The alternative guitarist who would join Guns N’ Roses in 1991

When Izzy Stradlin left the Guns N’ Rosesin 1991, for many it was the end of the band’s golden era. The founding member was replaced by Gilby Clarke until 1994, before a true rotation of musicians began.

However, everything could have been different if another guitarist had auditioned: Dave Navarrofrom Jane’s Addiction.

On the podcast Appetite For Distortion (via Ultimate Guitar), himself Navarro confirmed having been called to the band during the period. It didn’t work out because he didn’t show up for the test at the designated time and place — because he was under the influence of drugs, which would greatly complicate his performance.

Dave told:

Axl (Rosevocalist) really wanted me to join the band. We talked almost every day about ideas and how the band could work with me in it. But at that time in my life, I just wasn’t present enough to do that. I had an audition with the band and I didn’t show up, because I was immersed in my drug addiction and I just couldn’t show up like that.”

The fate of Dave Navarro

In that year of 1991, the Jane’s Addictionmain band of Navarroentered the first of its hiatuses. This left the guitarist free to accept the job at Guns N’ Rosesif you wanted.

It didn’t happen. In 1993, the musician joined the Red Hot Chili Pepperswhere he remained until 1998 in the vacancy left by John Frusciante.

Today Dave accepts events and views the past with good eyes. About this, the artist said:

It happened as it should have happened. I ended up at Chili Peppers. And, improbably, Flea (RHCP bassist) ended up playing with Jane’s Addiction for a tour, and Duff (McKaganbassist for GNR) ended up playing with Jane’s Addiction for a tour. So at this age now, it’s water under the bridge. We are all part of this family musical collective and we all play together many times.”

Late partnership and “ghost” of Axl Rose

Despite not having joined the Guns N’ Roses in 1991, Dave Navarro had the chance to collaborate with the group in 1999. The partnership took place on the single “Oh My God”released as part of the film’s soundtrack End of Dayswith Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The guitarist recalled the invitation and arrival at the studio:

Axl called me one day and said, ‘I’m working on this record. It’s for the End of Days trail. Do you want to come and play guitar on it?’. And I was like, ‘Yes! Of course I want to’. So they gave me a location, a time and a studio and I arrived with my equipment. And there were 10 people in the studio. I asked, ‘where’s Axl?’ and they said, ‘He is coming. He’s coming. But let’s get started anyway.’ I said, ‘OK’.”

Then something strange happens while working on the track. Navarro told:

I sat down and turned on the equipment. They played the track. I said, ‘That sounds f***ing good.’ And I recorded a couple of passages. And then, no joke – I swear – suddenly I hear in the background, ‘Yeah, that sounds really good. Why don’t you keep this one?’ And it was Axl on the loudspeaker, in his house, listening the whole time. I was like, ‘What?’ It was Axl’s voice out of nowhere, like, from the fucking speaker. So he gave me some direction and I was like, ‘Okay, cool.’ So we were satisfied and that was it.”

The soundtrack of End of Days prioritized alternative rock, nu metal and industrial metal. In addition to Guns N’ Rosesartists such as Korn, Limp Bizkit, Rob Zombie, Prodigy, Creed, Powerman 5000, Sonic Youth and Eminem.

In “Oh My God”the formation of the GN’R consisted of: Axl Rose (vocals), Paul Tobias and Robin Finck (guitars), Tommy Stinson (low), Josh Freese (battery) and Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman (keyboards). Dave Navarro and Gary Sunshine recorded additional guitars.

Collaborated: André Luiz Fernandes.