Here Today... Gone To Hell!

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rumor-guns-n-roses-reunion-wont-be-all-original-members/ I know that this was already a rumor but still, good thread to make.

I'd love to see Richard, fortus, dizzy, and Axl play with slash and duff. I think its happening (atleast something with Frank and Richard) !!!  : ok: :peace:

Only possible 'classic' lineup I could see happen, with mother Goose of course

If this is the best we are going to do, I'm 'bout it, 'bout it.

Still a vast improvement.

If true, I'm sure Izzy was asked and he does not want to do it. Drummers probably weren't asked.  Does anyone else feel like this could put Steven over the edge?

Im sure Steven and Izzy will play some shows. I think that Izzy doesn't want to commit to anything and the band probably doesn't want to commit to Steven. But I would bet they each play a show here and there.

Fortus in this lineup is exciting actually.

He said on Eddie Trunk if he's gonna do it nobody is cause he'll kill em all.  

Yes totally agree that's probably the deal.  either way this will bring the band back to sold out arenas rather theaters and clubs. I used to think if there was a true reunion that they would do stadiums but now I don't think so. Too much time has past pissing off too many people at Axl and Axls voice last few years was sub par at best. Unless it was with like reunited Nirvana with guest singers then that may be able to do stadiums. 

I Believe New Line Up Is:

AXL
DIZZY
CHRIS
FRANK
TOMMY
FORTUS
NEW GUITAR
NEW GUITAR

 :smoking:

Oh my god....what is it ?


https://www.facebook.com/Guns-N-Roses-Reunion-2016-932287826849436/

Stadiums are likely a pipe dream, at least in the U.S.  But its a guaranteed 20,000 arena act.  Multiple nights in some places.

Was Axl and his band of merry men accomplishing that, either lately or anytime soon?  No.  So if it was a bigger time event you were after, you have to be all about this.

Works for me.  Assuming there's an official announcement to be made, I would think the sooner the better at this point, given all the "rumor" stories that are coming out.

***

And as complete outsider and long-time fan who's thrilled at the possibility of seeing Slash, Duff, and Axl together again, I would have nothing to nitpick or complain about if this scenario proves true.  Richard and Frank appear to be great guys, phenomenal musicians, and their continued presence also serves to validate the post-UYI era of GnR as things shift towards whatever version the band takes next under Axl's lead.

Another GnR tour with the Illusion-era core?  Yes, please.  The only thing that could possibly top that would be more "new" music being officially released.

Will this have a profoundly difficult impact on Steven?  It likely will.  Hopefully he's peripherally included somehow to soften the blow.  I also imagine it a slightly difficult position for Sorum, but certainly he's savvy enough to understand and make peace with it, and his friendship / professional relationship with Slash and Duff will go on unaffected.

Here's to 2016, then.

Hahahaha

That page is a pisser.

So set you clocks for...when, exactly?

Let me ask you again. Is that your page?



/jarmo

No.

It would be a false page ?

yesterday this page posted a small stretch of Checkmate song, an improved version of what we know

I bet izzy will play, he won't tour every single show. The reasons Matt and Steven won't be called are pretty clear

I want this more than a reunion with current gnr (Frank and Richard) but if there is a reunion, I don't want those jerks who have insulted Axl and hisband many times.

It was Jackie Chan, "checkmate" is a bs name. I give him credits for including the original leak.

Yeah, because Axl's been such a prince.

Life's too short to stay pissed off all the time.  If these guys can come together and do a tour, we should all celebrate it.  Not keep score about who said what, when.

Looks fan made to me.
Also, made by somebody who's not a native English speaker.




/jarmo

Or maybe I want to see a new guitarist vs something we have already had...

Everybody wants something. You are no different.

Ah.

The implication was that you were salty over stuff some of the others have said over the years.

Any diehard backer of Axl entering into that debate doesn't exactly have the high ground.  Would seem an odd road to go down, I would think.

Well, it?s all over the world these news, and we don?t see Slash, Duff or even Axl denying. To me it?s pretty obvious that something will happen

Axl being silent is not news.  Slash being coy would also not be news.

Duff though, pretty straight shooter.  Seems weird to me he'd let all this fester if it was total bullshit.

"over the years" I've literally been here for a month lol.

I'm not salty, I'm just facing reality. I don't think a full blown reunion will happen, I don't think 2 new guitarist plus same band will happen (atleast at first) all I believe that will happen for sure is a reunion with slash, duff, and Axl and of course a few of the remaining gnr members. Yes... I am a diehard Axl fan, but I support anything that he does.

As much as i hate all the silence from all the different camps its certainly building up a GNR hysteria that has not really been seen in a long time.

Yep.

Had that as my last sig here.  No one cares about a reunion until we get a glimmer of hope.  Then its all we talk about.

We care.  We all care.  Stop the madness.

There just seem to be so many signs pointing to this actually have legitimacy dj & ron and i guess tommy are out. Slash saying axl and he are on good terms again or talking terms and obviously izzy and duff playing with axl showed they can still play together and your hearing from others in the industry saying its going to happen and while they may not be inside sources as we all say when there is smoke there is fire it's just a matter of when something does or doesnt get announced.

Question about you sig, how could it be disappointing if Richard said its a big year? If he is right, we will either get a reunion, gnr tour, or gnr album, or both, or all!!! I guess the only way to be disappointed is either if they don't report, or their "big announcements" are all just t shirt deals on their site....

Does anyone hold any weight to what Vicky Hamilton said about texting with slash?

I find it very hard to believe he would confide in her about anything.

Ill take a shot at answering this.

A lot of people are over Axl touring with his replacements... a lot of fans dont want to see Guns n Roses Mk 5.

They want one of 2 things.... Axl to get a band together and release music and tour it.

Or.. Axl to make amends with the classic line up.. or a version of the UYI line up.. and go out and play.

Axl hitting the road with a 5th set of nobodies playing the old hits doesnt appeal for some fans as much as the other 2 options.. if thats what happens..they will be disappointed. 

Whatsapp:

Vicky: Hey sweetie! How are you? I?m sure you know about the rumours... bla bla bla... more bla bla bla... is it true?"
Slash: No.

I guess the conversation was that.

From the interviews I have seen her in, that would be a very reasonable scenario. Trying to contact someone to find a way to get her name out there while the rumour mill continues to spiral out of control.

That's how i perceived it to go too.  ;D

If they're told not to say anything to spoil the secret until the official anounement then it makes sense he wouldn't tell her.  

I guess what i am suggesting is... does anyone think he would tell her the truth regardless?

I can assure you Richard fortus isn't a "noob" or really anyone else in the band. That's kinda rude

uhh lol no. I don't think anyone except the official gnr or Axl would announce a reunion. That's probably why everyone is so quiet, kinda like how they didn't want bbf to announce his departure until it was time (over a year later)

And if she had any integrity or loyalty this would have never been made public. He should delete her from his contacts.

Its not really a reunion now if it happens now is it?As someone said an evolution of the band maybe but not a reunion.

If it comes to pass and Frank and Richard do fill their roles (Dizzy was always going to be there surely)i dont have an issue as such but i do hope at some point through the tour Steven is wheeled on (if hes fit enough of course his health is paramount) and Izzy pops in to say hello.

I will be very happy with whatever GNR brings to the table EXCEPT including Stevie in anything real or imagined.

Hey, The Pulse of Radio stole our rumor.

See now this line up news actually excites me.    My perfect world scenario for a "reunion" is Slash and Duff contribute to what exists already as far as new music and we get a new record with this line up along with a tour.  I never got the feeling from what I've heard or read that  Izzy would want to commit to something like this and Steven is well, Steven.  

Lets be realistic here for those of you who are talking about ticket sales.  You know damn well a line up with Axl, Slash and Duff is going to sell exactly the same as a line up of the complete "AFD" line up so why kid yourselves?  The "big three" as they are being called on different websites right now were playing even bigger venues with Gilby and Sorum in the early 90's than the "AFD" line up ever played.  For the casual rock fan who bitches about "it not being really GNR"  Slash and Duff being back in the band would shut all of them up.  Not some of them, ALL of them.  Nobody bitched about the band name back in 1993.

Once again, I am not a big nostalgia person.  It would be really cool to see the band move forward with some new music along with playing all the old stuff.  But  if they decide to only tour and play the old stuff, well I will be first row at the first show for that as well.

On a side note, the reason I am such a huge fan of this particular line up news is because the current line up has been busting their ass night in and night out  for years.   I have seen a whole bunch of amazing GNR shows because of them.   I don't think it is right if they still want to be in the band to just push them aside to make way for a guy like  Steven Adler.  That would be complete bullshit.  Sure you will still have people bitch and moan at first about it not being a "full reunion" but they'll get over it real fast, and you all know it.

I put zero stock in anything said by anyone in the current band that is not Axl Rose.

It's not Richard's fault, but those guys have been burned too many times to count over the years.

Its all or nothing, because of this talk right now.  If it pans out, it will be the best times in GNR fandom in decades.

It blows up, you are going to see a mix of bitter disappointment and even fits of anger.  Remember the RNR HOF, right after that?  And I mean the real world after that, not Axl's alternate universe after that where every one thought it was awesome. 

People were bummed out.

But, at least then, they still had something of a band as a plan B.  Optimal outcome denied, but plausible alternative available.

What's the plan B now though?  What's the plausible alternative available?

Yep.

Learn it, live it, love it. 

I am having a hard time trying to figure out why you feel like this?

I think Bodhi has hit the nail on the head - as long as Axl and Slash (and perhaps to a lesser extent Duff) are involved, most people will be more than satisfied with that.  I'd love to see Izzy in there, too - but honestly I don't care greatly who's banging the drums at the back of the stage.

Also, am I the only one who finds the speculations about Steven's mental health/ addictions to be rather tasteless? 

because I don't like him, and I think he is very unreliable. I don't think he has fully quit his drug addiction.

Fair enough, each to their own.

I personally don't see why he couldnt play some selected gigs that suited everyone, hes still very capable on the appetite stuff.

That line about him killing them all if he wasn't included was a direct quote.

Said in jest, obviously.  But said.

It's not going to be a full reunion,it will still be a reunion, like in 1993, izzy joined, 2006, izzy joined, 2012 izzy joined, 2012 Robin joined, 2014 duff joined etc... I don't think there will every be a full reunion but I'd love to see Axl, slash, and duff rock out some AFD with Richard being awesome and Frank nailing the songs, sounds good to me.

he is also out of his mind.

I was disappointed when they even announced the classic lineup for induction, unless I truly knew they would all be there. At that moments, I thought there could be no way all of them will be there. I think people will be happy either way, probably more disappointed with a tour, more excited for a reunion and gnr album. I stay positive, I can see how many will probably be disappointed even if Steven and Izzy are not attending a reunion. But, ya know. We only live once, got to see what there is to see.

Even if its only announced as a tour, people will inevitably hope things progress from there.

I just find it odd that the lineup would be cemented already, as the chemistry between them is something that would only be visible after they started jamming. Who is to say that they will gel? Is not about technical abilities, but a lot of feeling is involved, and this seems to be really important for Slash.

I agree , but how do we know they haven't jammed already?  There's only a handful of people I'm sure that know what has been going on behind closed doors.  I do think it is unlikely considering it would be hard to keep that a secret if they did, but who knows?  It's all speculation at this point.

people are going ape shit over this. hope you arent let down if it doesnt pan out...

to see all this buzz surrounding the band is pretty exciting. i dont think ive ever seen anything like this yet in my short time as a forum user.

what would people do at this point if ax said nope, no reunion, but heres a remix of cd? this is already like something out of a cartoon, but that would be so over the top. id be stoked to have the music (neutral about this reunion business), and so would some others, but i think in general people would be pissed. i personally would be laughing my ass off. not out of spite though. it would be more like out of amazement that he was actually free enough inside himself to do something like that despite all the pressure coming from outside in favor of a reunion.

exactly. It's basically what could of happen if izzy and Steven left. It brings the old sound, and new sound together

I dont see why they would kick out Pitman. Does Slash think hes a bedroom keyboard player?

Are they bringin back Teddy zig zag Andreas to play the extra keyboard parts? Or are they sticking to ADF/Lies material only?

Also they would need a third guitarist to play post 1994 songs.

True about Pitman. There's absolutely no reason to kick him out, especially if there's new stuff coming out some day. Quality musician right there.

But I don't think a third guitarist would be essential to play songs from CD. GN'R has never sounded the same live and that's one of the reasons the band is so amazing :) But of course, they'd need "some" adjustments to play these songs.

Keeping Pittman aboard would be your best indicator they will do post 2000 material.

Really don't need him if its just classic stuff.

He's not essential to the older stuff, but he still does make a contribution to the songs. Gives the songs a little bit of an updated sound.


The Use Your Illusion tour was also done with two keyboardists...

Bah, to keep him in or out. NObody really cares. But if he's out, all the better, No 'little farts'' sounds on Better.

I personally Think Fortus and Frank is a great combo to Slash and Duff. Richard already looks like Izzy, and Frank to me had an edgier grittier more RnR sound than Brain which made the overall sound of the band sound great live.

I never got Chris' appeal or considered him essential personnel.

He just seems like a guy with a goofy nickname people latched onto, for mostly ironic reasons.

Well, he did write songs on Chinese.

Exactly. Check the credits.



/jarmo

True.  But so did Paul Huge, and I don't see any clamoring for him either.

But you know what I'm talking about.  Stuff like "Pittman Is GNR" and "Mother Goose Starts Now!!".  And of course, all the 'Silkworms' jokes.

Just because you got some attention seekers thinking they're funny, it doesn't mean shit.



/jarmo

Oh right, that's why he got the job in the first place. What could be more important?

Ps. Silkworms is great!

Btw... as far as Richard and Frank hanging in there for this hybrid thing..

Isn't it known that Slash likes Richard and offered him a gig once...

So if izzy doesn't want the gig.. he makes perfect sense to remain on right?

Or as the third player with Izzy and Slash.

I know what you're talking about, but that doesn't mean the complete opposite of those sarcastic statements is the truth.

Does anyone else feel that this 'reunion' may take more of the form of a Chinese Democracy-type GNR tour, with Slash and/or Duff dropping in occasionally? That's definitely what I'm starting to think.

I don't like the hybrid thing at all.  >:(

The theory that Axl is filling spots with Slash and Duff rather than reuniting the band makes sense, Axl wouldn't want to sack Richard or Frank.

I feel exactly the same way, FYI.

I don't think Steven would be reliable, or healthy, enough to do the kind of touring (and press, etc) that this would entail.  I just don't. He's a big risk, and...honestly...have you seen anything to make you think he's worthy of that risk? Besides being a cool guy?

He's had health issues.  He's had sobriety issues. He's had "foot in mouth" issues.  Literally in that order of importance.

I can see having him guest for a show or two, here and there.  But in terms of depending on him for a worldwide, enormous, tour?  

I'm sorry....cool or not....I don't see it.

Are you thinking that Axl will hire another new guitarist as a permanent member, and then Slash and Duff will replace him and Tommy occasionally in some concerts?

Not really.

How would you promote it?  The fan that gets the show with Slash would obviously get the better deal than the guy who got Axl's latest rando.

And what of that latest rando?  Is he told he's not needed some nights?  That can't make you feel great.

You could also charge more for Slash than you could a for some rando, I imagine.

What I am thinking of is Axl's comment (can't remember from where) where he said that if there ever was a reunion, it would be with Slash and Duff only as they were the only two he could rely on for a full tour.

It could appear as this is exactly how things are playing out right now..


Now if you don't like the idea, that's personal preference of course. Personally I think it could be a pretty solid line-up with Richard on board. Izzy is the best song writer of them all, but in a live setting, I could settle for Richard anytime.

His contributions are under rated, IMHO.  Chris' background is in production and board ops.  I suspect that he did a lot of board operating, to Axl (and Tommy's) specs, to create the final sound we got on CD. He also did some writing on the album, too...which might relate directly back to that, or not.

He's a decent keyboard player, too...but I don't think that's the primary reason he was in the band.

So sack Tommy? The guy with the longest tenure and most street cred of all the new Gnr members. All or Nothing I say...full on reunion or release CD II and bring back Finck.

Straight out sacking him would leave a bad taste. If it has been more of a gradual transition where Tommy becomes more and more active with his original band, The Replacements, I think both Tommy and Axl could live with that.

Tommy said it: He wasn't fired.  He walked away of his own accord.  He left it in Vegas. He needed to take care of his own shit.  

We can go round and round about how to interpret what he said, but if the reunion ultimately actually happens, it pretty much interprets those words for us.  This was Tommy's choice.

So, no..you don't "sack Tommy".  You just don't ask him to come back, after he walked away to deal with his personal shit.

arghhhh...Izzy needs to be involved as well.....Sky Dog is getting upset. :hihi:

You can't MAKE someone do something they don't want to do.  I'm with you, in that I'd love Izzy to be a card carrying, full time, round the world member of a GnR reunion (if such an animal comes to be).

But, the guy, to date, has been pretty vocal about NOT wanting to do that. If that changed, I kinda think he'd be welcome back with open arms.

So...do you NOT do it because one guy says "Guys, I love you, I love what we did, but I just can't do it. I don't want to do it. It's just not in me"?

Izzy will probably blow into town, every so often, and come out and play a half a set with them.  Smile. Have fun.

And then he'll go back to the desert and race dune buggies for awhile to regenerate his chi, or whatever.

And maybe he'll write a bit, and guest on a song or two, IF there is ever a new album. Maybe.

You're turning into Jimmy!




/jarmo

I think it's unlikely that Izzy would want to be involved.  He seems happy enough staying out of the limelight and just doing his thing.  He did all the world tours and stadium shows when he was a young man and seems to have no need or desire to go back to that.  I can see him doing the odd guest appearance here or there, but not much more than that.

Far and away the best part of Slash and Duff coming back if that's how it goes, is that they can do the press.

That's one of the bigger downfalls of the All Axl, All The Time operation.  At least in my view.

I get that he hates it, but its part of the job.  All the more so when you leave yourself as the only one that matters.

Slash and Duff did much of it back in the day, and could take that part back over.  Here's hoping.

Jimmy...George...

The sea was angry that day, my friends - like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.

When did Izzy last comment on any potential reunion, and what did he say?

I'm asking everyone here, because I don't know. Was it recently, or 10 years ago? If it was a very long time ago, I guess things could have changed..

I?d prefer to see them play one show with Axl, Slash, Izzy, Duff and Steven(and or Sorum) over a worldwide tour with Fortus and Frank.
Even if it meant I couldn?t get tickets. Would just be cool to see them all on stage again, on youtube or whatever.

The blending of eras just seems strange, and while I can appreciate why they might feel it?s necessary, it still seems like they?d be blowing another obvious opportunity where they could finally get it right.

I think so. Without any direct quotes at hand, I seem to recall him talking about it in the press in the late 90s/early 00s. Not 100% sure though.

Izzy played the reunion gig in 2007 with Adler's Appetite.
Then, in 2008, when asked about the possibility of a reunion he said, "of course, I wrote a great deal of that material."

if they record a new LP, I mean, the "old" guys", Izzy has to be there. his songwriting is essential to the balance.

This I 100% agree with!

I don't recall specific comments (he's tended to dodge the question, in interviews...that I remember), but more a sort of expressed sentiment that he's not interested in doing huge, 100 date, massive production tours in general. And that he likes to have his "private time" to recharge, etc.

But here's the next logical question: If he's NOT up there, on stage, and the rumors of Slash, Duff, Axl are true...what other reason do you HONESTLY think that would be other than Izzy saying "No"?

Do you think they wouldn't ask him? I just don't see that as being likely.  They all get along with him. He's played with every single one of them, at different times, and relatively recently. Right?

Unlike Steven, who has other issues to overcome....Izzys not really a big risk..unless you think he's going to flake out and bail 1/2 way through the tour.  And I don't think THAT would stop them from asking, honestly.

Like it was already pointed out...

Tommy wasn't sacked...

He chose to do other things... and Axl probably doesn't feel the same loyalty to him as he once did, combined with his renewed friendship with Duff, ... "read between the lines"  :)

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=54054.0

In this interview he clearly states he'd be interested in some form. granted, it's a few years ago now... so we'll see.

Thiago: But if the case would occur, would you consider a reunion as possible?

Izzy: Yes, of course. I wrote a big part of that material.

Going by what Axl has said in the past, I think he would be reluctant to commit to a huge tour with Izzy on board. It might be too much of an uncertainty about the whole thing. I don't think that has anything to do with Izzy as a person, they seem to get along just fine.

On the other hand, it is the toughest question surrounding a potential reunion because I think it would be hard for Axl to straight out exclude Izzy. I really have no idea how that would play out.

Again, we go back to what "consider" means.

It means "would you think about it".

He says he would.

He doesn't say he would do it. ;)

Yeah, I just disagree.

With all the bygones that would have to go under the bridge to make this actually come to fruitiion, I think Izzy's are the most minor. And I think if Izzy says yes, he's reliable. 

If you're getting the band back together, I can see all the reasons why you might not want to include Steven.

Assuming this comes to pass, I can't really see any good reasons to exclude Izzy.  I think that he gets an ask, unquestionably.  Not a doubt in my mind. I can't see a logical reason not to, given all the other factors in play.

If he doesn't, you can be sure we'll hear about it.  And that's the time for an uproar, I guess.  But, given history...I think the safer assumption is he's asked and says no (assuming he's not up there).

Actually, Axl himself said so, not just look-wise, but his whole vibe as well.

I've been thinking about an interview Richard did a while  ago. When he was talking about the material they were putting together for the new guns record. Richard mentioned that they had a song that slash was apart of the writing. This is my opinion that Slash perhaps has done some recording for the new album and we'll get a new guns record with a tour to follow with some original members mixed with Richard and Frank.

Pretty much, yeah. Or possibly just have an additional guitarist for some shows rather than replace them. I'm just speculating of course. As others have suggested, I can't see Izzy or Stephen being up for a full scale world tour health wise.

No doubt, it's hard to imagine them not asking him and including him in these [speculative] discussions, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be worried about him flaking.  They probably have a speech lined up for him that hits on all the things he hates about touring in case he says yes.  I expect it's a non-issue in any case, as guest-spots-only for Izzy are probably what's preferred by everyone, especially Izzy himself. 

I think the material Richard talked about stems back to the 90s, when Slash was still in the band. I doubt Slash has done any recording with Axl post-1996.

You never know though, they hardly tell us anything....

Then we come on here and quote bits and pieces of interviews they had 5-10-15-20 years ago

So and so said this.....  10 years ago!!

10 years ago I was 25.  Who only knows what I said , personally.   It has nothing to do with anything i would say or might say now.  It may be about a topic I feel the same way about or don't

When people say said this , so many years ago, I just shake my head.   As it means absultutly nothing

The rumor says an announcement in a few days.... Well it's been almost a week, and nothing has been announced.  Safe to say the rumors are baseless ? or are the wheels turning slowly ?

How often do gossip sites admit they were wrong about something?



/jarmo

Uh, never. Unless they lose a lawsuit.

It's either not true, or realistic. Considering I 1999 next year was really 9 years away.

Haha... the 'rumor site' says a few days... a few extra pass and it is obviously patently false. The band involved in said rumor misses nearly every self imposed timeline/deadline they have stated since 2000 and those are explained away and swept under the rug...

That's the "beauty". These sites can post anything and if it doesn't happen, blame the band.  :P

 



/jarmo

The band has the opportunity to set the record straight if they feel the need.

Obviously they don't do that for every little rumor that comes along, but this one has gone global. If there's no truth whatsoever to the reunion stuff, I'm inclined to say they can blame themselves if they receive heat when shooting it down in the future, waiting so long.

they are allowed to say what they want as long as they claim they have a source, and theyre also allowed to keep their 'source' secret. its amost impossible to take legal action against websites no matter what they say about someone. so they can say what they want.


well it looks like the majority are convinced that some form or another of a reunion is a go. i wonder how long the excitement surrounding this can remain/how much it will build up? maybe they are waiting for the buzz to peak before making some kind of announcement. if they dont make one, i wonder how long it would be before the hype died down on its own? that could be another route, if the reunion is not a go, maybe they are waiting for the buzz to die down so the media backlash is not as bad. of course i have no clue, just wondering a bit.

It's been three months of it building and not one single statement confirming or denying from ANY camp - Axl's, Slash's, Duff's, Izzy's, Steven's, Matt's or Dizzy. Not one real peep out of Richard or Frank, either. If there was absolutely NOTHING to this, I think at least one of the camps would've said something.

My guess is this: Right now, negotiations are in place for some sort of reunion. They're probably not even sure themselves at this point on the details (meaning exactly who would be involved), and it's not something that would happen this year obviously, or next year. I think Axl and Slash are still trying to mend their relationship, and see how it feels. Perhaps part of the delay might be hesitation on one or more of the camps. Maybe they want Izzy, for example, and Izzy is wobbly about it. Maybe they're feeling out if Steven is solid enough for one gig. Maybe Axl and Slash behind the scenes are trying to test whether they still have chemistry in terms of songwriting. Whatever the case is, I do believe negotiations of some sort for some sort of revival of the old band in some form (be it Axl/Slash/Izzy/Duff/Steven or the UYI lineup or Axl/Slash/Fortus/Duff/Frank/Dizzy/Chris) are taking place, very tentatively and very touch-and-go, which is why we've not heard a peep. It could be sealed, and concrete tomorrow, or totally fall apart tomorrow, but until things are sure either way probably we're not going to hear anything.

Oh I'm sure some will find a reason to complain regardless of what is announced, in fact I'd bet on that.

All of this is pretty much feasible.. and the last line is spot on.

It would be interesting to see how long the timeline is for goodwill before people/fans get restless with not hearing anything though.

Hi Emily.  :D

well we dont really know how far things have gone. slash may have realized by making that statement over summer, regardless of how small the media outlet was, that something like this could have happened. if it has been in the works for a while, that could have been a precalculated part of the plan. for all anyone knows, they had the details ironed out before he said it and the statement was the first step towards building up publicity for an event that was already planned out in private between the band members involved.

maybe they know theyre going to do it but dont say so beacuse they can get a higher bid for a tour if they dont outright say they want to do it. like playing hard to get. not to mention, the buzz is continuing to build up just by them saying nothing. but as i asked before, how long will that last? is their an expiration date on buzz with no follow up announcement?

i dont necessarily think this is whats happening, but its possible.

TB & Axl will get a free swing at this until Feb. By then most people would be asking some serious questions of where this is going. IMO.

Deja Vu :D

forum people? or the masses? maybe one group is a little more consequential than the other. but at the same time, i think some of the articles that go around are based off what is going on in the forums, and those articles are likely what the masses go off of. or get off on. however you want to say it.

ps hi emily : )

* for different reasons than oscar, just saying hi

Oh definitely for the forums man.

The forums are where the crazys and lifers who have supported GNR forever hang out and know the intimate history or at least follow the current situation as best they can.

For example.. a friend of mine posted a link from "god knows where" on fb the other day about the reunion.. and they are like.. where we can get tickets and making statements like "I'm there".

Those types of people probably just get ticketek updates and wouldn't care if it happened this year or next year or whenever because it doesn't matter to them enough to stay in the loop but love the classics or whatever.

For us... i think a statement with some sort of details needs to be forthcoming by the end of the first quarter of next year. Even if its not concrete tour dates or release dates for an album.. but to give us a general idea of what the fuck is going on.

I think that seems reasonable?

Hi Rudy! Long time No See :)

The problem is GNR announced a tentative album release date for Chinese Democracy and got raked over the coals when the tentative date didn't pan out. I guess few, if any knew the actual meaning of tentative.

I don't see a reason to repeat that, so I can understand fully why they are waiting for concrete details to announce.

I think it's a little farther along than you think.  I believe DJ left when he knew what was going on.  And that was a while ago.  Slash made his comment a while ago.  Duffs wife (friend?) made her comment....and I doubt she makes that comment without some concrete evidence.  Because I don't think she is even told if it wasn't concrete.  And concrete makes me think it took some time to get to that point.  I actually wouldnt be surprised if they are rehearsing or even working on a song or two at this point.  I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't either...but I think this thing is farther along than not knowing who is going to be involved. 

Can you imagine?

That would be beyond awesome.

I don't think any of them are just going to drop what they're doing because reunion rumors are running rampant, some reunions take a long time to work things out.

 

Whose saying they're dropping what their doing because reunion rumors are flying around?  You ever think it might be the opposite?  Reunion rumors are running rampant because they did drop everything else?  I have no idea what's going on, but if the guys are getting along and want to play with each other again, Guns N Roses would not only be Axl's first choice, but Slash and Duffs as well.  Just because they haven't been in the band for years, doesn't mean they forgot what GNR meant to them and how special it was. It's all of those guys first love, best work, what made them successful, and gave them all great memories.

Announcement of concerts will be made november 23

http://blitz.sapo.pt/rumores-de-guns-n-roses-vindos-de-franca-digressao-comeca-em-maio-anuncio-so-depois-de-24-de-novembro=f98565

They're referencing a French fan site saying that's when they'll announce it because Slashs's tour ends then.




/jarmo

Jarmo ,

I had the pleasure of Meeting him in sao paulo 2010 in a meeting with DJ Ashbba , I would like to know,  if you have any doubt about the latest news about the meeting with Slash and Duff, what is your opinion about this?

Ut dixit Cherry Garcia

I dunno - reunion rumours have come and gone so many times in the past, that I think if Axl either remains out of the public view indefinitely and then tours and/ or releases a record with another bunch of dudes you've not heard of, most people will shrug and move on.  The people who've been on board with the last 15 years will mostly still be, the people who haven't, won't.  I accept that the current social media context makes people hungrier for instant and constant updates, but I think the reverse of that is that people will get bored and move on faster as well.  A few tweets of "Oh FFS Axl, give us the real #GNR", then back to binge-watching Netflix. 

Longer-term, I can see it maybe eroding the credibility of the band... but how much credibility do they (he) have outside of the more sympathetic fans like us in any case?

Well maybe this time you don't give a tentative update.  You give a definitive, unambiguous response.  The options aren't qualified update or silence.  But maybe they are waiting until everything is concrete.  Or not.  Who knows.

Little to none.

I agree that its only us that will be truly disappointed if it doesn't come off.

To the rest of the world, just a bump in the road.  They hadn't paid attention to Axl in 20 years...it appeared they might have reason to again.....nope, didn't pan out.  Same old Axl.  What a lunatic.

That sort of thing.

I think where there's smoke there's fire. Someone would've shut down the rumors by now. I agree with one of the posters In saying that I wouldn't be surprised if Slash's statement regarding his relationship was planned. Kind of seems that way now. Plus the fact that no one is confirming or denying it adds to that belief.

You're asking me about a supposed meeting between Axl, Duff and Slash?
I really don't know anything about any meetings. I didn't see any credible information about any meetings, or maybe I just missed it?

Duff seems to be keeping busy (judging by his Tweets) and Slash is currently on tour with his band.




/jarmo

True, but we also want to believe.  Very badly.

If it comes out that Slash didn't mean anything by that comment and people got carried away...would you be shocked?

If it comes out that Axl wants nothing to do with him because he is still made about that thing, at that place, that time...would you be shocked?

We are sort of in the limbo that conspiracy theory types make so much hay out of.  Lack of outright denial is our "proof".  And people without a dog in the fight see lack of confirmation as reason to not think otherwise.

Or all the parties concerned could be taking the We do not negotiate with terrorists kind of approach to being forced to make a statement.  The division head of PICU employs this philosophy when dealing with people who make unreasonable demands.

Yes, that's it.

But you agree that in recent times , there has been so many rumors about a supposed meeting between, Axl, Duff And Slash ?


When someone talked about a supposed meeting , then any member or Axl himself denied the alleged rumor. But since then we have not seen Axl is the leading member of the band currently deny any rumor

Yes, there's rumors. But that could be explained by the fact that people like to assume.

Slash said he's friends with Axl again -> reunion rumors
Reunion rumors -> they must have had a secret meeting

Simple logic really.



/jarmo

Come just pick up the phone and ask somebody who knows what they did, where they met and exactly what they talked about, then get back to us  :)

My Opinion Is:

- NOT EXIST AFD REUNION -

 :smoking:

Couple of observations:

1. Izzy: I think one needs to look back at some of the issues that pushed Izzy out the door many years back. It's been ~25 years, there may be both a willingness on Izzy's part along with a great deal to entice him to join the tour. Also, Axl's track record at concerts in recent times (no storming off stage, starting at a more reasonable hour, etc.) might be a factor as well.
2. Adler is a ridiculous wild card, I'm not sure if he would be expected to be able to SURVIVE a tour. It would be a fun ride, though.
3. The fact that Slash would come back would have to mean that whatever impediments that were in the way in the past have been addressed. Perhaps cooler heads have prevailed after all these years.
4. Axl: One can only speculate, but Axl's "good" behavior at shows and a seemingly happy and energetic behavior onstage may indicate that the man may have found a happy place. Call it age, maturity, deep reflection, whatever, but he has been much more consistent the last few years than I've ever seen him.
5. Guns n' Roses will always be a circus, for better or for worse.   :D

Last spring, a largely unrecognizable band calling itself Guns N? Roses did a nine-show residency in Las Vegas. At that point, six years had passed since the release of Guns N? Roses? most recent album, Chinese Democracy; 12 years had passed since Chinese Democracy was originally slated for release; and 17 years had passed since Chinese Democracy?s initial recording sessions had kicked off. In an interview conducted prior to those shows, Axl Rose told Revolver that he had a couple GNR albums more or less ready to go. Said Axl:

Basically, we have what I call kind of the second half of Chinese [Democracy]. That?s already recorded. And then we have a remix album made of the songs from Chinese. That?s been done for a while, too. But after Vegas, we?re going to start looking very seriously at what we?re doing in that regard.
That was June 2014. The Vegas shows came and went, and with them, so too did any discussion of a follow-up to Chinese Democracy. Perhaps ?looking very seriously? at the prospect of those albums led Axl to determine they were not worthy of release. Perhaps they were further from completion than Axl initially believed them to be. Perhaps they never existed at all. Perhaps they?ll arrive, unannounced, at midnight tonight. Or tomorrow night. Or sometime next week, or next month. When it comes to Axl Rose, you really never know what to expect. You can?t apply logic or conventional wisdom; you can only wonder what the hell he?s thinking.

ADVERTISING

That?s not rhetorical. Seriously: What the hell is he thinking? Does he actually on some level believe the world at large has genuine interest in hearing ?the second half? of the now-seven-year-old and 71-minute-long Chinese Democracy? That album was met with mixed reviews, but I can?t remember a single critic calling the thing out for being ?too short.? Meanwhile, a Chinese Democracy remix album seems significantly less compelling still: It would be hard to imagine anything else quite so inessential in 2015. (Or even in 2008.)

But that?s Axl Rose for ya. In 1987, his band released Appetite For Destruction, arguably the single-best album of its decade and one of the 10 or so best hard-rock albums ever made. Since then, he has done nothing but troll. He followed Appetite with two distinct, full-priced, full-length albums ? Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II ? released on the same day in 1991, each one coming in at a punishing 76 minutes. (Each one!) Then there was a 17-year gap between albums, broken up sporadically by promising-sounding updates on the ever-imminent new one (its title, for instance, was announced in 1999, nine years before the LP came out). Voila: Chinese Democracy.

Axl has violently dismantled and randomly re-assembled at least half a dozen different versions of his band over the years. The band that made Appetite ? i.e., the band most people are actually interested in seeing reunited today ? was gone in 1990, when Axl fired drummer Steven Adler. Rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin left a year later, soon after the release of the Use Your Illusion albums. In 1996, lead guitarist Slash officially quit, too, three years after his final time onstage with Guns N? Roses. Bassist Duff McKagen resigned in 1997, leaving Axl the sole remaining member from the Appetite era.

By that point, Guns N? Roses were little more than an afterthought in mainstream consciousness, largely due to Axl?s famously paranoid, perfectionistic, and tyrannical unwillingness to compromise ? even at the expense of his own career, even at the expense of his own reputation. Hell, by 1997, Axl?s reputation was basically nothing more than ?paranoid, perfectionistic, and tyrannical,? and the ensuing decade did nothing to curb that perception. There?s a now-ancient music industry joke that went something like this: ?We?ll get democracy in China before we get Chinese Democracy.?

Ha! But no; Axl managed to win that race. After 17 years and 44 credited producers and engineers, we finally got Chinese Democracy. And it was BATSHIT. But, like, it was pretty good, too! I mean, it still IS pretty good ? I?m not gonna say it?s objectively better than Appetite or the 12 best Use Your Illusion songs (individually culled from the sadistic original total of 30), but I?m more apt to reach for it than I am those albums. Why? Because those albums are nearly three decades old and those songs might as well be The Simpsons theme or ?Happy Birthday.? But Chinese Democracy has some jams that still surprise me. And that?s partly because it?s a dense, complicated album and partly because ? well, because it?s batshit. Chuck Klosterman wrote a great review of Chinese Democracy, and the entire affair is best summed up by this section of that review:

On [Chinese Democracy track] ?Sorry,? Rose suddenly sings an otherwise innocuous line (?But I don?t want to do it?) in some bizarre, quasi-Transylvanian accent, and I cannot begin to speculate as to why. I mean, one has to assume Axl thought about all of these individual choices a minimum of a thousand times over the past 15 years. Somewhere in Los Angles, there?s gotta be 400 hours of DAT tape with nothing on it except multiple versions of the ?Sorry? vocal. So why is this the one we finally hear? What finally made him decide, ?You know, I?ve weighed all my options and all their potential consequences, and I?m going with the Mexican vampire accent. This is the vision I will embrace. But only on that one line! The rest of it will just be sung like a non-dead human.? Often, I don?t even care if his choices work or if they fail. I just want to know what Rose hoped they would do.
It?s fun to listen to the album and ponder just that throughout. And even though it?s totally impossible to say with any certainty what Axl hoped to achieve with his choices, it seems reasonable to suggest that ?playing to the base? was not among his ambitions. Has the man ever pandered? He?s wasted millions of dollars and thousands of hours, and forcibly exiled or alienated just about everyone in the entire world, all in the pursuit of a singular vision that culminated in a crazy, incongruous vampire voice employed on one line of ?Sorry.? To the outside onlooker, that may not be particularly satisfying, but damn if it isn?t engaging and even exhilarating. Rock music today has it share of cranks, pranksters, and provocateurs, but genuine eccentrics? Those are a dying breed. Truly, Axl is more Howard Hughes than Death Grips, and for that reason, I?m ambivalent about the guy embracing any sort of bald-faced, bottom-line-oriented populism, and dismayed by the idea of a Guns N? Roses ?reunion.?

To be clear, said reunion may indeed be nothing more than an idea. It?s definitely nothing more than a baseless rumor at this point, although it?s a rumor that?s been circulating for a few months now. But over the last couple weeks, that rumor seemed to gain some traction. Most notably, M?tley Cr?e bassist Nikki Sixx said in no uncertain terms that Guns N? Roses were reuniting for a tour: ?THEY ARE. EVERYBODY KNOWS.? Former GNR manager Vicky Hamilton sort of claimed otherwise, saying, ?OK ? was texting with Slash who is on tour [in India] ? he says the GNR tour isn?t happening ? so that?s all I know ? your guess is as good as mine ?? And whoever runs Guns N? Roses? Twitter is just being irritatingly coy about all of it:


http://www.stereogum.com/1844250/heres-why-id-hate-a-guns-n-roses-reunion/franchises/essay/

Interesting read, and pretty fair.  At least in my opinion.

Yeah, good stuff.  Love the reference to "religious-fanatical commitment".  Fight it all you want people, but if the shoe fits...

Also, love Chuck Klosterman's take as well.

Love that Canter is saying that none of the members have mentioned anything to him regarding a reunion. As if they would to someone who has his own space on a Fan Site dedicated to dishing on his past.

I?m going with the Mexican vampire accent. This is the vision I will embrace. But only on that one line!  :hihi:

All I know is whoever wrote "no news is good news" ... couldn't be more wrong ... ha

Hahahaha

Now we just need Mick Wall to weigh in.

with you on that....last I checked "no news is no news".

Guns and Red hot at Rock In Rio lisboa ?

https://www.facebook.com/Guns-N-Roses-Reunion-2016-932287826849436/  ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???

http://www.stereogum.com/1844250/heres-why-id-hate-a-guns-n-roses-reunion/franchises/essay/

I'd have to agree with him. Gnr is playing less of their new songs, it's getting boring only playing 2-5 UYI/CD songs and the rest solos, covers and AFD/lies songs. I don't want to here Axl sing them for another tour, even if its with slash and duff. I want to here new music. 2001 and 2009/2010 was awesome when Axl came back with the band and rocked out new songs. Why can't we let this happen again with songs that have been waiting 12 years to be heard?  Go ahead, call me a crybaby Axl fan boy, it's true. :crying:   :beer:

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=66543.140

Id rather hear new music over a reunion tour anyday.

I wouldn't say "hate"
But I would so much prefer
New music to old.

I've heard "Appetite"
And the "Illusion" twins, too
Live, with all lineups

And on record, too...
But, for me, the excitement
Of new melodies

Lyrics heard first time...
New songs to sing in the car
And to relate to

That is the trump card.
It's an easy choice for me
So bring on the new :)

Splash
/Mike

Top notch article.
Heres my 3 cents.

The classic lineup gave us everything they had. They wont get better than they were back then. (not comparing classic and ''nu'' gnr here)

I think the best thing for the band is to go forward, or to go back a few years, get  Fink and Bumble back and continue with the unfinished business. I think that lineup has a good album left in them, and maybe even a tour. If not, push forwards, not backwards. Or do not push at all and let things be.


Of course theres nothing wrong with the classic lineup being friends again.That is their business, not ours.

So yes, this and other points made on the article are the reason why im not excited about a possible reunion.

Why do you keep advertising this lame page?

You have posted links to this FB page numerous times, Did you make this?

Fantastic article.  Articulates perfectly my present stance on GNR.  Though, of course, I'll be there if they reunite the old lineup, part of me will be seriously disappointed that it either nixes or puts the follow up album on hold indefinitely.

The one part I disagree with the article is this:

"Most disheartening of all, though, is what this reunion would mean for Axl Rose?s legacy: He?d be downgrading from ?paranoid, perfectionistic, and tyrannical? to ?acquisitive, avaricious, and cynical.? He?d be evolving from ?genuine eccentric? to ?just another middle-aged musician trading on nostalgia, trying to cash in while cash is still on the table.?

This is just not true.  This would be true if the newer lineups had released music along the way, and then Axl decided to scrap it all and run back to the back catalog.  As it stands, the latest lineup was already trading on nostalgia, and cashing in on the legacy of Guns.  The majority of songs were AFD/UYI tunes...fewer and fewer CD songs were being played.  If that's going to be the case, then why not have the guys who made the music (or as many of them as you can) go on tour?

IMO, a reunion doesn't negatively impact Axl's legacy at all.  Let's be honest:  he's not all of a sudden going to change his persona completely, grant multiple interviews (although I'd still love to hear him on Stern), show up at meet and greets, etc.  If anything, a reunion would show his personal growth and how he was able to overcome the (very) negative experiences he faced in the past (real or perceived).  

I agree with Emily (gasp).  You have been shamelessly constantly plugging this site.  Any idea why?

:shock: :D

This FB page has the Reunion listed for
Monday, November 23 at 1:00pm in UTC-02

2 people are attending  :hihi:

Not an impressive article at all.

He repeats things out of the Chuck Klosterman review and looks like he has googled quotes.

Not that I expect a lot out of Stereogum  :no:

Written better than 90% of GNR news articles which are mainly just repost of what 30 others articles said...

No this was more or less a regurgitation of Klosteman's review and a few well worn repeats.

Not honestly impressed with this at all.

Oh so now there's suppose to be an announcement next week......


https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/report_gnr_reunion_will_be_officially_confirmed_next_week.html

Aren't they just repeating the speculation and rumors from gnrfrance?

I think this is a giant circle jerk, the news sites get news off the forums and the forums post links to the news sites.

November 24 Is Anniversary:

- CHINESE DEMOCRACY -

 :beer:

I stopped reading after "..band calling itself Guns N? Roses did a nine-show residency in Las Vegas".

Same here..

2002-2014 People on the GN'R boards have complained about the setlist, that "It's boring that they play only the hits, why not play Locomotive etc" ... Well what do you think, what songs they would play if this so called reunion happens?

Exactly! I don't see how anyone could classify that as good journalism.

I was in Vegas and that was definitely Guns N' Roses  :peace:

Raise a beer to the haiku  :beer:

I agree, I enjoyed CD and would like to hear more music from that era

hahaha, bugged me too ;D

I don't understand why some people think that a reunion would mean there'd be no new music. Like the so called CD II as it is would be the only possible option to hear something new or "new" from GN'R. The truth is that the band is lacking musicians at the moment and new ones have to come in anyway, I don't see how Slash and Duff would be the ones who'd prevent the band from releasing something new or stop the progress in some way.

Would the release of CD II mean they've gone forward then?  ::)

I did agree with some of it. for example, in response to the argument "nearly every band reunites", he wrote:

1. That?s true, but Guns N? Roses are not ?nearly every band.? Part of what makes them unique and exciting some three decades later is Axl?s blunt refusal to follow the path taken by ?nearly every band.?

As for his opinions on the cd remix that hes never even heard, he can shove those up his ass. He says nobody wants to hear it. I definitely do. Im sure a lot of you do. I know DX really wants to hear that til remix. I think many people that are serious about following the band in this day and age would kill for the remix album. And I wouldnt be surprised if we got that instead of a reunion, the thing everyone seems to want, especially the more casual fans and the masses in general.

Reunion=meh, either way. at the expense of cd2 or cd remix? not the best outcome for me personally, thats for sure. but im not the center of the universe, i get that. and maybe it wouldnt be at cd2/remix's expense.
CD Remix=hallelujah
CD2=hallelujah

Have you listen to the Richard interview? He was asked about new guitarist, he kinda made it obvious they had a plan

Now Uproxx has posted about reunion, horrible article  :no:

http://uproxx.com/music/2015/11/guns-n-roses-rare-facts/5/

The ONLY OFFICIAL NEWS we have at this moment are the last words from Axl, right from Revolver Magazine, publishsed last year. I guess it's been posted here already. Anyway I'll post it below again just in case.
The rest... is nothing so far. What I would say is: it's time for a wake up call. We should take note of EVERY SINGLE WEBSITE and EVERY SINGLE "JOURNALIST" who's so sure about a reunion to the point of saying it's official and others. Because IF they're wrong/lying/etc we will know for sure in which websites and in which journalists we can trust in the future and the ones we cannot
If all this reunion talks ends up in nothing (from all we heard from Axll all over the years, looks like there's a huuuuge change that's what's gonna happen), they (websites and "journalists") will be ready to get their gravel shovels to finish digging their own professional graves. At least that's what I wish for them if that's the case.

Revolver Magazine excerpts below, also the link for the full interview - there are even mentions to forced reunions:

Do you think you and Duff will do more work together?

It's possible. I don't know yet. It depends on scheduling, or what shows Tommy [Stinson] wants to do with the Replacements and stuff like that. And you know, almost everybody in the band has some kind of issue going on, personally. There's people who have lost family members. Other people are dealing with separations. Sometimes court gets in the way. Real life!

Where do things stand as far as recording new Guns N' Roses music?

We recorded a lot of things before Chinese was out. We've worked more on some of those things and we've written a few new things. But basically, we have what I call kind of the second half of Chinese. That's already recorded. And then we have a remix album made of the songs from Chinese. That's been done for a while, too. But after Vegas [Guns N' Roses performed a residency at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that ran through early June], we're going to start looking very seriously at what we're doing in that regard.


Back when you were starting out with Guns, what was your idea of success?

Well, I think Guns N' Roses achieved a lot of that. There were things that you were disillusioned by, but there were a lot of other things that would be considered achieving success. The amount of sales. The amount of people that were into it. Things like that. But I think that as much as we tried to be on top of the business, we were very na?ve business-wise. I think there were things we could have done better, and I feel the labels and the attorneys and the A&R men all knew that. But they wanted the band to be set up in a way where they could attempt to manipulate it. And that didn't really work out for anybody. Including them. You know, we still have not done what I consider a legitimate U.S. tour [with the current lineup] because of prior managers and agents attempting to manipulate it so that it wouldn't be as successful as it could be. In order to try to steer me toward wanting a reunion [of the original lineup].

You feet that people have pushed you to try to make that happen?

Well, I feel there's people in the industry who feel that they can make some money off that. So that's what they want. Even our last U.S. arena tour, that was put together by yet another manager and agent, who we eventually let go and took the tour over. But at the time of taking it over, most of it was already in place. So then we made it work for us, but had it been set up the way we feel it should have been from the beginning it could have been more successful than it was.

http://www.gnrfrance.net/presse-interviews-guns-n-roses/entretiens-axl-rose-his-career-the-follow-up-to-chinese-democracy-english-version-29-05-2014-46.htm

Oh yeah, the 'This I Love' with 'Madagascar' style vocals?  Sounded cool.  Love to hear it.

I am also the minority of the minority though.  Simply put, there aren't a hell of a lot of people that are "following this band in this day and age", as you put it, and are such a diehard fan they would, quite literally, buy anything.

The reality is that CD never connected with the general public.  It didn't even connect with all Guns N' Roses fans.  It didn't even connect with all Guns N' Roses fans that were still willing to stick with Axl through all this.

So by the time you get to a remix of such an album, just how segmented are we talking here?  You are talking about the ultimate niche product.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't all remix albums?
Whoever has the brilliant idea that a remix album is meant to be a follow-up chart busting miracle album to fix all whining is obviously in need of reality check.

The exception to that is when certain remixes are done in order to widen the artists' appeal. Suddenly it might be popular among people who never listened to said artists in the first place. This is the case when they make dance remixes of rock songs for example. But that's more about specific songs, not necessarily about album sales and album charts.



/jarmo

I'm very happy Axl brought up the Chinese Democracy remixes to the table again in this last interview. High hopes we see this project someday! I also would love to see CD re released with the red hand cover someday!!
A lot of people have changed their minds about Chinese Democracy over the last years. Many die hard fans that didn't like it and many average fans or just music fans started to dig the record they once hated so much and I've heard many people saying so many good things about the record - people I could never expect to say anything good about it. Despite all the negativity it went very well on the charts, even without proper promotion, basically no singles or videos, in a era of downloads where younger people think they don't need to pay for music - or that isn't cool to pay for it.
Chinese Democracy is a monster album and I can't even imagine what's coming next!!   

Which vocals are that? The  madagascar vocals of live performances such as Rock In Rio (2001-ish), which to me sounded great, or the ones in the album? Cause the ones in the album sounded like forced raspy vocals. And I get the feeling Axl read way too many comments complaining about the vocals live and changed them on the album. I don't like the ones in the album. I can't even listen to that version, I always go back to rock in rio, which to me is much better and live it adds some magic to it, plus at the time it was new so I quite like it.

Actually Slash's last date on his tour is 11/24 in moscow.  So who knows?  I think its altogether possible that if something was in the air he agreed to hold off on all of it until the end of that tour out of respect for his bandmembers. 

Another thought is venues crowds etc.  I've read a lot of comments on what it would take to make this really huge, which past members etc.  I think that in this era of media things get huge because that's what people tell us.  The press need compelling stories and a reunion of a band with Guns history would be a story that they can run with.  Once that starts, the media dictates the reality.  When Floyd Mayweather fought Pac man, boxing fans knew the fight was 5 years to late and would be another snooze fest.  But the media (Espn, TMZ, CNN, NBC etc) turned it into the biggest fight ever.  Didnt matter that people who really knew something knew it wasn't the real deal. 

That said, i think an Axl Duff Slash Richard Frank Dizzy lineup would be perfect.  As has been pointed out before Izzy really hasn't shown that kind of interest, not surprising he may not be part of this (according to rumor) and Steven... I just don't think it would be right to put him in that position for him or the band.  I think Richard would work great with the others, and he has his own feel and style that i think adds a lot.  He's dynamic on stage and obviously Axl seems to like him  a lot.  And what's not to like about Frank?  The guy is solid as hell.  Other than Brain, my favorite GNR drummer. 

My prediction is they make some announcement and  a week before the first date axl insists on Huge coming in as a second lead guitar.   Time is a flat circle my friend. ;D

The 'This I Love' version we are talking about have vocals like the 'Madagascar' on the album.

I still prefer that RIRIII version of 'Madagascar' over all the others as well.  But I think that's in large part to being the first version of it I had and the one I listened to like crazy for years, literally years, before I had the official one.

Very interesting analogy.

I happen to be a pretty big boxing fan, and you are absolutely right.  The only way Manny could have won was by KO, and that wasn't going to happen by the time they fought.  Manny wasn't knocking guys over like he was 4-5 years prior.  That said...I never expected Manny's output to be quite that lame.

But overall, you just have to look at general demand and public interest.  It lies with some form of reunion.

All the places with all these pieces about reunions...have you come across even one lamenting it might mean the end of "the Chinese Democracy era"? 

I have not.

The Chinese Democracy era ended when Buckethead, Robin, Freese and Brain quit the band... no? that's how I always viewed it.

I'd agree, but also concede that's pretty inside baseball type thinking.

To most, "the Chinese Democracy era" simply means "no Slash".

I was trying to make the point I sure don't see anyone lamenting a reunion possibility so that Axl might instead keep on with what's he's been doing.  At least, not outside some contrarians on message boards.

Amazingly enough, your definition of said era never really existed at the same time. Joshn and Brain were never in the band at the same time were they?
It just seems like you decided that this is ok, that is not ok... With no real logic. What about Paul Tobias?

Remember when Robin quit for the first time? Is that the end of the era? Or the second time he quit?

I had no idea Josh Freese is the key either!



/jarmo


PS Are you serious?

Yeah.. I buy that.

Plus. like I have stated before... You can't tell me that an album will come out next year if there is no reunion... so you can't state accurately that it would be a deterrent to anymore "Chinese Democracy" stuff.

I wrote Freese, but meant Huge... either way.

The band was basically completely made over by the time the album came out.

So the era... is pretty much over regardless of what happens next no?

That's a pretty narrow way to look at it.  By that definition there never was a CD era.  There was no album.  Then the next 6 years of touring in support of the album.  What era would that be? 

Ah. You even got people mixed up defining your idea of an era. Not convincing. ;)
Just kidding!


Yes, you had a line up that worked on the album but they never played a show together. People were replaced, obviously.

So explain to me how you'd label 2006-7 and then 2008-2014?

Also, on the subject of era. What era is Gilby part of?  ??? "The Spaghetti Incident?" era?

My pint is, I think you're being narrow minded for the sake of something.... I don't know what. Maybe you just don't wanna give the line up that actually toured the world any credit? I don't know.




/jarmo

Concerts for Axl Rose to perform songs from the band's history? To entertain the masses?

I don't know... you could call it whatever you want really...

But whatever happens next... is it blocking the continuation of that era? Who cares really... when Guns N Roses resurfaces for a tour... I am going tog o regardless who is on the stage... I have preferences, but it doesn't matter anymore. I like songs from all the albums, and no matter what you are never going to have all the players from said album up there.

Maybe I'm not explaining myself well... but there have been so many players in this band.. and such long gaps... I'll take whatever form I can get. (with that said, I hope it involves Slash and Duff at the minimum)  : ok:

You mean Guns N' Roses, and obviously Axl Rose...  :P




/jarmo

Sure :P

All this era talk. Seems like some just need a start and finish to focus on.

So the next album, if it has songs recorded during the same sessions as Chinese Democracy, is it still part of that era or a new era? Considering those guys who recorded as part of the previous era aren't in the band anymore? Or does it mean it's not part of any era since those guys left and the album isn't allowed to have its own era due to that fact?

Live Era 87-93 was one era? But it consisted of different line ups....   :confused:

 :hihi:



/jarmo

Well for starters I consider the Live Era all the same... all of those songs were crafted by Axl, Slash, Duff and Izzy.

Yes the next release I would consider as part of the same era as Chinese Democracy I guess assuming those are the songs on it that Axl referred to as the second half.

If they play a reunion tour... that doesn't change anything... as far as those songs go, assuming they release them.

Poor Steven.





So let's play more hypothetical games.

Let's assume the rumored reunion happen and it kinda coincides with the release of the second half of Chinese Democracy. So there's a tour with guys who were in the old band who didn't write the majority of the album. That would still be CD era? But you said it ended when Buckethead and those guys quit. Before the album that gave the name to the era was released. It would restart again?

No, I'm not being completely serious here.....  Just finding all this era talk somewhat confusing. :hihi:
It's all Guns N' Roses to me.




/jarmo

Does anyone really care who else is there other than axl,slash and duff? Dont get me wrong I would love to see Izzy....but as far as matt,frank or steven, not a big deal, and richard,izzy or gilby? its all about slash and duff with axl...izzy would be awesome though but either way im going

Well I think I pointed out that I also don't see the need anymore for labeling eras as well ... That Axl is going to get up there and sing the songs regardless...

Then you scolded me for saying Axl and not GNR...  :)

Personally I?d consider Chinese Democracy to be post Spaghetti Incident, up to the present.
It?s been a long era, and one that can?t end soon enough if you ask me.
There have no doubt been some great moments along the way, but it feels like the Chinese Democracy tour has been going for well over a decade, and since the album didn?t really resonate with me, or the majority of GN?R fans for that matter, I?ve never understood why it?s gone on so long, other than the obvious financial aspect.

I?d love to see them move on from the Chinese era.
I thought people were joking when a Chinese Democracy remix album was first mentioned.
I can?t believe that?s honestly been discussed. The Chinese Democracy well ran dry a long, long time ago.

A reunion tour could be great for obvious reasons, but add putting a book end on the Chinese Democracy era to the list for me.
Teaming Axl back up with motivated, productive musicians with a voice could possibly spark some new music out of him. Especially if that chemistry between them returns. Long shot, but seems a much higher probability than getting anything out of him with the musicians that haven?t managed more than 14 (released) songs in the past 24 years. If it?s truly the label that?s been holding things up the release of new music all these years, which I never bought, but if true, that should no longer be an issue should they reunite.

I agree.

I've been rolling with Axl and whoever for 15 years.  Can't see why I could somehow not roll with Axl/Slash/Duff and whoever.

Nor not see it as a vast improvement.

If there ever even was a time for it (highly debatable) that time has long come and gone.

Think of it like this.  Axl dropped the album then went into Witness Protection for over a year.  They finally cranked up a tour 13 months later.

Wouldn't that be the time for a remix album?  The album its remixing is still somewhat fresh and is currently the product your are touring to promote.

But now?  8 years later?

Nope.

All the "era" talking looks like "Back to the Future" ! Crazy people who create their own little worlds where they have their heroes and villains and they want to decide what's gonna happen next. I just hope Axl does whatever he wants and that whatever the future holds, hopefully is less complicated and less painful than the whole Chinese Democracy process. It's so weird in my mind to read out there that "Guns N' Roses is back" - Hello!!!! It's back since 2001 !!!!!!!

But are you looking at it through your diehard fan lens, or a general public lens?

Two quite different perspectives, no?

Probably diehard since I'm talking about people who are writing here. But I guess not at the same time because the majority of people who talk about "the return of Guns N' Roses" are usually the people who know the band has been out there for many many years, they just want what they want. Therefore they try to ignore all the successful tours through the years, the good position of CD at the charts, bluray sales, etc.

They should've at least made one video. People just don't know. A friend of mine had his ipod on his car. And I found GNR's Greatest Hits, so of course I put it on  :hihi:

ANd something strange happened. He told me : " Ah, when Guns R Roses was cool'' and I asked him :''But, Have you heard the new album?, there's some cool songs in there''

His reply hit me like a rock  :-\ : "NO"

Not scolded, corrected.  : ok:




That's funny. GN'R fans being against more music.
Who knew!

 :rofl:



All this "it's not a good idea to put it out because I don't want it". Don't buy it. Let those who are curious, buy it and listen. Stay away, don't buy it. Simple.
Why not hope it comes out if Axl wants it to? Is that so unselfish that you can't?

There's some fans who would love every live show to be made available for purchase. I wouldn't buy every one myself, not many fans would. I don't think it would make the masses to go out and buy them, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna start posting about how the band should never do it and how bad the idea is! But that's what some of you are openly doing in principle.

Just find that mentality puzzling.

What's so horrible about your favorite band putting out more new music? Even if it's not "your thing". That "nobody outside selective hardcore fans would buy it" excuse makes no sense.




You think these people would've gone on Youtube to watch it?

It seems like that's where people watch videos. Not on TV.



/jarmo

I agree, it is simple.
I most likely would not buy it.

I was just commenting on the fact that the idea of a Chinese Democracy remix album was comical to me.
An album that took well over a decade to produce, and the followup could be, best case scenario, 7 years later, a remix of said album?
Sounds like an April fools joke to me, but I never said I wouldn?t be happy for those interested in hearing it, having the chance to do so.

If Axl wants to release Chinese Democracy Dance Party Remix, I?m sure it will happen with or without my approval.

Does that really matter? I don't watch TV anymore, zapping without finding anything did it for me.  But many people still do, the friend I mentioned still does,  and I think between channels, on a given night he might stumble on a music channel, and that music channel may or may not be playing GNR. If he was a fan back in the day, he would've recognized Axl and leave it on.  I don't know the percentage of that kind of situation happening for any given artist, but it must be higher with a video than with no video  ;D

Also, if you have a video, isnt there a greater chance of having DJs play such song in their radio stations? Im asking without truly knowing, but I have a feeling they do.

I think with a video, someone like my friend may have had a greater chance of at least listening to one song.

Yeah, somehow, they have been able to block all that out.

I certainly think more people know Axl is still doing something or other in some form than there are people unaware he's done anything.

They just pay little attention to it, because they consider it illegitimate.  They know he has a random cast of characters he's attempting to pass off as Guns N' Roses.  But to most folks, so long as he is the only guy left, its not real.

These are the types of people I'm referring to whenever someone here tries to make the argument that...it must be Guns N' Roses, why, it says so right here on the ticket!  Semantically, correct.  Big picture, to the general public, they laugh at that.  

If you (or anyone, really) are the type of person that takes some sort of smug satisfaction that you are "right" and they are "wrong", that's your prerogative.  But as I've said more times than I can count, where does that argument resonate EXCEPT here?

MTV is long gone. Not sure how videos would change something. Of course the fans want to see videos, especially with the huge video history the band has but as far as sales goes...
Fact is some people can't accept they're not in charge of the future of the band and want to demand what they want. I think this is so predicable and not cool. You may have your personal wishes but to bother everyone? For what? Does any of you believe that Axl will come here, read your thoughts and change his mind on anything? I really like the surprise element. I like to not know what's gonna happen next. One of the things I learned and that also made me love this band so much is that they were never AC/DC or Ramones in the sense of doing things over and over again in that old "record an album - tour - record another album - tour, etc", just like robots. I mean I know there's a downside in all the wait and apparent lack of news but at the same time it's so exciting to have no idea what's gonna happen next.
I also don't get people who want reunions and keep on going to the gigs and to places like this forum. Queen for example: I don't like the new guy singing. For me there's no Queen without Freddie Mercury. BUT what can I do? Brian and Roger have all the right in the world to do whatever they want with THEIR band, not mine, Therefore the only thing I can do if I don't enjoy it the way it is today is to BE AWAY. I don't get into Queen forums to complain and bitch about it. I don't go to the gigs. Id rather watch a live DVD with Freddie at home than go to a live gig with the new guy. I even thought that could be somehow magic to see Roger and Brian live but I gave up. I respect them for what they did before so I don't think it's right to attack them just because they decided to keep on in a different way. I know Freddie is dead and the former members are not but the idea is the same: if I didn't like GNR without Slash for instance... I wouldn't be here all the time complaining and trying to ruin Axl's life or the fans' or the band's just because the selfish asshole inside of me wants something different than the reality. I wouldn't go to the gigs or anything like that. I don't go see Alice in Chains because for me AIC ended when Layne died - the same way I ignore Skid Row without Sebastian Bach. A lot of people don't think like this and I'm ok with that. But it's a shame most of the GNR fans who want what they want don't realize how boring and how selfish they are. And how much time they're wasting of their own lives trying to control something they cannot - glad they don't!

But its how its going to come across.

The jokes write themselves.  Axl takes a decade plus to come up with one album, then left to his devices he's back 8 later with a remix of that same lone album.

People need to stop thinking in terms of everyone being as plugged is as we are.  Yes, we might know this remix album has been done for years, but they don't.

And frankly...is that an argument you are looking to make?  Giving people the truth just promotes more jokes.  

Think about how that goes, if you try and get on your high horse to defend it to a casual fan :

Shows what you know, smartguy.  This isn't a new remix album.  He's had it done a for a few years now.  So don't you feel dumb now, huh?

Wait...time out.  So you are telling me even a remix album takes him 4-5 years to release?  What's wrong with this guy?  

No, of course not.

On the other hand, we do have people that talk like he's watching over all of this like he's freakin' Santa Claus and making naughty and nice lists.  Better not say anything or he might find out.

Like he's going to wander in here one day and these "real fans" would point out all the "entitled whiners" and tell them they were going to get it now! 

Oh, but not me, Axl, I've been "loyal".  Check my posts!  I kept telling these people to stop!  I'M ONE OF THE GOOD ONES.

I don't see it as right or wrong. It's like I said - you have all the right in the world to think this is not Guns N' Roses, the same way I have all the right in the world to think it is Guns N' Roses. The issue is what we do with what we believe. Many people who considered the band illegitimate never ever seen them live when they first got together to start with and many of the ones who didn't consider it GNR changed their minds through the years after watching a gig or two in person.
I not even know why am I writing this. I personally believe that Axl doesn't give a damn for what's happening here and that he'll do whatever he wants, doesn't matter what you, me, or the rest of the world think. And that's one of the coolest things about loving a band that is real.
 

Of course it would happen without your approval.
Like i said, I just don't get the "don't release it" posts from fans who week in and week out point out how they need more music but are quick to "deny" others of new music since it doesn't interest them personally.

That's all.


The posters who are suddenly so concerned about GN'R's reputation and all that. That's cute.

The idiots in the media will write what they want anyway.
If GN'R puts out an album for their fans, who cares what they twist it into? Does it matter?

So now it's "those fans who want to hear the remixes can't because the media will make fun of GN'R if they're released".
Hahahahaha.

Maybe they should pay less attention to the media and what they think is "cool".....  :hihi:


I mean think about it....
If you're concerned about what the media will think.... This is GN'R. Remember that song, Get In The Ring? Read the lyrics? Does that seem like something they put on the album to make the media happy?


/jarmo

It has value, I suppose.  I'm just unclear how it trumps activity and productivity.  Or that such concepts are mutually exclusive.

Let's not pretend Axl is the only artist in the world doing his own thing and marching to his own tune.  He's just the only one that takes decades to get something done.

Look at Prince.  Not exactly what I'd call a good soldier or a guy that colors inside the lines, right?  Ever have a gander at his productivity from 1994 to present day?

Ah, the age old "quantity trumps everything" discussion.

From one of the persons who keeps telling us it's not a good idea to release more music because the media will make fun of GN'R!


 :rofl:



/jarmo

Maybe you're right. In lack of a video I supported GNR sharing the Rock AM Ring video for KOHD.

Some people said Axl's voice sounded like shit even though it sounded better there than in 1991. Some people will always be haters.

But I do think there's a difference between a hater and a critic.

The past 2 months or so have been really strange.  I would really like to know who was truly behind starting up the initial reunion hype that just spiraled out of control.  It all started with Slash saying that he and Axl were friends again which is great.  But why did that cause everybody to assume that a GNR reunion was in the works?

It was fueled by DJ ashba and BBF leaving, and TOmmy ''sort of leaving''.

And it gets more intense by the minute with no one denying the rumors.

Yeah.

Also: It's such a fine line between stupid, and uh... Clever.

 :hihi:


/jarmo

He sounds amazing at that show.  I've show the opening of WTTJ to several people that remarked how great he sounded.

And of course there is a difference between a hater and a critic.  Its all in the eyes of the hypersensitive beholder.

I don't mean to sound like a conspiracy theorist but it just got so out of control that somebody in power must have started it.  Like Chris Tucker said in the Rush Hour movies about drug dealers on the streets of the hood.  Trace everything back to the rich white man.

Are you saying Axl started the rumors?  :hihi: j/k

No. There are people in the industry who would stand to make a lot of money off Of a reunion. Just waxing philosophical to get my mind off of possible terrorist attacks which are methodically planned months and years in advance. I am thinking if the men in suits. Not the artists.
 

Nah... I don't think it's some big conspiracy...

I know there's about 100 people who post on these boards who don't wan't to see Slash up there with Axl for a variety of reasons...

But the rest of the world.. would really like to see it. It's snowballed the past few weeks in to something that it might not be... but not a conspiracy, just a lot of people around the world that would be really jacked up.

Plus... you know who probably would make the most money ?


Axl  :)

Yeah, I don't see how Axl doesn't make a fortune here.

I guess you could argue that maybe Slash and Duff would require bigger pay days than lets say Ashba and Tommy made per gig...

But still... I don't see how they all don't walk away without ever having to work again.

Of course. That's why it's called the music business...




/jarmo

The advance has to be bigger.

And you are selling FAR more seats in FAR more venues, and likely at a healthy ticket price.

What I mean is thAt whoever got the ball rolling knew it would spiral out of control.  The crappy little yellow journalists like dishnation and alternative nation are just peons in a much larger game. Just like the kids on the street selling drugs. For them it is a huge payday. Just like the clickbait websites.  But somewhere in his mansion is a rich white guy who stands to profit the most.  Axl would get a nice payday for sure.  But the suits in the music industry would gain the most.  There is not a lot of great music out there now. So instead of investing in something new they want to bring out something from the past that was hugely successful and has stood the test of time.  Just my .02   And the suits know thAt if a reunion does not happen thAt the public would blame Axl.  That is again why I think TB is taking the we do not negotiate with terrorists approach to not being forced to make an official statement at this time.

Sheesh.   :hihi: ::)

You said you didn't mean to, but I don't see how you couldn't have meant to be a conspiracy theorist there.  Chris Tucker's character certainly was.

Fair enough. Maybe I am.  I just think that someone in power counted on massive speculation from the diehard fan base and that in this age of social media and reality TV, where fame and any association with it is the most highly valued commodity that the whole GNR reunion topic would take on a life of its own. Which it has.

You think they told the US TV channel and the Swedish journalist to ask those questions so Slash would give the answers that started some of the speculation and rumors?


Edited to add: What do you call it when people who post their honest opinion about the band changing their line up too many times for their liking, but they're also hoping for a line up change that they approve of? So they're against the band changing line up, except.... :hihi:



/jarmo

No, I think Slash made a sincere honest statement. Which was a good thing.  I think other people maybe have grabbed onto it to create this reunion hysteria.  I could be totally wrong. I probably am. I was just philosophizing as. To why things got so crazy. Eddie Trunk started a lot if it,and now he is trying to backpedal  Maybe the info he got from his supposed source was false. And he jumped the gun to be the first to get his name out there. Who knows? Just a theory.

I'm actually hoping they release the remixes. Some of the songs deserve a 2nd chance. unhindered by fear and pressure that was being imposed back then.

Me too. Just because I'm curious to hear them.
And I'm sure there's more of us who would love to hear them and don't care about whether or not the media will make fun of the album....



/jarmo

I would love to hear these, regardless of what the media and some "fans" think. :peace:

Sure I'd like to hear them too. And I don't think they'd even need to make it a "big release", no? Just some kind of an extra item. Although I have to admit that I don't really understand the music business enough to say if that'd be wise or not.

But anyway, that being said, new music is the thing I'm really waiting for. Would not like to see the remixes being released and then nothing happening. But I guess that's the case with everyone here :hihi:

Meh, there'll be people laughing at whatever they do or don't do, so I don't think that should really be a factor.  Personally, I'd be curious to hear remixes, but if for some bizarre reason I got to decide what they release next, I'd rather have an album of songs I've not heard (whether new or from the Chinese Democracy sessions fifteen years ago).  Maybe when we get to something like the tenth anniversary of Chinese Democracy they could re-release it with a bonus disc of remixes and live material - that might be cool, if likely to prompt a round of eye-rolling from many, if we've not had anything new by then.

Its only a factor to fans that get all worked up about it.

Anyone that gave CD a poor review was labeled a hack with an agenda.  Any article with even the slightest misstatement is labeled a bunch of lies and evil to its core.

So its not the band that can't deal with the jokes.  Its some hypersensitive fans.

I've been a Guns fan
Since I was 15 years old.
I'm 43 now.

"Appetite" changed me.
Then "Illusions" fulfilled me
And, when it's time came,

"Chinese" topped them all.
I've seen posts from soapboxes
Saying "Most real fans


Have felt that CD
Was a letdown" So I say
If unemployment

Sits at 5 percent
It's still 100 percent
To the jobless man.

It's all subjective;
I do not speak for others
So don't speak for me.

In my heart of hearts,
Guns has grown up and matured
Right along with me.

I'd much rather see
The next era, CD 2,
Then old days redone...

Then again, I am
A man who wouldn't relive
His own glory years

If given the choice.
Having learned lessons of youth...
Onward and upward.

Splash

/Mike