Merck writes a letter to the NY Times

[nesquick]

I was serious. English is not my native language. Sometimes there are words I don't understand. 

[erose]

what is a "cowbell"?

adler opens nightrain with a 4 nice strokes on the cowbell i.e.

if your not sarcastic eh....

[Vicious Wishes]

Will Farrell was funny as hell with the cowbell on don't fear the reaper.

[GypsySoul]

A small update

The New York Times did respond to Merck. They have asked him to shorten his response to 300 words or less.?

As ususal, I'm confused.? Are you serious here?? Did they really ask him to shorten his response?

I know his response hasn't been posted in the paper yet (Monday or Tuesday's editions) but I thought that maybe they were waiting until the Sunday edition because the readership volume is so much higher and that was the edition the article was posted in.

When you put that smilie on the end of your post, I wasn't sure if it meant you think it's funny they asked him to shorten his response? or if it means you're being jokingly sarcastic because this thread is now 14 pages long.

[Saul]

I was serious. English is not my native language. Sometimes there are words I don't understand. 

Ok cool. Hope I didnt offend you. I honestly thought you were being sarcastic. Peace bro. 

p.s. , if you ever start your own band make sure your drummer HAS a cowbell and make sure he OVERuses it. Cowbell gets chicks.

[nesquick]

offend me? No, don't worry you didn't offend me at all. I'm a very cool guy.?No problemo.

[Christos AG]

I'm a very cool guy.?

I think it would be best if you'd let other people say that...

[Wooody]

I'm a very cool guy.?

I think it would be best if you'd let other people say that...

I think it would be best if you'd let him be.

[Christos AG]

I'm a very cool guy.?

I think it would be best if you'd let other people say that...

I think it would be best if you'd let him be.

I think you should have a better sense of humour but unfortunately you don't. So shut up.

[Warren]

It is understandable that the album hasn't been released yet : Axl is surrounded by stupid people like this thing called "Merck"...
Milking Axl seems to be their way of life !
This Merck is a liar when he says the album is almost done. If it was true there would be a release date ! But there isn't.

Or maybe the album has been completed a long time ago (May 2002) but after what happened during the US tour, Axl and Geffen are afraid it won't sell a lot. So they are waiting for a better moment...

Moreover, people like Stinson or Finck aren't even mentioned in the NY article... That tells a lot...

[Saul]

I'm a very cool guy.

I think it would be best if you'd let other people say that...

I think it would be best if you'd let him be.

I think you should have a better sense of humour but unfortunately you don't. So shut up.

Try to get back on topic there guys.   

So , does anyone know if Merck letter to the times got printed in part or in full.

[Wooody]

I'm a very cool guy.?

I think it would be best if you'd let other people say that...

I think it would be best if you'd let him be.

I think you should have a better sense of humour but unfortunately you don't. So shut up.

I think you should try to be funny next time if you want me to find your post humorous, but unfortunately it's not likely.
So shut up. 

[dodge]

 As some others have already posted, I too, suspect the NY Times article and Mercks' response are the beginings of a promotional push for the album. Or it is a last gasp effort, by the record company, to coax Axl to release the album, by publicly "calling him on the carpet". If you read the Times article, there is really nothing new or all that damaging said. It basically just collates all the different anecdotes we've all heard over the years, into one article. It even contributes to the Axl "legend" with the stories about driving over the cd's and having Zutaut thrown off the project for merely suggesting that he "bear down" and finish the album.It also refers to the 2002 tour as a success, when most national media coverage ?called it a failure. {personally, I went to the Cleveland show and it was great.and it was well-reviewed.} The article paints the picture of a troubled, talented artist, with the best of intentions and the worst work ethic. Ever. ?Yeah, stop the presses, Axl is an asshole.

 ? ? The curious thing to me is that nowhere in the article does anyone comment on the quality of the music. This reporter allegedly speaks to forty people involved in the project, and no one says they think it sucks or it's great? Of course some of these people said what they thought, but it wasn't included in the article. Why is that?


 ? ? Mercks' response is predictable, he vehemently defends his artist while pleading for the public to be a little more patient. That it isn't unusual for an artist to take this long with an album. He benefits from someone else publically calling Axl out on whether he'll ever get his shit together and move forward with his career. Another telling sign, to me anyway, is that the record company had the faith in the material to continually bend over backward to acomodate Axl. There must be some good music waiting to be released.


 ? ? I personally can't wait for the album to come out because I'm sure I'LL love it. I get the feeling we might end up with something that is overproduced and captures none of the spontanaety of "Appetite" tho. Remember "Sweet Child of Mine" was recorded in one take.
Axl has painted himself into a corner. This album has to be earth- shattering in its impact or else he will consider it a failure. All that is at risk is his legacy. If there is one guy who can pull it off tho, its Axl.

[jarmo]

I'm a very cool guy.?

I think it would be best if you'd let other people say that...

I think it would be best if you'd let him be.

I think you should have a better sense of humour but unfortunately you don't. So shut up.

I think you should try to be funny next time if you want me to find your post humorous, but unfortunately it's not likely.
So shut up.?

Are you kids done yet? 




/jarmo

[roxxi]

I get the feeling we might end up with something that is overproduced and captures none of the spontanaety of "Appetite" tho.

I think you're right.

I prefer songs that are a bit rough, if you know what I mean. But we'll see.

[sergejg]

Could anybody post here the article? I wish I could read exactly what it said.

[Eva GnRAxlRosette]

Could anybody post here the article? I wish I could read exactly what it said.

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=19183.0

[ppbebe]

The curious thing to me is that nowhere in the article does anyone comment on the quality of the music. This reporter allegedly speaks to forty people involved in the project, and no one says they think it sucks or it's great? Of course some of these people said what they thought, but it wasn't included in the article. Why is that?

Welcome to the hell, dodge and a Good point. 

That's perhaps None of the alleged forty are relevant to the real thing. I guess the main part is not supposed to be told in the prologue. The same is true of the current members. It's sad to see BH mention in the article.  It probably means he's really done with Gn'R.  Unlike the rest, He won't make an appearance in the main part of the story. Bah! a heartwarming episode tho.

Moreover, people like Stinson or Finck aren't even mentioned in the NY article... That tells a lot...

Indeed. 

[Eva GnRAxlRosette]

The curious thing to me is that nowhere in the article does anyone comment on the quality of the music. This reporter allegedly speaks to forty people involved in the project, and no one says they think it sucks or it's great? Of course some of these people said what they thought, but it wasn't included in the article. Why is that?

perhaps because everything we've heard from anyone who has heard any of the music is positive and promising...
and that would not have fit in with the disasterous, unproductive 'process' described in this article.

[audjon]

The curious thing to me is that nowhere in the article does anyone comment on the quality of the music. This reporter allegedly speaks to forty people involved in the project, and no one says they think it sucks or it's great? Of course some of these people said what they thought, but it wasn't included in the article. Why is that?

perhaps because everything we've heard from anyone who has heard any of the music is positive and promising...
and that would not have fit in with the disasterous, unproductive 'process' described in this article.

True, and after reading the article I felt like the author didn't have any 'real' insiders in Axl's camp. Everything that is detailed and elucidated regards the business side of the story, on the other hand, what has been going on within Axl's camp (or for that matter private live) seems based on a very superficial knowledge. It seems to me that the people he was able to speak to were almost exclusively former/current Geffen/Universal employees/managers, not the producers, technicians, musicians etc.