“Merry Christmas, Baby!” WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE! I’m dedicating this month’s Huggy Talk column to the mighty Guns N’ Roses since I just read Duff McKagan’s new book, It’s So Easy: and other lies, and it reminded me of the days of old when Guns N’ Roses were the coolest hard rock band in the land. A compelling read, It’s So Easy chronicles Duff’s early days as a musician in the Seattle punk rock scene, his rise to fame as bassist for GNR, his battles with the demon alcohol (ten bottles of wine a day?), his exploding pancreas, and finally his redemption as he gained sobriety and found a new way to live with the help of his family, martial arts, and cross-country bike riding. I love rock’n’roll stories of redemption, and Duff wrote this book in a humble way, unlike his ex-band mate Stephen Adler whose own book, My Appetite for Destruction, read like an egotistical, sordid letter to the Penthouse forums. I could only stomach ten pages of the Adler book, but I give Duff three thumbs up for It’s So Easy, and I have gained a whole new respect for the man after reading The Book of Duff it. Speaking of Guns N’ Roses, they are finally coming back to Seattle on December 16th, and you better believe I will be there at the Key Arena to bear witness. True, this ain’t the original GNR that we all know and love—rather it’s the “Axl Rose show”— but I’ve long been a fan of Axl Rose and I even liked the Chinese Democracy album. I honestly believe Axl is one of the greatest vocalists in modern rock history, and he scores bonus points in my book for his impeccable taste in rock’n’roll fashion and for making the wearing of bandanas cool again. Axl Rose may be one of the hardest-to-work-with prima donnas in rock history, but he actually has the talent to get away with it. Still, the questions remain: Can Axl still sing? Will he fall off the stage? Will he be three hours late? Will he wear a bandana, corn rows, or both? Is Buckethead still in the band, and if so, does he prefer Original Recipe or Extra Crispy KFC buckets? Those questions and others will be answered in next months column, I promise you... Axl sings for the 99 percent.
HUGGY BLOW’S ROCK STAR OF THE MONTH: Slash: In keeping with the GNR theme, who else but my main man Slash could be my rock star pick? Slash became a genuine rock star and made a name for himself in the legendary Guns N’ Roses, of course. Funny thing is, back in the day I always thought Izzy Stradlin was the cool guy of GNR, but Izzy clearly did not want to be a rock star and he left the band. I’ve since learned to appreciate the rock solid skills of Slash—his song writing, his beautiful lead work, and of course his hard rocking rhythm playing—and I now consider Slash to be the coolest rock guitarist of the last 15 years. Slash himself is heavily influenced by the idols (Keith Richards, Johnny Thunders, Joe Perry), but he’s been able to come up with a style all his own and has one of the most unique images in modern rock, what with his curly locks that always seem to cover his face, his black leather jacket, his trademark top hat, and of course—his Gibson Les Paul. Slash is a genuine rock super star, an amazing player, and he’s cool, baby… cool enough to be my Rock Star of the Month. Paul Diamond Blow works as a part time hustler when he’s not writing for the Sinner. His new book “Tales From Outer Space” is available at paulblow.tripod.com
10
Slash: sweet leads are made of this...
12/8 Thurs - Saints and Sinners Rockabilly and Western night with Roy Kay 12/9 Fri - Randy Hicks Band, Vigilante Justice, Industry People $5 12/10 Sat - Atomic Outlaws, The Ram Rams, The Skullets $5 12/12 Metal Mondays - Juda’s Wake, Royalty in Ruins, The Loathsome Couple $5 12/13 Tues - Two Tone Tuesday with Jet City Sound 12/15 Thurs - 08:00 BRANDON AND ERINS GOING AWAY BASH AND BDAY PARTY / Thuder Pussy Thursday 12/16 Fri - The Pinellas (w/ rob femur), Torch Burner, Blue Ribbon Boys, The Aimlows $6 12/17 Sat - 08:00 Shell Coporation, Suburban Vermin, Tokyo Raid, Random Orbits $6 12/19 Metal Mondays - on stage: Salo, Krylon Smyle, Machete Congetti $5 12/23 Fri - 08:00 2 Bit Ho Ho Ho Christmas Celebration featuring Artimus Maximus, Spillbillies, Peopletank 12/26 Metal Mondays on stage: G.R.A.V.E.S., Nekro Morphosis, Thou Shall Kill $5 12/27 Tue - I’m in Love, 80’s night with Strawberry 12/30 Fri - No World, Alex’s Hand & more 12/31 Sun -NYE PARTY featuring Zero Down, Deadly Light, Dying Off 1/2 Metal Mondays 1/27 Fri - Dirty Filthy Mugs with Graceland 5, The Deadless, The Aimlows, Rory OK and the Worst Band Ever
METAL MONDAYS It’s Time To Bang Your Head Every Monday Night @ 2 Bit
myspace.com/stlouissinner - myspace.com/seattlesinner