Steven Adler Joins Guns N’ Roses Onstage

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Photo of Steven Adler on July 6, 2016 via @GNR4Eternity

The return of hard rock superstars Guns N’ Roses grew even closer to a full reunion of the original band yesterday (7/6) when founding drummer Steven Adler joined the group for two songs at their show in Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium.

Axl Rose brought on Adler with a simple introduction: “On the drums, you might know this guy. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Steven Adler.” Playing a second drum kit while current drummer Frank Ferrer remained at his post, Adler performed “Out Ta Get Me” from the 1987 Gn’R debut album, Appetite for Destruction. “I guess we should do another,” Rose said after the song, and Adler again drummed on “My Michelle” from the same album.

The crowd, as one might expect, went wild from the surprise.

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Adler – the first original member to leave the group when he was fired for excessive drug use in 1990 – had been rumored to be part of the reunion when it was first announced. Those rumors accelerated when the April 1st booking for the drummer’s band Adler at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles was canceled and the first gig by Gn’R with founding guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan took the slot. But then Adler didn’t even show.

Live from Cincy… #NotInThisLifetime… pic.twitter.com/nlzB3mpZyW

— Guns N’ Roses (@gunsnroses) July 7, 2016

Turns out, according to LA Weekly, that Adler’s show was canceled because he was having back surgery. The surgery not only prevented Adler from attending the April 1st debut of the 2016 meets 1987 version of Gn’R – the touring group also consists of latter day Guns members keyboardist Dizzy Reed, guitarist Richard Fortus and drummer Frank Ferrer along with second keyboardist Melissa Reese – but would have prevented him from playing on the Not in this Lifetime stadium tour.

Related: Guns N’ Roses debut summer tour in Detroit.

Guns N’ Roses fans may be hoping that the full original lineup of the band might all reappear onstage during what is certainly the most high-profile rock tour this summer. But guitarist and Rose’s friend since their childhood Izzy Stradlin has said that he has no interest in being a part of it.