Here Today... Gone To Hell!

DJ ASHBA Guests On New Iron City Rocks

DJ Ashba is featured on the latest Iron City Rocks podcast (episode #129) prior to the Guns N' Roses U.S. tour.

Iron City Rocks: Is there more [Guns N' Roses] material in the future?

Dj Ashba: Absolutely, yeah absolutely, that's our main focus with it right now.  Obviously with me being a song writer and producer.

I don't jump into anything just to jump into something.  When I got the phone call...it's the same way I co-wrote and co-produced the Motley Crue stuff.  I know I could bring something to the table.  I understand the music because I grew up on it.

I feel the same way with Guns, and Slash, you know, I grew up cutting my teeth on people like Slash.  I have the utmost respect for his guitar playing and his style. I feel I get where he's coming from on that. No one will ever replace him and that's not why I'm here. I felt I could do the gig justice as far as staying true to the vision where everything left off. 

That's really why I got involved.  I wanted to work with Axl -- I think I can bring something to the table. He [Axl] has a lot of material -- a ton or really good music just sitting there, and I've written a bunch of stuff for him too.  That's the goal...to put out hopefully the next best Guns N' Roses record.

There's more, this part @23.20, he starts talking about Axl around 22:30: http://ironcityrocks.com/?powerpress_pinw=1048-podcast

so DJ will be the producer of the next LP?

That kinda makes sense, since DJ helped write almost all of the songs on M?tley Cr?e's Saints Of Los Angeles album and the album was actually pretty good.  : ok:

With DJ it will be more classic rock maybe, and loud guitars. God, can't wait. I hope they songs like Oh My God too tho :peace:

I honestly believe Mr Ashba is best thing to happen to GnR in a long time i think he and Axl will be a proper songwriting team like Izzy/Axl back in the day.
I also agree that it will probably be more rocknroll and less industrial sounding which would appease a lot of old school fans.
I wonder if the stuff with Ashba will come out after next Chinese Democracy album with The General , Soul Monster , Atlas Shrugged etc or if they will put some brand new songs on the next album along side them

I think i know the answer to that question but i dont know if i can share it right now

Agreed....

It seems Axl has formed an extra friendship w/ DJ, that you just didn't see w/ Finck & BH...

I really hope DJ takes the next Album by the horns, I think he can get things going quickly

I'm kind of afraid.

Why?

Seconded.

I agree with sworrm on this one....Dj is the best thing to happen to Gn'R in terms of Personel. Not a diss to the other guys by any means whatsoever, but he seems the only one with any amount of influence over Axl.

Not to mention the fact that DJ is a amazing musician and writer, among the million other things he does.

Can anyone point me to what they would consider to be a "great" song that DJ has written?   

Both Sixx A.M. albums?

Umm.... Let me try again.   Has DJ written anything with the depth of say Prostitute, or Catcher or Breakdown or Locomotive or Estranged ?  I guess that is my question.   

No, but Sixx A.M. and Motley aren't really the type of bands that would play those types of songs either.....give the guy a chance before writing him off.

I think DJ is very business savvy and if he motivates Axl into working on getting a new album out then that can only be a good thing : ok:

That's good to hear, because I think that is one thing they have been sorely lacking.
Seems Axl has had a hard time finding a guitarist he is totally in sync with as well.
Maybe Ashba solves both issues.
Throw in the fact that he seems like the type of guy that could light a fire under his ass and it seems like DJ was a great find after all.
Hopefully it translates in the studio.

Why?

Are you guys afraid that the new material will sound like Motley Crue or Sixx:AM?

Axl will guide the sound of the album, as this is still GN'R.  I think what will happen is that Axl will incorporate DJ's contributions and musical personality into the sonic tapestry of what he wants the next GN'R record to sound like, as opposed to letting DJ control the sound of the new material. 

I think that's what happened with Bucket and Robin, too.  They added their distinct styles to the GN'R sound, but they didn't take it over, IMO.

Ali

Its always good to see that the band is planning new things for the future. Definitely.

But I think its safe to say goodbye to all hope of a more industrial sound (like the leaked demos) for the next album. And I was happy living with that hope...

If I'm being honest, that's exactly what I'm worried about. I didn't hate SoLA or the Sixx:AM albums but I didn't love either. I absolutely LOVE Chinese on the other hand. But I hear what you're saying too. I'm sure Axl wouldn't just give in and put something out that he wasn't totally about musically and emotionally.

I'll be going into any future Guns N' Roses material with open ears but I'm just slightly worried about DJ being heavily involved since I haven't liked any of his previous material much.

Sixx AM and Motely Crue is not good music. Let's hope he can contribute by bringing a positive vibe (which he does) and keep it at that.

i was under the assumption chinese democracy 2 would be all the songs not on the first album. has something changed? i don't see how dj ashba can make new music when new music is already in the can ready to go for the next chinese democracy album

I just hope they don't throw away left over songs from the chidem era.

would love to hear each piece of music made by whomever was in the band at a certain point.

But I would love to hear a mix album with maybe disc 1 being all left over songs or at least the best of em and disc 2 being songs written by this band who is performing live today and not yesterday.

I don't blame you or anyone else for having that thought.  It's completely understandable.  I just think that at the end of the day, Axl is the captain of this ship, and while every one contributes and has a say creatively, I think Axl will do what he did with Chinese Democracy:  make a GN'R record. 

I REALLY don't think we will hear a Sixx:AM style record with Axl singing over the tracks.  I also think that we should keep in mind there is material still recorded from the CD sessions that DJ may just be adding lead guitar parts for.

Ali

What about Beautiful Creatures? That's probably "most GNR-like" music DJ has been involved, yet.

yeah I think "Ballad of Death' is great, right up there with just about anything GNR has ever done guitar wise.  That's right I said ever.

Sixx A.M is really good, the last Motley Crue was decent, but one can only do so much with Vince Neil being your lead singer.

is leftovers still the plan for chinese democracy 2? remember axl talking about song titles of songs recorded in the can like the general, atlas shrugged, jackie chan, and soul monster? i assume this is what the next guns n roses album will look like. with a new one with dj ashba down the line.........

if he plays solos, compose music, produce the monster, that's a lot for one man, and a huge influence on the finale record.

i honnestly prefer to see Bumblefoot producing it, because his abilities are in my opinion better, and I prefer his musical tastes and influences.

but we'll see

Here's a little more of what he says in the interview, roughly...

Dj Ashba: I don't jump into anything just to jump into something.  When I got the phone call...it's the same way I co-wrote and co-produced the Motley Crue stuff.  I know I could bring something to the table.  I understand the music because I grew up on it.

I feel the same way with Guns, and Slash, you know, I grew up cutting my teeth on people like Slash.  I have the utmost respect for his guitar playing and his style. I feel I get where he's coming from on that. No one will ever replace him and that's not why I'm here. I felt I could do the gig justice as far as staying true to the vision where everything left off. 

That's really why I got involved.  I wanted to work with Axl -- I think I can bring something to the table. He [Axl] has a lot of material -- a ton or really good music just sitting there, and I've written a bunch of stuff for him too.  That's the goal...to put out hopefully the next best Guns N' Roses record.

Haven't heard any of that material but I'd be open to listening to it.

Someone else mentioned Ballad of Death and I don't hear anything special there.

Beautiful creatures is a truely great band.
it's def gnr type of music!

anyone who doesn't have that should listen to it and you know exactly why he is the mainman in gnr right now.

but besides that, he's done excelent work with sixx am and Crue.

 DJ ASHBA is the best thing to happen to G N'R period everybody will see that with the next record.

See, that's my point. You're saying Beautiful Creatures is great but you're also saying his work with Crue and Sixx is "excellent" and I find all of that work to be "meh" at best. I should and can track down some Beautiful Creatures to hear it for myself.

dj ashba i don't think will be on the next record. axl said the next record follows up chinese democracy. leftovers. the songs axl talked about in an interview. a chinese democracy trilogy. i don't think dj ashba can be on a guns record until chinese democracy 2 and 3 come out first. these records will credit brain, robin finck, buckethead, josh freese, paul tobias and various new members post slash, duff, izzy, and adler. maybe can expect dj ashba on chinese democracy 4 or something else guns n roses!

Even if this is the case.....DJ will rerecord Buckethead or Finks parts, and also add in some of his own thoughts.

i don't think axl wants dj to do that. it's like having bumblefoot re-record robin's parts on til and bucket's parts on twat. axl didn't go for this on chinese democracy. i don't think axl will go for it on chinese democracy 2 and 3. if there's songs which features even bigger solos than before from finck and bucket. you don't want to re-record that!

Either way, I haven't heard of CD 2 and 3 for a long time.  Don't think that's necessarily the case now

Hard to know exactly what will happen here- it's GN'R afterall. It would seem odd (and particularly ill-advised) for DJ to be talking this way if he's been given a strict directive that he won't be appearing (or otherwise contributing) on the next Guns' album(s) in any way though IMHO. My guess (and nothing more) is that similar to Bumblefoot and Frank on Chinese Democracy- DJ might be afforded the opportunity to record some additions (e.g. some rhythm parts and perhaps a chance to re-work a solo or two al la Bumblefoot on CD) and saddle-up with Axl in the producer's chair a bit too before the next album(s) go(es) out. My additional guess is Axl's open (but not comitted) to the idea of seeing whether DJ can add a little "sunset strip" grime and grit to what is already in the can (which I assume is super slick and sheen like Chinese Democracy). I personally love both styles and feel Axl/GN'R have been successful with both- but am ultimately most interested in what combination of styles Axl finally settles on as best. We shall see... :peace:

All this aside- whatever happens- DJ has been a fantastic addition to the band from a live performance and overall "image" perspective IMHO. It's almost as if he's been there from the start sometimes. He certainly has a lot of reverence and respect for the history of the band- which is great to see. :peace:

Axl picks and chooses what he likes and has a pretty significant influence on everything he does. Anything that GNR puts out will be 100% what Axl wants, so I wouldn't worry people.

And my personal opinion is that the next album will be a mix of what Axl has already done and what this new band has done behind the scenes. It'll be whatever Axl is feeling for this next album. To think 3 cds are complete and done and already planned to be released is crap. Sure, there might be 3 cds worth of material, but nothing is for sure. I think the great plan of the 3 cds and all of that shit is just something someone took from hearing Axl talk about what he'd like to do. Not necessarily a fact or true thing that is happening. Axl doesn't have this massive, mind boggling plan like some of you think. If so, why did the release of CD become such a weird thing and end up not being as big as it should have been? Nothing is certain in this band, and just hope we get the best record this band can put out next.

Bumblefoot was in the band for less time than DJ has been so far before"Chinese Democracy" came out and he contributed to the record in a pretty big way.  Frank too.  I would imagine that DJ would be all over the next record.  Axl certainly goes out of his way to make the albums a band effort, I can't really see them leaving Dj off of it.

axl hasn't said cd 2 and 3 have been scrapped. i'm going by axl. the plan is a chinese democracy trilogy. i don't see axl hacking the trilogy up much with re-recording. especially if finck and bucket top themselves with new solos. why would axl change that? it's like having someone do the SCOM solo completely different live. axl would never do it. it's slash blood, sweat, and tears. the same for finck and bucket in the studio with the leftovers. their blood and sweat. axl won't be messing with it 

I generally agree. That said- didn't Axl let Bumblefoot write and record his own solo for "Shackler's Revenge" replacing what Buckethead had there initially? If true- that's fairly significant IMHO as Buckethead has a writing credit on "Shackler's" and that was long thought of a "Bucket and Brain" song- at least I thought that was the caswe anyway. Personally- I think Axl will try to be as re respectful to what's already there as he can be- but he wouldn't pass up the opportunity to replace something pre-existing with something from DJ or others that really inspires him and he feels is an improvement (or is just simply more where he is now creatively than he was 5-10 years ago). Just my .02.

but if axl has another twat or better up his sleeve on the chinese democracy trilogy with finck and bucket............he won't mess creativity up and have dj do his interpretation of their big solos on the albums 

I just listened to the first single off the second Sixx AM album This Is Gonna Hurt called Lies Of The Beautiful People and the song sounded amazing, but the guitarsolo completely floored me! Best shit I've heard in a while! Just listen (http://youtu.be/JzAv7K8BtN0)! I'm certainly not afraid that DJ's influence would make the next GNR album sound like M?tley or Sixx AM, cause those are both Nikkis babies and GNR is Axl's. What I'm trying to say is that DJ adding his flavour to Axl's musical ideas could very easily result in the best album GNR has put out since UYI, hell, maybe the best album they've put out ever.  :beer:

chinese democracy is a pretty good guns n roses record. i'm sure chinese democracy 2 and 3 are just as good if not better than chinese democracy. dj ashba has a lot of work ahead of him if he's going to top the chinese democracy trilogy with his own guns n roses record

But it wouldn't be a Guns N' Roses record if it was DJ's record now would it? Like i said before, GNR is and always Will be Axl's baby and Axl has the final say. I just don't think DJ has been able to really showcase his talents in GNR yet and I'm definitely looking forward to hearing what he can contribute to the GNR sound.  :yes:

dj is very talented. we haven't heard the last of brain, freese, finck, bucket, and tobias on future guns n roses records. it'll be a few years before we hear mainly dj ashba solos on a guns record

I think the "Axl's baby", and "Axl's vision" has been grossly overstated and exaggerated more and more as time goes on.
Seems like revisionist history to me. It was very much a band effort in the beginning. Take one member out of the equation, and who knows what Appetite for Destruction sounds like, or if it even exists at all. Musically, Slash and Izzy's stamp is all over it, and in my opinion they were the engine that drove the band's sound early on. Axl obviously had his share of influence, and he wrote the majority of the lyrics, but there are also songs where he wrote nothing. Simply put, Guns N' Roses was the vision of Axl, Izzy, Slash, Duff and Steven.

Was it Axl's "vision" that created the sound of Chinese Democracy? or did it have more to do with the personnel?
I think it's somewhere in between. I think Axl would tell you the same.

If DJ is bringing ideas to Axl, and they make it on a future Guns N' Roses record, that's not Axl's vision.
It's Guns N' Roses.

Anyways, I'm excited to hear what DJ has to offer. I'm the furthest thing there is to a Motley Crue fan, so I haven't heard his work with them, or Beautiful Creatures for that matter. Even though I appreciate what Finck brought, and really enjoyed some of Bucket's contributions, DJ for some reason seems like a good fit. I'm hoping for a more raw sound next time around. It's good to hear that he was a fan of the band prior, and obviously respects it's legacy.

This I agree with (at least as far as I can guess- who the heck knows at the end of the day). I wouldn't think Axl would be interested in DJ's reinterpretation of Finck and Buckethead solos that he's already fully satisfied with (though I don't think we could rule out DJ getting the opportunity to re-record some of Tobias's or Fortus's rhythm work on said tracks). Far more likely that if DJ's given a chance to write and record new solos- it will be tracks or "parts"/sketches that Axl's not yet fully satisfied with IMHO. Anyway- I certainly don't think we've heard the last of Finck and Buckethead- I just think we're going to hear some of DJ's input too...

i agree. i'm itching to hear finck and bucket's solos on the chinese democracy 2 and 3 tracks!

You only have to read the internet chat Axl did on these pages to know that there isnt a Chinese Democracy 3 he said "ive always seen it as a double"
and also that they were working on 32 songs 14 of which have been released , so that leaves 18 not enough for 2 more.
I think there will be 1 more and the 4 or 5 leftover songs may get used as bonus songs on a reissue or something.
Any thing that hes doing with ashba and the new band now wont come under the Chinese Democracy banner

DJ/Producer In MC... GOOD, In GN'R... Maybe Very Good, but I Believe/Want In This Moment, Only Guitar.

I think this is really cool news, and can't wait until we all actually "hear" new Guns N' Roses material.

I too think that any future releases will be mostly Finck and Bucket written and performed material along with add-ons by current members. Although I think Ron has more chance at being on much more tracks simply because he's been there longer. I would like to see what DJ can come up with for Guns, but don't think it will be anymore than a few ideas here and there.

As I said, I think Axl has had the next 2 albums done since the end of 2006. All he has to do now is work out tracklisting, and add any overdubs or make any changes he feels he needs to.

when you think chinese democracy 2's coming?

You do know that "DJ" Ashba doesn't spin records.... Right?

Nice, thats all he has to do?  Sounds like we'll get new material any day!   :hihi:

I think we will have to wait at least another 2-3 years, and that's being optimistic to be honest. Although I'd like to see it released within 1-2 years, but don't see it happening.  :-[


Yes, I know..... a few overdubs and changes here or there should be done within a few days right?.  :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

THERE IS NO CHINESE DEMOCRACY 3 , he said it his fuckin self during the forum chats "ive always seen it as a double" just read the convo dexter had with us

Guys,

We all know DJ can do the magic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7dRV_h2OQE

He definitely is the best collaboration guy to uncle Axl. That's it.

I have to admit: at first I was always a bit skeptical with the 'new band'... but tried to be positive where possible and needed
Now, I really need to loose the old times for good. - which is a bit sad yes - ..(not that I had hopes for a reunion, more a kind of nostalgic feeling)

The new guys are all fantastic! I really mean that. DJ is a cool motherfucker and plays the guitar in the way why I started to love GN'R
Bumble has another style, but I dig that also as much!!
Then Richard is probably one of the best 'classic style rock' guitarist players out there.

In other words: can't wait for this band to bring out a fucking album! I have no doubt it will be a classic mean-bone pure rock n' roll record!! C'mon you gunners!!!

 :peace:

makes me think about Ricky Martin. or Enrique Iglesias. that's why I'm kind of afraid.  :hihi:

axl talked about a chinese democracy trilogy

I think Sebastian Bach did, not Axl

if bach did he knows his stuff. he's not mis-informed about guns n roses. sebastian's one of axl's best and closest friends. i believe in the chinese democracy trilogy. they might be leftovers from chinese democracy. but songs that should have a place in the sun too. i'd be the first one at walmart or a music store buying the leftover chinese democracy albums!

Dude, stop it!  There is NO Trilogy.  Us that have been here longer and have read all interviews, know that this is not the case.  Time to move on.  Not sure how many people have to say this to you.  Axl has talked about two albums among the Chinese days,not three.  Bach said 3, but Axl since talked 2 after Bach said that. And I'm sure Buckethead, Fink, Bumble, and DJ will ALL have some input when its all said and done

2 albums. when's your guess the second chinese democracy album comes?

In GNR's world, it's really hard to guess.  Axl doesn't give into pressures and based on Chinese, things really need to be right for something to be released.  He even commented that Chinese was rushed at release. 

I would say best case scenario is that we get one at the end of 2012.  I can see them going in to work/finish the next album after they finish this tour.  I don't see them touring anywhere else after the US, so it would be logical to think that they could go in and work on a record.  I don't think that they are just gonna not do anything.  However, the next question is how long that may take....and that's the million dollar question.  With Axl, I could see it turning into another 3 years??  However, it seems as though there is a lot of material already down, so it shouldn't take that long.  And if finishing stuff that is already started is the plan....I would bet that DJ and Bumble will add a few things of their own on top of it all....among some other changes or additions by everyone else. 

I think the best thing for us fans to do right now is just wait and see what happens and not think about it too much. That routine worked well for the 15 years between TSI and CD, so it should also work now.  :hihi: :rofl:

I think Ashba probably have something to contribute to Gn'R. I'm not the biggest fan of Sixx Am or Saints of Los Angeles, but he is a creative guy. And working with Axl will get the best out of him.

Anyway, here's link to another interview with Ashba, including positive comments on Axl, Halloween and being a Gn'R-member :) http://www.goupstate.com/article/20111027/ARTICLES/110271012/1027/OPINION?Title=Costumed-or-not-Guns-N-Roses-set-to-rock-on-Halloween (http://www.goupstate.com/article/20111027/ARTICLES/110271012/1027/OPINION?Title=Costumed-or-not-Guns-N-Roses-set-to-rock-on-Halloween)

Axl talked about three albums in 2002.  Who really knows how much material is lying around?

That is true, didn't he say it at the London (UK) 2002 show at the Docklands... :yes:

So yes, I think at this point Axl has even changed his mind a few times about where he wants the next CD(s) to go. If I was to be honest, I would say that I think Axl has grew out of the Nu-Metal, Industrial tinged direction he was heading in around 1999-2002. Which is a shame as I loved that version of GN'R, but I think Axl seems to be going back to a rock n' roll direction, what GN'R is used to.

But bearing that in mind, I still feel that the Robin/Bucket/Brain era of songs are still the strongest and most complete material GN'R has created to this day. So thankfully, I still cling on to the hope that any future release will be heavilly influenced by the 1999-2002 sessions.  ;)

Yeah, I fully believe that Axl is at the helm, but that the others bring ideas to the table... I remember him saying something about that's how the band works to this day. I look forward to any new Guns N' Roses material and I think that DJ's skills will be utilized by Axl the best way possible. I say bring it on! Call it Chinese Democracy II or something new, doesn't matter to me, just as long as it's good and you know it will be with those guys!

what if the record company wants chinese democracy 2 out before the u.s. tour. let's say the album is done without dj on it. still holds true to brain, finck, bucket, stinson, fortus, and reed. would axl give the go ahead for its release?

Uhh, the US tour starts tomorrow??  I dont' think the album is going to be released tonight.  We have heard numerous people say that vocals still need to be laid down, among other things.

I'm completely down with what janus said earlier about a double cd-1 from this lineup and 1 from the CD sessions.  But for marketing it should be done as a new lineup release and a separate deluxe version with the old CD stuff that folks like us are dying to hear. 

And in 13 days I'm finally gonna get to see this band live!  Sorry, just had to throw that in there. :beer:

From another interview with Dj, he says that exact same thing to Guitar World that he says in this radio interview...

Guitar World: Now this is the million dollar question: Is there new material in the future of Guns N? Roses?

Dj Ashba: Absolutely! That?s our main focus. Obviously with me being a song writer and producer, when I got the phone call, I knew I could bring something to the table because I grew up on this music. I cut my teeth on guys like Slash and have the utmost respect for his guitar playing and style. I feel I get where he was coming from. No one will ever replace him, and that?s not why I?m here. I felt I could do the gig justice and stay true to the vision. That?s why I got involved. I really wanted to work with Axl and I thought I could bring something to the table. Axl has a lot of material. I?ve written a bunch of stuff for him.

I can see where having you in the band could be quite an asset. You produce material at a feverous pace. You are like having the producer, guitarist, art director and technologies in the band all at the same time.

I don?t sleep much (laughs)!

http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-guns-n-roses-and-sixxam-guitarist-dj-ashba-discusses-gear-producing-and-future-gnr

Wasn't BH out of the band by the time CD was released? His parts are still on there

i was thinking maybe a surprise release in stores. walmart. bestbuy. all the music stores!