Road Crew (band)

Last updated

Road Crew
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active1984 (1984), 1991
Past members Steven Adler
Slash
Duff McKagan
Davy Vain
Ashley Mitchell
Jamie Scott
Shawn Rorie

Road Crew was an American garage band from Los Angeles, formed in late 1983. The band consisted of future Guns N' Roses members Slash, Steven Adler and Duff McKagan. They auditioned a number of singers while writing material. However they disbanded the same year with no releases.

Contents

Following his firing from Guns N' Roses in 1990, Adler joined Vain in 1991, with the band renaming themselves Road Crew the same year. The new lineup consisted of former members of California glam rockers Vain: Davy Vain, Ashley Mitchell, Jamie Scott, and Shawn Rorie. They recorded an album and gained some label attention. However, due to Adler's drug abuse, Road Crew disbanded once more without releasing the album.

History

Early years, formation and disbanding (1984)

Following the breakup of his previous group Tidus Sloan, Slash found himself without a band. [1] His childhood friend Steven Adler, who had learned to play drums suggested that they form a band together. [1] After trying out for London they decided to form their own band, taking out an ad in The Recycler for a bass player before auditioning for singers. [2] Though they received a few calls, only Duff McKagan wanted to meet with them. [2]

McKagan had moved from Seattle to Los Angeles at this point [3] [4] having already been a member of the bands The Fartz, [3] Fastbacks [3] and 10 Minute Warning [5] while he also played one show drumming for Johnny Thunders. [6] Shortly after his move, he answered the ad and met with Slash and Adler [3] [4] at Canter's Deli. [2] Describing McKagan's appearance upon meeting him at Canter's, Slash said that he was "this bone-skinny six-foot-plus guy, with short spiked blonde hair [who] rolled in wearing a Sid Vicious-style chain and padlock around his neck, combat boots, and a red-and-black leather trench coat in spite of the seventy-five-degree weather. No one had predicted that." [7] Soon after meeting, the trio formed a group together, named Road Crew [3] [8] [9] (after the Motörhead song "(We Are) The Road Crew" [9] ) and began auditioning singers. [10]

They auditioned a number of singers, including Ron Reyes who was briefly the singer for Black Flag, while working on material which included the main riff to what would become "Rocket Queen" [10] (though Adler stated in a later interview stated that no Road Crew material was used until the recording of the Use Your Illusion albums [11] ). Despite there being a good chemistry between the trio, [10] Slash disbanded the group citing not being able to find a singer [10] as well as Adler's constant partying and lack of work ethic compared to himself and McKagan. [10]

Slash would go on to play with Black Sheep [12] and audition for Poison, [12] while both Slash and Adler became members of Hollywood Rose. [13] Hollywood Rose would break-up [13] and reform (without Slash and Adler) eventually becoming Guns N' Roses. Slash, McKagan and Adler would replace Guns N' Roses members Tracii Guns, [14] Ole Beich [3] [15] and Rob Gardner [16] respectively. Along with Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin, the lineup would be known as the "classic lineup" of Guns N' Roses. [17] [18]

Second incarnation (1991)

After being fired from Guns N' Roses in 1990, [9] [17] Adler would join the heavy metal group Vain. [19] The band, who had by then recorded two albums, and whose lineup consisted at that time of singer Davy Vain, guitarists Jamie Scott and bassist Ashley Mitchell, as well as guitarist Shawn Rorie who had joined after the second album was completed, [20] [11] renamed themselves Road Crew [9] [20] [21] and proceeded to record an album. [20] However, despite gaining attention from a record label, the group disbanded due to Adler's drug problems at the time. [20] [11] 6 of the songs were later released on three of Vain's albums: "Move On It", "Fade" and "Enough Rope". Adler is credited as drummer on the songs "Cindy" and "Worship You" on 2011's "Enough Rope".

Following the breakup, Adler briefly joined BulletBoys, [9] [22] before forming the group Suki Jones, which eventually became Adler's Appetite, performing on and off with the band since 2003. [20] [23] [24] Following the breakup of Adler's Appetite, he formed the eponymous group Adler in 2011. [25] On April 14, 2012, Slash, McKagan and Adler were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as members of the classic lineup of Guns N' Roses. They headlined the induction ceremony with fellow inductee Matt Sorum, as well as former member Gilby Clarke and Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy. [26] [27]

Members

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slash (musician)</span> British-American guitarist

Saul Hudson, known professionally as Slash, is a British-American musician who serves as the lead guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Slash has received critical acclaim and is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slash's Snakepit</span> American rock supergroup

Slash's Snakepit was an American rock supergroup from Los Angeles, California, formed by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash in 1994. Though often described as a solo or side project, Slash stated that Snakepit was a band with equal contributions by all members. The first lineup of the band consisted of Slash, two of his Guns N' Roses bandmates—drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Gilby Clarke—as well as Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez and former Jellyfish guitarist Eric Dover on lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velvet Revolver</span> American hard rock supergroup

Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup consisting of Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth, and Scott Weiland formerly of Stone Temple Pilots. The band formed in 2002 and was active until 2008, when Weiland left the band abruptly to rejoin Stone Temple Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duff McKagan</span> American musician (born 1964)

Michael AndrewMcKagan, better known as DuffMcKagan, is an American musician. He played bass for twelve years in the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. McKagan rejoined the band in 2016, following their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilby Clarke</span> American guitarist

Gilbert J.Clarke is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He had a three-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N' Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour, and also featured on "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993). Following this, Clarke went on to forge a solo career as well playing guitar with Slash's Snakepit, Kat Men, Heart, Nancy Sinatra, Kathy Valentine, MC5 and forming his own group Rock Star Supernova with members of Metallica and Mötley Crüe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Adler</span> American drummer

Steven Adler is an American musician. He was the drummer and co-songwriter of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s. Adler was fired from Guns N' Roses over his heroin addiction in 1990, following which he reformed his pre-Guns N' Roses band Road Crew and briefly joined BulletBoys. During the 2000s, Adler was the drummer of the band Adler's Appetite, and from 2012, he had held the same position in the band Adler. In early 2017, he declared that he has no intention to continue with the band and that the band has been dissolved, with the reason being his lack of interest in performing during poorly attended concerts. He appeared on the second (2008) and fifth (2011) seasons of the reality TV show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, as well as on the first season of its spin-off Sober House (2009). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of Guns N' Roses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Rose</span> American glam metal band

Hollywood Rose was an American glam metal group formed in 1983. They are best known as the precursor for what would eventually become Guns N' Roses. The group was founded by Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin and Chris Weber, while they were aided during live shows by Rick Mars, Johnny Kreis, Steve Darrow and Andre Troxx. Rose, Stradlin and Weber, along with Kreis, recorded a five-song demo in 1984. However, after a number of lineup changes, which includes Weber and Kreis being replaced by Slash and Steven Adler as well the departure of Stradlin, the group disbanded the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ole Beich</span> Danish musician

Ole Beich was a Danish musician best known as the bass guitarist for the original lineups of L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Kushner</span> American guitarist

David Kushner is an American musician best known as the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver. Kushner has also been a member of Wasted Youth, Electric Love Hogs, Loaded, Danzig, Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro's solo band, Sugartooth, Zilch while he has also recorded with Infectious Grooves, Cyco Miko and more recently collaborated with Scars on Broadway guitarist Franky Perez releasing songs under the pseudonym of DKFXP, a combination of the initials of Perez and Kushner, as well as working with Indian singer and actress Shruti Haasan.

"Rocket Queen" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses, featured on their debut studio album, Appetite for Destruction (1987). The song is notable for incorporating moans from a woman, Adriana Smith, who was recorded having sexual intercourse with the band's singer, Axl Rose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightrain</span> 1989 single by Guns N Roses

"Nightrain" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses. The song is a tribute to an infamous brand of cheap Californian fortified wine, Night Train Express, which was extremely popular with the band during their early days because of its low price and high alcohol content. The title is spelled differently, omitting a T and removing the space, making a portmanteau of the two words.

Vain is an American glam metal band from San Francisco Bay Area, California, formed in 1986. As of 2018, the lineup consists of Davy Vain, Joel Proto (guitar), Ashley Mitchell (bass) and Tommy Rickard (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civil War (song)</span> 1990 song by Guns n Roses

"Civil War" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses that originally appeared on the 1990 compilation Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal and later on the band's 1991 album, Use Your Illusion II. It is a protest song on war, referring to all war as "civil war" and stating that war only "feeds the rich while it buries the poor". In the song, lead singer Axl Rose asks, "What's so civil about war, anyway?"

Christopher Garrison Weber is an American musician best known as the guitarist and founder of the groups U.P.O. and Hollywood Rose. With U.P.O., he released two albums, No Pleasantries (2000) and The Heavy (2004), while the Hollywood Rose demos, recorded in 1984, were released in 2004 titled The Roots of Guns N' Roses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loaded (band)</span> American hard rock band

Loaded is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1999. Since 2001, the band's line-up has included vocalist and rhythm guitarist Duff McKagan, lead guitarist Mike Squires and bassist Jeff Rouse. Since 2009, Isaac Carpenter has been the band's drummer, replacing Geoff Reading.

<i>Episode 1999: Live</i> 1999 live album by Loaded

Episode 1999: Live is a live album by American rock band Loaded, released in May 1999. Recorded during two shows in Los Angeles, California, it is the only album to be released by this incarnation of the band. Initially a backing band for bassist/vocalist Duff McKagan's solo and Guns N' Roses material, they later formed as their own band.

Robert Gardner is an American musician best known as the drummer for the original lineups of L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses, and was also the backup drummer for Hollywood Rose.

Electric Love Hogs were a short-lived American funk rock band formed in San Diego, California in 1991. The band's lineup consisted of John Feldmann, Dave Kushner (guitar), Donni Campion (guitar), Kelly LeMieux (bass) and Bobby Hewitt. They released one self-titled album in 1992, followed by a tour of the United States and United Kingdom, before they disbanded the following year.

The Gentlemen was an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. Formed by Duff McKagan, formerly of Guns N' Roses, the band's first lineup consisted of guitarists Michael Barragan, formerly of Plexi, and Dez Cadena, formerly of Black Flag, as well as drummer Taz Bentley, formerly of The Reverend Horton Heat. The same year, they adopted the Loaded moniker before disbanding.

References

  1. 1 2 Slash; Bozza, Anthony (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. p. 83. ISBN   978-0-00-725775-1.
  2. 1 2 3 Slash; Bozza, Anthony (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. p. 85. ISBN   978-0-00-725775-1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Torreano, Bradley. "Duff McKagan Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  4. 1 2 McKagan, Duff (September 17, 2009). "My Story: Getting to LA, Getting Guns, and Getting Gigs". Seattle Weekly . Archived from the original on March 27, 2012.
  5. Ankeny, Jason. "10 Minute Warning Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  6. Stingley, Mick (June 14, 2004). "Exclusive! Interview With Velvet Revolver Bassist Duff McKagan". KNAC.
  7. Slash; Bozza, Anthony (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. p. 86. ISBN   978-0-00-725775-1.
  8. Huey, Steve. "Slash Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Prato, Greg. "Steven Adler Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Slash; Bozza, Anthony (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. p. 87. ISBN   978-0-00-725775-1.
  11. 1 2 3 Rosen, Steven (July 28, 2010). "Steven Adler: 'I'm Finally Starting To Get The Recognition That I Deserve'". Ultimate Guitar Archive. Archived from the original on July 31, 2010.
  12. 1 2 Slash; Bozza, Anthony (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. p. 94. ISBN   978-0-00-725775-1.
  13. 1 2 Slash; Bozza, Anthony (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. pp. 88, 89, 90, 92, 93. ISBN   978-0-00-725775-1.
  14. Stephen Thomas Erlewine; Andrew Leahey. "L.A. Guns Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  15. Wall, Mick (January 20, 2009). W.A.R.: The Unauthorized Biography of William Axl Rose. Macmillan. p. 65. ISBN   978-0-312-54148-4 . Retrieved September 16, 2004.
  16. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Hollywood Rose Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  17. 1 2 Stephen Thomas Erlewine; Greg Prato. "Guns N' Roses Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  18. Slash; Bozza, Anthony (2007). Slash. HarperCollins. p. 105. ISBN   978-0-00-725775-1.
  19. "Vain Biography". Davyvain.com. p. 1. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Ling, Dave (April 2005). "Steven Adler interview". Classic Rock .
  21. Barton, Geoff (May 2005). "Vain kept". Classic Rock . Future plc. p. 59. Retrieved November 20, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  22. Huey, Steve. "Steven Adler Goes From Guns To Bullets While Ex-Guns Remain Active". MTV . Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  23. "Former GUNS N' ROSES Drummer Confirms Band Name, Prepares To Hit The Road". Blabbermouth.net. March 4, 2003. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
  24. "SUKI JONES To Become ADLER'S APPETITE". Blabbermouth.net. June 5, 2003. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
  25. "Steven Adler Joins Forces with Lynam's Jacob Bunton in Adler". Blabbermouth.net. March 15, 2012. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  26. "Cleveland's Rock Hall welcomes new class". CBS News. April 14, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  27. "Axl Rose Booed at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". NME . April 14, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.