Road Crew
Encyclopedia
Road Crew were an American garage band from Los Angeles
, California
, formed in 1984. The band was composed of future Guns N' Roses
members Slash
, Steven Adler
and Duff McKagan
. They auditioned a number of singers while writing material. However they disbanded the same year with no releases.
Following his firing from Guns N' Roses in 1990, Adler reformed Road Crew in 1991 with a new lineup composed of Davy Vain, Jamie Scott, Ashley Mitchell (all formerly of Vain
), and Shawn Rorie. They recorded an album and gained some label attention. However, due to Adler's drug abuse, Road Crew disbanded once more without releasing the album.
found himself without a band. His childhood friend Steven Adler
, who had learned to play drums, suggested that they form a band together. Slash eventually agreed to check out Adler while he practiced at a public park. Slash stated that he "wasn't convinced of his abilities, but [he] was satisfied" and decided to work with Adler. After trying out for London
they decided to form their own band, taking out an ad in The Recycler
for a bass player before audtioning for singers. Though they received a few calls, only Duff McKagan
wanted to meet with them.
McKagan had moved from Seattle to Los Angeles at this point having already been a member of the bands The Fartz
, Fastbacks
and 10 Minute Warning
while he also played one show drumming for Johnny Thunders
. Shortly after his move, he answered the ad and met with Slash and Adler at Canter's Deli
. Describing McKagan's appearance upon meeting him at Canter's, Slash said that he was "this bone-skinny six-foot-plus guy, with short spiked blonde hair [who] rolled in wearing a Sid Vicious
-style chain and padlock around his neck, combat boots, and a red-and-black leather trench coat in spite of the seventy-five-degree weather. No one had predicted that." Soon after meeting, the trio formed a group together, named Road Crew (after the Motörhead song "(We Are) The Road Crew") and began auditioning singers.
They auditioned a number of singers, including Ron Reyes
who was briefly the singer for Black Flag
, while working on material which included the main riff to what would become "Rocket Queen
" (though Adler stated in a later interview stated that no Road Crew material was used until the recording of the Use Your Illusion
albums). Despite there being a good chemistry between the trio, Slash disbanded the group citing not being able to find a singer as well as Adler's constant partying and lack of work ethic compared to himself and McKagan.
Slash would go on to play with Black Sheep and audition for Poison
, while both Slash and Adler became members of Hollywood Rose
. Hollywood Rose would break-up and reform (without Slash and Adler) eventually becoming Guns N' Roses
. Slash, McKagan and Adler would replace Guns N' Roses members Tracii Guns
, Ole Beich
and Rob Gardner
respectively. Along with Axl Rose
and Izzy Stradlin
, the lineup would be known as the "classic lineup" of Guns N' Roses.
), and guitarist Shawn Rorie They recorded an album and gained attention from a label. However, due to Adler's drug problems at the time, the group was short-lived and disbanded shortly after.
Adler would go on to join BulletBoys
before forming the group Suki Jones
which eventually became Adler's Appetite
.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, formed in 1984. The band was composed of future 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...
members 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'...
, 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...
and 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...
. They auditioned a number of singers while writing material. However they disbanded the same year with no releases.
Following his firing from Guns N' Roses in 1990, Adler reformed Road Crew in 1991 with a new lineup composed of Davy Vain, Jamie Scott, Ashley Mitchell (all formerly of Vain
Vain (band)
Vain is an American heavy metal band from San Francisco Bay Area, California, formed in 1986. As of 2011, the lineup consists of Davy Vain , Jamie Scott , Danny West , Ashley Mitchell and Louie Senor ....
), and Shawn Rorie. They recorded an album and gained some label attention. However, due to Adler's drug abuse, Road Crew disbanded once more without releasing the album.
Early years, Formation and Disbanding (1984)
Following the breakup of his previous group Tidus Sloan, SlashSlash (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'...
found himself without a band. His childhood friend 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...
, who had learned to play drums, suggested that they form a band together. Slash eventually agreed to check out Adler while he practiced at a public park. Slash stated that he "wasn't convinced of his abilities, but [he] was satisfied" and decided to work with Adler. After trying out for 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...
they decided to form their own band, taking out an ad in The Recycler
The Recycler
The Recycler is a Los Angeles based, classifieds only newspaper, started by Gunter and Nancy Schaldach in 1973. The Recycler was based in Silverlake and was subsequently sold to the Times Mirror Company in 1998....
for a bass player before audtioning for singers. Though they received a few calls, only 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...
wanted to meet with them.
McKagan had moved from Seattle to Los Angeles at this point having already been a member of the bands The Fartz
The Fartz
The Fartz were originally formed in 1981 and were one of the first well-known hardcore bands from Seattle, Washington. They were signed to Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles Record label...
, Fastbacks
Fastbacks
The Fastbacks were a Seattle punk rock band. Formed in 1979 by songwriter/guitarist Kurt Bloch , and friends Lulu Gargiulo and Kim Warnick , they disbanded in 2001...
and 10 Minute Warning
10 Minute Warning
10 Minute Warning was a hardcore punk band from Seattle, Washington. They became famous locally as one of the first bands to adapt the popular punk sound to something slower and heavier, paving the way for grunge bands like Green River and Mother Love Bone before breaking up in 1984.-Early years...
while he also played one show drumming for Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...
. Shortly after his move, he answered the ad and met with Slash and Adler at Canter's Deli
Canter's
Canter's Deli is a famous Jewish style delicatessen in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, California, near the border of West Hollywood.The Canter family originally opened up a delicatessen in Jersey City in 1924....
. Describing McKagan's appearance upon meeting him at Canter's, Slash said that he was "this bone-skinny six-foot-plus guy, with short spiked blonde hair [who] rolled in wearing a Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
-style chain and padlock around his neck, combat boots, and a red-and-black leather trench coat in spite of the seventy-five-degree weather. No one had predicted that." Soon after meeting, the trio formed a group together, named Road Crew (after the Motörhead song "(We Are) The Road Crew") and began auditioning singers.
They auditioned a number of singers, including Ron Reyes
Ron Reyes
Ron Reyes is an American musician most noted as the second singer for the Los Angeles punk rock group Black Flag. Reyes, who is of Puerto Rican descent, joined Black Flag after original vocalist Keith Morris had quit to form the Circle Jerks...
who was briefly the singer for Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, while working on material which included the main riff to what would become "Rocket Queen
Rocket Queen
"Rocket Queen" is the closing song of Appetite for Destruction, the debut album of the rock band Guns N' Roses.-Background:According to frontman W. Axl Rose:...
" (though Adler stated in a later interview stated that no Road Crew material was used until the recording of the Use Your Illusion
Use Your Illusion (disambiguation)
Use Your Illusion can refer to:*Use Your Illusion I, a multi-platinum album by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses.*Use Your Illusion II, a multi-platinum album by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses....
albums). Despite there being a good chemistry between the trio, Slash disbanded the group citing not being able to find a singer as well as Adler's constant partying and lack of work ethic compared to himself and McKagan.
Slash would go on to play with Black Sheep and audition for Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
, while both Slash and Adler became members of 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...
. Hollywood Rose would break-up and reform (without Slash and Adler) eventually becoming 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...
. Slash, McKagan and Adler would replace Guns N' Roses members Tracii Guns
Tracii Guns
Tracii Guns is an American guitarist best known as the founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns as well as the supergroups Brides of Destruction and Contraband. He was also involved in the formation of the first lineup of Guns N' Roses but eventually left the group and was replaced by guitarist...
, Ole Beich
Ole Beich
Ole Beich was a Danish musician best known as the bassist for the original lineups of L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses.-Early life:...
and Rob Gardner
Rob Gardner (musician)
Rob Gardner is an American musician best known as the drummer for the original lineups of L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses while he was briefly the drummer for Hollywood Rose.-L.A. Guns :...
respectively. Along with 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...
and Izzy Stradlin
Izzy Stradlin
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...
, the lineup would be known as the "classic lineup" of Guns N' Roses.
Reformation and Second disbanding (1991)
After being fired from Guns N' Roses in 1990, Adler reformed Road Crew with a new lineup consisting of singer Davy Vain, guitarist Jamie Scott, bassist Ashley Mitchell (all formerly of VainVain (band)
Vain is an American heavy metal band from San Francisco Bay Area, California, formed in 1986. As of 2011, the lineup consists of Davy Vain , Jamie Scott , Danny West , Ashley Mitchell and Louie Senor ....
), and guitarist Shawn Rorie They recorded an album and gained attention from a label. However, due to Adler's drug problems at the time, the group was short-lived and disbanded shortly after.
Adler would go on to join BulletBoys
BulletBoys
BulletBoys is an American hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1987. The group's original lineup was composed of former Ratt guitarist/King Kobra lead vocalist Marq Torien , former King Kobra guitarist Mick Sweda, Lonnie Vencent and Jimmy D'Anda...
before forming the group Suki Jones
Adler's Appetite
Adler's Appetite, previously Suki Jones, is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2003. As of 2011, the lineup consists of Patrick Stone , Michael Thomas , Lonnie Paul , Chip Z'nuff and Steven Adler...
which eventually became Adler's Appetite
Adler's Appetite
Adler's Appetite, previously Suki Jones, is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2003. As of 2011, the lineup consists of Patrick Stone , Michael Thomas , Lonnie Paul , Chip Z'nuff and Steven Adler...
.
Members
- SlashSlash (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'...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1984) - Duff McKaganDuff McKaganMichael 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...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1984) - Steven AdlerSteven AdlerSteven 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...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1984, 1991) - Davy Vain – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1991) - Shawn Rorie – guitar (1991)
- Jamie Scott – guitar (1991)
- Ashley Mitchell – bass (1991)