Article About Izzy/Guns on the Wall Street Journal

[Spirit]

1 hour ago, Ratam said:

If you read the journalist surname is of origin INDIA

Not that it matters, and it's totally besides the point of the thread, Neil Shah writes about music and entertainment from The Wall Street Journal's New York bureau. 👍🏼

[ludurigan]

4 hours ago, vincevenom said:

Not sure if this is the right section for this, but anyway, thought it was a nice article.

Most of the things are known facts to any fan, although I was surprised to learn that Bon Jovi tried to hire Izzy, heh.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/guns-n-roses-rakes-in-millions-on-reunion-tour-but-its-missing-mr-invisible-1527429349

Guns N’ Roses Rakes in Millions on Reunion Tour, but It’s Missing ‘Mr. Invisible’

Izzy Stradlin, a founding member of the rock group, mystifies fans with his low profile; ‘he likes to be untethered’

By 

Neil Shah

May 27, 2018 9:55 a.m. ET

11 COMMENTS

 

At the height of Guns N’ Roses’ fame, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin cut such an understated figure that lead singer Axl Rose referred to him as “Mr. Invisible.”

More than 25 years later, the band is back together for “Not in This Lifetime…,” a multiyear, globe-spanning reunion tour which, according to Billboard, is the highest-grossing in history. But it is missing Mr. Stradlin, whose songwriting contributed to hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Patience.”

“He wrote half the stuff,” said Rick Nielsen, guitarist for rock band Cheap Trick. “It was Izzy’s f—ing band,” said former Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven, who later worked directly for Mr. Stradlin. In his 2011 autobiography, Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan wrote that “Izzy was probably the most significant force” in the group.

Mr. Stradlin, now 56 years old and living in Ojai, Calif., resigned from Guns N’ Roses in 1991. By some measures, he has kept much busier than his former band, quietly releasing nine studio albums between 1999 and 2010. (Guns N’ Roses released one over the same period.)

His low profile and absence from a reunion tour for a group he helped found, however, mystify his fans and associates. The band he formed after Guns N’ Roses, the Ju Ju Hounds, broke up after one album, and his solo efforts have flown under the radar, in part because he doesn’t tour.

“The current GNR tour has been a great success for the guys. My nonparticipation was simply not being able to reach a happy middle ground through the negotiation process,” Mr. Stradlin said in an email. “That’s life, sometimes things don’t work out.” He didn’t respond to further inquiries.

Fernando Lebeis, manager for Guns N’ Roses, declined to comment on the tour negotiations but said “Izzy is a dear friend.”

Mr. Stradlin, now 56 years old and living in Ojai, Calif., resigned from Guns N’ Roses in 1991. By some measures, he has kept much busier than his former band, quietly releasing nine studio albums between 1999 and 2010. (Guns N’ Roses released one over the same period.)

His low profile and absence from a reunion tour for a group he helped found, however, mystify his fans and associates. The band he formed after Guns N’ Roses, the Ju Ju Hounds, broke up after one album, and his solo efforts have flown under the radar, in part because he doesn’t tour.

“The current GNR tour has been a great success for the guys. My nonparticipation was simply not being able to reach a happy middle ground through the negotiation process,” Mr. Stradlin said in an email. “That’s life, sometimes things don’t work out.” He didn’t respond to further inquiries.

Fernando Lebeis, manager for Guns N’ Roses, declined to comment on the tour negotiations but said “Izzy is a dear friend.”
 

Mr. Stradlin, born Jeff Isbell, began his music career in 1980, when he moved from Lafayette, Ind., to Los Angeles, followed by his childhood friend, Mr. Rose. Mr. Stradlin joined punk and metal bands, delivered the L.A. Weekly and used heroin, according to people who worked with him and his own accounts. Guns N’ Roses formed in 1985.

The band’s 1987 album, “Appetite for Destruction,” which featured Mr. Stradlin’s songwriting and raw, loose guitar-playing, sold 8 million copies in the U.S. by 1989, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. It is set for reissue in June.

Mr. Stradlin’s addiction worsened as the band’s popularity soared, according to former colleagues. After he was arrested for urinating in the galley of a plane, Mr. Stradlin gave up drinking and drugs on Dec. 15, 1989, he said in a 2006 interview with digital-music distributor TuneCore.

Guns N’ Roses finished its double album “Use Your Illusion” and went on tour in 1991. Mr. Stradlin, attempting to stay sober, distanced himself from his rowdier bandmates, according to former colleagues. But he continued to be frustrated by their behavior, including Mr. Rose’s late appearances at concerts, the colleagues said. Mr. Stradlin quit on or around Sept. 9, 1991, a week before the release of “Use Your Illusion,” according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
 

His departure was announced Nov. 7. “It was such a major change,” Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash wrote in his memoir. “But to the outside world it was a nonevent.”

Mr. Stradlin reconnected with old friends in Lafayette. Soon after, he formed a new band, enlisting Los Angeles bassist Jimmy Ashhurst, and signed a two-album deal with Guns N’ Roses’ label, Geffen Records. His vision, according to bandmates: A scaled-back, drama-free group that played rootsy rock in clubs and theaters.

Joined by Bob Dylan drummer Charlie Quintana and guitarist Rick Richards of Atlanta’s Georgia Satellites, Mr. Stradlin in 1992 released “Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds,” to warm reviews. “Shuffle It All,” its biggest single, reached No. 6 on Billboard’s rock chart that year.

The band enjoyed touring abroad. But in the U.S., journalists dogged Mr. Stradlin with questions about Guns N’ Roses. A tour with Keith Richards didn’t happen; an offer from Bon Jovi was rejected. “Bon Jovi chased him high and low,” said Mr. Niven, who managed Mr. Stradlin at the time. “Izzy’s attitude was, very bluntly, I’d rather play clubs.”

Representatives for Bon Jovi and Mr. Richards said they didn’t remember the details of the tours.

Touring wasn’t easy for Mr. Stradlin. A well-known addiction specialist, Bob Timmins, was hired to help him, says Steve White, Mr. Stradlin’s former road manager. “He was still fighting off the addiction,” Mr. White said.

Mr. Timmins died in 2008. A spokesman for his foundation declined to comment on his work with Mr. Stradlin.

Mr. Stradlin’s bandmates tried to respect his sobriety. When Mr. Quintana drank during a 1992 recording session with Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood, for example, he put his red wine in a coffee cup, Mr. Quintana said in a 2016 interview. “He wanted a healthy band.” (Mr. Quintana died in March.)

Mr. Ashhurst remembered inadvertently upsetting Mr. Stradlin by smoking a joint on a tour bus. “I wish I could take that back, but I can’t,” he said.
 

The Ju Ju Hounds broke up in 1994 while recording its second album. The band members were working at the Caribbean Sound Basin studio in Trinidad, taking breaks to travel, surf and scuba-dive.

Early that year, Mr. Ashhurst called in after a diving trip and was told Mr. Stradlin had left the country. Confused, he eventually found Mr. Stradlin in a coffee shop in Copenhagen.

“I don’t think he appreciated being tracked down,” Mr. Ashhurst said.

Mr. Stradlin wanted to get away from the pressures of the music business, current and former colleagues said, but they also cited friction between Mr. Stradlin and Mr. Ashhurst over drugs. Mr. Ashhurst said he later became addicted to heroin, but not during his time with the Ju Ju Hounds.

In his email, Mr. Stradlin said “the Ju Ju Hounds was a great band.”

He released his second Geffen album, “117˚,” in 1998, with Rick Richards, his Guns N’ Roses colleague Mr. McKagan and former Reverend Horton Heat drummer Taz Bentley.

For later albums, instead of working with a label or management, Mr. Stradlin released them independently through digital distributors like TuneCore. He has little interest in promotional activities, bandmates say. “It’s just basically 11 records that nobody knows about,” Mr. Bentley said.

These days, Mr. Stradlin wakes up early, mountain-bikes, surfs and travels with his longtime girlfriend, Rick Richards said. “He likes to be untethered.”

According to a 1992 interview in Musician magazine, Mr. Stradlin said getting a dog helped to “keep my perspective, see life through a dog’s eyes. You’re doing all right if you’ve got food, a place to sleep and someone to pet you.”

Write to Neil Shah at neil.shah@wsj.com

Fantastic reading!

Dont remember ever reading about...

1) the Bon Jovi thing (did they want Izzy to join the band? or just to join a tour?)

2) how much drugs and booze supposedly upset Izzy on the Ju Ju Hounds dayz

3) about the hiring of Bob Timmins to help Izzy

4) about Steve White, road manager (any info on him?)

also very surprised that Izzy answered an email from WSJ

congrats to Neil Shah

and thanks for sharing the article!

now i suppose we can only hope that someday, somehow, these guys will find a HAPPY MIDDLE GROUND!

[Ratam]

2 hours ago, Spirit said:

Not that it matters, and it's totally besides the point of the thread, Neil Shah writes about music and entertainment from The Wall Street Journal's New York bureau. 👍🏼

I know that not matters, i only pointed that article i read was "WSJ"  INDIA ,this call my attention no more that it.

[Ratam]

2 hours ago, ludurigan said:

Fantastic reading!

Dont remember ever reading about...

1) the Bon Jovi thing (did they want Izzy to join the band? or just to join a tour?)

2) how much drugs and booze supposedly upset Izzy on the Ju Ju Hounds dayz

3) about the hiring of Bob Timmins to help Izzy

4) about Steve White, road manager (any info on him?)

also very surprised that Izzy answered an email from WSJ

congrats to Neil Shah

and thanks for sharing the article!

now i suppose we can only hope that someday, somehow, these guys will find a HAPPY MIDDLE GROUND!

Thread about Izzy is  one of more views has in WSJ.

[Gackt]

Quote

“The current GNR tour has been a great success for the guys. My nonparticipation was simply not being able to reach a happy middle ground through the negotiation process,” Mr. Stradlin said in an email. “That’s life, sometimes things don’t work out.” He didn’t respond to further inquiries.

Fernando Lebeis, manager for Guns N’ Roses, declined to comment on the tour negotiations but said “Izzy is a dear friend.”

 I'm guessing the money didn't meet Izzy's expectations compared to what the others were making.  Was the overpriced fashion shilled at the merch booth (that the band's always been associated with) more important than throwing a few extra bucks Izzy's way for at least a one-off?

[double talkin jive mfkr]

why the fuck does fernando keep saying that izzy is all best buds and adores him he can't even fucking work out a deal with him 

clearly TB and/or Axl Slash Duff were being non negotiable hard ass dickish 

Edited May 28, 2018 by double talkin jive mfkr

[Tucknroll]

I'm very disappointed in Izzy.  I mean we all love money but come on, do it for the fans who made you able to turn down a gig like this! Steven said he'd do it for free and I believe him. 

[IncitingChaos]

Just now, Tucknroll said:

I'm very disappointed in Izzy.  I mean we all love money but come on, do it for the fans who made you able to turn down a gig like this! Steven said he'd do it for free and I believe him. 

Then be disappointed in the whole band. Axl wouldn’t have talked to Slash for free 

[double talkin jive mfkr]

21 minutes ago, Tucknroll said:

I'm very disappointed in Izzy.  I mean we all love money but come on, do it for the fans who made you able to turn down a gig like this! Steven said he'd do it for free and I believe him. 

yeah i'll drink that cool aid u axl fernando fan that makes so much sense 

make your bandmates richer than yourself for the fans ok that makes sense ! 

[Rickodez]

4 hours ago, IncitingChaos said:

We need an entire thread on wasted cost and people on this tour that prevented Izzy from participating 

*100ft hd screens

*the million dollars to the guy who did the cheap computer animations for each song 

*the trump piñata 

*Axl’s 200 person entourage 

*Fortus 

*buffets

*custom plane 

*unused gym 

*microphones to throw into the crowd

*jarmo 

hell they could have played at someone’s wedding and gotten Izzy’s salary for 6 shows. Unless Izzy asked for a 10 figure check then there’s no excuse for him not being there. Someone dropped the ball in negotiations 

[Tucknroll]

1 hour ago, double talkin jive mfkr said:

yeah i'll drink that cool aid u axl fernando fan that makes so much sense 

make your bandmates richer than yourself for the fans ok that makes sense ! 

Speaking of making sense, this doesn't at all. I get the cool aid reference but it doesn't work in your sentence.  I had a post deleted for criticizing Fernando.  I'm just saying I'm disappointed he couldn't play 1 song  for us

[SoulMonster]

Why is everyone taking Izzy's side? We don't know what he insisted on getting nor what he was offered. It's totally a black box. It's sad they couldn't come to an agreement, but I can understand that the band wouldn't have him for any price and I can understand Izzy wouldn't do it for small coins. These things happens in business. And yes, this is a business. 

[double talkin jive mfkr]

1 hour ago, Tucknroll said:

Speaking of making sense, this doesn't at all. I get the cool aid reference but it doesn't work in your sentence.  I had a post deleted for criticizing Fernando.  I'm just saying I'm disappointed he couldn't play 1 song  for us

you're really smart 

and have a lot of skills in deception 

you're comment spoke for itself 

bottom line onus appears in all likelihood on the greedy 3 

furthermore, i'd point finger mostly at Duff for his hypocritical stance prior to NITL praising Izzy up and down all down the river then to cold shoulder him when it counted for him 

either way fernando looks like a bit of an incapable and more or more evidently comes across as a greedy manager considering the buck stops with him apparently 

the thing nobody fucking mentions in the press is who axl managed to let get ahold of his life is pure insanity in itself and big sore eye in the orignal imagery of what was gnr,  stephanie seymour was famous for like 1 year while she was axl and he managed to cling onto her nanny and her family for moral support, it's all fine dandy but WEIRD!!! WEIRD AXL WEIRD 

Edited May 28, 2018 by double talkin jive mfkr

[IncitingChaos]

13 minutes ago, SoulMonster said:

Why is everyone taking Izzy's side? We don't know what he insisted on getting nor what he was offered. It's totally a black box. It's sad they couldn't come to an agreement, but I can understand that the band wouldn't have him for any price and I can understand Izzy wouldn't do it for small coins. These things happens in business. And yes, this is a business. 

That's fair, but it gives the fans the right to say they turned a kick ass band into a shitty business. Axl wanted his nugnr band still intact, so he likely didn't care if Izzy wanted to be a part of it or not. If he did then Fortus would still be there and if he said  no he still had Fortus. So I imagine the offer was essentially in the same ballpark as what Fortus gets and GNR didn't want to negotiate that. If you're going to go on stage singing 90% of the songs Izzy helped write then paying Izzy 90% less than what "the big 3" get then you're a terrible friend. If Izzy wanted to be a part of this they should have found common ground and the fact that the offer was so disrespectful to the point that Izzy feels the need to make a Twitter to voice his opinion speaks to what happened. 

[Bitchisback]

7 hours ago, IncitingChaos said:

I’m not happy about this. What piece of sh*t offer did Izzy get that they couldn’t find middle ground on? How was it not possible to find that middle ground...FERNANDO you have some explaining to do! 

It sounds like it was a “business” decision which makes it even more shitty. I’m not even a huge Izzy fan and I’m pissed about this. If he was willing to do the full tour for a number, I’d give him a blank check and say “write what it’s worth to you”. 

But im glad the buffets, gyms, private dressing rooms, entourages and plane were worth it. Nice trades for Izzy f’n Stradlin..what a dumbass band this is

Its so easy to blame one side when you don't have all the facts. 

For all we know part of Izzy's negotiations were a limit on touring. 

 

I mean the band has been touring for over 2 years now..  Do you guys really think Izzy would have done that or wanted to?   He hasn't toured in 25 fucking years.   

 

The only thing we know for sure is we don't know the whole story.   Jumping to conclusions is silly and childish. 

 

I'm not saying A/S/D aren't to blame,  but hey.   Maybe they're not?   Like Izzy said sometimes things don't work out.   It sucks but you move on. 

7 hours ago, IncitingChaos said:

I’m not happy about this. What piece of sh*t offer did Izzy get that they couldn’t find middle ground on? How was it not possible to find that middle ground...FERNANDO you have some explaining to do! 

It sounds like it was a “business” decision which makes it even more shitty. I’m not even a huge Izzy fan and I’m pissed about this. If he was willing to do the full tour for a number, I’d give him a blank check and say “write what it’s worth to you”. 

But im glad the buffets, gyms, private dressing rooms, entourages and plane were worth it. Nice trades for Izzy f’n Stradlin..what a dumbass band this is

Its so easy to blame one side when you don't have all the facts. 

For all we know part of Izzy's negotiations were a limit on touring. 

 

I mean the band has been touring for over 2 years now..  Do you guys really think Izzy would have done that or wanted to?   He hasn't toured in 25 fucking years.   

 

The only thing we know for sure is we don't know the whole story.   Jumping to conclusions is silly and childish. 

 

I'm not saying A/S/D aren't to blame,  but hey.   Maybe they're not?   Like Izzy said sometimes things don't work out.   It sucks but you move on. 

[double talkin jive mfkr]

17 minutes ago, Bitchisback said:

Its so easy to blame one side when you don't have all the facts. 

For all we know part of Izzy's negotiations were a limit on touring. 

 

I mean the band has been touring for over 2 years now..  Do you guys really think Izzy would have done that or wanted to?   He hasn't toured in 25 fucking years.   

 

The only thing we know for sure is we don't know the whole story.   Jumping to conclusions is silly and childish. 

 

I'm not saying A/S/D aren't to blame,  but hey.   Maybe they're not?   Like Izzy said sometimes things don't work out.   It sucks but you move on. 

Its so easy to blame one side when you don't have all the facts. 

For all we know part of Izzy's negotiations were a limit on touring. 

 

I mean the band has been touring for over 2 years now..  Do you guys really think Izzy would have done that or wanted to?   He hasn't toured in 25 fucking years.   

 

The only thing we know for sure is we don't know the whole story.   Jumping to conclusions is silly and childish. 

 

I'm not saying A/S/D aren't to blame,  but hey.   Maybe they're not?   Like Izzy said sometimes things don't work out.   It sucks but you move on. 

this is the weakest side of the argument izzy completed every concert without any glitches unlike axl up unitl when he decided to leave 

touring is a convenient distraction to say thats the reason for this

Edited May 28, 2018 by double talkin jive mfkr

[The Black]

24 minutes ago, Bitchisback said:

Its so easy to blame one side when you don't have all the facts. 

For all we know part of Izzy's negotiations were a limit on touring. 

 

I mean the band has been touring for over 2 years now..  Do you guys really think Izzy would have done that or wanted to?   He hasn't toured in 25 fucking years.   

 

The only thing we know for sure is we don't know the whole story.   Jumping to conclusions is silly and childish. 

 

I'm not saying A/S/D aren't to blame,  but hey.   Maybe they're not?   Like Izzy said sometimes things don't work out.   It sucks but you move on. 

Its so easy to blame one side when you don't have all the facts. 

For all we know part of Izzy's negotiations were a limit on touring. 

 

I mean the band has been touring for over 2 years now..  Do you guys really think Izzy would have done that or wanted to?   He hasn't toured in 25 fucking years.   

 

The only thing we know for sure is we don't know the whole story.   Jumping to conclusions is silly and childish. 

 

I'm not saying A/S/D aren't to blame,  but hey.   Maybe they're not?   Like Izzy said sometimes things don't work out.   It sucks but you move on. 

 

You do know that Izzy called upon Axl’s bullshit and said that negatiations fell through because they didn’t want to split the money equally?

[bigpoop]

It's bullshit what they did to him and in no way do I buy the idea that the 'big 3' are entitled to more because they 'nurtured the brand'. It's total nonsense. Everything that brings people to the show, every single note of music that actually makes people shell out for tickets, was written and recorded while Izzy was in the band. All of it. 

[SoulMonster]

1 hour ago, IncitingChaos said:

That's fair, but it gives the fans the right to say they turned a kick ass band into a shitty business. 

Sure.

What I don't think is fair is anyone taking sides when we don't know how the negotiation went. For us, the diehard fans, the band isn't a business, it is a band of friends and they should be happy to play together, even if it was for free. For the band, and for Izzy, it is entirely clear it has become a business where money is king. Considering how long it's been since they were all friends hanging out together and considering how much money is involved, I supposed it is naive if us to think otherwise.

[double talkin jive mfkr]

6 minutes ago, SoulMonster said:

Sure.

What I don't think is fair is anyone taking sides when we don't know how the negotiation went. For us, the diehard fans, the band isn't a business, it is a band of friends and they should be happy to play together, even if it was for free. For the band, and for Izzy, it is entirely clear it has become a business where money is king. Considering how long it's been since they were all friends hanging out together and considering how much money is involved, I supposed it is naive if us to think otherwise.

motherfucker this shit isn't about business as it is about giving the real fans what they fucking want 

and if GNR were not so motherfucking tone deaf there wouldn't be the rabid in us all 

[SoulMonster]

Just now, double talkin jive mfkr said:

motherfucker this shit isn't about business as it is about giving the real fans what they fucking want 

and if GNR were not so motherfucking tone deaf there wouldn't be the rabid in us all 

Heh, I am afraid they consider the money more important than pleasing a small minority of fans who cares about Izzy.

[Padme]

1 hour ago, SoulMonster said:

Why is everyone taking Izzy's side? We don't know what he insisted on getting nor what he was offered. It's totally a black box. It's sad they couldn't come to an agreement, but I can understand that the band wouldn't have him for any price and I can understand Izzy wouldn't do it for small coins. These things happens in business. And yes, this is a business. 

The article says Izzy is travelling around in a motorcycle with his girldfriend. We already knew about his avocado farm. I really don't think Izzy asked them for a private plane, three brand new Ferraris, two brand new Rolls Royce, seven castles in seven different European countries and a five floor boat to sail around the French Riviera

[killuridols]

^^ Double talkin' jive, get the money motherfucker, 'cause I've got no more patience...

Double talkin' LIIIIEEEESSS!! 

[DeadSlash]

4 hours ago, Tucknroll said:

I'm very disappointed in Izzy.  I mean we all love money but come on, do it for the fans who made you able to turn down a gig like this! Steven said he'd do it for free and I believe him. 

If you were super good at bussing tables at Red Robin, and all of the patrons really wanted you back, but the owner was offering you half of minimum wage even though he was making $480m a year, would you do it for the fans? Or would you be all about the money?

[SoulMonster]

5 minutes ago, Padme said:

The article says Izzy is travelling around in a motorcycle with his girldfriend. We already knew about his avocado farm. I really don't think Izzy asked them for a private plane, three brand new Ferraris, two brand new Rolls Royce, seven castles in seven different European countries and a five floor boat to sail around the French Riviera

Maybe he asked them for a lot more money than they thought he was worth? Maybe he had some stipulations regarding starting times and ending times that they couldn't accept? Maybe he had some demands regarding length of the tour and where to travel? 

My point remains that we still don't know all the details of the negotiations and then we can't really blame any of the parties for the outcome.