My Appetite for Destruction – Sex & Drugs & Guns N’ Roses – Steven Adler

Steven Adler writes about his interesting childhood in L.A.  He had the opportunity to see Kiss in June of 1978 when they were filming ‘Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park’, and he saw Motley Crue play live at the US Festival in San Bernadino for heavy metal day in 1983.  Similar to Slash’s book; he talks about their childhood friendship and the experiences they had growing up together.

He reveals how the members of Guns N’ Roses met and formed in 1985.  They started with ‘EP Live?!*@ Like a Suicide’, then in 1987 ‘Appetite for Destruction’ was released and it changed all of their lives.  The songs ‘Mr. Brownstone’ (heroin) and ‘It’s So Easy’ (groupies) summed up that era.  He also talks about the controversial ‘G N’R Lies’ that was released in 1988. 

He goes on to explain how he was so sick from heroin withdrawal when he was called in for the ‘Civil War’ recording session for ‘Use Your Illusion II’.  He struggled through it; and it was the last song he was to play with G N’R.  He was called in the next day to ‘sign his life away’.  He signed the legal papers to sign away his royalties, rights, and partnership with the band for $2000.00.  He thought he was signing papers to avoid partying, and would be ‘charged’ $2000.00 if he did.  He didn’t think he was getting kicked out of G N’R for drug use as almost everyone else in the band used.      

This lead to his years of self-destruction of time in jail, 3 attempted suicides, 28 overdoses, 2 heart attacks, 1 stroke that left permanent damage.  He ended up on the reality show Dr. Drew’s ‘Celebrity Rehab’.  After this, he played at Rocklahoma in 2008.  This is when we had the opportunity to meet him.  He was so sweet and childlike and was happy to take a picture with us.  Right after Rocklahoma, he went on Dr. Drew’s ‘Sober House’, but he was arrested in taken to another rehab facility.  The book is written in 2009 and at that time Steven was sober and getting support from Izzy, Duff, and Slash.  He looking forward to playing more music with Adler’s Appetite and is very hopeful of an all original member Guns N’ Roses reunion.