"...that one extra step further..."

[SINSHINE]

"Rather than dwelling on the negative, Guns will be moving forward and surprisingly (without giving away any details), this unfortunate set of circumstances may have given us the opportunity to take our recording that one extra step further,"

I agree. Rather than dwell on the negative, how 'bout we speculate about this line of Axl's letter. What could an "extra step further" mean?

Got to thinking that Axl (despite Fink and Fortus' capabilities) will probably invite a new guitarist to join the band...which means try-outs, rehearsals, etc. Well...wasn't there another big name band that just recently went through this? Oh, yeah...Metallica!

Point being, now that they have the time and need to go through the "try out" and rehearsal phase anyway, perhaps Axl has a live bonus dvd feature planned for CD now as St. Anger did. Would certainly also help alleviate some other clitches as well (ie: album leaks, etc.), not to mention would be a great "warm up" for a new tour. It may also be a way of proving the band can gel with a replacement and that Axl still hasn't lost his edge when it comes to playing live.

Who knows. Again...just speculating here.

Have fun.

[Eternal Flaming Sword of Death...]

...he meant that they were running out of excuses and this affords them the oppurtunity to once again delay the album. "one step further in the never ending delay process.

Seriously, though, maybe he is referring to recording process as a whole, meaning probably the next album(s) after Chinese Democracy. Hopefully that is what he means.
BTW, fuck Buckethead!!

[Chinese_esenihC]

Part of me says it means he's definitely releasing CD within the year.

Another part of me says it means he's going back in the studio.  

[Smoke]

I think that Buckethead was holding guns back so now that he is gone the band is able to move forward and finish up what ever is left.  I bet they already have a replacement for him and they will probably waiting for the right moment to tell us.  Not that it makes any sense or anything but that GNR for ya.  

[oneway23]

"One step further" sounds to me as though Axl's refering to finding a new guitarist and re-recording Bucket's parts...The reason why Axl has left the door open for a reconciliation is because at this point, that's probably the last thing he wants to do.  I truely believe Axl is not certain what to do at this point, but he will figure it out and at least attmpt to once again move forward.

[kockstar99]

John 5's departure from Marylin Manson was just announced the day after Brain Carroll's offical GnR announcement..

maybe hes got a try out?? hes a bad ass...

its good timing,... a good fit, ... or maybe just me wishing...



 

[axlsalinger]

how about this (and yes, i am aware that this is a bit of a stretch to put a positive spin on this thing):

Bucket leaving made Axl realize that he is at a crossroads: it is now either time to really move this thing forward, or to simply give up and put it to bed. Continuing to delay the return of GNR will eventually result in everyone else leaving as well. Even though all the delays may not be Axl's fault, he realized that he is still to blame for not pushing things forward at certain times. And the surprise is that he suddenly realized how much he wants to carry on, despite the loss of Buckethead.

so now he has decided to take that extra step forward: finish up and release this album as soon as possible. "A few months" means that this time he will not bother to re-record Bucket's guitar parts.

And if and when the time comes to tour, as much as I really liked having Buckethead in the band, there are other guitar players in the world who can learn how to play previously recorded material.

[oneway23]

I agree with that post completely, and I really hope your right....That'd be the line of thinking I'd be omn....For me, its cool, so long as Axl doesn't re-record his parts.  If another player learns and plays BH's parts on tour,  fine...For me, as a huge fan, I just want to hear BH's contributions as he played them..Good post

[ppbebe]

so now he has decided to take that extra step forward: finish up and release this album as soon as possible. "A few months" means that this time he will not bother to re-record Bucket's guitar parts.

And if and when the time comes to tour, as much as I really liked having Buckethead in the band, there are other guitar players in the world who can learn how to play previously recorded material.

yea! : ok:yea! : ok:ya!

[Izzy]

One extra step? Maybe he'll finally add vocals........

[pilferk]

Slightly OT, but sorta not:

If I were Axl, and really pissed, I'd leave CD intact, release it with BH's parts on it...and credit them to Brian Carroll.

[oneway23]

Call him Herbie and put a pic of him unmasked in the booklet for all I care, as long as it's his parts....funny stuff Pilferk...

[duga]

Slightly OT, but sorta not:

If I were Axl, and really pissed, I'd leave CD intact, release it with BH's parts on it...and credit them to Brian Carroll.

Good idea. With a photo with Buckethead unmasked

[pilferk]

Slightly OT, but sorta not:

If I were Axl, and really pissed, I'd leave CD intact, release it with BH's parts on it...and credit them to Brian Carroll.

Good idea. With a photo with Buckethead unmasked

Even better......

And in the linear notes: "KFC FUCKING SUCKS!"

[SLCPUNK]

I like the Brian Carrol idea..

[Rupean]

QUOTE ("2001")
DJ: When is it gonna be the new album? Is it possible that we're gonna have a new record from Guns N' Roses?

Axl: Yes, I've heard. Um, hopefully we will put out a new single umm sometime this spring and then the record gonna be done in June or shortly thereafter.

----------------------------------------

QUOTE ("Gnronline.com 2002")
Guns N' Roses will go back into studio immediately following the aforementioned dates to put the final touches on the forthcoming ?Chinese Democracy? album.

----------------------------------------

QUOTE ("Axl @ 2002")
It feels right, the timing, and a lot of things. We?ve sorted it down to what songs are on the record. What the sequence of the songs is. The album cover art is ready.

----------------------------------------
QUOTE ("Axl Rose @ 2004")
In the meantime rather than dwelling on the negative, Guns will be moving forward and surprisingly (without giving away any details) this unfortunate set of circumstances may have given us the opportunity to take our recording that one extra step further. Regardless we hope to announce a release date within the next few months.

----------------------------------------

I wonder what we'll hear nextime  
Wake up Axlers  

[madagas]

You left out the one in 1997 (right after Slash left). Axl faxed a note to Mtv saying the Gnr album would be out in the summer of 1997. He even said 12 songs with three singles if I remember correctly. Radio interview in Nov 2002, Axl said it would be out sometime in 2003. He clearly cannot be relied on as well. One thing I will say, I will guarantee you there is a flat out ton of material in the vaults for release whenever. No recording artist ever has spent this much time on a record. Even the stuff with Slash and Duff from 95-96 is probably somewhere in the vaults-maybe no vocals or scratch vocals, but alot of demos and work nonetheless.    ps it is that "one extra step further" quote which shows you how truly crazy and obssessed Axl is with this project. It is the most disturbing part of the press release.

[Ali]

You left out the one in 1997 (right after Slash left). Axl faxed a note to Mtv saying the Gnr album would be out in the summer of 1997. He even said 12 songs with three singles if I remember correctly. Radio interview in Nov 2002, Axl said it would be out sometime in 2003. He clearly cannot be relied on as well. One thing I will say, I will guarantee you there is a flat out ton of material in the vaults for release whenever. No recording artist ever has spent this much time on a record. Even the stuff with Slash and Duff from 95-96 is probably somewhere in the vaults-maybe no vocals or scratch vocals, but alot of demos and work nonetheless.    ps it is that "one extra step further" quote which shows you how truly crazy and obssessed Axl is with this project. It is the most disturbing part of the press release.

Madagas, while I agree that part of the statement is disturbing, for me the most disturbing part comes from stepping back and looking at the statement as a whole, and at past GN'R drama.  The reluctance to accept responsibility and the placing of blame elsewhere are the most disturbing aspects of this and other GN'R situations.  He "may have" done the band a disservice and "unintentionally" put the band in a precarious position.  Why would Buckethead stick around for four years to secure a solo deal?  There has to be something else there.

Anyways, maybe the "extra step" has something to do with the "finishing touches" that we've heard about for so long.

Ali

[madagas]

Agree. He pointed the finger at Slash in 1997-Finck in late 1999 when he left-and now Bucket. Where and when will it end? At some point, you have to let go and release the record...how people don't see this ugly trend is baffling to me.

[axlsalinger]

I don't think there are too many people who have not noticed this trend.

However, if you don't make an attempt to think positively and hope that Axl will come through, then we would have to conclude that this band will simply never release any new material or do anything else ever again.

and then, really, why are we here?