Izzy Stradlin Says He's "Constantly" Writing Songs, Traveling

Izzy Stradlin provided some more insight into his life in 2018 during an exchange with Wall Street Journal reporter Neil Shah for a recent story about Stradlin's absence from GNR's highly successful Not in This Lifetime reunion tour.

Shah recently shared via Twitter additional quotes and information that didn't make the final edit of his published WSJ story. In part of his brief email conversation with Stradlin, the co-founding Guns N' Roses guitarist provided some insight into his personal life and suggested he is at peace with his post-GNR life and career. 

Stradlin went to high school with Axl Rose in Lafayette, Indiana, and started GNR in Los Angeles with the singer in 1985

"As a kid growing up in a small town, I sensed that if I could create music... one day I might make [a] connection with other people around the world," he told Shah via email. "Nowadays, I constantly write songs, travel a bit and make the most of each day. Life is impermanent. I try to keep this in mind as I make my way along."

After getting sober and leaving Guns N' Roses in 1992, Stradlin released one album as Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds, then released 10 solo albums over the ensuing years, the last one being 2010's Wave of Heat.

The revelation that Stradlin is still writing will give fans hope that he'll release new music soon and perhaps return to live performing. 

The guitarist rarely grants interviews and has made only brief statements about the 3/5ths reunited lineup of the Appetite for Destruction-era of the band. 

"The current GnR tour has been a great success for the guys," he told WSJ. "My non-participation was simply not being able to reach a happy middle ground through the negotiation process. That's life, sometimes things don't work out."

For the better part of two years, Stradlin left answers about his absence from the reunion up to rumor and speculation. His only comments to the press at the time were to confirm that he was not involved. 

Rose in 2016 pleaded ignorance as to why Stradlin never agreed to take part in the tour, suggesting that based on his conversations with the guitarist, he thought Stradlin was on board. 

When a fan Tweeted at Stradlin's unverified Twitter account some time ago about why he wasn't part of the reunion, the account replied that the guitarist's former bandmates didn't want to "split the loot equally."

Former Guns N' Roses manager Alan Niven said earlier this year that Stadlin came close to appearing with the band, but walked out of soundcheck before one of its shows. Many believe the walk-out was due to the "negotiation process," Stradlin referred to in the above statement — namely that he was insulted by the contract offered to him.

Niven told Alternative Nation that he didn't know why Stradlin was unhappy.

"Obviously had it gone well and everybody had been happy, and there had been a little bit of brotherhood, I’m sure he would have stayed with it," Niven said. "But something must have really upset him, because he left after the soundcheck, and never turned up for another one or an appearance. I would think right now he is probably a little pissed off.”

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