Here Today... Gone To Hell!

I remember seeing GN'R back in 1991 or 1992 and Axl stated that he refused to put Nov. Rain on AFD because the budget wasn't there for his interpertation of the song. He stated he would quit the music industry befire compromising the integrity of Nov. Rain.
In CLASSIC ROCK Mike Clink states how he fought to keep it and Don't Cry off of AFD because they did not fit into the rawness of the album.
Which is it?

both.

Yeah Classic Rock magazine makes it seem as if Axl really wanted both those songs on AFD, but I always thought that he really didn't feel November Rain was a finished product at that point.

I think he wanted to do NR to its full potential, with full budget and production, and put it on AFD but Mike Clink was against it being on the album and certainly didn't think they had the budget to it properly. So once Mike convinced Axl they wouldn't be able to do justice to the song yet, Axl agreed. So its  a bit of both.

Exactly.

Plus slash couldnt have laid those 3 classic solos down back in 87 as he just wasnt a mature enough player. He said so himself.

Yes, Exactly  :yes:

Interesting enough I just listened to the interview with Howard Stern, when Axl and Baz phoned in in 1989.  I forgot that Howard asked him how the "song" was coming.  Speaking of "November Rain".  Axl said that it was finally finished, he had found the correct piano to play for the song after trying out a bunch of pianos (even Billy Joel's).  And he was talking to Jeff Lynne (ELO member I think) about string arrangements for the song.  Robin told him she was glad to hear that because now he wouldn't have to quit the music business and Axl said that if "November Rain" couldn't be recorded perfectly he would indeed have quit the business.  So obviously it was not ready in his opinion for AFD, possibly with some persuasion from Mike Clink and others.

Actually they are both right.. I had heard some Record Execs wanted it on AFD after hearing the demos (NR I mean.) Axl was making his point as an artist and Clink as a Producer. There was no persuasion to either Clink or Axl, both had the same feelings but from slightly different directions.

Shouldn't this be dead horse? A bit of both , Clink just thought it wouldn't fit and persuaded Axl , and Axl just thought hey lets save it to get it PERFECT.  :beer: Slash couldn't have done NR back in '87 , not to what is on UYI. Also they saved back off bitch for UYI  , wonder why?