Traduza\\ GUNS N' ROSES Guitarist DJ ASHBA: AXL ROSE 'Is One Of The Best Friends I've Ever Had'

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist DJ Ashba tells Spinner.com that he wasn't really sure what lay ahead when he joined got the call to join the band in March 2009 following the departure of Robin Finck — especially when it came to his new bandmates

"I didn't know what to expect, really," said Ashba of GN'R singer Axl Rose. "All I heard was different things from different people, and I met him like 10 years ago when Sharon Osbourne introduced me to him. They were in doing 'Chinese [Democracy]' and I was doing the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES album right next door. He was the nicest guy. [But] you hear all the rumors, you see what you see."

According to Ashba, all the drama surrounding Axl Rose that is depicted in the media isn't in line with what the guitarist has personally experienced dealing with the reclusive vocalist.

"I was shocked, mostly because he is quite the opposite of what you hear," Ashba said. "He is one of the best friends I've ever had, we talk every single day. And he is the funniest guy; the guy is funny as shit and always cracking jokes. He's quite the opposite of what people, I think, want him to be, that asshole."