Slash interview in VG (in Norwegian)

[jarmo]

Norwegian interview here

Short translation:

They ask him about Axl. He doesn't seem too happy that Axl has kept the name. Apparently because Axl hasn't released a new album and the GN'R shows haven't lived up to people's expectations.
 
He says Axl was influenced by other people/bands and wanted to change the sound of the band.

VR is the best thing that could've happened to him.

Slash says he's not the AA type, he still drinks but not as much as he used to.

He talks about having kids and also about jogging (he hates it).


/jarmo

[younggunner]

and the GN'R shows haven't lived up to people's expectations

On one winter night, a sold out, electrified MSG would say thats not an accurate statement.

He says Axl was influenced by other people/bands and wanted to change the sound of the band.

ANd that is a bad thing because?

[Top-Hatted One]

how about the other 15 or so venues accross the counrty where only 6-7,000 people showed up?

[younggunner]

how about the other 15 or so venues accross the counrty where only 6-7,000 people showed up?

Its safe to say those people loved the show as well. By all accounts from the fan reviews everything was positive. So the new band actually lived up to expectations to those who were there.

[Top-Hatted One]

it was fun as far as being nostalgic and seeing Axl again. But they played very little new songs and the majority of the people didn't pay attention to any of the new songs. They just wanted to go crazy for the old songs. I hope next time they don't make the same mistake. They better play mostly new songs and then a few covers like VR does or it's gonna get really old really quick. I'm hopeful they will once there is am actual release date.

[younggunner]

But they played very little new songs and the majority of the people didn't pay attention to any of the new songs

They werent out promoting an album, as a result they didnt play any new songs. Most peopel didnt know the new songs so they really couldnt sing along.

I hope next time they don't make the same mistake. They better play mostly new songs and then a few covers like VR does or it's gonna get really old really quick.

Unlike VR, the next GNR tour, like always will be 2 hr or longer set, all the new songs from the album, maybe a few oldies sprinckled in. If they play cover it will be the ones we have heard or if they did any covers with the new lineup. There is no way we will get another tour that is old gnr dominated. I can see them throwing in the jungles,scoms of the world in the set but the rest of the set will be chinese domination.Cant fukin wait!

A GNr concert/tour never gets old.

[Top-Hatted One]

yeah thats what I was expecting in 2002..instead we got the same setlist as 2000

[younggunner]

yeah thats what I was expecting in 2002..instead we got the same setlist as 2000

I wasnt aware gnr went on a full scale tour in 2000. AM i missing something?

Do you truly think that when Chinese Democracy is out, that GNr, the same band that has been working their ass off all of these years into this album, will be out playing old gnr dominated sets?

When Tommy says, all hell is going to break lose, do you think he envisions himself playing the 2002 setlist all over again? or seeing himself play the songs he and his fellow bandmates have worked years in the studio on and answered the zillion questions regarding the album?CMon

[Mattgnr]

Younggunner you can (and have) all the excuses under the sun for GNR, i understand you're a big fan, however until a decent album has been released, Axl's new band has not lived up to the GNR name and memory; in mine and many peoples opinion!


Slash doesn't seem to be negative towards axl he's telling the truth.   

[younggunner]

Younggunner you can (and have) all the excuses under the sun for GNR, i understand you're a big fan, however until a decent album has been released, Axl's new band has not lived up to the GNR name and memory; in mine and many peoples opinion!

I'm not disputing that one bit. In fact, Ive always said that new GNr have a lot to prove musically in terms of continuing the legacy that was set by old Gnr. New Gnr will never get as big as old gnr did. NO matter how great cd is. Its just a completely different musical climate and business than it was years ago. BUt what I am expecting is for them to be atleast the leaders in the rock world.

To me the songs we have heard are great. BUt with that being said, GNr must release better songs in order for them to appeal to the mainstream public. ANd as a fan and observer of this band, I know they will come thru in the clutch.

You say GNr havnt lived up to the memory of old. Your right they havnt. BUt have they tried yet? Did they release an album yet, have I missed something? WHen GNr release the album and do what any rock band does to promote its album and it fails then you will be right, new gnr failed.

Yea they have fucked up pr wise. No doubt. BUt when the music is out there, will all of that matter? Its about the music. This band will ultimately be judged on the music they have made. If its carp people will let them know about it. If its good then everything will be roses cause Axl still has his guns. You dig what Im saying....?

So I understand and agree that new GNr havnt lived up to people expectations. BUt that doesnt mean its failed either. A failure is when they fail musically. Slash made the comment that people weren't happy or whatver. If you go to the shows, you better believe people were happy.

New gnr will not dissapoint.

[badgirl]

its simplistic to think that the product is the only thing that matters. maybe for you that is true, but it is not the case in the entertainment industry. how do i know this? because of the need for damage control PR firms (that specialize in reestablishing one's reputation once it is soiled- Naomi Campbell just hired the most famous of these PR firms, a man named Dan Klores, after she beat up her assistant) and other spinmeisters whose job it is to make the artists (musicians, actors, reality-tv stars) look good to us, expain to us when they misbehave, and otherwise lie to the public.
If it was all about the music, these people wouldn't exist. GnR employed them back during the Illusions days (remember the story about Slash being admitted to the hospital for the flu when he was really in rehab?-- that is a PR spin to protect the band) and almost every artist has one or a team of people to ensure they look good to the public. They are also employed to make the artists look good to the "suits", so people in the industry know that this band will make money for them and not go drive off a cliff somewhere or have to be in rehab when they should be in the studio.

a lot more goes into an artists/bands sellability than simply their product.

[jarmo]

GnR employed them back during the Illusions days (remember the story about Slash being admitted to the hospital for the flu when he was really in rehab?-- that is a PR spin to protect the band) and almost every artist has one or a team of people to ensure they look good to the public.

I don't remember that one.

I do know he said he had pneumonia in 2000 and had to cancel a Snakepit tour when in fact he was in the hospital due to his drinking (or something).



/jarmo

[badgirl]

GnR employed them back during the Illusions days (remember the story about Slash being admitted to the hospital for the flu when he was really in rehab?-- that is a PR spin to protect the band) and almost every artist has one or a team of people to ensure they look good to the public.

I don't remember that one.

I do know he said he had pneumonia in 2000 and had to cancel a Snakepit tour when in fact he was in the hospital due to his drinking (or something).



/jarmo

whatever, it's all the same. all the times Axl went on late, the riots, the cancellations, the leaving the stage early. they always provide an excuse because... people care! they want one because its not all about the music. the band wants to promote a certain image- dangerous but dependable. they don't want people to know that they are junkies, fucking other people's wives, in jail, whatever disaster you can imagine and they hire firms to spin these disasters into reasonable stories (which are essentially lies, but whatever).
if it was all about the music, these firms would not exist.

[the dirt]

whatever disaster you can imagine and they hire firms to spin these disasters into reasonable stories (which are essentially lies, but whatever).
if it was all about the music, these firms would not exist.

It seems as though Axl doesn't use these people and their firms...

Maybe he is in fact spending all the record company's money on the actual record

[Booker Floyd]

I do know he said he had pneumonia in 2000 and had to cancel a Snakepit tour when in fact he was in the hospital due to his drinking (or something).

He was in the hospital due to heart problems.  Its related to drinking, but it wasnt "just" drinking.

[badgirl]

whatever disaster you can imagine and they hire firms to spin these disasters into reasonable stories (which are essentially lies, but whatever).
if it was all about the music, these firms would not exist.

It seems as though Axl doesn't use these people and their firms...

Maybe he is in fact spending all the record company's money on the actual record

you're right actually. Axl seems to be the ONLY one to not employ these people (although many here speculated that his press release about Buckethead's departure reeked of a publicist's hand) and we see some of the fallout from that. Many people, while still dedicated fans, DO wish they could hear the very excuses or explanations that other people/bands provide when something goes wrong. And some will continue to hold that against him. But none of this is the point- the point is that the final product is, unfortunately, NOT the determining factor in how someone gets judged. Legendary singer/songwriter Carly Simon (i am 99% sure it was her) told Rolling Stone that she is disgusted with the current industry because people are not judged solely on their talent, and for this reason, she chooses not to be a part of it.
This is just a reality that people need to accept.

[tomass74]

how about the other 15 or so venues accross the counrty where only 6-7,000 people showed up?

Its safe to say those people loved the show as well. By all accounts from the fan reviews everything was positive. So the new band actually lived up to expectations to those who were there.

Not so sure about that. I saw one and it was kinda lame. And everyone that called in about the show on the radio ripped it up also. The only person that did like it that I talked to was DaveGnR2kand some other guy from this board. I think he was in front of me dressed like Bucket Freak.

[younggunner]

Not so sure about that. I saw one and it was kinda lame. And everyone that called in about the show on the radio ripped it up also

Obiviously not eveyone is going to like a show they attend. But for the most part, reading the reviews, watching and hearing the boots, looks like most peopel were having a blast.

[Butch Français]

But they played very little new songs and the majority of the people didn't pay attention to any of the new songs

They werent out promoting an album, as a result they didnt play any new songs.

then what was the deal with calling it "The Chinese Democracy World Tour"?

[younggunner]

then what was the deal with calling it "The Chinese Democracy World Tour"?

As ive said in the past..GNr and management have done some stupid things along the way.