Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown first opened for Guns N’ Roses early on during the 2016 Not In This Lifetime tour in July 2016. By that point, Alice In Chains had opened just about every show outside of one that The Cult opened. Graham Whitford, the son of Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford, discussed opening for GNR with Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown in a new Appetite For Distortion interview. Keep in mind, Whitford’s paraphrase of Rose didn’t appear to be a direct shot at any other bands, but praise for Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown.
“I had met Slash a couple of times over the years with my Dad, and I always remembered how nice of a guy he was. Just a sweet, sweet person. Tyler may have told you this story, but the first time we did a show with Guns N’ Roses in Cincinnatti I think, we bumped into Slash, and he said, ‘I actually have your guys’ record in my car, I love your band.’ I don’t think he realized who I was at the time. Then the next time he saw me, I think he had actually seen my Dad since then and talked about the fact that we were on tour with them. He was like, ‘Dude I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize you at first. I didn’t realize who you were.'”
He also said, “Axl [Rose] has always been really, really nice to us as well. I’m sure Tyler told you that the first time we spent some time with him, he referred to us as the first opening band he wouldn’t have to ignore.”
Other acts that opened for GNR besides Alice In Chains and The Cult during Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown’s 2016 stints on the Not In This Lifetime tour after their first show include Wolfmother, Billy Talent, Chris Stapleton, Billy Talent, Lenny Kravitz, and Zakk Wylde. That is high praise from Axl Rose!
Listen to the full interview below.
Listen to “Ep. 68 – Graham Whitford, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown” on Spreaker.
