Izzy Stradlin

Guitarist left band on Nov. 7, 1991.

Guitarist Rick Richards tells UCR, "There’s so much Izzy material that’s never seen the light of day that needs to."

Stradlin used the guitar for Guns N' Roses' debut album.

Duff McKagan says reunion lineup kept amps ready for guitarist during three months of tour preparation.

Izzy Stradlin blames his absence from the Guns N’ Roses reunion tour on an inability to reach an agreement with the band.

Happy Birthday today (April 8) to former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin. He’s 56. Also celebrating is guitarist Steve Howe of Yes (71) and bassist Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad (66).

Stradlin apparently got as far as soundchecking with GN’R for a midwestern stadium show, but he left afterward and didn’t return for the gig.

The idea was to build off his love for the earthy style of the Rolling Stones and Faces.

Happy Birthday today (April 8) to former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin. He’s 55. Also celebrating is guitarist Steve Howe of Yes (70) and bassist Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad (65). In remembrance, bassist Paul Gray of Slipknot would have been 45 today.

Here's how it happened.

Izzy Stradlin has given fans an early Christmas gift.

Guns N’ Roses were at their peak in 1991, having just released a pair of follow-up albums to their 1987 game-changing debut Appetite for Destruction