GUNS N' ROSES Keyboardist DIZZY REED Launches Debut Solo Album With Sydney Concert (Video)

Longtime GUNS N' ROSES keyboardist Dizzy Reed played a free one-off Australian show in support of his debut solo album, "Rock 'N Roll Ain't Easy". Fan-filmed video footage of the concert, which was held on February 18 at Frankie's Pizza By The Slice in Sydney, can be seen below (courtesy of Rock From The Crowd's Colin Hay).

"Rock 'N Roll Ain't Easy" was released on February 16 via Golden Robot Records. Written by Reed, Ricky Warwick (THIN LIZZY, THE ALMIGHTY, BLACK STAR RIDERS) and Del James, the disc's first single, "This Don't Look Like Vegas", features Warwick and Mayuko Okai on guitar, with GUNS bandmate Richard Fortus (PSYCHELIC FURS, THIN LIZZY, THE DEAD DAISIES) providing the guitar solo. Mike Dupke (W.A.S.P.) is on drums, with Mike Duda (W.A.S.P.) on bass, while Reed handles lead vocals, piano, shaker and tambourine, with backing vocals from Nadja Reed, Chela Johnson and Del James.

"Rock 'N Roll Ain't Easy" is 12 tracks (or 13, if you download the digital version) of rock with Reed uniting with fellow members of GUNS N' ROSES, along with some other greats, including players from W.A.S.P., QUIET RIOT, PSYCHEDELIC FURS, THIN LIZZY, NO DOUBT, THE REPLACEMENTS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, and more.

Reed is the longest-serving member of GN'R after singer Axl Rose. He joined the band as a touring member in 1990, during the "Use Your Illusion" era, and has played with most of the original members as well as in all the later editions of the group and the current reunion lineup.

The Pulse Of Radio asked Reed how he's managed to stay in the band for so long. "I get asked that a lot and it's really just, I just never really thought about doing anything else, you know, on sort of a permanent basis," he said. "You know, I kind of feel like I'm in GUNS N' ROSES and that's where I was meant to be."

In the world of music, GUNS N' ROSES need no introduction. Few bands in history have achieved the level of success and recognition that GN'R has. The addition of Reed marked a stylistic turning point in the band's maturity, incorporating piano and the epic tones of the Hammond B-3 into their aggressive hard rock sound.

In 2012, Dizzy was inducted into the the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of GUNS N' ROSES. He has toured with the PSYCHEDELIC FURS and has toured, recorded and written with supergroup THE DEAD DAISIES whose lineup has featured members of THE CULT, MÖTLEY CRÜE, WHITESNAKE, THE ROLLING STONES and THIN LIZZY. He also sings lead vocals with his side project HOOKERS & BLOW. On surviving and flourishing in rock's 'sharky' waters, he says: "Never stop learning and exploring, but don't forget what you do best. Stick to your guns."

"Rock 'N Roll Ain't Easy" track listing:

01. This Don't Look Like Vegas
02. Mother Theresa
03. Cheers 2 R Oblivion
04. Fragile Water
05. Dirty Bomb
06. Mystery In Exile
07. I Celebrate
08. Understanding
09. Crestfallen
10. Forgotten Cases
11. Reparations
12. Rock 'N' Roll Ain't Easy