DJ Ashba slashes his way into Guns N' Roses guitarist spot

[Slash9595]

When it comes to Guns N' Roses guitarists, Slash's iconic top hat and curly hair-curtain will always be the first image that comes to mind. But in a Guns N' Roses lineup that has revolved around Axl Rose and a rotating cast of other musicians since the late '90s, that position has since been filled by such luminary axe men as Nine Inch Nails' Robin Finck, Buckethead and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. The most recent Guns' guitarist is DJ Ashba, whose previous credits include the BulletBoys, Beautiful Creatures and Sixx: A.M. with Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue. As Guns N' Roses return to Atlanta for the first time since 1987, Ashba talks about performing Guns hits, filling the role of those who have preceded him and the debauchery that still seems to follow the band to this day.

$39-$92.05. 7:30 p.m. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive. 404-878-3000. www.philipsarena.com.

Guns N' Roses hasn't played in Atlanta since 1987. The venue the band played then has been razed, but Philips Arena was erected on the same site. An odd correlation for you is that Guns N' Roses was on tour with Motley Crue on that tour and it was only a few days before then that Nikki Sixx had his infamous heroin overdose. A lot has obviously changed since then, so how does it feel to be coming full circle in so many ways?

Ashba: Absolutely. There's still some debauchery and it's a lot of fun out here. We're all having a blast and the shows are definitely wild. I don't think that's changed too much. It definitely has a very dangerous element to it and the crowds have been going crazy. As far as the energy and excitement of the whole show, I think it's definitely still there. But, I don't know, I wasn't around during those times.

As the latest guitarist for Guns N' Roses, considering the people who have filled that role before you, including Slash, Buckethead and Robin Finck, how did you prepare yourself to fill such big shoes?

Ashba: I had just gotten off tour with Sixx A.M. and we had a number one hit song at the time. I got a phone call saying, "We've been looking for a guitarist for about a year and a half and we're trying to find the right guy. Would you be interested?" I said, "Yeah, absolutely." Axl caught wind that I was going to come down and he said I should get the gig. That's kind of how it all went down.

I don't think anything can prepare you for something like that. I never came into this to fill anybody's shoes. I just came as a songwriter/producer. I feel like I can bring something to the table and I'm no way trying to replace anybody. I'm just trying to do the gig justice. I have tons of respect for Slash's guitar playing and what he's done, so I just wanted to stay as true to his vision as I possibly could. As a fan, if I were to go see Guns play live, I would want to hear the songs I grew up on. You want to hear them sound as close to that as possible, so that's kind of how I present myself. I want to stay as true to that as I possibly can.

Based on the other bands you've played with, even prior to Sixx A.M., I'm guessing you were already pretty familiar with all the material.

Ashba: Yeah. I mean, the Beautiful Creatures was very influenced by Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses and those types of bands. So for me, this style of playing is kind of what I cut my teeth on. It was a very natural thing to fall into and coming to Guns N' Roses felt natural and felt fun. It's a lot of fun to play with these guys and Axl. The shows are just these insane, over-the-top, huge rock shows. It's just a massive production and definitely a show you want to see.

Prior to joining Guns N' Roses you were a songwriter in most of the other projects you've been involved with. Do you think you might start contributing in that way or have you already been collaborating with Axl at all?

Ashba: Yeah, we have. I've written quite a few songs and he has tons and tons of songs sitting around. Our main focus is writing for a new record, so that's what everybody's excited about.

How has the reception been so far between the classic Guns N' Roses hits and the newer stuff from Chinese Democracy?

Ashba: From old to new, it's Guns N' Roses. Every band progresses and I think we'd be really bored if Chinese sounded just like Appetite. Bands have to progress. Once you think you know it all you kind of stop progressing. I have a lot of fun playing the stuff off Chinese. I think there's a lot of great songs on that record and it's a very artistic album. There's a lot of beautiful, impactful songs on that record. And, of course the old stuff is tons of fun to play, too.

Guns N' Roses with Buckcherry. $59-$92.05. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive. 404-878-3000. www.gunsnroses.com. www.philipsarena.com.

http://clatl.com/cribnotes/archives/2011/10/31/dj-ashba-slashes-his-way-into-guns-n-roses-guitarist-spot

[2NaFish]

some folk may not dig DJ on stage, but i hope everyone agrees he comes across well with the media and pushes all the right buttons. It's always good to see interviews with the band as a positive form of promotion.

[antonyrose]

some folk may not dig DJ on stage, but i hope everyone agrees he comes across well with the media and pushes all the right buttons. It's always good to see interviews with the band as a positive form of promotion.

I am starting to like him more for those reasons.  Not to mention I think he is a much better guitarist than Fink, never liked Robin..

[muchtoohigh]

some folk may not dig DJ on stage, but i hope everyone agrees he comes across well with the media and pushes all the right buttons. It's always good to see interviews with the band as a positive form of promotion.

I am starting to like him more for those reasons.  Not to mention I think he is a much better guitarist than Fink, never liked Robin..

Seconded.  Considering the fact Axl is a perfectionist, it is a wonder why Finck was even considered.  He may be a nice guy but he can't play guitar for shit.  Ashba is the tits and has a hardcore-but-fun presence on stage.

[King bumb.l.foot II]

some folk may not dig DJ on stage, but i hope everyone agrees he comes across well with the media and pushes all the right buttons. It's always good to see interviews with the band as a positive form of promotion.

I am starting to like him more for those reasons.  Not to mention I think he is a much better guitarist than Fink, never liked Robin..

Seconded.  Considering the fact Axl is a perfectionist, it is a wonder why Finck was even considered.  He may be a nice guy but he can't play guitar for shit.  Ashba is the tits and has a hardcore-but-fun presence on stage.

.......And yet Ashba cannot play any Finck solo from Chinese Democracy properly..... Finck usually screwed parts too, i know, but his studio recordings on the album are brilliant.

Ashba is media friendly and talks a LOT.  That is a good thing when you consider the band he is in.  I hope though that Axl would not lower his standards and record anything reminiscent of Sixx AM, that would devastate me.

[Slash9595]

.......And yet Ashba cannot play any Finck solo from Chinese Democracy properly.....

And yet Finck cannot play any Slash solo from Appetite for Destruction or Use Your Illusion I and II properly.....

[King bumb.l.foot II]

.......And yet Ashba cannot play any Finck solo from Chinese Democracy properly.....

And yet Finck cannot play any Slash solo from Appetite for Destruction or Use Your Illusion I and II properly.....

I wont argue with ya except to say a couple of  things.  Number one, Finck's solo on Mr Browstone was pretty darn tasty, Number 2, he didn't need help from another guitarist when the sweet child of mine solo gets to the quicker part.

Ashba however does play the second November Rain solo better than Finck.  Would love to have seen Robin play the This i Love solo live... Ashba tried it the way it is recorded, in Asia, screwed it royally and then changed it to something inferior.

Overall Ashba fits better image wise, but his playing is not really any better than Finck's sloppy playing during his tenure.

Ron and Richard FTW!

[Reformed Terrorist]

Would love to have seen Robin play the This i Love solo live...

+1

About the other stuff, meh. I'm just sick of these endless wrangles.

[CD06]

Forget the rest,

is anyone else absolutely BUZZING at songs written from this lineup? This is the best rock band they have had since they returned in 2000. Absolutely fabulous mix of guitarists. I like Ashba because he is more impulsive and is not afraid to contribute ideas, and believe it or not I think that is what Axl thrives on. He seems to get a massive buzz about seeing these guys create and then he can go and turn it into the GNR magic.

Ashba is a fantastic 'feel' player, and that is brilliant to have alongside Bumble, as they complement each-other so well.


Frank Ferrer is a powerhouse by the way.


I am so excited to hear new tracks from GNR, there was some wonderful parts on Chinese Democracy and I'd love to see what Axl has up his sleeve from those sessions, and also whether this band can write and show the chemistry to be able to get an album done in a comparively short space of time.

[Crash99]

I fuckin knew he was trying to stay true true to the old stuff!!! Ashba earned a whole lotta respect from me by saying that, and I would say alot of other people as well. Thankyou DJ I think that is great of you!!!

[King bumb.l.foot II]

This current lineup have great chemistry, i won't deny or dispute it, but if Axl even consider's anything Sixx Am=ish for the new album, i will cry.

[Sean]

I'll just add....  as being a GNR fan way back when and now I don't agree with playing the song exactly as is.

 I think it can progress, not radically of course... but not staying note for note classic either. I personally think its a little silly to stay note for note. 

I like how Finck, Bucket, and Ron can add their own personally into the older songs. Fortus too.  I don't agree with being so careful.   GNR are playing KOHD which sounds nothing to Dylan's.  There are bands that been playing for 30 years with minor member change ups like Grateful Dead who progressed songs from 70's to 90's that from night to night there can be changes.

Fuck trying to play like Slash     The 'Monstrosity' is more exciting.

[zombux]

right. Buckethead's own version of Nightrain convinced me, that there can be a new life after death (aka 1993). and please, fuck KOHD&LALD, I know people want them, but these two cheesy pop covers are so fucking insult for a hardrock monster! better bring in more own material.

[Slash9595]

Ashba tried it the way it is recorded, in Asia, screwed it royally and then changed it to something inferior.

Wow man, you really found it.Congrats... You took Ashba's first concert, and his first rendition of This I Love...I mean of course he would miss a few notes...Take a look how he played it at Reading 2010 or Greenville 2011(nailed it)... Just look at Finck at RIR 2001, he couldn't get a fuckin' note right on November Rain solo...
Not a hater though, but there are discernible facts showing Ashba has the spirit to be a part of GN'R...Nothing personal...

[Slash9595]

I don't agree with playing the song exactly as is.

 I think it can progress, not radically of course... but not staying note for note classic either. I personally think its a little silly to stay note for note. 

So you tell me if there's a new guitarist in GN'R(Ashba), you would like him to change the brilliant solo from This I Love that Finck had played amazing...just as Finck and the others changed Slash's solos...

Not really sure, though...

[dman1991]

I can deal with tinkering to an extent. Finck just plain butchered solos/ lacked the technical ability to play them. He wrote some cool stuff, but still could barely play his own solos live let alone ol gnr stuff.

[Sean]

2 both posts above me.  Yes .....  to an extent. 

and Finck had his own style.... there are plenty of legends that never played their songs exactly the same.  perfection in the sense you are speaking of note for note BS is not music imho....  its Broadway.

[King bumb.l.foot II]

Ashba tried it the way it is recorded, in Asia, screwed it royally and then changed it to something inferior.

Wow man, you really found it.Congrats... You took Ashba's first concert, and his first rendition of This I Love...I mean of course he would miss a few notes...Take a look how he played it at Reading 2010 or Greenville 2011(nailed it)... Just look at Finck at RIR 2011, he couldn't get a fuckin' note right on November Rain solo...
Not a hater though, but there are discernible facts showing Ashba has the spirit to be a part of GN'R...Nothing personal...

Well after Ashba spent a year practicing and learning the stuff, ya would think if he was gonna fluff it, it would at least be in key or within the same scale   A pro guitarist should be able to nail that solo, no excuses.  Reading or Greenville, he was in key, but the solo he now plays sucks in comparison to the original...just sayin'


I have watched Rock in Rio 2011 numerous times, but for the life of me, i can't find finck there.


And this isn't a pro-Finck agenda, because i am by no means a fan of his.  Ashba is a better fit for the band, image wise and live.  Just do not get this "hero worship" that he seems to get, he is painfully average and Richard and Ron are both at leat 7 times better.  If he was the rhythm guitarist, i would have zero gripe other than the hulk hogan impressions and the smoking the smokes to look badass routine.


Finck has proven that he can write great stuff and be awesome on an album, sure he was sloppier than a blowjob live, but Ashba has not impressed me with any of his recorded material, it is all crue-esque 80's tripe, and he is sloppy live too...........It worries me that the material they record hence forth will suffer............see what i am sayin.

[donnie dupre.e]

He needs to spend less time talking and more getting guitar lessons. He can do all the talking in the world,but if he can't do the talking with his guitar he should kindly fuck off and let bumblefoot take over guitar duties and he can go back giving blowjobs to crack addicts with his pornstar lips.

[2NaFish]

god i missed "finck plays sloppy" discussions.

[Guns N Roses 4 Lyf]

was never a fan of finck to be honest, im happy with the addition of ashba, he's good for the band media wise, i mean we got an hour interview with him and axl would that of happened with finck? i doubt it, i think the future is very bright at least for the next 5 years i'd say!

[mico.m]

Finck was an integral part of new Guns n' Roses. Sadly, with Ashba we lost that aesthetic.

[Slash9595]

I hate watched Rock in Rio 2011 numerous times, but for the life of me, i can't find finck there.

So you've made your point..ha? Like you didn't know what I had meant by saying Finck at RIR 2011.
It was damn mistake, alright???It happens...Of course you knew that I was going to say RIR 2001... Got it?

[King bumb.l.foot II]

i knew what you meant