I first crossed paths with The Night Guns Roses at a Mexican restaurant named Break For The Border in London back in 1987. At that time, “Appetite For Destruction” hadn’t even been released yet. The entire band was present, along with their manager Alan Niven, various folks from the record label, and a handful of specially invited guests. We were seated outside the main area of the restaurant, possibly because there was something about this group of rowdy Americans that didn’t sit well with the regular patrons.
I had heard rumors about Slash’s infamous handshake – a grip so firm it could potentially cause lasting damage. Naturally, I was cautious and avoided any direct contact with those powerful digits. Slash sat there, diligently consuming anything alcoholic in sight, and his trademark top hat was firmly affixed to his head.
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Izzy Stradlin occupied one corner, exuding a quiet and observant demeanor, taking in every detail of the surroundings. Duff McKagan seemed focused on one mission: enjoying a meal and drinks on someone else’s tab. As for Axl Rose, he sulked and brooded, already playing the role of the moody rock star back then.
The Night Guns
Then there was perhaps the most unpredictable and volatile member of the band: Steven Adler. He seemed constantly on the lookout for an opportunity to stir up trouble. “Hey man, the music sucks! Put on something good, will ya?” he bellowed at a passing waiter, who wisely avoided making eye contact. In all fairness, Adler had a point; the uninspiring pseudo-Latin tunes playing in the background were enough to deter anyone from enjoying tequila shots.
Finally, the drummer seized his moment to release some pent-up frustration.
A confrontation erupted, triggered by a foolish individual in a penguin suit who stumbled by and, in his drunken state, thought it would be amusing to mock the Guns N’ Roses group. Little did he anticipate the swift response he would receive. In a single, fluid motion, Adler leaped over the table and cornered the unsuspecting prankster against the wall.
Chaos erupted as restaurant staff rushed to separate them, and the remaining members of the band had to be held back from joining the melee. It was a fitting introduction to the wild world of Guns N’ Roses, truly a formidable gang. Five young rebels against the world, they had earned their reputation as the most dangerous band around.
Remarkably, thanks to some quick thinking from Alan Niven, none of us were thrown out of the establishment. As the dust settled, Axl fixed his unwavering gaze on me, and with a complete absence of irony, he summed up Guns N’ Roses’ ethos: “We don’t start anything. But if you mess with us, then we’ll mess you up! We’re all in this together. If one goes down, it’s over.” I believed him, because I could tell he believed it, at least in that moment.
