Steven Adler knows he’s fortunate to be alive after battling addiction for two decades. He understands the toll substance abuse takes on even the toughest individuals.
“I tried to take my own life,” he admits. “It’s not easy! A human body can endure a lot. I suffered a stroke, had a mild heart attack, and was in a coma for four days—all at once. My doctor warned I might be brain dead or lose the use of my left side. I was lucky because I can still play drums, and I didn’t lose my mind.
Not completely, anyway. I lost a lot of my speech. I’m 46 now. Most of the people I knew growing up didn’t make it past their 20s. I struggled for 30 years, and I came out of it semi-OK, so at least I’ve got that going for me.”
Adler laughs at his own expense now, fueled by a renewed passion for life after overcoming his demons.
Two decades ago, Adler was part of musical royalty as one-fifth of Guns N’ Roses, one of the biggest hard rock acts of the 1980s. Widely regarded as “the most dangerous band on Earth,” Guns N’ Roses redefined rock and effectively dismantled what became known as “hair metal.” They embraced a raw sound and produced Appetite for Destruction, still the best-selling debut album of all time.
The music accompanied a lavish Los Angeles lifestyle. The lyrics of Appetite for Destruction, filled with themes of indulgence, reflected real experiences, and Adler partied hard. This lifestyle ultimately led to his dismissal from the band in July 1990 for excessive substance use, marking the beginning of a long, challenging journey to recovery.
“I always believed I would be successful,” Adler insists. “I never doubted we would be huge. But I didn’t expect to be kicked out. I was just doing what everyone else was doing. Growing up, you didn’t read about the consequences; taking substances was what I thought I was supposed to do.”
Adler chronicles his many highs and near-fatal lows in his autobiography, My Appetite for Destruction: Sex & Drugs & Guns N’ Roses. He candidly shares everything, from wild escapades to the painful realization of losing friendships and battling addiction.
“Writing the book was healing in many ways,” he says. “I got to put everything in my life on paper. In the beginning, I talked about hanging out in nightclubs as a teenager and facing difficult experiences. Speaking about it lifted a weight off my shoulders. Now I feel ready to move forward.”
Moving forward included repairing his relationship with family. Once rebellious, every time his mother kicked him out, his grandparents welcomed him back. He thanks them in the book’s dedications, honoring their influence.
“Like every young person, you do what your family wants,” he explains. “My grandmother believed in tradition and thought it was essential for my life. They were meaningful to me, but she was wiser. She passed away 15 years ago, but now she’s my guiding spirit.”
Part of Adler’s revival stems from his commitment to his new band, Adler’s Appetite, which is touring the UK this month. It offers fans a chance to enjoy classic Guns N’ Roses hits alongside new tracks from the matured, newly sober band.
“When I’m on stage with my new band, it reminds me of those days playing clubs on the Sunset Strip. The new songs resonate just as well as the old favorites. Every night, we think, ‘God help whoever has to open for us.’ We don’t care if we play for two, 200, or 200,000 people; you’ll get the same energy.”
Adler’s openness is refreshing. After overcoming addiction, including a challenging stint on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, he feels grateful to have reached middle age and is moved when people tell him how Guns N’ Roses impacted their lives.
“Why do you think we were so successful?” he stresses. “Because it was the five of us. We had something special. We had a bond. No matter the challenges over the years, Axl [Rose] and his lawyers can never take away the fact that we were five brothers who achieved our dreams since we were teenagers.
And what do brothers do best? They fight! I don’t harbor any hate now. My wounds have healed. It’s unfortunate Axl and Slash won’t communicate. Every day they don’t is a missed opportunity for magic. Even if we just did one tour, one record, or one song together, it would resonate.”
Two decades of conflicts and legal disputes make a reunion of the original Guns N’ Roses lineup unlikely. Still, Adler makes a compelling case for why it should happen.
“There’s all the love I receive worldwide. I’ve heard Appetite for Destruction called the soundtrack to my life in many languages. And there’s the financial potential. We could make billions! All we have to do is perform together for 90 minutes. I want to finish what I started. Thank God for putting these remarkable people in my life.”
