Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Frank Ferrer via The Classic Metal Show:
Who's ready for the CMS tonight? The weather's all kinds of fucked up, but we have a pretty hot show coming live! Frank Ferrer from Guns N' Roses and Anthony Esposito from Ace Frehley's band will be stopping by early! Plus all our usual stuff.

Let's see some of you that are snowed in tonight in the chatroom - www.chatandkill.com

http://www.theclassicmetalshow.com/

THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW can be heard live on Saturdays from 9pm-3am EST, and in rebroadcast Sundays from 11am-5pm EST and Mondays from 9am-3pm EST exclusively on the CMS RADIO NETWORK!






/jarmo

Wow.  I really enjoyed listening to that.  Youze gotta catch this on the replay or their podcast thing.  They asked Frank really good GNR questions and about his other band, Pisser.

Frank went on 2 hours into the show.  Gave great answers to what could have easily been an awkward situation.  Love his take on 'what makes a band'.  Frank came across as genuine and fun.

One of the best interviews I've heard.   : ok:
 

Sorry I missed it. Could you please be specific about the Q&A with Frank? Did he say something about the upcoming tour or the album? Do you have transcrips of the interview?

Thanks

Great to see Frank interviewed individually for a change. I think he's an amazing person, who Axl is very lucky to have on board. I hope Frank continues to do more things like this that establish him in his own right.

Fond this through their web site: http://www.spreaker.com/user/cmsrocks

Click Episodes and scroll down.

Here's the direct link: http://www.spreaker.com/user/cmsrocks/interview-with-gnrs-frank-ferrer



/jarmo

Thanks. I got it surffin?around the website. Frank really seem like a cool and funny guy. He should be giving interviews more often. The thing is this interview is more about his other band Pisser than GN?R.

It was interesting when he said that GN?R is not chaotic but not very normal either. And the funny way he answer the question about the new album. Well it was funny for me. But some other people may not find it funny at all

 :-\

Frank has a lot of respect for the past as well as the present band

It's only about 20 minutes so you should check it out.  If you want the cliff notes, here goes.  There were not any real details revealed or discussed regarding GnR (shocker)...the interview mainly focused on his side project, Pisser, which he said he felt more comfortable in, and felt more like a "professional musician" in Guns (his words not mine).  Did anyone else think that was a bit odd/telling?  He laughed off a question about a new Guns album, and noted that GnR "pays the bills" (his words, not mine).

What's odd? That playing in GN'R makes him feel more like a professional musician than playing in Pisser?
That people attending shows by said bands expect different things and hence makes it a different kind of thing?



/jarmo

IMO, Ginger King's 'cliff notes' is exactly why people need to hear this interview themselves.

Yes, Frank did used the words "professional musician" and "pays the bills" BUT when you hear him say them within the context of the questions asked and answered, those words take on an entirely different meaning.

The "professional musician" answer was to a question about the difference between playing in a band like Pisser compared to playing in GNR.  Frank was basically saying it's like comparing apples and oranges (my words, not his).  What he did say was something to the effect of Pisser is a more small club personal feeling compared to being in GNR where Axl is the obvious main focus to the fans/media/etc and sees his role is to bring his top "professional" mindset/skills that will accentuate the high quality expected of Axl/GNR at every show, whether festival crowd or intimate club size.  (You seriously have to hear him say it himself.)

As for the "pays the bills" comment, if I'm remembering correctly, he was saying at present he's only doing a few Pisser shows a year when GNR is on hiatus.  Currently, his main income is from being a member of GNR.  (Again, you really need to hear him say it himself.)
     

I think I did recommend that everyone check it out for themselves.  I'm just telling you my thoughts about it.  Regarding the "professional musician" comment, he said he loves playing in Pisser because the music comes from the heart, and he's great friends with all the band members.  Then, with Guns, he's more of a professional musician, meaning a hired hand, IMO.  The vibe I got was a a guy that plays Guns n Roses, but not because he loves it, but because it "pays the bills" so he can do the things he truly enjoys.

I also found it odd that he described the current state of Guns as "edgy" (his words not mine) to explain why things are never easy.  I don't think there's anything edgy about this band today, or that that's the reason for the band's inability to release new music, communicate with fans, etc.

Clerarly, you have a different opinion of the interview than me.  Congrats.  I don't think I'm the only one with this opinon (maybe I am).  BTW, Frank seems like a good dude...I just think his heart's in something else besides Guns.   

Your not the only one with that opinion.   I would say most people around this place pretty much know most GNR members are doing this for the paycheck.  If I had to guess....I would say Tommy, Frank, Chris, Dizzy, and Richard.  I would say Bumble is on his way out, and DJ is still in that stage where everything is new and he actually thinks he can influence someone. 

Nice to hear something from Frank for the first time in a long time (my words not his)

good interview.

That's amusing.

A professional musician wants to make a living on performing music? Who knew!


Frank was very respectful to everybody involved, past and present, with GN'R.
Yet it seems like it's very difficult for some of you to show any kind of respect to the current members of the band....





/jarmo

Woah, who's being disrespectful to Frank?  I said he sounded like a good dude, and I agree he was very respectful about the history of guns and prior band members.  What I got from the interview was a guy who wasn't very passionate about playing in GnR...a guy who was hired to help Axl succeed, to "take the pressure off" Axl (his words, not mine).  IMO, he seemed resigned that he's in a band that plays GnR, and not in a band that is making GnR music.  How many songs have been written since Frank joined the band almost 8 years ago? 

Also, do you think it's a coincidence that every member in GnR (sans Axl) has a side project where they create and release new music?  Christ, even Pittman's in another band.  Do you find that to be a strange coincidence?  Sure, other bands have members that have side projects...but all of them?  To me, it's an indication that these guys know that if they want to write, create, release music, it has to be done elsewhere.  I'm sure you (and the Gypsy) have a different take.   

I don't exactly expect you to say anything even remotely nice about Frank or anybody else in the band, so.. Good job.  : ok:


He's not passionate about playing in GN'R? I guess if you're looking for something like that, you will find it.
The fact that he loves to play the songs seems to mean nothing....

How did his lack of passion manifest itself at the show you saw last year? Did you notice it during the show? Did it bother you during the show?
If you can tell that by this interview, I'm sure you can tell during a show too right?


He was hired to take the pressure of Axl? I thought he was in the band to play drums....

Why is everything so negative? Yes, the spotlight is on Axl. Everybody knows that. There's nothing weird about that. The fact that Frank mentioned how the rest of the band are there to support him, since he's the one with all the pressure/expectations/responsibility, doesn't it make it something negative.



No, it's not weird to have a side project. Duff McKagan released a solo album in 1993. ;)





/jarmo

I, for one, have a different take.  I think that artists can have different creative and/or stylistic leanings, and that can be the reason for having multiple projects.  Perhaps an artist prefers a more low key side project, like Pisser, because it doesn't have the questions and pressures of the more high profile primary project?

It may not be that a side project exists for the sole purpose of having a creative outlet that otherwise wouldn't be afforded.

Ali

See, that's the problem discussing things with you...everything is either black or white.  You're either (a) a fan, in which case everything is always on the up and up, every decision the band makes is the right one, and anything that goes wrong is not the fault of the band, which is 100% right, 100% of the time; or (b) a whining, complaining, perpetually unhappy person that doesn't respect the new lineup (and probably still holding out for a reunion).  Sorry, but we all don't fit in that nicely.

Just because I think Frank has more passion for his side project (he did say playing in Pisser comes from a place of love) doesn't mean I think he's a bad drummer.  I never said (or implied) that, but to you, because my take on his interview left me with some questions, it must mean that I don't respect him or his contributions to Guns.  Not true.  Last year, I saw Guns (several times, in fact) and enjoyed each show.  Clearly, Frank (and all the other members), can play, and play well.  They are professional musicians.

Just as you think that touring (even with no new music) is better than nothing, I think you can be a fan of a band (in this case GnR is my favorite band [sidenote: since I'm posting on a fan internet forum it would be weird if they weren't]) and still question, make informed decisions, and yes, sometimes disagree with the direction of the band, its management, and the decision of its members.

Yes, I am aware of Duff's solo album in 1993...I just think that, when you have an 8 member band, and 7 of them are actively in other bands, to me that's a hindrance to writing and releasing new music.  With everyone off writing and creating music in side projects, plus touring demands, there's only so much time in the day and, well, where do we go?   
 
Anyway, I'm not (and I don't think many of us here are) on Team Always Negative.  I'm certainly not on Team Spoon Fed, but don't take that as an indication that I want the current lineup to fail and/or don't respect them.  I really hope this band succeeds, I'm just not going to suspend independent thought in the process. 

No, no, no... We're not talking about his drumming abilities.

We're talking about the fact that he gave an interview and basically the only things you got out of it is that he has no passion for GN'R or that he's only there to support Axl.
In my opinion, that is a pretty bleak view of the person and what he said.




/jarmo

"The fact that he loves playing the songs means nothing."

Did he use those words in the interview?

I didn't say no passion for Guns...I did say he has more passion for Pisser.  That's not searching for the negative (or even negative at all) and one can reasonably surmise that from the interview.  The other comment, that the members of Guns are there to support Axl and take the pressure off of him, are things he said, so I'm not clear how my obvservation of his comments paints a bleak view of him.   

I call bullshit. 
In no way, shape or form did Frank say or suggest this.

Frank has a passion for what he does.

Analogy:  There's a firefighter that lives in Valley Stream.  His regular gig that "pays the bills" is with the FDNY stationed in Manhattan.  On his off days, he's a VOLUNTEER (non-paying) firefighter at his local Valley Stream station BECAUSE HE HAS A PASSION FOR WHAT HE DOES.  Valley Stream is where he grew up, where he still lives, where his family and friends and home and heart is.  But he is certainly no "hired hand" with the FDNY.  His passion for both gigs is equal.  His love for his 'brothers' on both jobs is equal.  Is it a different passion and different love? Yes.  But one is not less or more than the other.

If you love what you do, Passion is Passion.

Call bullshit all you want to...but you're just turning a blind eye.  You want to know what's bullshit, your comment that "In no way, shape or form" did Frank say he's more comfortable in Pisser because he's great friends with the band members (I think he said he was friends first, then bandmates), and that the music in Pisser comes from the heart.  Dude...he actually, in way, shape, and form, said those things.

Now, you can disagree with my take on his comments, but to say that he didn't say those things is just dumb.

No. It was my comment to the claim that Frank lacks passion for GN'R.





You're taking things out of context.
It's like saying a professional athlete has more passion when playing with his kids than when playing with his team.

The thing you got out of the interview was that he doesn't love being in GN'R and he's only doing it for the money.


I'll explain it to you. He could've said anything, and in the end you probably would've made the same observations. In other words, they're not "passionate enough" and they only play in GN'R for the money.
Sorry if you feel singled out, but as somebody who's heard these complains before, it's kinda amusing how they keep turning up with regular intervals. You didn't even have to listen to the interview to post that kind of comments. Because you'd have some people nodding their heads and agreeing with you even if you didn't listen and said the same thing. Because it's not the "old gang of brothers" who were the only "passionate" ones in the band.




/jarmo

Good point Ali, that may very well be the reason for some (or all) of the guys.

Hypothetical question: Is there anything that the current band members can do to make you reconsider your opinion that they lack passion for GN'R? And if your answer is "release new music", how does that increase the level of passion one has for a band?




/jarmo

You do realize that both Richard and Bumblefoot play in PISSER also and that Richard and Frank were friends before either joined GNR, right?  ;)

Get a GNR tat....like Izzy, Duff, Axl , myself and lots of other fans on this board have.....that would convince me.

 I honestly don't know how much passion each member has, would be interesting to know.  I think  most of the current members have always seemed to be into GNR from as far as I can tell, although i'm sure they wish things could sometimes be done differently, maybe like getting a new release out and playing the songs live ?

That's a good question, and I'm curious to see what others think (the tattoo suggestion is solid).  To me, releasing new music is probably on the top of my list.  I think the current lineup needs to create its own identity...right now they're playing other people's songs, whether it's AFD, UYI songs, or CD songs by Bucket, Robin, Brain, etc.  I want to see what this band can do on its own, free of the past.

I also think a real group photo or the entire band showing up in public would help.  In particular, the Paradise City photo op in Vegas.  Here's a link to the pic:  http://hauteliving.com/2012/10/haute-event-paradise-road-becomes-paradise-city-road-for-guns-n%E2%80%99-roses%E2%80%99-residency/321951/

Now, maybe there's a legitimate excuse (Axl didn't know about it, was stuck in traffic, he's a night person -if that's the case do the picture at night) but come on, if you want people to believe you're a band then you have show people.  How many group photos/interviews with the old lineup were there?  Countless.  I think this lack of identity hurts the current lineup.  They are each talented, professional musicians that can play Guns n Roses songs...but I want to hear them play their Guns n Roses songs.  That, to me, will show their passion for Guns and, IMO, is the only way they can try to get out of the shadow of the former members.

The tattoo as a way of proving your passion seems somewhat naive to me. Several guys who were in the band in the past had tattoos and "lost" their so called passion.

I still don't think releasing music written and recorded by all the guys in the band is some kind of meter of your passion.


Regarding group photos. The was one photo of the group who recorded  the Use Your Illusion albums.
There was no group photo in the booklet that comes with "The Spaghetti Incident?"...  ;)






/jarmo

Doesn't your argument of the photo's prove the exact opposite of your point??

AFD is considered a tight knit group = lots of group pic
Illusions are considered a fragmenting group = An album pic with Izzy and as far as I recall none after
Spaghetti without Izzy is a dying "band = No group pics

Whose point?

My point that it's nothing new that there's not as many group photos since the band made it big?





/jarmo

Lol.... I could care less about who has a GNR tattoo or not.....

there are no group pictures of this version of GNR other than the them in vegas maybe theres another one somewhere ..and of course Axl was not there....ha

but again.... no point in getting worked up over that




@Ginger King... i agree with you just in that GNR is not his true passion...more of a job... and who can blame him? he has never created a GNR song... but dont harp on that here...its not going to be received well.. pick ur battles!

he comes off as a cool dude tho...i wouldnt mind hanging with him having some beers in the BK !

 

Which is depressing as hell.  They all do this, pretty much.

But not recording or releasing anything.  Why would someone think a band would do such things?  Talk about crazy time.


Because Axl sends them out to battle with no bullets in their guns.

These guys are real sports doing this stuff.  Questions about GNR are inevitable, if not the outright focus.  And he, like all of them, never has anything for us.  Which is not remotely his fault.

This is why people make the "not a band" comments.  Questions about future plans are met with shoulder shrugs and laughter.  They have done no writing or recording together.  These are not examples of what typically happens in a band.  If it were, iTunes would be a wasteland.

Yeah, it's amazing how often you can bring this up....
Maybe if you keep saying it often enough, things will change?  :)




/jarmo

I'd put it at even odds with you eventually convincing people that we have it made in the shade. 

Jaeball, point taken...chalk it up to my relative naivete in the world of forum posting.  This is the only GnR site I post in (how's that for loyalty, Jarmo?  ;D ) and I get that, for the most part, it's kind of like State run media so I'm not expecting to change anyone's opinion here, just expressing my own and hoping not to get put on the firing range!