Vintage Video: Axl Roses Testifies in Guns N’ Roses Lawsuit with Steven Adler

I don’t know how it could possibly be that I’ve never seen this before, but thank Christ YouTube recommended it to me.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably aware that in 1990, Guns N’ Roses fired their original drummer, Steven Adler, for being so fucked up on drugs that he was unable to perform (which is really saying something, because no one in the band was exactly sober at the time). Adler, of course, sued the band, and in the process of doing so, gifted them with the name of their 1993 covers album, “The Spaghetti Incident?” — a reference to Adler’s assertion in the lawsuit that he’d been mistreated by his bandmates, citing by way of example an instance when bassist Duff McKagan stole a plate of his spaghetti (seriously).

Which brings us to this video of Rose testifying in court as part of the suit. I’m not entirely sure what year this year this, but Adler filed his complaint in October of 1991, so figure it’s probably sometime in 1992. There are a few interesting things about the video: Adler’s lawyer discussing the meaning of the lyrics to “Mr. Brownstone” with Rose, Rose cracking wise about the effectiveness of legal agreements, and of, course, the singer’s top-notch fashion choices. But I’m also 99% percent sure Rose is trolling Adler’s attorney big time. Although Rose often answers the questions posed by Adler’s lawyer relatively quickly, almost as frequently, he takes a long time — and I mean a LONG FUCKING TIME — to think about his answer… before offering a monosyllabic reply. I suppose it’s possible Rose really couldn’t immediately recall the answers to the questions he was being asked, but I suspect he’s really just making Adler’s attorney wait because, well, he can.

Dunno if you’ve heard, but Rose used to have a habit of doing that.

Enjoy: