Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke spoke with KLOS 95.5 FM in Los Angeles on Friday about a variety of subjects, including playing the band’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 without frontman Axl Rose.
“It was a strange time, because there was kind of like a dark cloud over our whole induction, because Axl decided not to go,” said Clarke. “And once he decided not to go, the dark cloud kind of went away, 'cause the guys that did go, we all get along great, we still play together all the time, and it actually was fun. We had a really good time.”
“We actually only rehearsed, like, the night before the thing,” he continued. “We got together at a club… We hadn't played those songs in 20 years, so that was the thing… I mean, for me, we were trying to figure out what songs we were gonna play, and I'm, like, 'Wow, I haven't played that song in 20 years.' It had to come back to me. It was funny: there was a photo going around on Twitter of Duff and I in the bathroom, actually, going over the songs, trying to remember the riffs and things like that."
Guns N’ Roses' original lineup - Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler - along with later additions Matt Sorum and Dizzy Reed, were officially inducted as part of the Class Of 2012, which also included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beastie Boys, The Small Faces/The Faces, Donovan and Laura Nyro.
Former GNR members Slash, McKagan, Adler, Sorum and Clarke were on hand to perform (Clarke was not inducted) a few classics for the Cleveland crowd; the guys were joined by Myles Kennedy (Slash, Alter Bridge) on vocals in Rose's absence.
Just days before the ceremony, Axl issued a statement declining his induction and confirmed that he would not be attending the event – read his full statement here.
See also:
VIDEO: Guns N’ Roses preview Las Vegas residency
VIDEO: Matt Sorum previews new solo album
Guns N' Roses announce second Las Vegas residency
Guns N’ Roses: Axl Rose comments on Copenhagen Zoo controversy
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