Joey Allen from Warrant talks about what solos he played

[LitaStrauss]

This is from two years ago but I never saw it before and thought it would be fitting to post here. Joey Allen goes over what solos he played and what solos Mike Slammer played on the first two Warrant records. I knew Mike Slammer played all over DRFSR, but I didn't realize he was on a lot of Cherry Pie too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhOrIMqraWs - DRFSR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLpKO2efxjI - Cherry Pie

[DonJuanDeMarco]

I don't like the way Mr. Shred is looking at me!

There is a note from Michael Wagner in the Dog Eat Dog CD booklet that says "no artists other than the ones listed performed on this record". Joey actually took guitar lessons (possibly from Mike Slamer!) and played all the solos on that record. He can obviously play.

Those were the days of the "album". I think Beau Hill as producer just made the best "album" he could. Twisted Sister Love is for Suckers is another good example where he had Reb Beach play a lot of the guitar to make it more polished sounding.

[Anthrax442]

He can obviously play.

Ehhhhh...let's not get crazy. He's decent, but based on their live show, I didn't see him do anything that I haven't seen 100 other guitarists do.

[Tommy2Tone84]

He can obviously play.

Ehhhhh...let's not get crazy. He's decent, but based on their live show, I didn't see him do anything that I haven't seen 100 other guitarists do.

You can say the same about Slash and and he’s a legend.

[aznsquirt]

He can obviously play.

Ehhhhh...let's not get crazy. He's decent, but based on their live show, I didn't see him do anything that I haven't seen 100 other guitarists do.

Right, and all 101 of them "can obviously play". I don't think they meant it to be as much as you read it.

[Bono Nettencourt]

I don't like the way Mr. Shred is looking at me!

There is a note from Michael Wagner in the Dog Eat Dog CD booklet that says "no artists other than the ones listed performed on this record". Joey actually took guitar lessons (possibly from Mike Slamer!) and played all the solos on that record. He can obviously play.

Those were the days of the "album". I think Beau Hill as producer just made the best "album" he could. Twisted Sister Love is for Suckers is another good example where he had Reb Beach play a lot of the guitar to make it more polished sounding.

Lol did they really call him "Mr. Shred"?

It was also the era of signing bands based on image... if they couldn't cut it in the studio, it was cheaper to bring in ghost pros.

And LIFS was originally supposed to be a Dee Snider solo record, btw. That explains that.

[Darrien]

This is from two years ago but I never saw it before and thought it would be fitting to post here. Joey Allen goes over what solos he played and what solos Mike Slammer played on the first two Warrant records. I knew Mike Slammer played all over DRFSR, but I didn't realize he was on a lot of Cherry Pie too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhOrIMqraWs - DRFSR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLpKO2efxjI - Cherry Pie

This was actually pretty cool. Nice to hear an explanation on who plays what since it's been speculated about for so long. You can't argue with the final results, everything Mike added is fucking great.

[Anthrax442]

He can obviously play.

Ehhhhh...let's not get crazy. He's decent, but based on their live show, I didn't see him do anything that I haven't seen 100 other guitarists do.

You can say the same about Slash and and he’s a legend.

I was trying to be nice. Slash is 1,000x the guitarist that Joey is. Joey specifically learned to play his parts in 15 songs that's he's played for 30 years. Yes, he can play THOSE parts. Anything else? I wouldn't bet your life on it.

[DonJuanDeMarco]

I just gave both interviews a listen and stand by my comment above: Those were the days of the "album". I think Beau Hill as producer just made the best "album" he could.

Joey actually did play a lot of the solos including most of Heaven which surprised me to hear! I figured that was Mike for sure! One thing they didn't mention is the single version is very different from the album version! I'm curious if Mike played on the single version (including the extra acoustic guitar on the intro).

And I'm assuming no, but curious if Mike played on any of Ultraphobic that Beau Hill also produced, after Joey had left the band.

Good interview in general. It probably would've been better if they had Joey, Erik and Mike all together though!

[Tommy2Tone84]

Ehhhhh...let's not get crazy. He's decent, but based on their live show, I didn't see him do anything that I haven't seen 100 other guitarists do.

You can say the same about Slash and and he’s a legend.

I was trying to be nice. Slash is 1,000x the guitarist that Joey is. Joey specifically learned to play his parts in 15 songs that's he's played for 30 years. Yes, he can play THOSE parts. Anything else? I wouldn't bet your life on it.

Slash is really good at what he does but let’s not try and act like he’s Neal Schon or some shit.
GNR were also one of the worst live bands of the hairband era. So much so, I’m convinced they were ghosted over
in the studio. Everyone points to Warrant’s 1987 Gazzarri’s gig for pudding proof at how lousy they were. GNR’s Live At The Ritz wasn’t any better. They sounded like absolute shit that night. I remember watching it live when it aired on MTV and commenting to my friend, who was a huge GNR fan at the time just how bad they sucked. I like alot of their songs and members but they were not that good.

[Bono Nettencourt]

GnR wasn't a bad band, they were a junkie band. An unnamed exec said when they were signed, "These guys will be huge - if they live long enough."

[aznsquirt]

You can say the same about Slash and and he’s a legend.

I was trying to be nice. Slash is 1,000x the guitarist that Joey is. Joey specifically learned to play his parts in 15 songs that's he's played for 30 years. Yes, he can play THOSE parts. Anything else? I wouldn't bet your life on it.

Slash is really good at what he does but let’s not try and act like he’s Neal Schon or some shit.
GNR were also one of the worst live bands of the hairband era. So much so, I’m convinced they were ghosted over
in the studio. Everyone points to Warrant’s 1987 Gazzarri’s gig for pudding proof at how lousy they were. GNR’s Live At The Ritz wasn’t any better. They sounded like absolute shit that night. I remember watching it live when it aired on MTV and commenting to my friend, who was a huge GNR fan at the time just how bad they sucked. I like alot of their songs and members but they were not that good.

Classic GnR was just exactly the kind of band that can make masterpieces in the studio and always sound like ass live, and could get away with the "rock and roll energy" carrying them on stage.

Hands down the most ridiculous "studio guy" rumor (hell, I may have even heard it on here) was the one going around for years that Steve Bailey played the bass on Appetite. So ridliculous.

The Sound City Sessions are a great middle ground. Reckless Life is one of my favorite cuts ever and they speed up like 20bpm during the song, lmao. And I love it.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Thank God Clink produced Appetite instead of Earless.

[Anthrax442]

You can say the same about Slash and and he’s a legend.

I was trying to be nice. Slash is 1,000x the guitarist that Joey is. Joey specifically learned to play his parts in 15 songs that's he's played for 30 years. Yes, he can play THOSE parts. Anything else? I wouldn't bet your life on it.

Slash is really good at what he does but let’s not try and act like he’s Neal Schon or some shit.
GNR were also one of the worst live bands of the hairband era. So much so, I’m convinced they were ghosted over
in the studio. Everyone points to Warrant’s 1987 Gazzarri’s gig for pudding proof at how lousy they were. GNR’s Live At The Ritz wasn’t any better. They sounded like absolute shit that night. I remember watching it live when it aired on MTV and commenting to my friend, who was a huge GNR fan at the time just how bad they sucked. I like alot of their songs and members but they were not that good.

Understand where you're coming from, but go listen to Anastasia and tell me on what planet, in what universe, anyone from Warrant would be able to touch that.

[Chip Z'Hoy]

This is cool interview, I'd never seen it. Respect Joey's humility here, he's not afraid of credit where it's due.

HOWEVER, it's a little Milli Vanilli. Not trying to shit on guys for decisions that weren't even theirs from 35 years ago, but it had to feel a little weird to pose for magazines behind guitars--sometimes for guitar magazines--when you didn't play much of the lead guitar on the record.

It's pop metal though, it was all smoke and mirrors. I ain't mad at cha, Joey Allen.

[Bono Nettencourt]

And oh man did they have some ugly ass guitars... plastered with garish graphics from the 1st album IIRC.

What was wrong with this Slamer dude anyway? Why wasn't he in his own band? Was he a gargoyle?

[woblinweebles]

Here's Slamer live with The Streets from 84. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6qeW5YI1KI

Looks wise, he fits in an AOR band. He definitely looks cooler than the Kansas singer in the same clip.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Here's Slamer live with The Streets from 84. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6qeW5YI1KI

Looks wise, he fits in an AOR band. He definitely looks cooler than the Kansas singer in the same clip.

Fixed your link.

Is he the bearded dude with the whammy SG? If so you're right, he's giving off more of a 38 Special than a hair-farmer vibe. Looks pretty old there too...

[woblinweebles]

Here's Slamer live with The Streets from 84. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6qeW5YI1KI

Looks wise, he fits in an AOR band. He definitely looks cooler than the Kansas singer in the same clip.

Fixed your link.

Is he the bearded dude with the whammy SG? If so you're right, he's giving off more of a 38 Special than a hair-farmer vibe. Looks pretty old there too...

Thanks for noticing, I fixed the link!

I was actually thinking 38 Special, too - or something like Mike and Mechanics.

[aznsquirt]

I was actually thinking 38 Special, too - or something like Mike and Mechanics.

Or a guy who ends up secretly recording most of the leads on a Warrant album

[Bono Nettencourt]

I was actually thinking 38 Special, too - or something like Mike and Mechanics.

Or a guy who ends up secretly recording most of the leads on a Warrant album

Yeah he and Dan Huff could be brothers lol.

[BiggusDickus]

Mike Slamer with Seventh Key:

https://youtu.be/ANGkoCkVazA?si=N-kbAni5lfPtaPRP

[DonJuanDeMarco]

Mike Slamer with Seventh Key:

https://youtu.be/ANGkoCkVazA?si=N-kbAni5lfPtaPRP

I got dibs on the blonde chick! Isn’t that the same shirt Bobbie Brown wore in the Cherry Pie video!

I’m sure Mike is proud of the work he did but has to be a LITTLE jealous that he didn’t get to sell millions of records and tour the world. Warrant still play those songs to this day.

[Bono Nettencourt]

I'd say that the Slamer/Warrant playing field is pretty even now.

[Wiseacre]

You can say the same about Slash and and he’s a legend.

I was trying to be nice. Slash is 1,000x the guitarist that Joey is. Joey specifically learned to play his parts in 15 songs that's he's played for 30 years. Yes, he can play THOSE parts. Anything else? I wouldn't bet your life on it.

Slash is really good at what he does but let’s not try and act like he’s Neal Schon or some shit.
GNR were also one of the worst live bands of the hairband era. So much so, I’m convinced they were ghosted over
in the studio. Everyone points to Warrant’s 1987 Gazzarri’s gig for pudding proof at how lousy they were. GNR’s Live At The Ritz wasn’t any better. They sounded like absolute shit that night. I remember watching it live when it aired on MTV and commenting to my friend, who was a huge GNR fan at the time just how bad they sucked. I like alot of their songs and members but they were not that good.

I’ll never understand the love for Slash and I’m an OG Acetard. People shit on Ace for playing the same licks 15 years earlier (and way less sloppy), but Slash gets a pass? the cool hat, I guess? Slash seems like an Ok guy and everything, but he is a local bar-level player and always was. I never heard him play a single thing that wasn’t completely typical of any ‘70s rock guitarist only he was usually slopping half the notes. Absolutely NOTHING special about his playing. Even his “epic” NR solo sounds like it is in the wrong key half the time from what I remember. At least Ace has super-memorable solos that always fit the song perfectly. Slash was Joe Perry Jr but way worse and in a time when rock guitar was reaching its pinnacle. I guess maybe people saw him as the “anti-shred” guy when they were sick of the fast technical shit? Don’t answer. I don’t really care why. Not looking to go to war with my Slashtards. Just my opinion.

[Darrien]

I was trying to be nice. Slash is 1,000x the guitarist that Joey is. Joey specifically learned to play his parts in 15 songs that's he's played for 30 years. Yes, he can play THOSE parts. Anything else? I wouldn't bet your life on it.

Slash is really good at what he does but let’s not try and act like he’s Neal Schon or some shit.
GNR were also one of the worst live bands of the hairband era. So much so, I’m convinced they were ghosted over
in the studio. Everyone points to Warrant’s 1987 Gazzarri’s gig for pudding proof at how lousy they were. GNR’s Live At The Ritz wasn’t any better. They sounded like absolute shit that night. I remember watching it live when it aired on MTV and commenting to my friend, who was a huge GNR fan at the time just how bad they sucked. I like alot of their songs and members but they were not that good.

I’ll never understand the love for Slash and I’m an OG Acetard. People shit on Ace for playing the same licks 15 years earlier (and way less sloppy), but Slash gets a pass? the cool hat, I guess? Slash seems like an Ok guy and everything, but he is a local bar-level player and always was. I never heard him play a single thing that wasn’t completely typical of any ‘70s rock guitarist only he was usually slopping half the notes. Absolutely NOTHING special about his playing. Even his “epic” NR solo sounds like it is in the wrong key half the time from what I remember. At least Ace has super-memorable solos that always fit the song perfectly. Slash was Joe Perry Jr but way worse and in a time when rock guitar was reaching its pinnacle. I guess maybe people saw him as the “anti-shred” guy when they were sick of the fast technical shit? Don’t answer. I don’t really care why. Not looking to go to war with my Slashtards. Just my opinion.

I'm more of a KISS fan than a GnR fan but how can you even shit on the November Rain solo? it's so melodic and memorable.
Ace has played the same single note bends, and blues lick in every solo.

[Anthrax442]

I’ll never understand the love for Slash and I’m an OG Acetard. People shit on Ace for playing the same licks 15 years earlier (and way less sloppy), but Slash gets a pass? the cool hat, I guess? Slash seems like an Ok guy and everything, but he is a local bar-level player and always was. I never heard him play a single thing that wasn’t completely typical of any ‘70s rock guitarist only he was usually slopping half the notes. Absolutely NOTHING special about his playing. Even his “epic” NR solo sounds like it is in the wrong key half the time from what I remember. At least Ace has super-memorable solos that always fit the song perfectly. Slash was Joe Perry Jr but way worse and in a time when rock guitar was reaching its pinnacle. I guess maybe people saw him as the “anti-shred” guy when they were sick of the fast technical shit? Don’t answer. I don’t really care why. Not looking to go to war with my Slashtards. Just my opinion.

I'm more of a KISS fan than a GnR fan but how can you even shit on the November Rain solo? it's so melodic and memorable.
Ace has played the same single note bends, and blues lick in every solo.

I would just point out that Slash has a lot material out there that's not from those same three Guns N Roses albums. He's no Eric Johnson or Paul Gilbert, but at least he does things. To compare him to Ace is pretty silly.

[Love_Industry]

Slash is really good at what he does but let’s not try and act like he’s Neal Schon or some shit.
GNR were also one of the worst live bands of the hairband era. So much so, I’m convinced they were ghosted over
in the studio. Everyone points to Warrant’s 1987 Gazzarri’s gig for pudding proof at how lousy they were. GNR’s Live At The Ritz wasn’t any better. They sounded like absolute shit that night. I remember watching it live when it aired on MTV and commenting to my friend, who was a huge GNR fan at the time just how bad they sucked. I like alot of their songs and members but they were not that good.

I was at their classic Donington show and they sucked there too. Worst band of the day, huge disappointment as I love AFD, even Helloween and Megadeth were better. They just weren't a very good live band before the UYI tour. Also, unlike any Mötley, Kiss or VH, they never had any good outtakes, demos or rehearsal tapes. The only good GnR recordings prior to the UYI tour are literally the 3 studio albums.

No, I don't think they were ghosted over, but Clink did probably what Werman did with Mötley, or Mutt with Leppard. Pushed them to do a ton of takes then pieced together songs from the best parts. GnR may have the rock'n roll attitude, but AFD is as much a studio product as the obviously high tech Hysteria was the same year. Axl is a well known perfectionist so this way of working suited him. The others, probably not.

[VinceVanLane]

Slash is really good at what he does but let’s not try and act like he’s Neal Schon or some shit.
GNR were also one of the worst live bands of the hairband era. So much so, I’m convinced they were ghosted over
in the studio. Everyone points to Warrant’s 1987 Gazzarri’s gig for pudding proof at how lousy they were. GNR’s Live At The Ritz wasn’t any better. They sounded like absolute shit that night. I remember watching it live when it aired on MTV and commenting to my friend, who was a huge GNR fan at the time just how bad they sucked. I like alot of their songs and members but they were not that good.

Also, unlike any Mötley, Kiss or VH, they never had any good outtakes, demos or rehearsal tapes. The only good GnR recordings prior to the UYI tour are literally the 3 studio albums.

I'm not debating if Slash is good or not, but GNR had a ton of outtakes and demos before Appetite came out. Even when they put out the Appetite Super Deluxe edition, they included 27 different songs they did from Sound City. And there's even more stuff than that. There's stuff from the Hell House, there's the Mystic Studio demos, there's the Pasha demos. There's lot of stuff. The thing I realized from those tapes is they basically wrote most of Use Your Illusions during the same time frame they wrote Appetite. Back Off Bitch, The Garden, Yesterdays, November Rain, Don't Cry, Bad Obsession, and Perfect Crime were just some of the songs written before Appetite. The band was most creative from like 85-86 and they've been living off that ever since.

[LitaStrauss]

Here's a video of GNR in 1986 a few days after they got signed to Geffen. They sounded fine here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTdThHql5es