GUNS N' ROSES: 'Reckless Road' Biography To Be Turned Into Movie

The GUNS N' ROSES biography "Reckless Road: Guns N' Roses And The Making Of Appetite For Destruction", in which author Marc Canter tells of the making of the band's multimillion-selling debut, "Appetite for Destruction", is being made into a movie. The film, which will not be a documentary, has been in works for about four months now and will feature "a few A-list people in the cast," according to Canter, who says that he is not making the movie himself but insists that the people behind it "will do it right."

Writing on the unofficial GUNS N' ROSES web site MyGNRForum.com, Canter (pictured above) says: "I do have a big say-so on the script, which is still being put together now, but so far looking cool.

"I am going to see that everyone in the cast is doing their job and doing justice to the band. Since I was there, I know what the dialog was between the band for many of the events that took place."

He continues: "When you find out who is making the movie, you will then understand that it will be very cool.

"I'm proud of all the hard work that was put into this project and it's just going to kick ass! In no way will it be a cheesy movie like 'Rock Star' [the 2001 Warner Bros. film starring Mark Wahlberg as a salesman-turned-rock star styled after Tim 'Ripper' Owens, who fronted a JUDAS PRIEST cover band before being tapped to become the new lead singer of the actual group]."

Canter, an amateur photographer and the owner and general manager of the legendary rock 'n' roll hangout Canter's Deli in Los Angeles, California, adds: "There really is such a great story here that even the outtakes will be great."

With regards to whether the current and former members of GUNS N' ROSES — including singer Axl Rose — are backing the project, Canter says: "Axl doesn't support anything to do with the old band except playing their songs live. However, I do think he will be happy with the fact that it will clear up some stories that have been said about him from those days that were told incompletely. So setting the record straight on some of those evens will be a good thing for him to see happen."

He adds: "Axl should know by now that I have his back and that it will be done right.

"If I'm involved in a GUNS N' ROSES project, then you know I have their backs.

"There is a great story about the birth of the band which I was very much involved in.

"This has nothing to do with where the band is today.

"The history is very important and that's why Axl was the one who was most supportive of me documenting what they were doing when they first started out."

Canter, who has been friends with Slash for over 35 years and had unlimited access to the formative years of one of the greatest rock bands of all time, also reiterated that the movie will not be a cheesy, low-budget affair and that he will go to great lengths to insure that the story of GUNS N' ROSES' early days is told accurately.

"The people I'm working with are the best ones to do this project," he says.

"There is so much detail in the way it all came together that tells the killer rock 'n' roll story of the best band around. Why hide it? I have all the resources to help make it right.

"When the script is done, the band will be able to look at it and help fix things that are off a bit. The goal is to get it right."

He continues: "No one has been cast at this point but I would expect to see a few A-list people in the cast. [We're] just working on [putting together] the perfect script. Then they will move on to the next step, and yes, it will bring in a whole new slew of fans and sell a shitload of records for the band. Also the band will do well on the music used for the movie."

Canter adds: "I did get Axl a draft copy of the book about a month before it went to print but never heard back from him. If there was something he wanted to add, it would have got added."

When teenager and amateur photographer Marc Canter set out to document his best friend Saul Hudson's rise as a rock guitarist in 1982, he never imagined he was documenting the genesis of the next great rock 'n' roll band. His friend became the legendary guitarist Slash, and Canter found himself witnessing the creation of GUNS N' ROSES front and center. The candid shots contained in "Reckless Road", taken as the band toured in 1985-1987 and made the legendary album "Appetite For Destruction", capture their raw, blood-sweat-and-tears performances as well as their intimate moments. Containing original gig memorabilia including show flyers, ticket stubs, set lists, press clippings, and handwritten lyrics as well as in-depth interviews with band members and the people closest to them, "Reckless Road" offers an explicit, first-person perspective readers won't find anywhere else.

Originally published in America in 2008, "Reckless Road" contains interviews with Slash, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler, as well as groupies, failed producers, and former managers and bandmates. Canter amassed a treasure trove of memorabilia, including:

* Lyrics to "My Michelle", written on the back of a water-stained flier
* A $37,500 advance check from Geffen that has Slash's name misspelled as "Stash"
* 1,000 never-before-seen photos

For more information, visit www.recklessroad.com.