Steven Adler: ‘Back surgery sidelined Guns N’ Roses comeback’

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.”