ALL YOU NEED IS JUST A LITTLE PATIENCE
A generation later, original Guns N’ Roses manager Vicky Hamilton has completed a tell-all autobiography
By Gerry Gittelson
Metal Sludge Editor at Large

HOLLYWOOD — Vicky Hamilton was the original manager of Guns N’ Roses in the 1980s when the young band was struggling just to afford some guitar strings, to put some Top Ramen on the table and, if they were lucky, to have a temporary roof over the head.

She’s all grown up now, just like Axl Rose, Slash and the rest, and the story of why Hamilton and Guns N’ Roses went their separate ways once the band singed with Geffen Records is now being told without any details being left out, as Hamilton has completed her autobiography expected to be released in 2015.

Hamilton celebrated by hosting a star-studded party on Saturday, Dec. 13 in a stately mansion atop the Hollywood Hills, as a packed gathering of VIPs and industry insiders enjoyed a little taste supplied by Miss Hamilton, who stood at a podium and read snippets of the upcoming book to everyone.

The memoir is called “Appetite For Dysfunction.” A publishing deal is still being ironed out, but judging by Hamilton’s samples and the ecstatic reactions of everyone in the room, this tell-all is going to really be something special.

“I have some good memories, but it’s a little bittersweet,” said Hamilton, who never made millions of dollars like Guns N’ Roses did. “When I kind of went back and looked at the shit that went down, I gained 14 pounds while writing the book. It’s hard to look at the past and to keep moving forward. …. I don’t know. Axl will probably sue me. He sues everyone else.”

Hamilton readily admits the book is going to “hurt some feelings.”

“Some of it will,” Hamilton said. “No one wants to look at their humble beginnings, but there it is.”

Vicky Hamilton with Los Angeles journalist Gerry Gittelson

Hamilton also worked with Motley Crue, Poison and others when they were just starting out, so some of the chapters will be devoted to them.

“I did remember some funny stuff, too, like when (Poison’s) Bobby Dall pooped in a Cheerios box and sent it to a writer from L.A. Weekly, or when Slash tried out for Poison,” she said.

A couple of other writers shared the microphone, too, as the event was being sponsored by Musicares, and there were also some musicals guests, including singer Jeff Cullen. But soon Metal Sludge had jet down the hill to catch to Burning Rain and special guests Stonebreed in concert at a new club called Busby’s East on Wilshire Boulevard a few miles down from Hollywood.

Doug Aldrich of Burning Rain and Carlos Cruz of Stonebreed

Stonebreed rock “Busby’s”

Stonebreed, among California’s top unsigned bands, debuted a couple of new songs, “Pain” and “Tonight,” and both went over well, as the room was already well-crowded by the time the fivesome hopped on stage.

Singer Carlos Cruz is a pure natural with a great voice and overflowing charisma, and the frontman pushes the very boundaries of passion. He shined on “Back Home,” “Judgment Day” and “Last Dollar.”

Stonebreed is blessed with two talented guitarists in Brandon Paul and Troy Elizondo, plus a tight rhythm section consisting of drummer Orion Rains and bassist Johnny Zell. The whole ensemble really shined on covers of “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting,” “Fortunate Son” and “Seek & Destroy.”

Soon it was time for Burning Rain, a supergroup of sorts because everyone involved has already proven themselves in other successful bands – singer Keith St. John (Montrose, Neal Schon), guitarist Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake), bassist Sean McNabb (Dokken, Great White, House of Lords) and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley).

The band focused mainly on material from a new Frontiers CD called “Epic Obsession,” and one thing is for sure – Burning Rain rocks hard. The group put the pedal to the metal for the duration, and the crowd sure enjoyed the proceedings by pumping their fists into the air and singing along to some of the choruses.

Everyone in the band is good-looking, and that helps Burning Rain’s appeal. St. John, a curly-haired New Yorker, has a big voice, and Aldrich, quite simply, is among the best guitarists in the world.

Afterwards, everyone partied in the dressing room, as there was enough alcohol flowing to quench of heartiest of thirsts, and – as usual – some of the memories became a little blurry towards the end of the evening.

In all, quite a Saturday night, and Metal Sludge was happy to document it all.

Gerry Gittelson can be reached at gspot@metalsludge.tv

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