2015.10.28 - Windsor Star - Kings of Chaos: Former Guns N' Roses Drummer Matt Sorum Talks Rock In The Dangerous Era

Kings of Chaos: Former Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum talks rock in the dangerous era

Rock n' roll has been a thrill ride for former Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum. He and other survivors — fellow G N' R member Duff McKagan, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row — come to Caesars Windsor on Thursday as Kings of Chaos.

Dalson Chen

As the guy who kept the beat for Guns N’ Roses when they were the most dangerous band in the world, Matt Sorum has seen a lot of stuff, man.

Now 54, he still enjoys making music and the company of friends. His touring supergroup Kings of Chaos — which performs at the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor on Thursday night  — boasts a lineup of hard rock survivors: Fellow G N’ R members Duff McKagan and Gilby Clarke, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Steve Stevens of Billy Idol’s band, and Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach.

We talked to Sorum about what it was like in rock’s unsafe era.

In past bands, you’ve dealt with some pretty out-sized egos and seen all sorts of crazy behaviour. Your supergroup has big personalities from several bands. How do you manage that?

“You know what? It’s really a fun, easy gig. There’s really no agenda behind it except to play a cool show … I’ve played with all these guys before. It’s super easy-going. Everyone gets on the airplane, drives out to the gig, sets up the gear, and rocks. There’s really no drama around it at all.”

What’s the set list like?

“It’s a catalogue from all the bands we’ve been in, collectively and separately. Cheap Trick-wise, I tell Robin to do my favourites: I Want You to Want Me, Surrender, Dream Police. We’ve got Steve Stevens, so we do Billy Idol’s biggest hit, Rebel Yell.”

“We get Sebastian singing Skid Row stuff, and then we do a bunch of Guns N’ Roses with Sebastian — Paradise City, Welcome to the Jungle … Robin sings Mr. Brownstone. We break it down and Gilby sings Knocking on Heaven’s Door.”

How does Sebastian’s voice measure up to Axl’s, in your estimation?

“Well, they both come from the same school of rock — They’re both powerhouses. I think it’s a bit of a lost art form. A lot of the bands that are coming out now, you don’t really hear those kinds of powerful voices … I’ve been very fortunate to be in great bands with great frontmen. Sebastian Bach is a true entertainer. He’s on, all the time.”
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How important is ego-management in keeping a band together?

“From my experience, I mean — It’s been a bit of a wild ride. Hence the name, Kings of Chaos (laughs). But at the same time, I don’t know if I would’ve wanted it any other way. You know, I see bands with lead singers who are really nice. Squeaky clean. And I really don’t feel I’m getting that wild, rock n’ roll sensibility that I want.”

“I love Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters frontman), don’t get me wrong. But he’s a drummer who got out front with a guitar. Is there any danger in it? Not really. If you go to a Foo Fighters show, you’re gonna see a band play their set, and everything is gonna go down nice, and he’ll thank the crowd, and everyone’s gonna go home and go ‘Wow, that was a really nice rock n’ roll show.'”

“Not everything went perfect in any of the bands I’ve been in, but I know one thing: People on their way home were going ‘Holy ****, what was that?'”

What’s your favourite wild G N’ R memory?

“Aw, man. The whole thing was a big blur. I always tell people, my Guns N’ Roses experience was like watching somebody else’s movie. If I was to make that movie myself and watch it — I still wouldn’t believe it (laughs). Was I really there? Or was it some sort of warped dream? The whole thing was surreal.”

“I felt like I really had no control where I was going. I was being taken on this adventure. It was scary at times. Super highs, super lows. I look at all of that, and I’m just happy we’re all still alive.”

Well, on that note, what’s one G N’ R story going around that’s absolutely not true?

“I don’t know. Give me an example.”

There’s that story about the song Rocket Queen — that the sex sounds on there are from Axl Rose having sex with a girlfriend of Steven Adler (former G N’ R drummer).

“Sex in the studio, yeah. Well, all I have to say is I think that one’s true. Those guys were always pulling shenanigans like that.”

https://windsorstar.com/entertainment/local-arts/kings-of-chaos-former-guns-n-roses-drummer-matt-sorum-talks-rock-in-the-dangerous-era