Axl Rose on Slash: 'I Consider Him a Cancer'
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — For those fans still holding out hope for a Guns N' Roses reunion, you might want to move on.
In granting a rare interview, Axl Rose, the band's lone remaining member, said the odds of reuniting with anyone, particularly former lead guitarist Slash, are slim to none.
"It'd be highly doubtful for us to have more than one of the alumni up with us at any given time," said Rose in a Spinner.com interview with his longtime pal, songwriter Del James. "I suppose (former bass player) Duff (McKagan) could play guitar on something somewhere, but there's zero possibility of me having anything to do with Slash other than by ambush, and that wouldn't be pretty."
When pointed out by James that bringing the old gang together again might make sense, particulary after the dismal performance of last November's "Chinese Democracy," an album that took 17 years to release, Rose says, "it's not enough to sell your soul and live in hell the rest of your life." He then takes another swipe at his main nemesis.
"Slash either should not have been in Guns to begin with or should have left after 'Lies,' " says Rose, referring to the group's second album, "G N' R Lies," released in 1988. "In a nutshell, personally I consider him a cancer and better removed, avoided — and the less anyone heard of him or his supporters, the better."
When pressed further about the pair's differences, Rose says Slash has lost his edge and he's not even a fan of his guitar skills anymore.
"I prefer listening to others in general, especially those who both push their talents and infuse them with a level of energy that I've seldom heard in his efforts over the years," he tells Spinner, adding that he deems Slash's talents limited to being "a whore for the limelight" at this point.
As for some of the other former members, Rose says Izzy Stradlin's recent guest turns on stage were "a great time... but you never knew if Izzy would be there or not or if he'd remember the song or decide to leave early."
Rose also spoke out about former drummer Steven Adler, Slash's close friend who was fired from the band in 1990 due to his struggles with cocaine and heroin addiction. Adler is currently appearing on the VH1 reality show, "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew."
"Unfortunately Steven's given us the spoiler for that," says Rose when asked about Adler's reality gig.
And as for Adler ever returning to the G N' R lineup?
"Steven brings assorted ambulance-chasing attorneys and the nightmare of his mother," Rose tells the publication. "One gig, or even a couple songs, could mean years of behind-the-scenes legal aftermath."
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Dr Pepper just might quench the thirst of heavy-metal fans if Axl Rose can get back to work.
