Guns N’ Roses: Steven Adler was lined up for reunion shows

Steven Adler
Steven Adler

Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler says he was due to have a bigger role in the band’s reunion shows – until injury sidelined him.

Adler hooked up with with Slash, Axl Rose and Duff McKagan for two shows with the band last summer but says he had been practicing for further appearances – but it unfortunately didn’t happen.

Speaking about what it was like hitting the stage with his former bandmates for the first time in 26 years, he tells One On One With Mitch Lafon: “It was, ‘Thank you, God, for this beautiful present.’

“I’d been playing Appetite For Destruction tracks live, Use Your Illusion and the songs that I didn’t get to play on Use Your Illusion, I was practicing them. I was playing 25 songs twice a day for two years.

“Because once I found out the reunion was probably gonna happen, I was, like, ‘Yes! I’m gonna be ready and on top of it.’ And then second rehearsal, I hurt my back and I had to have a minor surgery.

“I had a pinched nerve and within an hour, I was out of the hospital and I was all better. I thought they were going to let me come back but it didn’t happen.”

Adler reports his understanding was that he’d play songs from Appetite For Destruction, Lies and “three or four” tracks from Use Your Illusion on the road, while Frank Ferrer would cover other material. And although that didn’t happen – he bears no grudges to his former band.

He adds: “I got some closure and I’m thankful I got to do what I did. I love those guys. It is what it is. What I want it to be is the five of us, and what Axl 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 a part of it for the good part – when it was fun and exciting. It was magical when we were together. Back then, even our worst show was great. It was very special and I couldn’t feel more blessed that I got to be a part of it.”

Listen to the full interview below.

The book Sweet Child Of Mine: How I Lost My Son To Guns N’ Roses written by Adler’s mother Deanna and author Lawrence J Spagnola was released last month.

Watch Steven Adler perform with Guns N' Roses cover band

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.