Here Today... Gone To Hell!

I came out of lurking to share my theory and see if anyone agrees....

I was just listening the 16 seconds of "Checkmate" and it really does sound like Axl.  It really does...if it's not him, it's a DAMN good imitation.

And come on, admit...the song in the clip really does kind of suck.

It sounds like a lame, cheesy, early 80's metal song.

Maybe that's because it is??

Remember those "Rapidfire" demos from 1983 that never got released?

Songs like:

Ready To Rumble
All Night Long
The Prowler
On The Run

Don't those titles sound more along the lines of this song clip than any of the other leaks we've heard? 

Better and TWAT and CITR just plain ROCKED....really just awesome songs all around.

This little clip of "Checkmate" (a title that was NEVER rumored by ANY source to be on Chinese Democracy) is pretty weak musically and lyrically and melodically...it sounds like a band trying to make it on Sunset Strip fresh off the bus back in '83.

Somebody had the Rapidfire demos and didn't release them for 20 years for some reason or another...I think somebody still thinks they will make money off them.  But I think somebody was trying to trick us into thinking this is really from CD.

I really hope that my theory is correct, I REALLY do, cause this song is just weak by comparison and has no palce being released in 2006.  It sounds like "Europe" or "RATT" or something.

I have no proof, I have nothing to back any of this up.  Just a theory.  I sure hope I'm right though.

I think checkmate sounds pretty good, so far!!

.............................we have to wait and see!!

 ;D

I like it and its 15 secs. Just listen to the first 10 sec clip of CITR, that chorus doesnt indicate how the whole song is.
The song is not from 83, checkmate has axls new voice, its the same voice as in citr

Remember we had about the same amount of time from "My Favorite Pillow" to start, way back when.

And there were people who were SURE it was Axl.

I've heard Checkmate, I think it sounds like Axl for that brief clip, but wouldn't, at all, be shocked if it wasn't should the rest of the song come out.

I'm just saying......

I agree...listen to the Rose/Hollywood Rose demos - Axl's voice sounded completely different. Checkmate/Zodiac (that's what Jackamo says it is) - is definitely Democracy-era Axl.

I said that song was not axl and i was right. I am saying this is axl and I know i am right

i think RATT are cool

Not for nothing, dave....but that's not quite good enough for me.? That's not to say I don't respect your opinion....I do.? But everyone is wrong at times...and a broken clock is still right twice a day.

As I said, I THINK it sounds like Axl.? I wouldn't be willing to BET it is, though.? Of course, I wouldn't be willing to bet it's not, either.

What I'm saying is, without more of the song...or, miracle of miracles, more info from the band....there's no real way to be sure.? Just as there is no way to be completely sure that song lyrics we think are correct ARE, in fact, correct.  Or tabs from the new songs are, in fact, the way the songs are played.

All I'm saying is I wouldn't get TOO attached to the idea this is definitely Axl, and I certainly wouldn't start jumping to conclusions, or trying to figure out possibilities, based on that idea.

i wouldnt be surprised! it could possibly be!

the fact that all we still have after a month is the short clip, leads me to think that it is a fake ;)

I am still amazed people don't recognize Axl's voice when they hear it. It just blows my mind. I mean, wow!

As far as exactly how old "Checkmate" is, I am not sure. ?But I would say it is mid/late 90's, judging by the post-grung/punk rock chord progression.

Do we even know that Checkmate is the real name of the song? Anyone?

we know nothing other than that 16 seconds exists as a peice of music...there have been some pretty beleivable fakes over the years and i do think it sounds like Axl....but it's impossible to know if it's real or not....until someone proves it false or the whole song leaks  :-\

First of all, if you listen to the clip you know it's Axl singing. Second, for argument's sake, do people really believe that someone found an unknown and obscure band with that kind of production and a lead singer that sounds like Axl, cut 16 seconds from one of their songs and passed it off as GN'R? If so, fuck GN'R and Chinese Democracy, find me that band and I'll take that instead!

It's Axl. I mean, come on...

well IMO it is quite possible that somebody could sound like Axl for 16 seconds...there is actually a guy in a gnr coverband that im told sounds like him...and it's very shitty quality sound....I mean comeon how can you definitevely say that beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is him...I agree it does sound like him but.....chances are it's a fake

I've heard many singers trying to sound like Axl's raspy voice (even though they never were all convincing), but never his "normal" voice.

I say there is no chance that song does not feature Axl on lead vocals, so we can only agree to disagree.

i cant believe whoever released that 16 seconds hasnt released the rest - cmon dude give us the rest of the fuckin song and we'll settle this once and for all - imo the fact they havent suggests an axl or merck cease a desist order is in place which means its gnr chinese democracy material or somebody is very cleverly fuckin with us all.

come on!! dont call your self gnr fan if you cant recognize axls voice!!!! (thats for almost evrybody in this thread)

1)the guy who leaked the 16sec was probably caught by merck cuz of razz.
2)most of us already know "checkmate" isnt the real title of the song
3)ur theory sucks? :-\ IMO

edit: "imsorry's" version of checkmate (http://www.sendmefile.com/00396192)
its tight. its the same leak tho, haha.
this is so gonna be a kickass song  :drool: :drool: :drool:

that's not Axl

Some people are going to say, 'It doesn't sound like Axl Rose, it doesn't sound like Guns n' Roses.'"

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9155514/axl_rose_breaks_his_silence
 ;)

First off, you don't KNOW anything. Your OPINION is it sounds like Axl.  I share that opinion, by the way.

Second, other people have done just that in the past: found obscure bands (Ghost Town Road) and cut a piece of the song that sounds like Axl (My Favorite Pillow).  And that's just one of a whole slew of examples.

As I said, I think it sounds like Axl, too.  That's not the issue.  But sounding like Axl and it being PROVEN to be Axl are vastly different.  And barring a much larger piece than 16 seconds, that can be more completely evaluated, or word from the band itself.....I'm just not willing to BET it's Axl.  There's just not enough there to be completely 100% sure.

Oh, and to the person who asked: No, we don't know if the song is really called checkmate.  Someone suggested it might be Zodiac..not sure where that came from exactly.

Once again, people are not understanding:

It's not that I, and others posting here, don't think it sounds like Axl.? It does.

What we're saying is, given past history, we're not willing to say FOR SURE it's Axl.? There have been enough convincing or compelling fakes out there in the past to leave some serious doubt, no matter how much it sounds like Axl.

jackamo @ mygnr. hes full of shit.

It's bloody catchy, that much is forsure! ;D

If it really is a Gn'R song, I cant wait to hear more...

Seems like a straight ahead, kick ass, meat & potatoes rocker which will fit in nicely amongst the other 12 tracks on Chinese Democracy... : ok:

I'd like to hear the song.  ;)

No, you would have to judge the situation based on the alleged GN'R track at hand. "Checkmate" is obviously Axl singing. I'm not gonna sit here and say that it's possible it's not Axl just because some half-assed attempts were made in the past to pass some other band off as GN'R. I've been listening to Guns N' Roses for 18 years. I know it's Axl because I know the man's voice.

Do people really think Axl's voice is that generic that it can be emulated with such ease?

well it definetely aint no cover band, i can tell you that.

can someone pm me or email me the 15 sec clip? i havent heard it yet

I've been a fan since '87, so lets not get in a pissing match about longevity, eh?

It's 16 seconds of music.  Judging the situation/track based on ONLY that 16 seconds, I'd say it's not enough proof.  It sounds like Axl, yes.  We've heard other "fakes" that sound like Axl, and usually they take on the same form (a very short clip).  It's not "obviously Axl singing".  It's your OPINION it's him singing.  Do you have proof to the contrary? It MIGHT be Axl.  It MIGHT NOT.  So far, there's not enough compelling evidence to say for sure, one way or the other.  I THINK it sounds like him, too.  But, all things considered (the short duration of the clip and the manner in which it became available), it's not a definite.

I've heard people emulate his voice to the point of fooling others (many others, actually), especially in very short duration snippets like this one.  So have many, many other posters here on the boards.  Ease of doing so isn't the point.  Only that it can be done.

THAT is without a doubt Axl.  He's singing in a key different than his norm no doubt. 

Remember that girl in that band (sorry i forget) that Axl was talking to in LA right around the time he started hitting parties and clubs??  The blond??  Anyway she stated that Axl told her that he was going to be getting away from the screetching style singing.

C'mon people, if that was from an existing band other than GNR they would be beyond well known.

I say we wager on this debate.  Somethin small.  I'll bet you, pilferk, a beer.........no, 2 beers, that that IS AXL!!!

Loser pays up when GNR hits the states in the fall.  I'm in Philly but will be traveling to multiple shows in the tri-state area that surrounds me so the loser would end up being able to pay up.

Friendly wager  : ok:

 :beer:

P.S.  AND if that is not Axl, then I want to know who the hell that is because that clip as ABSOLUTELY OFF THE HOOK FUCKING INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed. You people need to chillax.. Yeah it SOUNDS like Axl but I've heard tons of decent fakes over the years. Axl's voice isn't "so0o0o insane" that something cant sound simular. Especally when even if it IS a little bit different, people back up the difference with quotes about how Axl's voice is gonna sound different on the record. If you really wanna believe that its Axl thats fine, but don't go acting like Checkmate is 100% legit and that were idiots for not agreeing.

We'll see when the records out but for now some people need to stop getting their hopes up.

You have such a defensive stance. I never intended for my statement about having listened to GN'R for 18 years as my stake in a "pissing match about longevity", it was merely intended as a merit to my judgment on the matter. So please refrain from kindergarten-esque retorts like that and we'll continue to have a civil discussion.

Again, we seem to be running around in circles, repeating our arguments here, but even so, you are giving me all the so called proof that I need in your own posts. You say you yourself are an avid GN'R fan, and you claim other fake GN'R songs in the past have fooled many other fans, implying you were not one of them (your own words). So wouldn't that be a testament to the fact that since you believe it's Axl this time around and that all the other songs in the past were fakes but never fooled you, it actually is Axl singing?

Denny Crane.

hmmmm.. ok, this leak didnt just pop up anywhere like the fakes, Razz leaked it, the sameguy who had '99 twat and '99 irs, therefore i really do think its legit, and i wouldnt have put it up on youtube if this didnt come from Razzle dazzle.. but seriously this song sounds way more different than any fake songs we've heard. and try typing in the lyrics on yahoo, u wont find anything it's obviously unreleased. its either gnr or some new band..... that... sounds... like... mickey mouse voice axl? :nervous:

The begining guitar sounds like new GNR Robin or Bucket... the lyrics sound like "Axl" lyrics down to the words.... Sounds like Axl's voice from the leaked demos... I'd say the song is legit.