It’s one of the most successful reunions of all time, but now controversial comedian Andrew Dice Clay has claimed responsibility for bringing Guns N’ Roses back together in 2016.
Back in the mid-’90s, the future of Guns N’ Roses looked rather unstable. With iconic guitarist Slash leaving the band, and bassist Duff McKagan following soon after, the group looked to be in shambles.
As the years continued, their Chinese Democracy album became one of legend, famed for the revolving-door lineup during its long production schedule and jokes about whether it would ever come about.
However, in 2012, frontman Axl Rose was asked whether or not the original lineup of the group would ever reunite. His answer was as simple as it was devastating; “not in this lifetime.”
In 2016 though, things had changed, and Guns N’ Roses announced its reunited lineup would embark on the ‘Not In This Lifetime Tour’, which has since become the second-highest grossing tour of all time.
So, what changed? What was the impetus for the group to finally get back together? Well, according to comedian Andrew Dice Clay, it was all thanks to him.
Check out Andrew Dice Clay’s interview with Loudwire:
Speaking to Loudwire recently, Andrew Dice Clay explained how he managed to get Guns N’ Roses to reunite, with son Max recalling how he’d said that “if anyone could put Guns N’ Roses back together” it would be his father.
“I’d always be like, ‘you could reason with Axl, he likes you, he has no bad memories with you’,” Max recalled, before noting that the reunion’s roots lay with Dice’s first-ever tour of Australia in 2014.
Having run into Slash at the top of a Sydney restaurant, with the guitarist in town to perform at the NRL Grand Final, the pair soon got to talking. However, the veteran comic wasn’t too pleased with the fact that Slash had settled for such a gig.
“You’re Slash. Do you understand?” Dice questioned. “You’re one of the greatest guitarists in the world. What’s wrong with you?
“What kind of argument did you guys have, decades ago, that you can’t put this back together? You’re all walking the Earth. You peaked rock and roll… and you had a fight? You’re here doing a fucking football game?”
However after some discussions with Slash about the future, Dice explains how he got Duff McKagen to come see a No1Cares concert, and which point the comedian tasked Slash to hit up Twitter with praise for Axl Rose, while Dice himself planned to work on convincing the frontman.
After meeting with Axl in Las Vega, Andrew Dice Clay reportedly began to to tell the Guns N’ Roses frontman that while he might be “better than ever”, he needs to set his sights higher. “You’re playing for 3,000 people,” Dice explained to the rocker. “I could do that.”
“Your musicians are amazing, but they’re not the real band,” Dice explained, pointing towards the disappointing Chinese Democracy-era lineup. “You need to put this back together.”
After hearing rumours of a Guns N’ Roses lineup on the radio in the following months, Dice says he was ecstatic. “I’m in my car going, ‘Yes! I did it! They’re getting together!’ And I knew I did the job.”
In related news, The AV Club reported recently that Guns N’ Roses have recently added more tour dates to their 2019 schedule. Still no word as to when they might make their triumphant return to Australia, but we’re eagerly awaiting that announcement!
Check out Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Welcome To The Jungle’:
