For two of the most legendary bands in metal and hard rock history, it’s the good news / bad news routine, although when it comes to Axl Rose letting everyone down, it should never be any surprise.
On the eve of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame induction, Axl announced from his ivory tower that he won’t be coming, big surprise, much like Marlon Brando refused his Academy Award for The Godfather.
Of course, at the same time, that’s not going to stop everyone else from Guns N’ Roses from attending, and hopefully enjoying being inducted, despite Axl pulling his usual sulking sourpuss routine and trying to ruin the party yet again.
In a long, rambling, disingenuous, and stilted statement that Axl decreed to the L.A. Times, Rose claimed that he would “respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N’ Roses to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf.”
He also told the fans who desperately wanted this, “Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn’t owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another’s, or in this case several others’, expense.” The L.A. Times of course reported that the fans aren’t happy about this, but at this point what did they expect?
As Blabbermouth just reported, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister ran into Slash at the Revolver Golden Gods awards, where Snider said Axl’s decision not to show up or perform was “crap.”
“If he can’t put this stuff aside for an event like that, for a recognition like that, to do the cool thing, and just in respect of what you guys have done, I think it’s totally screwed up.”
Slash had no comment except to say he will be at the induction. Good for him, because unbeknownst to Axl, Slash did have a little something to do with the success of GNR, as did Izzy Stradlin, who wrote the lion’s share of the songs, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler.
Now for the good news. While there’s been quite a bit of turmoil in the Black Sabbath camp as of late with drummer Bill Ward unhappy with the reunion deal he’s been offered, and with guitarist Tony Iommi fighting lymphoma, the news has now hit that Sabbath will be headlining Lollapalooza on August 3 through the 5 in Grant Park in Chicago.
Guitar World also confirms the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Black Keys, and Jack White will be performing, and it’s going to be the only Sabbath shows in the US this year. While it’s been some time since we’ve heard any updates on Iommi’s health, let’s hope this news is also news he could be on the mend, and will be riffing it up again before we know it.
