Kalondner speaks about Axl/GNR

[Scabbie]

From Sp1at news / Classic Rock:

John Kalodner, a former A&R man for Geffen, has spoken about Axl Rose and Guns N'Roses in the this month's edition of Classic Rock.
The excerpt from Classic Rock reads;

Kalodner was also at Geffen during the astonoshing rises of both Guns n'Roses and Nirvana. Of GN'R he says: "When I saw them at Santa Monica Civic for the first time I knew they'd be huge. Nobody could quantify exactly how big, but you know when your singer comes out in a kilt, they know you have balls. Axl could sing and wasn't afraid of anything."

Kalodner is one of only a few people who have met Axl recently: "I saw him in the Sanctuary office a month ago. This guy walked by and says: 'Hello, John'. It was Axl. And he looked great - like Axl The Rock Star again'. He did those last shows and he just wasn't himself any more."

Unfortunately the meeting didn't throw any light on the long running saga of GNR's Chinese Democracy album, and Kalodner remains as uncertain as everyone else over whether it will be released - or even finished. He mentions that the New York Times did a whole article on the making of that album, and says "All of it was true. They did spend all that money, and they've been working on it since I left Geffen - 11 years ago!"

If Kalodner was still at Geffen, does he think money would continue to be shovelled into Chinese Democracy?

"Well, I wasn't their A&R man," he says. "But if we were talking about a Journey or an Aerosmith record, then definitely not. But with someone as unpredictable as Axl, anything's possible. I honestly couldn't speculate."

[nesquick]

"I saw him in the Sanctuary office a month ago. This guy walked by and says: 'Hello, John'. It was Axl. And he looked great - like Axl The Rock Star again'.

That's really cool. Axl is a Rockstar and this is a quality. It's good to know he came back to us.

[makane]

Ye, good thing if hes got rid of hes ridiculouse rapper outfit.

[DemocracyRose]

Well, i think its great, that he was in a Sanctuary office....

[nesquick]

Do you think it means the braids are gone?
Axl the Rockstar again...that's a great news!

[the dirt]

Kalodner remains as uncertain as everyone else over whether it will be released - or even finished.

These days it's not even a question of "when" it'll be coming out, but whether it ever will be or EVER completed.

not good.

[michaelvincent]

I'm surprised no one has tried bringing Kalodner in to work with Axl. He is one hell of an A&R guy, and has worked with some big names. He seems to know how to get a band to get its shit together.

[-Jack-]

Am I the only soul on this lonely planet who thought the braids were cool?   

Its just the botax that made em look bad... his face was... so.. shiney... and.. s-ss-so.. buldgy...  *remembering the vma's*

But still it sounds promising. What did he mean when he said "the last shows changed axl"? I dont get that at all... like... his personality...? his mindset...? his looks? O well... another horrible tease of what we want so bad.

   -jack

[nesquick]

what's an A&R? is it a manager or something like that?

[Falcon]

what's an A&R? is it a manager or something like that?

I believe A&R stands for Aquisition & Retention, they are more or less responsible for signing bands and acting as a liason between the talent and the label thereafter.

EDIT: See Jarmo's post below.

[jarmo]

what's an A&R? is it a manager or something like that?

Artist and repertoire (A&R for short) is a music industry term that refers to the division of a record label that is responsible for scouting and developing talent. The A&R department is the link between the recording artist/act and the record label, and is often required to handle contractural negotiations, find songwriters and record producers for the act, and schedule recording sessions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%2526R



/jarmo

[michaelvincent]

Nevermind, jarmo beat me to it! 

[blasphemer]

People wondering if this album will ever come out? ?If not, why would Axl be hangin out at the sancutary office? ?Think about it. Hes there for a reason.

[GypsySoul]

Am I the only soul on this lonely planet who thought the braids were cool?? ?

No, you're not alone.? I think the braids are cool too.  ?
But most people would agree that you should still be? ? about it since I'm that one agreeing with you.?

AXL THE ROCKSTAR!!!?

[Falcon]

People wondering if this album will ever come out? ?If not, why would Axl be hangin out at the sancutary office? ?Think about it. Hes there for a reason.

Well, Sanctuary did buy the rights to the back catalog as well so there quite possibly may be a multitude of reasons for Axl to be there.

[the dirt]

People wondering if this album will ever come out? ?If not, why would Axl be hangin out at the sancutary office? ?Think about it. Hes there for a reason.

Well, Sanctuary did buy the rights to the back catalog as well so there quite possibly may be a multitude of reasons for Axl to be there.

Maybe just to say hello

[DunkinDave]

Its just the botax that made em look bad... his face was... so.. shiney... and.. s-ss-so.. buldgy...? *remembering the vma's

I don't think he received Botox injections.

You have to understand when we saw him in 2000-2002 he wasn't at his 130 pound coke/heroin weight from the early 1990's. But he weighed less than he did in 1998-ish when he got arrested.

When you lose weight, your face is one of the last parts the fat comes off of.

So assuming Axl doesn't resort to drugs to lose weight, you're never going to see him in the shape he was 15 years ago again.

But like John Kalodner said, he seems to be handling himself better nowadays. He looked/sounded great in 2001 but then gained some weight back before the 2002 tour. Listen to the Boston bootleg - he's out of breath after every song.

His voice is already damaged from years of smoking and abuse - I'd say if he stays healthy he has another 10 years of "passable" performing left in him.

But his shelf life is much shorter than Mick Jagger or Stephen Tyler - I can't see him singing 20 years from now without looking/sounding terrible.

[W. Botaxl Rose]

I don't think he received Botox injections.

This board never ceases to amaze me!!!

I think even Axl himself would get a laugh out of this one.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Posted on: Today at 01:08:50 PMPosted by: DunkinDave

His voice is already damaged from years of smoking and abuse - I'd say if he stays healthy he has another 10 years of "passable" performing left in him.

But his shelf life is much shorter than Mick Jagger or Stephen Tyler - I can't see him singing 20 years from now without looking/sounding terrible.


 ? Okay, it took me 398 posts here at HTGTH to mention my mom, but it's relevant here. ?She saw Elvis in July of 1975, about 2 years before he died at the age of 42. ?Yes, I know, it was alot different seeing that Elvis drugged and ate himself to death...but DunkinDave is right about time being of the essence. ?My mom wasn't a huge Elvis fan, but she was saddened by what she saw. ?By that time all you could do was feel sorry for the guy. ?I never want that to happen to Axl. ?Enough of that...

 ?I'm actually happy to hear that Axl was seen at Sanctuary. ?He can sit on his ass at home to collect checks, or have someone go run errands...for him to be there personally, it means he's needed. ?I think this is great news...and honestly, how f'in cool would that be, walkin' down a hallway, "Hello, Axl4Prez, how's it going?" ?Sweet! ?

Oops, w botaxl rose beat me to it, botaxl is probably right, but who cares?  I thought Axl looked awesome for the VMA's.  I still think an NFL (American football league) tie-in would kick major ass.  The jerseys kicked ass...especially the Minnesota Vikings!!!   

[killingvector]

Its just the botax that made em look bad... his face was... so.. shiney... and.. s-ss-so.. buldgy...  *remembering the vma's

I don't think he received Botox injections.

You have to understand when we saw him in 2000-2002 he wasn't at his 130 pound coke/heroin weight from the early 1990's. But he weighed less than he did in 1998-ish when he got arrested.

When you lose weight, your face is one of the last parts the fat comes off of.

So assuming Axl doesn't resort to drugs to lose weight, you're never going to see him in the shape he was 15 years ago again.

But like John Kalodner said, he seems to be handling himself better nowadays. He looked/sounded great in 2001 but then gained some weight back before the 2002 tour. Listen to the Boston bootleg - he's out of breath after every song.

His voice is already damaged from years of smoking and abuse - I'd say if he stays healthy he has another 10 years of "passable" performing left in him.

But his shelf life is much shorter than Mick Jagger or Stephen Tyler - I can't see him singing 20 years from now without looking/sounding terrible.

Huh? You're an idiot. There almost nothing truthful in your entire post.

Get lost, loser.