Quite honestly, I thought that Guns N’ Roses reuniting would happen whenever hell froze over. Astoundingly, fans across the U.S. have already hopped aboard Satan’s sleigh – and get this – GNR has been punctual, even! It’s like there’s been a shift in the space-time continuum or something!
As if wasn’t bitchin’ enough, former drummer Steven Adler joined the band on stage in Cincinnati Wednesday, joining the original line-up for the first time in 26 years. (Adler did, however, play with the band, sans Axl Rose, in 2012 for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction.)
Adler was fired from GNR in 1990 for his rampant drug use and was replaced by Matt Sorum. Twenty-six years later in Cincinnati, Adler performed with the current lineup – Rose, guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Frank Ferrer – during “Out Ta Get Me” and “My Michelle,” reports Rolling Stone. Second keyboardist Melissa Reese was also part of the lineup.
When the Not in This Lifetime tour was first announced, Adler’s participation was a huge question mark. The fans wanted it. Adler certainly did too. But when Adler was shut out, rumors flew that the reason was medical, stemming from a back surgery he was scheduled to undergo.
Adler however was spinning a different story, telling VH1 Classic’s Eddie Trunk: “I love those guys, and I always will, but Duff, he doesn’t think I’m cool. And Slash, he doesn’t believe that I have [two years] sober. He doesn’t believe it. I don’t know why, but they forget that at one time in their life, they were doing drugs and drinking and they were fucking up. They forget that they were like that too. Duff has got 20 years sober or more, Slash has got, like, 11 or 12 years sober, and I’ve got [two years]. So everybody gets it at a different time. I’m just thankful I got it.”
Since the rest of the guys have hit the road, the band is reportedly getting along, which could possibly bring Adler back into the fold for future shows.
Last week, Slash told a radio station: “We were all pretty positive that that would never happen so it’s still sort of blowing our minds. It seems so surreal to me, but everybody’s really getting along great and I think everybody’s come a long way and it’s all cool.”
I’ve always rooted for Adler. While he was definitely a mess back in Guns’ glory days, so was almost every other band member (with the exception of Axl) and Adler took almost all of the heat for everyone’s collective problems. His appearances on Celebrity Rehab and Sober House showed even more of his humanity, heart and good intentions, and dammit, many Guns fans just want the best for him, myself included.
Watch Adler back in action here:
I can’t lie – seeing Steven so happy at the end really pulls at my rock-loving heartstrings. Reuniting with his brothers like this is all he ever wanted. Adler IS Guns ‘N Roses!
So where’s Izzy at!?
