Yesterday’s Got Nothing For Me

There’s a healthy bit of interest in the Rock and Roll air right now about what might happen at Guns N’ Roses Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Almost overshadowing the other inductees, fans all over the world wonder what might happen on what is sure to be a fateful night. I wanted to weigh in with my dream scenario here and maybe offer some unwanted advice to W. Axl Rose. Just for kicks off course.

Axl Rose stands to lose a lot at this induction if he doesn’t play his cards right. If he sucks it up though, he can kickstart his on again/off again career. And, no, I don’t mean reuniting with the original members. Velvet Revolver was proof that no one cares who plays the GNR catalog as long as Rose sings it. Further proof is that the new GNR is selling out arenas all over the world while Velvet Revolver struggled to fill 2,000 seat clubs, and GNR are even doing it despite nearly 15 members having passed through the band since the mid-nineties. People want to see Axl sing the songs and I think he should pull a Blondie and give the people what they want.

Imagine this, the original members show up and accept the award. MAYBE Axl even comes out and accepts with them. When it comes time to rock, Slash, Adler, and McKagan play, possibly even adding Sorum into the mix, with Myles Kennedy (not a fan but he’s the logical choice here) on the mic. Hell, maybe Izzy joins them too. When they finish, Axl and the current GNR line up come out and play “Riad and the Bedouins” from Chinese Democracy. Obviously written about the music industry and featuring the line “I don’t give a f**k about them cause I am crazy,” it’s a natural choice, maybe even tagging part of “Get in the Ring” on the end for good measure. It’d be even more Rock and Roll if Izzy or Duff joined the current GNR on stage in lieu of the “original lineup.” I guarantee that would be Axl’s biggest coup to date and with the GNR name buzzing everywhere again, guess who people are gonna buy tickets to see in 2012? Here’s a hint, not Velvet Revolver. And another hint, not Loaded. There’s always that minimal chance as well though that Slash will stay home and the rest of the guys will reunite. C’mon Slash. If you read this, I’m asking you to be the bigger man and stay home so we can see the rest of the guys bring Appetite back to life. We all know Izzy was behind those songs anyway.

On another note, original drummer Steven Adler has the most to lose here believe it or not. At least in my opinion. For one, he doesn’t have the career or the name recognition that the other members have. For another, he’s obviously still struggling with his addictions and maybe renewed fame or a promise of another fifteen minute run isn’t the best thing for someone who probably became a junkie off of coattail riders in the first place.

I’m sure none of this will happen as it does in my “dream scenario” anyway but it’s what I’m rooting for. Even if it’s against all odds! In reality, this will likely be a bigger trainwreck than either Blondie or Van Halen. In reality, I doubt Axl or Izzy will choose to partake but here’s hoping they do because they deserve as much recognition, and likely more, than the rest of the band.