Hear "Grandview" by John Mellencamp Featuring Izzy Stradlin

Izzy Stradlin, the occasionally reclusive former Guns N' Roses guitarist and co-founder, has turned up on John Mellencamp's rootsy new album, Sad Clowns & Hillbillies, which was released last month.

NPR calls “Grandview” the album’s "only real rocker," describing it as “sung from the perspective a working-class middle-aged man whose biggest dream is outfitting himself with a trailer and getting out of town.”

Stradlin made his first appearance on a Mellencamp tune almost 20 years ago, when he played on “Miss Missy” from Mellencamp's self-titled 1998 album. Both gents happen to be from Indiana.

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Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.