Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees for Guns N' Roses (from left) Matt Sorum, Steven Adler, Duff McKagan and Slash last night (14 April) in Cleveland, Ohio. © Amy Harris/Corbis
Axl Rose didn't want to have any part of it, Izzy Stradlin said "thanks" but preferred to stay home, but the rest of Guns N' Roses dressed in their best black and attended the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio last night (14 April) - and even performed two songs with Myles Kennedy stepping in for Rose.
Kennedy is the singer in Slash's band (now called Slash featuring Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators) as well as Alter Bridge.
After being inducted by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, Slash, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler and Matt Sorum gave short speeches. Addressing Rose's absence, McKagan said, "I don't know if it matters who's here tonight because it's about the music that band created."
Then it was time to play. Onetime GN'R guitarist Gilby Clarke joined the musicians as they performed the Guns N' Roses classics Mr. Brownstone, Paradise City and Sweet Child O' Mine with Kennedy singing lead. For the opening number, Sorum handled drum duties; Adler pounded the skins for the next two songs.
The night before in Cleveland, McKagan, Sorum and Clarke performed a few numbers, including Sweet Child O' Mine, at the House Of Blues.
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Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.
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