STEVEN ADLER On AXL ROSE: 'I Love Him And I Want Him To Be A Part Of My Life More'

Steve Johnson of Icon Vs. Icon recently conducted an interview with former GUNS N' ROSES and current ADLER'S APPETITE drummer Steven Adler about Steven's new autobiography, "My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses". A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

Icon Vs. Icon: Did you have any reservations about putting [your autobiography] together?

Adler: After the months I did in rehab and the two years I've been working with Dr. Drew, I felt that it was time for me to do it. For me, the purpose of the book was to write my answers to all of the people that I have wronged and to myself. When I get home off tour, I am going to build myself a big bonfire and I'm going to throw that book right into the fire. I want to leave the past behind. I want to move forward. I don't hate anybody. I don't bash anybody in my book. I don't put anybody down. I don't talk bad about anybody. That's not what it is about. I love all the people that were in my life and people that are a part of my life. No one is getting put down. I'm laying my heart on my sleeve with this book. It's for all of my friends, colleagues, fans, and people that can benefit from my rough history. I'm here to show the underdogs that you can survive and you can succeed. My life has been a rollercoaster, I have accepted all of the consequences, and I can move on. I'm going to live my life one second at a time, one breath at a time. I'm finally starting to show myself and I'm finally getting recognition for the work that I have done on "Appetite", "Lies", and my work with GN'R. I want those guys more than anybody to read my book. If they read my book, I know they'll realize that what we have is so special and so rare for that to happen. They'll realize that we're all brothers. The five of us are brothers and what do goofy brothers do? They fight with each other! That's what brothers do! It's been 20 years of fighting. Enough is enough. Let's move on. I know if I could get the five of us in a room together, not even with instruments, just a room … no chairs or even a table. All we would do is say hi to each other, shed a little tear, and we would start talking about moving on into the future and doing something new.

Icon Vs. Icon: [ADLER'S APPETITE's] new single "Alive" is out now. Are there any plans for a full-length release from ADLER'S APPETITE in the future?

Adler: Yes! We have some shows at the Whisky [in Hollywood, California]. We are going to do a video for this song first. We're going to film it at the Whisky and at the Sunset Strip Music Festival, which is all right there. In the middle of September we are going to go back over to Anthony Focx's studio, where we did the first single. We'll have two weeks in L.A., so we'll probably run through another five songs. We'll put it out single by single. That's the way the market is now. You put out a single, people will download a single. So we have this single that's out. In about three or four weeks we'll have a new single and we'll go from there. We're just belting them out and having a great time doing it. I love all of the fans I have been meeting at the book signings and at the shows. I love when they bring their GN'R memorabilia. I love meeting everybody and signing stuff. Everybody has been so great. I appreciate all of their prayers and all of their wonderful thoughts. It's a really wonderful trip.

Icon Vs. Icon: Being in the music industry as long as you have, are there still surprises?

Adler: The surprise is that there is no record industry. I was lucky enough to catch the ending of what was the entertainment world, where you worked hard, you did shows, you played anywhere, and you sent your tapes in. You did everything you could and you were a rare breed. The rare few got signed and got to make a record. Nowadays everyone is making a record. They're doing it in their bedrooms. Then again, if you look at these bands that are coming out … I don't know … it used to be you could see someone walking down Sunset Boulevard and tell the difference between a blue-collar guy and an entertainer. People cared about how they looked. I watch these videos of bands out nowadays and I swear they're the same guys who I just got a burger from at Burger King. You know what I mean! They don't care about how they look! Shave your face! Look good! Comb your hair! Do something! It's entertainment! That's just how I feel. I was lucky to catch it toward the ending of when it was real. It wasn't a costume, it was a performance. Nowadays there are bands out there playing with tape! What the hell is that? [laughs]

Icon Vs. Icon: It seems, especially in the "rock media," they tend to focus mainly on soundbites from you that paint Axl Rose in a negative light. Does this ever put you in a bad spot or become a bit of a burden?

Adler: No. Axl is one of the most wonderful people I have had in my life. He is an amazing singer. He's up there as one of the top singers/entertainers. You have Freddie Mercury. You have Robert Plant. You have Steven Tyler. You have Axl Rose. It's been a blessing being able to work with that guy. I want him to be a part of my life. He's my brother. Like I said earlier, brothers fight. Enough with the fighting. Let's move on … I want to finish what I started with him and the guys. I'm pretty sure they feel the same way. Axl has been nothing but a wonderful influence and a wonderful person to me. I love him and I want him to be a part of my life more. I'm thankful I have a history with him. No bad animosity. All love and respect.

Read the entire interview from Icon Vs. Icon.