Here Today... Gone To Hell!

http://www.poptones.co.uk/news/2004/07/30/qodastbury.htm

What about Velvet Revolver?

I was asked to rehearsal. Was sent the tape. But you know what? I never felt it. So I turned it down. But there you go - they have probably sold about ten million records but there is no point in selling ten million records if you aren't enjoying it. I did play the completed record and there is a lot of craft, melody and it is a good record in that genre.

intresting.

Ian would have been pretty cool, but I think Scott worked alot better than Ian would have.

Agreed. 

I love Ian but Scott was/is the right man.  With Ian's recent collaboration with Trent Reznor, his Doors commitments and his next solo project in the works VR would have been more or less a side project. 

Beyond that, Scott's just a better fit, music wise as well as personality.

   

How old is Ian?

41, a few years younger than Matt, a few years older than Slash and Duff..

How old is Matt?

Ian is still pretty young, I thought he was much older

Matt's 43.

He's been a professional musician since he was 18, led a very interesting life for sure.

That said, as a frontman he's a bit of a pill to say the least.? He's always aspired to things more left of center and shunned whatever success has came his way.? He's still extremely bitter about the entire Perry Farrell/Lollapalooza thing and refuses to let it go.? He would? have brought the same type credibilty Weiland has brought to VR, but his temperment might not have fit so well with the guys at this point in his/their careers.? Weiland and he do share an affinity for provocative imagery lyrically and the checkered pasts to draw from but at this point in his musical life I just don't think Ian would have been in for the long haul with VR.? If/when he wants to do a rock band again, he and Billy Duffy will revisit The Cult.

Weiland on the other hand, seems to be ready to take VR as far as it'll go which is in all likelihood the best decision for all involved.

'And I finished working on some material with Trent Reznor. That is probably going to see the light of day in 2008 considering what a perfectionist Trent Reznor is.'

I liked this quote too.

What happened?

Astbury and legendary promoter Bill Graham put together a festival , "Gathering Of The Tribes" in 1990 which featured an eclectic vairiety ot acts including Queen Latifah, the Charlatans UK, Soundgarden, Iggy Pop, American Indian Dance Troop, Steve Jones and many types of social political groups DARE, Rock the Vote, The American Aids Foundation and a few others that escape my memory.

Anyway, not long after the two shows had been completed, Astbury and Graham were in the process of announcing this as an annual summer event with shows across America and the and Europe when Farrell all the sudden came up with the idea for Lollapalooza out of the wild blue yonder, announcing it to the world not long after, complete with corporate sposorship.? Astbury and Graham were incensed at Farrell, first of all for using their idea as a commercial entity and most importantly, never citing "Gathering Of The Tribes" in any way.? Though Astbury has made peace with Farrell since, it remains a sore subject to this day with him.

A little know fact concening GNR and "Gathering of The Tribes", Ian had a commitment from Axl Rose to appear with he and Steve Jones to perform the Jones song "I Did U No Wrong" (which Rose and Astbury had guested on Steve's solo record, "Fire and Gasoline") which was scrapped due to a scheduling? snafu with Axl a day or so before the first show.

"During the post-punk years neon hadn't been invented yet. Quick sex. Cheap drugs. Rain. Concrete. Raw. Travelling down the M1 in a van shivering in a blanket. It was a rite of passage."

I like his description - it feels tangible. real.  I didnt realize he'd been around for so long.



Has he considered reviving this Gathering of the Tribes now that Lollapalooza is dead?  Incidentally, he seems like the kind of guy who would join in on Springsteen's Vote for Change tour.  I could see The Doors 21C doing that.


ahh, you have the perfect word to describe Axl's way of life: Situation Normal, All Fucked Up....it describes him to a T  :hihi:

Unfortunately, "No" on the Gathering Of The Tribes question. his plate is extremely full with The Doors and his solo work.

As for he and The D21C doing the Vote For Change Tour, Astbury has never been a political sort, his interests have always been in the movement of popular culture and things in that vein.