Here Today... Gone To Hell!

GH's moved up to #14 on the USA Billboards with 44K units sold. This album has to be pushing 1million units on soundscan by now. Would not be suprised if RIAA ships out another million units by the end of June and then certify it double platinum.

I think VR is going to have to debut in the top 20 to outsell the GH. I bought it yesterday at the record store. It was funny to talk to the girl at the register. She said when it came in that nobody knew who the hell this was. They sent in as many copies as Avril's CD. It was like a big band, but nobody knew who it was. I told her about the GN'R members and she said "o' cool". It is going to be interesting how this does.

-5th

"According to Hits Daily Double, early midday (Tuesday) reports from retail have VELVET REVOLVER's "Contraband" exceeding expectations and debuting at No. 1 on next week's The Billboard 200 chart. Reorders from the majors have reportedly been pouring in all day, with the album slated to easily top 200,000 copies."

I think its safe to say itll debut in the top 20...

I thought we should not be comparing VR and Gnr on either board?

It will definitely be in the top 20 but I don't know about the # 1 spot. I'm kinda familiar with what 5th posted because every time I have called my record store regarding VR's released date, I have had the same reaction than the girl at the register 5th was talking about. No fucking clue who VR was. Living in Spain I thought I don't expect people to know who VR is - hence I never rely VR success expectations based on my compatriots knowledge, but it really does surprise me that an employee of a record store in the US doesnt know who VR is.

We'll see how it turns out. Just for the hell of it, I'll say VR will finish the week at #2.

I don't give a fuck if we compare the two as long as it doesn't go to bashing either one, or other members.

And yeah, I think there's a pretty good chance that VR will not be outsold by GH..

If Contraband outsells GH I'll eat my boxers with mustard on

You do realise they only mean this week? Be careful with those boxer shorts, it will probably outsell it this week, but not overall.

@#$%Muther

I don't know.  Not everyone knows the name Velvet Revolver but EVERYONE knows who Gun's N' Roses is.  I would say greatest hits sells more.

I'm sure,velvet revolver album won't sell more than 20k copies in first week.
who can compare guns n roses "greatest hits" and Velvet Revolver "Contraband"
contrband will buy only huge and hardcore gnr and stp fans.

I think it will outsell the GH but either way, Slash/Duff are in for a good week because they're making money on both :beer:.

Are they?  I thought Axl owned the name.  Am I wrong?  And I thought GH was released 'cause G'n'R owed Geffen an album.  Do any of the orig members get revinue? I didn't buy it because it wasn't an Axl approved album (And I already have all the songs anyway)

no way,contraband won't outsell new aerosmithalbum which sold in 15000 copies in 6 weeks

one question:"in how many copies snakepit or loaded have sold htheir albums"?????

Yeah, they and Axl will still make money on all old GNR stuff released. They'll get a certain amount of royalties for each album sold. Even though the cd is not "Axl Approved" he still makes money. Same goes for Slash and Duff, they all own the songs together: the 3 of them. Thats why the GNR back catalog is so good for them, they are in another band and will continue to profit off the GNR back catalog. If and when Axl releases CD, a renewed spike of interest in the GNR back catalog will once again put more money in the guys pockets, which I am sure they won't mind.

I dont exist for Axl to make money though. I support the band and anything they endorse. They didn't endorse GH. I don't buy.


If that is the case then Izzy and Steven should get royalties too. I'm pretty sure the name on the song credits of AFD is Guns N' Roses not individual names. Besides I was under the impression that Izzy and Axl were the main song writers of G'n'R before he left.

steven and Izzy get royalties as well, its that the 3 others are in charge of making all decisions related to the GNR back catalog. Izzy and Adler are not involved in that decision making process.

I bought my copy yesterday evening at a Target on my way home from work. When I was wandering through the music section looking for it, I became somewhat confused because I was expecting to see about a million copies of it everywhere on kiosks and whatnot, but couldn?t spot it anywhere. So then I figured maybe it was a smaller release than I expected, and just went to the ?V? section. No dice. Wasn?t there.

So finally I went to the clerk and explained what I was looking for, and he sighed and said he?d just restocked it, and had been restocking it all day. Then he went to the ?back room? (I love the mysterious ?back room? in stores ... I imagine it to be filled with wonderous goodies, like Santa?s workshop), came out with a box of what appeared to be about 50 more copies, handed me one, and began restocking an empty kiosk that I assume had been home to several hundred copies throughout the day. He said he was getting tired of restocking this album.

Anyway, I suppose everyone is having a different buying experience, but I?m not entirely sure what the sales of the album have to do with its quality (does N?Sync?s outstanding sales make the ?band?s? music good? If G n? R?s Greatest Hits sold poorly, would that make the music it contained worse? I could be wrong, but I don?t think so). I think it?s safe to say, though, that the album will sell very well. Several million over the next several months.

You insecure Axl freaks who are just aching for Contraband to sell like shit (as if that will make Chinese Democracy come out faster or better, or as if that would somehow validate Axl?s neurotic behavior when dealing with former bandmates) need not worry: I think it?s safe to say that Contraband will not come close to matching Appetite?s sales, or even those of either Illusion album. And it shouldn?t. It?s a great album, but few could reasonably argue it?s even in the same realm of those three classics. Plus, the studio music industry is dying, or at least morphing into something completely different, making sales comparisons between any album that comes out today with one released five or more years ago a dubious exercise.

As a side note, I really wish people weren?t so sensitive around here. How nice would it be to have a discussion that went like this:

Me: ?That Contraband, what a cool album! It?s no Appetite, but I like it.?

You: ?I agree. How much better is driving down the expressway with a blasting stereo now that I have TWO bands to like. Aren?t those people who feel the need to ally themselves to one band primairly by ranting mindlessly about how much the other band ?suks? a silly bunch? Boy, not getting emotional and parochial about the business decisions of perfect strangers really opens the door to a lot of good music out there.?

I know. I?m daydreaming.

I'm with you 100% gnrgoblue : ok:

That contraband is a good album.
And I like G'n'R too! wow ???
and I like Nirvana as well, oh shit! ;D
and Foo Fighters :-\
and Metallica  :no:
And Poison :nervous:

and others. Listening to strictly one band would drive me nuts.
I love G'n'R and all but there is so many more great bands out there.  :beer:

Yea, good post blue. What I'm finding amusing is how some of these Axl people somehow consider GH sales vs Contraband sales as some sort of "competition" between Axl & VR - as if GH is somehow Axl's solo project.

who gives a shit really?? im not getting rich off the shit...

no they are not... only Axl is... thats why they are suing him... Axl owns GnR...the record label owns the back catalog...



neither are slash or duff....

That was what I thought as well. Didn't Axl threaten to quit if they did not sign over the G'n'R name to him or something along those lines? So then when Everyone quit everything still belonged to Axl and he could do as he damn well pleased? (Just a question, not meant to be a slam)

I thought we should not be pulling rules out of our ass on either board?   ???

that's not correct. Slash, Duff and Axl are in charge of the back catalog, but Axl has been making decisions on what do do with it without Slash and Duff, and THAT'S why they are suing Axl!

Wasn't Axl thinking about re-releasing AFD with the new band?

If so, maybe then, since none of the orig members were playing on the album, they would receive no more royalties, then Slash and Duff say that Axl does not have the music in his best interests or whatever their reason was for suing him? Could that be the case?

they dont have too much control over the back catalog since we have the GH cd....

if axl wants the Guns n Roses name used on soundtracks thats his decision... he owns Guns n Roses, and has the final say on what CD's will have the Guns n Roses name on it...


The back catalog songs are owned by Geffen....

thats the way i see it... but what do i know....  :P

Contraband should outsell GH with no problems, but who know what will happen...

Not to be an asshole but how the fuck can you make a statement like:


and then say:


As far as I can see, you're the only person on this thread to do any bashing/bullshit talking.

What's wrong discussing whether GH or VR will sell more. I find it very interesting. I, and everyone else who has posted on this thread haven't mentioned anything about how we want VR to sell less, or how it means anything.

@#$%Muther

That is pretty funny. Here we are talking about these bands (GNR & VR) like they are the be-all and end-all, and most kids have no thoughts about them either way. As such they will be objective buyers: If one of the Contraband ballads catches fire on radio or MTV, a la Hoobastank, lotsa kids will buy the album and find out all about GNR etc. If a third single does the same thing they'll be counting sales in the millions. It could even end up helping Axl if he ever bothers to release his album.

As for the question about Contra vs. GH, it's not entirely a fair fight on both sides. On the one side you have the whole GNR legend and those pre-digested songs helping matters along -- almost 20 years of history and legend.

On the other you have a label pouring tons of cash into promoting Contraband, singles, a tour, newspaper articles, etc. In the end of the year I think VR will have the sales edge, because they can put out another single and video and start selling all over.  

I'm pretty sure that Contraband will outsell GH.  It's all NEW music.  Greatest Hits don't usually sell well...or that's what I thought.  Especially since there aren't any new tracks.  But, maybe VR will boost the number of GH sold.  You know, new kids getting into Slash, Duff, and even Matt might want to check out some of their previous efforts.  Same goes for a renewed interest in Scott causing new interest in STP.  

I think it's pretty obvious that Contraband will outsell Guns N' Roses greatest Hits.Like sukie said it may help boost sale of GH collection from both STP and GN'R.I think it may boost sales of AFD,UYI 1&2,core Purple and NO.4