Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler is convinced he would be touring the world with his old bandmates today if it wasn’t for a pinched nerve.
The rocker admits he started rehearsing as soon as he heard the band’s original stars Slash, Axl Rose, and Duff McKagan were planning a reunion tour, which was announced at the beginning of 2016 – and he was ready to hit the stage with them until he got injured.
“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 practising them,” he tells One On One With Mitch Lafon. “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 has appeared with his old bandmates on a couple of occasions and he holds no grudges about not joining them on the road: “I got some closure and I’m thankful I got to do what I did,” he adds. “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.”
Steven Adler: ‘Back surgery sidelined Guns N’ Roses comeback’
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