Axl Rose was interested in having DJ Ashba take part in Guns N' Roses' newly reconfigured lineup, the guitarist says, but Rose "just didn't feel like it was [his] place" to suggest it.

Ashba, now with Sixx: A.M. after a 2009-15 stint in Guns N' Roses, said he discussed Rose's reunion with Slash and Duff McKagan well before it was announced. "Axl wanted me to be a part of it," he told Metal Insider. "I couldn't be more happy for it happening. I was stoked to find out about it. People have got to remember, if I wasn't a fan of the band, I wouldn't have joined the band."

Sixx: A.M. will release Prayers for the Damned Vol. 1, the first of two promised albums this year, on April 29. Meanwhile, Guns N' Roses recently extended their tour, called Not in This Lifetime .... Up until a few weeks ago, Rose hadn't appeared onstage with Slash and McKagan in more than 20 years.

"I have great admiration for Axl, Slash and Duff and Steven [Adler], Izzy [Stradlin] and [what] everybody's put into that thing," Ashba added. "I have even more respect now after playing in the band for so many years. I couldn't be more happy. I'm just as big a fan as I've always been. I'm so happy for the fans that they get to go out there and see at least half of the band reunited; it's a big deal. This is what the fans have been wanting, me included in that."

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