ALICE COOPER Weighs In On GUNS N’ ROSES Reunion: ‘Why Isn’t IZZY In There?’

Legendary rocker Alice Cooper has weighed in on the partial reunion of the classic lineup of GUNS N’ ROSES, telling Rolling Stone magazine that the Axl Rose-fronted group “is always unpredictable, which makes them exciting.”

GUNS N’ ROSES — featuring Axl alongside guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan — will play on April 8 and April 9 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas before headlining California’s Coachella Music And Arts Festival on April 16 and April 23.

Cooper, who took GUNS N’ ROSES out on the road with him in 1987, shortly after the release of “Appetite For Destruction”, told Rolling Stone: “I had a feeling [the GUNS N’ ROSES reunion] was going to happen. GUNS N’ ROSES is always unpredictable, which makes them exciting. I think those gigs will go through.”

He added: “I’m just wondering why isn’t Izzy [Stradlin, guitar] in there?” he says. “I don’t know about drums, but certainly Izzy is viable. You’d think if Slash and Axl are working together — and Duff is one of those guys that gets along with everybody — then at least Izzy would be one of the guys who would be a shoo-in.

“And maybe he is, I don’t know,” Cooper continued. “I don’t what their setup is with him. But it’s like not having Brian Jones with THE ROLLING STONES, if he were available.”

GUNS N’ ROSES is reportedly negotiating with promoters to play as many as 25 stadiums in North America this summer. For the tour, GN’R is said to be asking as much as $3 million per show, with tickets topping out in the $250 to $275 range.

There is still no word on whether original Izzy, drummer Steven Adler will appear, along with any other past or current members of the group. Reports have suggested that current drummer Frank Ferrer, guitarist Richard Fortus, multi-instrumentalist Chris Pitman and keyboardist Dizzy Reed and will round out the lineup.

2 9 16

blabbermouth