Izzy Stradlin’s Journey: Rock Legend And Solo Success
Discover Izzy Stradlin’s story from Guns N’ Roses guitarist to a solo rock artist creating timeless music.
Aug 15, 202533.1K Shares447.8K Views
Izzy Stradlin, the co-founder and rhythm guitarist of Guns N’ Roses, helped bring the raw, street-wise edge that defined the band’s debut album and its most iconic songs like "Sweet Child o’ Mine" and "Paradise City." As founder of the group in 1985 alongside Axl Rose and others, he wrote or co-wrote much of their classic early material and played a key role in the band’s rise from small clubs to global fame. Yet after the release of the Use Your Illusionalbums, he stepped away in 1991, feeling it was time to leave the chaos behind.
Early Life
Izzy Stradlin was born as Jeffrey Dean Isbell on April 8, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. His father worked as an engraver, and his mother worked for a phone company. When he was eight, his parents divorced, and he moved with his mother and two younger brothers to Lafayette. He grew up in a small town with a courthouse, a college, a river, and railroad tracks, where he and friends rode bikes, got into some trouble, and had a carefree childhood. By the age of eight, his music heroes included Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, and Led Zeppelin, and his grandmother—who played drums in a swing jazz band—was a big influence. That influence led him to ask for a drum set. In high school, he started a band with friends, including William Bailey—later known as Axl Rose—and they played covers in garages because there were no clubs for them to perform in. He graduated in 1980 with a D average and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue music.
Career
After leaving Guns N’ Roses in 1991, Izzy Stradlin wasted no time pursuing his own path. He formed the Ju Ju Hounds and released the album Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Houndsin 1992, which featured hit rock songs like “Shuffle It All” and “Somebody Knockin’”.
In 1995, he began working on his solo debut under his own name. That debut, 117°, was released in March 1998 and included contributions from former Guns N’ Roses bandmate Duff McKagan. It also marked the end of his time with Geffen Records.
Stradlin then issued Ride On(1999), River(2001), and On Down the Road(2002). These albums featured his longtime collaborators such as McKagan, Rick Richards, and Taz Bentley. He did play a few live shows in Japan to support these releases.
Never one for big promotion, Izzy continued his solo work in a low-key way, self-releasing albums like Like a Dog(2005), Miami(2007), Fire, the Acoustic Album(2007), Concrete(2008), Smoke(2009), and Wave of Heat(2010), many of which appeared digitally.
Though he declined offers to rejoin former bandmates in Velvet Revolver, he did serve as a guest in early songwriting discussions—and he returned onstage with Guns N’ Roses briefly in 1993 and several times later, such as during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Discography
Izzy Stradlin released his first solo album Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Houndsin 1992, shortly after leaving Guns N’ Roses. The album gained attention with rock tracks like “Shuffle It All” and “Somebody Knockin’” and showcased his ability to create music outside of the band. In 1998, he followed up with 117°, which included collaborations with former bandmates Duff McKagan and Rick Richards, blending his signature rock style with a more personal sound. Over the next few years, he continued to release albums such as Ride Onin 1999, Riverin 2001, and On Down the Roadin 2002, each adding to his identity as a solo artist while still involving familiar collaborators. From 2005 to 2010, Izzy quietly self-released several albums, often making them available only through digital platforms. This period included works like Like a Dogin 2005, Miamiand Fire, the Acoustic Albumin 2007, Concretein 2008, Smokein 2009, and Wave of Heatin 2010, reflecting his preference for keeping his music low-profile while still producing a steady flow of creative projects.
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