STEVEN ADLER On Classic GUNS N' ROSES Lineup: 'We Were Soulmates'

Courtney Devores of The Charlotte Observer recently conducted an interview with original GUNS N' ROSES and current ADLER'S APPETITE drummer Steven Adler. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

The Charlotte Observer: How difficult is it to stay sober when you're playing bars?

Adler: It does get easier. Two months ago we were playing in Philadelphia and I broke a cymbal. We were selling it at the merch booth. This guy comes up to me and says, "How much?" I said "$100," and the guy pulls out this rock of cocaine. "Will you take this instead?" The first thing that popped in my head was the bad times I've had on it. I said, "You keep that bad evening. I want the hundred bucks."

The Charlotte Observer: How much GUNS N' ROSES [material] does ADLER'S APPETITE play?

Adler: Pretty much all of "Appetite For Destruction", and everything from "Reckless Life" to "Civil War", the last song I recorded with them. If my prayers work, Axl [Rose] and Slash will hopefully mend their friendship and we could finish what we started. For 20 years, I blamed them for my downfalls. Working with Dr. Drew, I realized it was me who let them down by getting out of control.

The Charlotte Observer: What do you think made "Appetite" so special?

Adler: We were soulmates, so to speak. Like RUSH, AEROSMITH, QUEEN, VAN HALEN with David Lee Roth. Even with Sammy Hagar. He was a soulmate half-brother. GN'R in the early days would play "Sweet Child" and the whole front row would be bikers in leather vests. They'd be crying and singing the song. That was so awesome.

Read the entire interview from The Charlotte Observer.