Guns N’ Roses Manager Says Slash and Izzy Stradlin Ate Entire Drug Stash to Avoid Airport Arrest: “A Damn Waste of Good Smack”
In a revealing account from the band’s past, Guns N’ Roses’ former manager, Alan Niven, has shared a wild story involving guitarist Slash and rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin. According to Niven, the two bandmates once consumed an entire stash of drugs before they were set to board a flight, hoping to avoid a bust at the airport.
“We were about to leave for Japan, and it was the first tour,” Niven said. “Slash and Izzy had a whole stash of drugs on them. They were worried about getting caught at the airport, so they decided to just eat it all. They ate the whole fucking stash. It was a waste of perfectly good smack. But I guess they didn’t want to take any chances.”
The band’s chaotic lifestyle during their rise to fame has become legendary, and this incident only adds to their reputation for reckless behavior. For many rock fans, Guns N’ Roses represented a fusion of raw talent and dangerous excess, a combination that both fueled their success and almost led to their undoing.
Niven’s story highlights not only the reckless abandon with which the band members lived their lives, but also the high stakes of touring in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The pressures of international travel, especially to countries with strict drug laws like Japan, often led to confrontations with authority figures, and it wasn’t uncommon for musicians to resort to drastic measures to avoid being caught with illegal substances.
Despite the risks, the band’s first Japan tour turned out to be a milestone for Guns N’ Roses, as they captivated audiences with their electrifying performances. However, the dark side of rock and roll, as seen in these behind-the-scenes stories, remained an integral part of their journey.
Today, Guns N’ Roses is remembered not only for their groundbreaking music but also for their tumultuous history, which has included everything from public feuds to run-ins with the law. This anecdote from Alan Niven serves as another reminder of just how far the band members were willing to go, literally, to avoid the consequences of their actions.
In the end, the decision to consume their entire drug stash before their flight may have been a “waste” in Niven’s eyes, but it’s just one of the many unpredictable chapters in the rock band’s storied past. Whether it’s reckless stunts or legendary music, Guns N’ Roses never did anything halfway.
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