Ever since Guns N’ Roses ended 2015 by confirming that that Slash would be rejoining the band, after the initial thrill wore off, many wondered who else would be joining the band. Adter bassist Duff McKagan signed on, thoughts turned to the other two original members, Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler. There’s no word on whether Adler will be playing, but signs seem to point to no. Now we finally have an official answer from Izzy Stradlin, who reached out to Rolling Stone to dispel some rumors, and it doesn’t look good if you’re expecting him to join the band next month.
The appetite for information (see what we did there?) led many to take as gospel a quote from the band’s former publicist, Arlette Vereecke, and their former management Alan Niven that the band was recording together. That’s also not happening:
“At this point in time, I will not be playing at any of the April 2016 GNR shows,” the guitarist said in an e-mail to Rolling Stone. “I’ve also not been in the studio recording or writing with any of the others recently. There is so much speculation, but so very little info, [that] I thought I should reach out.”
Stradlin is writing, but it’s not in a studio. Last week, the rhythm guitarist started a Twitter account, with his first Tweet stating again that he had no involvement in the April shows. Rolling Stone reports that while many doubted the Twitter account’s authenticity, the reclusive guitarist admitted it was his. He also updated it with a clip of him singing the Jonathan Edwards song, “Sunshine.” Enjoy it, because for now, it’s the only Stradlin you’ll be hearing any time soon.
Recorded this today . Its an old fave called "Sunshine" written by Jonathan Edwards .
Izzy pic.twitter.com/MRD09XJfaR— Izzy Stradlin (@IzzyStradlin999) March 1, 2016
