Biography
Steven Adler, the first drummer in Guns N' Roses, gained the unfortunate distinction of becoming the initial member dismissed by frontman Axl Rose—an action that set a precedent continuing until Rose remained the lone original participant by the late 1990s. Born January 22, 1965, in Cleveland, OH, Adler acquired his drumming skills entirely without lessons, motivated by 1970s hard rock acts such as Kiss and Aerosmith. After settling in the Los Angeles region, he formed a close musical connection with Saul Hudson, later known as Slash, and the pair performed together in Road Crew, titled after a Motörhead track.
By the mid-1980s Roadcrew had dissolved, leading Adler and Slash to unite with Axl Rose, bassist Duff McKagan, and rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin—other figures from the Sunset Strip metal/glam/punk scene—to establish Guns N' Roses. The group’s history gained widespread recognition when the lineup released one of the highest-selling rock debuts in history, 1987’s Appetite for Destruction, whose direct, unadorned sound and presentation stood apart from the excessive glam pop dominating the airwaves then.
Success nevertheless brought mounting internal strains, as most members fell into severe drug dependency and appeared determined to collapse before producing a second album; additionally, Adler missed a portion of the supporting tour after breaking his arm in an altercation with a club bouncer. G N' R issued the interim mini album Lies in 1989 to meet fan demand while proper follow-up sessions extended interminably. In 1990 Adler was removed from the band, with former Cult drummer Matt Sorum taking his place, after which he descended further into substance abuse that triggered a heart attack and a pair of strokes.
Following his departure from G N' R, Adler pursued several returns to rock performance through little-known groups including Freaks in the Room and a revived Road Crew, plus a short stint behind the kit for the Bulletboys, a band of 1980s Van Halen-disciples. His most prominent 1990s attention arose outside music, however, after he prevailed in a lawsuit against G N' R for “wrongful termination” and served jail time for separate assault cases involving two women. Entering the early 21st century, Adler was reportedly preparing a memoir of his Guns N' Roses years under the working title No Bed of Roses, performing with various L.A. ensembles, and seeking to arrange a reunion of the original lineup.
By the mid-1980s Roadcrew had dissolved, leading Adler and Slash to unite with Axl Rose, bassist Duff McKagan, and rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin—other figures from the Sunset Strip metal/glam/punk scene—to establish Guns N' Roses. The group’s history gained widespread recognition when the lineup released one of the highest-selling rock debuts in history, 1987’s Appetite for Destruction, whose direct, unadorned sound and presentation stood apart from the excessive glam pop dominating the airwaves then.
Success nevertheless brought mounting internal strains, as most members fell into severe drug dependency and appeared determined to collapse before producing a second album; additionally, Adler missed a portion of the supporting tour after breaking his arm in an altercation with a club bouncer. G N' R issued the interim mini album Lies in 1989 to meet fan demand while proper follow-up sessions extended interminably. In 1990 Adler was removed from the band, with former Cult drummer Matt Sorum taking his place, after which he descended further into substance abuse that triggered a heart attack and a pair of strokes.
Following his departure from G N' R, Adler pursued several returns to rock performance through little-known groups including Freaks in the Room and a revived Road Crew, plus a short stint behind the kit for the Bulletboys, a band of 1980s Van Halen-disciples. His most prominent 1990s attention arose outside music, however, after he prevailed in a lawsuit against G N' R for “wrongful termination” and served jail time for separate assault cases involving two women. Entering the early 21st century, Adler was reportedly preparing a memoir of his Guns N' Roses years under the working title No Bed of Roses, performing with various L.A. ensembles, and seeking to arrange a reunion of the original lineup.