For Izzy Stradlin, it’s so easy to distance himself from the upcoming Guns N’ Roses “reunion”. All he needs is Twitter.
The former GnR guitarist created his own Twitter account (@IzzyStradlin999) last week to confirm that he won’t be taking part in the rock band’s “classic lineup” reformation alongside Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan. On February 22, he tweeted: “Izzy Stradlin fact.. At this point in time , I`ve no involvement in the upcoming April 2016 GNR shows”.
Izzy Stradlin fact..
At this point in time , I`ve no involvement in the upcoming April 2016 GNR shows .— Izzy Stradlin (@IzzyStradlin999) February 22, 2016
It was his first tweet!
But since he doesn’t have that verified check-mark next to his name, many questioned the account’s authenticity. Well, turns out it is really him, and he confirmed his stance with an email to Rolling Stone. And he’s been calling some publications to clear the air.
“At this point in time, I will not be playing at any of the April 2016 GNR shows,” the guitarist writes in the email. “I’ve also not been in the studio recording or writing with any of the others recently. There is so much speculation, but so very little info, [that] I thought I should reach out.”
Stradlin also left Rolling Stone a voicemail, where he says: “I know there’s a lot of questions regarding my Twitter account. But it’s me. I opened the Twitter account. There was just so much speculation going on regarding my involvement and studio recording. There’s so much misinformation, so I wanted to clarify that I’m not in the studio recording with any of the Guns N’ Roses guys. At this point in time, I’m not involved in the actual shows … A lot of stuff [fans] are reading isn’t true.”
Stradlin left Guns N’ Roses in 1991, the same year the band released Use Your Illusion I and II. He has played with his former bandmates sporadically, and as recently as 2014.
Guns N’ Roses, meanwhile, are headlining Coachella Music & Arts Festival next month, and playing a few shows in Las Vegas and Mexico. Rumors persist of a full stadium tour later in the year.
Here’s another tweet from Stradlin…
Recorded this today . Its an old fave called "Sunshine" written by Jonathan Edwards .
Izzy pic.twitter.com/MRD09XJfaR— Izzy Stradlin (@IzzyStradlin999) March 1, 2016