News Articles about the Open Letter From Axl - Use this thread

[Jimmy?]

NME.com: GUNS N ROSES ANNOUNCE ALBUM RELEASE DATE

Axl Rose has announced his intention to release Guns N Roses' new album on March 6.

The singer confirmed that 'Chinese Democracy' will finally see the light of day in an online posting yesterday (December 14).

Although it was hinted that the album might appear this year by his management (who declared there were "13 Tuesdays" left in the year back in October, referencing the fact that US albums are released on a Tuesday), Rose has told fans the album will now appear in 2007.

"To say the making of this album has been an unbearably long and incomprehensible journey would be an understatement," he wrote of the record's long delay. "Overcoming the endless and seemingly insanity [sic] of the obstacles faced by all involved, notwithstanding the emotional challenges endured by everyone: the fans, the band, our road crew and business team has at many times seemed for all like a bad dream where one wakes up only to find they are still in the nightmare and unfortunately this time it has been played out for over a decade in real life."

However Rose said he was now hoping 'Chinese Democracy' was finally ready to go.

"It takes approximately eight weeks for an album to hit the shelves once it has been turned in to the record company," he wrote. "That being said this is not a promise, a lie or a guarantee, but we do wish to announce a tentative release date of March 6. This is the first time we have done this publicly for this album. Any and all other dates have been made up by others for their own reasons. We would like to assure the fans that though tentative, everything in our power will be done to meet this date. Once it is finalised and official you will be notified. If we are delayed for unseen reasons you will also be notified as soon as possible in regard to a new date, and the album will be released as shortly thereafter as is possible. We thank you for your patience."

In order to be able to complete the record, Rose explained that he had to cancel several dates on their US tour.

"Due to the schedule of these particular shows, valuable time needed by the band and record company for the proper setup and release of the album 'Chinese Democracy' would be lost," he said. "Rather than delay the album yet again, all involved have decided to remove these shows from GNR's schedule."

The cancelled dates are:

Sacramento (January 10)
Bakersfield (11)
Reno (13)
San Diego (16)

http://www.nme.com/news/guns-n-roses/25496

[kriss_boy]

very positive article esp since the said the release was only HINTED. Shows the band in a good light to casual fans.

[Rock the jungle]

that's a shit.  From one side Merk was telling us 2006 eventhough some speculations that the album would not appear 'till 2007

Looks like always the same " Fall - Late fall- spring - - - - fall - late fall - spring.....

At least now we have a release date given by "Axl"......

[Gunner17]

http://www.mtv.com/#/news/articles/1548109/20061215/guns_n_roses.jhtml

[guns_n_motley]

can ya copy and paste?? mtvs browser sucks!

[Jimmy?]

Axl Rose Sets Chinese Democracy Release Date, Apologizes For Delay

By Gil Kaufman
Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose

Photo: Rob Loud/ Getty Images
Reclusive Guns N' Roses singer chalks delays up to legal issues, fires manager.

Plenty of people have been talking lately about when, if, how or whether the long-delayed Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy will come out. Axl Rose hasn't been one of them.

But in an open letter posted Thursday on GunsNRoses.com credited to the enigmatic lead singer, Rose announced that the band would be canceling four upcoming West Coast shows in January, that he'd split with longtime manager Merck Mercuriadis and ? oh yeah, that the album will be released ... on March 6.

Maybe.

Frustratingly for fans, despite the lucid, humbling language used by Rose in the lengthy missive, the only promise was that the band would try its hardest to meet that date.

"That being said, this is not a promise, a lie or a guarantee but we do wish to announce a tentative release date of March 6th," Rose wrote. "This is the first time we have done this publicly for this album. Any and all other dates have been made up by others for their own reasons. We would like to assure the fans that though tentative, everything in our power will be done to meet this date. Once it is finalized and official you will be notified. If we are delayed for unseen reasons you will also be notified as soon as possible in regard to a new date and the album will be released as shortly thereafter as is possible. We thank you for your patience."

A spokesperson for Rose's label could not be reached for comment at press time to verify that the letter was from Rose or that the March release date had been penciled in.

In explaining the cancelation of the four dates ? three in California on January 10 (Sacramento), January 11 (Bakersfield) and January 16 (San Diego) and one in Nevada on January 13 (Reno) ? Rose said the shows were sacrificed in order to ensure the proper eight-week setup time for Democracy by the band and its record company. "Due to the schedule of these particular shows valuable time needed by the band and record company for the proper setup and release of the album Chinese Democracy would be lost," he explained. "Rather than delay the album yet again, all involved have decided to remove these shows from GNR's schedule."

Over the years, plenty of people have talked about the tortuous journey that Democracy has taken, from the reportedly bloated budget of more than $13 million ? which would make it one of the most expensive albums ever made ? to the decade-plus process of recording with a rotating cast of guitarists and side men that has left Rose as the only original member of the group (see "Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy In 2006: What Are The Odds?").

"To say the making of this album has been an unbearably long and incomprehensible journey would be an understatement," Rose wrote. "Overcoming the endless and seemingly insanity of the obstacles faced by all involved, not withstanding the emotional challenges endured by everyone: the fans, the band, our road crew and business team has at many times seemed for all like a bad dream where one wakes up only to find they are still in the nightmare and unfortunately this time it has been played out for over a decade in real life.

"The true ongoing behind-the-scenes triumphs and casualties are much more complicated than any negative speculation that media or otherwise has managed to hit upon. For much of the time some form or another of legalities have been taking place that really the best way to deal with publicly was to keep our mouths shut in an attempt to ensure the best outcome and especially one that wouldn't jeopardize the band or the album."

Rose, who has often been content in the past to let others speculate as he stayed silent about the band and the album, was uncharacteristically chatty in the note, opening a door into some of the behind-the-scenes intrigue that has fueled the numerous delays in the release of Democracy.

"When I agreed to do our recent North American tour I agreed with the understanding that I and my manager Merck Mercuriadis were in full agreement as to our strategy, touring plans and most importantly that any and all things needed to release the album at the latest by Dec. 26th were to be in place," Rose said, confirming personally for the first time that a solid 2006 release date was set for the record.

"Unfortunately this turned out not to be the case, and not only do I regret to say that again the album will not be released by the end of the year but that, though many things went extremely well and were very exciting, there were in our opinion unnecessary and avoidable complications on our tour having to do with the tour routing, scheduling and album and video plans that played hell on all involved especially our crew," he said. "This was compounded by an overall sense of a lack of respect by management for the band and crew and each individual's particular expertise that has resulted unfortunately in the end of both GUNS and my relationship in having a management or sense of band involvement with Merck Mercuriadis." Mercuriadis could not be reached for comment at press time.

In addition to announcing his split with Mercuriadis ? who hinted earlier this year that the record would possibly "just appear" on one of the then 13 Tuesdays left (see "Guns N' Roses Hint At Democracy's Arrival, Add Tour Dates") ? Rose chalked up some of the delays in the album's release to unnamed "certain minor, and by that I do mean minor, things and or additions as well as contract negotiations," which he now said have been scheduled.

"Both the band and I, along with our record company, feel that this record deserves the proper setup and promotion not the '13 Tuesdays left' and 'it may just appear in your record store' approach offered by management," he said, taking a swing at Mercuriadis and suggesting that the tease from former management may have been used as a strategy to help sell the band's latest tour to promoters. "The stress of dealing with this situation has been considerable for everyone as well as to the band themselves as a whole but that this was more importantly in our opinion something utterly insane to do to our fans."

In the end, Rose said, "it's just an album," but one that he, the band and the label believe is a true Guns N' Roses one. "Ultimately the public will decide and regardless of the outcome our hearts, lives and our passion has been put into this project every step of the way."

[russtcb]

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003522196


"Axl: 'Chinese Democracy' Tentatively Due In March

Axl Rose

December 15, 2006, 10:00 AM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Axl Rose has taken to Guns N' Roses' official Web site to announce a "tentative" March 6 release date for the band's eternally delayed new album, "Chinese Democracy." In the posting, Rose also revealed he has split with longtime manager Merck Mercuriadis due to disagreements over the set up for the album release.

"To say the making of this album has been an unbearably long and incomprehensible journey would be an understatement," Rose said of "Chinese Democracy," which has been in the works for more than a decade. "Overcoming the endless and seemingly insane amount of obstacles faced by all involved, notwithstanding the emotional challenges endured by everyone -- the fans, the band, our road crew and business team -- has at many times seemed like a bad dream in which one wakes up only to find that they are still in the nightmare. Unfortunately, this time it has been played out for over a decade in real life."

Rose said he only agreed to tour with GNR this fall because he believed he and Mercuriadis "were in full agreement regarding our strategy and touring plans and, most important, that any and all things needed to release the album by Dec. 26 at the latest were in place."

"Although many things went extremely well and were very exciting, there were, in our opinion, unnecessary and avoidable complications on our tour having to do with the tour routing, scheduling and album and video plans that wreaked havoc on all involved," he continued. "This was compounded by an overall sense of a lack of respect by management for the band and crew."

Rose lashed out at management for comments suggesting "Chinese Democracy" would "just appear" in record stores on a random Tuesday before the end of the year.

"It takes approximately eight weeks for an album to hit the shelves once it has been turned in to the record company," he said. "For whatever reasons, it appears that it may have been mistakenly inferred by management that this time period could be condensed to three weeks. With that being said, this is not a promise, a lie or a guarantee, but we do wish to announce a tentative release date of March 6. This is the first time we have done this publicly for this album."

In order to properly plan for the release, GNR has canceled four January shows in Sacramento, Calif., Bakersfield, Calif., Reno, Nev., and San Diego. "In the end, it's just an album, but it's one that I, the band, our record company and all involved believe and feel is a true Guns N' Roses album," Rose concluded. "Ultimately the public will decide, and regardless of the outcome, our hearts, lives and our passion has been put into this project every step of the way."

"Chinese Democracy" is the first Guns N' Roses album since the 1993 covers collection "The Spaghetti Incident." In the ensuing decade, the group has lost every original member besides Rose and burned through a reported $13 million in recording expenses."

[tommy gun]

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/12/15/825th-chinese-democracy-release-date-announced-itunes-defends-self-against-has-been-rumors-and-more/

825th Chinese Democracy Release Date Announced, iTunes Defends Self Against Has-Been Rumors, And More

All anyone wants for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa is a copy of Chinese Democracy, or a reprieve from discussions about it. Thanks to Axl we?re getting neither. In a letter Axl wrote to the fans (full text after the jump,) he announced Chinese Democracy will be released on March 6th, 2007. Riiiiggght. Except this time, dare we say it, he seems pretty serious?

[Nytunz]

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/axl_rose_fires_manager_reveals_albums_tentative_release_date.html

[whiny]

there's also an article in an austrian quality-newspaper: http://www.diepresse.com/Artikel.aspx?channel=k&ressort=ku&id=605409

[bigbri]

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/12/15/825th-chinese-democracy-release-date-announced-itunes-defends-self-against-has-been-rumors-and-more/

825th Chinese Democracy Release Date Announced, iTunes Defends Self Against Has-Been Rumors, And More

All anyone wants for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa is a copy of Chinese Democracy, or a reprieve from discussions about it. Thanks to Axl we?re getting neither. In a letter Axl wrote to the fans (full text after the jump,) he announced Chinese Democracy will be released on March 6th, 2007. Riiiiggght. Except this time, dare we say it, he seems pretty serious?

Shows you how much Rolling Stone has fallen from the ranks of respectable music journalism. There has never been a firm release date for CD announced. They're wrong, and lame.

[Skunk]

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/12/15/825th-chinese-democracy-release-date-announced-itunes-defends-self-against-has-been-rumors-and-more/

825th Chinese Democracy Release Date Announced, iTunes Defends Self Against Has-Been Rumors, And More

All anyone wants for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa is a copy of Chinese Democracy, or a reprieve from discussions about it. Thanks to Axl we?re getting neither. In a letter Axl wrote to the fans (full text after the jump,) he announced Chinese Democracy will be released on March 6th, 2007. Riiiiggght. Except this time, dare we say it, he seems pretty serious?

Shows you how much Rolling Stone has fallen from the ranks of respectable music journalism. There has never been a firm release date for CD announced. They're wrong, and lame.

Yeah that's pretty fucked. They wrote it that way because it was them who got it wrong.

[bazgnr]

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/12/15/825th-chinese-democracy-release-date-announced-itunes-defends-self-against-has-been-rumors-and-more/

825th Chinese Democracy Release Date Announced, iTunes Defends Self Against Has-Been Rumors, And More

All anyone wants for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa is a copy of Chinese Democracy, or a reprieve from discussions about it. Thanks to Axl we?re getting neither. In a letter Axl wrote to the fans (full text after the jump,) he announced Chinese Democracy will be released on March 6th, 2007. Riiiiggght. Except this time, dare we say it, he seems pretty serious?

Shows you how much Rolling Stone has fallen from the ranks of respectable music journalism. There has never been a firm release date for CD announced. They're wrong, and lame.

I agree...sad.  Rolling Stone never cited an official source when they put the November release date out there, and now they're shifting that blame/responsibility to Axl & the band.  Not fair, and not what "journalism / news" should be.

[von]

You know this whole "Whether or not it's really from Axl" thing...I don't think Axl's the kind of guy who let's other people speak for him or uses other people's words as his own. Just my two cents. I think it's a little disrespectful of the man's integrity. Merck can blow his claims out of his ass. Sorry.