Madi’s Reviews > It's So Easy: And Other Lies > Status Update

Acknowledgements:
To Axl: thanks for putting up with my shit and being my friend in those dark hours.
To Izzy: thanks for leading the way and being a mentor.
To Slash: thanks for being such a musical inspiration.
To Steven Adler: I will always love you like a brother.
To Matt Sorum: you’re a lion of a man.
To Dave Kushner: you are the real hero of Velvet Revolver.
To Scott Weiland: keep on, my friend.

cont2...
I guess the assholes get weeded out and longevity tends to happen for those who see themselves as serving the music. I like that.

cont...
Don’t get me wrong. I get why the term is used and I was myself easily smitten with rock stars as a little kid—I was mesmerized by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Over the years, though, I have had the distinct honor of meeting some of the artists who occupied my classroom daydreams and have been pleasantly surprised at the regular-dude quality of these older rock musicians.

The Clash's Bassist Paul Simonon “We are all in this together! There is no such thing as a rock star, just musicians and listeners”

I also have a strong dislike for the term rock star because I do actually know some people in the biz who refer to themselves as rock stars. These people really think they’re better than their fans. I, for one, find that kind of behavior embarrassing.

And so, for the first time in much too long. Axl and I finally met again face-to-face. Any doubts I had about what might happen melted instantly.
We hugged.

“Look, we know the industry is changing,” Scott said, “but we don’t want to work with people like that.”
The guy took the bait: “No way, I treat my artists like family. That would never happen with me.”
Then Scott dropped the bomb: “That friend was this guy here,” he said, pointing to me, “and you’re the asshole who didn’t have the decency to make the courtesy call. Get the fuck out of here."

Then Scott asked him to talk more about the way he would personally take an interest in the project. Scott listened thoughtfully and then started talking—seemingly off-the-cuff—about a friend who had been dropped one time without a call from the label.

At long last, I felt ready for this. Those dark hours and days and weeks and years fell by the wayside there in Hawaii as Susan and I discussed our next move. We would be a team, come hell or high water, and it was going to kick some serious ass.
Confidence is knowing you can do something even before you try it.

(in response to being called the F word at a Red Hot Chili Peppers show with Axl)

If someone thinks you’re gay or is dumb enough to think that calling you gay is an insult, who cares?

(in response to being called the F word at a Red Hot Chili Peppers show with Axl)

If someone thinks you’re gay or is dumb enough to think that calling you gay is an insult, who cares?