Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Back in 1990, when Axl was talking about Elton's work, he said he wasn't that much into Elton's then newer records because they were "for older people." They were aimed at an older audience. Lately, I've been listening to John Lennon's last material and it shows a man very much aware both of his mortality, but who also can look back clearly at days gone by with objective hindsight. As we know from Axl's own words, Chinese Democracy is basically the story - his side - of multiple break ups (Stephanie, Slash, etc). It's more of an album of overcoming hardship than anything else.

That being said, would anyone else really love to see Axl tackle things like his past in hindsight, making peace with the then and the now, and just being really introspective and reflecting on life?

I'd really love to see an Axl solo record which tries all different genres and tackles this. Like, one of my favorite Lennon songs is "Borrowed Time." It's Lennon doing reggae and reflecting on how it's better to be older and what he's learned vs. what life was like when he was younger. I think Lennon and Axl are very similar and so I'd love to see lyrically what Axl's head feels at 50, what he thinks about it?

back when that ghost in the studio picture was tweeted, there was some speculation about whether it may have signified that they were working on an album with some ghostly themes. as unlikely as that is true, i loved the idea. I would love to see a sort of X and Y from Axl. As far as I know, during the recording of that album, Coldplay spent a lot of time, i think purposefully, with people that were near death. you cant really hit much closer to home than the topic of mortality. its something we all struggle with. some even say that all fears are born out of the fear of death.

I want to hear the Axl of old. I want to hear him be motivated like he was.  Whether he's the angry or happy Axl, I just would like to see that fire in him again that stuck the middle finger towards his critics and proved everyone wrong.

Still convinced that there is an album of Axl alone - piano and melody that will be shared with us one day
There would be nothing more introspective than that (To me)

too good to be true! too good to be true!

I suspect that Axl is long gone,hes a middle aged man (as I am too) and things change in life as they should do too,no one wants to see an angry old man they just dont ;)

Are you saying Neil Young hasn't got an audience?! :hihi:

True, but there is a way to do it. I'm going to be 40 this summer. I'm middle age now. However, I still have that motivation, fire and desire to go out there to prove to people who discredited me as a result of my disability.  More importantly, I want to prove it to myself. You don't need to be angry to do that. 

Dylan-Time Out of Mind....

Something like the "American Recordings" albums from Johnny Cash would be nice - just Axl and a acoustic guitar/piano. Or another acoustic album from GN'R.

This all the way. Axl and an acoustic, and maybe some piano. I wanna see Axl go full "Elton" or full Lennon.

I don't want to disrespect anybody here, but what the hell is a "mature" Axl record. Axl has his own unique voice and style. He does not to imitate anybody.

Mature, as in, introspective, an older Axl. Basically, the 2016 version of Estranged or Don't Damn Me. Just something showing us where his head is at and where his emotions are as an older guy now. Ruminations on being over 50, looking back at his past and forward at his future. As an artist, I'm sure turning 50 had some effect on him. I'd love to see what those feelings are on a record. It'd be a lot more honest than what some older rock stars do, they write songs as if they're still 30. CD represented one phase of his life, a time of turmoil and breakups written mostly in his 30s. I'm curious about where he's at now - now that the tides have settled down and life has slowed down a bit.

Age is a state of mind. Being incredibly immature has kept me young. :hihi: I have no regrets and I love my freedom.

Exactly- I think some of the songs already released show enormous "maturity" as well as depth, originality and perspective- a very valid world viewpoint.  : ok:

I can relate to so many.

I'd like him to release another album with songs like Estranged, There Was A Time, This I Love, Madagascar, November Rain, um... Nightrain, You Could Be Mine, Sweet Child O'Mine?

Come to think of it, I just want another Axl record regardless  :P.

Mature?? No such thing. We all love rock because of its aura of youth. You don't get anything more mature than say Madagascar and TWAT and those were composed at least 10 years ago.... Did The Stones get more mature with age? They're fucking grandpas jumping on stage and we love them for being like that! So, no, no interest in mature songs and mature bands.

Think the original question was more pointing to maturity in lyrics and introspection than stage behavior....and yes, the Stones do look ridiculous now but they've earned the right to be as ridiculous as they choose

I want to hear any Axl record.

At this point I'll take 6 minutes of him farting in the bath.

 :no:

What would you call a song like Civil War?



/jarmo

A political protest song.

Great to think about it.  First off I just want to hear MORE Axl.  Its also interesting to think about because Axl was writing "mature" material so early on.  Mature in the sense that
these piano ballads have the feel of an older artist.  Id love to hear a piano Axl album.  I think he could nail it. 

Yes All of Axl's work has been very profound. You can really see a difference from say the Rapidfire stuff which I still kinda liked.

You don't think it falls under your definition of "mature"?




/jarmo

I think that keeping this rate of releases, it's extremely soon to talk about the next one. maybe sometimes during the next decade or two. not even thinking about if it's "mature" or anything else. just my honest 50cents :-\

Yeah, add some strings and piano and a lot of folks would inhale that stuff. but I'm not one of those people...  :)

I think reforming the band could spark Axl's appetite for output. Sooner rather than later.

depends. so far, we have zero insight in why all this happened - ChiDem era collapsed, almost zero fan interaction, zero interviews, zero meaningful informations about any possible new material, band membes gave up and left. yes, there's a chance things could change now, but I'd be extremely surprised if it really happens.

I recorded with an engineer that was friends with a guy that worked on Chinese Democracy. He said during the interminable recording sessions the guy kept thinking, "Man, I should just mic up him and his piano, record the whole thing in like a week, and it would sell millions."

Serious?

No. When I talk about mature material, I'm talking about an artist's perspectives on life, mortality and getting older. IE Borrowed Time by John Lennon, The Show Must Go On by Queen, These Are the Days of Our Lives also by Queen, etc....

Also, Civil War was co-written by Slash and Duff both musically and lyrically. I'd want to hear a mature song lyrically (and ideally also musically) by Axl himself.

I get what you are trying to say, but I'm sure as the artist gets older, times change...etc ...then new music they make will also evolve
(ore become more "mature" as you put it)

The song Show must go on is credited to Queen, but written mainly by Brian May. The song chronicles the effort of Freddie Mercury continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life; he was dying from complications due to HIV/AIDS, although his illness had not yet been made public in spite of ongoing media speculation claiming that he was seriously ill.

Lennon's Borrowed Time was inspired during Lennon's 1980 sailing holiday from Newport Rhode Island to Bermuda. During the journey Lennon's yacht encountered a prolonged severe storm resulting in most of the crew eventually succumbing to profound fatigue and seasickness, Lennon (free of seasickness) was eventually forced to take the yacht's wheel alone for many hours. Lennon found this terrifying but invigorating with the effect of both renewing his confidence and making him contemplate the fragility of life (Lennon claimed his recovery from heroin addiction some years earlier had rendered him immune to seasickness).Once he arrived in Bermuda, Lennon heard the line 'living on borrowed time' from Bunny Wailer's "Hallelujah Time" and was inspired by his recent experience to write the lyrics around that theme.

Artists employ numerous types of inspiration, introspection and reflection to write lyrics- I think these lyrics from Madagascar are as "mature" and certainly as reflective and introspective as either of the songs above-


I won't be told anymore,
that I've been bought down in this storm,
And left so far out from the shore,
but I can't find by way back, my way back anymore.
Oh no, I won't be told anymore,
that I've been bought down in this storm,
And left so far out from the shore,
Oh that I can't find my way back, my way anymore,

Oh, I, I

Forgive them that tear down my soul,
bless them that they might grow old,
And free them so that they may know,
that it's never too late.

Great observation

I think, on the contrary, part of the reason Axl has such avid followers is the high degree of quality he holds his work to.

I agree that GNR has released some mature music, especially with CD. I hope this trend continues in the future, and I think that seems likely. I am intrigued by the whole theoretical reminiscent of Jonny Cash American 5 Axl album. Just what is the future old man Axl like, and what kind of music does he make, if any? Is it all going to be guns from here on out, or will we ever see a solo album? I would almost rather see a solo Axl album than another guns album, not that either one wouldn't be wonderful. 

Ok, so you were after certain subjects in lyrics, not necessarily maturity in lyrics/subjects.
My point is, there's always been a certain maturity in Axl's lyrics. It's not just about staying up all night and partying.....  ;)




/jarmo

Just to chip in, I think most people wouldn't consider Civil War mature because it's pretty naive and broad and sounds like it was written by a bunch of guys in their 20s who just want the world to "stop killing and all try to get along, yeah?"

Which is fair enough, because that's what it was. And it's a good song - no more or less mature than most protest songs which also tend to be written by people who are just reaching an age of finding out how the world works and that there's something badly wrong with it.