Madridista Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) You know, I didn't start listening to GnR till 1992. And the UYI lineup was the lineup I fell in love with. However, over the years, I've come to appreciate the magic of the AFD lineup, with Steven Adler providing the rhythmic backbone of the band. Man, what a groovy drummer. His playing adds a totally different layer of emotion to the songs. Now, while I love Matt's playing, don't you think GnR should've gotten a groovier drummer to replace Adler? Someone with a little bit more emotional intensity in his playing than Matt?Just curious. Edited June 12, 2012 by Madridista
Cosmo Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 I don't have a thing against Matt. I think he's great. But really... Adler's drumming has that extra spice no other drummer has had until now. The difference between him and Matt is exactly the difference between two of AC/DC's drummers: Funky Phil Rudd and extremely skilled but machine-like sounding Chris Slade.
Guest Satanisk_Slakt Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 The drums aren't that bad on the Illusions. The mixing of the drums are terrible though. Matt Sorum was great live. Yeah, I know, the drum solo sucked. But other than that, he played all songs really well. That being said, Adler did it better, but Sorum is the second best drummer they've had after Adler.
Crash Diet Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 UYIs didn't need groove.Groove didn't need UYI's
mrandyk Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 UYIs didn't need groove.You haven't heard it with the groove, maybe they did need it.
Vincent Vega Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 UYIs didn't need groove.You haven't heard it with the groove, maybe they did need it.No, they really didn't. There are rehearsals of UYI songs with Steven on them. They suck.GN'R tried out several drummers before Matt, including Martin Chambers and Adam Maples. Matt was the guy for the job. Steven couldn't do the job anymore.
hellobeatle Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 I think the songs and the members needed just a solid, reliable drummer to not only hold the songs together but the band at that point. Matt liked to party, especially once he was comfortable with his position by early 92', but in late 1990 he was an established session drummer who had experience filling in for ex-drummers of big bands and was offered the gig of a lifetime - he behaved as a professional. His sound and personality were what they needed.
Vincent Vega Posted June 14, 2012 Posted June 14, 2012 (edited) I think the songs and the members needed just a solid, reliable drummer to not only hold the songs together but the band at that point. Matt liked to party, especially once he was comfortable with his position by early 92', but in late 1990 he was an established session drummer who had experience filling in for ex-drummers of big bands and was offered the gig of a lifetime - he behaved as a professional. His sound and personality were what they needed.This. It wasn't like Matt was the first guy they went for, that they just picked him on first glance--they already had checked out several drummers both unknown and known who played in different styles and none of them clicked, none of them fit what they were looking for...Matt did...I think Steven's newfound importance to GN'R's sound or the idea that the UYIs would've sounded all that different with Steven is just revisionism, nostalgia. The UYI songs by their very writing are different than AFD and are IMO in a style that a drummer like Steven couldn't or wouldn't have been able to handle anyway (I believe Alan Niven has spoken about this as well, that the band felt he wouldn't be able to handle the UYI material). Steven is a light hard rock drummer..Good for stuff with a groovy nature in general. The UYIs aren't groovy just by their composition, and they are heavier. If AFD is the Stones, the UYIs are Led Zeppelin, and thus they required a heavier hitting drummer with a more precise sound. Putting Steven Adler on the UYI records would be like adding Charlie Watts to Led Zeppelin.People tend to overlook the fact that in 1990 Steven literally could not function (90 takes of Civil War for example) and that he'd already been in rehab over 20 times to no success at that point and that NO ONE--Slash and Duff included--could stand him at that point. That he was lying to them about everything. He's painted as some innocent victim kicked out by Axl now, but that's pretty far from the truth. The band shouldn't have, and thankfully didn't end because Steven couldn't get it together....It would've been nice if Steven was able to continue in GN'R but he couldn't due to his own actions and choices and so the band moved on successfully. Edited June 14, 2012 by Indigo Miser
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