Beady Eye
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2016
- Posts
- 123
- Reaction score
- 26
This one is tricky as f*ck. Most people have a reflexive answer to the question. However, it's way more complex of a question if you really think about it.
Let's start with a proper bit of deduction, Sherlock-style:
Who can we eliminate with relative ease?
1. Steven Adler (drums)
The drummer was fired before the "Use Your Illusion" records.
Although Slash stated that without Adler, G'n'r never sounded quite right again as only he had the proper timing and rhythm down, I think we can safely eliminate him from the equation. The glory of the Illusions is proof of that. Matt Sorum wasn't a noticeable downgrade.
2. Duff McKagan (bass)
Love this guy to death, he's the most upstanding person of them all. Solid, but not spectacular.
Don't know about you guys, but I think he absolutely rocks this song as lead singer:
--------------------
Now we're left with the big 3: Izzy Stradlin, Slash and Axl Rose.
It was in 1991 right after the Illusions recordings that songwriter Izzy Stradlin quit the band, mostly because of Axl's despotism. After he left, Axl and Slash didn't manage to record even one original song until their breakup in 1996.
That tells you a lot about the importance of Izzy (who started a respectable solo career).
Few bands have successfully replaced their charismatic lead singer though (with ACDC and van Halen being exceptions). "Slash's Snakepit" never took off, "Velvet Revolver" was pretty cool, but mostly due to Scott Weiland's awesomeness.
Then there are Slash's iconic riffs and solos which are still remembered today.
I do believe that Slash and Duff could have made it with Scott Weiland AND Izzy. But Izzy wasn't in the equation. Izzy recorded some very good solo albums, but nothing epic. Axl spent 10 years on Chinese Democracy which is a good album (after listening to it for half a dozen times it grows on you), but again nothing spectacular.
This leads me to one conclusion:
- Axl and Slash without Izzy don't work (proven 1991-1996)
- Izzy, Slash without Axl are good, but not wicked awesome
==> Izzy is vital to G'n'R, Axl is vital to G'n'R
==> Slash is a tad more expendable than the two above (Fink and Buckethead did some sweet riffs and solos on Chinese Democracy), but without him G'n'R wouldn't have been nearly as great.
Importance:
1. Axl and Izzy
3. Slash
4. Duff
5. Adler
Let's start with a proper bit of deduction, Sherlock-style:
Who can we eliminate with relative ease?
1. Steven Adler (drums)
The drummer was fired before the "Use Your Illusion" records.
Although Slash stated that without Adler, G'n'r never sounded quite right again as only he had the proper timing and rhythm down, I think we can safely eliminate him from the equation. The glory of the Illusions is proof of that. Matt Sorum wasn't a noticeable downgrade.
2. Duff McKagan (bass)
Love this guy to death, he's the most upstanding person of them all. Solid, but not spectacular.
Don't know about you guys, but I think he absolutely rocks this song as lead singer:
--------------------
Now we're left with the big 3: Izzy Stradlin, Slash and Axl Rose.
It was in 1991 right after the Illusions recordings that songwriter Izzy Stradlin quit the band, mostly because of Axl's despotism. After he left, Axl and Slash didn't manage to record even one original song until their breakup in 1996.
That tells you a lot about the importance of Izzy (who started a respectable solo career).
Few bands have successfully replaced their charismatic lead singer though (with ACDC and van Halen being exceptions). "Slash's Snakepit" never took off, "Velvet Revolver" was pretty cool, but mostly due to Scott Weiland's awesomeness.
Then there are Slash's iconic riffs and solos which are still remembered today.
I do believe that Slash and Duff could have made it with Scott Weiland AND Izzy. But Izzy wasn't in the equation. Izzy recorded some very good solo albums, but nothing epic. Axl spent 10 years on Chinese Democracy which is a good album (after listening to it for half a dozen times it grows on you), but again nothing spectacular.
This leads me to one conclusion:
- Axl and Slash without Izzy don't work (proven 1991-1996)
- Izzy, Slash without Axl are good, but not wicked awesome
==> Izzy is vital to G'n'R, Axl is vital to G'n'R
==> Slash is a tad more expendable than the two above (Fink and Buckethead did some sweet riffs and solos on Chinese Democracy), but without him G'n'R wouldn't have been nearly as great.
Importance:
1. Axl and Izzy
3. Slash
4. Duff
5. Adler