In early January, former GUNS N’ ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum sat down for an interview with WCZR Code Zero Radio’s Fox Cities Core after performing at the “Joey’s Song” benefit concert in Madison, Wisconsin. Because nothing says “I support epilepsy research” quite like showing up to play drums for a charity that definitely needed a former GNR member to draw a crowd. When asked about his Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction memories, Sorum delivered what might be the most diplomatic response ever: “I don’t have very many memories of any of that band. [Laughs] No, no, no. I’m just kidding.”
Ah yes, the classic “I’m totally kidding about that thing I definitely meant” approach. Sorum continued, “The induction? Wow. I never really had that in the bucket list. It was sort of unimaginable.” Right, because most drummers spend their entire careers dreaming about being inducted into a museum for old people who still think vinyl is a revolutionary technology. “It became something that was kind of a shock,” he added, presumably because he was too busy playing with VELVET REVOLVER to notice the massive ceremony honoring his former band.
When pressed about whether “classic rock” is a time period or a style, Sorum delivered a monologue that would make your high school music teacher proud: “Classic rock is a style. I think it falls under the moniker of just blues-based rock and roll, in my opinion — anything from AEROSMITH to THE [ROLLING] STONES to GUNS N’ ROSES.” Wow, groundbreaking stuff here. Who knew that bands who play guitar could be categorized together? Someone alert the musicologists!
Sorum, who replaced Steven Adler in GUNS N’ ROSES (because apparently one drug-addled drummer wasn’t enough), recorded the massively successful albums “Use Your Illusion I” and “Use Your Illusion II” (both 1991) and “The Spaghetti Incident” (1994). He also supported the group on the “Use Your Illusion” tour, which was so long that by the end, fans had forgotten what the original lineup looked like. You can hear Sorum’s drumming on GUNS N’ ROSES‘ “Live Era: ’87-’93” (1999) and “Greatest Hits” (2004), which is basically just the band’s way of saying “here’s all the songs you already know, but now with more drugs and lawsuits!”
For the Rock Hall induction, McKagan, Slash, and Adler showed up, while singer Axl Rose and founding guitarist Izzy Stradlin stayed home, probably because they had better things to do, like waiting for their Amazon packages or watching paint dry. Rose announced three days before the ceremony that he would not attend and was not accepting his induction. Also missing was longtime keyboardist Dizzy Reed, who still plays in the current version of the band, presumably because someone needs to hit those synth notes while Axl takes his 45-minute breaks between songs.
For the Rock Hall induction performance, McKagan, Slash, and Adler were joined by guitarist Gilby Clarke and Sorum for three songs — “Mr. Brownstone”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, and “Paradise City” — from the band’s classic 1987 debut, “Appetite For Destruction”. Providing vocals in the absence of Axl Rose was Myles Kennedy, the singer for ALTER BRIDGE and Slash‘s current solo band. Because when you can’t get the original singer, just grab the guy who’s already pretending to be him in another band! That’s not at all confusing for fans.
Sorum played drums for “Mr. Brownstone”, while original drummer Adler took over for the other two songs. Because nothing says “we’re honoring our history” quite like having two different drummers play three songs. It’s like inviting two different actors to play the same character in a movie — audiences will definitely notice and care deeply about this artistic choice.
Stradlin issued a statement the week before the induction, thanking his bandmates, the Hall Of Fame for “the acknowledgment of our works over the years,” and the fans who “have supported GUNS N’ ROSES from day one.” How nice of him to acknowledge the people who made him famous enough to be inducted into a museum in the first place. What a novel concept!
McKagan addressed Rose‘s absence during the bandmembers’ acceptance speeches, saying, “I don’t know if it matters who’s here tonight because it’s about the music that band created.” Ah yes, the classic “it’s not about the people, it’s about the art” defense. That’s definitely why thousands of fans paid hundreds of dollars for tickets to see actual human beings perform, not just listen to recordings of music that was made decades ago.
Slash admitted that all the drama almost stopped him from attending, saying, “The fans are the ones who made it possible for us to get together tonight with all the adversity and everything that was going on… I was, like, ‘Fuck it’, but [my then-wife] said, ‘Go and do it with the guys,’ and I said ‘You’re right.'” Wow, what a powerful moment of clarity. Slash almost skipped the biggest honor of his career because of “adversity,” which we can only assume means Axl being Axl or perhaps the existential dread of having to stand on stage with your former bandmates without wanting to punch each other.
