In a recently shared snippet from a new interview, producer Tom Werman talked about why he did not produce Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Appetite For Destruction,’ and why the bassist Duff McKagan lied and threatened to punch him.
What The Story Was Thought to Be
Werman was the initial producer to sign the classic album of the band, but refused to do so after his feud with McKagan. According to the producer’s words, Axl Rose didn’t cooperate because he could not hear himself during the recording session.
This eventually led to Werman offering to work with the band at a later time, clarifying that he could not evaluate any songs without vocals. The producer was also wearing earplugs to protect his ears from the loudness of the performance, which McKagan misunderstood.
The producer discussed the misunderstanding and clarified what happened during the recording of the album. As to why Axl Rose couldn’t hear himself, he explained:
“It was a tiny room, and it was the loudest performance I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard some loud performances.”
Apparently, the story was thought to be Werman complaining about the loudness of the performance, covering his ears, and leaving the room, though according to him, this is not what happened. He clarified:
“Not at all what happened. He just did that, and I asked him at a subsequent release party somewhere. I said, ‘Why did you lie? Why did you make that sh*t up?’ He was really drunk, and he got really angry and he threatened me.”
When the interviewer asked whether or not McKagan threatened to punch him, he affirmed and continued:
“Yeah, he threatened to punch me. He was only 20 or 30 years younger and like half a foot tall.”
The interviewer claimed that the rocker is a different person now and that he probably doesn’t remember what happened between him and the producer. Werman replied:
“Oh, he’ll remember. He was on my case big time. Oh yeah.”
The Production of ‘Appetite For Destruction’
The band and the producer ended up not working with each other, and the album was eventually produced by Mike Clink. McKagan said of the latter producer that they finally found the producer who made perfect sense and wanted the record the album the way they sounded and nothing more.
The closest Werman worked with Guns N’ Roses is L.A. Guns, consisting of the founder of Guns N’ Roses, Tracii Guns.
You can watch the interview below.
