Axl says, "...Friends - old and new"

[irgspice]

I was curious and maybe even excited about the rumor of Slash rejoining Guns (at least for a couple of shows even).

But now I'm downright convinced and psyched that this is actually happening!? Could it really be a coincidence that Axl would make a press-release statement in which he explicitly uses the words "friends", "old", and "new"?? He's not in a bubble.? He knows what the latest rumors are about the band.? ? If he wasn't aware of the legions of fans lurking on the web how would he have known they could sell so many tickets?? But this is so in-your-face obvious that he could just be fanning the fire.

The title is also "They're back!!!".  That's also a bit obnoxious.

Press release:

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2006--They're back!!!
Guns N' Roses' 4 warm up shows at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom have sold out in less than 3 minutes.

The 4 shows on the 12, 14, 15 and 17 of May are warm ups for the European leg of the band's forthcoming tour which starts on the 25th of May in Madrid at Juan Carlos Arena.

Axl Rose commented, "New York has always been so great to Guns and myself. The response to our last show at Madison Square Garden was nothing short of amazing. I've spent the last couple of months here in New York. I've had a great time, met a lot of great people and the band and I are excited that we get to play New York City and play for the friends - both old and new - that we've made before we head to Europe."

The band are playing a mixture of headline Festival appearances including Rock In Rio in Portugal, Download at the UK's famed Castle Donington, Rock Am Ring in Germany, Gods Of Metal in Italy, Novarock in Austria, Graspop in Belgium, Roskilde in Denmark, and A Heavy Day In The Park in Holland as well as their own headlining indoor shows in Madrid, Budapest, Prague, Warsaw, Paris, Zurich, Stockholm, Oslo, and Helsinki, most of which have been instant sellouts.

Following their strongest ticket sales for the event ever Download promoter Stuart Galbraith of Live Nation enthused, "The comeback of GN'R into the UK live market place has been quite phenomenal. GN'R along with Metallica and Tool will be headlining the biggest Download festival ever at Donington that for the first time in its history will sell out and in addition will also play to a sell out audience at Download Dublin - it's been a very long wait but it's certainly been worth it - GN'R are back!"

Guns N' Roses have sold over 65,000 tickets in Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki in just a couple of hours. Promoter Thomas Johannson of Live Nation commented, "Guns N' Roses, the cornerstones of Rock, will forever and ever do sell outs."

New York promoter Randi Henner at Live Nation commented, "GN'R is as hot a ticket in NYC as anything I have seen in recent memory. It blew out in 3 minutes."

As part of the European tour, Guns N' Roses will also be reunited with the Rolling Stones for two special shows in Germany. Guns N' Roses will be the Stones' special guests on the 10th of July in Nurnburg and the 12th of July in Leipzig. They last played together in 1989 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Additional dates will be announced in due course.
   
 
Source(s): http://www.businesswire.com/ 

[illusionone]

I don't think Slash will be there.  I would guess Izzy before Slash - but my gut tells me neother will be there

[EccoTides]

Um... He says play FOR the friends, not with. As in old and new fans.

[gnr_12]

I've spent the last couple of months here in New York. I've had a great time, met a lot of great people and the band and I are excited that we get to play New York City and play for the friends - both old and new - that we've made before we head to Europe."

play for friends old and new. not join friends old and new.
read it.

[bigcash2002]

It's a nice thought.  However, the way I read this...Axl is referring to friends "old and new" to the fans, not band members.  He is saying he will be playing for new and old gunners.
Plus, even if he was referring to band members...new could be the guitarist and old could be dizzy.  no need to speculate on slash and Izzy after reading this news

[irgspice]

I realize he used "for" not "with".  However, I think this is just awkward use of the language.  You have to admit that he's used some odd wording in other press releases and in interviews.  He could be overly polite and suggestive in this statement to intimate that they are doing it not only for the fans but also for themselves.

[RebelRose89]

would Buckethead be considered a new or old friend?

i'd expect him before any of the original members to return

[irgspice]

It's a nice thought.? However, the way I read this...Axl is referring to friends "old and new" to the fans, not band members.? He is saying he will be playing for new and old gunners.
Plus, even if he was referring to band members...new could be the guitarist and old could be dizzy.? no need to speculate on slash and Izzy after reading this news

It's definitely one of those situations where we think for the best, but deep down inside know that it's just some new guy and Dizzy.   

[tHeElEcTrIcSiNtAr]

Can we just stop speculating about a reunion. Its really getting annoying. How many times to people have to deny it for people to get it through their head. The only old member I can even imagine coming back right now is Izzy and thats because he and Axl have become friends again. Other than that, I think its all bullshit.

But here's my predicition, I say Izzy makes a guest appearance for one or two songs at the New York shows. Just a guess, not saying its gonna happen, but thats the only thing I think is actually possible.

[Mr. Dick Purple]

I would say that even if he said for not with, there's a little intrigue in all this, wouldn't it be great to at least slash, duff, matt watch the show? also the appereance of steven would be cool I know Im dreaming but hey think about it might be an invitation

[irgspice]

Can we just stop speculating about a reunion. Its really getting annoying. How many times to people have to deny it for people to get it through their head. The only old member I can even imagine coming back right now is Izzy and thats because he and Axl have become friends again. Other than that, I think its all bullshit.

But here's my predicition, I say Izzy makes a guest appearance for one or two songs at the New York shows. Just a guess, not saying its gonna happen, but thats the only thing I think is actually possible.

Axl and Izzy are friends again? ?They had one dinner with a management chaperone and now they're friends again? ?What about Slash visiting Axl's house in the middle of the night? ?I'd say that's more of an intimate friend thing than business. ?What about Axl randomly running into Matt Sorum at a club in NYC and then giving him a ride back to his hotel? ?Are they friends again?

[tHeElEcTrIcSiNtAr]

Can we just stop speculating about a reunion. Its really getting annoying. How many times to people have to deny it for people to get it through their head. The only old member I can even imagine coming back right now is Izzy and thats because he and Axl have become friends again. Other than that, I think its all bullshit.

But here's my predicition, I say Izzy makes a guest appearance for one or two songs at the New York shows. Just a guess, not saying its gonna happen, but thats the only thing I think is actually possible.

Axl and Izzy are friends again?  They had one dinner with a management chaperone and now they're friends again?  What about Slash visiting Axl's house in the middle of the night?  I'd say that's more of an intimate friend thing than business.  What about Axl randomly running into Matt Sorum at a club in NYC and then giving him a ride back to his hotel?  Are they friends again?

Actually, Axl and Izzy have been talking at least since January, so its pretty safe to say they are friends again. Plus it wasnt just for any old reason, it was for Izzy's birthday. Its not just like running in to Matt Sorum at a club. They actually have some sort of relationship.

[Sterlingdog]

Maybe he was referring to the message board members because he is a regular poster here.   

[BluesGNR]

Maybe he was referring to the message board members because he is a regular poster here.? ?

I don't think he's a regular poster.. haha.. but I bet he meant with the new and old fans.  It would seem most logical without speculating for hours upon hours.

[Eva GnRAxlRosette]

Maybe he was referring to the message board members because he is a regular poster here.? ?

I don't think he's a regular poster.. haha.. but I bet he meant with the new and old fans.? It would seem most logical without speculating for hours upon hours.

since when has logic prevented hours and hours of speculation? 

[BluesGNR]

Maybe he was referring to the message board members because he is a regular poster here.? ?

I don't think he's a regular poster.. haha.. but I bet he meant with the new and old fans.? It would seem most logical without speculating for hours upon hours.

since when has logic prevented hours and hours of speculation??

Haha..point taken.  I was more or less referring to the rumor of a reunion.

[Super-Ecwfan1]

            I'd like to see Slash,Izzy and Axl back again. But thats not gonna happen and it would literally blow the house out. I do think we should just accept the past for what it is and move ahead. This is the New Band's time.

[jmrgnr]

"They last played together in 1989 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum." ?This is what intrigues me the most .

[1987]

"They last played together in 1989 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum."  This is what intrigues me the most .

i think this is refering to the stones and gnr playing together again...  i know its not going to happen... BUT..... i'm hoping for some sort of reunion on may 12th.. izzy kinda makes sense.. they need another guitgarist.. and he plays the guitar..  so i don't see any reason.. why he wouldn't be the 3rd guitarist. 

[Crowebar]

It'll be cool if Izzy is back with Axl

I think that would make the most sense

Izzy wrote most of their best tunes