auad Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 (edited) Besides Axl Rose, Dizzy Reed has logged in the most years in Guns N' Roses, a hard rock band freshly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Wednesday.The keyboardist has been in Guns N' Roses since 1990. That's 21 years. That's much longer than Slash, Duff McKagan and Lafayette native Izzy Stradlin.Reed is the only one left from the "Use Your Illusion" era besides Rose. He maintained his presence throughout the roller-coaster, rigorous recording process of "Chinese Democracy," the 2008 album that took 14 years to finish. He saw the original "Appetite for Destruction" lineup dissipate and even musicians who were hired on for "Chinese Democracy," such as Buckethead and Robin Finck, come and go.Three years after the release of "Chinese Democracy," Rose, Reed and the rest are winning over American cities with a juggernaut of a tour. Despite one canceled show in Albany, N.Y., Guns N' Roses gigs have received rave reviews thanks to a three-hour set of old hits and surprise covers to go along with the "Chinese Democracy" tracks.Reed has seen it all while touring with Guns N' Roses and he is happy to report that the tour has gone smoothly."No mishaps or riots. That's always a positive for me," Reed reported over the phone during a stop in Cleveland.Guns N' Roses performs at 8 tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.Question: What has kept you so entrenched in this band?Answer: When I set out to do something, I like to sort of finish it. I've never seen any reason to quit. We started to make a new record, and I really wanted to see it through. I had a lot invested to it. People would quit and then be replaced. They came and went, but I didn't have any reason to quit. (Rose) gave me an opportunity and it was largely his idea for me to be in the band. I really always felt I needed to stick this out as long as I could. He's been good to me thus far, and I'm still alive.Q: With the live show, how do you work with Chris Pitman, the newer keyboard player?A: As far as the older stuff, I do all the piano stuff, and there's a lot of that. I think the main thing is we kind of look out for each other so we're not blown up by the pyro. It's good. We spot each other, basically.Q: How have the crowds been from your point of view?A: It's a good cross section. There are some older folks there that were probably around in the beginning and their kids, too. It's just what kind of happens when you stick around for a long time (laughs). But the crowds in general have been very receptive, and it's been a blast.Q: You had a hand in writing many of the songs on "Chinese Democracy." What was that like for you? What was the process like?A: There were a few different periods of writing I can sort of remember. At one point, myself and Axl were in the studio for a few months just recording ideas. Some things came from that, just throwing stuff back and forth. Everyone else brought in ideas here and there. There were a few different processes. It was quite the experience, actually. It was a good learning experience because everyone that is in the band now or came through are all really creative, good songwriters in their own right. I hear about these consortiums or symposiums in Nashville (Tenn.) where everyone sits in a room and kicks around ideas. It was sort of like that but not as structured.Q: You joined the band in 1990 but knew Rose years before that. What was your impression of him then and now?A: We've always got along pretty well. I remember the first time I ever met him: He walked into this studio that they were moving into. My band at the time was moving into the studio next door. I was sort of entertaining this young lady on this mattress on the floor of the studio. There was garbage everywhere because we just moved out. He walked in and saw us and he said, "I like that dude." That was the first thing I remember him saying. And I was like "All right, well ... ." Then I saw them play for the first time and I thought, "I have to join that band. Those guys are amazing." He heard me play and he said, "You're going to be the guy. When we add a keyboard player, it's going to be you." That all kind of worked out in a weird way. I'm just happy I'm still here, man, and being able to make music has always been awesome. He's one of a kind, man. Always has been, always will be.Q: What did you think of Rose's interview on "That Metal Show" on VH1 Classic (from Nov. 11)?A: I haven't seen the interview. We've been pretty isolated. It's backstage, bus, hotel. I haven't really heard much about it yet. Now you have me all curious.Q: The "That Metal Show" hosts were surprised how funny and laid back Rose was during the interview, which took place at 5 a.m. Has he been that way during the whole tour?A: You know what, Axl is a lot more fun at 5 a.m. than he is at 5 p.m. Let's put it that way.http://www.jconline.com/article/20111208/ENT06/112080303/Guns-N-Roses-Reed-talks-about-tour-band-Rose Edited December 9, 2011 by auad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Drama Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Good thing they don't know about the other canceled show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumblecool Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Q: With the live show, how do you work with Chris Pitman, the newer keyboard player?´I don't think "newer" is the word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Drama Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Q: With the live show, how do you work with Chris Pitman, the newer keyboard player?I don't think "newer" is the word.Well he is the newer of the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquor & Whores Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 I was sort of entertaining this young lady on this mattress on the floor of the studio. There was garbage everywhere because we just moved out. He walked in and saw us and he said, "I like that dude." That was the first thing I remember him saying. And I was like "All right, well ... ." lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Bond Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Cool stuff, never really knew the back story to him joining the band other than that he knew them a few years before he joined. I like how he describes the reason he stuck around - that he never wanted to get into something and then not finish it. Funny comment about him and Mother Goose spotting each other to avoid the pyro too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mischief02_62 Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Mick Wall said (take it for what it's worth) he spoke with Axl when Dizzy first joined the band and Axl told him about him joining. He said Axl told him he wanted Dizzy in the band and that he was suppose to be in the band from the start (three years ago), but he was in a car accident and messed up one of his hands and couldn't play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kill Devil Hill Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 I wanna know why Axl's more entertaining at 5am than 5pm. Or did it fly over my head? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailaway Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 I wanna know why Axl's more entertaining at 5am than 5pm. Or did it fly over my head?He is nocturnal,keeps vampire hours if given a preferance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kill Devil Hill Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 I wanna know why Axl's more entertaining at 5am than 5pm. Or did it fly over my head?He is nocturnal,keeps vampire hours if given a preferance. Ah, man. I thought it was something less obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasted Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Welcome to the breakfast club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgy Zhukov Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Axl is probably asleep at 5 PM and he gets up at 8. Then gets ready for a show. Or he is working on a song. When did he start doing this? It sounded like he started before the UYI tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flayer Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hahaha. Never heard that story about Dizzy's studio sex. Inspiration for the Rocket Queen interlude? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kill Devil Hill Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Isn't it in Slash's book? Could've sworn I'd already heard this story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgy Zhukov Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hahaha. Never heard that story about Dizzy's studio sex. Inspiration for the Rocket Queen interlude?What makes you think it was sex? Maybe he was juggling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Drama Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hahaha. Never heard that story about Dizzy's studio sex. Inspiration for the Rocket Queen interlude?What makes you think it was sex? Maybe he was juggling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgy Zhukov Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hahaha. Never heard that story about Dizzy's studio sex. Inspiration for the Rocket Queen interlude?What makes you think it was sex? Maybe he was juggling?Was Rocket Queen the first ever song recorded with sex? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flayer Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Probably not. But walking in on it personally probably has a bigger impact than hearing it in some other song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledge Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hahaha. Never heard that story about Dizzy's studio sex. Inspiration for the Rocket Queen interlude?What makes you think it was sex? Maybe he was juggling?I raise you :rofl-lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgy Zhukov Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Axl was banging Steven's girlfriend right? Didn't she feel ashamed and did a ton of drugs afterwards?If it wasn't for SCOM this band would have never had any female fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flayer Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 It it wasn't for SCOM this band wouldn't have a lot of its male fans either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kill Devil Hill Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Axl was banging Steven's girlfriend right? Didn't she feel ashamed and did a ton of drugs afterwards?Yep!You know, I have a really conservative mother, yet the song that really got her wasn't SCOM -- it was Rocket Queen. She always tells me to play it for her when we're in the car, but she always comments, "I'll listen to the whole song just to hear that last bit." And then I thought about it and realized that I do the exact same thing. "I see you standin'..." on is the finest AFD moment.</offtopic> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgy Zhukov Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 (edited) Does your mom realize the moaning was a woman getting pounded by Axl? Edited December 10, 2011 by BirdCatcher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Bond Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Does your mom realize the moaning was a woman getting pounded by Axl?I'm just thankful they cut out any possible man groans from Axl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgy Zhukov Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Does your mom realize the moaning was a woman getting pounded by Axl?I'm just thankful they cut out any possible man groans from Axl. Maybe they were disturbed because he moaned higher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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