Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Given his inclusion on almost every track of Chinese Democracy it's rather unusual that Paul Huge (or Tobias) hasn't been mentioned or featured on these pages for a while. That's probably because, short of his obituary, there's relatively little that could be added to his membership bio.

I suppose, given DJ and Bumble now being firmly in the band, that Tobias has also been formally replaced by Fortus both inside the studio and outside? I believe I read that Tobias left the band because he didn't like touring but is a man who, in Axl's own words, "there wouldn't have been a Guns N' Roses without"

It's been almost a decade now since Richard Fortus replaced Paul Tobias in Guns N' Roses, but what has happened to Paul, and will he rejoin GNR in the studio in a songwriting/participation sense for the follow up to Chinese Democracy?

I would be very surprised to hear that Paul was still somehow involved in any kind of writing process for Guns N' Roses. I think all that was done in the period 1997-2004. As far as Axl saying that there wouldn't be a GN'R without him, I think that comment was meant in a way to let fans know that he has been a very loyal friend to Axl all these years. And he may well have been there to talk to Axl about his issues or problems when no one else was.

But all of those years are long gone now, Axl seems to be happy as ever. And I don't think that Paul would be involved in any kind of writing for current GN'R, although I could see him speaking to Axl via telephone once in a while.

Didn't Axl say in the online chats from '08 that Paul still writes and records with them?

What you said does ring a bell to be honest, he might of well said that. But I still think it's unlikely for Paul to be involved writing wise in the capacity that he was earlier last decade. I think he may see Axl once in a while these days, like maybe every month or so. I no doubt trust they are still good friends, but I think members like DJ, Ron, Richard and Chris have a much bigger role to play in writing these days.

But I also still stand by my view that most of the material on the next album will indeed be Pauls, Fincks and Buckets material anyway. So Paul don't really need to be there, because all of his material is probably still in the vaults waiting to be used by Axl.

Paul's into the Wall Street and day trading type of shit but - he's still in contact with Axl & the band.