Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler recalls start of heroin addiction
Steven Adler has recalled how he first tried the drug heroin in an attempt to fit in with two of his Guns N’ Roses bandmates.
In an interview for the limited docuseries Nöthin’ But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of ’80s Hair Metal, the drummer opened up about his time in the rock band and how he started abusing drugs.
“When I started doing heroin, I wanted to be a part of what (lead guitarist) Slash and (rhythm guitarist) Izzy (Stradlin) were doing,” he recounted in the third episode, according to People. “I took two hits; I was never so sick in my whole life.
“And wouldn’t you know what an a**hole I am, I had to try it one more time. And the third time was the charm. I fell in love with it.”
The classic lineup of Guns N’ Roses also consisted of vocalist Axl Rose and bassist Duff McKagan.
Adler was let go from the band several times due to his drug use in early 1990 but was formally fired in July that year, with Matt Sorum replacing him in the group.
“I’ve always loved the whole team thing,” the 59-year-old continued. “That’s why putting a band together was so important to me, where we work together and create something. And then when my team threw me out, I didn’t know what to do. I know I could either have gotten better or continued doing what I was doing. I continued doing what I was doing. I was that hurt.”
Adler has continued to struggle with drug addiction and health issues, and in 1996, he suffered a stroke as a result.
However, the drummer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the classic lineup of Guns N’ Roses in 2012.
And despite the ups and downs, Adler insisted he always enjoyed working with the Welcome to the Jungle hitmakers.
I just loved being part of a team and Guns N’ Roses, the five of us, were a great f**king team,” he added.
Nöthin’ But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of ’80s Hair Metal is now streaming on Paramount+.
Neneh Cherry quipped that it’s better to be a “pioneer than an old bag” as she was honoured with the Innovator prize at the AIM Independent Music Awards 2024.
The 60-year-old Swedish star – who is known for her genre-defying music – was presented with the special accolade at the bash at London’s Roundhouse in Camden on Thursday night (17.10.24) and admitted that without the backing of the independent music community, she wouldn’t be standing here today collecting an award as a trailblazer.
Neneh – whose career spans more than four decades – said onstage: “Thank you AIM for feeling that I deserve this. I guess it’s better to be a pioneer than an old bag! And I also want to say that, without the independent music community, I’m not sure where I would be. So peace and power to independent thought, independent music and all those who support it!”
The evening also saw 70s’ pop rock duo Sparks – comprising brothers Ron, 79, and Russell Mael, 76 – bestowed with the Outstanding Contribution to Music accolade, and the pair teased a brand-new album is on the way next year after they signed a new deal with indie label Transgressive Records.
R’n’B star Jorja Smith, 27, took home Best Independent Album of the Year for 2023’s ‘Falling or Flying’, but was absent from the ceremony.
In a pre-recorded video message, she said: “A big thank you to the AIM Awards for awarding me Best Independent Album of the year. A massive, massive thank you to [producer] DAMEDAME* for laughter and fun, and for just being able to express myself and have fun making tunes. I love them so much so it’s amazing that I got to create this album with them [….] And thank you to [record label] FAMM for believing in me from all these years ago to now and the fact that I’m able to put out albums independently.”
