Short Biography

The gals dug Axl and the musicians dug Slash, but the man in the back, guitarist Izzy Stradlin, was just as much an integral part of Guns N` Roses. Stradlin`s exit from the group in 1991 also signaled the beginning of the end for G N` R, as they became more of the "Axl Rose Show" and less of a full-fledged band. Born in Lafayette, Indiana on April 8, 1962, Stradlin (whose real name is Jeff Isbell) developed a deep appreciation of the Rolling Stones and particularly Keith Richards. It wasn`t long before Stradlin had picked up the guitar himself, which led to his relocation in Los Angeles, in search of his rock & roll dreams. Playing in several glam metal bands on the Sunset Strip, Stradlin fell on hard times, but continued to persevere. An old friend from Indiana, Axl Rose, followed Stradlin out to L.A., which eventually resulted in the formation of Hollywood Rose. Through numerous lineup changes, Hollywood Rose eventually became Guns N` Roses, with Rose and Stradlin joined by lead guitarist Slash, bassist Duff "Rose" McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. Guns eventually signed with Geffen Records, and issued one of hard rock`s all-time classic and best-selling debuts, 1987`s Appetite for Destruction. But such incredible success caused problems for the young band, especially concerning drugs. With rumors swirling of an impending breakup, the group issued a spotty compilation of an early indie EP with newly recorded acoustic tracks, 1988`s Lies, but it wasn`t until 1991 that G N` R finally got around to issuing the overblown, double-disc set Use Your Illusion. With Axl Rose`s ego out of control Stradlin had just about had all he could handle (he was also trying to lead a drug-free lifestyle, which proved hard while on the road) and abruptly quit the band mid-tour in late 1991. It didn`t take Stradlin long to form another band, Izzy Stradlin & the Ju Ju Hounds, which broke up after issuing a moderately successful self-titled debut album in 1992 (Stradlin briefly re-joined Guns for a smattering of gigs the same year before departing for good). The late `90s saw him reappear with fervor, however, as he issued a string of solo albums - 1998`s 117°, 1999`s Ride On, 2001`s River, and 2002`s On Down the Road, and even managed to play a handful of solo shows in Japan.
In 2003 Stradlin recorded his sixth album, Like A Dog. Several promo copies were made, but it was not released. He`d decided to release Like A Dog, selling them for $20 to his fans.
In 2004, Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan, his former Guns N` Roses bandmate, appeared on the Mark Lanegan album, Bubblegum. Stradlin announced in early 2006 that he was considering releasing some tracks excluded from his albums among other things hidden away in his basement.
In 2007 Izzy Stradlin made several appearances on the Guns N`Roses Tour. He performed with them "Patience", "Nightrain", "Used to Love Her", "Think About You", "Paradise City" and "You Could Be Mine".
On May 3, 2007, Izzy announced on www.Chopaway.com that a new album would be released on iTunes sometime in May-June 2007, and on May 30, the record was released. The album is an exclusive `iTunes only` release, available in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe simultaneously. On July 24, 2007, Stradlin announced that "Miami" had been remixed and re-released on iTunes. Stradlin released another iTunes-only album in November, 2007, entitled "Fire", the Acoustic Album.
Another iTunes-only album called "Concre

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