Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Did the Red Hot Chili Peppers Air-Guitar on the Super Bowl? Axl Rose Weighs In (Exclusive)

Bassist Flea "had a newly invented breakthrough in microchip technology installed in his ass," cracks the Guns N' Roses frontman in an Op-Ed.

The Super Bowl halftime show, featuring Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, elicited plenty of cheers from fans in MetLife stadium, but some watching at home -- including former Living Color guitarist Vernon Reid -- had a bone to pick with the chosen performers.

Taking to Twitter mere seconds after the camera panned to RHCP bassist Flea slapping his instrument with his staple stage stomp, Reid commented, "That guitar is plugged into NOTHING," followed by several more missives explaining that there was "a flaw in the illusion. They slipped up by not covering that for camera. They actually DON'T want Blatantly Fake made obvious."

Flea has since responded to the air-guitar claim, writing on the band's website that they were aware from the beginning that everything but the vocals would be pre-recorded. Although the group's stance on miming in the past has been "we will absolutely not do it," he wrote that the band chose to go through with the performance because "it was a surreal-like, once in a life time crazy thing to do and we would just have fun and do it."

Still, the controversy has only picked up steam as various sports outlets jumped on the story, and even inspired the ever reclusive Axl Rose to weigh in. Below, the Guns N' Roses frontman writes of Flea's magic ass transmitter, "the largest karaoke audience ever" and somehow finds a way to tie in the sign language faker from the Nelson Mandela memorial... 

In The Name Of Science

In regard to the internet's "no wireless" controversy regarding the Red Hot Chili Peppers Superbowl performance as reported on ESPN...

I enjoyed the show and I've no idea what the real story is nor would I want to suggest or imply anyone wasn't actually performing or that what they were playing wasn't what we actually heard. That said I feel it's important to always look on the positive side of things and to give the benefit of doubt.

So consider that maybe sometime before their actual performance that rather than use a guitar cord or standard wireless, that in the name of science and for all mankind Flea courageously had a newly invented breakthrough in microchip technology installed in his ass that picked up the frequencies of his bass and transmitted them to his amplifier.

Maybe they all had microchips installed in their asses and not only pick up the frequencies of their instruments but get Direct TV and the internet too! Like Google Glass... Google Ass! They could be "Scientific Pioneers!" Like Buzz Aldrin and shit! True (pardon the pun) ASS-tro-nots! Or like Superbowl crash test dummies for bands kinda like those cars that drive themselves!

And besides... If the band wasn't really playing or wireless or whatever and Anthony was really singing they may have set a new world record for the largest karaoke audience ever! Awesome!

So relax and show some pride! This is probably all just Google finding new ways to enrich our lives with the selfless volunteering of the Peppers and the ever ongoing creative process of true innovation or perhaps a new lounge bar record of super magnificent proportions and a new pinnacle of human achievement not seen since the sign language guy in South Africa!

God Bless America, the Peppers n' technology... PN'T!

Ax

---

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/did-red-hot-chili-peppers-677178






/jarmo

The dude is fucking hilarious  : ok: :beer:

What does PN'T Mean?  I know it's going to be really obvious... edit... I get it now :-[

Do you know what inspired Axl to write this? Wonder if he will journo more. Either way he is supportive of the chilli peppers, was there a feud Before?

Who is Ax?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Awsome Axl is awsome!

That, right there, was fucking hilarious.

And axl might want get his lawyers on this...I hear Zuckerberg read this article and is currently working on a new site: Assbook.

Explains Axl cane, must have be hard to walk after the ass implant surgery.

The Chilli Peppers seemed out of place and a little pathetic at the Super Bowl.  Them performing with Bruno Mars made no sense from an artistic stand point.  Obviously the producers were uncomfortable with Bruno Mars as the sole act.

Awesome. lol

Through what medium did Axl relay this message may I ask?

I was wondering the same thing. Axl retweeted it so it's legit (unless someone hacked his account).  Anyone knows?

Very funny!

Well said Axl. When he's got something to say, it's worth your time.

Axl is tweeting about it!!
 8)
https://twitter.com/axlrose/status/430933775095431168

I find it funny and yet confussing at the same time. I?d really appreciate if you guys can help me out here. On one hand Axl says he enjoyed the show. And on the other hand he goes all sarcastic.

I think Axl means the SB is about a football game. And that the media should be talking about that. I?m guessing this because of the Mandela sign language guy comment. I mean it seems like Axl is bashing the media for focussing on stupid things instead of the important things. But I could be wrong

Too bad Axl didn?t weigh in about the Jannet Jackson boob malfunction back in the day  ;D

He cracks me up!!

its great that axl made a comment about this miming show that they call the half time show.
when i watched it i noteced that bruno was clearly lip synching, and i had doubts about rhcp.

Just brilliant!

when the Stones did it jagger said that he was the first Singer in Super bowl to sing live. everybody before did it. but the whole band thats new to me.

as usual ... I am not smart enough to understand anything this guy says ha


random....but funny

Now we expect an answer from Flea or Kiedis in the same sarcastic tone.  :)

Too much buzz for america's biggest sports event.They call it football but they play with hands....and the ball is egg shaped  :peace:

I hope Guns NEVER play the superbowl and do it fake.

Wow.

Pretty refreshing to see Axl taking it light for a change.  Good to see.

is there bad blood between axl and the peppers that I dont know about ?

because I could see how they would not like this

Funny stuff, but I wonder why he decided to comment on it. 

As for the actual event, I would've never known they weren't really playing if it wasn't pointed out.  They should've tried to hide it a little better.

That sounds like a plausible explanation.  But I honestly have no idea.

Its somewhat smartass, but I think Axl likes them.

I know during his lost period in the late 90s, one of his sightings was in the first few rows at a RHCP concert.

That was totally incomprehensible!

I love Axl Rose, but he needs to work on his writing skills. His incoherent ramblings are extremely confusing. I wonder if he wrote that drunk.

1. It's a bit peevish I would say and probably a pretty weak attempt to drum up some interest for the tour that's starting soon if that's its purpose.

2. I thought Axl was a fan of the Chilis?

3. Axl has used vocal backing tracks in the past for his doubled vox on a couple songs like CD and Shackler's, so why is this any different?

4. He's hardly in a place to have a go at the Chilis since they've had quite a few hugely successful albums since 1993 and GN'R have had one cover album, a decent live album, and one of the biggest anti-climax albums in music history (As much as I enjoy all those releases).

Unless I'm missing the point and he's just having a friendly dig at them and they're all mates, but it's quite hard to read his syntax sometimes, so I'm not sure!

He sounds disrespectful to the Peppers, I don't like it.  Seems like it kind of came out of nowhere.

Some of you took that seriously?  ???




/jarmo

And besides? If the band wasn?t really playing or wireless or whatever and Anthony was really singing they may have set a new world record for the largest karaoke audience ever! Awesome!

 :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Axl Rlz

 :beer:

Well, that's why I was wondering if they're all friends and it was just a bit of banter, but it was pretty badly-worded and if it is a joke then maybe he should have kept it between him and RHCP?

Again, I think it's publicity for the upcoming tour and if it is, then it's a pretty bad attempt. Maybe a single and/or music video might have been better instead of slagging other bands in public, whether or not it was intended as a "joke"?

Have you read any of the news articles about this "incident"?
People are outraged, shocked, surprised, you name it. To the point where Flea had to defend his band!

This is not exactly serious.....  But you take it seriously.
What happened to fun?

Axl's promoting shows in South America by commenting on the halftime performance at the biggest sports event in the US?




/jarmo

Axl Rose Mocks Red Hot Chili Peppers' Super Bowl 'Karaoke'

"Maybe they all had microchips installed in their asses and not only pick up the frequencies of their instruments but get Direct TV and the Internet, too!"

By Kory Grow
February 5, 2014 8:14 AM ET

Axl Rose spoke out twice yesterday about the Red Hot Chili Peppers' admittedly "mimed" Super Bowl halftime show performance. Upon learning that the Chili Peppers' instruments indeed were not plugged in, by Flea's own admission, the Guns N' Roses frontman tweeted sarcastically that they "got that karaoke thing going for 'em! Awesome!"

Rob Sheffield ranks all the Super Bowl halftime shows in history: from worst to best

Earlier in the day, Rose penned an equally wry op-ed piece for Billboard, before Flea's open letter explaining how halftime show producers had insisted the band perform to a prerecorded track hit the Internet. Photos showing Flea's unplugged bass began circulating on the web on Monday, and Rose felt he needed to speak out on the "controversy."

After saying he enjoyed the show and that he wanted to "give the benefit of the doubt," Rose offered the sort of hypothesis you'd hear in a locker room. "Consider that maybe sometime before their actual performance that rather than use a guitar cord or standard wireless, that in the name of science and for all mankind, Flea courageously had a newly invented breakthrough in microchip technology installed in his ass that picked up the frequencies of his bass and transmitted them to his amplifier," he wrote.

"Maybe they all had microchips installed in their asses and not only pick up the frequencies of their instruments but get Direct TV and the Internet, too!" the Guns N' Roses frontman offered. "Like Google Glass . . . Google Ass! They could be 'Scientific Pioneers!' Like Buzz Aldrin and shit! True (pardon the pun) ASS-tro-nots! Or like Superbowl crash test dummies for bands kinda like those cars that drive themselves!"

Then, considering the alternative that turned out to be a reality, Rose found a new way to give the benefit of the doubt. "If the band wasn't really playing or wireless or whatever and Anthony was really singing, they may have set a new world record for the largest karaoke audience ever!"

As he signed off his original post, he made a quizzical reference to the Chili Peppers finding "a new pinnacle of human achievement not seen since the sign language guy in South Africa," and bid farewell: "God Bless America, the Peppers n' technology... PN'T!"

Later, after Flea's admission came out, Rose tweeted, "Oh well, so much for science!" He then shifted attention back to sign language and South Africa. "They're right up there with the sign language guy, whose deep n' heartfelt dedication, absolute total commitment, conviction (or maybe that was just the other 3 tire binding, poor sob burning murderers), absence of sanity, and ultimate public achievement should not b forgotten!" he wrote. "God Bless Mandela for his consideration n' generosity, for foreseeing this noble event and kicking the bucket (too soon?) allowing us this, not unlike the Superbowl [sic], historic, heroic n' amazing event! Amen!!"

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/axl-rose-mocks-red-hot-chili-peppers-super-bowl-karaoke-20140205

____________

This Only Funny Moment

 :smoking:

I think he's having a friendly dig at the whole situation and the big deal that's being made of it.

As far as using backing vocal tracks, you are making an apples and oranges comparison and argument.  Axl can not do vocal harmonies at the same as singing the melody of the songs you mentioned, so that's why he uses background tracks for the harmonies.

Ali

I know Axl is probably just having a light-hearted dig at the situation, we all know Axl's sense of humour and this is totally him. But as a fan, I find it extremely odd for Axl to comment publicily about this kind of thing, especially considering he doesn't say alot at all within the media.  :-[

I know it's all in good fun, but I would rather Axl show more restraint in doing this kind of thing. Because it just opens up opportunities for people to bash GN'R and him in general, like some already have.

Maybe he should do it more often, then we wouldn't find it so strange...  ;D

If he would of said this in the 87-93 era, people would of just laughed it off. Simply because, he used to do it all the time in magazine interviews, tv interviews, on stage etc. But the fact he doesn't say hardly anything these days to the media (can go months, years etc), that is why a section of the GN'R community find this rather odd, which is fair enough.  ;)

People have been bashing Axl and GN'R since the grunge era in the early 90's.  I'm confident in saying that many don't need a reason, just an opportunity, to bash him and GN'R.

If people can't take this as the joke it was, that's just unfortunate.

Ali

This is what I think, too.

I think he's making a "statement" (aka a thinly veiled dig) about the media burying the lead (and the public following suit).  I think his references to the Mandela funeral, and the fake interpreter, cement that, for me (both in the original statement, and his follow up).  

And if it's not...it's still funny as fuck.

Axl taking the piss out of a band that's sadly been way more relevant for years than GN'R hardly qualifies as "fun" don't you think? Just looks a bit desperate and attention-seeking.

And yeah, promoting shows by commenting on sports events is about right for GN'R nowadays seeing as there's not been any (let's do a list); Axl interviews, band photoshoots, new singles or videos. I'd LOVE to see any of those, not some semi-incomprehensible half-joke that we're all supposed to fawn over and think is hilarious just because it's Axl.

Don't get me wrong, from what I've seen and by all accounts he's very quick and funny and it's hardly the end of the world,  but let's not pretend it's amazing either and it probably makes him look quite bad in most peoples' eyes.

I personally had a blast reading this. It was pretty funny ! And he's right !!

Google Ass. This is genious!!! lol

What some bands don't do for the money. Flea can give as many excuses he wants, it's clear as crystal why they did it. If Flea was Axl GN'R would be doing reunion shows around the world for a decade, cashing in. If I'm not mistaken RHCP did go to the shitty RNRHOF, didn't they? Whatever. GREAT READING!

CD is way more relevant and advanced than anything RHCP released after One Hot Minute. Since they discovered how to make easy and smooth songs to entertain and to sell, they forgot who they used to be. So Id rather have ONE hell of a CD with no videos or singles or whatever than all this stuff, related to albums that don't mean anything new musically speaking.

Attention seeking? If Axl really wanted to seek for attention he could do it in so many ways... gimme a break. If axl breaths someone here will say he's breathing the wrong way. Give him a break!

Google Ass is the shit !!!!!!!!!

No offense, but you're just proving Jarmo correct in the assessment that you're taking something seriously that seems to many to be a clear sarcastic, humorous commentary.

Ali

Nice logic.
They can be relevant or sell millions. Doesn't matter. This event happened, there was an "outrage". Axl made a comment.

I also don't get the relevancy issue. If they are so relevant, why were they performing a song from 1991 at the 2014 Superbowl? I guess the lyrical content of the song is relevant to this day....  ;)


What's next? He's not allowed to mention the South African guy because he's not South African?


Where have you been when other bands been attacking GN'R and/or Axl?




You mean interviews in the US to promote a tour in South America? No, we didn't have that yet.  :D



/jarmo

I Google Ass all the time. I should probably get help for my damn porn addiction!  :hihi:

Personally I thought it was funny. People take shit way too seriously.

Yeah - let's promote a SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR by saying bad shit about another band in a show that almost anyone in South America has seen.

I personally love football but this sport ain't huge in South America the way it is in the US SO many people who aren't Peppers fans didn't even know they played at the Super Bowl (and many people from South America have NO IDEA what Super Bowl is !) so.. yeah very clever to promote a South American tour by bashing something that 90% of the south american people haven't even watched !!! LMAO !

agreed... joking/not joking/funny/not funny

my initial reaction was THIS is what he wants to talk about? ha

I lol'd ;D

Sorry, forgot I can't have an opinion; let me correct myself - I AM taking an OBVIOUSLY really funny joke way too seriously, Axl is hilarious and has great judgement ALL the time and RHCPs albums BSSM, Californication, BTW and Stadium Arcadium which sold millions and kept them in the public eye for about two decades are no where near as relevant as a 'pretty good' album from a band no-one in the general public recognises anymore that was 15 years in the making.

How are you allowed an opinion if Axl isn't?
Unless you've sold at least the equal amount of records and accomplished what he has, you've got no right to comment on anything about him. Isn't that your whole logic?

Don't get so upset when GN'R fans prefer GN'R to your other favorite band. You're not on a RHCP fan site.
Now go listen to those million selling albums. Personally I'd rather watch the snow melt outside my window.....



/jarmo

how this got into a debate?
i dont know.

Because there's nothing else to talk about. As usual.

Anyway, you're right...  axl made a tweet. Should we really fuckin care? He doesn't even talk about gnr, so lets' move on

I guess because it was kinda shocking and out of the blue that Axl would comment about SB performance. As far as I know he never did it before. Personally I hate it when the media makes a big deal about the music show. The SB is about a football game. I look at the bright side. Slash performed a few years ago at SB half time show, Axl said nothing about it. So Axl might have like that one

 ;D

Hahaha, I thought the same thing.

But I've long thought that about his writing style.  That strikes me whenever we get the talk about him writing an autobiography.  Would it even be coherent?

I swear, I want to write a really positive post one day i really do but Jesus that was a constipated attempt at humor. I too have often wished Axl would do an autobiography but every time he releases a sample of his writing you tend to think' What the hell was that?" He simply does not write in a conversational style, it's hugely stilted and hard to follow but also with teenaged girl shortcuts.

And I want to win on the lottery!
My odds are better than yours.  :P  ;)




/jarmo

sadly you may be right Jarmo :)

Let me give you an insight on where I may make a positive comment about the bands current state....not a positive comment about a historical concert or album.

- hearing a new song that is really good.
- release of a really good album
- really strong vocal performance in the upcoming shows
- open and honest updates from the band that do not require an interpreter or are so deliberately vague that they make the Bible look like it'snot open to interpretation.

Basically what a band should be doing.

Show this 'joke' to any non GNR fan and I would say 90% of people would go 'WTF was that??'.

meh it's only a joke but there is a vacuum to fill so being the only topical thing to discuss it will get over-analyzed. I could suggest a solution but it'snot a popular one (whispers ....make new music)

All of those are down to personal opinion.
....... And chances are you'll still manage to find something "not good" so you don't have to say anything good to begin with.

 :D




/jarmo

If Axl did choose to do a book it wouldn't be written by him anyways. Anywho. I like when axl rambles. It's his own language and after following him for 20 plus years i come to understand what he means when he rambles or writes.  :)

Well, HuffPo is reporting this as "Axl Rose slams halftime show".

A lot of news outlets and press are reporting this as in "Axl slams RHCP halftime show". Which was completely expected, especially in the context in which Axl posted.

We know how Axl is, and he's a funny guy with a brilliant sense of humour. Even though we know Axl was being sarcastic regarding peoples "outrage", I can see how someone could view it as Axl slamming the band himself, that's how the media are... fast to react without thought.  ::)

Agreed on the media.  Reacting without thought leads to misinterpretation in some instances, with this being one of them IMO.

Ali

Come on...

do i think his intent was to be overly critical? no...im sure he was just having a laugh with it all

but stop making it the ignorant medias fault on how Axl is perceived...

his letter or whatever it was... certainly wasn't complimentary of the Chili Peppers, no matter how you spin it as satire/ him joking/ etc

Exactly right.

Its tough to play the "I was obviously joking" card when you only speak out every blue moon on random topics.  And Axl's rep is hardly a merry prankster and all in fun ballbuster.

I have no problem.. any time he wants to voice his opinion on anything.. will be a welcome sight ... ! (and then we can all enjoy dissecting what he says)

but lets just stop blaming the evil media for everything when it comes to him... hes a grown ass man he made his bed a long time ago

I don't see any other logical conclusion.

So in your opinion, the media is always correct and truthful when reporting things about GN'R and/or Axl, and those of us who disagree are wrong?

Also, in your opinion, it's ok to publish sensationalistic garbage about a person if that person refuses to play ball and grant you interviews?




/jarmo

no no no no dont put words in my mouth... i never said that the media always gets it right

but in this instance .... Axl wrote the letter... it certainly wasn't a compliment to RHCP in any way...





just my point is... the media doesnt make up blatant lies about the guy... he has given them all the ammo they need over the years... we all know what the sore subjects... no need to list them ....

are stories embellished? sure , is everything you read fact? no... but when theres smoke there is fire ... and this letter was an easy lay up for them....

and if there is a vandetta against Axl... why is that? i dont get it....

you can be a fan without being an apologist for the guy , can't you?


again... i dont know the guy personally, you do. it's a much different perspective

i know somebody else said this already.... but i would LOOOOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE to talk about something else


like..... a new song : )

I'm not him, but these are great questions.

#1.  In truth, I don't think "the media" gives much of a fuck about Axl Rose in 2014.  Yet a good number of Axl's fans still claim they have some sort of vendetta.  Most of what you get is an aside or a random comment.  Which yes, plays to the stereotype of Axl Rose.  But to be fair, an image he spent YEARS laying the groundwork for.  Its not like its all made up.

#2.  If you have a problem with it, or feel it needs to be corrected, you correct it.  Other option is to not care what people say.  What you DON'T do, is never take the time to correct anything...then bitch about the unfair coverage afterwards.  Its not mix and match.  If you don't care, then go the full monty.  Don't care at all.  But if you do care, yet are just too lazy and/or unmotivated to correct the record, no one will cry you a river when you complain about it.  You do have a tongue and a phone that dials out.

so all these people who write bad things about Axl using the GNR name still and all the delays, the physical abuse claims or not starting shows till 1 am etc etc .... this is all because he wont grant them interviews.....

hmmm............

now i get it

i dont know why im arguing about this with Jarmo anyway....we are never gunna agree ha....

i hope this year brings a lot of joy to axl's fans in SA and Vegas !

No, you just said "let's stop blaming the evil media for everything".



Are you serious?



I don't know about vendetta, I would personally say there's a slanted view and that colors most of the coverage about him.





No of course they don't give a fuck about Axl Rose. That's why he made headlines this week. Because nobody cares!
You're funny.

I'm glad you're being fair to the media! Nice to see you be able to say something nice about some thing, obviously that thing has nothing to do with GN'R.
You're not the first person doing this whole "Axl = bad, everybody speaking against him = good" routine.



Who's "you"?

I don't expect Axl going to war against every lie published about him. That would take a lot of energy and time.
What I don't see as a problem is that those of us who refuse to be "fair to the media", point out their slanted views.

It's kinda funny how you're quick to "apologize" for the media's behavior when they report about Axl, yet you hold grudges against Axl for years and years. Why don't you have the same level of understanding and fairness to Axl and GN'R? Nobody's gonna cyber laugh at you!



/jarmo

Hahahahaha

Yeah, that stuff didn't actually happen.  Or if it did, it didn't happen last week, so geez...get over it already, people.

The irony of Axl fans telling people to get over something.  Now that's comedy.

Axl.  In this example, its Axl.

He emerged from hibernation in December 2008 in those chats to rail against things he felt were lies, either honest mistakes or malicious misrepresentations.

When did they happen?  YEARS prior.  So where was he then? 

If you sit on your hands and let "lies" get reported and then repeated, you can't really come out 3-4 years after the fact and complain about it.  What did you do to set the record straight?  Nada.  And it obviously bothers you, because you are still bringing it up 3-4 years later.  And that's 3-4 years the "lies" went unchallenged.

Good luck unringing that bell.  But, in fairness, I'm sure he was very, very, very busy.

You mean GN'R fans.

Yes, there's something ironic about a situation where certain so called fans never manage to say anything nice about the singer in their alleged favorite band, but they have a lot of understanding for the media and former band members.....

What kind of "news" make headlines? It's not "Celebrity has been sober for two years", it's "celebrity dies of overdose!". It's not "President lowers unemployment", it's "president is caught with pants down". And yet you're acting like the media loves Axl Rose and GN'R.... You think journalists are objective? Of course not.

That's like saying you're objective, or myself. We're not.



D-GenerationX , how long can you wait until you talk about something before it's too late? Would you say all those books that musicians write about their careers should only focus on the last year or so and not try to "set the record straight" on old matters that are too late to "fix"?



And for those of you who think this is something new and still don't believe what I'm saying.... Did you ever pay attention to the lyrics of the song called Get In The Ring? Which was originally called Why Do You Look At Me When You Hate Me?... Wonder what that's about?





/jarmo

Axl's post was a bit of fun, anyone who cannot see otherwise, if reflects on them rather than Axl.

I disagree completely.  It was a mockery of the entire situation and the big deal being made of it.  It was a joke about the situation, not a serious dig at the Peppers.  I think a clear, careful reading can reveal that.  A careless reading can lead to mischaracterization, irrespective of Axl's reputation as being a joker or not.

Ali

When Slash's book came out.  If you have that big a problem with it, you speak up.

He promoted the shit out of that.  If you truly, honestly feel its full of bullshit and lies, you correct the record.

And really, that goes for just about anything, not just that book.  Which, to be frank, I don't think makes Axl look all that bad.  He could have BURIED Axl with some of the stories he could tell.  I expected Axl to come off way worse than he did.  I know a lot of people that read that thing, and they all said something similar.  Some said point blank they were looking for more crazy Axl stories.


Rampant insecurity and a victim complex.

I actually like the music part of that song.  But come on, that whole spoken word bit in the middle is silly.  It reads the rantings of a high school freshman.  When it came out, I actually WAS a high school freshman, so I thought it was funny.  Now?  Well, let's just say I don't think it's aged well.

I actually agree. 

But I can also see how it might be interpreted the other way.  And if it was, I'm not going to get up on my soapbox about the unfairness of it all.

We need to have a serious discussion about what is this supposed slanted coverage Axl gets though. 

Example :  Axl Rose, notorious for being difficult...

But if its the opening line of a piece, some here blow a fucking gasket.  Most people would just read it and nod. 

Here?  Here is the reaction around here, by the usual suspects :

So this author knows him?  He can name instances where he has been difficult?

It's "nice" how "people" can say "things" about how "difficult" Axl can "be".

I wasn't talking about that book. I was talking in general and asking you for a time frame. Since, most of this kind of books talk about things from years, or decades, ago.

So since you refused to answer, it's not ok for Axl to comment on something years later in an interview, article, discussion or chat, but it's ok for authors to write books about issues from years ago?

Or is this just another "issue" you have with Axl only? Nah, that could not be it....






So it's got nothing to do with the band feeling misrepresented in the press at the time? Something I think is still happening while some of you try to justify with some thing that sounds like "since Axl doesn't release albums when I want him to, it's ok for the media to write shit about him"...





/jarmo

..... and in other news Axl is sitting back at home in Malibu laughing at the arguments his satirical blog has caused between fans  :D  :rofl:

I'm not getting up on any soapbox about how unfair it is.  I think it was misinterpreted, perhaps because of a lack of careful reading of what he wrote, or because of his reputation of being a serious and/or angry guy, or both.  Which, is understandable in one sense, but reactionary and based on misinterpretation nonetheless.

Ali

There is the off chance that I bring it up about Axl here because this is...wait, let me double check...yep, its a Guns N' Roses message board.  But that's just one man's theory.

Axl can do whatever he wants.  Isn't that you usual mission statement around here?  I'm not even debating it this time around.  I'm simply asking how wise it is to let "lies" go unchallenged for years when it so obviously bothers the shit out of you.  Its almost like you are setting up a situation to get pissed about.

Which it a is a nice segue into...


I grew up on Hit Parader and Circus magazine.  Not exactly titans of the journalism world at the time.

But its a classic case of setting up a situation to rail against.  Like the ridiculous contract they tried to get all the journalists and photographers to sign at Rock In Rio II.  Didn't take Colombo to figure that, number one, they weren't going to sign it.  Number two, it was going to get a bit ridiculed.  And number three, not going to do a lot to refute the already existing theory that you are rather high maintenance and difficult.

I'll stop there so you can pick your jaw back up.  I know its always rather jarring for you to ever hear anything about his negative perception since its all news to you.

But that shit happened, guy.

Agreed.  Perception is reality, almost always.

We fans have read real venom from him, so we all pretty much knew that he was just goofing.

You're going around in circles.



Well, judging by your "track record", according to you Axl has probably never done anything you'd consider wise. So I don't think you're one to judge....

Let's take this topic as an example. Would you say Axl's piece on the RCHP performance brought more attention to said performance in the media or not? Now you'll insert some kind of smart ass remark that nobody cares about Axl and how it's impossible to get more attention to their performance since it's one of the most watched televised events... But I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about what's been written and said after. So, in your opinion, did Axl's words add to the amount of time that this thing is considered interesting/news worthy or not?

Now imagine if somebody says something, and Axl comments on it. Would you say it would bring more attention to that piece? No, of course not! Because it would be "wise" of Axl to go on TV doing interviews promoting somebody else's work! "So there's a new unofficial book about you out this week and you're here to tell people not to buy it...."

Totally impossible to have any understanding why Axl wouldn't speak out on something that bothers him at the exact moment it bothers him. Your understanding is reserved for those who are outside of GN'R. The media, the record company, anybody else that speaks out against Axl, and so on. I get it.



And I thought you were more of a MAD reader....  ;)



On the subject of the song, Get In The Ring and GN'R's issues with the media in the past. The song's original title, and probably idea for it, existed already in 1990. Way before Rock In Rio II in January 1991 and that contract.

You can say that contract made the media more hostile, sure. I'm saying they were hostile even before. :)

What often happens: Band is unknown, media loves the unknown "next big thing". Band becomes huge, band realizes they don't need to please everybody, they don't need to make more money for certain publications, they don't have time. People get pissed off. Egos get bruised. Shit starts. Band is labeled "has beens". Band keeps going. Band becomes cool again, media loves them again.


Seems like in your world, the media is just this innocent little entity that wants to tell us the truth... And in your opinion, if they ever wrote something negative about Axl, it's only because it's his fault.
Funny how there's other people who are in the entertainment business, who've also had issues with what's been written or said about them. I'm sure they're just "difficult".



Where am I supposed to pick my jaw up from exactly? I get it, I'm supposed to be impressed by the fact that you claim to have grown up..... Guy....


For a person who has so much understanding for everybody from the record company to the media, who have to deal with Axl, it's amazing really how little understanding you have for your favorite band.



/jarmo

Like it or not
(personally, I loved it...very funny)
why can't everybody agree that in an age of professional public relations' handlers, an age where every fucking thing spoken in public goes through a series of filters to ensure the client is seen in the best possible light (or in some cases, the worst...for example sex tapes, whatever makes the client and the p.r. rep. the most money...) we've got Axl.  I'll go out on a limb and guess his message wasn't edited and/or affected in any way by anyone but Axl himself.  To me, that's cool.   :yes:

Everything you said makes sense to me.

Unfortunately, people today are used to what you gave examples of and anything out of the norm is considered "not wise". No matter that Axl's always been true to his beliefs on the issue of speaking his mind.




/jarmo

Everyone always talks about how politicians, athletes, and any celebs, really, don't need the media anymore in the age of Twitter.  Its a great deal for people that would rather bypass that step.

So, the general consensus here is that Axl's piece is a joke. I tend to agree...I think it's snarky and satirical, with maybe a slight, but friendly, dig (like a "come on guys, you're the RHCP, you're better than that").  However, the general consensus in the media has been the opposite.  I've seen several headlines like, "Axl slams RHCP"...or "Axl mocks RHCP."  Which raises several questions:  is this just another example of the media out to get him? Did the media not "get it"? Did they just rush to criticize Axl or is there real ambiguity in his article?  And, are we doing the same thing we're criticizing the media for (i.e. rushing to declare this a joke)?

I don't know the answers...I just find it odd that the media reception is completely opposite to our reception.

According to Rolling Stone, Axl penned this for Billboard.