Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale opening for Guns N’ Roses on world tour

JOKER and the Thief singer Andrew Stockdale reveals how he became best mates with Slash and what it’s like to open for the legendary Guns N’ Roses.

Wolfmother will open for Guns N’ Roses on the Australian leg of their tour. Picture: Chris Pavlich

WHAT do Guns N’Roses and Wolfmother have in common?

Aside from a love of rock, the line-up that made their debut album disintegrated after bitter feuds, leaving the singer to keep the band name and stay on the road.

After years of animosity, Axl Rose and Slash are now touring the world in Guns N’Roses again (with Duff McKagan) on the Not In This Lifetime tour.

Wolfmother, with frontman Andrew Stockdale, have already opened for the reunited Gunners in the US and will perform the same duties on some of the Australian leg of the tour.

Stockdale bonded with Slash when the iconic rocker recruited him to sing By the Sword, which wound up being his first solo single.

“That was my in!,” Stockdale laughs.

Indeed, for his 40th birthday in July, Stockdale spent the night with rock royalty.

“We’d just played with Guns N’Roses in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and we’d finished off our tour. Slash told me Lenny Kravitz was there with them, and I’d played with him in Australia so I went and hung out with Lenny. I thought that was a good way to turn 40, hanging in a stadium with Lenny Kravitz watching Guns N’Roses. It’s a good way to move into the next decade.”

Stockdale was impressed by the rebooted Gunners.

Andrew Stockdale spent his 40th birthday hanging with Lenny Kravitz. Picture: Chris Pavlich

“Axl is hitting the notes, it’s incredible. As a singer I know when people are taking shortcuts and he’s not taking any. I was blown away. Seeing him there with Slash, Slash holds it down. They’ve got a lot of presence. Seeing them live you get a better understanding of how a big rock show works, and how it’s done.”

The Wolfmother frontman admits he was surprised when he found out his mate Slash was rejoining Guns N’Roses.

“It’s a well publicised split. They must have had to work out a few things, but I don’t delve into their personal lives. It’s incredible the way the world has reacted to their reunion, it’s huge. I’m really happy for Slash.”

If Slash and Axl can iron out their differences, and Wolfmother’s contemporaries Jet are re-forming with their classic line-up, would Stockdale see a time when he could perform with original mates Chris Ross and Myles Heskett, who created the band’s 2005 million-selling debut?

“My story is a bit different,” he says. “I put out a (Wolfmother) record in February (Victorious), I’ve done 105 shows worldwide this year, they’ve been sold out, people are singing the new tunes. I’ve creatively maintained the vision.

“I play guitar and I sing. I’m not entirely reliant on someone else to write the music, I can move forward. With the other guys (Chris, Miles) it’s just good to move on for me, personally. It’s healthier for me to be doing what I’m doing now.”

Fro friends. Picture: AFP

Andrew Stockdale is the frontman of Wolfmother. Picture: Chris Pavlich

The Joker and the Thief and Woman are the most lucrative songs in the Wolfmother catalogue — with record sales falling Stockdale knows licencing them for movie or ad use pays the bills.

“It’s always a bit of a risk. You get a scene description from a movie, it sounds cool, and then it turns out to be The Hangover and your song is in the pivotal scene in the whole film and that’s how some people discover or rediscover your music. You can’t be too protective of your music, you need to let go and let people connect to it.

“Back in the day people said ‘We don’t want our songs played on the radio, we won’t make any money out of it’. Now you’ve got record labels paying to get songs played on the radio. And you get paid to have your songs in the movie. It’s a great platform for exposure. Look at syncs, look at Spotify, look at YouTube. Lady Gaga can have a No. 1 song on Spotify and get a cheque for $400. When you talk about being protective about syncs you have to have some perspective on the world and reaching people, that’s the key.

Axl Rose performing with Australian Rock band AC/DC in Lisbon on May 7, 2016. Picture: AFP

“There was a computer game that was war-based that seemed overly violent, I didn’t want to endorse that, but generally if it’s not causing any destruction or negative energy then I’m usually okay with it.”

Wolfmother’s latest album Victorious was, depending on which review you read, a return to form or a lazy retreading of ‘70s rock.

“I don’t read reviews,” Stockdale says. “People have sent me good reviews, I haven’t read them. When I’m on the road I don’t even answer phone calls, I just Zen out and try to remain positive. It’s not about reviews or social media, I just try to keep a relaxed, positive mindframe and focus on doing a good show.”

Wolfmother with Guns N’Roses: ANZ Stadium February 11, MCG Melbourne February 14, Adelaide Oval February 18 and Perth Domain Stadium February 21. Ticketek/Ticketmaster

Originally published as Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale opening for Guns N’ Roses on world tour