Former Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven has shared a collection of wild stories from his time with the band, chronicling their rise “from the gutters of Sunset Boulevard to Wembley Stadium.” These stories will be featured in his upcoming book, Sound N’ Fury, with one particularly shocking tale revealing how Slash and Izzy Stradlin avoided airport security by consuming their entire drug stash in one go.
Recalling a moment at Los Angeles International Airport, Niven describes watching passengers from the glass VIP mezzanine while waiting for Axl Rose to arrive. The band was preparing to depart for their first tour of Japan, but Rose was late. As Niven speculated about the delay, Stradlin approached, holding a small boom box and casually asked where Rose was. When Niven responded, Stradlin dismissed the concern, proudly declaring, “I don’t care. I’m set. I’ve got my stash.”
Initially hopeful that Stradlin was referring to a collection of favorite tunes, Niven was quickly disillusioned when the guitarist clarified it was his drug supply. Stradlin had wrapped the contraband in foil and hidden it beneath the battery compartment of his boom box, believing it would go undetected. However, Niven immediately warned him of the dogs and electronic sniffing devices used at security, insisting that carrying it through was a guaranteed arrest. Trying to reassure him that he could find more drugs upon arrival, Niven urged him to flush the stash immediately. Stradlin, reluctant and frustrated, muttered, “That’s a fkin’ waste of good smack,”** but eventually walked away.
Soon after, Slash arrived, only to face the same questioning from Niven. Initially defensive, he demanded to know why, but when Niven explained the boombox incident with Stradlin, Slash also made his way toward the bathrooms. However, neither guitarist chose to dispose of their stash in the way Niven had hoped.
When Stradlin returned, he wavered for a moment before his knees buckled, signaling that instead of flushing the drugs, he had swallowed them. Slash barely made it to his seat on the Boeing 747, also choosing to consume his share rather than risk confiscation.
Despite their reckless decision, both Slash and Stradlin miraculously arrived in Japan unscathed. Meanwhile, Niven was left stranded in Los Angeles, waiting for Rose, who never showed up. Forced to reschedule, he ultimately flew alone with Axl the next day on a different airline.
In more recent news, Guns N’ Roses has been added to the lineup for Black Sabbath’s final ever show, joining Mastodon, Tool, and Metallica for what promises to be an unforgettable event.
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