Brian Baker (originally of Minor Threat) joined the Bad Religion lineup in 1994, the same year as the band’s other guitarist Greg Hetson. According to Baker himself, he actually was first offered a position in the iconic 90’s alt rock band R.E.M., but opted out when Bad Religion offered him something different:
“Before I joined Bad Religion, I was given a tryout to tour with R.E.M., it wasn’t to join and be the fourth Beatle for God’s sakes. They needed someone to replace Scott Holzapfel who had toured with them as a second guitar player. I tried out with them because we had mutual friends and I got the gig. Unfortunately for them, I guess, there was a lag time. They weren’t scheduled to start rehearsing for a few months. . .I think about a week after they called and said I had the gig, Bad Religion called. It really wasn’t a difficult decision, because what I was offered in R.E.M. was really a sideman status. In Bad Religion, I was to be a contributing band member. The choice was very simple for me.”
An unknown period of time after Baker became an established Bad Religion member, he was also offered a spot in Guns n’ Roses, but turned it down:
“There have been many other ones besides that. I mean, Guns N Roses, whatever. Tommy Stinson called and said they were doing this Guns N Roses thing and asked if I wanted to come and play guitar. I thought about it for a day and said, “Well… no.”
(Read this full interview over here)
No to Guns n’ Roses AND R.E.M.? Kinda makes you wonder what offer WOULD get the dude to leave…
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