Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Edit to add the interview:

A rose is still a rose

December 19, 2010

He's funny, he's polite and he's sweet. Legendary rocker and notoriously media-shy Axl Rose in an exclusive chat with tabloid! reveals why the band has stood the test of time

When Axl Rose and the boys burst onto the stage on Thursday night in Abu Dhabi, you could have already worked out that they were going to rock Abu Dhabi. What you couldn't have known, was just minutes before they set the stage alight, legendary rocker Rose was sipping tea while chatting to tabloid!.

"We better get out there before they tear the house down," said Rose tipping his head acknowledging the gathered crowd cranking up the volume.
"I'll be blaming you. You know that," he added as the entire group broke into laughter and headed off for the show.

According to his manager, Doc Mcghee, Rose has not given an interview for 14 years.

"I don't know what you've done, but you did something right," he said expressing his utter surprise that the red-haired singer was willing to talk.

Media-shy

The American rock star has been notoriously media-shy (read anti-media) since the implosion of the original band ? the hitmakers behind seminal rock songs such as Sweet Child O'Mine and Paradise City. Rose even wrote the song Get in the Ring about his disgust for the media and all the lies he claims journalists and publications printed over the years.

But this week was different and as he politely asked for "any kind of tea" from a member of his crew, he settled into his chair and prepared to open up.
As with every good story there's always a bit of drama. You see this story almost wasn't told because while tabloid! knew Rose was in town, it was also made clear, initially, there would be no interview (as has been the case for the past 14 years).

You can therefore understand why a desperate chase across Yas Island (in flip flops) swiftly followed when "that'"call came in to say he said "yes".

"There is a lotta rockin people out there," said Rose looking almost nervous [replace the word rockin with any swear word to get the full effects of the interview]. "Oops, is it bad to say that?" he added before quickly changing the subject.

"I played in the Middle East once before," continued Rose needing no prompt. "It was for about 50,000. It was insane. We've been trying to come play again since so tonight is gonna be wow. A lot of rockets and bombs. We're excited we try to go all out," he said ahead of the sell-out gig, the last of the Flash Entertainment-organised Yas Arena Show Weekends.

?Pride'

"For me one of the really cool things is I don't have to get on at everybody in the band. Hey do this, do that, you know. Because they're excited. Everybody takes a certain amount of pride in what they do. Plus they all get on at each other about it anyway. Everybody goes out there and tries to give everything they can. And we stay out there a couple hours more, you know, until we feel the crowd is happy. Or until we feel like we've done a good job. It's kinda like going to the gym or something, you know, you don't leave until you feel like you're supposed to."

There's a slight pause before all four members burst out laughing. "It's just hard to get in the gym," Rose eventually concedes. "Yeah they won't let me smoke on the treadmill," added guitarist DJ Ashba still laughing.

South America, Asia and just off the back of more than 40 gigs across Europe, Guns N' Roses is off to Russia next saying the diversity of an audience never fails to amaze them.

"I think it's a lot to do with the material from the past and a hell of a lot to do with the heart that was put into it then," said Rose his fingers covered with giant rings, each with a new plaster covering the finger underneath.

Heart

"But if we weren't putting the heart into it now, if I wasn't putting my heart into it, the fans, they're not gonna let me get away with it. We have to live up to something, have to work a bit harder because you're living up to the legend or a myth or whatever," he said, deep in thought. "It's more pressure when you're playing to live up to myth."

Guns N' Roses formed in 1985, a time when Rose insists things were very different when it came to restrictions regarding performances.

"In the club days, like '88 and '89, you could fall off stage and that was OK. Then it turned into I can't dive off but other bands can. I'd be doing everything I can not to fall off. I always see the tape on stage. The glow in the dark tape on the edge. I remember when they didn't have it at the LA Coliseum when we opened for The Stones. When the lights went down, I went down."

Multi-cultural crowd

Stopping to listen to the fans getting progressively louder, Rose said he was looking forward to playing to a multi-cultural crowd.

"The diverse crowd aspect is actually the most interesting part for me because I think that pretty much sums up why the Guns catalogue has stood the test of time," he said, still with an ear on the fans.

"It crosses genres, it crosses religious lines, you know. It's music that people can relate to. That there is such a diverse crowd out there it makes it a lot of fun."
Looking up from under the dark lenses of his aviators, Rose broke a smile. "We've crossed a few lines for certain," he said. "And we'll continue that."

http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainment/music/a-rose-is-still-a-rose-1.732139

_____________________________________________________


Hopefully there will be an interview posted soon.  I think his last interviews were with Billboard/Spinner in Feb. 2009.

Exclusive

Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose gives his first interview in 14 years?to Gulf News!

Gulf News Report: December 16, 2010

Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose gave his first interview in 14 years?according to his manager?to Gulf News on Thursday night, just hours before he took to the stage at Yas Arena in Abu Dhabi in his band's first UAE concert.

He told Gulf News backstage at the venue, "I'm so excited to be playing in front of such a multi-cultural crowd".
 
His manager expressed surprise that the red-haired singer was willing to give an interview, telling Gulf News, "I don't know what you've done, but you did something right!"

http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainment/music/guns-n-roses-singer-axl-rose-gives-his-first-interview-in-14-years-1.731671

That would be a pretty awesome Christmas present to the fans

If true, that's huge news!!!!!!!!! :peace:

First interview in 14 years is not accurate, though.

This article is up on their homepage, but I don't see the interview yet.

http://gulfnews.com/

Brilliant news, I now officially endorse this thread.  ;D

On a serious note, I would love an interview from Axl. I want to see how Axl felt this years touring went, and if he goes into detail about songs or any follow ups.  : ok:

That's a fucking great news!

edit: they said 14 years according to Axl's manager. So this means it's a video interview?

No just an interview over there with their reporters in over 14 years...
since axl's been on interviews since 1999-2001-2002-2006-2009

I hope that "I'm so excited to be playing in front of such a multi-cultural crowd" wasn't the interview.

Haha, didn't think about that, but I hope not.

I think the differences between an interview, and a comment are too big to be misunderstood as such a thing. But we'll see, and also why would GN'Rs manager get so shocked about Axl just saying a positive comment like that, rather than giving an actual interview.  :-\

That did cross my mind.  But I thought, no, that can't be it. :hihi:  I really hope that's not it.


When was the last video interview he did?

awesome hopefully hell provide some nice insights into 2011

lol- wouldn't surprise me :confused:

This site is a online version of a newspapper. Maybe it will be there...

Well put it this way, if that comment was what they classed as an interview. I think we have the greatest example known to man, of what the facepalm should stand for.  ;D

But I honestly think that they did do an interview, why would GN'Rs manager be so shocked over Axl saying it's an honour to play there.  :-\

Came across this last night on twitter and posted it in the Abu Dhabi thread...

Hopefully we get to see it soon !

Cheers

great deal axl,sounds really good.give em ur best love '

I don't know, but shouldn't the writer put WHEN this will be published/aired? ::)

hope it's not an holiday-hoax lol.but can't wait still '

Wouldn't we have seen this by now if there was a full interview?

Methinks that comment was all we're getting!

I was thinking that myself, maybe it was a mix up with the translation.

The comments that have been posted... :D

Added 14:39 December 17, 2010

so where is the interview??? kathy, perth, Australia

Added 13:32 December 17, 2010

hehe, true, where is the interview? Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 13:27 December 17, 2010

Where is the interview ? Anas , Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Added 11:28 December 17, 2010

Ok great , so where is the interview? Anonymous, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Maybe in tomorrows paper. In the Emirates the weekend is friday and saturday, not saturday and sunday. Could be the weekend edition was already more or less finished.

http://gulfnews.com/arts-entertainment/music/a-rose-is-still-a-rose-1.732139

A rose is still a rose


When Axl Rose and the boys burst onto the stage on Thursday night in Abu Dhabi, you could have already worked out that they were going to rock Abu Dhabi. What you couldn't have known, was just minutes before they set the stage alight, legendary rocker Rose was sipping tea while chatting to tabloid!.

"We better get out there before they tear the house down," said Rose tipping his head acknowledging the gathered crowd cranking up the volume.

"I'll be blaming you. You know that," he added as the entire group broke into laughter and headed off for the show.

According to his manager, Doc Mcghee, Rose has not given an interview for 14 years.

"I don't know what you've done, but you did something right," he said expressing his utter surprise that the red-haired singer was willing to talk.

Media-shy

The American rock star has been notoriously media-shy (read anti-media) since the implosion of the original band ? the hitmakers behind seminal rock songs such as Sweet Child O'Mine and Paradise City. Rose even wrote the song Get in the Ring about his disgust for the media and all the lies he claims journalists and publications printed over the years.

But this week was different and as he politely asked for "any kind of tea" from a member of his crew, he settled into his chair and prepared to open up.

As with every good story there's always a bit of drama. You see this story almost wasn't told because while tabloid! knew Rose was in town, it was also made clear, initially, there would be no interview (as has been the case for the past 14 years).

You can therefore understand why a desperate chase across Yas Island (in flip flops) swiftly followed when "that'"call came in to say he said "yes".

"There is a lotta rockin people out there," said Rose looking almost nervous [replace the word rockin with any swear word to get the full effects of the interview]. "Oops, is it bad to say that?" he added before quickly changing the subject.

"I played in the Middle East once before," continued Rose needing no prompt. "It was for about 50,000. It was insane. We've been trying to come play again since so tonight is gonna be wow. A lot of rockets and bombs. We're excited we try to go all out," he said ahead of the sell-out gig, the last of the Flash Entertainment-organised Yas Arena Show Weekends.

?Pride'

"For me one of the really cool things is I don't have to get on at everybody in the band. Hey do this, do that, you know. Because they're excited. Everybody takes a certain amount of pride in what they do. Plus they all get on at each other about it anyway. Everybody goes out there and tries to give everything they can. And we stay out there a couple hours more, you know, until we feel the crowd is happy. Or until we feel like we've done a good job. It's kinda like going to the gym or something, you know, you don't leave until you feel like you're supposed to."

There's a slight pause before all four members burst out laughing. "It's just hard to get in the gym," Rose eventually concedes. "Yeah they won't let me smoke on the treadmill," added guitarist DJ Ashba still laughing.

South America, Asia and just off the back of more than 40 gigs across Europe, Guns N' Roses is off to Russia next saying the diversity of an audience never fails to amaze them.

"I think it's a lot to do with the material from the past and a hell of a lot to do with the heart that was put into it then," said Rose his fingers covered with giant rings, each with a new plaster covering the finger underneath.

Heart

"But if we weren't putting the heart into it now, if I wasn't putting my heart into it, the fans, they're not gonna let me get away with it. We have to live up to something, have to work a bit harder because you're living up to the legend or a myth or whatever," he said, deep in thought. "It's more pressure when you're playing to live up to myth."

Guns N' Roses formed in 1985, a time when Rose insists things were very different when it came to restrictions regarding performances.

"In the club days, like '88 and '89, you could fall off stage and that was OK. Then it turned into I can't dive off but other bands can. I'd be doing everything I can not to fall off. I always see the tape on stage. The glow in the dark tape on the edge. I remember when they didn't have it at the LA Coliseum when we opened for The Stones. When the lights went down, I went down."

Multi-cultural crowd

Stopping to listen to the fans getting progressively louder, Rose said he was looking forward to playing to a multi-cultural crowd.

"The diverse crowd aspect is actually the most interesting part for me because I think that pretty much sums up why the Guns catalogue has stood the test of time," he said, still with an ear on the fans.

"It crosses genres, it crosses religious lines, you know. It's music that people can relate to. That there is such a diverse crowd out there it makes it a lot of fun."

Looking up from under the dark lenses of his aviators, Rose broke a smile. "We've crossed a few lines for certain," he said. "And we'll continue that."

Now that's a real interview, ha! Thanks! :)

Thanks for the interview. :)  I'll post it in the first post.

Thanks for doing the interview Axl. It?s always great to read some of your thoughts.  : ok:

Small but great one! ;D

Cool, I know a lot of people on at least one other board were spazzing it wasn't longer, but given they were in town for a show, I think it's perfect. Axl ought to consider doing more of these. Tell a few stories, talk about the band a bit - gets people interested. I had to laugh about the falling off the stage comments and no reflective tape, I never realized they actually used that to let artists know where the edge was but I guess it's a good idea *cough*Aerosmith*cough*

I'm a bit confused about the Russia thing-didn't they already play there?

Now that's what I call an interview, thank God they didn't mean that comment.  :D

Seems like a few of the band members were also present at the interview as well which is nice to see. I love Axl's true words, and I agree with the pressure to live up to the Myth. Axl carries the whole Guns N' Roses Myth on the back of his shoulders, and he does it superbly.

Thank you Axl for giving this interview, we love you.  :love:

Yeah Axl thank you, feel free to spoil us with some more, mkay?  ;D

awesome but i had some jokes for axl lol.i think that's axl coming back to axl again.axl isn't ment not to share himself,cause he is a good person just misunderstood.im thinking that axl likes this band line up very much.and im sure they respect him as he does them.


THANK -YOU
LOVE

Great interview...I'm stoked about this, really thought that earlier quote was all there'd be

There's a slight pause before all four members burst out laughing. "It's just hard to get in the gym," Rose eventually concedes. "Yeah they won't let me smoke on the treadmill," added guitarist DJ Ashba still laughing.

 :hihi:

The interview was nice, but not very good from a journalistic view was it? More of a fan describing a nice meeting. I understand there were no-no questions. But no questions about a possible us-tour? (thats what Im waiting for, want to buy tickets and plan the trip) no qustions about a new album? Playing with Duff?

Good thing the band seems to be in a great mood thoug :beer:

I don't think people in Abu Dhabi are concerned about an US tour. I bet they like to hear more about what Axl thinks of their part of the world etc.

It's natural...


This interview is from a newspaper, not a music magazine..




/jarmo

Sweet interview from a sweet man ! Thx Axl
I'm looking forward to 2011 & 2012 I'm sure there are some great GN'R years to come !

Good "interview". It was more like "Axl talking with himself."

Very cool anyway.

sometimes talking to yourself,you get better answers lol.i think he didn't say things as getten into a debate,that some want.
i think it was fair to give axl space and not force him not to open up.
if felt like he was under pressure to do n interview with question's he didn't want to get into.so letten axl speak his mind is a good thing.

Imo thats a great interview. Very cool.

Dont get me wrong its great to hear from Axl but that wasn't really an Interview was it?

I :beer: like it because Axl is talking

It was a local press interview, for its local readers....

They don't tend to look to dig up a "trophy" story, but take pride in getting "a" story. In this case, the first in 14 years, the jurno will dine out on that for years to come. Unless he was a massive fan, he'd not have the back-ground to many of the rumours that we'd love to know answers to, he's looking at it from the average persons knowledge of the band and based his questions on that.

Just when i thought about new interview with Axl, this comes up. Amazing thing to read, the "myth" part was my favorite.

Ahh yeah WTF?  & why is no one addressing this? Either he forgot they played there- which is very hard to believe, They are going back there soon or this interview is whack- strange :confused:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoddQY5BN8A

 :beer: :smoking: :drool:

almost all members of GNR + Axl doin' an interview? it didn't happened since the 1990s. What a surprise ! :)

maybe there's a longer video to come...

This is really great, might be a teaser...
It's awesome to see the whole band together doing this !
I think this tells a lot, my gut feeling tells me that everyone in the band knows this is it and how it should be !!! True Gunners !
(just wonder where Frank was hiding out though)

Cheers

Very very cool to capture Axl with the band on video like that! Awsome! I hope they do more interviews like that toghether. Would be good to be on Letterman and Leno like that, and play a song!   :drool:

Thanks! That was cool!

that was so cool  ;D

Great video, thanks!


One small thing: the Chinese Democracy riff at the begining sounds like Ashba live. :)

man that was kool,live right in ya face shit '
dizzy had me laugh about the door thing.this is so friggin  great im in aawww land righ now and fuck oz land cause there is no better place then this right now !

Awesome clip. Everyone looking good.

What an awesome clip, everyone looks amazing.

Look at Pitman, what a legend. And also Ron looks absolutely legendary with that beard. And of course Axl just looks amazing, and younger than ever.

Now that's the kind of clip, that will silence all of those idiots who try to say that this is not a band.  :yes:

yeah, really cool video of the band. it gives me the envy to see a new video of the band for a new single...

Great video! thanks GN'R!