Dave Navarro recently discussed the offer he had to join Guns N’ Roses. Navarro said he thinks it was a good decision reject joining Guns N’ Roses, and shared his thoughts on playing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in an interview. After Jane’s Addiction broke up in 1991, Navarro joined the Chili Peppers in 1993, and played on their “One Hot Minute” album. Navarro’s offer came after Izzy Stradlin left the band, but it’s tough to see how a dynamic between Slash and Navarro would work live and in the studio, with both being lead guitarists with distinct sounds.
Navarro says he feels that joining Guns N’ Roses wouldn’t have been the right move for him. He enjoys playing with Slash, and has done so many times, but he says his style of playing is different from what Guns N’ Roses needed. He likes to experiment with sounds, which wouldn’t have worked well with their straightforward rock style. Navarro is able to explore different ideas within Jane’s Addiction tribal rhythms with Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins.
“I don’t think that would have been the right call at the time. I’ve played with Slash a million times since then. I love playing with Slash. But I think I’m a little more left-of-center than they were.”
“Guns was pretty much a straight-up, in-your-face rock band, which I fucking love. But as a guitar player, I like to get down on my knees, turn delay knobs and make a bunch of noise like Kraftwerk or some shit. [laughs] That does not work for Guns N’ Roses.”
Navarro talked about his time with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, saying it was tough but made him a better guitarist. He found stepping into John Frusciante’s spot challenging because he had to adjust to a different style and work with new musicians.
“That was a very difficult role to step into. They were so set on what they were. It really was another trial by fire. All of a sudden, I had to work within another context that had completely different influences, and these were musicians that I’d never worked with in my life.”
He compared it to his early days with Jane’s Addiction, where he also had to get used to a different musical approach. With the Chili Peppers, he was in a similar situation but performing in big venues like Madison Square Garden. His first show was even at Woodstock, which added a lot of pressure.
Navarro said playing with Flea and Chad Smith in the Chili Peppers back in the 90’s helped him improve his guitar skills. He appreciated the experience, but found it unusual to join the band at that time, as John Frusciante had entrenched himself into the DNA of the band.
“Weirdly, it was kind of like the beginning of Jane’s Addiction, where I’ve got these guys who don’t play the same stuff that I do. With the Chili Peppers, I was in this band that doesn’t play the same way I do – except now, we’re doing it in Madison Square Garden. [laughs] I mean, my first show was at Woodstock! Talk about the pressure being insane.”
“There’s no question that I became a better guitar player as a result of having done that. Playing with Flea and Chad Smith was a crash-course master class in musicianship. I’m really grateful for the time spent with them, but it was a bizarre concept to join the group, and a very bizarre time.”
