Except for the dummer, Izzy Stradlin was always the most unobtrusive member of GUNS N' ROSES. Eager for freedom and more concerned with the music than the parade, Izzy is now the lone master of his destiny, and glad to be it. A guy you will discover through his musical tastes and philosophy.

- ADVENTURE -

It still exists: to arrive on time at the concert hall is an adventure for me. The rock adventure exists if you want it, if you take it in your own hands by not letting others direct you.

- THE BLUES -

The blues are above all the music of the blacks. No one will ever equal the music of Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf... especially not whites. A white man can play the blues, sometimes even with talent, but he misses the gripping element that the blacks inject into it. The creators and forebears of the blues had a really hard life when they tried to take themselves of it with their music[?], and you can feel it. Among the very rare white musicians who understood the blues for its emotional aspect, I'll mention Eric Clapton and Keith Richards.

- THE CLASH -

The fact that this group and THE JU JU HOUNDS both recorded "Pressure Drop" is the fruit of a coincidence. It was while recording this piece that we learned that it had been taken by THE CLASH. The first record of THE CLASH that I bought was "London Calling", but I preferred the rock of THE RAMONES, them or the SEX PISTOLS. It was later on that I learned to appreciate THE CLASH.

- KURT COBAIN -

I never met him, but I wouldn't like to be in his place. He has a lot talent with composition. Since the SEX PISTOLS, I never enjoyed a record that had as much passion as "Nevermind". The media hell that he lives is like what I went through at the time GUNS N' ROSES, and I don't envy Kurt, that's for sure!

- EUROPE -

I especially like the European public because, unlike Americans, they [pogote]! In addition, the Europeans sing your songs, which isn't the case in the U.S.A.

- THE GEORGIA SATELLITES -

A really great group which made me discover the guitarist Rick Richards (alter ego of Izzy in the capacity as guitarist within JU JU HOUNDS). What was funny is that I was completely unaware that the SATELLITES had split when Rick became a member of JU JU HOUNDS. He's really a gutarist full of feeling, in addition to being a really great technician.

- HERO -

My biggest heroes are THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY, and I would like to see them reunite with Alice Cooper singing. Otherwise, I would see Truman Capote well joining them and doing a saxophone solo to the recording!

- INTEGRITY -

It's while I'm playing that I'm honest. Now, it's even stronger at home, because I go back to my beginnings. To be honest, it's sharing your pleasure of living with others, and that passes through my music...

- JAMAICA -

It's the fatherland of reggae, and I love this music. I can listen some anywhere and any time, because it gives me good vibrations, peace and well-being. It's the rhyhmic aspect of reggae which I'm crazy about, and it's like therapy. I love the old reggae, like Bob Marley, Toots, Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh, and their messages are timeless.

- FREEDOM -

At the moment, I'm a happy guy, but I'm the same man I've always been. I didn't change anything with my personality, except that from now on, I'm not directed by people who exploit me anymore, which was the case in the recent past. Today, paradoxically, I have more responsibilities than before, but a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders.

- MANAGEMENT -

It's very important, and I have to say that since 1985, Alan Niven always dealt admirably with me. When he was fired by GUNS N' ROSES, that really annoyed me, and that definitely precipitated my decision to leave the band. What's more, Niven knows rock music like the back of his hand, and that counts for a lot...

- NEW YORK DOLLS -

I love their two albums, and escpecially the sound of the guitars. This group had real courage. Their image and their music went like hand and glove[?] and their vision of New York was authentic.

- PUNK ROCK -

It was big during its short period of life. What I like so much about the music was the "stick it to you"[?] attitude of '77 punk rock. The PISTOLS' album, it was the immediate energy, and I remember listening to it for a long time while skateboarding. Punk rock was an enormous rush of adrenalin for me, and still is.

- RAMONES -

I discovered them late, from the album "Road To Ruin", and it's an absolutely great group. This group understood everything about rock 'n' roll, and their new disc "Mondo Bizarro" is killer. I'd like

to tour with them.

- STADIUMS -

I know well the complecations of playing there. It is there hard to find a sound there that agrees,

everything is [fliqu�] and it smells too much like hot dogs.[?] I don't envision playing in stadiums with JU JU HOUNDS. Rock shouldn't be combined with sitting down!

- THE TRIBALISM (OF THE ALBUM COVER) -

I found these ideas in a restaurant when I was in the Caribbean. The guys assembled on stilts come from photographs taken during the Christmas celebrations in Puerto Rico. These images interested me, but there's no relationship with voodoo, because the "ju ju" is actually a lucky charm.

- VOCALS -

I'm satisfied with the way I sing, because it corresponds with my idea of rock. I don't plan to hire a fully-fledged singer, because it's too many worries. The song has to come from the gut and I believe that I have some; as far as that goes...

- RON WOOD -

He plays on our album, and that stuck very well between us. When we recorded "Take A Look At The Guy", we finished at five o'clock in the morning, and we were...uh...well! Apart from the music, I would be thrilled if he decided to draw covers for JU JU HOUNDS, and he said to us that if this song came out as a single, he would deal with the cover... Unfortunately, it was "Pressure Drop" which came out in this form.

- X (CENSORSHIP) -

I'm convinced that by putting a warning sticker on a record, the kids are going to throw themselves at it. It's reverse psychology, and typically hypocritical, but it's very American...

[NOTE: The above article was originally in French and was translated using software. I don't speak French myself, so this translation may or may not be accurate. You Have Been Warned. -NL]