All eyes will be on Cleveland this weekend as the “Class of 2012” are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Guns N’ Roses, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beastie Boys, The Small Faces/The Faces, Donovan and Laura Nyro are all being honored in the performers category.
GNR have been dominating the headlines for this event for some time, as the mere possibility that the original lineup will regroup – even if only for a few minutes - has been enough to send fans into a frenzy.
This week, Axl Rose killed any chance of a reconnection when he issued a statement declining his participation in the event, even to the point of requesting that he not be inducted under the band name he continues to represent as its sole lifeline to the group’s infamous – and celebrated - past.
In his regular column for Seattle Weekly, bassist Duff McKagan is sharing his thoughts about Saturday’s historic occasion.
“On THAT night, I will honor not myself or the chicken dinner they will most surely provide, but I will be honoring all those people who call themselves the fans of our group called Guns N' Roses,” writes Duff.
“Adversity has followed this band since its inception. I get it. That seems to be my sort of "lot" in life . . . and I think that maybe through this whole sort of rub and honesty that GNR portrayed in a very real way in those early records indeed may have helped countless others overcome varying adversities in their own lives. It's a wonderful and poignant thing to hear from different fans from around this globe. I hope that I can do you all proud.”
“In the end, it's not about who does or doesn't show up from the original band, and I back whatever reason this guy or that has for not coming. It's all good. The songs are the important bit here . . . and the message they most certainly still must carry.”
Guns N' Roses Guns N” Roses – It’s So Easy
See also:
VIDEO: Alice Cooper rocks with Slash
VIDEO: Duff McKagan presents Riff Lord award to Slash