GUNS N' ROSES Keyboardist: AXL ROSE Is 'A Great, Great Man'

Pat Healy of Metro recently conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES keyboardist Dizzy Reed. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metro: Walk me through a little bit of the waiting period, wondering if "Chinese Democracy" was ever going to be released.

Dizzy: We've only got 15 minutes! [Laughs] I went through the gamut of emotions on a daily basis, depending on what was going on in my life. From a financial standpoint, and from everything; it was just emotional. We had so many things tied into that record and so many things went down, and so many people came and went. We had been touring already for so long, playing those songs and I'm just really, really happy and thankful that it came out and I think it's one of the best records I've ever [been a part of].

Metro: You talk of people coming and going. How have you stayed in the band so long?

Dizzy: I think coming into the band as I did, I just had a different perspective on it. I was pretty grateful to be called up to be a part of what was such a huge thing at the time, and if I ever start drifting off into any sort of place where maybe I want to do a little more for myself I just try to remind myself that I'm pretty darn lucky.

Metro: Axl [Rose] gets a bad rap for the ways he has led this band, but you've worked with him for so long.

Dizzy: He's a great, great man. He's done a lot for me and my family and for so many other people. And people don't know that about him. And you know what? He's always got some great jokes, man.

Metro: So what do you know about the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?

Dizzy: Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? Um, it's in Cleveland.

Metro: But do you know what's going to happen with GN'R's induction into the Hall in April? There are rumors of a reunion of the original lineup.

Dizzy: I haven't gotten any details. I spoke with the people of that institution. They gave me a call and told me to mark it on the calendar, to be there. As far as the details of what's going to happen, I haven't received any sort of itinerary or schedule. It's something I'm just trying not to think about until it gets closer. It's not that I don't appreciate it. It's a great thing, and it's great for all the people who supported the band over the years.

Read the entire interview from Metro.

Photo credit: Matthew Field