Here Today... Gone To Hell!

First off, a very special thanks to manfisman over at GNR Truth for translating this interview to English!

http://gnrtruth.proboards.com/thread/2876/new-richard-interview-talks-music




?Being in Cuba is a lifetime experience. Something I never thought it could happen?, pointed Fortus,  who studied in South Illinois University.

? How did a Saint Louis, Missouri's boy follow the rock-path when he was surrounded by Jazz?
? It's a long story. In Saint Louis you listen to Chuck Berry and others that were born there. There is certainly a lot of blues in town, but it is also a rock and roll city, not just jazz.


? You mention Jazz and I know you love blues, is there any not fulfilled about it?
? I love blues and jazz. They are part of my life. I grew up with them. I don't think I'm done with both stlyes, it would not make sense. I play those a lot, you know. I do it with orchestras in the US. I don't have intentios of playing solo, but I like playing with groups of this genre like Kim Massey and others.


? How much bands like Pale Divine, The Psychedalic Furs and Love Spit Love did influence your playing?
? All of those groups are part of me. I wrote song for them. I'm proud of have participated in those gropus, even though now I am with Guns n? Roses and The Dead Daisies.


? The 2000s were amazing for you: You joined Guns N' Roses. What was the first thought that come through your mind when you were told 'You are part of the band'?
? It was a long time ago. I think it's been like 13 years. They gave me the news almost at the end of 2001. What effect it had? I had a little doubts. Obviously, I knew who they were, and the band members and their work, wich I liked a lot. It was different than other groups. But it was also another style, a lot different than what I was doing. However, I was very happy because I had friends in the group and I would play with them.

In that time Tommy Stinson, Robin Finck and Bryan Mantia were very good friends of mine. To me it was an interesting experience and I wanted to be a part of it.


? Guns N' Roses has marked hard rock in a phenomenal way. How is the band doing right now? There will be any new album?
? We are recording right now. We are finishing it. Right now we are thinking of releasing something new this year. I don't know if a full album, but there will be new music. And the band is doing great!


? Guns N' Roses would come to Cuba someday?
? I hope so. When we return home, we are going to talk great about this experience here in Cuba.


? Maybe you could convince Axl of coming
? I'll try. It's gonna be tough, but with what The Dead Daisies has been doing here, it will open the road to others bands to come here.



Original source (spanish): http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cultura/2015-02-27/espero-venir-con-guns-n-roses-a-cuba/

Good interview!

Yeah, I must say there's a lot of positives in there.

He mentions that there will be new music, but maybe not a full album. I assume he's talking about the plans for this year. Maybe we'll see an EP or at least a single coming soon.

Interesting about the possibility of something less than a full album.  With the amount of material we've heard about, I wonder if its more of an economic thing?  I'd take anything at this point, even a new single. 

Don't know if it's an economic thing, but it could be a way of getting something out there sooner rather than later. As we don't know much of what material they're planning on releasing it's hard to say.

He's talking about recording, so I think we can assume he's talking about brand new material. Maybe he speaks in relation to something less than an album in the wait for the album containing material written by the current line-up. The album recorded by the previous line-up could be a separate thing, just hanging there until Axl feels it's the right time to release.

Why would it be tough To convience Axl to play in Cuba?  I have been to cuba twice.   It's a great country

Also when Richard said they are recording right now   Why couldn't the intervier of asked.  How are you recording now if you are in Cuba and all the other hand members seem to be travelling the world with there other bands.   A follow up question would of been great

Judging by the info we have and knowing the history of the band, it's not unusual for them to record by themselves and sending the material back and forth between each other. I think all of the band members have their own home studios.

Ya I don't want to turn this nice possitive interview negative 

But they would now have to not only have to have home studios but also portable home studios

And as e have all read that axl likes to take bits and pieces from recordings from each member and turn that into his vision.

I would like to ask when was the last time we heard a current member say they have sent in material to axl.  The last one I rmember was years ago with Dj

I really don't think that's what's going on right now

To get back to possitive though   This is another sign we may hear new music this year!  And that would be great.  Mb an EP with 4 remix songs and 4 new songs.  In the style of the album lies...

There's also the possibility of renting studio time while on the road. Just a possibility..



I'm not sure if any of the other members have actually mentioned that they are sending in material to Axl. Doesn't mean they don't do it, though.. It just hasn't come up in interviews as far as I can remember.



It sounds quite positive, I agree. An EP this year would be the second best thing to happen. :)

I gotta say it's nice to read this kind of positive interview, Richard seems to be really hopeful about releasing some new music soon.. Interesting to see what will really happen in the end, fingers crossed as always!!  :peace:

So if the interview was done in broken English than translated to Spanish then translated back to English I could see a few things getting missed in translation.  That's why I won't get to hung up on the comment.  They are recording now

I would hope that what he meant, was Axl is just finishing up the album/already recorded songs 

As if he meant they are currently recording.  Via renting studio space on the road and sending in tapes to axl. You can't possibly beleive that we would see any of that this year?! 

Could be something lost in translation of course.




Well, the thing is we don't know 100% what material they are working on. It could also be they are recording finishing touches on the Chinese material.

If they indeed are open to the idea of an EP release or something similar, I could totally believe that they are recording new songs (say 4 songs) and getting them released this year. If they are focused and are really going for it, it can be done.

Of course we can bring up the track record of (the lack of) getting things released, but unfortunately we don't know the specifics of how everything went down previously. Like how focused they've been working on the album in between touring. Have they worked on it at all? Have there been a lot of outside factors disturbing the creative process... things like that. We don't know.

If they now (finally) have freed up the path to releasing stuff by getting rid of whatever hurdles being there previously, maybe we'll see a more "normal" process in the future.

I agree with you

I think right after summer early fall will be a very interesting time for guns n roses

Personally, I hope its not the Album  :o

I'd sooner see a single released properly with great promotion, a real rocker that get the paying public enthused and wanting more...

Not sure what you meant. You don't hope we'll get an album this year?

As a greedy fan I would take an album over just a single any day

Might just be something lost in translation.

I suspect Axl would be up for playing there. The place has a mystique to it, still does. But for how long?




/jarmo

I think that it would be a great chance for GN'R to play in Cuba because their is a huge sub-culture their.

And the gig from the Dead Daisies was just awesome.

So another year without new gnr music  ::)

I think if Guns play there, even one show it would be huge even in the future.  I am not sure time will play a role.  Only thing is how long will the good nature of relations between US and Cuba exist. That could have a say in it..

Did Richard say that? Please elaborate.

I think Richard means that it still could be tough to arrange a big concert with a band like GN'R in Cuba. They've just opened up for American bands to come over. The Dead Daisies were among the first right, and the apparatus around them is nowhere near the size of GN'Rs. I think he speaks in terms of logistics.

Saw the interview with Conan on The Daily Show the other day, and he was talking about his trip to Cuba. There were a lot of trouble just because of the lack of technology development there.

Very few have access to the internet in Cuba, that's a challenge when you need to promote a huge concert. You're going back to the old days of print ads and the cost of doing it will come into play.


I don't think it had anything to do with Axl personally being reluctant to go there.

Spirit - so would I, and Baconman,  all I'm saying is that Richard said there would be new music, I guess that I'd like a bit of musical foreplay before a banging session  :hihi: I don't wanna go on a date already wearing a condom.

To me, the next album is the most important one for GnR since AFD.  I remember the buzz when PC and SCOM came out from that band, then once known I remember the anticipation for new music from the next album. Yes the band were at their peak of mass popularity then, music was more focused in the medium it was available and it was at a time where waiting for things was still an experience and not considered a sign of anything negative. Again, this is my view, I'd like to experience that again, and I'd like a song that hasn't been played live to hit the airwaves, one that has the charm and general appeal of PC or SCOM, where there is mass appeal for the song first and the band second. 

I'm like others in that I've been fed up with the nigh-sayers saying Gnr isn't GnR without Slash, Izzy or Duff yet when challenged cant name a single track from CD, including CD itself. Hence, wanting to rekindle the bands image as one that does still produce great music.  :smoking:

After 5 years of no new music at all, they're still in the "we're recording, we're finishing it, i don't know how, where, why" phase. Plus bumble's gone. I personally don't care that much, but fact: richard and the other guys they count for nothing. If u wanna ask something about new music, ask axl  ;)

I would imagine that it might be tough to get Axl to play in Cuba due to the amount of legal work still involved. Even though relations between the U.S. and Cuba has thaw a bit, it hasn't changed too much.

@The Wight Gunner - If they release a single with great promotion, I think the smart thing would be having an album come out not too long after. A stand-alone single could be great for a period of time, but I think it may backfire if they don't follow up with a bigger release within a reasonable amount of time. I think an EP could sustain for a longer period, if that's what they need.

If an album is coming, I think it's safe to say that at least one single will come out ahead of it. GNR have always done it in that "traditional" way haven't they?

Look how many people have said over the years why not just release an EP as a placeholder?  Maybe they think it too.

Regardless, good interview.  Good news.

It would be fantastic to get an EP, maybe some remixes of CD plus a few brand new songs written by the current lineup.  Follow that up with a Double LP in 2016 with all CD session material  Follow that up with an LP by 2019 with all brand new material from the current lineup, written since 2010 or so.  Tour on and off from 2016 through 2020, with new legs each adding newly released material. AFD through UYI should be only half the set by the time they reach the end of the touring cycle.

Can you imagine what that would do for the fan base?  And its all possible, given the amount of material already written.  If they can just find a will and a way to finish writing, recording and coming to an agreement with the record company, that production between 2015 and 2019 is within reason.  Not sure if I'm being delusional, but its a nice dream.

I agree.  Guns most important album is the next one.  Especially for Axls confidence.    They really need a hit

It will be interesting to see how the next release will be received. The pressure and expectations is nowhere near the ones of Chinese Democracy. I think the next one may actually stand a chance with the general public.

I am confused. You have Dizzy saying that many songs were recorded ling ago and now just have to be selected and maybe mastered. You have DJ who basically says the same, that the songs for a new album are already recorded. And now you have Richard who says they are recording new songs. I am not saying that (recording new songs) is bad, but which is it? The songs are recorded and have only to be picked and ordered, or that new music has to be recorded? It is important because it impacts the timeline for a new album release. 

Why can't it be both, all of the above?

There are songs already recorded as well as new music to be recorded and worked on, I don't see where one is mutually exclusive of the other.

I think he meant new to fans, not to the band....

Good Interview

Fair question.

Puts the fans in a weird spot too.  We have to hope he's mistaken, basically. 

If its taken a further 7 years to even decide on a tracklist from what's done, can you really root for new recordings?  Is that going to do anything but slow things down?

7 years to decide on a track list? I hardly think that's been the sole reason for any delay. I'm sure there are things that we don't know about.

I can understand the frustration of the fans when we base our reasoning for the cause of the delay on the stuff known publicly. But, if you think a tad rationally, there have to be other factors playing in. Otherwise it would be insane, and I don't think that's the case.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  I know all those talking points.

But a lot of this comes down to how seriously we are supposed to take these comments.  It seems to fluctuate as it suits the argument at the time.

When I say that its taken 7 years to decide a tracklist, its because we have been told time and again this stuff is already recorded.  But to anyone who doesn't want to discuss that, we are told to not take that literally.  And while you think that would open up some other things those same people have said to scrutiny, I find it does not.

Sometimes take what they say literally.  Sometimes give wiggle room.  Seems to depend on who is scoring that fight and what side of things they tend to err on the side of at that moment.

But the main bullet point being that if they are still doing and recording new stuff for this supposed next album, we might as well adjust expectations accordingly, given the track record.

I've got nothing to say about any of these interviews anymore... They are very repetitive.. and don't offer too much. I'll be hopeful for a new release when it's given an official release date.

I don't know if it was lost in translation or not... but Richard mentioning possibly an EP or a single or something sounds great to me, and is the one new thing in this interview... but in the past that suggestion has been poo poo'd with the theory the label would not support that.. so who knows.

I am aware it's taken a long time since the last record, and it's of course not a situation that I, as a fan, am happy about. There's been "promises" of new music for some time now, and I realize that those previous comments by band members don't look too good in the eyes of the fans at the moment. Axl's comments last year weighs a bit more I guess, so I choose to still be quite optimistic for this year.

Given Richards statement (believe it or don't believe it, I guess), they are finishing it. It doesn't sound like they've just started recording now. Let's see what happens, nothing else we can do really...


Just one more thing. Richard never said they were recording new songs, he said they were recording. Could be some additional stuff to the Chinese songs. Not saying it's the case, but it's a possibility.

Yeah I agree with all that. There just isn't anything to add anymore to the discussion. I'm not saying that in negative way. At this point I think all we can do is just keep waiting...for now anyway.

I think what was new about this one is Richard suggesting there will be new music, but maybe not an album.

That could mean any number of things.  Maybe it means an EP as a placeholder.  Maybe an EP of really heavy Bucket/Robin stuff to clear it out, and then have any next album be a bit more reflective of who is actually, you know, in this band right now.

Who knows?  I think its positive though.

Yeah I ackowledged those things in the second paragraph of my post.

What is different between them playin in Cuba or South America

I am a proud canadian and have been to cuba twice.  With no problems ever entering the country. 

It's a beautiful country.  And yss I actually explored it and didn't just stay at a resort

If guns was to anounce a Cuban resedency I would be there for at least 10 days watching

I'm no expert on this, so how well does "Chinese Democracy" fare with the government in Cuba?

Ha how did this conversation start?

like GNR is automatically on the top of Cuba's list.... ?

I imagine once Cuba truly opens up, any band would be pretty welcome.

But who wants to be the first guy in the pool?

That's when one does a cannonball!!

Isn't that exactlly what Richard is doing now?

Baconman- for Americans there are still restrictions from visiting Cuba. From what a close friend of mine told me who is Cuban, the laws are more loosened for Americans who already have relatives to visit in Cuba. If you  don't have relatives, Americans can go, but for educational purposes. There is some legal work involved, which isn't easy to obtain.  Also Americans  can now spend up to $100 for rum and Cuban cigars. Jaeball, it got brought up in the interview about persuading Axl to visit.

A new EP, GN'R Truth!

New Music & Tour Comming Soon

 :beer:

I don't know about that. Seems like Dizzy and Richard will be busy in the summer with the Dead Daisies.
Or maybe you don't mean that soon.  :hihi:



/jarmo

Me Hope December 2015, Maybe

 :hihi:

If it wasn't a full scale world tour, you could probably put together a few scattered dates with less notice.

That might be the best bet on seeing GNR shows in calendar 2015.

That's not soon is it? ;)



/jarmo

I guess they are sort of due to hit the Far East again, right?

When was the last time they were over there?

Japan had a gig in December 2012. Malaysia had one in March 2013.

For reference, Scandinavia was last visited in summer of 2010. Rest of Europe in summer of 2012.




/jarmo

Norway will welcome GNR with open arms. woul love to see them play an outdoor gig:)

Last time they played Sweden, it was outdoors in June and it was about +9C!  :hihi:



/jarmo

When was the last candian tour?

2010?

Let get the boys back here asap!

A beautiful fall canadian tour. 

2010 was a full Canadian tour, 2011 had two shows and 2013 had three.



/jarmo

2010 is still a blur to me.  I saw 4 shows here in Canada. Some great live performaces

guns would sell very well up here if they were to come back for a few shows     

I have my fingers crossed for another big residency in Vegas this November.

I would be a fan of a residency.   But there are a lot other places for it besides vegas.  Plus vegas November weather sucks

How about a resedency in the domincan republic    I will be there in november.   The weather is great.  They could play one of the baseball fields or something.    Hahaha

I'm hoping for Euro or Japan dates, but I'll be satisfied wherever, and will be there! :beer:

Those would be tough ones for me to make

Always wanted to go to Japan though.  So guns coming just might be the excuse I need

If they did a run of shows from Texas to Florida then did a 4 day cruise where they did shows with supporting bands, there would probably be people from all over Europe, North & South America that would come out to see it. I don't think anyone would get any sleep.

Same thing. Always wanted to go to Japan and if GNR are playing there I just might go.