, we went shopping in London together, we had fun. Then right towards the end he turned around and did certain things that were so fucked. Right towards the fifth date, because of his hand Gilby still wasn't sure if he was going to be able to play, and Izzy all of a sudden turned around and stabbed us in the back again, asked for an amazing amount of money to do one show - it's like, 'I can't believe this, go home!'. That's the last time we talked. I don't know what's going on in his head...I have this great photo of Gilby, Izzy and Ronnie Wood together - the flunkies from hell [Kerrang! March 1994]

Talking about Izzy replacing Gilby: "Fuck it," Axl said. "Let's call Izzy." I was surprised and happy to hear that Izzy went for it (...). Izzy showed up...with dreadlocks...and hadn't practised one song. So we did what we could [bozza, Anthony, & Slash (2007). Slash. Harper Entertainment: New York, p.369-370]

I never really have to go, "Izzy, play this part this way." He just plays his thing his own way, and we never really talk about it much. Last night, we went in and took two songs from scratch, just basic chord changes, and worked them into full songs. That's one of the things about me and Izzy working together, he knows where I'm at, and I know where he's at. And that's the way it's always been. I make up something that accompanies his part, and at the same time accents it, and he does the same with my parts. We have that kind of chemistry. We've always been good friends, so for us to get in a room and play is a very easy thing to do [Guitar One Magazine, 2002]

Dave [Kushner] and Izzy are the only two guitar players I really mesh with [Velvet Revolver, Total Guitar #121 April 2004]

It is interesting to look at the dates of the quotes, as well as other quotes of Slash talking about Izzy, and put them in the context of what was happening at the time. Slash was supportive of Izzy in the beggining before Izzy left, after all, they were a "band of brothers"; then slammed him for quitting the band, as Axl also did; then slammed him again for the debacle in 1993 when Izzy met unprepared yet wanted more money from appearing with the band; when Velvet Revolver started and they were buddies again and Slash would make more comoplimentary comments; and in more recent years when I guess Slashs allows himself to be more gracious towards him again.

[Intercourse]

It is interesting to look at the dates of the quotes, as well as other quotes of Slash talking about Izzy, and put them in the context of what was happening at the time. Slash was supportive of Izzy in the beginning before Izzy left, after all, they were a "band of brothers"; then slammed him for quitting the band, as Axl also did; then slammed him again for the debacle in 1993 when Izzy met unprepared yet wanted more money from appearing with the band; when Velvet Revolver started and they were buddies again and Slash would make more complimentary comments; and in more recent years when I guess Slashs allows himself to be more gracious towards him again.

What was unfair at the time is that both Axl & Slash chastised Izzy for his unpredictability and self-imposed isolation from the band when the one of the main reasons the man fucking quit was Axl's unpredictability and self imposed isolation from the band!!

Slash was certainly Axl's bitch back then - no doubt. No sign of him calling out the band leader for being partly responsible for Izzy leaving. Its amazing really that the other four members didn't try to think about it from Izzy's point of view. Nobody was talking to anybody back then, so sad, especially when you see footage of a great UYI gig with the band seeming to be having so much fun together.

Also, if you think about it, the balls of Axl trying to force Izzy to take a smaller pay check for the live gigs when he couldn't be arsed to fucking show up on time himself leading to thousands in late fees and damaged property from rioting fans. The fucking balls of that!!! The hypocrisy is stunning.

Its nice to see how Slash in later years has grown to really understand the essence of Izzy as a guitar player and songwriter. What I don't understand is that he never went that way stylistically again. If anything he's getting more heavy metal rather than Stonesy.

Edited December 10, 2014 by Intercourse

[Strange Broue]

If you put A + B + C together you will realise that Axl & Slash pretty much hijacked Guns n' Roses on the Illusion era.

This thing -- turning down Izzy amps -- is the most pathetic thing that they could have done;

And to say that Izzy playing was bad?

This is even worse. It's pure bullshit.

I have dozens of bootlegs where I can hear Izzy and his playing is always amazing.

Also, 90% of the GNR songs are not difficult to play live;

I agree, it was not nice, but I am doubtful about how ofte it actually happened.

Some more quotes on this and in particular why his amp was turned down in Tel Aviv:

Slash: I really looked forward to playing with him again and really hoped that he had changed. I booked a place before the first gigs in Tel Aviv to rehearse. But Izzy thought it was unnecessary, that it was just wasted time. He hadn't changed one bit and therefore the gigs turned out the way they did [Metal Zone, December 1993]

Slash: It was my idea to call Izzy; I thought it would be interesting. I didn't know he hadn't picked up his guitar in the last fucking year!

Slash talking about Izzy replacing Gilby: "Fuck it," Axl said. "Let's call Izzy." I was surprised and happy to hear that Izzy went for it (...). Izzy showed up...with dreadlocks...and hadn't practised one song. So we did what we could [bozza, Anthony, & Slash (2007). Slash. Harper Entertainment: New York, p.369-370]

And general comments about his playing style and contributions:

Gilby: [...] Nobody really seemed to know what Izzy played. I would perform something, and Slash would say, "I thought you knew this tune," and I'd argue that I did. And then he'd say "No, you don't You are playing my part!" And then we'd realize that you couldn't really hear Izzy's part on some of the songs. So the we had to try to reconstruct his parts the best we could [Guitar World, November 1992]

Slash talking about The Spaghetti Incident?: I love recording like this. During Appetite..., Lies and Use Your... I had to put up with Izzy the whole time. I never liked playing with him. It was wonderful to escape him on this record. It sounds tighter and so much cooler than anything we've done before. I always got irritated over Izzy's way of playing. It didn't sound right. Before "Spaghetti", we erased his guitar and Gilby put on a new one. It sounded perfect! [Okej, November? 1993]

Slash: Izzy basically left while we were recording the "...Illusion" records. He's not on half of those records. He hardly even played on his own songs! [Kerrang! January 1994]

Slash: I had to double guitars up for him on most of [illusions]. He didn't play very much [Guns N' Roses: Is It All Over? Does Anyone Care? Metal Hammer November 1995]

lol Slash was such a douchebag back then

[tomfriend]

Here we can hear Axl completely out of breath trying to rant like in the old days. Embarrassing. Plus, Izzy was clean in 1993, so here we have Axl lying once again about his former bandmates.

Axl is an even bigger liar than you thought. Izzy has been sober since December 15th 1989!

Yes, he's been always full of shit. I'm glad there's a SBD recording of that show, so we have proof of his lies and bullshit.

So what about the Slash quotes posted that corroborate much of the story? Is he full of 'lies and bullshit' too?

Either way, petty as they both can be, I don't believe they're dumb enough to have been turning down his amp if he sounded really great.

Edited December 10, 2014 by tomfriend

[SoulMonster]

It is interesting to look at the dates of the quotes, as well as other quotes of Slash talking about Izzy, and put them in the context of what was happening at the time. Slash was supportive of Izzy in the beginning before Izzy left, after all, they were a "band of brothers"; then slammed him for quitting the band, as Axl also did; then slammed him again for the debacle in 1993 when Izzy met unprepared yet wanted more money from appearing with the band; when Velvet Revolver started and they were buddies again and Slash would make more complimentary comments; and in more recent years when I guess Slashs allows himself to be more gracious towards him again.

What was unfair at the time is that both Axl & Slash chastised Izzy for his unpredictability and self-imposed isolation from the band when the one of the main reasons the man fucking quit was Axl's unpredictability and self imposed isolation from the band!!

Slash was certainly Axl's bitch back then - no doubt. No sign of him calling out the band leader for being partly responsible for Izzy leaving. Its amazing really that the other four members didn't try to think about it from Izzy's point of view. Nobody was talking to anybody back then, so sad, especially when you see footage of a great UYI gig with the band seeming to be having so much fun together.

One comment about Izzy from the other band members that repeats itself, is that he wasn't "pulling his weight". Axl had a very clear idea of what he expected from his band mates in terms of performance, and Izzy wouldn't do it. Izzy's low-key persona and stage antics didn't cut it for Axl and Slash. Here's a quote from Axl:

There were certain things we weren't getting from Izzy that we really wanted, and everybody was like giving a certain amount, and we felt that everybody should give energy in a certain way to Guns N' Roses, and we weren't getting that. Gilby came in and learned all the songs and got out there on stage and liked performing for the crowd and liked running around [The making of November Rain, 1991?].

So it wansn't just the fact that he isolated himself form the rest of the band (probably to a larger extent than Axl back then) or his unpredictability, but basically that he wasn't as much of a show man as expected of members in GN'R back then, at least from Axl and Slash.

To me this is really sad, because Izzy was so vital in the creation of the music of GN'R, such a solid guitar player, and I much more appreciated his low-key and cool stage persona than the almost orchestrated show that Axl and Slash was going for back then which basically felt a bit put on to me (and wtf with the backup singers, teddy and adding pianos). It became too bloated and for me personally, it wasn't the band I had fallen in love with, at least that was what I thought back then. So Izzy leaving was when "my personal GN'R" ended.

[tentonneskeleton]

One comment about Izzy from the other band members that repeats itself, is that he wasn't "pulling his weight". Axl had a very clear idea of what he expected from his band mates in terms of performance, and Izzy wouldn't do it. Izzy's low-key persona and stage antics didn't cut it for Axl and Slash. Here's a quote from Axl:

There were certain things we weren't getting from Izzy that we really wanted, and everybody was like giving a certain amount, and we felt that everybody should give energy in a certain way to Guns N' Roses, and we weren't getting that. Gilby came in and learned all the songs and got out there on stage and liked performing for the crowd and liked running around [The making of November Rain, 1991?].

So it wansn't just the fact that he isolated himself form the rest of the band (probably to a larger extent than Axl back then) or his unpredictability, but basically that he wasn't as much of a show man as expected of members in GN'R back then, at least from Axl and Slash.

To me this is really sad, because Izzy was so vital in the creation of the music of GN'R, such a solid guitar player, and I much more appreciated his low-key and cool stage persona than the almost orchestrated show that Axl and Slash was going for back then which basically felt a bit put on to me (and wtf with the backup singers, teddy and adding pianos). It became too bloated and for me personally, it wasn't the band I had fallen in love with, at least that was what I thought back then. So Izzy leaving was when "my personal GN'R" ended.

It really sucks to hear that. It's almost like Izzy didn't want to be there, and they didn't want Izzy there much, either.

Edited December 10, 2014 by izzlestrizzle

[Intercourse]

One comment about Izzy from the other band members that repeats itself, is that he wasn't "pulling his weight". Axl had a very clear idea of what he expected from his band mates in terms of performance, and Izzy wouldn't do it. Izzy's low-key persona and stage antics didn't cut it for Axl and Slash. Here's a quote from Axl:

There were certain things we weren't getting from Izzy that we really wanted, and everybody was like giving a certain amount, and we felt that everybody should give energy in a certain way to Guns N' Roses, and we weren't getting that. Gilby came in and learned all the songs and got out there on stage and liked performing for the crowd and liked running around [The making of November Rain, 1991?].

So it wansn't just the fact that he isolated himself form the rest of the band (probably to a larger extent than Axl back then) or his unpredictability, but basically that he wasn't as much of a show man as expected of members in GN'R back then, at least from Axl and Slash.

Again I repeat my assessment - "the BALLS of that!"

Izzy was always stand offish, cool and reserved - look at him in the Ritz in '88. Smoke hanging from his mouth just playing his guitar. That was his look and persona and he had his legions of fans because of it.

Part of the huge attraction of GNR were the rock persona's and how different they were.

This is more of Axl's controlling BS and Slash rowing in behind.

If I was Izzy I would have said "Fine, I'll try harder if Duff & Slash lay off the junk and booze and if Axl gets on fucking stage when he's supposed to and fucking stays there until the end without walking off."

Everybody was at fault that the band was falling apart it was just a case of who woke up to the big picture first and got out.

Izzy was the first, then Slash and then Matt and Duff. Axl?...well we know the rest..

[dalsh327]

Once lawyers get involved they proceed to slaughter and carve bands up. The recent lawsuit against John Fogerty by his former CCR bandmates is another case of people who should be getting along, especially guys that have known each other for over 50 years, but it's just more of the same BS that hurts the band, hurts the fans, and makes the lawyers rich.

[Bards]

Slash talking about The Spaghetti Incident?: I love recording like this. During Appetite..., Lies and Use Your... I had to put up with Izzy the whole time. I never liked playing with him. It was wonderful to escape him on this record. It sounds tighter and so much cooler than anything we've done before. I always got irritated over Izzy's way of playing. It didn't sound right. Before "Spaghetti", we erased his guitar and Gilby put on a new one. It sounded perfect! [Okej, November? 1993]

I'm thinking this quote is fake unless proven otherwise. It doesn't sound like Slash's voice and doesn't even really match up with the other interviews where he was critical of Izzy.

[SoulMonster]

Slash talking about The Spaghetti Incident?: I love recording like this. During Appetite..., Lies and Use Your... I had to put up with Izzy the whole time. I never liked playing with him. It was wonderful to escape him on this record. It sounds tighter and so much cooler than anything we've done before. I always got irritated over Izzy's way of playing. It didn't sound right. Before "Spaghetti", we erased his guitar and Gilby put on a new one. It sounded perfect! [Okej, November? 1993]

I'm thinking this quote is fake unless proven otherwise. It doesn't sound like Slash's voice and doesn't even really match up with the other interviews where he was critical of Izzy.

I found this interview originally in HTGTH's archive. You can read the complete interview here: http://www.a-4-d.com/t574-1993-11-dd-interview-with-slash

Okej is a Swedish magazine. I don't have original copies and rely on the translation done by "Andreas". I agree Slash is much hardsher than in any other interviews I have seen. On the other hand, maybe he thought it was more "safe" to speak frankly to an obscure magazine in Sweden? This was also done at a time where Slash was bitter about Izzy's behaviour during the 5 stand-in shows (when Gilby was injured), and possibly also bitter about ending the UYI touring and the band losing its focus.

All this being said, it is not unknown for interviewers to spruce up interviews, especially if they go into a language the subject won't understand, or for translators to have an agenda...

[bikka]

I remember Axl talking about his comeback on 93 for the show in Israel (I think) and he said that when Izzy wasn't watching they would go and turn off his amp (or turn down his volume) because he would just be playing a completely different song in a completely different key . I guess it was probably the same for 1991 (and for the album)

Edit: found it

Wasn't this rant just after the Izzy interview where he talked about Axl in his school years?

This was published in 2001:

In high school, you know, Axl, he had long, red hair, he was a little guy and he got a lot of shit [because of it]. I think he

never got laid, too, in school. I hate to bring this up cos this is getting nasty," he laughs. "But he

never got no pussy at school, Axl. So now the guy's a big fucking rock star, he's got the chicks

lined up, he's got money and he's got people... and the power went to this guy's head. I mean, he

was a fucking monster! Nuts! Crazy!

I always thought the sudden Axl's come back to slagging Iz off from the stage was because he found out about that interview!

As far as Izzy's stage presence - here are some quotes from the same interview:

"The shows were completely erratic. I never knew whether we'd be able to finish the show from day-to-day, cos [Axl] would walk off..."

(...) but for Izzy, returning to the road with Guns N' Roses, in 1991, was "a nightmare." Axl's 'mood swings' had become so regular.

"I said to Duff and Slash, we gotta learn a cover song or something, for when [Axl} leaves the stage. They were like, 'Ah, let's have another beer...' They didn't care."

"The music had taken a back seat, there was nothing new coming from us. We didn't sit around and play accoustic guitars anymore. It was like, oh, time to go on - where's the singer? The singer walked off? Now what do we do?"

I agree with Intercourse - I guess Izzy was all ready to go and give his max but he was 3hr too early for the rest of the band! And how long can you keep on beeing all focused an buzzed up for a show when you're waiting, and waiting, and you don't really know when it's gonna start...? Time goes slow when you're sober... By the time they went on I suppose he would be all meh... And then Axl would go off in the middle of the show - kinda hard to care at that point.

[Bards]

All this being said, it is not unknown for interviewers to spruce up interviews, especially if they go into a language the subject won't understand, or for translators to have an agenda...

That's what I'm leaning towards. Either a translation issue or an unknown Swedish journo trying to make a name for himself.

[SoulMonster]

All this being said, it is not unknown for interviewers to spruce up interviews, especially if they go into a language the subject won't understand, or for translators to have an agenda...

That's what I'm leaning towards. Either a translation issue or an unknown Swedish journo trying to make a name for himself.

I remember thinking about this when reading the interview, but concluded that I believe the whole interview is legit, although I will be the first to say I had to consider it for a while and won't bet much money on it. I will make an effort now to get hold of the original interview. Unfortunately, Okej Magazine is out of business since 2011 and I don't know who the interviewer was.

[KinseyHolley]

Because Axl and Slash were being cunts.

Yes. And let's remember that from 91-93 (94?) Axl's hand was up Slash's ass and everything that came out of Slash's mouth was Axl talking. Slash, as Izzy once said, was not the thinking man's drug addict. He was completely fucked up. And AXL complaining about anyone else not giving 100% is a fucking joke. Axl has never given 100% to any of the GNR incarnations. He didn't bother to turn up for gigs in 85-88, he outright laughed at fans for expecting him to show up on time 91-94...the guy has never given a fuck for the people who buy his records or attend his shows. He doesn't have to, because there will always be people who buy his records and attend his shows. And they get what they pay for.

[DieselDaisy]

Slash talking about The Spaghetti Incident?: I love recording like this. During Appetite..., Lies and Use Your... I had to put up with Izzy the whole time. I never liked playing with him. It was wonderful to escape him on this record. It sounds tighter and so much cooler than anything we've done before. I always got irritated over Izzy's way of playing. It didn't sound right. Before "Spaghetti", we erased his guitar and Gilby put on a new one. It sounded perfect! [Okej, November? 1993]

I'm thinking this quote is fake unless proven otherwise. It doesn't sound like Slash's voice and doesn't even really match up with the other interviews where he was critical of Izzy.

I found this interview originally in HTGTH's archive. You can read the complete interview here: http://www.a-4-d.com/t574-1993-11-dd-interview-with-slash

Okej is a Swedish magazine. I don't have original copies and rely on the translation done by "Andreas". I agree Slash is much hardsher than in any other interviews I have seen. On the other hand, maybe he thought it was more "safe" to speak frankly to an obscure magazine in Sweden? This was also done at a time where Slash was bitter about Izzy's behaviour during the 5 stand-in shows (when Gilby was injured), and possibly also bitter about ending the UYI touring and the band losing its focus.

All this being said, it is not unknown for interviewers to spruce up interviews, especially if they go into a language the subject won't understand, or for translators to have an agenda...

100% true.

I have listened to/read about 600 interviews from Slash and I could imagine him saying this.

[Bards]

Slash talking about The Spaghetti Incident?: I love recording like this. During Appetite..., Lies and Use Your... I had to put up with Izzy the whole time. I never liked playing with him. It was wonderful to escape him on this record. It sounds tighter and so much cooler than anything we've done before. I always got irritated over Izzy's way of playing. It didn't sound right. Before "Spaghetti", we erased his guitar and Gilby put on a new one. It sounded perfect! [Okej, November? 1993]

I'm thinking this quote is fake unless proven otherwise. It doesn't sound like Slash's voice and doesn't even really match up with the other interviews where he was critical of Izzy.

I found this interview originally in HTGTH's archive. You can read the complete interview here: http://www.a-4-d.com/t574-1993-11-dd-interview-with-slash

Okej is a Swedish magazine. I don't have original copies and rely on the translation done by "Andreas". I agree Slash is much hardsher than in any other interviews I have seen. On the other hand, maybe he thought it was more "safe" to speak frankly to an obscure magazine in Sweden? This was also done at a time where Slash was bitter about Izzy's behaviour during the 5 stand-in shows (when Gilby was injured), and possibly also bitter about ending the UYI touring and the band losing its focus.

All this being said, it is not unknown for interviewers to spruce up interviews, especially if they go into a language the subject won't understand, or for translators to have an agenda...

100% true.

I have listened to/read about 600 interviews from Slash and I could imagine him saying this.

Oh. Well, that settles that then. I've read 600 books on unicorns and I can imagine them, so they must be real.

[DieselDaisy]

Slash talking about The Spaghetti Incident?: I love recording like this. During Appetite..., Lies and Use Your... I had to put up with Izzy the whole time. I never liked playing with him. It was wonderful to escape him on this record. It sounds tighter and so much cooler than anything we've done before. I always got irritated over Izzy's way of playing. It didn't sound right. Before "Spaghetti", we erased his guitar and Gilby put on a new one. It sounded perfect! [Okej, November? 1993]

I'm thinking this quote is fake unless proven otherwise. It doesn't sound like Slash's voice and doesn't even really match up with the other interviews where he was critical of Izzy.

I found this interview originally in HTGTH's archive. You can read the complete interview here: http://www.a-4-d.com/t574-1993-11-dd-interview-with-slash

Okej is a Swedish magazine. I don't have original copies and rely on the translation done by "Andreas". I agree Slash is much hardsher than in any other interviews I have seen. On the other hand, maybe he thought it was more "safe" to speak frankly to an obscure magazine in Sweden? This was also done at a time where Slash was bitter about Izzy's behaviour during the 5 stand-in shows (when Gilby was injured), and possibly also bitter about ending the UYI touring and the band losing its focus.

All this being said, it is not unknown for interviewers to spruce up interviews, especially if they go into a language the subject won't understand, or for translators to have an agenda...

100% true.

I have listened to/read about 600 interviews from Slash and I could imagine him saying this.

Oh. Well, that settles that then. I've read 600 books on unicorns and I can imagine them, so they must be real.

Glad you agree.

Listen, Slash speaks a bunch of cock and balls. So does Axl. Do you want me to start reciting the bullshit these two fanny pads have sprouted over the years? (Please don't - it is tedious beyond words).

[SoulMonster]

Listen, Slash speaks a bunch of cock and balls. So does Axl. Do you want me to start reciting the bullshit these two fanny pads have sprouted over the years? (Please don't - it is tedious beyond words).

I would. From you I am sure it will be like a beautiful fairytale.

[DieselDaisy]

Listen, Slash speaks a bunch of cock and balls. So does Axl. Do you want me to start reciting the bullshit these two fanny pads have sprouted over the years? (Please don't - it is tedious beyond words).

I would. From you I am sure it will be like a beautiful fairytale.

Oh god, please.

[Sisyphus]

Because Axl and Slash were being cunts.

Yes. And let's remember that from 91-93 (94?) Axl's hand was up Slash's ass and everything that came out of Slash's mouth was Axl talking. Slash, as Izzy once said, was not the thinking man's drug addict. He was completely fucked up. And AXL complaining about anyone else not giving 100% is a fucking joke. Axl has never given 100% to any of the GNR incarnations. He didn't bother to turn up for gigs in 85-88, he outright laughed at fans for expecting him to show up on time 91-94...the guy has never given a fuck for the people who buy his records or attend his shows. He doesn't have to, because there will always be people who buy his records and attend his shows. And they get what they pay for.

Bollocks.

Edited December 12, 2014 by Sisyphus

[RandallFlagg]

Didn't Metallica used to turn Newstead's bass down, heck even on Justice he's just barely there lol. I'd imagine it's a power play by Slash, or Izzy was sloppy and didn't want to be there sometimes since he was probably sober by then or they thought it was a good joke.

[wkuk04]

Whatever you do don't criticise Slash on this board, your just placing yourself under an avalanche.

[maynard]

Whatever you do don't criticise Slash on this board, your just placing yourself under an avalanche.

Yeah because criticizing Axl doesn't attract a lot of lunatics telling people to have sex, to stop complaining, to stop making jokes at all. Sure.