GNR bass player Duff McKagan has admitted in a new interview that the rockers had gone as far as to set up equipment in anticipation of their former guitarist’s return.
That was for the band’s reunion rehearsals featuring Axl Rose, Slash and McKagan. The group had high hopes that the original guitarist would take part in those practice sessions.
According to Antimusic, McKagan is currently promoting his new solo record “Tenderness”. In a recent interview with Classic Rock, the musician shed light on the band’s efforts to include Stradlin in the reunion.
McKagan told the outlet, “I don’t know what the actual truth is. We definitely wanted to do it, and I think he entertained the thought, but he never came down and rehearsed. We had amps for him, ready to go.”
The bass player explained that they spent a good few months expecting Izzy to show up:
“The first month of rehearsal went by … nothing. The second month of rehearsal came by, and we’re talking to him: ‘We’re getting close, Iz.’ The third month of rehearsal went by … nothing. I guess he just didn’t want to tour this big and for so long.”
McKagan concludes: “I love that dude, but I gotta say that Richard Fortus is a hell of a player and we couldn’t ask for a better guy.”
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