Dj Ashba

by **Soulmonster** Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:59 pm

DJ ASHBA

Full name:
Darren Jay Ashba.

Date of birth:
November 10, 1972.

Band position:
Lead guitar.

Time with Guns N' Roses:
2009 - July 2015.

Shows with the band:
{DJSHOWS}

Biography:
Daren Jay "DJ" Ashba (born November 10, 1972) is an American musician, producer, and songwriter. He is currently the lead guitarist in Sixx:A.M.. He is also known for his work with hard rock bands BulletBoys and Beautiful Creatures. He has worked with various artists including Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, Drowning Pool, Marion Raven, Aimee Allen and Neil Diamond. He is the CEO of Ashba Media. [Wikipedia, August 2016].

Quotes:

Dj's a gifted, energetic guitarist that Guns N' Roses is proud to have on board!! We're very excited to have the opportunity to work together. Guns' radar has silently been aware of Dj's presence for quite some time. He brings a fresh approach to our particular brand of mayhem expanding the tapestry of Guns N' Roses live. Once Dj's name was in the hat, the hat disappeared!! [Guns N' Roses Press Release, March 2009]

DJ is working out great. He's a great guy and is very easy to get along with. He's brought so much to the live show and has been really well received by the audiences [AFD Q&A, June 2010]

He seems great! I haven't worked with him yet [NewGNROldGNR interview with Brain, July 2010]

Talking about the fans being receptive to DJ: At first he got a lot of that until we started playing shows and they saw how much we had prepared and made sure he was ready to be out there. And he put on a great show and the band was tight and people couldn't deny that he was doing a great job. So at that point I think that his period of people fighting it wasn't as long as mine. We got to rehearse with him for a good year and work out gear and work out parts. I had two weeks, and they wouldn't even give me a fucking microphone. They said there was no room in the mixing board to include me. So that was my fucking experience coming into this [WickedInfo, August 2010]

We have a new guitar player, DJ Ashba, and he's amazing [twincities.com, November 2011]

Dj made a good addition because he has fun with the gig and he doesn't take himself too seriously off the stage, which is important [Detroit Free Press, November 2011]

I think he fits in really well. Not to diss Robin Finck or anything, but DJ’s a better fit because Axl and him really get along really well. The stage vibe is a lot lighter and more festive. It’s not like we’re grinding out a set. It’s more fun [60 Memphis, November 2011]

The addition of Dj helps [with the mindset of members during the tour] -- him and Axl have a pretty good relationship [LA Weekly Blog, December 21, 2011]

DJ seems to play better on hangover days for some reason. I recommended he doesn't smoke this show [The Forum, LA, December 21] [iClip live chat, December 21, 2011]

I've known DJ for a while and he's such a talented writer with great ideas. He's been so inspiring to me as well to see how much he puts into it and has such an incredible song writing resume. I grew up listening to Neil Diamond, my Dad loved his music and his songs are embedded in my whole soul really. Neil Diamond is truly one of the greatest songwriters we've ever had and to get those credentials of writing with him and for him is super impressive to me. That`s just one aspect of what DJ brings to the table and he offers a lot and he's a great performer and great to be around too [Metal Express Radio, May 2012]

[...] I made sure that when DJ joined the band, I had a chat with our band. I said, “Look. No one is ever going to be treated like [...]. It doesn’t matter who joins this band next, we’re going to treat them like family from day one, and that’s never going to happen again,” and it didn’t [/i] [Metal Mayhem Magazine, November 2012]

DJ – a great songwriter [Boomerocity, January 2013]

Talking about the currebnt guitarists in GN'R: I've never met any of them except for the guy who wears the top hat. I can't remember his name.[Niko https://www.facebook.com/notes/896731803705278/, January 2015]

by **Soulmonster** Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:41 pm

I have to say I have been on the fence for a while now when it comes to what Dj can bring to the band. I guess I was a bit put off by his looks and behaviour outside of the stage, all the while realizing that he is a great show man and -- almost annoyingly, I admit -- not being able to find much wrong with how he plays.

But last night's show (Rock in Rio IV) has brought me down from that fence. Dj did a great job. And he is a great show man. In addition he brings a certain flavour, a certain style or guitar tone, that I believe GN'R needs. His renditions of both Slash's bluesy licks as well as Robin's solos are great, and he serves as a perfect bridge connecting the raw and bluesy old guns with the modern more technically and futuristic new guns. He is no Bucket or Bumbles, but that is not what GN'R needs, the band already has Bumbles and a very technically skilled Richard. The band needs someone that are able to play the simpler things with a certain flair and authenticity. I am not saying Dj can't tap or know his way around the fret board, he is technically very skilled, it's just that that isn't so much needed in GN'R when Bumbles and Richard is there, as a good ol' bluesy showman that serves to preserve some of what made old guns so popular.

It also seems he is more enthusiastic about the gig than most others. He interacts more with the crowd, he seems to enjoy it more, and he was the only one that did something new with his solo spot. He obviously cares. He is enjoying himself. And I really want band members who enjoy themselves.

I guess I must just accept being a curmudgeon when it comes to his emo style and his postings about getting drunk and beating up trespassers at concerts. And when thinking about it I suppose he doesn't behave that differently to my heroes in GN'R back in 1988, and I guess their dress style back then wasn't so great either. If he can bring in some new fans nothing could be better than that.

And if he keeps on playing with the enthusiasm and skill that he did yesterday he is exactly what the band needs.

by DanyYo Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:56 pm

IMO he's an avarage musician and a great show off. And some of his ways to attract fans are cheap.

by **Soulmonster** Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:57 pm

Another point: He seems to interact well with Axl, hopefully to the point of
motivating him to actually record, release and play music. I have become a
deeliever.