From Blabbermouth:
"After the set I introduced myself to Dizzy. I had been wearing my GNR 'Chinese Democracy' shirt too! I asked him what was the status of the new album. He said that they should be releasing it this year (big surprise). I also asked him the what happened at the Philly riot show, since I was there. He said that you could thank Clear Channel for that one. I also asked him about Buckethead's status, in which he confirmed that he is unofficially out of the band."
okay now we believe the part about Buckethead
what about the other two questions he answered?
Even though he (supposedly said) that Buckethead was out... he still said that
the album should be out this year.
Why would he say the album is coming out still in one breath and reveal about Buckethead being out in the next breath IF Buckethead being out meant no album?
And yes I KNOW that we have heard that before (the album is coming out) but if he was just saying that because its the stock answer... why didn't he give a stock answer to the Buckethead question such as "the band is intact"?
I want to believe that its because even though Buckethead is/was out... that the plan to release the CD was/is still a go.
Its not like THEY didn't know about Buckethead. Sure WE are just getting this info but they have to already have faced it and figured something out.