"My Appetite for Destruction: Sex & Drugs & Guns N’ Roses"
Every misunderstood celebrity should write a tell-all book. I’m not being sarcastic. It’s a great way to give their fans and enemies a chance to see their side of the story with no interruptions. It’s also an inside look at the life of the celebrity/rockstar, with horny groupies, screaming, obsessed fans and non-stop attention.
In Steven Adler’s “My Appetite for Destruction: Sex & Drugs & Guns N’ Roses,” he attempts to set the record straight, from his rough childhood to getting kicked out of his house as a youth and later as a part of one of the most successful hard rock bands ever, GNR, and his notorious battle with drug abuse.
Before starting his story, Adler addresses why he decided to write a tell-all: to come clean and tell his side of a story that has been twisted across media channels over the past 20 years. He also makes it clear that the book isn’t a stab at his former bandmates, who he still loves, or else, including family and friends.
Adler’s story starts at his beginning when he was born in Cleveland in 1965. Soon the wild ride begins, featuring an abusive father, a quick move to California, being adopted by his mother’s boyfriend/future husband and later getting kicked out, and Adler’s days as an extreme wild child.
Adler’s motivations can be described in three words: sex, drugs and music. “And nothing focuses me or gets me going like chasing tail. Money, fame, status, power … nothing comes close to the pursuit of pussy.”
Although women are a big part, drugs, starting when he was first introduced to the drug culture in 1977 at age 12, take center stage, slowly sucking his life force dry.
Highlights of the book include his meeting Saul “Slash” Hudson in junior high and, of course, the forming of GNR. “That night, we all just happened to walk into one another’s lives, with no idea what lay ahead. I wish I could say that it was like lightning struck, but the truth is that it was just a random get-together to see what could be germinating.”
Germinate indeed.
“We never did anything the sane, sensible way. We never went by the rules and never conformed to an accepted path to success. The way we came up with our songs, insisted on total artistic freedom, the way we practiced and played — no one did it like we did.”
Steven Adler
When he talked about forming GNR, I flashed back to my youth, sitting in a room with the shades drawn, MTV blaring “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and my sister screaming at the top of her lungs, “I love you Axl!” I loved Adler’s behind-the-scenes view, blurring the glamour and media-fed image and sharpening it with his view from behind the drums. GNR “carved their own path to glory” and performed songs that described their lives, what was going on in the late ‘80s L.A. culture.
As the story continues, chock-full with non-stop sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll, Adler is the first to admit that all his mistakes, from overdosing 28 times, to being a zombie/junkie, to going to jail … everything was his own doing. “I’m the undisputed all-time booze-chugging, pill-cobbling, drug-shooting, Katrina-caliber fuckup. Throughout my wretched life there isn’t a friend, family member or fantastic opportunity that I haven’t shoved into a blender and mutilated.”
Throughout his drug haze, doing everything from shooting up heroin to smoking crack and pot, Adler recalls it all. Everything that the media has been obsessed with, from substance abuse to drama with the infamously difficult Axl Rose, is covered. Adler also discussed his meetings with other rock gods, including Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler, and Tommy Lee.
Adler’s story ends with his public stints on “Celebrity Rehab” and “Sober House” with Dr. Drew and his never-ending battle to stay clean. Maybe he’s trying to make a quick buck. Maybe he’s trying to stay relevant in ADD Hollywood or feed his ego. I don’t know. What I do know is that this book is a page-turning, raw look into ’70-‘90s rock-and-roll culture and an inside look at one of the most iconic rock bands in the world.
Maybe it’s all lies. Adler sure has a good memory after all the drugs he’s done; nonetheless, his story is compelling, tragic and funny. This book is a good read for all the lovers and the haters out there and also for the younger population, to see the real side of the often glamorized culture of celebrity/rockstar. There’s nothing like reading a play-by-play of Adler OD’ing on heroin to make you feel better about your life. People are quick to tell you about their highs, but what about their lows? — Kate Vendetta
Call it luck, call it fate, call it whatever you wish but in the early eighties, a perfect storm of musical forces began to align in Hollywood, CA that would give birth to the world’s most notorious rock ‘n’ roll band. Boasting an amazing mix of larger than life personalities, an undeniably powerful sound and a heaping helping of attitude, Guns N’ Roses wasted no time carving their own niche into Los Angeles’ highly competitive music scene. When Guns N’ Roses released their legendary album, Appetite for Destruction, it would change the music scene for ever. It is one of the rare, iconic albums that would come along to a generation and serve as a benchmark for all albums to follow. Not only would the music effect people around the world, it would also take many who were at ground zero of the phenomenon on a roller coaster ride to superstardom. The members of this extraordinary band are living proof that some people merely listen to rock n’ roll and some have it coursing through their veins. Such is the case with drummer Steven Adler. As part of Guns N’ Roses, he provided the crushing backbeat to one of music’s landmark albums, rose to the heights that most people can only dream of and became the poster boy for rock ‘n’ roll excess. Today, after twenty-eight overdoses, three botched suicides, two heart attacks, a couple of jail stints, and a debilitating stroke, Steven Adler is sober, standing tall and ready to share his story with the world. Steve Johnson of Icon Vs. Icon sat down with the infamous drummer with the infectious smile to discuss his shocking new autobiography ‘My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N’ Roses’, the future of Adler’s Appetite, his love for W. Axl Rose and much more!
How did music first come into your life?
I’ve been a fan of music since the age of 4 when I heard my first album, which was Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The song was “Working My Way Back to You.” There was something that clicked in my heart and in my soul. The sound of the guitar, and the groove of the drums, and Frankie’s voice. My grandma used to tell me that when we were driving around I would turn the radio up pretty loud and I’d just be dancing and singing in the back seat. How’s that for how times have changed! I wore no seat belt! I was 4 or 5 years old jumping around in the back seat of a car that was driving around! How’s that? Times have definitely changed! [laughs]
Your work has inspired so many. Who do you cite as some of your influences?
Musically … Roger Meddows-Taylor from Queen. Everyone from KISS. Boston. John Bonham. Keith Moon. A lot of English drummers. I was really attracted to the style of the English drummers. They were jazz schooled players, but went into rock. The drums weren’t just basic AC/DC. One, two, three, four … IIt had a shuffle. It had a groove. I like that!
How do you think you have evolved as an artist (drummer) since you first started out?
When I first started out … I hadn’t taken a lesson up until five months ago. Throughout my whole career in music I had never taken a drum lesson. So five months ago I started taking lessons. I started cleaning myself up and getting my life together, and I wanted to be a better player. So I started taking lessons. It’s the best thing I have ever done. It’s helped my show. It’s amazing how it has helped me. It’s made playing so much easier and so much more fun. Having a clue of what I am actually doing, instead of just doing it because it feels right. Now it feels right and I know what I am doing. It’s even a bigger high performing live and recording.
What has kept you inspired through the years?
I wasn’t inspired for the last 20 years. After two years of working with Dr. Drew I got satisfaction to be a part of my life again. I really wasn’t inspired by anything. I didn’t want to do anything. It took me 20 years to admit and realize that I blamed Slash, Duff, Izzy, and Axl for my downfall with the band and all the drug abuse I went through after that. I blamed them. When I started working with Dr. Drew … I realized that I thought they let me down, but it wasn’t them who let me down, it was me who let them down. Being able to face that … if you read my book “My Appetite for Destruction,” in the beginning of it I talk about the sexual abuse that I went through when I was a young teenager. That happened with an older teenager and an older man. At the time that it happened, how do you tell your grandparents or your friends? You can’t tell somebody that happened to you. When I was 12 years old … so with working with Dr. Drew I realized that if I don’t get this out of my system and keep stuffing it down, I am going to keep relapsing and I’m not going to be able to move forward in my life. I finally was able to have a discussion with people who understood and people I could relate to. I thought if I said those words out loud for other peoples’ ears to hear I would feel even worse and that they would batter me. It was the complete opposite. When I said it, it was like this big weight off my body and my chest. It was just like, WHEW! Doing this book has been mentally, spiritually, and emotionally healing for me. Dr. Drew has been a huge help and a mentor to me. I watched the show after I was on the show. The season before and the season after. Everybody has the same opportunity that I had to get the most out of it. I needed to get these feelings that I just described to you out. Before I started “Celebrity Rehab,” I told them I don’t think I could do it to the best of my ability and get the most out of it if I don’t get to talk to Slash. Like I said, I blamed them. I thought they let me down. So we had a meeting. No cameras. Nothing … I got to apologize to Slash and he apologized to me. I said, it was really me who let him down. Just being able to apologize … the next morning when I woke up my whole body was so sore. Like when you work out too much. I was so sore from the weight, pressure, and pain I let off my body by apologizing to him.
Speaking of your autobiography, “My Appetite For Destruction,” did you have any reservations about putting that together?
After the months I did in rehab and the two years I’ve been working with Dr. Drew, I felt that it was time for me to do it. For me, the purpose of the book was to write my answers to all of the people that I have wronged and to myself. When I get home off tour I am going to build myself a big bonfire and I’m going to throw that book right into the fire. I want to leave the past behind. I want to move forward. I don’t hate anybody. I don’t bash anybody in my book. I don’t put anybody down. I don’t talk bad about anybody. That’s not what it is about. I love all the people that were in my life and people that are a part of my life. No one is getting put down. I’m laying my heart on my sleeve with this book. It’s for all of my friends, colleagues, fans, and people that can benefit from my rough history. I’m here to show the underdogs that you can survive and you can succeed. My life has been a rollercoaster, I have accepted all of the consequences, and I can move on. I’m going to live my life one second at a time, one breath at a time. I’m finally starting to show myself and I’m finally getting recognition for the work that I have done on “Appetite,” “Lies,” and my work with GNR. I want those guys more than anybody to read my book. If they read my book, I know they’ll realize that what we have is so special and so rare for that to happen. They’ll realize that we’re all brothers. The five of us are brothers and what do goofy brothers do? They fight with each other! That’s what brothers do! It’s been 20 years of fighting. Enough is enough. Let’s move on. I know if I could get the five of us in a room together, not even with instruments, just a room … no chairs or even a table. All we would do is say hi to each other, shed a little tear, and we would start talking about moving on into the future and doing something new.
You are currently on tour with your band, Adler’s Appetite. How did the current lineup shape up?
I’ve been doing Adler’s Appetite for like the last eight years. There have been different people involved. Just like Guns ‘n’ Roses, we’ve played with other people throughout the years. This was a fun lineup that just clicked together. We have a new single out called “Alive.” “It’s Good To Be Alive” and it is good to be alive. If you buy the book, you can download the single for free. We debuted the single on The Howard Stern Show when we did the show. We play it live. Basically the live show … we open up with “Reckless Life” and we end with “Welcome to the Jungle.” So we do that and everything that’s in between.
As you mentioned, the band’s new single “Alive” is out now. Are there any plans for a full length release from Adler’s Appetite in the future?
Yes! We have some shows at The Whisky. We are going to do a video for this song first. We’re going to film it at The Whisky and at the Sunset Strip Music Festival, which is all right there. In the middle of September we are going to go back over to Anthony Focx’s studio, where we did the first single. We’ll have two weeks in L.A., so we’ll probably run through another five songs. We’ll put it out single by single. That’s the way the market is now. You put out a single, people will download a single. So we have this single that’s out. In about three or four weeks we’ll have a new single and we’ll go from there. We’re just belting them out and having a great time doing it. I love all of the fans I have been meeting at the book signings and at the shows. I love when they bring their GNR memorabilia. I love meeting everybody and signing stuff. Everybody has been so great. I appreciate all of their prayers and all of their wonderful thoughts. It’s a really wonderful trip.
You started your career in one of the biggest bands of all time and have a very well documented career. The public eye has been fixed on you from the time you were very young and continues to this day. What do you think is the biggest misconception about Steven Adler?
I’m going to tell you there is no misconception. If you read my book, nearly everything is right there. That’s all I have to tell you! There is no misconception! My heart and soul are on my sleeve! [laughs]
Steven Adler
It seems, especially in the “rock media,” they tend to focus mainly on soundbites from you that paint Axl Rose in a negative light. Does this ever put you in a bad spot or become a bit of a burden?
No. Axl is one of the most wonderful people I have had in my life. He is an amazing singer. He’s up there as one of the top singers/entertainers. You have Freddie Mercury. You have Robert Plant. You have Steven Tyler. You have Axl Rose. It’s been a blessing being able to work with that guy. I want him to be a part of my life. He’s my brother. Like I said earlier, brothers fight. Enough with the fighting. Let’s move on … I want to finish what I started with him and the guys. I’m pretty sure they feel the same way. Axl has been nothing but a wonderful influence and a wonderful person to me. I love him and I want him to be a part of my life more. I’m thankful I have a history with him. No bad animosity. All love and respect.
What do you consider the defining moment of your career so far?
I have to say playing with The Rolling Stones at the L.A. Colosseum. That was the biggest! Oh yeah, and Donnington! I’ve had a few. We played with Aerosmith and Ozzy Osbourne. I have to say the main one was the Colosseum with The Rolling Stones. That was like a dream come true for all of us.
That’s one band I haven’t seen, I would love to go see.
Oh man! It’s amazing! And they’re still doing it! I love it! This is like the 10th time that they’ve said this is the last tour they are doing!
It sounds like KISS!
You’ve got to hand it to them! You’ve got to give it up!
Being in the music industry as long as you have, are there still surprises?
The surprise is that there is no record industry. I was lucky enough to catch the ending of what was the entertainment world, where you worked hard, you did shows, you played anywhere, and you sent your tapes in. You did everything you could and you were a rare breed. The rare few got signed and got to make a record. Nowadays everyone is making a record. They’re doing it in their bedrooms. Then again, if you look at these bands that are coming out … I don’t know … it used to be you could see someone walking down Sunset Boulevard and tell the difference between a blue collar guy and an entertainer. People cared about how they looked. I watch these videos of bands out nowadays and I swear they’re the same guys who I just got a burger from at Burger King. You know what I mean! They don’t care about how they look! Shave your face! Look good! Comb your hair! Do something! It’s entertainment! That’s just how I feel. I was lucky to catch it toward the ending of when it was real. It wasn’t a costume, it was a performance. Nowadays there are bands out there playing with tape! What the hell is that? [laughs]
As far as I am concerned progress peaked at “Appetite For Destruction!” That album is phenomenal!
It was live! That was live and that’s the truth! At the end of the song there was none of this, “Let’s take this part of the song … that sounded better than this part of the song … let’s put it there … ” We went one, two, three, four. We played the friggin’ song and how it came out, that’s how it came to be. After we played every song, we’d go back in the listening booth and we’d listen back to the song we just played. We just looked at each other and said, “We just made the greatest record ever!” We achieved what our goal was. I just want to finish what I started with them.
Lightening up a bit …you have played tons of shows. Ever have a “Spinal Tap Moment” where something totally unexpected happened?
Well, we were playing with The Cult and it was our last show with them. They came out and started taking my drums away piece by piece. There have been a couple of those, “Hello Cleveland! Where’s the fucking stage? Oh! It’s right over here! Hello Cleveland!” There have been a few of those! That and the Motley Crue guys poured flour all over us like it was cocaine falling from the sky. Trust me, flour and sweat don’t mix well with hair. I was pulling dough out of my hair for weeks. [laughs]
What is the best piece of advice you could give to those who are just starting out and considering making a career in the music industry?
Practice as many hours a day as you can. Play with every other performer/musician. Everyone you can play with … get yourself out there. Play the bars. Play the clubs. Get yourself known. That’s what we did. We hung out on the strip. We played everywhere. We made sure people knew who we were. We practiced! You want to go out there and you want to be great. We would go into rehearsal two hours before the other guys would get in just so the bass and drums, which is the rhythm section, was good as we could be.
After this tour, what’s next for you?
We are going to do some recording and some videos. We’re going to Europe. Iceland, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Australia … we’ve got a world tour ahead of us until this time next year.
Anything that you would like to add or say to the dedicated GNR fans around the world?
Thank you for all of the wonderful prayers and thoughts. The e-mails, texts, and tweets. I love meeting all of you. More than anything I love giving hugs to everybody. Be prepared, if you meet me, you’re going to get hugged! I even hugged a big, stinky, hairy guy in Canada! [laughs] He had no business wearing a tank top! [laughs] None! The store who sold him the tank top had no business selling this guy a tank top! That’s how hairy this guy was!
Jesus! [laughs]
Exactly! [laughs] Be sure to check out our website at www.adlersappetiteonline.com. You can check out if we’re coming to your city in the next couple of weeks. We still have a month of touring in the states. You check out pictures, videos from the shows, and the book. Log on and say hi!
Making their first U.S. concert appearance in four years, and playing their only U.S. show in 2010, Guns N’ Roses has been officially recruited to join the inaugural Rock ‘N Rev Festival and cement its assault on the legendary Sturgis Rally’s 70th Anniversary celebration in Sturgis, SD, at the newly constructed Rock N’ Rev Amphitheater at Monkey Rock USA.
Guns N’ Roses will headline the fifth and final night of the festival, as it moves to the Brand New Rock ‘N Rev Amphitheater at Monkey Rock USA in Sturgis, adjacent to its original location. L.A.’s notorious rock ‘n’ roll bad boys – one of Q magazine’s “50 Bands to See Before You Die” – have combined forces with HDlogix and DC3 Global for this rare and very special appearance on home soil to bring the “full-out rock ‘n’ roll spectacle” (Spin) of their 2010 “Chinese Democracy World Tour” to Sturgis and finish off the hijacking of the world’s biggest, baddest biker event, Monday, Aug. 9 through Friday, Aug. 13, 2010.
Rock ‘N Rev Festival’s sweltering lineup also includes: Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Wolfmother, Creed, Daughtry, 3 Doors Down, Godsmack, Three Days Grace, Cage The Elephant, Rev Theory, Eagles of Death Metal, The Darling Stilettos (featuring former GNR drummer Matt Sorum), and Swayback — just some of the bands making massive music at this colossal biker bash.
Tickets for the Rock ‘N Rev Festival are $45 per day, general admission ($150 for a five-day pass), and on sale now through www.ticketmaster.com and rocknrevfestival.com and at all Ticketmaster locations, or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available in person beginning August 5, 2010 on location at the Festival’s on- site box office. For more information on exclusive VIP packages ($150 for a single day, $300 for all five days or $1,000 5 day platinum packages), including backstage access to a VIP area to special, air-conditioned tents with private bars, motorcycle parking, luxury bathroom facilities and more, go to www.rocknrevfestival.com.
Adler’s Appetite, featuring legendary Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler, has announced their summer tour.
Fresh off recent appearences on VH1′s That Metal Show and Sober House, Steven and company are hitting the road this summer in support of Adler’s tell-all biography, My Appetite For Destruction: Sex, Drugs & Guns N’ Roses, which is set for a July 27th release through Harper Collins.
The tour will also mark the debut of new original material from the band, which includes guitarists Alex Grossi (ex-QUIET RIOT) and Michael Thomas (FASTER PUSSYCAT), bassist Chip Z’nuff (ENUFF Z’NUFF) and vocalist Rick Stitch (LADYJACK). “We are really looking forward to getting back out there and playing some new material,” says Adler. “As much as we love doing all the old GN’R stuff, which of course we will contiune to do, it will be nice to show the fans that there is so much more to this band than what people have seen”.
Supporting Adler’s Appetite on the tour will be Texas-based ANCHORED, whose new single, ‘Dirty In Texas’, will drop on June 15th. Confirmed shows are as follows:
June
12 – Glass Cactus – Grapevine, TX
13 – BFE Rock Club – Houston, TX
14 – Lone Star Sports Bar – Temple, TX
July
9 – Brixton – Redondo Beach, CA
10 – Galaxy Theatre – Santa Ana, CA
11 – Canyon Club – Agoura Hills, CA
12 – Club Vegas – Salt Lake City, UT
13 – The Railyard – Billings, MT
15 – Frequency – Madison, WI
16 – The Back Bar – Janesville, WI
17 – Bada Brew – Crest Hill, IL
18 – Festa Italiana – Milwaukee, WI
21 – Hayloft – Mt. Clemens, MI
22 – Market Block Party – Syracuse, NY
23 – Ram’s Head Live – Baltimore, MD
24 – The Cube – Newark, DE
26 – Bowery Electric – New York, NY
27 – Mill Creek Tavern – Philadelphia, PA
28 – The Bell House – Brooklyn, NY
29 – Hard Rock Cafe – Pittsburgh, PA
30 – Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
31 – Showcase Live – Foxboro, MA.
August
1 – City Limits – Sanford, ME
5 – Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ
6 – The Underground – Sandusky, OH
7 – McGuffy’s House Of Rock – Dayton, OH
8 – Cosmic Charlies – Lexington, KY
10 – Mill Creek – Appleton, WI
11 – Clyde Iron Works – Duluth, MN
12 – International Raceway – Brainerd, MN
13 – Reverb – Cedar Falls, IA
14 – Elko Speedway – Elko, MN
15 – Phoenix Lounge – Harrisburg, SD
19 – Union Station – Colorado Springs, CO
20 – Roadhouse – Dacono, CO
25 – Cedardome – Milton, WA
26 – Hayley’s Bar & Grill – Everett, WA
Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler will release his biography, entitled My Appetite For Destruction, on June 22nd via HarperCollins. A pre-order for the 304 page hardcover, trimsize book, priced at $25.99, is available at this location >
Check out the kick ass artwork for the book below!
Steven Adler issued this statement in regards to his upcoming projects:
“We have been in the studio all week putting together new original music for a spring/summer release. The songs sound great! It feels so good to be moving forward! It’s been a long time coming, but will be worth the wait. We will be debuting some of the new songs at The Key Club on April 10th. I want you all to be there! Plenty of time to plan your trip to Los Angeles.”
Adler was fired from Guns N’ Roses in 1989 amid rumours the drummer’s drug use was hampering his performance.
Adler’s battle with addiction has been well documented in the press and on reality television, as he did stints on both Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and its spin-off series Sober House.
Adler is currently working on a full length album with his band, Adler’s Appetite which is comprised of vocalist Rick Stitch (Ladyjack), guitarists Alex Grossi (Hookers ‘N Blow, ex-Quiet Riot), Michael Thomas (Faster Pussycat) and bassist Chip Z’nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff).
Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler will release his biography, entitled My Appetite For Destruction, on June 22nd via HarperCollins. A pre-order for the 304 page hardcover, trimsize book, priced at $25.99, is available at this location >
Adler was fired from Guns N’ Roses in 1989 amid rumours the drummer’s drug use was hampering his performance.
Adler’s battle with addiction has been well documented in the press and on reality television, as he did stints on both Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and its spin-off series Sober House.
Adler is currently working on a full length album with his band, Adler’s Appetite which is comprised of vocalist Rick Stitch (Ladyjack), guitarists Alex Grossi (Hookers ‘N Blow, ex-Quiet Riot), Michael Thomas (Faster Pussycat) and bassist Chip Z’nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff).
The daughter of Oscar winning composer Alan Menken is stepping out from behind her father’s huge shadow and is looking to make a name for herself in the music industry. An accomplished guitarist and long time pianist, twenty four year old Anna Rose is nothing short of a phenomenon. Heavily influenced by the music of the sixties and seventies, Anna’s self-titled EP is dripping with music inspired by artists such as Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, and Jimi Hendrix. The amazingly beautiful and highly talented singer-songwriter easily rises above her peers and looks to be a force to reckon with for years to come. Steve Johnson of Icon vs. Icon recently caught up with Anna to discuss her influences, her recently released self-titled EP, the upcoming release of her full length album, Nomad, and much more!
First off, I want to give our readers a little background on you. Where did you grow up?
I actually grew up in and around New York City. I was born in New York City and then my parents moved about an hour outside the city in very northern Rochester County. Almost in Dutchess County. I grew up pretty much in Dutchess County. Then when I was eighteen I moved to Los Angeles.
How did music first come into your life?
You know, I really… Ha! Well I guess because of my dad. It was always there. My dad is a composer, so music has always been a part of my life. I started playing piano when I was two and singing as soon as I can remember. I can’t remember it not being a part of my life.
Other than your dad being a composer, what drove you to make music your career and what has been your inspiration?
Let me think… I guess what drove me to do it was that there was nothing else I ever really wanted to do. It was a huge part of my life from the very beginning. I think my parents saw that and really nurtured that. I’m very thankful to my parents because they saw what I wanted to do and really encouraged it. That being said, I’ve had some really great teachers. I trained with Arlen Roth for my guitar playing. He’s been a hired gun for a lot of different big people. Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon solo, and Bob Dylan. He’s so incredible and he sort of started to move me into that… I was already kind of into classic rock because that is what I grew up listening to. I grew up listening to The Beatles and… Then I started to get into Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, and a lot of those blues guys. That took me in a bit of a different direction. I love what music has the ability to do.
Were there any other influences that have helped shape you, the musician, that we know today?
I think Joni Mitchell a lot. When I was growing up I listened to a lot of Jimi Hendricks. I can’t play anything like him, but if there’s anyone I idolize it’s him. Fleetwood Mac… Bob Dylan… Basically classic rock and blues straight across the board. Now I’m listening to a lot more of these newer blues guys like The Black Keys and The Dead Weather. Anything Jack White does is pretty incredible. A lot of those guys are influencing what I am doing now. So that’s kind of where I find myself in the mix. I haven’t seen a lot of female performers who have been doing that, so I kind of feel like I have my little nook. [laughs]
You have played the guitar for most of your life. Do you play any other instruments or is there one you would like to learn to play?
I play piano and I actually just started writing a bit on piano. I started playing piano before guitar and as soon as I picked up a guitar I was like, “fuck this!” I switched over and I’m officially a guitar head. I’ve gone back to the piano a bit. It’s interesting how much it’s changed my song writing. I actually play a little bit of harmonica, but I’d like to be a lot better at it. If you’re into the blues you have to play the harmonica! What else… I’d love to learn how to play the cello, which is kind of random, but it’s a goal.
Your self titled EP was released September 29, 2009. For those who might not have had the chance to check it out, how would you best describe it?
It’s five songs that I chose that are on the full record. I thought they were the most accessible and the best display of what I feel is to come. I left a lot of the more emotionally deep songs, at least to me personally… I left those for the record. I wanted this to be sort of be an introduction to what my music will be about in the future. I don’t pick favorites. I really wanted the song Picture to be on the first record. It’s a song that I’m really involved in every time I perform now. I kind of go through phases with different songs. I think at the time the five songs that are on the EP are the five songs that kind of spoke to me.
Were there any challenges to making the album?
I don’t read music. I think the toughest thing for me was really trying to describe exactly what I wanted as a producer. I co-produced the record with Billy Sullivan. Billy has been a really great asset to me because he taught me how to use logic and how to really record my own music. The way that I describe music and what I want it to sound like… I needed to adapt the way that I think so that my band could understand me. I had already been playing with my band for about a year or so. They knew where I was coming from and we had made these arrangements already, but there were still certain things that I wanted to hear in the studio that I needed to figure out how to spit out. That was hard for me. Also the time spent in the studio. I didn’t leave the studio for about four or five months. A lot of these songs were written… I started writing when I was twelve. I think the earliest written song that actually made it onto the record was from when I was about sixteen or seventeen. I’m twenty four now and I recorded it when I was twenty two or twenty three. So, emotionally I had lived these songs and I was done with them. These were the songs that I wanted to be the first songs that were released and I was adamant on them being the first songs that got released. Emotionally sitting with these songs in the studio and having them picked apart. Going through them again, and again, and again. The part of me that really just wanted to do it and get it done and get out was really strong. By the time we got to overdubbing my vocals and stuff, that was very hard for me. It was frustrating to want to do it perfectly and at the same time not want to emotionally connect to these songs anymore.
Bruce Botnick is the executive producer of the album. What has is been like working alongside him and what have you learned from him?
Oh! I’ve learned so much from Bruce. Bruce is so funny. I’ve learned a lot about sound design from him and about what I want my records to physically sound like. I know what I want my arrangements to be and things of that nature, but Bruce was someone who had me sit down and just listen to sound and how broad it can be. Bruce would have me sit down with him in his studio and have me listen to different sounds and different records. He’d say, “This record is so great because there’s so much space here and you feel like you’re living within these tracks.” A lot of music now, especially in pop records, is really compressed and sort of meant to go right into your ear via a little ear bud headphone. That’s totally fine for some artists. If that’s their preference, that’s their preference. With mine, I wanted people to feel like they were sitting in there and listening to me live. There’s no auto-tune on that record. We really didn’t cut up too many takes. We did a lot of live takes with the band and then over-dubbed guitar solos over it and things like that. We really didn’t cut it up like a lot of people do now. Bruce is someone who sort of let me explore that. He didn’t force his hand. He wanted to let me explore and really make this record a great representation of who I am as an artist. I think a lot of what Bruce taught me is to make my opinions heard and to trust my own instincts as a musician.
You mentioned Arlen Roth earlier. He appears on the album. Tell us a little about what it’s like working with him and what he brought to the music featured on the album.
Arlen is really close to my heart. I started taking lessons with Arlen when I was about thirteen or fourteen years old. It’s hard for me to describe. Arlen has been a father figure to me. Especially with him being a guitar player. This is someone who I went through a lot of personal experiences with because I was growing up. I had a lot of growing pains happen while I was working with him. I was experiencing those things through playing guitar. Arlen is the best living guitarist. I can’t say enough about him. I think he’s the most brilliant man. The other part of it is that he really loves the instrument. He’s someone who taught me to love my instrument and to work hard. Vocally… My voice is something that always came naturally. I never really took voice lessons. Now I do some vocal coaching because I’m playing more and more shows. Eventually your throat is kind of like, “I hate you! Please stop singing!” [laughs] Guitar was something I really had to focus on and really master. Having him on my first record was really important to me. The same thing with Leon Pendarvus, who played the organ on the record and works with SNL. He’s a musical director and writer. Having him on there was amazing too because he’s taught me a lot. Having some of my teachers on there was important to me.
It’s good to have people that you know and trust there to help you bring out the best in yourself.
Yeah. It’s just sort of felt like this completion. I’m stepping out into the public finally and I felt like I took a really long time to develop who I am and what music I wanted to… I feel like if you don’t have anything to say, don’t say it. That’s the kind of person I am. I didn’t want to just put shit out into the world. I wanted to make sure that I had chosen the best of however many hundreds of songs I have written at this point, and have the best arrangements that I can make, and have them be the most genuine to who I am. It was a long process to feel like I had really gotten to that point with these songs.
Speaking of your songwriting. What is the typical songwriting process like for you?
For me… It’s different. Sometimes there are moments where it feels kind of like a dream and the lyrics and the music come to you all at the same time. Then there are those moments where I dunno… I’m sitting on a train or something and I end up writing a large set of lyrics or a poem and end up sort of dissecting it into the lyrics that I want for a melody that I wrote a week ago. The process is always kind of different for me. I do find that it’s easier for me to write when I have a little bit of privacy and I’m not performing as much. Performing is a very different perspective for me. You’re cutting yourself open on stage so people can watch you bleed. Emotionally that takes a lot out of me. I kind of have to be living my life in a somewhat normal way in order to write. I’m also twenty four and I think that’s going to develop and become a lot different as I start touring and playing shows every day. I think my perspective on that will change.
When can we expect the full-length album, Nomad, to hit stores?
May! May! [laughs] This year! May! I think May is really the latest. Maybe June max. I’d really like it to be out in May. I’d like to be able to play a bunch of shows over the summer. Actually my first music video just premiered today too.
Where can people catch that?
It’s on YouTube on Anna Rose Music Channel, which has some live videos of me playing too. The website that premiered it is called www.themusicslut.com, which is great. I love anything that has the word slut in it. Anything with foul language I’m happy about.
A woman of my own heart. I’m the same way. [laughs]
I know. It’s incredible that I really haven’t cursed much more in this interview.
You’re on par not to set the record for cursing in one of my interviews, so you’re ok.
[laughs] But yeah, check it out. It’s for the song “Picture.”
I’ll check that out.
Yeeeeaaaahhh…
How did you come up with the title for the album?
The title… That’s a good question. When I was recording all of these songs and like I said before, going through the emotional depths of them, I felt myself being a really nomadic person. I didn’t want to stay in one place at one time. I had moved to L.A., but I didn’t feel like that was home. I was traveling. I didn’t really stay in one place for more than two weeks. I was actually really physically uncomfortable that way. That’s how all of the songs sort of… A lot of them were already written or some of them were already written. They really started to take shape around that mentality. Someone told me once that when you make a record it really should feel like that moment in your life, right now. I took that lesson very much to heart. I felt like titling the record after the way that I had been feeling throughout the whole process. It was important to me.
What has been the biggest surprise for you so far in your musical career?
My biggest surprise? You know… People actually accepting the record. People enjoying it. Most writers are self deprecating assholes. I think as a performer you have to shut that off and try to be as cocky as you can, and get on stage and do the best that you can do. As a writer, sending out my stuff and having it best somewhat well received or well received at all and just having people like it. Having people want to listen to it. It’s always the most pleasant surprise for me. There’s no better compliment to me. That hits me right in the heart when someone says that they’ve been listening to my music. Someone who has been listening to my music knows me better than anyone else. So that’s been really amazing. There’s been a couple of shows that I have gotten to play that have been incredible. A couple of weeks ago I actually got the opportunity to sing with The Stooges at The Roxy, which was insane. That was the biggest, most incredible surprise to me. I was so nervous. The fact that they liked my voice was just the most kick ass thing in the world. It was so amazing. I’m this little blond chick. Iggy is out of control. He is amazing. I’m alright, but I didn’t necessarily expect them to be totally wowed by my little folk rock look and whatever. They were really happy with me when I came into rehearsal and rehearsed Gimme Danger with them. I got to perform this whole different side of myself. This really heavy rock side of myself. It’s definitely somewhere in there and I think it’s going to come out some day. It was a huge honor for me.
What do you consider the defining moment of your career so far?
As the defining moment, I would say when that EP went into stores and went onto iTunes and people could buy my music. It’s kind of like a coming out party. It’s like being a really awesome debutante. I finally became a part of this world that I have idolized and sat in the background of. To really step into it and to jump into the pool and just say, “Alright! I’m doing this and I’m really putting myself out there.” That was really the defining moment for me when I said, “I am now a musician.”
I heard you got into a fight about who the greatest guitar player ever is. Is there any truth to that and who is the greatest guitar player ever?
That is true. It is a true story. I did have a physical altercation. [laughs] To be fair… I was drunk and I already thought this was the most annoying person I’ve ever met on the planet. He goes on to say that Eric Clapton is the greatest guitarist in the world. I think Clapton is awesome. Clapton is amazing. I disagreed with the best guitarist thing and you know… I had to just have my way. I’m a little five foot tall nothing chick, so if you’re not listening to me I will physically hurt you.
Just drag you out of the car and…
We were actually sitting in a car. We were in the car on the way back and my sober friend was driving mind you… That’s important. No drunk driving. I hate drunk driving. Anyway, my sober friend was driving and my best friend was in the front seat. I’m sitting in the back seat with this kid and he’s going on and on and on about how Clapton is the best guitarist that’s ever lived and blah, blah, blah… So we got to a red light and I just sort of said, “You need to get out of this car right now. You’re the most obnoxious person I have ever met and by the way Jimi Hendrix was the best guitarist that ever lived.” I kind of opened the car door and pushed him out of there.
Did you leave him there?
For a little bit. We made him squirm. Then we pulled over on the side of the road and said, “If you want your ride home you better get back in, but you better not speak anymore!”
That’s funny. I think everyone has stories like that.
Well… Being twenty two years old in Los Angeles and a little blond chick who doesn’t want people to see her as a little blond chick, maybe that just sent me over the edge.
I could see that. I have only been to L.A. once and it was an eye opener.
I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it.
I was amazed how different it was from the east coast. It’s totally different.
I love a lot of the people. I love the mellowness. I love how mellow people are there. I love the lifestyle there, but I don’t like being surrounded by that industry of film and physical beauty and things of that nature. Beauty is very much defined differently over there. I like being in New York because I think being unique and being special is praised here.
Who would you consider to be the best guitar player right now?
Hummm… There’s some really incredible guitarists now. I really like Jack White’s guitar playing. Some people don’t necessarily appreciate it. They think it’s a little bit… I like grit. I like that sound of grit, of being able to hear the emotion behind the guitar playing. I think that Jack White’s got that. He’s unique and really makes great music. So I’d have to say Jack White right now.
I take it you would like to work with him in the future if possible. Is there anyone else in the music industry that you would like to work with if you had a chance?
Oh… I’d like to work with a lot of people… Let’s see… Allison Lockheart. The Kills. Just The Kills in general. If they could just let me sit in with them, that would be awesome. I love T-Bone Burnett’s style of production. I’d love to be able to work with him. Ummm… Paul McCartney. The Rolling Stones.
Ah! Get the big guns out there.
If Joni Mitchell ever came out of hiding. I actually don’t know if she’s in hiding. To write with Joni Mitchell would be incredible. I have a real… I really appreciate the music of that generation. The sixties and seventies. Oh! Jackson Browne and Tom Petty! Oh my god!
It sounds like you listen to a lot of the same music as I do. I’m kind of stuck in the eighties myself.
Oh! I love the eighties. I can’t discount the eighties.
Progress peaked at Guns N’ Roses in my opinion.
Oh god! I love Guns N’ Roses, but I didn’t love what they just recently did. I don’t know what happened to Axl.
Your are going to be stuck on a deserted island for the rest of your life and you can have three albums. What three albums would you want?
Oh my god! Worse question ever on the history of the planet! I can’t believe you’re asking me this! Ugh… This is the meanest question. A lot of people do this to me because I’m such a music freak and I have such a big music collection. I really don’t know… The beautiful thing about music is there’s never too much good music in the world. There can never be too much good music, so for me to pick three albums… Oh… I don’t know. They’d have to be some very large compilation albums. Can they be big, big box sets because I might choose the most recent Beatles box set. I’d probably choose some Zeppelin. Let me think… Beatles, Zeppelin, Hendrix. Oh god! I can’t even continue. It’s giving me heart palpitations.
That’s fine. Don’t have an anxiety attack.
[laughs]
You are currently playing some live shows. What has that experience been like for you?
Oh! That’s the best thing in the world. I love being in the studio. Being in the studio is really this supremely creative place where you can isolate yourself and you can really get into your music emotionally and mentally. You can really take the time to rip the canvas apart and start over. Live, you get one shot to do everything and you just lay it all out on the table. I love that about playing live. I think the place where you earn your fans is live. Especially now with so many people being able to put out records and then not being able to deliver during live shows. It’s really disappointing. It’s almost like anyone can make a record right now, but can you sit down live and really captivate people and really make people feel what you’re feeling. I’m constantly trying to achieve that on stage. I think that’s why I love it so much. I feel more alive on stage that I do anywhere else in my life. I feel like I live a couple of years on stage and then I can go home and sleep.
What do you hope people come away with after listening to your music?
I hope people take away… You know what? It’s not even up to me to think that. I don’t think. I just hope that people think about it. Whether they like it or don’t like it. Once music hits some one’s ears is entirely subjective. So I guess I would just hope that they listen to it in general. Even just having the chance to have someone listen to it. You can’t expect everyone to love your music. You can hope that a few people do and the people who really like it are really into and really love it and feel like they understand you and it brings them something. I would hope that my music would help people in some way.
Do you have an advice for anyone who would like to get involved in the entertainment industry?
Oh… I would say get into it for the right reasons. If you want to get into the music industry, really think about whether you’re doing it for music because there are a lot of ways to earn money and music is not one of them anymore. [laughs] I think there is this misconception because a lot of people, especially when you get into pop music, think that music is this immediate money maker in a lot of ways or that they think it’s going to be. It’s not. It’s a really hard business. It’s a business where people make assumptions about you when they don’t know you. That’s part of the job. They’re judging you based on your music. I would say that if you want to do it, do it. By all means. If you love it and you feel like you have something that you want to be heard and you feel like it needs to be heard, do it. Do everything you can to get it out there. It’s the best feeling in the world to get your creation out there, even if one person is listening to it. It’s an incredible feeling.
Is there anything else you want to let your fans know before you go?
If I have any fans, I love them. [laughs] I hope maybe I have at least one. Tell them that they are amazing and that if they’re in New York on March 9th, there’s a show at Rockwood Musical Hall. To the moon and beyond!
Thanks for taking so much time out of your day to speak with me Anna! We wish you all the best!
The good folks over at Talking Metal are offering a free download in their news section of a rare Zakk Wylde track featuring Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal of Guns ‘N Roses.
“Till The End” is Zakk Wylde on vocals/piano, Bumblefoot on guitar, Mark Strigl on bass and John Ostronomy on drums. We all sang backing vocals along with anybody who happened to be in the room. It was recorded way back in December 2007 the night before Zakk Wylde played a sold out show with Ozzy Osbourne at Madison Sq. Garden. Fooatge from the 13 hour songwriting and recording session were featured on Talking Metal‘s TV show. The song was mixed by Bumblefoot.
Download it here >
Be sure to check out all the stellar work that they are doing at Talking Metal!
As you mentioned, the band’s new single “Alive” is out now. Are there any plans for a full length release from Adler’s Appetite in the future?
As far as I am concerned progress peaked at “Appetite For Destruction!” That album is phenomenal!
After this tour, what’s next for you?
Were there any challenges to making the album?
My biggest surprise? You know… People actually accepting the record. People enjoying it. Most writers are self deprecating assholes. I think as a performer you have to shut that off and try to be as cocky as you can, and get on stage and do the best that you can do. As a writer, sending out my stuff and having it best somewhat well received or well received at all and just having people like it. Having people want to listen to it. It’s always the most pleasant surprise for me. There’s no better compliment to me. That hits me right in the heart when someone says that they’ve been listening to my music. Someone who has been listening to my music knows me better than anyone else. So that’s been really amazing. There’s been a couple of shows that I have gotten to play that have been incredible. A couple of weeks ago I actually got the opportunity to sing with The Stooges at The Roxy, which was insane. That was the biggest, most incredible surprise to me. I was so nervous. The fact that they liked my voice was just the most kick ass thing in the world. It was so amazing. I’m this little blond chick. Iggy is out of control. He is amazing. I’m alright, but I didn’t necessarily expect them to be totally wowed by my little folk rock look and whatever. They were really happy with me when I came into rehearsal and rehearsed Gimme Danger with them. I got to perform this whole different side of myself. This really heavy rock side of myself. It’s definitely somewhere in there and I think it’s going to come out some day. It was a huge honor for me.
I heard you got into a fight about who the greatest guitar player ever is. Is there any truth to that and who is the greatest guitar player ever?
Ah! Get the big guns out there.
