Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Guns N' Roses Not Able to Perform at Rock in Rio; A Message from W. Axl Rose

LISBON, Portugal--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2004--Guns N' Roses will not be performing as scheduled at Rock In Rio - Lisbon.


The band has been put in an untenable position by guitarist Buckethead and his untimely departure. During his tenure with the band Buckethead has been inconsistent and erratic in both his behavior and commitment - despite being under contract - creating uncertainty and confusion and making it virtually impossible to move forward with recording, rehearsals and live plans with confidence. His transient lifestyle has made it impossible for even his closest friends to have nearly any form of communication with him whatsoever. Last time I talked to Bucket, he called to tell me he had bought a bootleg DVD off EBay and how proud he was to be in Guns and how impressed he was with everyone's performance. Then, in February we got word from Brain that Bucket had called him and said he was back in Guns!? Apparently, according to Bucket he had been "Gone" but had turned himself around and was really excited to do Rio-Lisbon and a European tour. Somewhere in the following month things changed once again. According to those who have actually spoken with Buckethead it appears his plans were to secure a recording contract with Sanctuary Records which I encouraged my management to make available to him, quit GN'R and to use his involvement in the upcoming Guns release to immediately promote his individual efforts...Nice guy!

There is not a member of this camp that is not hurt, upset and ultimately disappointed by this event, and more to the point - if not this individual, certainly this individual's choices. Regardless of anyone's opinions of me and what I may or may not deserve, clearly the fans, individuals in this band, management, crew and our support group do not deserve this type of treatment. We as a whole, definitely feel that we afforded Bucket every accommodation perhaps so much so that it may be that we or more precisely, I may have done Guns a disservice and unintentionally allowed Guns to be put in this position.

On behalf of Guns N' Roses and myself I apologize to the fans who planned to see us at Rock In Rio - Lisbon. The festival and its tradition mean a lot to me personally and I sincerely do not enjoy being robbed by one of our own of the opportunity to be the first artist to play it for the third time. I would also like to express my gratitude to those who chose to embrace Buckethead's role in Guns and support our new line up. We greatly appreciate Bucket's contributions and remain open to "discussions" as there are obviously several issues to resolve. In the meantime rather than dwelling on the negative, Guns will be moving forward and surprisingly (without giving away any details) this unfortunate set of circumstances may have given us the opportunity to take our recording that one extra step further. Regardless we hope to announce a release date within the next few months.

Sincerely,

W. Axl Rose

*The Festival will shortly announce the name of a new headliner to perform with EVANESCENCE, KINGS OF LEON and XUTOS E PONTAPES amongst others

source: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/g...283&newsLang=en "

I become mad.  :rant:

so, again it is not Axl Rose's fault.
he is the first person to talk abot BH being an asshole

Ah fuck that shit axl suck my cock

funny how its never his fault. lol  : ok: go Axl.

fuck brian carroll.... he can find another guitarist if he wants....but Robin and Richard are fine..

but i like Zim Zum or Sunshine...

too bad buckethead acted like this,  i think ill go flood his official bucketboard with spam....

fuck off brian caroll... The fans cheered for you on the 2002 tour.

Great, just great

At least we have finnally heard something from Axl himself, even if it isnt good news. Looks like they had a European Tour planned after Rio, guess that is going to be thrown away aswell.

What worries me the most is this:

'this unfortunate set of circumstances may have given us the opportunity to take our recording that one extra step further'.

Take recording an extra step further, more recording!!!!! meaning that this album is going to take even longer to be released.

This is a real blow, i finnally thought something was going to happen, but obviously not!!!!!

Jonx

he took some of the blame...


we afforded Bucket every accommodation perhaps so much so that it may be that we or more precisely, I may have done Guns a disservice and unintentionally allowed Guns to be put in this position.

LOL!

Funny how Axl's behavior is never part of the recipe for the consequences that come into his life.... : ok:
I'll give Axl one thing, he plays the victum very, very well!

or he saw how well GH has been recieves and will let BH out of his contract and still realease it with his parts but BH gets nothin.....a settlement.....from here on in
 :peace:

This seems very positive to me, you can tell Axl is bitter but surely this is promising.

I`m not to sure what he means by taking the recording one step further - either he`ll take out the B/H parts or not. One of those options taking it further the other replacing with something of equal or lesser quality.

We`ll have to see, after all its been a while since Axl has been so forward to say they`ll "hope" to announce a release date within a few months so i guess whatever problems the B/h situation have caused are being dealt with.

Ahhhh...."a chance to take the recording one step further."

Ok....Axl putting the "finishing touches" on C.D. has already become the biggest running joke in rock music.  Therefore....how in God's name can he come out and say this....again?  

This is beyond comedy....did Axl and the writers at Saturday Night Live turn this band into a satire skit without telling anyone?  

At one point...Axl wanted GnR to be the biggest band in the world.  At this point...it actually seems that he wants GnR to be the biggest JOKE in the world.  You can quit trying now Axl...you've already achieved your goal.

what really makes me upset is that BH's manager says Bh is fed up with GNR'S inability to complete CD and Axl says GNR is not able to complete CD because of BH...why are there always to versions when it comes to GNR and Axl....

It seems as thou BH was never 100% committed to GNR but AXL liked him so much that he was prepared to put up with this behavour - which he is admitting may have been a mistake.

I totally understand and sypathize with AXL. BH has screwed over the whole of GNR and all it fans - not AXL.

Hell, why is everybody so negative? We finally got words from the man!

To me it sounds like Bucket?s replacement has been found, but they?re not ready to announce any names yet. And if they do announce a release date in next few months, is "soon" the word then? If you consider the wait we have been going through, I think another few months go by pretty soon.

Chinese Democracy begins in 2004! (no pun intented)

I agree... i wonder who the replacement is... this isnt bad news...its just news... and thats all i wanted....

BH and AXl have both screwed GN'R up a bit

from the standpoint of having waited years and years, yes this is positive news, just to hear Axl say he hopes to announce a release date.
i agree that it seems like Axl was probably a little too impressed with bucket's ability, and was blinded to the fact that the guy really wasn't into it. i mean, the way the letter reads, you get the notion that a month without speaking was no big deal. Buckethead considered himself out of the band, and Axl didn't know until he was told Buckethead was back in the band... that's crazy.
i wonder if this letter was mostly written to the fans, or if it's largely Axl writing to buckethead?
i do wish he didn't have to say things like "without giving away any details." cause boy would details be cool. well, hey, axl seems to find talented musicians... so let's start getting excited about the new, new guns n roses.

MORE RECORDING STARTS NOW!!!

:( shame that this took place :(

I think too, that this wasn't any of Axl's fault. Buckethead was ok, but not even near great, and now that he has done this.. don't know   :P

i'll believe this letter when it goes to the " oh so trendy "
http://www.gnronline.com/

 ;D

right now i am more a buckethead fan and this letter from Axl destroys the image i had of BH. i don't know if i can trust axl...i want BH in GNR...axl seemes not to be pissed of that much....

This letter is fake, and made up by someone.

what i now need is BH's side of the story. and not only a statement from his manager....

FINALLY!!!!  Somebody with some common sense.

this letter isn't fake. i read 3 positive things from this:

1) brain is still in the band - "His transient lifestyle has made it impossible for even his closest friends to have nearly any form of communication with him whatsoever "

and "There is not a member of this camp that is not hurt, upset and ultimately disappointed by this event, and more to the point - if not this individual, certainly this individual's choices. "

2) he seems to put some blame on himself for giving to much freedom for band members (bucket) to do other things. it seems obvious that at this point bucket prefered to tour on his own than with gn'r, leaving the band totally surprised by this attitude:
"We as a whole, definitely feel that we afforded Bucket every accommodation perhaps so much so that it may be that we or more precisely, I may have done Guns a disservice and unintentionally allowed Guns to be put in this position."

3) he intends to release CD asap.

i concur !

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20040330005283&newsLang=en

The letters not fake.

As I said in another thread....it sure sheds some light on Dizzy's "It's not Axl holding up the album" comments.  Wonder if he was referring to Bucket, as Axl implies in the letter?

I?d like to point out 2 things:

1. The letter is not fake. If you go to the website where it is posted, it indicates that it was delivered to them by Sanctuary.

2. Hasn't Buckethead left GNR a few times earlier? I would not put all the blame on Axl in this case.

BH seems to be an asshole. but Axl is the only artist who accuses him of being an asshole. Bh has worked with so many musicans who all had to say only the best about BH. and now all of a sudden he is the bad guy. i don't get it...i hate the world!

It also sheds some light on why Dizzy couldn't really give a straight answer, or both answers, on Buckethead being in or out of the band.  Buckethead was obviously in the process of flipflopping around during that time.

In January they thought he was out. In February, they thought he was back in, and more positive and excited than ever.  And again in March, they suppose he's out again, and will at least consider him gone, although there is a lot to iron out due to contracts.

Axl always said the best things about Buckethead too, up to this point.
Everyone else who's ever worked with Buckethead has only done small projects at a time with him.  Axl tried to work with him solidly for many years, and perhaps has seen all sides of the guy.

I'm not trying to say that BH is an asshole. I'm just trying to say, that maybe he has had his doubts whether or not he wants to be in GNR. I don't know the circumstances, but it could be many things. Maybe Bucket just doesn't want to deal with mass popularity? I can imagine the hunt by the press he would?ve have gotten in once CD would?ve been released. Every paparazzi would have wanted to get a picture of him without his mask, etc.

I don?t know, but maybe people just want different things. Maybe no one is an asshole.

a very goog last sentence. but if it turns out to be true then i can only say that BH is an asshole.

Can't say I won't miss Buckethead being in the band, but that letter really puts it into perspective.  I'd personally (though I know he'll probly never read this) like to thank Axl for letting us know what the fuck is going on... I do find what Axl is suggesting about Buckethead a little dubious, considering he's been an 'underground' guitarist in the past... but then again, he obviously changed his mind when he joined...

Oh well, I wish Axl all the best, if anything for the sake of all us fans dying to hear this new music... And if Buckethead's intentions were to exploit Gn'R then leave to promote himself... then I'd like to send a big "FUCK YOU" to buckethead.  :smoking:

But has Buckethead actually been in a band before, or just special guest where he comes in and does his thing and leave.  Not that much commitment, unlike what is needed in GN'R.

It all adds up. Bucket's been in and out since 2001. Bucket's releasing solo albums. Bucket gets ill and GNR cancells shows.

There was also one rumour a few years back about how Bucket only wanted to work "this" much and Axl agreed to that although a bit skeptic or something.

All in all..we have never heard of Robin's in and out, or if Brain's in or out. It's always Bucket.

Robin quit once and came back, that was it. It was always Bucket this and that.

This letter was so poignant that it made me cry.  I don't think I am going to go to the Buckethead concert in Chicago anymore.   :'(

you should go. and you should make clear that something's gone wrong...take a GNR sign with you, or scream something about GNR...

Yeah, you go and tell him exactly what thousands of fans feels.

That HE let us down in a crucial moment.

I'm waiting for the press release to appear on mtv.com.

I think it's Dizzy's fault!!!  :hihi:

Haha, I knew for sure it was going to be cancelled and that "the buckethead incident" was going to be the reason. That's easy.

I guess every one with common sense knows that...

When CD is released in 2014, who wants to book GUNS N' ROSES for a festival? WHO? a fool with no brains!!!

What a fucking joke!!! Hahaha... Shit, man!  :rant:

bucket is to blame on this one, axl released a letter and tried to explain things, but it makes sense when u think about it, bucket has released how many solo records while in gnr?

maybe he was so interested in his solo efforts he held shit back that couldve helped gnr but instead used it for his solo efforts instead

ive always said whenu are in a band u have to be 100 percent committed to that band, bucket obviously wasnt doing so many solo records  a year

ah what did i say all those weeks ago, no buckethead = no GN`R playing live = no RNR  : ok: ...and, no new songs to be played  :rant:

I`m thinking CD will come out and that will be that [no live shows what so ever].

first of all we really need to be glad to hear from axl at all(no sarcasim here!)

Honestly i am not surprised to hear this cancellation BUT i am surprised how it turned out into a "Buckethead this stupid motherfucker refused to work on the album"  kind of thing.
Certainly it is bucketheads fault too but come on people, just rewind a little in the history of GNR..the departure of the old band,axls fallouts,no shows and stuff.....?
To me it seems more realistic to assume te truth is somewhere in the middle.

By the way: Today i read in the german issue of "Rock Hard" that Gilby is no longer with heart and will not tour with them at all.As far as i concern i would like the idea..... :yes:

What that means is, they (GN`R) have to find a new guitarist to play BH`s parts.
They then need to record the new guitarist and mix in his (unless it`s a girl ;) ) sounds (thus removing any traces of BH. This also means BH won`t get a single penny/cent when CD is released!  :beer: )

...hey maybe i`m wrong. But i could just be right  : ok:

Regardless of anyone's opinions of me and what I may or may not deserve,

I found this statement particularly interesting. I wonder who he is referring to?

Also, you all should be thankful that at least we know, not that it will stop many of you from continuing to bitch and cry. But its always better to at least know.

My heart just isn't into it anymore, I really don't like crowds. I even found some Kermit the Frog bucket hats on Ebay that I was going to give him for being so nice to me in Vegas.  But I just don't want to go anymore.  I don't even care about the money i spent on the tickets.

Oh come on, you think Axl would wait for years for someone to work on an album?

Axl had better not go back and re-record bH's parts... we'll be waiting another 10 years for the album.

BH won't get any royalities (or very few) if he only played on the album and didn't write the songs. If he wrote songs he'll get money.

Axl had better not be so vindictive as to want to write new songs and just to spite bH. or else by that time someone else will get bored and quit, and the process will repeat.

Just release the fucker and get someone with more committement and personality.

ImO bh made the band look like a circus... I mean really the nunchuck's on stage, and the fucking chicken song, and starwars theme.... he was a total dork. a great player but no personality.

I'm glad he's gone

please go for all of us who cannot. try to state your opinion, i would but i am in germany, you see the problem

Why are you all so fuckin negative????? Apart from the show cancellation,this is great news!!(no,I'm not on crack)

Axl is alive,the GNR project is alive,he actually explained the situation to the fans and said that these events rushed the release of the album!!!

 ::)To Caliigula.  You don't think going is being disloyal to Axl?  What should i say?  Should i wear a Gnr shirt? Ihave a ROSE 8 shirt?  I have to think about it because i am going by myself and men tend to hassle me so i REALLY have to want to see something to go. I mean it took ALOT of courage for me to go see GNR in Vegas by myself, but my love for Axl was my inspiration.

I agree with you 100%.  Like you said, "just release the fucker"!!!!

I don't think anyone has noticed this, but the cancelation of Lisbon is a big deal.  According to Axl, a release date for the album is in a few months.  Well, Lisbon is also in a few months.  So it obviously was pretty crucial, cause it follows that we would have a release date by the date of the concert.  

To address the people saying that he should do it with a replacement guitarist, i put forward the following:

In the next couple of months, Guns 'N Roses has two choices.  
1)They can get a replacement guitarist for one show, spend months rehearsing and teaching this person the new parts.  This person might, or might not, join the band, depending on alot of things.  Ultimately though, the person is a compromise because they have such a short schedule.
2)The spend the time getting a good guitarist, then spend the time with that guitarist recording and learning the songs.  This person is in the band for good, and is chosen by the whole band properly, instead of making a choice due to the time frame.

And given that the band has had 3 guitarists for at least 4 years, it's not that unresonable to assume that the new songs require 3 guitars, and that he is going to be playing new songs.

/Ben

Without pointing any fingers, it's just a bummer that Buckethead is out because I enjoyed his part in the new GNR and liked his contributions.  It's nice Axl wrote the letter to the public and it sounds honest and truthful from his point of view.  And it makes me hopeful that Bucket's parts will stay on the CD at this point and won't cause a three year delay or something.  Who knows.  Life goes on in the meantime....

I think that there's a time question... Buckethead releases new Cds every minute, and Axl is the opposite, he works in every detail on Cds. Seems a little hard to work.

I think Bucket was proud to be in GN'R.  No one knew who he was until he joined up with Axl.  Maybe something will be worked out and everything will come at us at once like the 2002 tour.  I mean something positive HAS to come out of all this mess.

annie, it is not disloyal. you read the statement, Axl even thanked BH for his work.
you should go there and try to use every chance. yes, take a GNR t-shirt, expose it to BH during the concert or try to go backstage, mostly friends of BH are standing there, tell them what you feel. quite a lot of people got info that way.

I have decided to go. Iam going to try and get a chance to talk to him, I am a cute blonde so my chances are pretty good. Iam going to bring the Kermit bucket hats along with a note.  Is there anything in particular that you want me to say?

I think that the way Axl worded about Buckethead's plan that he heard about from others is crucial.
Axl did not say that he knew any of those things for fact himself... he said that it is what he was told by others who had spoken to Buckethead.

I think if I could say something to Brian Carroll it would be to tell him that we are very dissapointed by his actions and that if what people have been saying to Axl about him is a misunderstanding that he should speak up and get it straightened out.  If he has any respect or regard for the droves of GN'R fans that became Buckethead fans he should release a statement in response to Axl's.  

Tell him that the way things look now he is losing a lot of fans that believed in him and that if that matters to him he should say something about this situation....

Tell him that his webmaster's comments and Bill Laswells' comments... and his manager's comments have been very cold and unless thats how he wants his GN'R fans to remember him he should say something.

tell him (or whomever you get to speak there) that we - his fans, and i am not only a gnr fan, but also a BH fan- want to hear his side of the story. tell him Axls accusations are very hard and if he doesn't speak out we have to read his silence as Axl telling the truth. Bh is going to lose not just me as a fan if this turns out to be true. this is the main point.

rofl!!

Axl felt optomistic. 
A problem?
Not for me.
I prefer Axl remain optomistic.  : ok:

Is this already that long ago.

Time flies when you realize this album will never come out.

Why was this dead thread resurrected? To make us all realize how much time has went by with nothing? :crying:

well, I would rather have an old thread revisited rather than having a brand new thread made on an old topic.  Then everyone would jump down their throats and complain that they did not use the search button and this topic has been done 'thousands of times'.  I think its good that this thread was brought back.  Amazing how its been over a year and a half...

There were some interesting posts in this thread. The posts thinking there was already a replacent for BH and that the album was coming soon were hilarious! :D

regardless... i remain, as always, optomistic  :yes:

well said

yeah right, that was really well said...  :confused:

 :rofl:   don't worry erose... you are not the only one left  :confused: by that akward statement!

the time has flown for me because I HAVE  A LIFE which I been living since then, and continue to ;)

Just go with the Flow!!!

When they do play, we will play it up soo much it'll be like man walking on the moon!!!!  : ok:  :peace: