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'Sweet Child Of Mine: How I Lost My Son to Guns N' Roses' was penned by Deanna Adler, the mother of classic-era Guns N 'Roses drummer Steven Adler and it will be released on January 24 via Monarch Publishing.
In the book Deanna lifts the lid back on life from her perspective as her son descended into drug addiction whilst he was one of the five foundation stones of what many call the greatest rock and roll bands in history.
Deanna gives an honest look at the pain and suffering caused by the abuse, which became self-destructive. A gripping display of the dangers of drug addiction overcome by the persistence of a mother's love.
The book promises to take readers on a rollercoaster of emotions from the highs of being a key member of Guns N' Roses to the lows of legal battles, financial ruin, two heart attacks, multiple suicide attempts, a debilitating stroke, and numerous stints in rehab.
Steven Adler has not re-joined his old band mates for their partial reunion tour although he has been invited to make guest appearances. He did appear with the band on November 5, 2016 at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina to perform one song: "My Michelle". The previous night, Adler played 'Out Ta Get Me' with the group at the same venue.
Guns N’ Roses have been heralded as a band that made the 80s rock and their resurgence has been an amazing one. The band sold out stadiums and blew the world away with their ‘Appetite For Destruction’ album. Their career was short lived, but Axl, Slash and Duff have embarked on a comeback of sorts.
Now we see those founder members on tour and hope that Steven and Izzy come back to the camp and give us a glimpse of the GNR we all want to see.
Guns N' Roses were quickly heralded as the greatest rock n roll band on the planet. During the late 80's and 90's the hedonistic rock gods Axl, Slash, Izzy, Steven and Duff scored sold out stadium concerts on the way to multi-platinum success.
Appetite for Destruction still stands as the biggest selling debut album in rock history. During it all, original drummer Steven Adler stole hearts and headlines with his insane antics. But Steven was soon crippled by a tragic heroin addiction that led to him to being kicked out of the band he helped found.
At the center of this maelstrom stood Steven's mother, Deanna Adler, the GNR-proclaimed "first fan" of the group. Deanna was there at the beginning in 1983, when school chums Steven and Slash were building their street cred on the Sunset Strip. Deanna witnessed it all but has never told her incredible story, until now.
In honest, direct prose, Deanna gives an unflinching account of her son Steven's drug fueled ascent to becoming the co-founder of Guns N' Roses, and his subsequent fall to drugs and alcohol. In one of the most brutally raw, revealing books written on substance abuse, Deanna delivers a powerful, inspirational message of hope to anyone dealing with opioid addition.
Excerpt from Sweet Child of Mine the book:
"My darkest fears exploded when I found Steven in the center of the bathroom floor, naked, his body bent at an impossible angle. He was soaked in a pool of blood and mucus. His face was smashed beyond recognition, his mouth and chin looked completely caved in.
I reached for my son and almost slipped on some pebbles strewn across the tile. Then I realized they were Steven's teeth. I dropped to my knees, crying hysterically."
