During the chaotic Use Your Illusion tour, Guns N’ Roses faced a significant change when rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin left the band. This departure triggered speculation about potential replacements, with Dave Navarro’s name frequently mentioned.
In a 1993 interview with Hit Parade magazine, frontman Axl Rose addressed these rumors while expressing his admiration for Jane’s Addiction.
When asked if Dave Navarro would join Guns N’ Roses as Stradlin’s substitute, Rose responded that the band was quite open to the idea. However, the timing was not ideal for Navarro, who needed some time for personal reflection.
Despite the missed opportunity, Axl Rose expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of working with Navarro. He described how Jane’s Addiction’s music always felt fresh and innovative, even after repeated listening. Rose envisioned a musical fusion between Jane’s Addiction and Guns N’ Roses, pushing the boundaries of what had previously been achieved.
The potential collaboration between Slash, Guns N’ Roses’ lead guitarist, and Dave Navarro excited Rose. He imagined the duo creating extraordinary music together, each bringing their unique style and talent. Reflecting on his first meeting with Slash, Rose stated that the world needed to witness his incredible abilities.
Axl Rose shared glowing praise for both Slash and Navarro during the interview. While his connection to Slash was understandably more profound due to their history, Rose believed the world had overlooked Navarro’s talent. He expressed a strong desire to help rectify this situation.
Unfortunately, Dave Navarro did not join Guns N’ Roses, as he failed to attend the audition. However, a collaboration eventually took place between him and the band. Navarro later characterized the experience of working with Axl Rose in the studio as “very strange.”
