Here Today... Gone To Hell!

...if so, we'll finally be able to purchase a few of the studio tracks on iTunes in about 2 months.

 ??? :yes:

Discuss the upcoming album here!

Or does it? I'm not so sure.. if the album's not ready in march, it's not coming out. And the possibility is.. ummm.. well you decide..

We can only hope! :beer:

Can someone explain to me why this "Open letter to the fans" has no link anywhere? Where did it come from?

Even when it has no link to anywhere, would Jarmo really make that shit up? No. I think it came straight from Axl : ok:

Well I didn't know it came from Jarmo. Thanks.

This whole thing would certainly explain Merck's lack of communication with me. I played hell working out my trip to L.A., and I'm still not 100% sure what will transpire when I get there.

March 6th, 13th, 20th or 27th. Those are the possible dates..

wait...wtf did i miss?

AND WHY ISN'T IT COMING OUT THIS YEAR  :rant:

'Cause the year is ending? :hihi: No no, read the open letter and you'll get it.

This is fucking great.

I was just as confused as you  :hihi:

I don't know about anyone else here but, I'm in some sort of a state of shock or something along those lines. :nervous:

It blows me away because this just seems like the whole world has turned into a gigantic fucking soap-opera to me now. :crying:

Did I really say that? :o ??? :o

the right thing is, that Merck "The Liar" Mercuriadis was fired. looks like Axl and recording company did some sort of agreement and finally they are planing promotion - this album needs promotion because that's the only way to be even more huge : ok:

I think allot of people are missing a very interesting aspect of that letter. And that is, the legal problems with the album. Maybe there's something to that "Artwork problem" thing we heard. Or maybe other stuff, cuz Axl likes to use movie quotes/samples in songs.  :hihi:

For much of the time some form or another of legalities have been taking place that really the best way to deal with publicly was to keep our mouths shut in an attempt to ensure the best outcome and especially one that wouldn?t jeopardize the band or the album.

So I bet we can plan on a single/video late Jan early July. : ok:

And he said they were very minor.

Was Brett right afterall?

Haha, great one :rofl:

this was like so unexpected.. it came right in time when everyone was already losing faith, I wasn't keeping updated with this site yesterday as much as i've been doing it lately.. and i had this feeling i should get online and check if there were any news.. and wow, I read there's a RELEASE DATE!!!!!!!! a fuckin release date and from Axl himself!! isn't it like surreal??? a turning point in GN'Rs history lol!

Im sorry that was kinda of mean. ?I love GnR and since seeing them in Everett and now reading Axl's letter I AM SO PUMPED NOW !!!! oh man yeah I agree with the people that said Axl knows what he's doing and sure enough bang SEE YA LATER MERCK ?:hihi: I can't wait !!!!! March 6th OH BOY !!!!! SO I EXPECT HONESTLY A SINGLE VIDEO Late Jan Early FEBUARY !!!!

Like many here, I've been really, really angry and pissed off the last few weeks/months about the lack of updates regarding CD. And I must say, while I'm a bit disappointed that it won't come this year, this statement from Axl has calmed me right down and I'm now really excited again about the March release date.

Let's all hope that date doesn't get pushed back.

Axl has said it takes 8 weeks to get an album ready for release and with that in mind there's 11-12 weeks to get this album's promotion under way, going by that it has already been submitted and complete.

They should put the cover art on gnr.com and maybe the track listing

We should know by the end of January what's going to happen. That's the sweet part. No more speculation, this time we'll know well in advance.

If CD is to be out on March 6th that means that by Jan 6th we could get confimation if that date is going to be set in stone. If it is that means in Feb the single would probably drop.

yeah!! the fun is just about to begin!

if they intend to release it in the proper way as he said, with the 8 weeks advance and everything else, then we are going to get info and news about the album way before March 6th!!! amazon and every other online store will have it listed, possibly with artwork, and everything will just flow normally like with any other album!! i'm so excited, i feel like in the beginning of this year when the demos leaked and everyone was so excited and hopeful! but with the BIG difference that now everything is for real!!

It'd be sweet it they show the album cover by the end of this year.

I wonder how well it will sell... Sure there is us (The hardcore GN'R fans) but will the album appeal to the masses?

GN'R is my favorite band of all time so I am not dissing them in the least when I say this. But a lot of people consider GN'R hair metal... and a lot of people dont like hair metal. A lot of people also dont like the idea that the only original member of the band left is Axl.

Well either way, I know the album will be AWESOME. I do hope it sells well tho. Axl and the band (Well to a lesser extent) deserve for it to sell well.

I just hope it does well enough to warrant another album... One that hopefully does not take as long as CD took to come out.

Better as a single will rip the charts. The metalheads may say it's cheesy and old and what the fuck else, but the general public will love it, and so do we. This album will kill.

I was stoked about seeing Guns in concert this year (5 times) and I'll be stoked when I get to buy the CD and see a video.

Good enough for me.  8)

As I already commented in letter thread, I do not think the album will be released in march. May or June more likely..It's been many, many years since I've been a fan of this band, so for me it's kind hard to believe that the album will drop when scheduled.

Very probable, but according to the letter we will know in advance if that happens. We should know a month or more in advance if it's acutally happening. No more "will it be out next week" bullshit. Come January and things should start to happen. Tracklist, album cover, single, video. Something.

Reading that letter I believe the Album is finished and that is huge news.

If it takes 2 months to release it after its turned in, Axl would have till my birthday January  6th to turn it in to the label.

So i think the album is done and all thats holding it back is legal stuff.

Maybe he is keeping some of buckethead's contributions and he has to have Bucket sign off on it and give permission or something?

Isnt it the opposite? They still havent handed the record over to be published. So does this mean bumblee foot might play on it afterall?

I dont know how i feel about it.

Im glad axl has written the letter and thank god merck is gone. But its still not cool doing this to us. And come on.. March 6th isnt a release date. Its a compromise from axl as he appreciates how much hes let us down.

Just saying that Axl said it takes 2 months for a record to be released once its handed in.

so if March 6th is the planned date, he'd have to have it in by January 6th, So its December 15 now, So it pretty much has to be finished and Id bet its being mastered now.

It sounded to me like the MUSIC is finished and they just have to tie up some minor loose ends with the legal stuff.

He said minor things, and I mean minor was left before the album was finished. Who knows what that is, a couple of guitar tracks and what not. Anyways, it seems Axl is ready to say enough is enough this time. It may not be march 6th, but I'll bet you alot of money that we wont be sitting here next december speculating.

I think Axl will release the fucker this time, even if he's not a 110% satisfied with it. He's not getting any younger, it's time to do this before it's too late.

I wonder if Bucketheads parts are part of the contractural obligation to sort out?

Could this mean, a new single will be around mid February?? :o

Thats what I think is one of the possibilities.


If there is something Minor before the album is finished it has nothing to do with the music.


The music is usually 100 percent finished before vocals are added.  Finishing vocal parts wouldnt be considered minor so I think it has to do with Artwork, packaging, booklet, liner notes etc etc.

How I fuckin' love/ha

How I fuckin' love/hate Axl...... this letter makes me realy love him..... but he can be an a-hole.... at times

Guess Slash was correct with his March release date prediction. Although i think he thought it was going to be 2006, not 2007.

2007 - CD starts then! - here we go again  ;D

WOW a first release "date"....well kinda  :hihi: not a year, not a season, not a month, a "date". At least we're not gonna be kept in the dark anymore....and enough of the speculation....for now!

Unless it's a coverup so we can all be really surprised on December 26th?   :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

Anyway, it will be really nice from now on to get updates, assuming Axl isn't really just full of shit.  I've always had faith that he's a pretty good guy, and to hear most people talk (including ex band members) things are not really his fault, he just seems to be followed around by bad events.

Axl seems very truthfull. That being said, he also seems a little dellusional. I have no doubt that bad events have prevented the album from being released, but I also have no doubt that a different person wouldn't have all these events happening to him. Axl and his persona bring alot of this on himself, after all, we're talking 10+ years here.

Still, he is who he is, and that is a big part of his abillity to make such great music. If that results in things taking 10 years and what not, so be it. We may want it to be different, but it's not, and it never will be. So lets just rejoice in the fact that CD seems closer to being released than ever before.

OK AXL TAKE A HOLLIDAYS AN THEN WHEN YOU RETURN .......LAUNCH  THE CD    COME  ONE :rant:

i know you are excited but what makes the 6th of march different than any other time ??

because its a physical date we have had time spans before this is a physical date which as aAXl has stated could go past without the Album but its more positive than just saying Fall or summer etc

I understand the ones who don't buy it, but then again, what do we want here? We've never had a set, although tentative, date before. Now we do, and on top of that we have a timetable on when to expect promotion etc. I know it might not sound like much, or like anything we haven't heard before. But being a GN'R fan for so many years I honestly must say I can't expect alot more.

its the fact that its from axls mouth....its pretty evident that hes not going back into hiding... its pretty evident that this time is different.. We will have chinese democracy in 2007

Look at www.gunsnroses.com

It wasn't up there for the first few hours but it is now.

I love this move on Axls part. Extremely classy in my opinion.

So the cancelled dates in January of 2007, these are dates the band will be using as part of the 8 weeks leading up to March 6th.

What will be happening?

Contract Negotiations?
Hiring of a new Manager?
More 'tweaking' of the album?
An actual Video for MTV?

Thoughts...

Ok, so now let's chill.

People around here were getting to much nervous about the CD. People were demanding explanations and stuff. Although most of us expected a release this year (and, at this point, a magic surprise release) the common sense was that it wouldn't be out no more in 2006. We KNOW that the hype of this particular album is too big to not have a properly promotion.

Ok, we still don't have the CD, but we have what a lot of people here wanted: communication. It was the first time in history, I think, that a communication from someone of the band or management was so clear. When you consider that it was signed for Axl himself, man, it almost bring tears to my eyes.

So now, we can celebrate the holidays with our loved ones, we can work our jobs, we can live our life and wait for march. It is coming out, guys. 2006 was the year, but things don't go as planned sometimes.

The real and true fans should be glad that this was an awesome year: we had a lot of amazing shows, the critic was mostly positive for the new band, we did indeed hear music this year (with the shows and the leaks), Axl is not hidding in a shell no more (he was seen in a some public events). The band seems to be tight.

Now, we'll wait in the confort of Axl Rose's words: March, 06, 2007.

"All I ever wanted
Was for you
To know that I care"

Vicente

Axl already said the proper promotion, video and radio prep will be taking place in those 8 weeks.

I said about two months ago that it would come out in March. It was a guess, of course, but an educated one. As soon as it became blatantly clear that it wouldn't come out in 2006 (which, again, was around two months ago, despite the numerous mentally ill people refusing to give up on the notion of it being released as a surprise), it was obvious that no record company would release it during the dead months of January and February, so we can be pretty pleased if it comes out in March, because that's now the earliest we could have realistically hoped for.

Woops! ?You're right! ?Amazing what a second and third read will do. ?I guess it is safe to assume the since Harley-Davidson let it be known about the 'Better' commercial, that will be the first single we should be listening for?

This probably sounds lame, but just the fact we have this statement and tentative release date, it has totally changed me attitude about the direction of the band.

Firing Merk doesn't excite me. ?Clearly, Axl's inner sanctum of trust is small, so if he worked with Merk, he trusted him. If he's been fired, he violated that trust, and that's not cool!

Those are some good thoughts. I wholeheartedly agree with that second paragraph and I didn't really think about the things you said in the third one until you mentioned it.

I'm actually not all that excited about Merck being let go either come to think of it, but I'm sure there have been a ridiculous amount of casualties in getting this album to us.

the album isn't comming out this year, oh well...this is great that we actually have some sort of a date to go by now

Thats for sure.. And the band working on practical tings with the release after christmas is great!
Cant wait to see the first video.

I wonder if GnR ever releases a DVD called "The making of Chinese Democracy"
guess they had to make a trilogy then..  :yes:

I'm betting we get the "Harley ad" during the Super Bowl and the single soon after.

 :yes: :beer:

No November Rain, but Ides of March? :)

Anyway, I don't think Buckethead has anything to do with the 'legalities' anymore. Those should be solved for a long time already.

He probably has been wiped clean of CD, so it's probably no issue.

I don't believe anyone has mentioned this (and maybe it could even use its own thread) but what do all of you think the chances are that sometime after the album is turned over to Universal that it may leak partially or in full to the internet? A lot of people would have access to it at that point and it does happen quite often to other artists. The only good thing about that (other than all of us getting to hear tracks early) would be that typically that forces the record company to get the album out as soon as possible. Just a thought.

Link:

http://web.gunsnroses.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061214&content_id=a1&vkey=news&fext=.jsp

 :)

If it does, Axl may go out and kill somebody.

It's so fucking nice to have Axl write to us for once. This rocks, I can not tell you how excited I am for March.

i think if the album is good it will sell itself. the hardcore fans of course will buy it, a lot of fans of music who have heard about it for so long will buy it out of curiosity, and then I think the rest just relies on how good it is. When the movie Rocky Balboa was announced people thought it was a joke. Everybody knew the die hard rocky fans would come out to see it. Now it is getting really good reviews, and people who thought it would be stupid are giving it a chance. A good review (possibly with an interview/cover story) in a magazine like Rolling Stone would really help sales. Good to know that there will be proper promotion for the album and it will not just "show up in stores." I can't wait! Thanks for finally giving us an update!

Hey Axl, if you're reading this, can you :-* please :-* put a few new videos up on your website so that your real fans have something to enjoy over the holidays?

Thanks Axl!!! : ok: :beer:

This is all I have to say.

The album didn't come out as they planned.
But they gave us a very heartfelt and sincere explanation and really showed that they cared for us ultimately regardless of what happened.

The fact they've stuck a tentative complete release date in there, is just a bonus.

I don't care how lame this sounds. Not that I care for christmas, but my wish has been granted.
I know there are more things to life than CD, but music is a big part of my life and one of the only things that gets me by.
I couldn't have asked for any more.

Merry Christmas Axl.

It all kind of makes sense now.  Not too long ago, Axl made a comment about how he wasn't supposed to talk about it, but the next song (Better) is on their next album.  In the letter, he states that they were keeping quiet because of dealing with legal issues or to the like.  Maybe that's what Axl was refering to during the concert and now that things are cleared up (hopefully), he can start talking about things a little bit more and not leave us in the dark.  Just a thought.

I wish he would have shared these problems with us earlier; everyone in the community would have been more understanding. However, I am thrilled with this news. The explanation is enough for me, enough to wait, enough to wait even longer than March if he needs to take the time.

I will not engage in setting any theoretical benchmarks.....when a single will drop...when a video will be filmed...With a tentative time table, I think we should just let these guys do what they have to do and wait for for the good word.

Hopefully alot of nerves have been allayed in the past twenty four hours.

Kudos to axl.

A warm handshake to Merck for standing by the project all these years.

I'm not going to be an ass and start a whole new thread on the subject...but is anybody else thinking (like I am) that a March 6th release of the album is just 1 month after a pretty big event down in Miami February 6th???

If Chinese Democracy begins March 6th, and proper promotion is used...wouldn't a single or 2 be out by Super Bowl time???

 :peace:

omg its finally gonna happen i can't fucking believe it. I don't know 'bout ya'll but this is the coolest thing to happen to me in a while......which is sad if you think about it O-well heres to a CHINESE DEMOCRACY on March 6th of 2007 :beer:

i do see your point but it isn't likely bacause Prince is schedualled to do the half time show. But it would be cool though :drool:

Doesn't every "Prince" have a "King?"  I do believe in San Fran Axl dubbed himself King Dick.   :hihi:

Those half-time shows usually have a bunch of performers.  I could care less if he's even there...I'd settle for a freaking commercial!   :beer:

I beliave in you Uncle Axl, god bless you man

OK, so it's the first time Axl has publicly issued a date. But it is only tentative and nothing more. I suppose it's a step up from "soon" and "13 Tuesdays left", etc. It's nothing spectacular to throw out a digit.

I notice many are ecstatic about a realease date, finally, but don't get your hopes up too much.

I have faith, sometime in March. Maybe it'll come out February 27th a week early? Maybe a week later? sometime aroudn then I'm sure.

Take a break and come back in March-like Axl said

You think people shouldn't be excited?

After all this time, a letter is written to and for the fans, to make them feel better and to make them happy and you think people shouldn't be excited about it?


You surprise me.

I'm more excited about the fact that Merck was fired...? :hihi: But anyway, it doesn't matter if it's tentative or not, it's the FIRST time Axl Rose himself has ever given us a date. Period.

I agree and would go further. As i have always said i think the band will be pissed if it keeps being delayed, and im not sure i entirely agree with the "blame merk entirely and axl not at all" approach of some.

There is of course cause for optimism, but it is only tentative as you say. There could be a lot Axl cant say at this stage and maybe he never will, but i still think we shouldnt get our hopes up, and history bares me out on that one.

axl didn'ttell 13 wekks left

and now we have first time big explanation about "chinese democacy"
i'm pretty sure march is the date

but we will see it,because  in february we have to have single,video and advertising for album

I'm glad he's acknowledging the frustration of the fans for once, and that he's acting like a sympathetic guy.

But what else is there to be "excited" about? Answer this and surprise me.



Merck worked for Axl when he said it, and up until a day ago went along with it.

so what about the first single then?

singles comes like, 1 month before the album??  ???

the letter made me take a bet last night. me and my girlfriend agreed, if CD is out before 30th of june 2007, i can pick the time when we try to get a baby. (between 1st july 2007 and 31 st of december 2020 everything is possible :) )
well, if it's not out, i have to take dancing lessons with her.

so wish me luck!!!

Good luck Michael Flatley!

I'll wait until we have an official release date until i get excited again. After the "10 Tuesdays" and "definately this year" bs, i absolutley refuse to allow myself to excited for it again until I know it's actually official and going to happen.

I hope Axl does make it happen. If not, it'll just look like Merck's letter had more credibility to it than Axl's and I, for one, would hate to see that happen!

Axl said there were a few minor touchups for completion to occur and it would be completed during the break. Also, the time table suggests the plan is to hand over the album to the label in early January. Again another huge benchmark in this process.

There is alot to be excited about.

I'll believe it when I have the album in my hands.

March 6th 2007 = 80 days remaining

That would suck. The next few months are going to be an awesome, exciting times for GNR fans! As the date gets nearer, the media blitz will get bigger, we'll have a single, hopefully some appearances, a music video, then as soon as you know it, the album!  :drool:

This is pointless. Lets have a count down to a date that hasnt been confirmed. And then when that date gets here we can start a new one to another date we pull out of our asses

How many Tuesdays  left in that?

For fuck's sake.

79.75 days remaining!

(or 78.5 in UK!)

11 Tuesdays, not counting the one on the 6th  :hihi:

I'm justing waiting for the single.  : ok:

i could also start a 'official countdown to the unconfirmed single release date' as well  :hihi:

There are plenty of them out there.

Plently of single EFishlettes out in the sea for you... maybe

So, I don't know anything about recording. What do engineers have to do with recording? It as said engineers were on hand for the CD's finishing touches, but engineers sound like they'd be in the beginning of recording. That worries me.

But, I believe Axl this time. He said it would be this year, and it wasn't. He wouldn't dare say it'll be around March 6 and not deliver, would he?

well axls not gonna do the recording all by himselff... theyll have engineers there to help him..

exactlly,but i don't know what the fuck they doing 9 months

How many threads to we need about this. Couldnt this just be part of the the letter discussion.  ::)

We know its tentative, the word came straight from Axl's mouth.
It's still exciting because its the first time they have ever mentioned an actual date for release.

Efish doesn't look for the ladies...  :hihi:

I hope they (Axl) give us a sign when the album is finished, when the finishing touches are ready, and the mastering is done from that moment I will be even more excited then I am right now already.  :peace:

 :drool: ?:drool: ?:drool: ?:drool: ?:drool: ?:drool: ?:drool: ?:drool: ?:drool: ? :drool: i cant wait ?CHINESE DEMOCRACY is coming no more crappy music CHINESE DEMOCRACY will destroy all that is obsolete emo, rap, hip hop, ect. will just be a memory when CHINESE DEMOCRACY comes out. :yes:

heres to a CHINESE DEMOCRACY in March of 2007 :beer:

OK, well, you didn't quite answer my question. So, he's recording something brand new and needs engineers. Like I asked before, what do engineers do? I thought at this point the only work to still need to be done would be like sequencing, mastering, that kind of stuff. Not recording still.

I don't understand this attitude... March 6 is less than THREE MONTHS away.  If we are getting proper promotion for the album it will kick in before then and if it's being delayed again we will obviously find out in the next 2-3 weeks or so.  So what the fuck is there not to be excited about?

"I'll believe it when I have it in my hands"... Ok, great, but does that mean you're not going to enjoy the build-up to the actual release because "you don't believe it" yet?

What is wrong with you PEOPLE !!!!! didn't you guys read the letter now there is a reason Axl fired Merck and is no longer manager. ?My mom's runs a gym and if she had a membership special for the new year or in Dec saying THERE ARE ONLY 13 Tues left till the special SHE WOULDN'T GET A SINGLE NEW MEMBERSHIP. ?Its quite obvious why he's not manager didn't they originally start in Florida and then go to Nashville and then back to Florida LOL !!! but they had to move the Nashville show ??? AXL SAID MARCH 6 ALSO SAID IF THERE WHERE ANY DELAYS OR WHEN THEY COMPLETED THE ALBUM AND NEOGATIONS HE WOULD LET US KNOW !!!! this is the best news for me since THE SPAGETTI INCIDENT !!! We should all be excited that we got a letter or else we would still that 400 page thread of when its coming out !! or Best Buy got some copies in the back. ?Be Thankful enjoy Christmas with your families party it up New Years and THEN GET READY CAUSE CHINESE DEMOCRACY IS STARTING SOON !!!!

Axl may have said March 6, but I don't recall seeing a year (2007?) after that.  For all we know maybe he means March 6 2010.

I thinks its tentative because it might not be that exact date.  But it will be around that time, the point was even made that it will take 8 weeks from when the record is handed over.

Engineers are the ones that set up the recording space, such as placing all the mikes in the right places, etc. ?They also monitor the sound board, adjust the dials, settings and run the actual recording device - either tape or hard drvie. ?

While a release date is exciting, I think many are almost equally excited by the prospect of getting some real information, as well as a possible single in the near future.  I like that we're not being strung along, and there is the prospect for real progress reports, and various industry cues that will tell us that it is, without a doubt, arriving soon.

whats exciting is that it seems this time the silence is over... axl made it clear in the letter that we will be getting information from now on.. he said well hear when its handed over, well hear when its done... well hear if theres a delay and hell tell us a new date.. he said the first thing theyll tell us in 2007 WILL be the release date..

so there is ALOT to be excited about..

I'm tired about this.... UK it is in EUROPE! why don't change that stupid thing of "UK/European" release date for "European release date"??

i put 'fans in the UK' rather than 'fans in europe' because I happen to be from the UK, where albums are released on monday.

i don't know what day albums are released in france, germany etc..

didn't axl say in his letter that the album will be out 6th march in US and 5th in the rest of the world?

Yep spot on.

(http://tickers.tickerfactory.com/ezt/d/4;10711;114/st/20070306/e/chinese+democracy+/dt/6/k/62e9/event.png)

auto updating .gif

That date wasn't pulled out of "our asses".  That date was mentionned by Axl himself.

Cool gif. I'm gonna add one to my MySpace page  : ok:

I wonder if it is possible to ban the negative people until the album comes out in March?  Axl has finally given a release date and stated that he will keep us updated if the date changes by a couple of weeks. What else will it take to satisfy these people.  I just don't think we need all of the negativity right now.

Well at least we have a new word to overuse and haunt us forever, 'tentative' is the new 'soon'. We are going to despise this word by February  :hihi:

i don't even know how to pronounce it.. i liked soon.. and will say that instead of tentative :hihi:the annoying thing is that when you talk about the march 6th date noone belive it, they just say that naah it'll never coming out and when i talk about they i mean mostly the casual fans and such

I'll take a "tentative" date over no date at all, or worse yet - years of total silence.  Granted, the silent years were nowhere near as frustrating, but still...     :beer:

"Once it is finalized and official, you will be notified. If we are delayed for unseen reasons, you also will be notified as soon as possible in regard to a new date, and the album will be released as shortly thereafter as is possible. We thank you for your patience." :D


Yeah all you have to do is to get it at your store or @ a net shop when it's released and listen to it. Like guns_n_motley said, the latter says they'll keep us updated on the release.
No more mystery. Nothing exciting really.

Put some notes on the staff.

8 is the magic number.

9 is said to be another lucky number in china. :yes:

We can assume that is what will happen, but what he says in the letter is this...

With that being said, this is not a promise, a lie or a guarantee, but we do wish to announce a tentative release date of March 6.

I think you may be thinking of another letter ;) if you follow me.

does anyone remember we had a date for uyi....so this isnt the first time axl has given us a date!

True. but for Chinese Democracy this is the first date given directly by Axl.

Exactly. There's no need to worry now. Toward the end of February if there's no single, no promotion, then we can start to worry again.

I dont get why every1 is making a big deal outta the word tentative. I think he just pretty much said, it's out March 6th, and just added the tentative incase something random occurs and they need to push it up or back a week. He had to cover his ass.

This forum gets more strange everyday............... :hihi: :hihi: :hihi: 
Just when u think u have heard it all.

U are taking a risky bet, so get your dance shoes ready.

I think it's great that Axl has taken the HUGE step, in breaking silence and giving out information. I am not too annoyed by silence and cancellation like most...but I can see why frustration mounts. I have been anxious and waiting like lots of people...but I always thought going on STRIKE or BOYCOTTS is absolutley silly. I mean C'mon, we will always have AFD, which is probably the greatest album of all time, and along with Lies and Illusions with great songs respectively

But from Axl's view this was a great move. Instead of a backlash again, he came out, gave a great statement..and we(band,fans,label,all others) can all move forward together positively

I bet this is why the HD commercial with Better has been delayed..they don't want a "single" with no relase date in sight...I wonder if it is gonna officially be the 1st single

I also hope the album is kept under tight lock and key...and no leaks happen, that would be very sad at this point, and I think we all as fans should help prevent pirating and leaks...report them and help them get contained!

Axl has to say March 6th is tentative because who knows what the label's plans for the album are.  even though everything could be locked and loaded for CD, the label may not want direct competition with any of their other A-list stars.  they may want to release it where it will have the best chance to sell a lot of copies without competing with another major release from their label or anywhere else.

Right now, there's nothing else major slated (Sevendust, Relient K, Air) for that day...but if someone else decides to drop on that day, there may be some shuffling.

2 months, 19 days, 22 hours, 35 minutes, and 20 seconds left  :peace:

Ewww..........I like bets. Who wants to make some bets?

it's a great feeling to finally be able to make a countdown with so exact numbers lol

no more time spans!

It is not exact numbers........

i don't follow.. what do you mean?

I would say the earliest we see anything would be June for sure!!


God this  sucks , oh well just another 6 months

Why would you say that? Do you have some info Axl doesn't?

I agree.. he protects himself incase something does occur.

There is still 52 Tuesdays remaining in 2007........... :peace:

I was looking up in the calendar..
If the TENTATIVE release date is March 6th, and 8 weeks before that the album has to be handed over the label, that means the band should be turnin' CD over in the week of Jan 9th, at the latest.
And barring any unforseen complications ::), we should be happilly listening to the first single by the end of jan or the first 2 weeks of february.


My 2 fucking cents

I was thinking of a tentative single release date and wouldn't it be nice if Axl releases the first single on his bday?? Feb 6th, and an exact month before the release of CD : ok:

It IS a big deal.  He said tentative for a reason.   He said tentative because he doesn't want everyone to say "Fuck Axl" if MArch 6th comes and goes with no Chi Dem.   Some will anyway, but those that understand what tentative means should understand that there are still things that need to fall into place.

You are saying that CD WILL be released on the date given. Axl said it is a tentative date. If you are "counting down" anything, you are not being honest with yourself.

It is a tentative date. It is unconfirmed. It may come out on that date. It may not. I feel pretty confident we'll see it around that time, whether it is a week or two out or whatever. And again, from Axl's letter, things aren't going to be so cryptic or misleading for us anymore. We will get confirmation on the release date in late January or February I think. I wouldn't suggest counting down to that date, but I'd say probably at this stage we can assume there's about 3 months until the album comes out, unless otherwise informed. Things are going to be a bit different now. Especially since Merck is no longer on the scene.

79 Days to go  ;)

Although things are different this time cos Axl has given us a date,he has said on numerous occasions in interviews (2001,2002,2004) it will be out 'soon' or 'this year'. Why did he say that if it was soooooooo far from being finished back then? I'm not trying to piss on the parade as it were, i've been a fan of Axl for almost 20 years and I can't wait to hear this stuff and I agree it really does look good this time cos I guess once he hands it over there can be no more tweaking. I'm just looking at it from another angle since this is a discussion.

Again i'm as excited as the rest of you that Axl released that statement and gave the date I just can't rest until it is really in my hands!

my birthday is on march 9...
I'm planning on making a birthday party...
everyone invited would have to bring me a copy of CD...
I'm pretty sure that would ensure that CD is no1 in croatia, at least for a week :)

I think it may have been finished, but I guess since that time they've taken the opportunity to improve the album even more. Back them Axl was being forced to put the album out, I recall he said around that time he wasn't even ready to tour. I think it's safe to say following the general well receipt of the tour, and Axl's satisfaction of the album particularly following the late additions by BumbleFoot and Robin to the album, he's ready this time, by his own watch. The record company stopped caring about Axl's work on the album about 5 years ago, so he's had this time to ensure the album to his own personal standards without immediate stress (from record labels or other 'professional' relationships), so it's safe to say it's going to happen. Just my opinion.

Yeah, unfortunately one of those "things" that needs to fall into place is that he still has to finish the album, something he still hasn't accomplished after all these years...

it only needs a good 2-3 days to finish...

yeah....which they have been attempted to do all year, but the "muse" didn't show up.

but apparantly this time axl thinks his muse is here, or will be so that he can hand the album in by Janruary 9

I really hope so, but if history is any indication.....

Well, history (more specifically, Axl) has also never given us a solid release date, tentative or otherwise.? Positive thoughts....

Agreed that that is a first. He or management has, in the past, said it was coming out that year (multiple times) but there has never been a date given. I really hope it does come out, but for obvious reasons i'm skeptical. I wouldn't be nearly so skeptical if the album was actually done.

I hear you.  Me, I'm sticking with "cautiously optimistic."  The fact that an month/day was named gives me new hope...I'm very appreciative for Axl's letter.

its more to me that axl said hes going to try everything in his power to get it out that date... and that if something goes wrong theyll tell us..

Haha...To be honest, i'm more suprised than anything that i was able to use the word "skeptical" without my post being deleted!  :hihi:

It all just takes the fans back out of the dark, Axl obviously got pissed off himself and just wants to relate with his fans and put everyone straight on what's happening. Great news. Thanks Axl ;D

12 more Tuesdays :beer:

Axl also said 'we hope to announce a release date within the next few months' in a statement issued on March 30th 2004, we didn't hear anything from him until 2 years later in March 2006. This is why some of us will ALWAYS keep our gurard firmly up until the album is in our hands, tentaitive date or not.
I'm not hating on Axl, i'm sure a lot of shit has been going on behind the scenes (Infact i'd love to know exactly what was happening between March 2004 - March 2006), it's just hard not to be a little sceptical in regards to this release.

Really? Bumblefoot recorded parts for CD? The last I heard he said it was too late or something and he wouldn't be on it? I hope to god this doesn't mean Bucketheads playing has been removed  :crying:

I'll bet that's exactly what it means.

I don't mind a couple of tracks featuring Ron, but if this is indeed the case, I'd find it rather unfortunate.

I just don't see anyone doing a better job on the TWAT outro than Bucket, listen to the 99 version without him, not nearly as good. It's like him not being on Maddy, it just isn't the same. I always listen to the '02 version with his solo playing over the quotes, beautiful stuff.

I love the fact of Bumblefoot on CD. He can re-record anything he wants... but not the end solo of TWAT. (unless he does it better)

 :hihi:

noo, not again!! it's like we are at the end of September all over again haha ;D

i suffered counting the weeks left as each tuesday came in, i'm not sure i can take another one :hihi:


btw, i don't like the idea of Bucket's solo on TWAT gone either :no:

na, bucket will still be on the album..hopefully...from mercks article it seems like they wernt doing anything so they were like "hey lets add ron and frank on the album" probably added some small solos etc.

its gonna be funny when you listen to this thing with 4 guitarists on it, 2 drummers. 1 bassist, one singer, 2 keyboards. :hihi:


is buckets solo in maddy gone?? I lOVED that.. when the words are going and you just hear his solo.

Leave Bucket on CD and put Ron on the followups.

completely agree with that.  why have any reason for possible delays?

I think alot of people feel this way. I always thought it would be weird to release a CD for a band and not have a member in the band that's on the CD, but obviously none of us know whats up yet with the final mixes.

I gotta agree that I hope that the overall melody in the last solo of TWAT has to stay though!

is buckets solo in maddy gone?? I lOVED that.. when the words are going and you just hear his solo.

I have no idea if it's been removed from the album version (Since none of us have heard it) but it's gone from the live version unfortunately. It has been replaced with some bog standard noodling.  If it has indeed been REPLACED at least replace it with something worthy that's what I say! And that's not a diss to the current GNR guitarists, they obviously have a shit load of talent, I just wish they'd come up with something better than that mediocre replacement for BH's work on Madagascar! I'm sure Ron or Robin could put something real nice there.

If getting Ron Tahl on the album caused the couple month delay than so be it. The record will be that much better. He is simply phenominal. As is Richard as is Robin.  Man this record is gonna rock like no other. The record will be delivered just in time to overcome that mass boredom the Oscars bring.

I like Ron a lot. That being said his playing is not quite up to the level of Buckethead. I really, really hope they don't remove his work from any part of the album. Adding Ron to the record was probably more about comraderie than about his contribution being anything of true worth.

the one thing that makes me nervous is that the cd isnt done... and that axl has about 2-3 weeks to hand in the record for it to be out March 6

but axl says well hear either way. so do you think well hear if he has turned the record in? or when they start producing etc.

Axl said in his letter that he will tell us if there are news concerning CD... So I assume, he's telling us when CD will be handed over to the record company...

Hopefully.  :beer:

If I understood correctly, the album itself is very close to completion, if it hasn't been completed already
The select days they have taken off the tour were to tie up legal issues and other issues SURROUNDING the release of the album, not necessarily the music itself

I assume we will hear if the album has been turned over, whether it is from an official or unauthorized source. I can safely say though ultimately we will know for sure the album has been turned over when they confirm the final release date

The letter is self explanatory....why another thread? It just clogs up the board with drivel........ : ok:

I wouldn't necessarily say the delay of the album has been because of Ron or whoever else recording parts on the album. The album has just been on hold for all the legal issues and concerns etc as mentioned by Axl in the letter; they just took the opportunity to add more to it and improve it. Hence Axl mentioned the great last second additions from Ron and Robin that he feels have completed the record (I know they weren't his exact words but that's how I understood it)

 ? I for one am really hoping for this thing to be released on the day Axl is tentativley announcing let's get this fucker out there.

 ? Onething though that not many people have been mentioning, regardless of Merks and Axls diferences....Merks departure worries me quite a bit, I mean Axl and the boys are not only negotiating with the record company, finnishing the album...propbably be rehearsing a new leg of the tour and on top of that looking for and negotiating new managment.... that's a lot of shit to go down. Also this whole situation with Brain and Frank is worriesom but I've got my fingers crossed : ok:

what excatly do they have to negotiate with the company?

I'm cautiously optimistic. We've entered detente with our estranged hero; perhaps more communication ahead?!%$#

I hope the music is done on the cd for christ's sakes! I hope the "minor details" are just MINOR DETAILS. The one thing i noticed about Axl's letter was that in the beginning he talks about he thought that he and Merck were on the same page to get the album in stores by 12-26 at the latest, but then later on in the letter he says there are still minor details to be worked out. WTF? If there are still minor details to work out, shouldn't those have been worked out BEFORE you went around saying "definately this year" when asked about the cd's release??

I'm not even counting on March 6th( Axl saying tentative tells me it probably won't happen). I hope it happens, but i'm definately not going to go getting all excited about it again. Not until there is an official release date anyway.

The album is not finished. Both Merck and Axl said that. So don't hold your breath until we hear the label has recieved the album.

My guess is that the minor details were held back due to issues between Axl and Management, which is why they couldn't get all the other minor details or whatever completely finalized, and now they have scheduled it in the shows they cancelled, so I think everything hopefully is on track

axl does say its minor details

Yeah, finishing touches in other words.

I hate that word in reference to GNR :hihi:

but this time I think thats all it may be.

Only thing that worries me is the fact that he wasn't able to do more than 3 days work last year. What are the chances he'll get back in the studio by January then?

He's put it all on the line with this tentative release date.

I would imagine they have recording stuff to deal with - not any of the legal issues.  That would be dealt with by the lawyers and record company.  The reason for the delay is finishing touches on the album IMO.

typical mysteron answer: yes

I'm gonna go ahead and sort of... agree with you there. I don't get threads like this.

I agree with that post 100%

As for March the 6th, I would be extremely shocked if it comes out on that exact date, if Axl says 'tentative' then it means TENTATIVE! I really hope he proves me wrong though.
My prediction is still Summer 2007 and has been through most of '06, even after Merck said that Tuesday bullshit! As if Axl isn't gonna capitalize on the 20th anniversery of AFD, he'd be mad not to, it had to be 2007!
Can't you picture the adverts? - *In deep voice* - 20 years after Appetite for Destruction, AXL ROSE IS BACK with the long awaited 10 years in the making CHINESE DEMOCRACY! BLAH BLAH! hmmm maybe that's just me  :confused:

today in the biggest newspaper in stanislaus county , california ...there was a article about the note axl posted online and such pretty cool , nothing new except this was on page A-2 thats pretty good press coverage