Here Today... Gone To Hell!

If this is the name of new album and Ron is gone and Nighttrain is pushing to get new members.  Seems like wheels are turning and the title may suggest a reunion of the old band?  All speculation but Stay of Execution would make sense if they do decide to make a reunion tour.
I love the new band but who wouldn't want the original back if at all possible.

Sounds like CD II for me.


I don't wanna have a reunion w/ Slash. Just one with the 2002 line-up

As long as we get new music I don't care either. Been too long since we have heard new music.

I wouldn't want to see my favorite band sellout. Plus the current band is much better than old band in my opinion.

Is this the copyright thing that Axl has registered?

I've read that it would be unlikely (impossible?) to trademark a future album name so, if anything, might be for a tour or new project.

Who knows....just hope something comes of it!!  :drool:

Cool name for a new album :)

I would love to see the originals back together, but it won't happen. I disagree with rebel. The original had great music. CD was solid, but not as great as the originals nor the UYI lineup. With that being said, I really do like DJ and Fortus in this lineup. Stinson is good as well.

As  far  "Stay of Execution", I think it's a great title!

This is just a theory, however...

Remember when The Offspring decided to get some easy press by claiming they were going to call their new album "Chinese Democracy... You Snooze, You Lose" or something? And I think at least one band (unknown band) put out a disc actually called Chinese Democracy.

Well, by registering "Stay of Execution" for a future tour / merch (since you can't trademark album names), could this be a preventative step in securing the album title? Sort of a back door way to sneak in a claim on the phrase?

That or it's a side project... I know people are speculating about another Vegas run or something but "Appetite for Democracy" doesn't show up there either so that would be odd.

The thing is, it still won't prevent other bands naming their album "Stay of Execution" since the album title isn't protected. It will probably make artists hesitant to name their album that though, because they might experience restrictions on how their tour and merch will look and be named. I guess that's what you meant.  :)

The trademark claim of Axl doesn't include a category of use for merchandise, so that's waging against him wanting to use the phrase on t-shirts. He can of course put in a new claim I guess, not sure how that works. Maybe you can expand the intent of use once you get the phrase itself.


For now, it's certainly a mystery..  :confused:

Could it be the name of their next residency perhaps?

Dumb speculation on my part, but the thought passed through so fuck it I'm throwing it out there... if Axl reunited the old guys, wouldn't the advantage of forming a band under a new name be that the label would have no rights to their recordings and so they can then release music independently?  Also, how better to prove that a reunion would not be about money, brands, etc., but only about the music.

http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the_dogshit_boys/chinese_democracy/

A band called The Dogshit Boys...

I see it hard!

Comming Soon

Any day now, I imagine.
Axl rose was interviewed last April (one year ago) and he said they were looking very seriously at releasing Chinese Democracy 2 and the remix album.

I have to sort of chuckle at this notion that this could be a side project.

Axl can't even get it together for his primary project.  How the hell would he have a side project?

Agree.  It puts a real strain on believability to think that Axl (now, in 2015) wants to start a side project.  His whole career has been the continuation and evolution of Guns, and everybody (literally, everybody) else, past or present, has their own side project(s). 

Whether it?s the name of the next tour/residency/album/song who knows?but logicially it has to be connected to Guns.  I think the phrase is kind of cool, btw, and has several layers of meaning as applied to Axl and GnR.

I choose to think proactively and assume this has to do with a future GNR project.

Of something new, not a repacked celebration of something from 25 years ago.

"Stay of Execution" is trademarked, and Axl is the name of the trademark holder, going by what's on the US Patent and Trademark site. This is NOT a copyright file, and completely separate from the US Copyright office.

So, it's a mark of trade. Meaning it's to be a product. And, loosely put, filing for a trademark will have to be within certain categories of 'goods and services'. Thus, the ones that are listed on the trademark page for Stay of Execution. There's other goods and services, but nothing seems to go broadly for this, or there might even be a different holder to "Stay of...." in other categories.

Now, as for the copyright side to this: there's no cohesive filing - YET - listed on the US Copyright site. Nor does there seem to be - YET - a release that would garner coverage of a copyright. (both "YET"'s said without any knowledge or relation in, to, around, or even on the other side of town, or hell and high water to the GNR / Axl camp).

Back to trademark: one must continually exploit their mark of trade so that it does not lapse (aka when you see "DEAD" on the USPTO site). By my eyes, it's still early on, and the filing is quite new, so there does not necessarily have to be an immediate release to go alongside the filing.

Lastly, I'm just reading this as interesting. Axl seems to be formally planting a flag with something. You don't go through and file something unless there's intent. Now, anything after that remains to be seen. But, wine glass is certainly half full here folks!

S
(hey-can we get an emoji with a powdered wig and gavel?  :hihi:)

I'm so curious as to what the reaction would be from people if this is indeed a new project for Axl...pushing touring under the GNR banner to the side..

I think it would be awesome..a fresh start with some hopefully awesome songs.

If it's the name of the next GNR record... thats great too... fingers crossed.

That GNR is most likely over.

Think about it.  He's been sitting on finished songs for a decade, yet he'd rather start up something totally different that would take all his time and energy?

Not a ringing endorsement for GNR's future.

I could like it..

Well maybe Axl now views things differently... that a lot of the guys who created Chinese are long gone... now Ron is gone... maybe he thinks it's time...

It's not that I want "GNR to be over"... but if it means new and more music from Axl... then i'm all for it.

(I know this is all speculative, just thinking out loud)

Am I getting this right?

- A song (the music) can be copyrighted
- A song name can neither be copyrighted or trademarked
- An album (the music) can be copyrighted
- An album title can neither be copyrighted or trademarked
- A band name can be trademarked
- Phrases used on band merchandise can be trademarked

Unsure:
- Tour name (If anything, trademark?)
- DVD/Blu-ray release (Can't trademark name, but copyright on content?)


- A trademark is protected forever, but it has to be actively used and a renewal has to be submitted after the first 5 years.

I'd always be interested in anything Axl does.  Sticking with him all this time is evidence of that.

Yes Warrior Soul put out a CD, available through the mail, called CD..Later it was renamed...

Maybe I am just a fool, but I am excited about this  ;D

Any news is good news  :D

And to be fair the Warrior Soul album was great also. They only pressed about 150 copies. I have one of them. Gonna see Kory Clarke live in the UK this may. They were actually on geffen at the same time as Guns.
Its cool Axl has something new or not? but lets see how it pans out.

As i said many time before, for years, The "current band" is not a "band". Axl Rose lost his bet, even if he won't admit it (or maybe he just don't care, but history won't remember the last 15 years of "new gnr"). He couldn't handle the all thing, he actually took over the old line up (wanted or not, good or bad) but he just failed. He couldn't recreate the "magic". Obviosly there's no problem, another employee is joining in but,,, it's kinda sad, really.

for a song, look at the parts within:
1) There's the music/composition
2) There's the lyrics
3) There's also the arrangement.
All 3 of which can be copyrighted.

A song name will be copyrighted, since it's the title. So, if you apply a title to the above song made up of the above 3 parts, then that's how the title would be copyrighted.

So how come there's numerous songs with the same title? Well, each song will have different composition, lyrics and arrangements.
It's like.....how many other people and pets are named Axl in the world? The title is one thing, the make up of a song is different.

A song name can be trademarked, however it has to be in context of the song title. Also if someone holds a copyright, then they hold the power to at least grant the permission on the trademark.

As for an album and album title, it kind of goes along with the above. All of the songs that make up the album would be copyrighted. As for the album title, that's copyrighted along with the album. As for the album title being trademarked, this is only if you are applying it in context onto a product or logo.

Band names can most certainly and SHOULD be trademarked. Why do you think there's variations on band names? Forget about when shit goes down with band turmoils. Think of time and territory. Did you know there was a band from the 60s called Nirvana? Why do you think bands add "U.K." to their title? Cuz there's probably a band in another territory who has rights on the name.

If by "phrases" you mean album titles or lyrics, or even expressions or mottos, all of these will encompass the design itself that gets applied to the product (say t-shirts for example), of which that can be trademarked. Remember the mention of "goods and services"? Apparel is one such category. So, within the filing of a trademark would be a certain design, of which the trademark holder holds the rights.

it's when things are waaaay too similar, or bootlegged that you get into infringement and that stuff.

Tour Name? It can be, but what are you trademarking it with? or to? What type of goods and service? You can't copyright or trademark a 'tour', literally the act of touring. Would you apply, say, "Get In The Ring" to a design on a t-shirt?

DVD/Blu-Ray/any type of 'mechanical' release, whehter promo or commercial product: Copyrightable. It's your product that is a copy of a creatively produced event that has been recorded and fixed to a mechanical document. Even without recording, the performance of the concert or recording itself would be copyrightable. As for trademarking, you can, but it has to be exploited.

Yes, a mark of trade can last forever, but has to be actively exploited.

Of course, rights and such will vary country to country. I recommend the "In A Nutshell" series for US law. It's like Cliff Notes but for law. The book on Intellectual Property is GREAT.

And you'll keep saying the same for for years to come.

Move along.




/jarmo

Thanks for the insight snead hearn! :)

Based solely on the information we have on what it could be, what are you leaning against the most?

Cool name. So I guess it means all the attention seeking ass clowns looking for easy attention won't be able to use it!  :hihi:


/jarmo

Just putting out the proverbial disclaimer force field, cross fingers before responding-my thoughts and thoughts alone.....ok, here's what i think-speculating & spitballing:

Could this be a label of sorts? Some sort of indie label entity? HE filed for a trademark and is the owner. It's not under the GNR partnership. Nor is it under a label, Universal or similar. It's Axl. And it's the only Trademark associated to him individually. All rest where he is listed are under the GNR partnership with Duff and Slash.

The goods and services are Digital Media and Entertainment. When I say I don't think this is GNR related, I say it's not touching upon the collective group (aka Chi Dem lineups and songs) or anything pre Chi Dem, from a creative music standpoint.

I also don't see it as a 'Chinese Democracy II" or record release, or even a DVD release. Anything to those type of music or A/V release-there has to be label involvement, IF for the fact that (unbeknownst to us) Axl/GNR may still be under label contract.

Axl has the trademark for this. So he in theory (punch holes as you see fit) could look to trademark for releasing a product. What that product is is a completely different question. And I say there's not even enough to speculate for that. I just want to figure what would be a logical theory for "Stay Of Execution". Could this be a side project? Perhaps, but that's trying to read too much into a black hole right now.

You know what? Look around to see what other bands and people have done. I just entered "Foo Fighters" and also did a separate search for "Roswell Records", and yet another for "David Grohl" as the owner name. Same thing for Paul Westerberg and The Replacements. There you can see what the Goods and Services are, and who would own the name/trademark.

Spirit-what sayeth you?

Oh, at first I thought it was an album title. But after doing some research, I have pretty much abandoned that.

Then, looking at the categories of use for the trademark, I think it fits with a side-project, a band name.

The label theory is also very plausible. I haven't got the complete overview of what Black Frog really is. To my knowledge there are both Black Frog Music and Black Frog Publishing. I'm not sure if the former is classified as a label. If it is, I'm not sure if it's logical that Axl is establishing one more label.

Black Frog has ties with Universal though, so it might be as you say, that Stay of Execution is a new indie label.

Anything with "Black Frog" will be within the publishing catalog name. Sort of, like, an album title will be a title associated with a collection of songs. So, when you have a catalog of songs, they will be published under a name/title with it, that's what the Black Frog name is about. If you look at this whole protocol, it's soooo antiquated, like early 20th Century. But, this is how the way of intellectual property rights are.

The catalog for the newer Guns songs, for Axl's share, is under "Black Frog". The catalog for these titles seem to be administrated by Universal Publishing (not the label). So, that's where the Universal connection is. As for Geffen being under Universal, that's all label side stuff, not the publishing side.

If you look up "Black Frog" on the USPTO site, the mark is owned with some midwestern band. Nothing to do with Axl/GNR. There seem to be a few "DEAD" Black Frog listings in other goods and services. Not sure if 1 or 2 of the Dead ones may or may not have had involvement with Axl. Cannot determine.

Also, for giggles, if you look up "Uzi Suicide" on the trademark site, that's now abandoned, dead. And the owners listed are Slash and Duff.

Axl is listed as the principal for those dead companies, so they had involvement with him. But as you say, Black Frog Entities is dead.



I don't know if it means anything but the official GNR Facebook page has listed Black Frog as the record company. It's probably just a mistake, and it is only the publishing company. Appetite For Democracy was after all released with Geffen being the record company.



That's correct. Universal Publishing is the parent company of Black Frog Music Publishing.




The reason I brought this up is that I don't think Black Frog was always intended to be solely a publishing company. I was not sure of the status of the company, but as you said, Black Frog Entities is not active, only Black Frog Publishing is alive.

Black Frog Entities used to be the parent company of BF Music and BF Publishing, but it seems to be a long time ago. I thought BF Music might have been Axl's intent to have an own label, maybe with an association with Sanctuary Records (not publishing). But I don't know about that.

I didn't know that this whole structure was long gone. I tried to find the site I remember seeing this information, but it was some sort of company profile search site.

well,

1) the band is on a hiatus.
2) Axl was spotted in studio.
3) a new LP is almost ready, they say.
4) a new name is copyrighted.
5) it's the same kind of name as Appetite For Destruction or Use Your Illusion.

so in my mind, Stay of Execution is the name of the new album.

Who is "they" you are referring to in regards to a new album being "ready"?

As far as I know, an album title can't be copyrighted. Is that right?


It could be a new residency?




 :peace:

I just hope this album doesnt take 12 years to release  : ok:

No chance.  I would put my house on a new album out this year  :peace:

Axl is saving all the Big Guns for CD2   :drool:

In Me Opinion...

GREAT NEWS GNR 2015

 :beer:

My bet: New album. The name is reserved because of merchandise and maybe a tour. Guns ain't dead, I don't understand 'fans' who didn't learn yet that all we need with our favorite band is just a little patience.

Was "No Trickery" or "Appetite for Democracy" trademarked?

Everybody dosent feel that way.
if i had choice to see GN'R live in 1988 or  in 2014 i wouldnt hesitate one second.

I hope you are right!  :beer:

When you say, "Axl was spotted in studio" do you mean he re-tweeted a pic of a studio from Pittman?  I wasn't aware of any other details that he was in the studio.  I hope you're right, btw.

Jarmo, what's your take on this title?

Could it be a new album name? 

If it is, I think it's a great name personally

I really have no idea.

Obviously I think it's more "special" than other phrases/titles since those weren't trademarked? Like Chinese Democracy or Appetite For Democracy for example.



/jarmo

There was talk from the president of ATG after no trickery about a Axl doing a possible reunion. Maybe a LONG residency at the hard rock with classic line up at some point??

Stay of Execution kinda fits. The 'stay' element certainly.
It's not a band name. Makes no sense.

Let's hope it's something that comes to fruition.

It's a fucking great title, ala Use Your Illusion, Appetite for Destruction and Chinese Democracy.

I hope one day I get to meet the man himself and tell him how much I love his music.

I was 10 years old when I first got hooked on AFD, having had a half-hearted interest in Iron Maiden; I'm now 37!

Actually if a reunion were to happen an open ended residency would be a good way to at least start it. There's no added pressure of touring. A very controlled environment can be developed.

Yes my guess is the 'reunion residency'. I doubt it's in progress but the name is there incase.

I'd rather it was an album... But does not sound like one to me.

Could be his biography title mind... With the title depicting he is the only one who stayed with GN'R

With what logic you guys think if a reunion would happen, it would be called Stay If Execution and not Guns N Roses  ???


Id say odds for Stay Of Execution being a reunion thing  are 0,1%  out of 100%

No I'm saying that would be the title of the residency.

Guns N'Roses 'Stay of Execution' Hard Rock 2017!

Type thing..

Why do you think it would be a title of a residency? It's more important than the first two since those weren't trademarked?  ???



/jarmo

I think this is a good guess.

The thing about that is the category of use that has been filed. It is filed to be used associated with reproduction of audio and video as well as live performances of a band.

Not a book title, it's not mentioned there.

I am just going with an album title. :P

Yep....next record or products associated to it....that's my guess.

Yeah a new album for sure  :)

In which case could it be a new label name? Like metallica's blackened recordings.

It has been speculated in that yes. The filing is still too unspecific to say for sure though.



For the people informed on the subject:
How free is Axl to start his own label, not associated with Interscope/Universal? Guns N' Roses are under contract with a record company, but is Axl as a person free to do whatever he wants outside of that, or is he personally also under contract and restricted?

stayofexecution.com registered

Feb 28, 2000 by someone in Costa Rica.

I wonder if it's some kind of intended delux release incorporating Chinese and a good chunk of the chinese era music.

The trademark could be felt necessary to protect associated merch and accompanying tour.

Would be cool

If its more "special" than an album title, what else could it be besides the name of a band, unless its non music related.

No idea. Were they?

Side project? Movie? Theme park?

Can an album title be trademarked?



 :peace:

From what I've read an album name cannot be trademarked.

Having said that, any merchandise or tour associated with it can be trademarked - so I guess it's kind of a safeguard for the album name too (assuming that's what it is).

Also from what I've read i other forums, the trademark has two parts; the first relates to actual music in whichever form that may be (CDs, DVDs, etc) and the second seems to relate to live performances.

I don't profess to have any proper understanding of any of this type of stuff - it's just what I've read.

Pretty interesting stuff though

I used "special" as a way to describe that the phrase might have meant more to somebody so they trademarked it, which wasn't done with other phrases.
Not saying that other phrases weren't special or important.



/jarmo

I think it's a stupid album title, stupid name for a band and a stupid name for a tour. Very unoriginal.
I hope he copyrighted it just to fuck with everyone. :hihi:

i think you're in the minority on this one.  i also think "stay of execution" is a cool title for any kind of music, label, etc.

The question is: Will the next Vegas residency be in June or November, and will the new album come out at the same time?  :drool:

Considering some of the band members would not be available and who knows who is taking Ron's place, I don't thank that is in the cards for any time soon.... as far as a residency goes.

Fan made no doubt, but we can dream!

(http://i58.tinypic.com/aotlhu.jpg)

Is Cat's In The Cradle on it?


Sorry, couldn't resist.  :hihi:



/jarmo

Lol!

It's not that bad!

Quite like it personally  ;D

Nope, but "My Favorite Pillow" is!

I wonder if Stay of Execution is a play on the procrastination joke ala "punctuality is the thief of time" quote that Axl put in the alternate chinese booklets.

Kind of like a delay in action, rather than a death sentence delay or legal phrase.

Works on different levels  8)

Wonderful!  White Christmas and Every Rose has it's thorn too? : ok:

I've heard rumors of a reworked Keep On Rising being on there as well.

Be careful.

Or soon we'll see "news" stories about how somebody heard that Keep On Rising and My Favorite Pillow are on the next album!

 :hihi:



/jarmo

This has to be good news. Can't wait to see what it's all about. I didn't know what the term meant so I looked it up. Anyone else see the wiki for it? "One example of a stay of execution in the death penalty context was the James Autry case. Autry was already strapped down to the execution table in Texas when the order came to stop the execution. He was executed a few months later, on March 14, 1984". Pretty crazy.

I really think this/it is something.

But.... this is the question.... why Axl says NOTHING????? Again... nothing...

Jeeeeesus!!!! Cmon!!!!

When there is some news to be announced it will be announced.

I fail to see your urgent little issue.

If he were to say something about this particular trademark claim, it would only be logical to do so once the paperwork is finalized. It isn't.

Youre right!. But if i have to bet on that.... ill loose

What exactly are you betting on, and with whom? ??

Betting on when the trademark is ready... will be no news (or info bout that)

I'm sure Coy Clarke (who ACTUALLY wrote and sang on MFP) would be ecstatic to hear it.

You know, I still listen to that song...I actually like it a ton.

Did you come here to whine and complain?  :crying:

When there is something to be announced, it will be announced, not such a difficult concept to embrace.

Someone needs to search the crazy art-world for a painting titled "Stay of Execution"...but if this is an album title, its been used many, many times by various bands.

No. Just shaking the topic. Because the boring no updates.

Sometimes i read htgth, to get some "news"... but in gnr the news are so elusives. And in Latinamerica is more difficult to get them so.

The most of ppl here live in USA (i think) and is more easy to get some...

Try to get some interview ppl!! Move your asses.

This is exactly what I've been thinking. It's kind of weird also that many people seem to have heard the legal term for the first time as it's very common. Lawyers for any death row inmates will seek for one.

That would make a nice title for the new album though, nothing more or nothing less.

(http://f1.bcbits.com/img/a0144457386_10.jpg)

Looks like there is an album already out  :-\

Didn't Axl wear a tee-shirt with free the " xyz?  " three (are they on death row?, maybe there is an iconic image associated with that cause.  Controversy  and Gn'R go hand in hand, remember Axl wanting to use the space shuttle explosion image for AFD...  Only to use the rape artwork that got banned as an outwardly facing cover  :hihi:

Holy shit, I can't believe the people on here who haven't heard the phrase "stay of execution" before. Don't any of you read books, newspapers (yeah, I know- What's a newspaper?), go to the movies. Folks, this is not an original phrase. In fact it's cliche as hell. I'm not trying to be a dick, but damn . . . .

Many people here aren't native English speakers.

As 'cliche' as it sounds, it obviously holds some significance for the artist. I am still of the opinion, based on afd and uyi, that there may be a piece of artwork (painting?) that Axl intends to use which was titled "stay of execution". With his activity centering around LA and NYC, someone must be able to find one (if you are intent on ruining a possible surprise). The use of that term could also indicate that whatever it is attached to was scheduled for 'death'...or the cutting room floor as they say in Hollywood. All just my uneducated presumptive opinion.

Clich?? I don't think so.

Look at any previous GN'R related titles. It doesn't seem similar to any of them.




/jarmo

Does anyone know if the categories of use can change and be more specified when the Statement of Use document has been filed by Axl?

Love the title personally, and I hope it is the title of the next album.

Now we just need a cover and a track listing  ;D

Oh, its absolutely a clever name.  Playing on the rather colorful history of this band.

I thought '2000 Intentions' would have also been very clever that way.

Except it kinda dates it. Just like all those Y2K references.  :hihi:

Chinese Democracy is more timeless in that sense.


/jarmo

Point taken.

I assumed cliche was used because the execution/punishment thing is so closely associated with heavy metal bands...it was a VERY common theme here in the US late 80's to 90's...that is the only reason I was willing to concede it could be seen as 'cliche' (In response to a previous post). That said, GnR is not heavy metal, and I am sure there is a much bigger reason for the name than "it sounds cool". Gnr could release an album titled "Axl's favorite show tunes" and I would still buy it.

Random thought / perhaps this title has a connection to the killing of animals that Axl tweeted about last year?

If it is a project other than Guns, that could be a breath of fresh air.
Inspiration to add to GN?R?s catalogue appears to have run dry, or at best the ability to follow through on it has.
A new project could be just what the doctor ordered.
A vehicle to release new music without the unattainable expectations of living up to the GN?R legacy.

I?d like to hear Axl?s Euphoria Mourning.

But does that seem realistic to you?

He's got songs he's been sitting on for a decade, finished songs, that he can't get out there.

Do you really think that's all down to the pressure of the name?  And, removed from the equation, a notorious foot dragger gets moving?

The name is probably contractually obliged to release those songs on the Universal Music label. Meaning, it's likely that Universal has a say on how/when those Guns N' Roses songs get released.

I don't know if you could take all that material, put it out under a different name and not have to answer to Universal.
Even guest appearances on other peoples' albums are usually listed as "appears courtesy of _______ Records".


So, could Axl take all those songs, put them out under a new band name without the involvement of Universal? I have no idea.
Could he put them out incognito without the involvement of Universal? No clue.

But I suspect they would have a say in it.





/jarmo

Well I?m not holding my breath.
I just believe he bit off more than he could chew, and maybe stepping out from underneath the enormous weight of the name, could be invigorating.
I?m not expecting it, but I?d be very interested if it came to pass.

https://twitter.com/StayOfExecution


I assume this one's probably registered by fan..

Axl would probably not have somebody write "In the mind of a genius"  :hihi:

I agree!

Yeah I would think since they foot the bill for all those years... songs from that time period would have to be under their umbrella..

Maybe newer songs with Ashba if they exist would be able to slide over ?

Does the label get copies of all recordings done up until now?  If they don't, how would they know if something is an old recording? 

I don't know if they own the songs, I think they might have the right to release album(s).

So I'm assuming as long as they get the amount of minutes to fill an album, that's what they are entitled to. Doesn't matter when the songs were recorded?


Unless there's some kind of "we paid for these recordings" situation...



/jarmo

Good question... I would imagine that they have a good idea of what Axl spent their money on... but I guess you could be right.
If a song comes out with writing credits to Buckehead... I think that would be a give away  ;)

Again... a new project/new name as a vehicle to release songs would be so amazing.

I remember a thread a while back which suggested that a get-out might be to give the label first dibs on a reunion package, knowing that it would be in the labels interest to accept the deal as a "most realistic" way to make money, anything else is the dog chasing its tail.  Seems to me a valid escape for all concerned in regards contracts currently active.  But I don't work in the business nor am I a legal eagle either so just a guess. :)

Yeah, that's probably the case.  Axl is likely bound to the label not just for "Guns N' Roses" recordings, but for anything he creates, whether individually, with another band or through a new band he creates, up to the amount of albums or other releases stated in their contract.  

Any recording made during the duration of the contract is owned by the label.

And Axl personally is obligated to record exclusively for the label, which is why he appears courtesy of the label when making a guest appearance.

There's nothing Axl can do to get out of the contract other than release three more albums.