Guns N’ Roses Reunion: Has Izzy Stradlin Opted Out For The Sake Of Dignity?

When the distant rumblings from Mount Rock sparked rumors on the breeze that the former princes of the universe, Guns N’ Roses, could be reuniting, it wasn’t long before the ancient question “Where’s Izzy?” was asked.

Considered by many as not just the coolest member of Guns N’ Roses but the bleeding heart and beat-up soul of the group, Izzy Stradlin is an essential ingredient in the making of the Roses unique brand of juice, yet sadly, or perhaps inspiringly, the cat with rhythm has chosen to continue to plough his own furrow as opposed to mixing it up with the likes of Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan once more.

The Inquisitr recently opined that any Guns N’ Roses reunion would be dead in the water without Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler, before asking, “If the Guns N’ Roses reunion hasn’t got all five of the original ingredients, is it really gonna cook?”

The answer has to be a resounding “No!” It won’t even simmer, it’ll just be a money grab and an empty exercise in nostalgia by three aging rockers who should know better.

And it’s a definite “No!” from Izzy too. The reclusive guitarist recently contacted Rolling Stone via email to lay any speculative rumors to waste and declare that Guns N’ Roses would be reuniting without him.

“At this point in time, I will not be playing at any of the April 2016 GNR shows. I’ve also not been in the studio recording or writing with any of the others recently. There is so much speculation, but so very little info, [that] I thought I should reach out.”

Somewhat bizarrely, considering his low profile, Stradlin is the only past member of Guns N’ Roses to comment on the imminent reunion. He also opened a Twitter account for the first time last week and began “reaching out.”

“I know there’s a lot of questions regarding my Twitter account, but it’s me. I opened the Twitter account. There was just so much speculation going on regarding my involvement and studio recording. There’s so much misinformation, so I wanted to clarify that I’m not in the studio recording with any of the Guns N’ Roses guys. At this point in time, I’m not involved in the actual shows… A lot of stuff [fans] are reading isn’t true.”

Chris Pitman who joined Guns N’ Roses back in 1998, when they were well past the prime has slammed the reunion tour as a “money grab.”

“Please don’t mention those who are there the last 20 fu*king years … oh god no!! … (a money grab) FU.”

Now while that might just be sour grapes, the Guns N’ Roses reunion does appear to be waddling along like some sort of uncomfortable and lame cash cow.

Both Slash and Axl have suddenly buried the hatchet they’ve been tearing strips off one another with these last two decades and are apparently good to go, but without Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler on board, the Guns N’ Roses reunion falls foul of the trade description laws.

It should read, “Three guys who used to be in Guns N’ roses get together, a little more weathered, a little more bloated, and play some old songs they once wrote when their bellies were empty and their hearts were full.”

Although it’s probably correct to ascertain that Steven Alder isn’t on board because he hasn’t been asked, it’s not sure why Axl Rose’s childhood friend Izzy has refused to join in the fun.

Perhaps it’s because the intensely secretive musician has no wish to rejoin the rock n’ roll circus and begin jumping through hoops again at his age.

Less we forget, Izzy is the only original member of Guns N’ Roses who has not written a memoir, was the first member of the band to sober up, and the first to leave.

In the wake of Stradlin’s departure, Guns N’ Roses lost one of their chief songwriters, and from then on in, they were pretty much spent as a creative force and reduced to trading in on past glories.

Izzy, on the other hand, has since released a run of impressive solo albums, and although he has made sporadic guest appearances with Guns N’ Roses down they years, he appears very much a lone wolf who’s walking his own path with a quiet dignity and subtle grace.

Signing up for a full-blown Guns N’ Roses reunion would at this late in the game probably be a little undignified. The original Guns N’ Roses may have been one of the best rock n’ roll bands of all time, but time is cruel, and where once there was the arrogance and invincibility of youth, there now lies the stuttering uncertainty of age and the melancholy reminders of what was and will never be again.

Now why would Izzy, who appears to be content doing his own thing, want to be a part of all that?

[Photo by Scott Harrison/Getty Images]