ArtTavana

So based on my research, I'm pretty sure the Robert Williams are did not appear on the cassette and CD, just the vinyl. I'm starting this thread to see if anyone has first pressing original art version of "robot rape" cover CDs or cassettes and if you can share the images? This would clear up some confusion for both fans and historians of the band....

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19 hours ago, Jungle-Natives said:

It was a speedball, a combination of coke and heroin.

Deanna has taken Axl's announcement out of context. She makes it sound like Axl announced to the world live on the MTV Awards that Steven was fired, when in fact it was a feature interview with Axl and his backyard that was aired during the awards ceremony, it's easy to find, it's called 'famous last words', he said some negative things but I don't recall if he actually said Steve was out of the band officially on it.

I know re: the speedball, but I can only go off what she says in the book re: her own son, which is that he had the stroke as a result of a heroin-induced coma and that the speedball was a separate incident. Again, just reporting. I know the history that's been reported, as well, but the question was about her book, not fact-checking it cuz that would be a different story -- every GN'R book, whether by a band member or a former insider like Mick Wall is, generally, has been revisionist history. Which is unfortunate, but thanks to fans like you, hopefully we can all write the real history in forums like this!

Just now, ArtTavana said:

4 hours ago, sanity_lost said:

Was there anything that stuck out to you as really interesting that made you mull over it a bit? Something that made you think: I never thought about it like that.

 

Well, from a historian's perspective, yes. She did say that Steven had his stroke when he was in a coma after ODing on heroin -- when most GNR fans, including the internet, think it was  cocaine-induced stroke. That got me thinking. What's the truth? In terms of outside-the-box shit, well, some of it I won't say because, honestly, I don't like to get into the gossip or revisionist history unless I can talk to both sides, or at the very least, talk to several people -- so yes, there's some stuff about Slash, but read the book for more. What got me thinking? Well, Deanna is very critical of Steven and VHI for Celebrity Rehab. Steven is not. I also wonder about Dr. Drew...like...is he a good dude or was he exploiting the addicts on his show? I just don't know. From a fan perspective, I REALLY want this footage Deanna alluded to where she watched the MTV Music Awards in 1990 and Axl said Steven was fired. I never knew about this. Weird. Wanna see it now...

4 hours ago, sanity_lost said:

Was there anything that stuck out to you as really interesting that made you mull over it a bit? Something that made you think: I never thought about it like that.

 

11 hours ago, The Holographic Universe said:

What is there about Axl's mom?

Just that she met her at a gig (I think it was at the Coliseum) and that they talked about their sons and that she knew then where Axl got his good looks from

5 hours ago, Jungle-Natives said:

Yes, you're the first person I've seen that has read it. I was curious if there wss anything about the politics regarding Stevens book in it?

No, nothing about all about that (which is interesting). The book focuses on Steven's troubled life. It does use GN'R as the vehicle for a lot of his madness, but at the heart, this is a book about addiction, from his mother's point of view, and all the struggles she dealt with as his unofficial business manager, and, at times, she's even critical of Steven on a lot of the business dealings and accusations he's made about her. This is not a Steven Adler biography; it's about drug abuse, GN'R, and what it's like to be the mother of a rockstar. I enjoyed reading it, although, to be honest, some of the stuff about Deanna's life that had nothing to do with GN'R or Steven sort of bored me. I guess if you're a GN'R purist, this book can drag, but there's some cool stuff about the Gardner space, Slash, Axl's mom, Donington, Steven's stroke, his Will...it can be pretty dark!

6 hours ago, BorderlineCrazy said:

That's a great interview.

It kills me to hear he's pretty much retired but at the same time, it makes me so happy to see him so healthy and happy.

@ArtTavana Talking to him, what did you feel? Did you find him happy, sad, upset...? From the outside, he seems to be doing better than ever.

He seemed great. I've never had a chance to meet or speak to him before this, so I can't judge, or compare, but he seemed like a really nice guy and was nothing but class.

1 hour ago, Jane M. said:

That was nice to read. 

Another great article @ArtTavana.

Thank you. Very kind It was a fun chat that's for sure! I tried to avoid gossip and drama -- this was about his addictions and how his mother had to deal with it. 

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5 hours ago, Kris_1989 said:

Coachella is a music festival? I thought it was just a weird gathering of flower crowns and hipsters.

Feel better, Art!

Another great podcast, thanks guys!

Thank you  #FuckCoachella 

His legal name is Jeffrey Dean Isbell. 

lol this thread made me laugh so hard. let's play....

Hell Freezes Over, Again...

Adler speaks!

http://www.laweekly.com/music/steven-adler-just-proved-he-can-drum-a-full-guns-n-roses-set-7673773

Thank you for sharing. I wrote the story. If anyone has any questions about or would like to talk about GNR, hit me up! Love this forum and the fans, truly, are the reason why I wrote the story. 

-art

2 hours ago, sanity_lost said:

You created an excellent article that was a very good read. Thank you.

Thank you so much

22 hours ago, downliner said:

I'm torn on whether I should like this

I enjoyed all of the insight from Rick, Chalo and Jimmy, and the unreleased photos were cool, and the confirmation that JT is involved in the new record, and your article was well written and definitely a pro-Izzy piece (which is always great to see). But publishing the town where Izzy lives, giving instructions of where to find him, and you going to his house and acquiring his phone number is just a massive invasion of privacy in my opinion, which your own article points out is very important to Izzy That's on the same level as Rolling Stone releasing the audio from Izzys voicemail message...... so like I say, I'm kinda torn Hope it's true that Izzys got an interview coming up though, and fingers crossed that these latest sessions will see the light of day also

I may not appreciate some bits in your article but it's still always cool to see a major publication running a piece about the importance of Izzy, hope plenty of folk read it!

Hi. Thank you for reading. I appreciate it. Just so we're clear: I did not publish directions to find him. I would never do that. I mentioned no landmarks or directions to his property, which is just one of the many properties he owns, all of which are public record and a Google search result away for fans to find. If a real estate broker has the right to know where he lives, then it is no secret. I am sorry if you feel I violated his privacy. As a reporter, we often investigate our subjects in ways that can become uncomfortable at times. But it's also no secret that Axl Rose lives in Malibu. This stuff is all available to the public. 

Also, without talking to Izzy himself, I cannot say with 100% certainty it was in fact the house he's currently occupying. But the fact that Izzy is in Ojai is no mystery. This is something most GNR fans and locals in the town of Ojai are well aware of. 

I did my best not to avoid writing a "pro Izzy" story. I wanted to present both sides without taking a side, but in doing so, because this was about Izzy (not Axl), it does lead to the conclusion that Izzy is the hero, and Axl, in many ways, the villain (which I don't believe he is, not a bit). I am a huge Axl fan. IMHO he is the greatest rock singer in history. I tried to make points in the story to establish that everything he did, he did for the betterment of the GNR machine, which led to some dangerous outcomes, but that's rock and roll. I also made it clear that Izzy left GNR for several reasons, not simply the fact that Axl Rose in 1991 was a very intense frontman with a lot of personal issues he was dealing with. This is also...no secret. 

This is why I made the appearance on the Appetite for Distortion podcast. I was hoping to clarify some things  I will do a second show if they'll have me on. It's up to them.

P.S. - His phone number was given to me from a friend. I am not the only one to have his phone number (or what we believe is his phone number, as I can't be for certain without Izzy confirming this). I did not include his phone number. Izzy is a traveler and I am certain his mobility makes it almost impossible to turn his home into a TMZ location, and frankly, he's not that sort of celebrity. Axl is. And the fact that Axl has managed to keep his personal life private means Izzy can as well. This story, I hope, won't change that.

On 10/22/2016 at 2:33 PM, bikka said:

Nice read! Thanks! I loled at: " Jeffrey Dean Isbell — was probably born in Lafayette "!!!

Until I see a birth certificate, I cannot say 100%. Although I'm SURE he was

1 hour ago, Blake Sabbath said:

Art your article deservers its own thread. Brilliant read, plenty to get stuck into!

Thank you. Truly kind words. Perhaps it will get it's own thread when someone feels the need to talk about it. For now, I'll just let it breath. I'm also glad the L.A. Weekly gave me the space to write a story with little to no restrictions. Kudos to them.

4 hours ago, Rayno said:

Simply one of the greatest articles related to GNR I have ever read in my life. And I read a lot of them. Thank you.

This makes me happy. I hope u guys know I wrote this for the fans. So these sort of comments tickle me. THANK YOU.