Steven Tyler Helped Convince Axl Rose to Reunite Guns N’ Roses

UPDATE: Guns N’ Roses have posted a statement to Facebook that seems to sarcastically thank anyone claiming credit for their reunion. “[We] would like to respectfully thank the many people taking credit for our upcoming shows and everything in between,” they wrote. “Especially those whom we haven’t spoken to in numerous years who, through the power of media, have somehow served a pivotal, even if non-existent role. We, and the fans thank you! #GnFnR”

Steven Tyler told Howard Stern he was one of several people to get in Axl Rose’s ear and convince him to reunite Guns N’ Roses with guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan.

“I did meet Axl in a couple of clubs, a year ago, two years ago, three years ago, and I’d bump into him and I’d have that talk,” Tyler said on Stern’s SiriusXM show. “I said, ‘You need to get the fuck back together again soon, because we all miss you.’ Same thing someone said to me when [Aerosmith guitarist] Joe [Perry] and I were fighting.”

That someone, Tyler explained, was Jon Bon Jovi, who reportedly called the Aerosmith singer while he was in rehab and urged him to reform the beloved hard rock outfit. Tyler said Bon Jovi told him, “People in the world need you,” a message he would eventually relay to Rose.

“There’s a place and time, where if you don’t [reunite], you’re gonna miss it,” Tyler said. “And in another four or five years, no one’s even gonna know who they were or care if they were on tour.” He added: “I have such a huge ego about keeping the fire and the music together, because if people come up to me and say, ‘Dude, I got laid to your music,’ or a woman comes up and says, ‘We got married to your songs’ ”” you had something to do with the fabric of people. Guns N’ Roses had something to do with the fabric of humans on this planet.”

Tyler said he had also brought up the issue with Slash, and agreed with Stern that the GN’R guitarist had been more open to a reunion than the frontman. As to what caused one of the deepest rifts in rock history, Tyler wouldn’t divulge any details. “I get the whole thing,” he said, noting the feud went much deeper than brotherly betrayal or a clash of egos.

“I can only hope that Axl sees that the greater picture is to not be angry at Duff or Slash, and for Axl to understand that he’s the lead singer of a great band,” Tyler said. “And the world wants to see Axl with the original band.”

Prior to their highly anticipated headlining set at Coachella, Guns N’ Roses will play two gigs at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 8th and 9th. The shows will mark the first time Slash and Rose have shared the stage since 1993 (McKagan last played with Gn’R in 2014, joining them for a short South American tour and one U.S. date). Billboard recently reported that Guns N’ Roses has been in negotiations for a full tour, though the band has yet to confirm or comment.