Guns n Roses frontman Axl Rose has admitted he and former bandmate Slash were engaged in a ‘war’ from the moment they met, due to a power struggle within the group.
In an interview with the LA Times, Rose told of how we was part of a similar struggle with one-time rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, but that it was with Slash where the real tension lay.
“It was really a fight with me and Slash,” he said. “Izzy was doing the same thing, but the fight with me and Slash started the day I met him. He came in, popped my tape out and put his in and wanted me in his band. And I didn’t want to join his band. We’ve had that war since Day 1.”
However, Rose has not ruled out a reunion with Slash when Guns n Roses are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame next year, but added it would only be Slash and ex-bassist Duff McKagan with whom he would be prepared to share a stage with again.
“The only thing that would make it would be Duff and Slash, really,” he continued. “It’s nothing against Izzy and it’s nothing against Steven, or anything like that. Steven may want it, but these guys I’m working with right now, they work really hard and it’s hard work. I’ve toured with the other guys and I’ve also seen what they’ve done since, and I just know the difficulties. So it’s not really even a full reunion.”
Guns n Roses will officially enter the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame at a ceremony on April 14th, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio.