For years there we never thought we’d see Axl Rose and Slash ever patch things up and head back out on the road together as Guns N’ Roses, but the pigs soared over the icy tundra of hell last year and sure enough a large chunk of the classic Gunners lineup was reunited for a massive world tour.

Not the whole band, of course, as original guitarist Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler weren’t on the bill alongside their combative lead singer and top-hatted axeman. It’s no surprise, then, to hear that the long-fired drummer has an idea in his head about what a proper GNR reunion would look like – and is continuing to pitch it as loudly as he can, hoping to tee something up for the 30th anniversary of their world-shaking debut Appetite For Destruction in July.

In an almost hour-long interview with respected rock journo Mitch Lafon, the pertinent snippets of which were plucked out by Alternative Nation, Adler opens up more about his clear desire to get the band back together – beyond the handful of shows he appeared at on the band’s current tour.

“What I want it to be is the five of us, and what Axl [Rose] wants it to be is what he wants it to be, and I respect him for it. I’m just glad I got to be part of the good part, when it was fun and exciting. It was magical when we were together, even back then our worst show was great.”

To his credit, he’s not asking for current drummer Frank Ferrer to be given the boot either (even if he has recently found a new local band to jam with).

“I have closure to where if they want to do it the right way, the five of us, and like I said, I’ll share the stage with Frank [Ferrer], I don’t care, as long as I’m there doing my songs, I don’t care. But if they want to do it the five of us, I’m there, I love those guys. I’m proud of what the five of us did, and since the five of us are still alive, I think the five of us should play for our fuckin’ fans. Give them what they want. I live a beautiful comfortable life because all five of us love our fuckin’ music.”

He also pointed out that, while many legendary rock bands have lost one or more of their founding members, the relatively-young Gunners can boast an entire classic lineup – and should put it to good use at a massive event.

“The Super Bowl would rule dude. Dude, if the five of us got back together, it would be the biggest reunion tour in the history of rock. Unless John Bonham came back to life, or Jimi Hendrix, or Jim Morrison, the five of us are alive, people would be so happy, it would be an event. That’s what it could be, but that’s not what it is.”

Even if it’s not a massive world tour again, Adler just seems to want a dedicated run of shows as tribute to the stone-cold classic Appetite For Destruction – although he wouldn’t say no to more.

“I asked Slash if he would talk to Axl about that. Like in July it’s 30 years since Appetite came out. I was thinking why don’t we just do like 4 or 5 shows at the Hollywood Bowl, play Appetite from beginning to end, throw in ‘Civil War’ and something like ‘Patience.’ Record it, videotape it, that’s it, if that’s all you want to do. If Axl is happy after that, we could do more. But I thought that would be really cool, but that’s my idea. If it was up to me, it would be a different story.”

Alternative nation also point out some very nice things to say about Axl, comparing the volatile vocalist to some of the greats of rock history, so check out their writeup over here, or listen to the full chat below.

YouTube VideoPlay

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine