GUNS N ROSES BOOT GIVES EAGLES OF DEATH METAL LAST LAUGH

Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal shares his thoughts on the new opportunities that opened up after getting kicked off Guns N Roses Tour

While Guns N’ Roses made big news with the release of the album Chinese Democracy, which took 18 years to hit stores, what isn’t news is the fact the band had been touring as recently as a few years ago. One of their opening bands was the Eagles of Death Metal, which were kicked off GNR’s last tour by one Axl Rose. Eagles Of Death metal recently released their latest album “Heart On,” and consists of old friends Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme. They saw their hard work pay off in 2006 after the release of their sophomore album “Death by Sexy” and they parlayed their success into being invited in the fall of 2006 to tour with Guns N Roses. However, after the band’s first show of the tour the always unpredictable Axl Rose took the stage and kicked the band off the tour, in front of a packed crowd.

We caught up with Jesse Hughes to get his thoughts on what exactly happened.

“He shows up forty five minutes late and it was like Stepford Wives. Everyone was acting like Stepford Wives and that’s because of the maniacal regime and I can’t respect that. It’s an outrage and a it’s a disrespect for the opportunity. So anyway, when he goes on stage and it’s three songs into it and he says ‘What did you all think of the Pigeons of S**t Metal? Well you better feel sorry for those little fellas because they are no longer on the tour. So, I was dinking something at the time and immediately went ‘Pfft!’ Now me being who I am I immediately went ‘Press! Yes!’ Then I was kind of hurt because I didn’t understand it. You know I went there completely wanting to be approved by one of my idols and here he was sh**ting on me in the most outrageously disrespectful way. It was classless. It was not Axl Rose it was Wackl Rose or I’m not on Paxil Rose.”

Hughes also mentioned the incident was a defining moment in his career of Rock N Roll.

“And then Dave Grohl, being the ultimate sweetheart, not only a great friend but a true rock alli, made his press statement on AOL that being disapproved by Axl was like being Knighted by the Queen. The next thing you know I’m on every streaming banner on AOL and that made my career. It literally was a defining moment of my career in Rock N Roll. It just goes to show that it aint always what it seems like. If something’s in play for awhile, it aint over until it’s over.”

Don’t feel too bad for the band, as they once again made another wise business decision and got paid in advance for the whole tour.

“Oh we got kicked off the tour and I got paid for every show. Because let me tell you how Axl works and I took advantage of business because I’m not a dummy. Just for the money issue Axl can’t get anyone to work for him unless he pays them in advance because he’s notorious for canceling tours and you just can’t live like that. You know because he demands the best, whatever. So, that’s his business model so in order for us to even begin the tour we had to be paid in advance.”

The Eagles of Death Metal will close out 2008 with a few Radio Station Holiday concerts. The band will kick off the Holiday season in December 10th in Kansas City for KRBZ’s 7th Annual Night The Buzz Stole Christmas. The Eagles of Death Metal will close down their 2008 tour on December 18th in Chicago for Q101’s Twisted 15. Look for the band to announce a new run of tour dates in 2009.