Duff McKagan talks Izzy Stradlin’s absence from Guns N’ Roses reunion shows

Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan has shared his thoughts on original guitarist Izzy Stradlin’s absence from the band’s Not In This Lifetime reunion tour.

“I just don’t think he ever wanted to do it,” said McKagan in a recent interview with Classic Rock magazine (via Blabbermouth). “We tried to make it work, but it just didn’t. And in a situation like this… You either get on it or you don’t, because the train’s moving forward.”

Stradlin is the only member of GNR’s ‘classic era’ line-up that has yet to make an appearance on the Not In This Lifetime tour. But Guns N’ Roses have managed to keep things steady in the guitar department. “The good thing is, Slash really likes playing with Richard Fortus, and Slash is somewhat picky about that kind of stuff,” McKagan added. “They get on great as far as a two-guitar player relationship goes.”

An earlier interview with McKagan published in May 2019 by Classic Rock revealed that Stradlin never turned up for band rehearsals. “We had amps for him, ready to go,” McKagan said. “I don’t know what the actual truth is. We definitely wanted him to do it, and I think he entertained the thought, but he never came down and rehearsed.”

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