Izzy Stradlin
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Dean Isbell known by his stage name Izzy Stradlin, is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and former rhythm guitarist of the hard rock
band Guns N' Roses
, which he left at the height of its fame in 1991. Following his departure, he led his own band Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds for one album and tour. Since the late 1990s, Stradlin has released ten solo albums, the last six of which independently.
, Indiana
. His father was an engraver, and his mother worked for the phone company; they divorced when he was eight. Of his hometown, Stradlin later said, "It was cool growing up there. There's a courthouse and a college, a river and railroad tracks. It's a small town, so there wasn't much to do. We rode bikes, smoked pot, got into trouble–it was pretty Beavis and Butt-head
actually."
Stradlin developed an interest in music early in life; by the age of eight, his musical favorites included Bob Dylan
, Pink Floyd
, Alice Cooper
, and Led Zeppelin
. His biggest musical influence was his paternal grandmother, who played drums in a swing jazz band with her friends. Inspired, Stradlin talked his parents into buying him a drum kit.
In high school, Stradlin started a band with his friends, one of whom was singer Bill Bailey, later known as Axl Rose
. Stradlin recalled, "We were long-haired guys in high school. You were either a jock or a stoner. We weren't jocks, so we ended up hanging out together. We'd play covers in the garage. There were no clubs to play at, so we never made it out of the garage." Despite his aversion to school, Stradlin managed to graduate in 1979 with a D average. Set on a career in music, he subsequently moved to Los Angeles, California.
" punk band Naughty Women. During his ill-fated first show with the band, audience members began attacking the musicians; Stradlin recalled, "I just grabbed a cymbal stand and stood on the side trying to fend them off, yelling, 'Get the fuck away from me, man!' That was my introduction to the rock scene in L.A." His two-month tenure in Naughty Women was followed by a stint in hard rock
band Atoms, before his drum kit was stolen along with his car and he switched to bass. Stradlin then joined the heavy metal
band Shire, during which he took up rhythm guitar to aid his songwriting.
In 1983, Stradlin formed Hollywood Rose
with his childhood friend Axl Rose, who had moved to Los Angeles the previous year. In January 1984, the band recorded a five-song demo featuring the tracks "Killing Time", "Anything Goes", "Rocker", "Shadow of Your Love", and "Reckless Life", which were released in 2004 as part of the compilation album The Roots of Guns N' Roses
. The group disbanded in August, following which Stradlin joined Sunset Strip
staple London
, only to reunite with Hollywood Rose four months later.
. By June, the line-up consisted of Stradlin, Rose, guitarist Slash
, bassist Duff McKagan
, and drummer Steven Adler
. They played nightclubs—such as the Whisky a Go Go
, The Roxy, and The Troubadour—and opened for larger acts throughout 1985 and 1986. It was during this period that the band wrote most of its classic material, with Stradlin establishing himself as a key songwriter in the group.
In July 1987, Guns N' Roses released its debut album, Appetite for Destruction
, which to date has sold over 28 million copies worldwide, 18 million of which in the United States, making it the best-selling debut album of all time in the US. Stradlin wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on the album, including the hits "Sweet Child o' Mine
" and "Paradise City
". He also wrote the hit "Patience" off the follow-up album G N' R Lies
, which was released in November 1988 to US sales of five million copies, despite containing only eight tracks, four of which were included on the previously released EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide.
As their success grew, so did interpersonal tensions within the band. In 1989, during a show as opening act for the Rolling Stones, Axl Rose threatened to leave the band if Stradlin, Slash, and Steven Adler didn't stop "dancing with Mr. Brownstone," a reference to their song of the same name
about heroin use. After being sentenced to a year probation for urinating in public aboard an airplane, Stradlin decided to get clean; he returned to his mother's home in Indiana, where he detoxed from drugs and alcohol. The following year, Adler was fired from the band because of his heroin addiction; he was replaced by Matt Sorum
of The Cult
.
In September 1991, Guns N' Roses released the long-awaited albums Use Your Illusion I
and Use Your Illusion II
, which debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 respectively on the US chart, a feat unachieved by any other group. Stradlin co-wrote the hits "Don't Cry
" and "You Could Be Mine
", and performed lead vocals on the songs "Dust N' Bones", "You Ain't the First", "Double Talkin' Jive", and "14 Years
". Like on their previous records, his preferred guitar during the recording of the albums was a Gibson ES-175
.
By the release of the Use Your Illusion albums, Stradlin had become dissatisfied with life in Guns N' Roses. He later recalled, "Once I quit drugs, I couldn't help looking around and asking myself, 'Is this all there is?' I was just tired of it; I needed to get out." On November 7, 1991, towards the end of the band's European tour, it was announced that Stradlin had left Guns N' Roses. He had played his final show as an official member of the band on August 31 at Wembley Stadium
. Of his reasons for leaving, Stradlin later said, "I didn't like the complications that became such a part of daily life in Guns N' Roses," citing the Riverport riot
and Axl Rose's chronic lateness on the Use Your Illusion Tour
as examples. He stated that getting sober played a part in his decision to leave, saying, "When you're fucked up, you're more likely to put up with things you wouldn't normally put up with."
of Georgia Satellites
on lead guitar, Jimmy Ashhurst of Broken Homes on bass, and Charlie Quintana
on drums. Their self-titled debut album was released in October 1992 to critical acclaim; Rolling Stone
called it "a ragged, blues-drenched, and thoroughly winning solo debut." Ju Ju Hounds played its first show in September at The Avalon in Chicago, before embarking on a tour of Europe, Australia, and North America.
In May 1993, Stradlin reunited with Guns N' Roses for five shows in Europe and the Middle East to fill in for his replacement, Gilby Clarke
, who had broken his wrist in a motorcycle accident. After Stradlin returned to the Ju Ju Hounds, Axl Rose dedicated the Stradlin-penned "Double Talkin' Jive" to him during several shows. In September, the Ju Ju Hounds undertook a tour of Japan, where the band played its final show at the Shibuya Public Hall
in Tokyo. Stradlin then took time off from music, during which he traveled extensively and dedicated much of his time to his other passion—motor racing, even building a track close to his Indiana home.
. Released in March 1998, the album was recorded in fits and starts over a period of two years and featured his former band mates Duff McKagan and Rick Richards, as well as former Reverend Horton Heat drummer Taz Bentley
, whose work Stradlin admired. As before, Stradlin had little interest in promoting his music; he did few interviews and played no live performances. The album turned out to be his last release on his long-time label Geffen
; as a result of the merge between Geffen and Interscope
, Stradlin was dropped from the label's roster.
In December 1999, Stradlin's third solo album, Ride On
, was released on the Universal Victor
label in Japan. It featured the same line-up as his previous release. To promote the album, Stradlin—with McKagan, Richards, and Bentley—played four shows in Japan the following April. With the addition of keyboardist Ian McLagan
, the group recorded two more albums: River
, which was released in May 2001 on Sanctuary, and a second Japan-only release, On Down the Road, which followed in August 2002 on JVC Victor
.
Stradlin was then asked by his former Guns N' Roses band mates Duff McKagan, Slash, and Matt Sorum to join the supergroup
Velvet Revolver
. Although he contributed to the songwriting process while the band was in its formative stage, Stradlin ultimately declined to join due to his aversion to life on the road and his unwillingness to work with a lead singer, although he offered to split vocal duties with McKagan. Slash later remarked, "He didn't want to deal with the fuckin' long haul at all. As soon as we started to physically audition singers, we didn't see him again. He's so fucking shattered from his experience [with Axl Rose] that he refuses to ever do anything involving a singer again!"
.
On May 5, 2006, thirteen years after his last performance with Guns N' Roses, Stradlin made a guest appearance at the band's show at the Hammerstein Ballroom
in New York; he played on "Patience", "Think About You
", and "Nightrain
". He then performed with Guns N' Roses for 13 shows during the band's summer European tour. Stradlin said, "Axl [Rose] and I connected via cell phone this year, I stopped by...It was nice to reconnect with an old friend/war buddy/fellow musician. I told him later I'd like to join the fun in some way and he said I was welcome to come and play something, so I did! Took me about three weeks to recover from the six weeks of touring!" In December, he played three shows with the group at the Gibson Amphitheatre
in Universal City
, California.
Stradlin released his seventh album, Miami
, through iTunes in May 2007. It again featured Rick Richards, Taz Bentley, and JT Longoria, as well as keyboardist Joey Huffman. Guitarist Richards described the album as being "a bit of a departure from Like a Dog but still quite a rocker." In July, a remixed version of Miami was released through iTunes; Stradlin called the new mix "much louder and more powerful sounding." In November of that year, he released a second iTunes-only album, Fire, the Acoustic Album, which also featured Richards, Bentley, and Longoria.
Stradlin's next iTunes release, Concrete
, came out in July 2008. In addition to his regular collaborators, Stradlin also invited his former Guns N' Roses band mate Duff McKagan to play bass on three songs, including the title track. Stradlin then released two more albums through iTunes: Smoke
, which came out in December 2009, and Wave of Heat, which followed in July 2010 and again featured McKagan, who appears on seven tracks.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, which he left at the height of its fame in 1991. Following his departure, he led his own band Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds for one album and tour. Since the late 1990s, Stradlin has released ten solo albums, the last six of which independently.
1962-1979: Early life
Stradlin was born Jeffrey Dean Isbell in LafayetteLafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. His father was an engraver, and his mother worked for the phone company; they divorced when he was eight. Of his hometown, Stradlin later said, "It was cool growing up there. There's a courthouse and a college, a river and railroad tracks. It's a small town, so there wasn't much to do. We rode bikes, smoked pot, got into trouble–it was pretty Beavis and Butt-head
Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
actually."
Stradlin developed an interest in music early in life; by the age of eight, his musical favorites included Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
. His biggest musical influence was his paternal grandmother, who played drums in a swing jazz band with her friends. Inspired, Stradlin talked his parents into buying him a drum kit.
In high school, Stradlin started a band with his friends, one of whom was singer Bill Bailey, later known as Axl Rose
Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years...
. Stradlin recalled, "We were long-haired guys in high school. You were either a jock or a stoner. We weren't jocks, so we ended up hanging out together. We'd play covers in the garage. There were no clubs to play at, so we never made it out of the garage." Despite his aversion to school, Stradlin managed to graduate in 1979 with a D average. Set on a career in music, he subsequently moved to Los Angeles, California.
1980–1984: Early career
Shortly after his arrival in Los Angeles, Stradlin joined "dragDrag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
" punk band Naughty Women. During his ill-fated first show with the band, audience members began attacking the musicians; Stradlin recalled, "I just grabbed a cymbal stand and stood on the side trying to fend them off, yelling, 'Get the fuck away from me, man!' That was my introduction to the rock scene in L.A." His two-month tenure in Naughty Women was followed by a stint in hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Atoms, before his drum kit was stolen along with his car and he switched to bass. Stradlin then joined the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Shire, during which he took up rhythm guitar to aid his songwriting.
In 1983, Stradlin formed Hollywood Rose
Hollywood Rose
Hollywood Rose was an American hard rock group formed in 1983 and is best known as the precursor group 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...
with his childhood friend Axl Rose, who had moved to Los Angeles the previous year. In January 1984, the band recorded a five-song demo featuring the tracks "Killing Time", "Anything Goes", "Rocker", "Shadow of Your Love", and "Reckless Life", which were released in 2004 as part of the compilation album The Roots of Guns N' Roses
The Roots of Guns N' Roses
The Roots of Guns N' Roses is a compilation album containing old songs of Hollywood Rose, released on June 22, 2004 by Deadline Music .-The Album:...
. The group disbanded in August, following which Stradlin joined Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
staple London
London (heavy metal band)
London is an American heavy metal band, based in Hollywood, California. The band is perhaps most notable for featuring members that would go on to play in more famous bands such as Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, W.A.S.P...
, only to reunite with Hollywood Rose four months later.
1985–1991: Guns N' Roses
In March 1985, Stradlin founded Guns N' Roses with Axl Rose and several members of L.A. GunsL.A. Guns
L.A. Guns is the name of a hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, of which two rival incarnations currently exist due to numerous line-up changes. The first incarnation of the group was formed, by Tracii Guns, in 1983 but disbanded in 1985 following its merger with fellow Los Angeles...
. By June, the line-up consisted of Stradlin, Rose, guitarist Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
, bassist Duff McKagan
Duff McKagan
Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician and writer. He is best known for his twelve-year tenure as the bassist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, and drummer Steven Adler
Steven Adler
Steven Adler is an American musician. He is best known as the former drummer of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s...
. They played nightclubs—such as the Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
, The Roxy, and The Troubadour—and opened for larger acts throughout 1985 and 1986. It was during this period that the band wrote most of its classic material, with Stradlin establishing himself as a key songwriter in the group.
In July 1987, Guns N' Roses released its debut album, Appetite for Destruction
Appetite for Destruction
Appetite for Destruction is the debut studio album by American rock band Guns N' Roses, released in July 1987 on Geffen Records. It was well-received by critics and topped the American Billboard 200 chart...
, which to date has sold over 28 million copies worldwide, 18 million of which in the United States, making it the best-selling debut album of all time in the US. Stradlin wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on the album, including the hits "Sweet Child o' Mine
Sweet Child O' Mine
"Sweet Child o' Mine" is the third single by American rock band Guns N' Roses, and the third from their 1987 debut studio album, Appetite for Destruction. Released on August 17, 1988, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the band's first and only number-one single in the U.S...
" and "Paradise City
Paradise City
-Personnel:* Axl Rose - lead vocals, synthesizer, whistle* Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar, backing vocals, percussion* Slash - lead guitar, backing vocals* Duff McKagan - bass, backing vocals* Steven Adler - drums-Live:...
". He also wrote the hit "Patience" off the follow-up album G N' R Lies
G N' R Lies
-Personnel:*W. Axl Rose - lead vocals, whistle on "Patience"*Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar, rhythm acoustic guitar on tracks 5-8, backing vocals*Slash - lead guitar, lead acoustic guitar on tracks 5-8...
, which was released in November 1988 to US sales of five million copies, despite containing only eight tracks, four of which were included on the previously released EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide.
As their success grew, so did interpersonal tensions within the band. In 1989, during a show as opening act for the Rolling Stones, Axl Rose threatened to leave the band if Stradlin, Slash, and Steven Adler didn't stop "dancing with Mr. Brownstone," a reference to their song of the same name
Mr. Brownstone
"Mr. Brownstone" is a song written by American rock band Guns N' Roses. It appears on their 1987 album Appetite for Destruction. Slash relates that the song was written by him and Izzy Stradlin while they were at Izzy and his girlfriend Desi's apartment...
about heroin use. After being sentenced to a year probation for urinating in public aboard an airplane, Stradlin decided to get clean; he returned to his mother's home in Indiana, where he detoxed from drugs and alcohol. The following year, Adler was fired from the band because of his heroin addiction; he was replaced by Matt Sorum
Matt Sorum
Matthew William Sorum is an American rock drummer and percussionist. Sorum is most famous for his 7-year stint in Guns N' Roses and supergroup Velvet Revolver , which is comprised in part of former Guns N' Roses members Duff McKagan and Slash .-Early career :Matt Sorum was born Matthew William...
of The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
.
In September 1991, Guns N' Roses released the long-awaited albums Use Your Illusion I
Use Your Illusion I
Use Your Illusion I is the third studio album by the American rock band Guns N' Roses. It was the first of two albums released in conjunction with the Use Your Illusion Tour, the other being Use Your Illusion II. The two are thus sometimes considered a double album. In fact, in the original vinyl...
and Use Your Illusion II
Use Your Illusion II
Use Your Illusion II is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Guns N' Roses. It was one of two albums released in conjunction with the Use Your Illusion Tour, and as a result the two albums are sometimes considered a double album...
, which debuted at No. 2 and No. 1 respectively on the US chart, a feat unachieved by any other group. Stradlin co-wrote the hits "Don't Cry
Don't Cry
"Don't Cry" is a song by rock band Guns N' Roses, two versions of which were released simultaneously on different albums. The version with the original lyrics is the fourth track on Use Your Illusion I, while the version with the alternate lyrics is the 13th track on Use Your Illusion II...
" and "You Could Be Mine
You Could Be Mine
"You Could Be Mine" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses, featured on their 1991 fourth studio album Use Your Illusion II. It was released as the band's seventh single, and the first from the Use Your Illusion albums, in June 1991...
", and performed lead vocals on the songs "Dust N' Bones", "You Ain't the First", "Double Talkin' Jive", and "14 Years
14 Years
"14 Years" is the second track on the Guns N' Roses album Use Your Illusion II. This song is one of the few Guns N' Roses songs sung fully by Izzy Stradlin, with the exception of the chorus sung along with Rose. The song was only performed live when Stradlin was still in the band. It is about...
". Like on their previous records, his preferred guitar during the recording of the albums was a Gibson ES-175
Gibson ES-175
The Gibson ES-175 is an electric guitar manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Corporation, currently still in production. It is a 24 3/4" scale full hollow body guitar with a trapeze tailpiece and Tune-O-Matic bridge...
.
By the release of the Use Your Illusion albums, Stradlin had become dissatisfied with life in Guns N' Roses. He later recalled, "Once I quit drugs, I couldn't help looking around and asking myself, 'Is this all there is?' I was just tired of it; I needed to get out." On November 7, 1991, towards the end of the band's European tour, it was announced that Stradlin had left Guns N' Roses. He had played his final show as an official member of the band on August 31 at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. Of his reasons for leaving, Stradlin later said, "I didn't like the complications that became such a part of daily life in Guns N' Roses," citing the Riverport riot
Riverport Riot
The Riverport Riot was a riot at the Riverport Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Missouri at a Guns N' Roses concert on July 2, 1991...
and Axl Rose's chronic lateness on the Use Your Illusion Tour
Use Your Illusion Tour
The Use Your Illusion Tour was a concert tour by the rock band Guns N' Roses which ran from January 20, 1991 to July 17, 1993. It was not only the band's longest tour, but one of the longest concert tours in rock history, consisting of 194 shows in 27 countries...
as examples. He stated that getting sober played a part in his decision to leave, saying, "When you're fucked up, you're more likely to put up with things you wouldn't normally put up with."
1992–1994: Ju Ju Hounds and first GNR reunion
Following his departure from Guns N' Roses, Stradlin returned to his hometown of Lafayette, Indiana, where he began working on new material. He formed the band Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds, which consisted of Stradlin on vocals and rhythm guitar, Rick RichardsRick Richards
Rick Richards is an American rock guitarist.He is best known for being a member of the band The Georgia Satellites from Atlanta, Georgia. After the initial line up of "Keith and the Satellites" with Keith Christopher, Rick Richards, Dan Baird and David Michaelson, the Georgia Satellites including...
of Georgia Satellites
Georgia Satellites
The Georgia Satellites are a Southern rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. They are best known for their 1986 top five hit single "Keep Your Hands to Yourself", and draw inspiration from Chuck Berry, Little Feat, and AC/DC, among others.- History :...
on lead guitar, Jimmy Ashhurst of Broken Homes on bass, and Charlie Quintana
Charlie Quintana
Charlie Quintana was born in 1962, in El Paso, TX. Quintana was A drummer for the old school punk band Social Distortion, who joined in 2000 as the replacement of Chuck Biscuits , following the death of the band's former guitarist Dennis Danell...
on drums. Their self-titled debut album was released in October 1992 to critical acclaim; Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
called it "a ragged, blues-drenched, and thoroughly winning solo debut." Ju Ju Hounds played its first show in September at The Avalon in Chicago, before embarking on a tour of Europe, Australia, and North America.
In May 1993, Stradlin reunited with Guns N' Roses for five shows in Europe and the Middle East to fill in for his replacement, Gilby Clarke
Gilby Clarke
Gilbert "Gilby" Clarke is an American guitarist and record producer best known for a 3-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N' Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour...
, who had broken his wrist in a motorcycle accident. After Stradlin returned to the Ju Ju Hounds, Axl Rose dedicated the Stradlin-penned "Double Talkin' Jive" to him during several shows. In September, the Ju Ju Hounds undertook a tour of Japan, where the band played its final show at the Shibuya Public Hall
Shibuya Public Hall
or is a live theatre in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It was completed in 1964. In the 1964 Summer Olympics, the weightlifting events took place there.The theatre was sponsored by Dentsu and Suntory, which paid ¥80 million to have its name associated with the building from 2006 to 2011.-External links:*...
in Tokyo. Stradlin then took time off from music, during which he traveled extensively and dedicated much of his time to his other passion—motor racing, even building a track close to his Indiana home.
1995–2002: Solo career and Velvet Revolver
In 1995, Stradlin began recording material for his second solo album, 117°117 (album)
117° is the second album by Izzy Stradlin, released on March 9, 1998. Two of the songs, "Memphis" and "Good Enough", were originally recorded by Stradlin's previous band, Ju Ju Hounds, but due to the breakup of the band, he used them for this record....
. Released in March 1998, the album was recorded in fits and starts over a period of two years and featured his former band mates Duff McKagan and Rick Richards, as well as former Reverend Horton Heat drummer Taz Bentley
Taz Bentley
Patrick Bentley, better known as Taz or The Taz, is an American rock and roll drummer.Taz is currently a member of the Burden Brothers.-With Burden Brothers:* 8 Ball * Queen O' Spades * Beautiful Night...
, whose work Stradlin admired. As before, Stradlin had little interest in promoting his music; he did few interviews and played no live performances. The album turned out to be his last release on his long-time label Geffen
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
; as a result of the merge between Geffen and Interscope
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, Stradlin was dropped from the label's roster.
In December 1999, Stradlin's third solo album, Ride On
Ride On (Izzy Stradlin album)
Ride On is the third album released by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin. It also features Duff McKagan who is also an ex-member of Guns N' Roses-Track listing:#Ride On #California #Spazed #Primitive Man...
, was released on the Universal Victor
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
label in Japan. It featured the same line-up as his previous release. To promote the album, Stradlin—with McKagan, Richards, and Bentley—played four shows in Japan the following April. With the addition of keyboardist Ian McLagan
Ian McLagan
Ian McLagan is an English keyboard instrumentalist, best known as a member of the English rock bands Small Faces and Faces.-Small Faces and Faces:...
, the group recorded two more albums: River
River (album)
River is the fourth studio album by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin. It is the third album to feature ex-Guns N' Roses bass guitarist Duff Mckagan-Track listing:All songs written by Izzy Stradlin unless noted otherwise....
, which was released in May 2001 on Sanctuary, and a second Japan-only release, On Down the Road, which followed in August 2002 on JVC Victor
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
.
Stradlin was then asked by his former Guns N' Roses band mates Duff McKagan, Slash, and Matt Sorum to join the supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver is an American hard rock supergroup consisting of former Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth. Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland was Velvet Revolver's lead singer from their formation until...
. Although he contributed to the songwriting process while the band was in its formative stage, Stradlin ultimately declined to join due to his aversion to life on the road and his unwillingness to work with a lead singer, although he offered to split vocal duties with McKagan. Slash later remarked, "He didn't want to deal with the fuckin' long haul at all. As soon as we started to physically audition singers, we didn't see him again. He's so fucking shattered from his experience [with Axl Rose] that he refuses to ever do anything involving a singer again!"
2003–present: Independent solo career and second GNR reunion
In 2003, Stradlin recorded his sixth album, Like a Dog, with guitarist Rick Richards, drummer Taz Bentley, and bassist JT Longoria. It was originally scheduled for a late 2003 release, with just under one thousand promo copies made. However, the album was not released until October 2005, when Stradlin—prompted by a fan petition—made it available through internet order. The following year, Stradlin re-released Ride On, River, On Down the Road, and Like a Dog through iTunesITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
.
On May 5, 2006, thirteen years after his last performance with Guns N' Roses, Stradlin made a guest appearance at the band's show at the Hammerstein Ballroom
Hammerstein Ballroom
The Hammerstein Ballroom is a two-tiered, 12,000 square feet ballroom located within the Manhattan Center Studios on 311 West 34th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America. It is known for its elegant appearance and excellent acoustical design...
in New York; he played on "Patience", "Think About You
Think About You
"Think About You" is the eighth track on Guns N' Roses' debut album Appetite for Destruction. The song is lyrically similar to "Sweet Child o' Mine" . "Think About You" was, however, written by Izzy Stradlin. The song begins with a very fast tempo and keeps up the pace until 29 seconds from the end...
", and "Nightrain
Nightrain
Personnel=* Axl Rose - lead vocals* Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar, lead guitar, backing vocals* Slash - lead guitar, rhythm guitar* Duff McKagan - bass, backing vocals* Steven Adler - drums...
". He then performed with Guns N' Roses for 13 shows during the band's summer European tour. Stradlin said, "Axl [Rose] and I connected via cell phone this year, I stopped by...It was nice to reconnect with an old friend/war buddy/fellow musician. I told him later I'd like to join the fun in some way and he said I was welcome to come and play something, so I did! Took me about three weeks to recover from the six weeks of touring!" In December, he played three shows with the group at the Gibson Amphitheatre
Gibson Amphitheatre
The Gibson Amphitheatre is a theatre located in Universal City, California, USA. It seats up to 6,189 for concerts, including 6,089 chairback seats...
in Universal City
Universal City, California
Universal City is a community in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, that encompasses the 415 acre property of Universal Studios...
, California.
Stradlin released his seventh album, Miami
Miami (Izzy Stradlin album)
Miami is former Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin's 7th solo album, released only on iTunes on the 30 May 2007. Izzy announced through his website that he and bassist JT Longoria had remixed the album, and would be releasing the 10 songs on iTunes on 24 July...
, through iTunes in May 2007. It again featured Rick Richards, Taz Bentley, and JT Longoria, as well as keyboardist Joey Huffman. Guitarist Richards described the album as being "a bit of a departure from Like a Dog but still quite a rocker." In July, a remixed version of Miami was released through iTunes; Stradlin called the new mix "much louder and more powerful sounding." In November of that year, he released a second iTunes-only album, Fire, the Acoustic Album, which also featured Richards, Bentley, and Longoria.
Stradlin's next iTunes release, Concrete
Concrete (Izzy Stradlin album)
Concrete is former Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin's ninth solo album, released only on iTunes in 2008.The Izzy Stradlin band has two guitar players but the song "Drove" features 3 guitar tracks...
, came out in July 2008. In addition to his regular collaborators, Stradlin also invited his former Guns N' Roses band mate Duff McKagan to play bass on three songs, including the title track. Stradlin then released two more albums through iTunes: Smoke
Smoke (Izzy Stradlin album)
Smoke is former Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin's tenth solo album, released only on iTunes in 2009.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Izzy Stradlin - vocals, rhythm guitar*Rick Richards - lead guitar*Timo Kaltio - guitar...
, which came out in December 2009, and Wave of Heat, which followed in July 2010 and again featured McKagan, who appears on seven tracks.
Discography
- Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds (1992)
- 117°117 (album)117° is the second album by Izzy Stradlin, released on March 9, 1998. Two of the songs, "Memphis" and "Good Enough", were originally recorded by Stradlin's previous band, Ju Ju Hounds, but due to the breakup of the band, he used them for this record....
(1998) - Ride OnRide On (Izzy Stradlin album)Ride On is the third album released by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin. It also features Duff McKagan who is also an ex-member of Guns N' Roses-Track listing:#Ride On #California #Spazed #Primitive Man...
(1999) - RiverRiver (album)River is the fourth studio album by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin. It is the third album to feature ex-Guns N' Roses bass guitarist Duff Mckagan-Track listing:All songs written by Izzy Stradlin unless noted otherwise....
(2001) - On Down the Road (2002)
- Like a Dog (2005)
- MiamiMiami (Izzy Stradlin album)Miami is former Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin's 7th solo album, released only on iTunes on the 30 May 2007. Izzy announced through his website that he and bassist JT Longoria had remixed the album, and would be releasing the 10 songs on iTunes on 24 July...
(2007) - Fire, the Acoustic Album (2007)
- ConcreteConcrete (Izzy Stradlin album)Concrete is former Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin's ninth solo album, released only on iTunes in 2008.The Izzy Stradlin band has two guitar players but the song "Drove" features 3 guitar tracks...
(2008) - SmokeSmoke (Izzy Stradlin album)Smoke is former Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin's tenth solo album, released only on iTunes in 2009.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Izzy Stradlin - vocals, rhythm guitar*Rick Richards - lead guitar*Timo Kaltio - guitar...
(2009) - Wave of Heat (2010)