Tom Zutaut letter in NY Times

[dolphin]

This Tom is the same person who in my opinion, didn't speak too highly of Axl and his direction he is taking GNR in Behind the Music.  He talked about how Axl will never acheive perfectionism or something like that.

Why is he saying this stuff now? ?Maybe Tom finally realized that Axl Rose = pure rock n' roll and that Axl made Tom equally noticeable as he signed the band thru Geffen

[GypsySoul]

I don't see any significance to this article.

The significance is that Tom Zutaut is one of the main "GNR Insider" sources that was named and quoted in the Leeds article. ?IMO, Leeds portrayed Mr. Zutaut as someone who has a negative opinion of Axl, the "new" band and the album.

This is how the Leeds article starts to give youze some idea of what I'm referring to:

quote
IN the faint red light of the Rainbow Bar and Grill, Tom Zutaut sips at his drink and spills a bit of regret. It's been 19 years since he signed the then-unknown rock band Guns N' Roses to a contract with Geffen Records, where they turned into multiplatinum superstars. Back in those days, the Rainbow was their hangout of choice.

Years after he left the label, he returned in 2001 to try to coax Axl Rose, the band's magnetic leader and by then its only original member, into completing one of the most highly anticipated albums in the industry: an opus tentatively titled "Chinese Democacy." The deadline for turning in the album had passed two years earlier.

"I really thought I could get him to deliver the record," said Mr. Zutaut, who spent nine months trying. "And we got close."

He is speaking in relative terms. Mr. Zutaut is but one of a long series of executives and producers brought in over the years to try to conjure up the maddeningly elusive album - to cajole the reclusive rock star into composing, singing, recording, even just showing up. Like everyone else who had tried, or has tried since, Mr. Zutaut came away empty-handed.
end quote



There's another thing I'd like to point out about the unfair way the NY Times posted Mr. Zutaut's letter. ?There were three other letters posted. ?Two were about an article on the Friars Club Roast and the other was about an article on Cinema Studies Degrees. ?For one of the 'Friars' letters, the NY Times noted that "The writer is dean of the Friars Club" and on the 'Cinema Studies' letter, the NY Times noted that "The writer is an assistant professor of cinema studies at Southern Illinois University." ?The NY Times failed to note who Tom Zutaut is in relation to GNR and the article they had published. ?

[Falcon]

Thanks for typing that out Gypsy.

Axl Rose was one of the only artists I ever worked with who was never motivated by money.
- Tom Zutaut

.... or what the New York Times or any other paper for that matter might think of him.[/i]
- Merck Mercuriadis




/jarmo

Nice move on Tom's part no matter what the motivation.

However, I think the above nonsense from Merck is so far from the truth it's ridiculous. ?Over the years
Axl has proved time and again that he cares what the press thinks of him. ?His skin is beyond thin and
his sensitivity towards critisism is undeniable.

[dolphin]

I don't see any significance to this article.

The significance is that Tom Zutaut is one of the main "GNR Insider" sources that was named and quoted in the Leeds article. ?IMO, Leeds portrayed Mr. Zutaut as someone who has a negative opinion of Axl, the "new" band and the album.

This is how the Leeds article starts to give youze some idea of what I'm referring to:

quote
IN the faint red light of the Rainbow Bar and Grill, Tom Zutaut sips at his drink and spills a bit of regret. It's been 19 years since he signed the then-unknown rock band Guns N' Roses to a contract with Geffen Records, where they turned into multiplatinum superstars. Back in those days, the Rainbow was their hangout of choice.

Years after he left the label, he returned in 2001 to try to coax Axl Rose, the band's magnetic leader and by then its only original member, into completing one of the most highly anticipated albums in the industry: an opus tentatively titled "Chinese Democacy." The deadline for turning in the album had passed two years earlier.

"I really thought I could get him to deliver the record," said Mr. Zutaut, who spent nine months trying. "And we got close."

He is speaking in relative terms. Mr. Zutaut is but one of a long series of executives and producers brought in over the years to try to conjure up the maddeningly elusive album - to cajole the reclusive rock star into composing, singing, recording, even just showing up. Like everyone else who had tried, or has tried since, Mr. Zutaut came away empty-handed.
end quote



There's another thing I'd like to point out about the unfair way the NY Times posted Mr. Zutaut's letter. ?There were three other letters posted. ?Two were about an article on the Friars Club Roast and the other was about an article on Cinema Studies Degrees. ?For one of the 'Friars' letters, the NY Times noted that "The writer is dean of the Friars Club" and on the 'Cinema Studies' letter, the NY Times noted that "The writer is an assistant professor of cinema studies at Southern Illinois University." ?The NY Times failed to note who Tom Zutaut is in relation to GNR and the article they had published. ?

Gypsy,

on BTM, Tom didn't speak too highly of Axl and yet, he didn't refute anything he said there.

[GypsySoul]

Gypsy,

on BTM, Tom didn't speak too highly of Axl and yet, he didn't refute anything he said there.

IMO, Zutaut didn't refute anything he was quoted as saying in this article either.? I believe in this letter he was just clarifying his opinion of Axl.

[jarmo]

However, I think the above nonsense from Merck is so far from the truth it's ridiculous. ?Over the years
Axl has proved time and again that he cares what the press thinks of him. ?His skin is beyond thin and
his sensitivity towards critisism is undeniable.

Not to make this into a thread about Merck's letter since we already have that, but I posted the whole sentence since they both mentioned the money issue.

Being criticized and unfairly criticized are two different things.



/jarmo

[dolphin]

Well, I respect your opinion. ?But I think Mr. Zutaut is sucking up. ?His credibility is shot to me because he sold Axl out on BTM. ?

I forgot exactly how he worded what he said about Axl on BTM, but everyone on there put him down.

Mr. Zutaut lives in the past anyway. ?Read the last sentence of his letter. ?

I think what Merck says is the real deal. ?He is the manager of GNR. ?Zutaut was important. ?Maybe Zutaut heard CD and realized it will blow everything away and he is sorry for selling Axl out on BTM now and is trying to make himself look good again in Axl's eyes.

[jarmo]

Well, I respect your opinion. ?But I think Mr. Zutaut is sucking up. ?His credibility is shot to me because he sold Axl out on BTM. ?

I forgot exactly how he worded what he said about Axl on BTM, but everyone on there put him down.

I don't know how they make those shows, but it's possible they just used parts of the interview they did with him....



/jarmo

[Falcon]

Being criticized and unfairly criticized are two different things.


/jarmo

Agreed. ?

That said, I still think Merck's comment was ill advised being that it's just not true, while Tom's comments seemed much more heartfelt than Merck's "yes man' speak about Axl's disregard for all things media.

[dolphin]

Well, I respect your opinion. ?But I think Mr. Zutaut is sucking up. ?His credibility is shot to me because he sold Axl out on BTM. ?

I forgot exactly how he worded what he said about Axl on BTM, but everyone on there put him down.

I don't know how they make those shows, but it's possible they just used parts of the interview they did with him....



/jarmo

Well, whether they used interview parts or not, Tom still put Axl down.  He should have not said anything if he really respected Axl and let the music do the talking like Axl says it will someday.

[Bad_Apple]

Well, I respect your opinion. ?But I think Mr. Zutaut is sucking up. ?His credibility is shot to me because he sold Axl out on BTM. ?

I forgot exactly how he worded what he said about Axl on BTM, but everyone on there put him down.

I don't know how they make those shows, but it's possible they just used parts of the interview they did with him....



/jarmo

Well, whether they used interview parts or not, Tom still put Axl down.? He should have not said anything if he really respected Axl and let the music do the talking like Axl says it will someday.

if someone really respects someone, it doesn't mean that they will only paint a perfect picture of that person. Everyone has flaws.  You have to think about it this way; Tom had a close relationship w/ Axl; they worked very closeley together to create art.  Now, compare it it you and say, a friend you really like, but you still have a few negative things to say about them, right? Tom respects Axl as an artist, and perhaps as an individual, but he probably sees him as too much of a perfectionist.  Nothing is black and white--people and thier view on others are complex, obviously.  I personally don't think Tom dissed Axl in any way.  He just gave his perspective on the guy.  I think this letter to the newspaper is a positive move bc it shows that Axl has many supporters--whether associates or fans.  However, as fans, we have to take things w/ a grain of salt.  Things are sometimes taken out of context or edited very sneekly to fit the authors' agenda to make an interesting read. 

[coldenim]

I think it's cool and kinda weird that some people want to stand up for Axl all of a sudden in a public way it makes me wonder if they don't know somthing and they know it's on the way and want to get on Axl's good side before the ride starts.

Hah, I liked what you said, it is weird all of the sudden Zutaut wants to jump on board the gravy train.  Axl has got something real good, and all the people that felt like they have gotten screwed in the past because they wanted what they wanted when they wanted it, But uncle Axl wasnt haven it.  He does things his way and in his time, but to think that Zutaut is congradulating him now, for having the balls that he wishes he could have have, is a shisty thing to do.  I believe Axl his shurely winning this round, and the higher ups are doing exactly that, trying to promote themselves up to Axl's level by putting out there dirty corruptible little hands out to Axl, saying thank you for being you, thank you for not listening to us ass clowns.  Thank you............Well I would think Axl just laughs, and he is not going to forgive and forget.  If you talk about Axl, Ive heard he could give to shits about you after the fact........but thanks for being a good PR guy, and yeah jump on the bandwagon, cause axl is in it for the long haul,  Mr. Zutaut needs to quit living in the past like adler is, as much as I love em, hes through and saying some good words for Axl is not going to bring him back into the fold.

[killingvector]

Well, I respect your opinion.  But I think Mr. Zutaut is sucking up.  His credibility is shot to me because he sold Axl out on BTM. 

I forgot exactly how he worded what he said about Axl on BTM, but everyone on there put him down.

Mr. Zutaut lives in the past anyway.  Read the last sentence of his letter. 

I think what Merck says is the real deal.  He is the manager of GNR.  Zutaut was important.  Maybe Zutaut heard CD and realized it will blow everything away and he is sorry for selling Axl out on BTM now and is trying to make himself look good again in Axl's eyes.

so is it possible for anyone to publicly say something positive about axl without being labeled a suck up or a 'yes man'. Seriously, the skepticism and negativity from some people here is ludicrously defended.

[dolphin]

KV, yes, it's possible to say positive things about Axl.? Mr. Zutaut, for him to say something positive now, doesn't matter because he was also so quick to jump on the BTM bandwagon and put Axl down just as quick.? He should have just kept silent.  Tom is clearly looking for Axl to let him back in the loop because he must realize the impact Axl is about to make in releasing CD.

Mack10, your post is 100% correct

[Judge Dredd]

Is this the same Tom Zutuat who has been quoted as saying:-

"Axl didn't strike me as being particularly savvy or into his career. He was more like a wild animal from the African jungle."

[the dirt]

Is this the same Tom Zutuat who has been quoted as saying:-

"Axl didn't strike me as being particularly savvy or into his career. He was more like a wild animal from the African jungle."

I think here he was referring to the very early days.

[ppbebe]

Thanks for typing that out Gypsy.

Axl Rose was one of the only artists I ever worked with who was never motivated by money.
- Tom Zutaut

.... or what the New York Times or any other paper for that matter might think of him.[/i]
- Merck Mercuriadis




/jarmo

However, I think the above nonsense from Merck is so far from the truth it's ridiculous.  Over the years
Axl has proved time and again that he cares what the press thinks of him.  His skin is beyond thin and
his sensitivity towards critisism is undeniable.

How can you condemn that as nonsense and ridiculous?

Who gives a damn about what the press thinks or not think of oneself? It'd be nonsense.
Anyone sensible would care how naive and innocent people are misled by the press.

Merck's comment makes sense.

[killingvector]

KV, yes, it's possible to say positive things about Axl.  Mr. Zutaut, for him to say something positive now, doesn't matter because he was also so quick to jump on the BTM bandwagon and put Axl down just as quick.  He should have just kept silent.  Tom is clearly looking for Axl to let him back in the loop because he must realize the impact Axl is about to make in releasing CD.

Mack10, your post is 100% correct

No, actually it sounds like he is trying to clear the air. Vh1 has always been guilty of taking comments out of context and pasting them wherever the hell they want. I find nothing wrong with his letter or, for that matter, Merck's letter a week or so back.

[Falcon]

How can you condemn that as nonsense and ridiculous?

Because it is, it a false statement regarding Axl's feeling about the press.

Who gives a damn about what the press thinks or not think of oneself?

Axl Rose does, he's proved it over and over , rant after rant.? Hell, he wrote a song about it.
See "Get In The Ring".

Anyone sensible would care how naive and innocent people are misled by the press.

Has anyone ever used Axl Rose and sensible in the same sentence?

I didn't think so.

As I said before, I consider Tom's comments much more objective than Merck's.? He's away from the project and has nothing to gain or lose.

[Sakib]

wot got me the most was the album coming out by spetember. oooh!