Here Today... Gone To Hell!

okay i got this reply from Ron on myspace:

<< Do you have to re-record the guitar parts on Chinese Democracy or have you already done it?

Haven't done it, probably won't be on the album - joined the band too late :(

bbf

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he just means hes not going to be on the album, this doesn't necessarily mean that hes leaving the band.

Yeah he said this a while back too.

It's too bad that he won't be on CD, as I think Ron will have a great impact on future GnR recordings. ?In the meantime, if no Ron on CD means that it comes out sooner rather than later, I'm just fine with that.

I think Ron is going to have a Gilby type GnR career. He may play on some songs that have already been written but I don't think he'll ever write songs with the band. I think Axl will release the 3 albums he's been working on, over the next five or six years, and then retire from the music industry.

Ron will leave the band after the Chinses democracy tour.
He is just here to play the Buckethead's parts on the tour.

sad but true.

Thank God, Bucketheads parts need to stay...............he was with the band during the whole time all the demos were being made, so he deserves to be on that album.

If Axl chooses to do another album I'd have no problem with Ron contributing musically though, he's a cool and talented guy.

really, who's the sad one? the guitar player playing with GNR right now, or the guy who THINKS he knows?

but i am glad BH part stays... but i hope bumble rerecords the next album(s)

If only Ron could play Buckets parts!!!

I'm not surprised that he doesn't play on CD, but I really hope he will stay in the band.

Ron said during the NYC shows, that he wont be on CD, I like Ron, I think he is a great fit for GNR, but IMO i dont see him as a long term member

i dont really care about it you know ...  ;)

it's just sad to see that BBF is just a guitar replacement for BH ...

That's also the feeling I have... but you know, I think first the band planned to play with 2 guitar players I mean... they rehearsed for a long time with just Rich and Rob you know... Richard should have taken the lead with Robin...not illogical if they returned to 2 players. just a return to normality.
No disrespect to Bumblefoot, he is a great guy and a great player, but as Buckethead (altough Bumblefoot is a million times better than the robot), a pure technical shredder is not what GNR needs.

Where were you in 2001?


And I do hope Bucket's parts stay.



Not much sense in
 
- cancelling RIR4 because of the resignation of guitar player #3
- making the material playable w/ two guitar players
- hiring a new guitar player #3 a week before touring
- reverting back to two players after the tour

i think BBF deserves to stay, hes an amazing player plus could anyone else keep on playing shows after your father has had a heart attack? i highly doubt it

I think BBF seems like a really nice guy....but... what if Izzy were to re-join, BBF goes and Richard gets bumped up to joint lead?! Unlikely, but interesting...

how about someone just ask him on his myspace or email if he plans to stay with the band past the current tour

Maybe Bucket won't be on CD either.

That would be the greatest dream ever? ;D
But unfortunately, he will be on the record because he was paid alot of money. Money can buy everything, even GN'R soul and honor. That's a deshonor for the GNR legacy to see BH on CD, but contracts, money and everything "business" is apparently more important than anything nowadays...

Maybe he was already paid for all he did in GNR and it was worked out that he would not be on the album.  :-\

Business is a HUGE factor in the "GNR camp" and has been for a long time now.

Regardless of Buckethead, someone saying they arrived too late to contribute to CD is music  to my ears.

With money, you can buy a bunch of "professional musicians" as you buy a bunch of prostitutes...
I just hope this band is way more than "just Business". If not, it would be sad, realy sad. But I believe they are here mostly for the love of music and because they enjoy to play with each other. After all, some of them are in the band for so many years that GNR has become a part of their life.
They have worked hard to be there. It's an achievement.?Plus, they are friends. I believe it's sincere. You can't lie to yourself and lie to the fans for over a decade. It's impossible.

I don't understand your hatred of all that is Buckethead. The quirky bits and bridges make it all the better if you ask me, kind of a jazz feel to it. This is the sort of thing that will make CD really stand out, make you want to listen to it again and again, like Pittman's sound effects

No its not, if it was, they wouldn't have spent 13 million on the album, or paid for equipment they never used, or just generally being so careless with money. Plus, they would have released the album years ago.

Sure you can. Some would point out Kiss as an example of lying to yoursef and your fans for the past 25 years...

Just because you think these were examples of bad moves dosn't mean it's not business.

Bad business is business too.

remember kids, 4tus said that ron would be on CD : ok:

maybe the second album, but ron said that he wont be on this album

Multiple versions of the songs were recorded. I wouldnt' be surprised if pre-Bucket pieces  are brought back and  re-inserted. I think Bucket's appearence on the album will be limited.

agree 110%

have you heard rons new part on IRS in the manchester vid....after the finger-tapping...he hits some crazy shit i've never heard before...it totally takes the song to the next level...i want that on cd soooooooo bad

hopefully Buckethead 's parts were re-recorded .
I don't like the guy and more important i can't relate to his stlye of playing

Ron could have easily reecorded some guitar parts while being on tour in europe and they just need to "puzzle kachussle da fizzle zizzle" the parts into the exicting songs????? a possibility?
We all learned that whatever comes out of the mouth of a GNR member doesn't necessarily need to be the real deal.
Guess we learned that in the pasr  :hihi:

I've been severly underwhelmed by Ron Thal. Not that he's a bad player, but he's got chops, but I dunno...there just doesn't seem to be much personality in his playing. When you hear the demos and Buckethead takes a solo there is something sort of electric about it. When Ron takes Bucket's parts live they just don't excite me at all.

Not to mention...when did you ever think GnR would have a guy named Ron in it?  :hihi: Ron is the name of the guy who changed the oil in my car last week. I've never had my car worked on by a guy named Axl (ironically enough).

(PS: that was a joke before anyone gets their panties in a bunch).

Ron has impressed me on the two occasions I have managed to see gnr in the UK and I hope he does remain with the band. I never liked BH so I was not sad to see him go.

Its funny how once upon a time GNR was a band where everyone had a gimmicky stage name except the drummer.

Now everyone but the drummer has a normal name (and Axl of course).

totally agree!

ron should play on the album, but I understand that that will be difficult since he joined so late on. I don't whant bh on the cd cause he's not fucking gnr!

WTF????izzy no no silly!!

According to Axl, Buckethea'd really just wanted to secure his own record deal w/ Sanctuary.  I read that as he used Axl and GNR.  Therefore I don't care to ever see nor hear Bucket again.  Behind that mask was a very selfish man.

Well, considering that Shawn Lane is dead, there probably aren't many people who could approximate Buckethead's techniques more closely than Ron Thal. He has the crazy picking chops, and the 8 fingered tapping licks. Some people act like Ron is some new guy to the biz, but guitar players have been talking about him for years because he's a technical freak of nature. Nobody in the guitar player forums I frequent could believe that Axl got him to be in the band.

there's no Ron Thal in the album,but Bumblefoot.I don't see Saul Hudson in any GNR album's.
sometimes your nickname become more popular than your real name.except for the Steven 'popcorn' Adler.

I prefer to wait 6 more month with Ron on CD or Richard re-recording the BH parts than hearing Buckethead on Chinese Democracy. Buckethead doesn't deserve the glory to be on this record. Neither the glory, nor the royalties.?He left the band = he must be left from the record as well.
That would be 100% logical.

Having Ron re-record Bucketheads parts is such a little bitch move it disrespects all of us. If Buckethead created something that helped make this album rise where few have...and made his mark in the creation of these pieces, then his work needs to stay. Having Ron try to copy Bucket and re-record is no better then the new band playing the old bands work. Its just never going to be as cool then them performing there own music that they created as a band.

Buckethead better not be recorded over from BBF. No disrespect to him.

I just want something clarified. Who does the big final solo in TWAT?

You should probably re-read my post a bit closer.

Why? He still contributed to the process. I would say that the band also doesn't deserve to be out for the second time in 4 years playing the same 20 year old material they didn't write while what is supposedly the greatest album in rock history (that they did write) sits in a studio somewhere waiting to be finished. I don't blame Buckethead one bit for saying 'fuck all this waiting around, see you guys later'. He probably contributed some really great, groundbreaking playing to that album, and who wouldn't be a little discouraged by putting hard work into something that sat on a shelf for years and years?

But what the fuck do I know. According to the word of Axl Buckethead = bad man who leave group high and dry. And anything out of Axl's mouth is the fucking gospel around here, and everyone else is just out to screw him. Two sides to every story people...

What amazes me are the douche fans who are ok with settling for second best. GNR has always been about the musicianship. That is what rose GNR beyond the glam crap scene. They were some of the most talented motherfuckers musically. Slash was second to no man. Slash gone

Did Axl dare replace Slash with just anyone? Fuck no! He sought out Buckethead for obvious fucking reasons. He saw the mans gifts. Anyone with a fucking clue understood what Axl did. Replacing Slash with the Bucket was a smart man decision. I shudder to think what would have happened if Axl introduced to the music fans and critics of the world had Ron been the man. Ron is alright. In fact he is a damn good player. But he isn't the top of his class. One on one he would be humilated if facing off against Buckethead.

Buckethead gave musical credibility to GNR that Ron could never do. There are a lot of great guitarists. But Ron is not a guitar god. Buckethead is in the top of his field. He plays anything Slash could...emoting just as much emotion....and he makes it look really easy. This was posted in the GNR on youtube. Close you fucking eyes if that helps. Does Ron... or any other great guitarist really have a chance at the title.

Buckethead - Nottingham Lace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYxrdrzmuUw

Buckethead is at the level of a Satriani talent wise. Please, feel free to argue. But recognize the talent first.

and Dizzy...and Bumblefoot ;D

I spose that goes for Duff, Slash, Izzy, Steven and Matt with their royalties?
or doesn't it count with people you like? ::)

First off, Satriani isn't in Buckethead or Thal's class, so let's get that out of the way - take some Van Halen, Billy Gibbons, and Holdsworth and you've got Satriani. Second, if you aren't familiar with Thal's work pre-gnr, I wouldn't recommend speaking too soon about whether or not he can measure up to Bucket - he can. Last, if you aren't a very proficient guitar player(which you may be - I don't know), I doubt you'd be qualified to judge between 2 players of that caliber. I'm a relatively experienced player of 20 years, and I wouldn't give the nod to either of them in a showdown.

Thinking about it...I think Vai is vastly better then Satriani....and I think I should have aligned Bucket more with Vai then Satriani. But don't undermine the greatness of Satriani...that dude is a moster on guitar. So you gonna argue about Vai being the topdog? I would easily put Vai ahead of Satriani and personally think Eddie van halen is overrated. Bucket easily kicks Eddie in the balls and thinking about it, is better then Satriani. But nothing I have heard/seen from Ron maeks the pedestal you are putting him one seem justifiable. He is no Bucket and is certaintly no Vai. And in a one on one...I am not convinced he could best Satriani. That is some bold words from you brother. Bucket though I think can actually hang with Vai comfortably.

Vai is the man dude...but I look forward to your response.

do they even get anything off the GNR name anymore? SInce axl owns most all of the rights? I'm pretty sure they dont. Anyways yea ron now seems like a gilby type thing and that's not so good. If BH thought it was best for him to leave , that also meant his tracks. But then again this is an izzy/gilby type of thing. Izzy left the band before the tour or at the start of the UYI , BH left before the 06' tour....Gilby did'nt re-record anything , so why are we being so hard on mr.head? :rofl:

Gilby did record parts for Sympathy For The Devil but Axl didnt want to use his parts, Hence why he left

I thought he said that at some point the paychecks just stopped coming, and he took it as a hint that he was no longer in the band... Could remember wrong and it was some other member of the band... I'm never good with this type of small info.

its one or the other lol

Of course they do, they still get royalites for any recorded materials put out under the GnR name that they either wrote or performed on. The longer you talk the stupider this conversation gets.

Unfortunately for Axl and for us, it seems that Slash was replaced by Robin Finck, not by Buckethead.

As a guitarist of 15 years I can say without a doubt in my mind that Thal is not Buckethead, Satriani or Vai caliber. I hear Buckethead, Satriani or Vai and I can know who is playing. Thal is like Vinnie Moore or Michaelangelo Batio or any other dime a dozen shred guy. Tons of chops, impressive as hell, but they don't have the personality. My opinion totally, but if we're using our experience as guitarists as a qualifier I think I'm just as qualified as you to talk.

Yes it was Finck that replaced Slash NOT Buckethead, Finck joined in 1997 and Buckethead joined in 2000.

In my opinion, Buckethead was not a replacement, but an addition. Finck and Fortus bothfilled someone else's shoes, while Buckethead seems, from what little we have heard, to have been hired for the new material more than the old. Just my opinion though.

the other day i saw the video for bh's nottingham lace, which was an absolute awesome song, imagine if that was a gnr song, big sur moon was another great song.   I dont really care for BH as a gnr member, and i hope he doesnt come back, but i do hope his parts stay, then after that start with ron on the next cd

yea i agree with that

Good!

The guys awful. The less of him the better

^^ have you even seen him play or listened to his pre-GNR stuff???

I've heard that "Normal" song by Ron and it fucking sucks ass. I hate Ron Thal's playing and I hope Axl fires his ass. Bucket was the man and they best get him back. I wish somebody would start a petition to fire Ron. I hate Ron's playing so fucking much. He is useless, as he can't even play Buckets parts live. Axl could move Ron to a different role as fan club president. Ron would be a good liason between the band and the fans, since he enjoys answering e-mails so much.

Well, everyone is qualified to talk about it, and we're simply discussing opinions. You don't have to be a kickass guitar player, but it helps. ?: ok:

Buddha Master, as far as chops go, Buckethead is way ahead of even Vai. Vai is definitely a more technical player than Satriani, but neither of them have the picking or tapping chops of Buckethead, although I'm not positive that he has the same amount of personality in his playing. Off-topic for a sec, on the subject of Van Halen, he may be overrated by today's standards, but he is the one that set the stage for this level of technique in rock guitar playing. I'm sure most players give him credit, even if they aren't fans.

As for whoever was saying that Thal is just like Vinnie Moore or Michael Angelo, first of all those 2 guys are nothing alike. Batio is absurdly fast, and probably in the top 3 for speed and accuracy. Having said that, I don't like the guy's playing much - serious lack of melody. Vinnie Moore is a great player, very Dimeola influenced, and much more fusion-y than Batio. Thal doesn't sound anything like either of them - he definitely has shred-level chops, but doesn't seem to be a neoclassical guy from what I've heard. He has a lot of weird noises and sonic effects up his sleeve - much more than what he has done at the gnr shows. He's actually a quirkier player than Buckethead, in my opinion, who tends to be more of a straight up shredder when he's not playing with Bootsy. He'd be dull if he didn't have all those tone-rows tapping licks, which are admittedly, pretty mind-blowing.

Aw gee Izzy and matta.  :confused: Come on, he's not awful at all. Just that BH's shoe is too huge and inimitable to fill for any guitarist.

Seriously. Do either of you have an objective basis for your opinions, or are you just stirring things up? If you're not knowledgeable about the subject, I'd suggest not responding to the thread.

Where did u think i got those opinions from?

I was just stunned by his abysmal playing when i saw GNR - i'm off to see them in a few days to have another look

The guy butchered the songs and his solos would be effective interrogation techniques

Does the guy understand words like 'melody', 'soulful', 'catchy'?

That bumble bee guitar and his attempt to play it left me wondering just where Axl had found him - and how desperate Axl must have been at that stage

Bring back Buckethead - he didn't understand melody either but atleast he could play the songs!

Still - cresit where credits due, Ron's solo in November Rain wasn't as bad as Finck's.....

im sorry to disapoint you... but Ron as soul and he cares about his fans.

I see - you're one of those. Yeah, Ron Thal can't play Guns songs - because, you know - they're sooo difficult to pull off. They're my favorite band, but it isn't exactly Dream Theatre(I'm happy to say).

I think it would make a great bonus track to have his live "Don't Cry" solo from this tour on Chinese Democracy. ?It would sound great with everyone singing in the background.

Please, no. Let's forget the old songs : this is NewGnr ! : ok:

I don't see why some of the people on here say we can't comment on Ron's playing if we don't play guitar. We all have ears or we wouldn't be GnR fans, so I think that qualifies us right there. I've heard and seen both Bucket and Ron in person. Ron just doesn't have the speed, precision, and melody that Bucket has. Ron can't pull off Buckets parts live, which is painfully obvious. Ron lacks charisma. It's obvious to me that a lot of people on here love Ron because he answers their e-mails. I think Axl should make Ron a fan liason between the band and the fans, and hire Bucket back to play the shows. Ron's true talent is answering e-mails and talking to fans, where as Buckets true talent is playing his guitar on stage. ?

Of course I do.
Seriously, a person with an objective view should know music is subjective.
And basically, who are you to tell us not to post our opinions?

Wow, your way of judging an artist is awesome! ?: ok: Let's make the whole world listen to My World and judge GNR by that song only. ?:D


Great idea... And Fortus would be vice ?;)



In or out of GNR, that dude kicks ass!

Surely you should know speed isnt everything... feeling, soul, passion, the love of playing for the fans. Yes i know we cant see behind buckets mask... but he had fuck all stage presence.

... TWAT?

Ron is an excellent guitarist, the whole answering emails thing is just an added bonus... he makes the fans feel appreciated, as does Richard.

My world is my fav on UYI 2.  :smoking:

Richard answers e-mails, but he also rips on guitar, and has a ton of stage presence. I dig the whole band except Bumble.

Oh... I thought your issue was with the whole answering emails thing....... I'm guessing you haven't seen the new band live yet and watched one clip from a show only? That's the only reasonable answer. You obviously don't know any of Ron's work in and out of the band.

I understand what you're saying but, BH left the band on his own account. I don't think there's anyone who can sub for him better than BF. And I don't want Richard to be like someone else. I'm thankful to BF for that.

I saw the new band opening night at The Hammerstein. I flew all the way from Victoria B.C. to see the band. I also saw the band in 2002 in Tacoma. I think i'm qualified to speak as I was up front at both the Tacoma and Hammerstein shows. Have you seen GnR yet?

 ? Your a idiot ROn kicks ass and GnR don't need a circus  freak like bucket around to sell tickets buckethead is gone thank god and won't be back hopefully ever.

You know, these Ron topics are fast becoming dead horse material, why not get back on topic?

Yeah Mattattack.. have you even been to a show? Jezzzz..

Yes, sir, I have. And I'm also into his solo work, so I am more qualified than you are to speak about Bumblefoot.

You saw his first gig! Or one of them... Whatever, you can't judge him by one of his first shows.

I saw the first gig on may 12th. I was right up fron booing when he brought out the foot guitar for his lame ass solo. I've watched tons of clips of his playing from shows since then and he doesn't impress me.

Okay, you're not a fan; moving on.

I said music is subjective but have you heard the leeks and still saying these? Or are you just after certain images and not the music?

Who is the idiot when you're waiting for a cd with Bh's contribution?

Right! That explains everything. You saw his first gig! He was probably nervous as fuck and still he was great... Not many guitarists out there would've done better.

Ron wasn't great at the show I went to. His solo spot was god awful, he fucked up the solo on November Rain, and he had zero stage presence. The main thing for me is Ron can't play Buckets parts live. Even though I don't like Rons look, image, lack of charisma, and foot guitar, I would not be complaining if he could at least pull Bucket's parts off live. 

Mattattack, he hadn't known he was subbing for BH till a week previous to that. 

I understand that. The tours been going for over 3 months at this point and he still can't play Buckets parts live. Bumble is just another Gilby, and is expendable. I don't believe Ron will ever write and record with this band and I think he'll be gone by the end of this tour. I haven't read any reviews of this tour that have mentioned how great Bumble has been. In 2002 there was plenty of reviews praising Bucket. Bumble is a total downgrade and it bums me out that this guy was ever hired to begin with.

The question is no to play the Buckethead's parts... Richard can do it easily... the problem is to know when Richard or Robin will re-write completely his awfull shred solos. The one on IRS is terrible. Buckethead completely ruined the song. His solo is too fast. a usually...

Guns N' Roses is about the Rock, the Roll, the Bluesy element and the feeling, it's not about a pointless shredder who looks like an Alien ad play like a robot with a Bucket on his head. THAT is not what Guns N' Roses is about. THAT is what Slipknot is about however...

youve just proved your incompetent mind by booing him on his first performance where he learnt EVERYTHING in 2 WEEKS... you dint give the guy a fucking chance......... wheres the logic? oh yeah, there AINT ANY! :rant:

I was booing when he did his lame ass shredding shit with the foot guitar. I didn't boo him when he was playing the songs.

Didn't you say you only saw them live at Hammerstein? Then you can shut your yap up, because listening to a song recorded from a mobile or whatever is one thing, being there is another.

Oh yeah and didn't Buckethead use to play this same "lame ass shredding" as well huh? he was even worse!
You speack about the shredd that you don't like (I don't like it too), but in the same time you want BH back while this guy was just 200% pure pointless shredding in 2002.... MUCH worthier than Ron Thal (at least sometimes Ron plays some good non shredd solos)... something is illogical with you.
You don't like the shredd but you want BH back. illogical.

so youve just contradicted yourself? if you werent booing during the songs, you were obviously enjoying them...  ::)

i don`t like his shred solos as well and bucket is definitely better on guitar, but booing him at his first show is really, really uncool....  and it`s even more uncool when you booed without giving him a chance....

by the way.... you mentioned that even now ron isn?t able to play bucket`s solos... wasn?t the last show you were at his first one??



you never cease to amaze me dude.......  i remember that you accused dave of being a broken record because he wrote what he thinks of bucket in the ron thread, while you`re the most well known broken record in the entire gnr community.....  what did you do for the last 10 years??  complaining??   axl decided to move in a different musical direction... mainly without slash`s bluesy style.....   i mean... you know that, but you can`t stop posting the same shit over and over anyways....

i respect your opinion, but did it never occur to you that you`re the only one here who doesn`t like bucket?s IRS solo?    i admitt, that i like robin`s two solos more, but bucket kicks ass on that song... while ron isn`t able to duplicate that :no:


it`s not about the shred in general. it`s about ron`s short shred solos between the songs...

THAT?s pointless shredding....  i saw it at rock am ring..... 

I'm talking about Ron's shredding during his solo spot. That shit fucking sucks. I quite enjoyed Buckets solo spot and what he added to songs like YCBM and Nightrain. Buckets shredding still fit in with the context of the song and melody of the song. Ron's shredding is just like, look how fast I can play, aren't these some great beeping noises. Ron's playing detracts from the songs, where as Bucket's playing added something unique to the songs.

How many times have you seen him live during the European tour again?


Give it up.  :-*

Has anyone heard TWAT from Spain? Bumblefoot nails that solo. Hes only getting better.

People need to complain about something I guess.. from Brain (dude hes in it for the money. I hope Frank stays) to Bumblefoot (he sucks at buckets parts even though I've only heard half of a boot) to "whats going on in the band" (Dude Richard hates Bumble because Axl chose him to be lead instead!)

Whatever.

This is just flat out bullshit. Buckethead if anything elivated every song he touched. He makes the shit interesting and his abilities are right there in your face. Listening to him playing with GNR, and to these Demos and there is guitar work that just flat out shows up everything else I am currently hearing from other bands. Bucket brought much needed credentials to GNR in Slash's absence.

Someone doesnt like his image? Who gives a fuck. Some people thought a tophat wearing guitarist was gimmicky as shit for RNR. Remember Axl's kily, or his catchers protection outfit? Really if anything, Bucket fits perfect with his bizarre style. Having a bizarre style but being the top musician in your field is so ridiculously GNR that Bucket couldnt fit in any better if he tried.

GNR is never, NEVER normal. But they will kick your fucking ass and are second fiddle to no band!

that is a great fucking post buddha masater..and very true....but IMO it kinda sucks that the band that exists isn't the band that is on the album :(

Well said WARose.  : ok:

nes I fed up with all the RnR bullshits. Do your homework. RnR is not about the musts/must nots.
I don't care whatever you want GNR to be about as far as the music kickass.
do you know the fact that many rock critics categorise GNR as a pop metal? Do you really want richard to sub for BH on stage instead of showing his own specialities?

At the end of the day i'm happy Buckets parts are staying on CD. I'm quite confident that Footie will never record with GnR and will be shown the door at the end of this tour. Once Bucket comes back, I will enjoy hearing you guys say, "Yeah that dork with the Foot Guitar, I never liked him anyway. I was just kissing Axl's ass because whatever Axl says or does is right. Why think for myself, when I can have others tell me what to think.". Time to lock this thread as it's pointless.

good post mate

@mattattack: yeah  his solo spots suck, but he`s not that bad on the songs....

his version of don?t cry is cool anyways....

Well, just to make it short...

One great guitar player...and one soulful heart!!!!

I saw him twice in Helsinki and I must say...after that, he became my favorite member! I just love the guy  :beer:

Apart from Don't cry solo, this is exactly what i think about Ron & bucket.
Bucket was a lot more creative on the actual songs & solo compared to Ron...
at least from what i have heard so far...Maybe Ron will impress me in the future...

1. Buckethead is an absolutely incredible guitarist.  Period.  There's a reason why Axl recruited him.  100% for sure his playing will be on Chinese Democracy.

2. Bumblefoot is certainly good enough for the time being, as well as possible work on further records.

Good post heinous. I agree fitfully with this.

I would fully embrace a return of the Bucket but Ron is a damn fine replacement.

get the picture, hes not coming back

You would have said the same damn thing about Izzy before Hammerstein.

While I accept BH's return as a possibility, BH likes to make a lot of music. I don't think he'll stay in GN'R that long if he rejoins. He wouldn't be satisified with CD being "it". He'd want to get back in the studio and make another new album, when Axl might not want to for some reason or another.

At the end of the day, I just hope Slash is coming back soon. It's such a mess without him.

Oh yeah ... things were fine until Slash left.  ::)

With Buckethead, this band failed. Now he is gone, this band succeeds. Everything is clear like pure water for me.
Buckethead in GN'R was like a virus in a computer. Just something to destroy.

Let's see what happens in the US...