Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Below are some edited parts of the Question and Answer session with Frank Ferrar, Guns and Roses current drummer at Whole Lotta Love on August 14, 2015 in East Brunswick, Melbourne.

The first questions during his Q&A involved what his first gig was (Kiss at Madison Square Gardens in the 70s), who his favourite band is (The Deftones) and what it was like being the second drummer in Tool (awesome), and how he got the gig in Guns (Brain was having a kid during a European tour so Tommy Stinson gave him a call to fill in and he stayed). But everyone wanted the dirt, so this is the current state of  Guns and Roses:

Q. Whose drum parts do you enjoy playing the most?

Ferrar: Adler and Sorum are iconic, I try to play somewhere between the punk rock of Adler and the professionalism of Sorum. Those guys really left their mark on Guns.

Q. Axl said last year that Guns and Roses have a sequel to Chinese Democracy and a remix of Chinese Democracy that were meant to come out this year.

Ferrar:  Axl hasn't told me that. There is something coming sooner than later, that is all I can say.

Q.Who will fill in lead guitarists DJ Ashba and Bumblefoots positions (they recently left the band):

Ferrar: That also will be announced sooner rather than later. (Someone shouts "Is it Buckethead?") laughs. I actually will be playing guitar. There will be GNR news very soon.

Q. What is your favourite Guns and Roses track to play live?
Ferrar: You Could be Mine. I like the more funky and grimy stuff like Brownstone, Rocket Queen and Jungle but You Could be Mine is the most fun to play.

Q. What's Axl like to work for?

Ferrar: He's great, he treated me like a band member from day one. He just wants to hear that 2/4 groove so he can move his ass. He's not a regular dude, super private, focused and wants everything to be really really good every night. He has tremendous trust in the band, we have insight into what he wants. I think I'm in the band because I have that sensitivity toward what Axl needs.

Q. How do you write new material with Guns?

A. People submit different things, usually by internet because everyone is spread out. Technology is such you don't have to be in the room.  Axl writes all the big piano ballads.

Q.  Izzy and Axl were rumoured to be writing again. Is any of this on the new album?

Ferrar: This is the gods honest truth I don't know anything about that.

Q. What's your take on the Axl Slash feud?

Ferrar: I don't know exactly what went down between those two but I haven't met Slash, he hasn't been around and he's not really welcome in the camp since I've been around.

Q. Why didn't Axl attend the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame?

Ferrar: Axl wanted the whole history of the band to be represented. He feels Guns and Roses is still alive and still has current members. That stuff is beyond me on a personal level, I'm just happy to play music for a living.

Q. Why did Chinese Democracy take so long to come out?

Ferrar: Axl is a perfectionist so it came out when it was ready to come out.

Your views on the current Guns and Roses?

Everybody's family changes along the way, people get divorced, bands are like families and things change. I love the original Guns and Roses but be happy that Axl is still creating music and still pushing forward and trying to reinvent himself and I just wish people would have more of an open mind on that. Everything is still kinda the same but different, just like everything in the world. The band is a living breathing organism.

 

LINK
http://www.soundreliance.com/post/the-current-state-of-guns-and-roses-qa-with-gnr-drummer-frank-ferrar-7543457

We've gone from soon to very soon!  Chances we hear something this year are looking good.

I hope is not a fake interview  :-\

Frank Ferrer did a Q&A with some fans before his show in Australia. Thanks to ThinkAboutYour for the recap!

1. GNR is still active
2. Tommy told him to learn Appetite and then 2 weeks later he rehearsed with the band
3. Axl wants shows to be at a very good standard each night
4. The wildest thing he saw backstage - nude chicks in Spa - nude girl with body paint
5. Chinese Democracy came out when Axl thought it was ready.

Read more HERE ==>

http://gunsnroses.com/forum/main/3152643

Q.  Izzy and Axl were rumoured to be writing again. Is any of this on the new album?

Ferrar: This is the gods honest truth I don't know anything about that.


I think that was the interviewer getting confused with Izzy writing with Duff

This Rumor From Tour 2006

I both love and hate this answer.

Love the parts about being glad Axl is still out there in some capacity.  I totally agree and always have.  Axl holed up in seclusion and never heard from again is the worst possible outcome. 

Hate the parts about how he is still creating music and pushing forward.  Not that I hate those concepts as concepts.  As concepts, they are right on.  But hate how he's talking like that is what Axl has actually been doing.

More From Frank:

http://tunein.com/topic/?TopicId=100371094

Man, if we can get an official announcement of the next album this year, I'd be thrilled with that alone.  Of course the endgame is hearing the music, but an announcement would at least show real intent to get it out, which is something we've yet to see.

Then again, if the album simply landed on itunes one day, I think I'd be pretty okay with that too.  ;)

Dr. Dre was able to get it all done quickly and under wraps.

He announced the album a week before it dropped, and there it was.  No one even knew he was working on it.

So it can be done.  If you really want to get it done.

Big if though. Also Dr. Dre has a vested interest in releasing it through ITunes.

I Have Much Patience

 :smoking:

How do you know it's not what he's been doing?

Exactly.

Because he's released one 14 song album in the past 15 years.

Because he's doing residencies built around 25 year old albums and playing fewer and fewer "new" songs with each successive tour leg since the album came out.

So, I guess my answer would be "because I pay even just the bare minimum of attention".

It would be swell if he was creating music and pushing into new areas, if it were true.  But, much like DJ's laughable claims about setlist variety, you can't lie to me straightfaced and expect I'm going to just accept it as fact.

One of my biggest pet peeves is the "it's labels fault theory"..

I'm glad Frank along with Del have now both stated that CD came out when Axl was ready to release it.

Frank seems like a great guy... this interview along with most GNR band member interviews are all the same... they say basically nothing!

I really can't wait so see what kind of lineup they run out there next time...  Should be at least real good for the chatter here no matter who fills in!

Sounds very positive. If people don't believe it or agree with it or whatever, then good for them. I wont debate anyone over it, I'm not very good at that anyway, but for me, this was very exciting to read and I'm looking forward to this all panning out more than ever! So happy Axl still wants to do this. Thank you so much for the interview!

So, once again, you don?t have any facts?just your well-reasoned, rational, uneducated and negative opinion.

Ya know, I really hope that's the case.  I'm hoping that whatever Chris & Axl were doing in the studio was not simply a one off, and that real work is being doing behind the scenes (possibly with Caram) to see that the rest of the music reaches the fans, to quote Frank, "sooner than later".

I Believe:

- New Music
- New World Tour
- New(s) Guitar(s)

Excelent & Brillant Good News, Only 4 Months For End 2015

" Sooner Than Later"

 :smoking:

I'll believe its coming sooner rather than alter when I see it. Sorry.. Frank and whoever is in the band or around the band going forward don't get the benefit of doubt when it comes to predicting timelines.

Dr. Dre did something, so Axl can do the same.

Lovely logic.




/jarmo

I would agree that comparing the two isn't exactly ideal.  First, Jimmy Iovine has somewhat of a history of catering to Dr. Dre.  I think Axl is aware of this, and has vented his frustrations in the past.  Also, Dr. Dre's album was meant accompany the 'Straight Outta Compton' film, which created it's own buzz for the album.  Third, he's a billionaire who basically has the music industry by the nuts.

Axl's relationship with the label, as it currently stands, is probably "complicated" at best.  I hope they're in a place where they can come to terms on an upcoming release.  But who knows?

It's till better then "I don't know if soon is the word"

That's assuming Frank knows what he is talking about.  I'm sure he means well, but the word "soon" to a GNR fan could mean anywhere from 0-5 years.  Pretty big parking spot.  :-\

She (or anyone, I suppose) could always fall back on the notion there is all this great stuff that I just haven't heard yet.

OK. 

Well...in that case...I also have recorded a mind blowing album.  I can't wait for you all to hear it once I can figure out the best way to tackle the material for release.  I'm just starting to take a very serious look at what I'm doing in that regard.

Hey...prove me wrong, kids.  Prove me wrong.

OK.  Then swap him out for the literal hundreds of other artists that seem to get things done every week of every year.  What's the difference?

Let's not pretend its just the Dr. Dre example you object to.  You object to them all!

Because, hey man...just nobody like Guns N' Roses.  No one in the world.  Its all different, all specialized, all unique.

Also true.  How excited can you really get about "sooner than later" when a simple "hey, things change" hangs like a Sword Of Damocles over all these rosy outlooks.

I will say answers like this are preferable to "I have no idea what's going on" though.

What's the difference?

Well first of you'd have to talk to Axl to figure out what he wants to do, then look at whatever contracts that exist between him and the record company, then you'd have to figure out if whatever you want to do is a viable option to do, maybe you'd have to negotiate some deal to get it released according to the artist's and label's wishes etc etc.


Oh yeah, it's just as simple as "it can be done".

Of course it can be done. Everything is so much easier when you don't need to do any free thinking.



You can also climb Mount Everest. If you want!
Others are doing it, why can't you? Don't tell me any excuses.




Somebody who knows his shit already told you that you're wrong about many things. It kinda makes your credibility score go down.... If that's possible.



/jarmo

Alrighty.

Well, its been 7 years.  How much headway do you think he, or any of his management team, have made on any of that process?  What's your hunch?

Step up on the record for once in your life.

Sword of Damocles???  Someone's stepping up their game...

I had to!!

I was under the impression that the second album was largely done, even before the touring started in late 2009.  I would imagine that whatever additions and tweaks were needed have  all been completed by now, nearly 6 years later.

But, Jarmo has a point, without knowing where Axl's relationship & negotiations with the label currently stand, all we're doing is grasping at straws.  I'm choosing to hope for the best.  Frank's comments above are encouraging, but we shall see.

I'll ask you the same thing I asked him.  Where do you think he, or the team, is on all that process?

That's a tough question.  We know Axl's interest in working comes and goes, depending on how motivated he feels.  We know last December he was in the studio with Chris. But that was 8 months ago.  Was that him finishing up/mixing the album? If so, we could be rounding third on our 7 year wait for the next album.  If not, and he was just tinkering, we could be in it for the longhaul.

Fernando seemed EXTREMELY reluctant to answer any questions regarding new music, only saying some GNR news is coming, possibly within the next couple of months.  He didn't seem particularly coy, like he knew something we didn't so, again, it's hard to say. Hopefully he just has a terrific online poker face and said announcement is in regard to the next album.

I know, that was basically a long winded way of saying "I have no idea."

The process? The music's probably done like he said.

Is the artwork done? Don't know.
Is it mixed, sequenced and mastered? Don't know.
Has an agreement been reached regarding its release? Don't know.


So when will it come out? When all of that is done and everybody is agreeing on putting it out.
I'm guessing that date is between tomorrow and the next ice age....

:D


/jarmo

Hahahaha

Well, none of us know.  We're all just guessing.

I'm sort of with you that I don't think he would be in the studio finishing things up if things were still dogshit with the label.

Yeah, I think the big wigs at the label know to give him his space at this point.  This isn't the year 2000 where you can have A&R Man give the tracks a listen and tell Axl to "Make em' better!" taking the wind out his sails in the process.  No, in 2015 when Axl Rose hands you 14 or so finished tracks, you master those fuckers to his liking and get them out under the 'Guns N' Roses' banner.

So, for whatever it's worth, we should take solace in the fact that when Axl's ready to release them, it'll no doubt happen yesterday.

It depends.

If somebody says "I won't talk to you until I see the finished product", then you might have to show them the finished product.
Or you just want to finish whatever you had left to finish.

Hypothetically speaking. I don't buy your scenario as the only possible one. :)




/jarmo

Would the label be that blunt/hard-assed with Axl though? I would hope their relationship would be a little more amicable than that.

Then again, I seem to recall Merck saying that the label refused to give Axl/management a marketing plan for Chinese Democracy until it was in their hands, and that was as of late 2006.  Perhaps they are in fact still playing hardball with Axl.  I don't imagine that helps.

I have no idea what the relationship is like.

I just don't believe that you'd finish recording material just because everything is awesome with the label. Didn't Chinese Democracy already prove that? It was finished and everything wasn't awesome between band and label.... ;)



/jarmo

I hear you.  I guess I just hoped that over the past few years things had gotten better with the label in regard to their support.  It would be a real shame if there's some behind the scenes impasse preventing us from hearing the next album.

Oh yeah. Me too.

I mean, they did release the DVD/Blu ray!  8)



/jarmo

honestly, which was a bit odd-choosing that as an official release over an ep of new music or even a single. However, it definitely shows that there is not a big rift. A new album and all that goes with it is a whole other ball game. It would be nice to not have to be Universal's bitch....recent quote from Jeff Tweedy of Wilco on album releases nowadays....

Why did you decide to surprise-release the album?
I was really dreading the modern rollout pattern. Usually, by the time the record comes out, I hate it. I hate talking about it. I hate all the people that have weighed in on it. I think it's done a disservice to our records, the way they've been heard in dribs and drabs, and a lot of people think they've heard a whole record after just hearing one song. That's not the way Wilco records work. I'm thrilled. I got to put it out and basically kind of stay home ? and now I'm about halfway done with the next record.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/jeff-tweedy-on-star-wars-bob-dylan-and-wilcos-next-lp-20150819#ixzz3jIfrTANA
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

- 2008 --> Release Chinese Democracy, Review, Singles, Interview, etc.

- 2009, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 --> World Tour, New Music, New BluRay, New Residency, etc.

- 2015 -------------------------->Stand By, Remastered New Disc, Planification, New Members, etc.

And 2016 Is ? SOONER

 :smoking:

Let's hope so!  : ok:

Only 4 Months, Only 120 Days & Much Brillant News... JUST I LITTLE PATIENCE

 :beer:

I Believe:
New Music
New World Tour
New(s) Guitar(s)
Excelent & Brillant Good News, Only 4 Months For End 2015

>> new music of new-old/already-ex guitars
>> AND/with new(again) musicians..
>> AND where's my beer?



Oh yeah, it's just as simple as "it can be done".
Of course it can be done. Everything is so much easier
when you don't need to do any free thinking.

>> jarmo, I already have my site in your GNR links list, 2000, maybe '01,
>> yet.. and I barely write! but, I am old here! and, you know,
>> you're the closest thing to GNR camp that I ever had
>> hoped you're wrong, this time



So when will it come out? When all of that is
done and everybody is agreeing on putting it out.
I'm guessing that date is between tomorrow and the next ice age....

>> and now right, again



And 2016 Is ? SOONER

>> soon is the word Slaxl? Sorry, This is.. wait! I'm getting old!!



Only 4 Months, Only 120 Days & Much Brillant News... JUST I LITTLE PATIENCE

>> just a little patience? "yeah..right!"

Wrong again-

In reality you have zero idea of what he's been doing, all you know is nothing new has been released so far- you have no proof that music isn't being worked on.

Your little assumptions are just that, and we all know what assumptions are compared to. :-*

Nice try at attempting to deflect and make your opinion more seemingly valid by dragging up the setlist debate yet again, you regurgitate the same whiny complaints endlessly. It's very tiresome and tedious.

You aren't proving to be very credible.

Doubt seriously if it's in reference to the ancient greek parable, he probably heard the song of the same name in Rocky Horror Show and thought it would appear clever to quote it in a post.   :hihi:

Post. Whine. Repeat. Post. Whine. Repeat. Post. Whine. Repeat etc etc....  ::)

Haha! A vicious, repetitive  circle jerk to be sure   : ok:

Good synopsis!

New Song ? Excelent Lirycs, Congratulations !!!

 :beer:

i don?t believe that....

We Need a Just Little a Patience, cause' Axl is sleeping in this moment.  :rofl:

What? Sorry, don't get the remark  ???

Thanks for Frank's words, the interview was interesting. I like when he says sooner than later!

I saw the DVD was mentioned in the thread. I loved it, too bad the band/ management/ label didnt choose to promote it...