bumblefoot spends 6 hours a day answering fan mail

[Mattattack]

Even people who don't like Bucket's look have to admit he rips on guitar. I just don't know how you guys can say you prefer Bumble over Bucket, just because he answers your e-mails. I care mostly about how the band sounds live, and the fact is they sounded better with Bucket. Ron's foot guitar and dumpy style isn't exactly shit hot either. At the end of the day the guy is just a touring guitarist who answers your e-mails.

[killingvector]

Even people who don't like Bucket's look have to admit he rips on guitar. I just don't know how you guys can say you prefer Bumble over Bucket, just because he answers your e-mails. I care mostly about how the band sounds live, and the fact is they sounded better with Bucket. Ron's foot guitar and dumpy style isn't exactly shit hot either. At the end of the day the guy is just a touring guitarist who answers your e-mails.

I appreciate Ron accepting the gig but the Bucket version of Guns was more interesting to watch.

That being said, Axl has stepped up in 2006 and blown away my perception of what he was in 2002.

[SWINGTRADER]

Even people who don't like Bucket's look have to admit he rips on guitar. I just don't know how you guys can say you prefer Bumble over Bucket, just because he answers your e-mails. I care mostly about how the band sounds live, and the fact is they sounded better with Bucket. Ron's foot guitar and dumpy style isn't exactly shit hot either. At the end of the day the guy is just a touring guitarist who answers your e-mails.

The band might have sounded better in 02' ?but they were a laughing-stock and Axl looked and sounded like shit. ? The 2006 band is better vocally, ?stage presence wise and they look liek rockers ?now. ? ?You notice how the press is no longer making fun of the band's image anymore. ? All they complain about now is Axl's ?tardiness, too many solos ?and " not being GNR" . ?I don't know how ?some of you wish Buckethead was still in the band?? ? Donnington crowd ?would have thrown chicken ?at buckethead ?and the Slash Chants ?would have been worse. ? Could you imagine Buckethead giving away toys to that Donnington crowd?? ? Buckethead leaving/ or asked to leave ?was the best thing that ever happened to this new band. ?I think we should just stop complaining about the lead guitarists ?, ?nobody will ever replace Slash ?and we have to learn to accept it. ?There is only one guitarist in the worold that is worthy of playing lead for this band ?and he is Slash. ? And since he is never going to return ? I think it is ?best to accept whoever is playing guitar and let the subject die.

[Ali]

Even people who don't like Bucket's look have to admit he rips on guitar. I just don't know how you guys can say you prefer Bumble over Bucket, just because he answers your e-mails. I care mostly about how the band sounds live, and the fact is they sounded better with Bucket. Ron's foot guitar and dumpy style isn't exactly shit hot either. At the end of the day the guy is just a touring guitarist who answers your e-mails.

I do agree that Bucket is a great guitar player and love his playing.  However, he was not the right guy for GN'R.  If he was, he would be there now.  Ron is a better fit for the band's chemistry and mixture of personalities.  We haven't even heard what he could do writing-wise either.  Keep that in my mind.

Ali

[Mattattack]

I believe Bucket just got sick of Axl's procrastination and said fuck it. If Axl had just got on with finishing up the album, right away, after the 2002 tour I believe Bucket would still be around. I still think that since Bucket's parts are going to be on the album that Axl should do whatever it takes to get Bucket back. I really like the new band and it bummed me out that one of its core members is no longer around. Bucket was my favorite member, and a lot of other peoples favorite member of the new band, besides Axl. Ron Thal is just a touring guitar player who has nothing to do with the creation of Chinese Democracy, and I hope he's gone by the time the album drops. With Axl's improved voice and Buckets kick ass playing, this band could sound even better than 2002. Imagine how good TWAT would sound live with Bucket on guitar. Oh well, at least we have a guy who plays a foot guitar and answers e-mails.

[killingvector]

they were a laughing-stock

The band wasn't a laughing stock. Alot of people thought the line up was really cool looking.  I think they were tighter and more interesting as a group.   Axl does look and sound better in 06 though, alot better.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

They weren't tighter.  There was so much space on stage, they would never play near each other....

[supaplex]

I believe Bucket just got sick of Axl's procrastination and said fuck it. If Axl had just got on with finishing up the album, right away, after the 2002 tour I believe Bucket would still be around. I still think that since Bucket's parts are going to be on the album that Axl should do whatever it takes to get Bucket back. I really like the new band and it bummed me out that one of its core members is no longer around. Bucket was my favorite member, and a lot of other peoples favorite member of the new band, besides Axl. Ron Thal is just a touring guitar player who has nothing to do with the creation of Chinese Democracy, and I hope he's gone by the time the album drops. With Axl's improved voice and Buckets kick ass playing, this band could sound even better than 2002. Imagine how good TWAT would sound live with Bucket on guitar. Oh well, at least we have a guy who plays a foot guitar and answers e-mails.

oh.. if bucket was your favourite member that doesn't mean he was everybody else's favourite member too. and slash's parts are still on afd and uyi so maybe axl should bring him back.
i'm sick of the people here that cannot be happy with any kind of line-up. i'm sure if we'd have a reunion there'll be people like who the fuck is slash, get bucket back.
and you think bumble is a fool because he actually interacts with the fans? that's a smart thing to do. he's not rock n' roll. i hope he drinks so much before the shows that he won't be able to play and the show ends because he passed out. maybe that will be rock n' roll for you.

[Ali]

I believe Bucket just got sick of Axl's procrastination and said fuck it. If Axl had just got on with finishing up the album, right away, after the 2002 tour I believe Bucket would still be around. I still think that since Bucket's parts are going to be on the album that Axl should do whatever it takes to get Bucket back. I really like the new band and it bummed me out that one of its core members is no longer around. Bucket was my favorite member, and a lot of other peoples favorite member of the new band, besides Axl. Ron Thal is just a touring guitar player who has nothing to do with the creation of Chinese Democracy, and I hope he's gone by the time the album drops. With Axl's improved voice and Buckets kick ass playing, this band could sound even better than 2002. Imagine how good TWAT would sound live with Bucket on guitar. Oh well, at least we have a guy who plays a foot guitar and answers e-mails.

Ron will not be gone by the time the album drops.  I do not see that happening.  Having seen the band in Vegas with Bucket and in NYC with Ron, I can tell you there is a palpable difference in the cohesiveness of the band now and then.  Huge difference.  Ron also may very well record parts for either the second or third album.  That very well may happen.

As far as the band being tighter with Bucket, there is one crucial thing to keep in mind:  Bucket was not liked at all by either Tommy or Robin.  How tight can the band be with that kind of tension?  That do not have to be best buds, but Tommy seems to despise Bucket.  That would have compromised the ability of the band to play together live at some point.

Also, are you gonna give Ron shit because he plays a foot guitar when Bucket wears an inverted KFC bucket on his head and talks through a hand puppet? Come on, man.

Ali

[Mr.Intensity]

First of all, I think we should respect Ron's wishes and only get in touch with him if we have something important to ask him or unless maybe we met him at a show and wanted to say hello. He probably has been asked the same question hundreds of times. I actually believe he does put in a lot of time answering email and messages, because I never heard of anyone not getting a response from him.

Second of all to say something like "enjoy it while it lasts bumblefoot" is just low man, that's tottaly disrespectful.. you can compare him to Bh and Slash all you want, but don't act like he doesn't belong, what if he didnt sign on to gnr... what would Axl have done then?? Maybe we wouldn't have got the hammerstein shows if it wasn't for Ron, maybe Axl would have delayed the tour/c.d even longer. I think we should all be pretty grateful Ron stepped in so fast.

Finally, I think he is doing a good job at hitting some of Bucketheads solos on the songs, I also think it's cool that he is paying homage to the old gnr and maybe us fans by playing the "dont cry" solo. I think Ron is only going to continue to get better with gnr and he is a very genuine/fan friendly person.

I support Bumblefoot 100%

[metallex78]

How's that for one extreme to another? Axl ignoring us for 6 years and Ron sitting for 6 hours replying to our emails.



In all seriousness though, Ron seems like a really cool guy who is genuinely appreciative of his new fans, and good for him. He's apparently a killer guitarist, so if GN'R helps him get some recognition, more props to him.

[Slipdisc]

Ron's playing is every bit as tight as Bucket's is/was. Is it better or worse? That's just a matter of personal preferences, it's different. Outside the GNR fan community people know that it's absolute BS to claim that Ron isn't up to par with Buckethead, chops-wise. There's a reason why both their names are often mentioned in the same context.

-PEACE-

[WhatIsItMan]

I wasn't into Bumble, until I saw his Syxx/X-Pac impression during 'Better' at Download Festival.  Now I think he rocks!

[mikegiuliana]

man he calls all the fans friends... i think he loves everyone dropping him a line, just not 24-7 gnr related stuff... I think it's cool people saying they loved the shows or congrats on making it, or thanks for taking the time for us...

[sneeks]

I think he's great and I'm glad he is in the band.

[Ines_rocks!]

I've gotta agree with Mattattack.? Bumblefoot just doesn't do anything for me and can't match Bucket's playing.? I wasn't happy to see a freak like Buckethead in the band in 2002 as it takes away from any credibility of replacing Slash, but the guy could flat shred on the guitar and he did the old songs justice.? Bumblefoot's solos have some sort of electronic sound and are sloppy.? Listen to Nightrain from Paris and then go listen to any of the soundboards from 2002 and you'll see Bucket was much better.

Perhaps another idea is just to get rid of the three guitarist idea and let Fortus handle the tougher solos.? Are three guitarists really necessary??

I agree with you. I?ve said this tone of times and I?ll say again... there?s no need for three guitar players! at least when playing the classics... Maybe in the new ones they are needed, dunno, that?s up for axl to see but c?mon I think it?s way too much, three guitar players to do what one could do on hiw own back then (e.g November Rain- each one doing a solo part... quite lame isn?t it). Yet, I think Robin can do it all by himself... 

[Izzy]

from his myspace account:

Hey all!

As ya know, I read and answer every email personally, and always enjoy corresponding with each of ya. Been answering hundreds of emails a day, spending 6 hours a day - that's fine, happy to do it. But all the typing is causing numbness and pain in my hands and is starting to affect my ability to play guitar. I've had this problem in the past as some of ya might know, and I need to back off a bit on typing before the damage gets worse. So please, unless it's really important, or doesn't require a long response on my end, please be gentle with the emails and myspace messages Thanks so much

bbf

talk about great guy!

Dont believe a word of it...

....but, if its true then what a fantastic guy, thats really decent of him

..but he must think we're gullible fools to believe a millionaire spends all day on the net.....

[Mandy.]

..but he must think we're gullible fools to believe a millionaire spends all day on the net.....

He does, actually..........

[madagas]

I HIGHLY doubt he is a millionaire...where exactly did he make his millions? Not even close to a millionaire I bet.

[Luigi]

Bucket WHO?    What a circus that was, the bucket gods are gone and Guns n Roses have evolved.