The Rock & Roll Chef®

As I've discussed with Mister Adler and his manager more than once... adding some food product(s) to his merch line seems like a no-brainer to me - especially with the name of his band: Adler's Appetite. Here's an unfinished comp for the label I knocked out last month (left), which is meant to go on a round spice tin. FYI, the tin is large enough to include a CD and/or DVD inside - thereby increasing the asking price for one piece and making it one cool/tasty collectible piece.


Having a line of food products would also open up the number and varieties of retail locations for him to book autograph signing appearances (I've heard a celeb at his level can make as much as $5k per appearance - pretty sweet). 


This week, I got a quick & solid affirmation that I'm not the only one who thinks this is a good idea: an email from a producer at WGN Television on doing exactly this thing on his show - he was ALL over it, said he would love to have Adler book an appearance w/ this format.


But hey, it's always the same with musicians, regardless of how much money or fame they may or may not have: You can lead 'em to water, but after that...

Labels: adler's appetite, dry rub, rocker rub, steven adler

I've been hearing about Steven's upcoming book for awhile now from my pal Chip Znuff, who plays & stays with Adler fairly often - they really seem to be good pals (probably for life), and they're an EXCELLENT rhythm section to boot. As I was sharing with some Nashville musicians last night (including a guy who plays with John Fogerty), Steven can still throw down on the skins; I've personally witnessed him laying down a wicked country/shuffle train beat that swung like a lynch mob's rope. FYI, Steven got outvoted by his publisher on his choice for the title: "No Bed Of Roses." (hah). He's a funny one, and no dummy either.

I caught up with Chip a little yesterday, he was pretty pumped; he said Adler has a new 5-song EP of new tracks coming out soon - which is nice - but the thing Chip was most excited about: He tells me Adler will be doing Oprah this year? That IS big.

On top of that, I'm guessing the publisher (Harper Collins) will be scheduling a fair amount of national TV shows, multi-city signings, etc. All of which should result in putting some bodies in seats for concerts.

I have to say: I am LOVING the design on the cover - kudos to whoever knocked that one out. GOOD LUCK STEVEN & CHIPPER!

Labels: 2010 book, chip z'nuff, guns n roses, steven adler

The inimitable Steven Adler of Guns N Roses was here in Blue Island last week, for nearly a week; it's always good to see that boy. Although I was told he was here to record some tracks (he said he wants to knock out an EP of 4 - 5 new original tunes), they ended up not doing even one song (!?!?!?).

It's not hard to get him going about his favorite topic: A GNR reunion. The thing that got him going was when I told him I was betting on him as being "the last Gunner standing." Meaning: my money is on him to be the last surviving member of the original lineup. Why?

Well... with all the abuse he's put himself through (plus several admitted suicide attempts), he's still going strong -mostly. He's like a charming cockroach, only with great rhythm, millions of dollars and millions of fans. To be a great rock drummer - and he very much still is, it's great to watch him going through his chops - I believe that requires a lot of core strength. Not to mention having the stamina to keep all those other bigger-than-life Gunners in check onstage. And so... my GNR deadpool says Adler will be the last Gunner standing.

P.S. On another note... he didn't say this was confidential, so I'm mentioning it here: He just signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster, should be released sometime in 2010. Although he wanted to call it "No Bed Of Roses," the publishers went with the title "My Appetite For Destruction." GOOD LUCK BRO!

Labels: blue island, chip z'nuff, rock n roll chef, steven adler

NOW THAT VH1'S "CELEBRITY REHAB" SEASON 2 HAS BEGUN AIRING THIS WEEK, I'M STARTING to get calls from people who know I know Steven Adler of Guns N Roses, telling me they've seen him on that show. If you think about it, that program is pretty much a dead-nut conversation starter of (true or false): "Is any publicity good publicity?" I mean, the whole show is built around being screwed up & famous - I guess that helps some viewers feel like they're not that bad off, compared to them? And even though it reveals the worst in a person, the power of TV is also in full force, which will undoubtedly increase his visibility worldwide.

If you ever have a chance to talk with Adler, he'll let you know pretty fast that 1. Every dream he had with music came true, in a big way; 2. He's tried to kill himself "so many times"; 3. What he really wants most before he dies is a reunion with the original Gunners - even if it's only all of them being in the same room & chatting.

Now that he's putting it all out there on national TV, I don't think I'm giving anything away by revealing that, during his visit to the studio last fall, all the behavior he's described on VH1 was in full force here. Which really sucked. As I once told him to his face: It doesn't matter who you are, what you did or how much money you have - if you're passing out with a lit cigarette in your hand in somebody's house, there's NOBODY who's okay with that.

That said, I had many many many opportunities to videotape Steven in some less-than-ideal moments (and I was encouraged to), but somehow felt like it was a violation of trust.

Labels: chicago, gnr, guns n roses, rock n roll kitchen, steven adler

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PHOTO OF STEVEN ADLER, taken in the kitchen yesterday afternoon around 2-ish before he & Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons) caught a ride together to Midway Airport to Las Vegas and New Hampshire (respectively). Here's the story:

I'm ashamed to say I don't have a digital camera right now (the one I had was "liberated" awhile back, haven't replaced it yet). And so, I called the Blue Island newspaper (The Forum) and told them Adler, Dale Bozzio, Chip Znuff and the Rock & Roll Chef were all here at the studio, and could they send a photographer over? Luckily, Cindy Rippe from the paper said she could make it over with her high-end Sony digital camera; I gave a heads-up to the rock stars (and believe me, trying these people going in the same direction is like trying to herd minnows), and hoped for the best.

The thing I love about this photo is how it seems to demonstrate the two sides of Steven I've witnessed - sweet Steven, and "Monster" (the nickname Chip & I both seemed to arrive at the exact same time). He's flashing that great smile, looking at what he holds in one hand - the shimmery-white, ethereal healthy tea kettle, with the promise of warm, soothing, good-for-the-soul, clean refreshment. In the other hand, only a turn of the head away, the dark side seems to be represented by a bottle of Red Stripe beer and (hard to see, but it's there) a lit Marlboro cigarette. Talk about a literal image...

Labels: blue island recorders, guns n roses, rock n roll kitchen, steven adler, the forum

It's been awhile since the last post, lots of stuff happening. One thing in particular: I've been doing some personal chef stuff for the original drummer from Guns N Roses at Blue Island Recorders (yes, southside Chicago). His name is Steven Adler, he's a pal & bandmate with my pal Chip Znuff, and since meeting & hanging with him, I've started to check out some GNR stuff I've found online.
Apologies to Steven - I can't say I was the biggest GNR fan in the world. But I can say I've really had some fun with him, he's a real sweet & funny guy (and I've been shooting some video of him, which I'll put online soon).

Beyond that, I was happy to find this live video of their band from 1988, and was very impressed. Everyone seems at the top of their games, it's a good tune, and Slash really plays well over the rest. Are the two guitars a little out of tune up front? Hey, that's rock & roll, baby - and maybe they really were one of the best rock bands ever? Enjoy...

Labels: blue island recorders, chip znuff, guns n roses, rock n roll chef, steven adler