Izzy Stradlin (born April 8, 1962 in Lafayette, Indiana) is an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist Guns N' Roses from 1985 to 1991. Though the other members of the band were more recognized, Stradlin had a major role as a songwriter in Guns N' Roses. Since leaving the band in 1991, IZZY has released seven solo albums that showcase his Rolling Stones influences and his writing ability.Izzy Stradlin was born as Jeffrey Dean Isbell on April 8, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana where he grew up. Of Lafayette,"It was cool growing up there. There's a courthouse and a college, a river and railroad tracks. It's a small town, so there wasn't much to do. We rode bikes, smoked pot, got into trouble - it was pretty actually"-IZZY STRADLINIZZY's first musical favorites included Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones, but the biggest influence was his grandmother, who had a band together with her friends. Stradlin talked his parents into buying him a drum kit. He would stay with the drums until 1983, when he chose to switch to guitar, since it was easier to write songs on, and songwriters had a better chance of making money.In high school Stradlin started playing in a band with some friends. One of them was William Bailey, better known as Axl Rose. "We were long-haired guys in high school. You were either a jock or a stoner. We weren't jocks, so we ended up hanging out together. We'd play covers in the garage. There were no clubs to play at, so we never made it out of the garage. Axl was really shy about singing back then. But I always knew he was a singer."After his graduation Stradlin decided that Indiana wasn't enough if he wanted to pursue a musical career. He packed his drum kit into his car and headed for Los Angeles. He tried his luck as drummer with a couple of bands, then switched to bass for a short while. After a few years in Los Angeles, Stradlin was joined by Axl, and they ended up playing together in a band they called Rose (later called Hollywood Rose), which was the first band Stradlin played guitar in. In 1984, he briefly left to join Sunset Strip staple, London (whose revolving membership included Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue as well as Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P. amongst its ranks). However, he returned to playing with Rose in time for the band to finish the year by playing a show at the 'Dancing Waters' club in Los Angeles.Rose became Hollywood Rose, and then broke up before re-uniting and morphing into Guns N' Roses. The early history of the band is confusing, but in June of 1985 the classic lineup of Guns N' Roses embarked on their first tour, the infamous "Hell Tour" that took them up along the US west coast to Seattle, hometown of bass guitar player Duff McKagan. Around that time, Stradlin adopted his gypsy look and started playing classic looking guitars (hollowbody and semi-hollowbody, as well as telecasters), both as tributes to his idol, Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards.When the "Appetite for Destruction" tour ended, Stradlin, along with bandmates Slash, Duff and Steven, ratcheted up the heavy drinking and drug use that had become a trademark of the band. Unlike the others, Stradlin finally managed to overcome the temptation of continuous intoxication and cleaned up. He has said that touring with Aerosmith in 1988 was a big source of inspiration: "It was like, thank God we got to meet some people that weren't fucked up! I'd go out to watch and they'd sound fucking amazing! I thought, we're gonna have to really pull this shit together to keep up, 'cause they were right, you know? And with us, even then, it was like the music was already taking a back seat to all the other shit..." What finally made him take the decision to give up drugs was an infamous incident on board an airplane in which he was arrested for urinating in the galley of the plane. After that incident, Stradlin was subjected to random urine tests for drugs.IZZY was often seen as the silent one in the "most dangerous band in the world", and this became a lot more noticeable during the 1991 "Use Your Illusion" tour. Stradlin didn't travel with the band anymore. He, his Swedish wife, Annica, and his dog had a private bus that took them from show to show. He commented further that this had to do with his efforts in remaining sober while being around people still drinking and using drugs. Stradlin has also mentioned that after Steven's firing, he felt that Matt Sorum's sound "didn't work" for the band. He felt that Steven was essential to the band's sound. Also, it has been noted by Axl and Slash that he was simply not having fun with the band anymore, and no longer enjoyed it. Stradlin finally left the band on November 7th, 1991, in the midst of their world tour.After Guns N' Roses he went back to Indiana and started recording the songs that ended up on his first solo album with his band the Ju Ju Hounds, Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds, released in 1992. The music was more laid back and simpler than Use Your Illusion I and II They received fair reviews and went out on a world tour.In 1993 Stradlin's replacement in GN'R, Gilby Clarke, hurt his wrist in a motorcycle accident and the band's upcoming European tour was in jeopardy. A quick solution was needed, and Stradlin was able to fill the gap. However, after his tour obligations were met, he promptly returned to Indiana to take time away from the music industry. Stradlin was promised to receive royalties he felt he was owed by the band in return for this.During these years off, he travelled a lot and dedicated much time to two strong interests: motors and racing. He even built a track close to his house. In 1998 Stradlin returned to the music scene with his second solo album, 117?. As before, he had little interest in promoting the album — he agreed only to do a few interviews — and played few live performances. It turned out that it would be Stradlin's last release on the Geffen label. In the big merge of the label into Dreamworks, Stradlin and many others were dropped (along with Duff McKagan). In 1999 his third solo album Ride On, a Japan-only album, was released on the Universal Victor label. This time Stradlin actually did a small tour in Japan as promotion. A fourth album called River came out in 2001 released by Sanctuary then re-released in the US by Canoga Park California based indie label Bilawn Records, followed by On Down The Road in 2002.Several of his former bandmates asked him to join Velvet Revolver when it was in its formative stage but he declined due to his unwillingness to work without a lead singer, and his aversion to the life on the road. In 2003 Stradlin recorded his sixth album, Like A Dog. Several promo copies were made, but it was not released. Two years later, a petition was formed by Stradlin fan Will Villiers to have the promo copies sold to Stradlin's fans. The petition was very successful with over a thousand signatures. The maker of the petition, who also hosts a large Izzy Stradlin fansite, was contacted by Stradlin. He had decided to release Like A Dog, selling them for $20 to his fans. In 2004, Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan, his former Guns N' Roses bandmate, appeared on the Mark Lanegan album Bubblegum.Stradlin announced in early 2006 that he was considering releasing some tracks excluded from his albums among other things hidden away in his basement. He also stated a new album is near completion, and could be hitting shelves sometime soon.As with fellow former member of Guns N' Roses, Matt Sorum, it appears that Stradlin and Axl Rose have repaired their fractured friendship, as it was reported that Rose attended a birthday party held for Stradlin in New York.On May 17, 2006, Stradlin appeared on stage with Guns N' Roses to perform the songs Nightrain, Think About You and Patience. Stradlin also performed five songs with Guns N' Roses at the UK's Download Festival on June 11, 2006, in Prague in the Czech Republic on June 13, 2006 and in Nijmegen in the Netherlands on July 2 2006. The songs were "Patience", "Nightrain", "Used to Love Her", "Think About You" and "Paradise City". He also appeared on stage in Oslo Spektrum, Norway during the concert on July 8, 2006. Stradlin also has made an appearance with Guns N' Roses during numerous UK performances. He appeared at Sheiffield's Hallam FM hall, Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on July 19, 2006, Glasgow's SECC on 22 July 2006, Manchester's Manchester Evening News Arena on 23 July 2006, in Birmingham at the National Exhibition Centre on 25 July 2006, at Nottingham Arena on the 27 July 2006. Also on the 29 July at Wembley Arena, London and 30 July at the same venue.Izzy Stradlin made his first appearance with GN'R on their 2006 North American tour at the first show of three at Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA (December 17, 2006). He was guesting on Think About You, Used to Love Her, Patience, Nightrain and Paradise City. He also would appear on the 19th and the 20th at the Gibson Amphitheater to play the same songs.Recently, Stradlin has been in contact with the four other original Gunners, and was approached by Steven Adler about a possible reunion tour, which Adler said would be "the biggest reunion in history". Stradlin is apparently in favour of the idea.
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