The HTGTH FAQ (New members read this first) [updated Mar 4, 2009]

[jarmo]

THE MUSIC:

(For Chinese Democracy info, see post below)

Q: I downloaded a song called Crash Diet. 1) Who is it by 2) Is it real? 3) I thought it was by someone else

It was written by Axl Rose, West Arkeen, Del James and Danny Clark.

Yes, it is real, though it was only recorded as a demo by GN'R. It is believed that West Arkeen plays lead guitar on it, Izzy rhythm, Axl on vocals and Duff on bass. The drums are provided by a drum machine.

It was co-written with Danny Clark from Asphalt Ballet who later went to record it on one of their albums


Q: What unreleased GN'R songs exist?

A: Ain't Goin' Down [Use Your Illusion outtake], Cornchucker [possible GN'R Lies outtake] and Down On The Street [The Stooges cover, possibly recorded for "The Spaghetti Incident?"].

Demo versions of several album tracks exist and some of them don't even feature the full band. Demo versions of Heartbreak Hotel [Elvis Presley cover] and Jumping Jack Flash [The Rolling Stones cover]  feature the full band and remain unreleased.

The following tracks are available on bootlegs, but remain officially unreleased: Bring It Back Home, Crash Diet, Just Another Sunday, Sentimental Movie, Too Much Too Soon


Q: Isn't the version of Knockin' On Heaven's Door on the Days of Thunder soundtrack slightly different than the one on Use Your Illusion II?

A: Yes. It features Axl speaking in the background during the second verse.


Q: I found a song called White Christmas, is that GN'R?

A: No.

Q: Are the songs on Live Like A Suicide really from a real live concert?

A: No, the audience was added later.


Q: Where were the songs on Live Era '87-'93 recorded?

A: Here's an unofficial list:

Disc 1:
01. Nightrain [Possibly Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 01-25-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
02. Mr. Brownstone [London, England 08-31-1991] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell and additional engineering by Paul Gomersall)
03. It's So Easy [Paris, France 06-061992] (Recorded by Mike Clink)
04. Welcome To The Jungle (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
05. Dust N' Bones [New York, 05-16-1991] (Recorded by Mike Clink)
06. My Michelle [London, England 08-31-1991] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell and additional engineering by Paul Gomersall)
07. You're Crazy [Tokyo, Japan 12-10-1988] (Recorded by Mike Clink)
08. Used To Love Her [Tokyo, Japan 12-10-1988] (Recorded by Mike Clink)
09. Patience [1st Half: Mexico 1993 or Paris, France 07-13-1993 - 2nd Half: Paris, France 06-06-1992] (Broad Tape / Live Sound by Dave Kehrer)
10. It's Alright [Possibly Houston, Texas, USA 09-04-1992] (Broad Tape / Live Sound by Dave Kehrer)
11. November Rain [Tokyo, Japan 02-22-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
12. Coma [Omaha, 04-10-1993]

Disc 2:
01. Out Ta Get Me [London, England 06-28-1987]
02. Pretty Tied Up [Tokyo, Japan 02-22-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
03. Yesterdays [Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 01-25-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
04. Move To The City [Tokyo, Japan 02-22-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
05. You Could Be Mine [Tokyo, Japan 02-22-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
06. Rocket Queen [Possibly Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 01-25-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
07. Sweet Child O' Mine [Paris, France 06-06-1992] (Recorded by Mike Clink)
08. Knockin' On Heaven's Door [London, England 04-20-1992] (Recorded by Mike Clink)
09. Don't Cry [Tokyo, Japan 02-22-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
10. Estranged [Tokyo, Japan 02-22-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)
11. Paradise City [Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 01-25-1992] (Recorded by Jim Mitchell)



Q: Who wrote the song 'Dust in the Wind?

A: Todd Rundgren


Q: Who is singing with Axl on the roof in the Don't Cry video?

A: Shannon Hoon.


Q: What movie is the intro to Civil War from?

A: Cool Hand Luke


Q: What's up with the Terminator 3 soundtrack? I heard the guy that's done it is also working with GnR?


A: Marco Beltrami recently was asked to provide orchestral arrangments for the upcoming Guns N' Roses album. The songs were:

Seven
Leave Me Alone
General
Thyme

Marco Beltrami is a movie composer, he has done the scoring for these movies: Scream Trilogy, Resident Evil, Blade 2, The Faculty, Joy Ride, Angel Eyes; he will also be working on Terminator 3. But don't get too excited about GNR being on the Terminator 3 soundtrack. Marco says GNR is not associated with T3 - the work he has done for GNR was for a new album.


Q: What inspired the Use Your Illusion cover art by Mark Kostabi?

A: Raphael's School Of Athens

Raphael's School of Athens depicts the great Greek Philosophers engaging in Socratic elenctic debate at the agora in Athens.


THE VIDEOS/DVDS:


Q: Why is Estranged part 4 of the trilogy? Where's part 3?

A: GN'R never made part 3. Instead they made part 4 which is a new story.


Q: Where can I find GN'R videos?

A: Buy the Welcome To The Videos home video. The You Could Be Mine video isn't on the tape and it hasn't been released anywhere else either. The reason why You Could Be Mine is missing, might be because the video features clips from the Terminator 2 movie.


Q: Where was Paradise City filmed?

A: The concert footage was shot on August 16th, 1988 at Giants Stadium, New Jersey and August 20th, 1988 at Monsters Of Rock at Castle Donington, England.


Q: What GN'R DVDs are there?

A: The Use Your Illusion World Tour - Live In Tokyo Parts I & II as well as Welcome To The Videos have been released on DVD by Geffen.

There's also unofficial DVDs out: Sex N' Drugs N' Rock N' Roll. Since it's unofficial it doesn't feature any GN'R music. The Axl Rose: The Prettiest Star DVD was released in 2005 as well.



THE LIVE SHOWS:


Q: Who was the person introducing the band back on the Use Your Illusion World Tour?

A: Duff's tech Mike Mayhue.


Q: What songs were never played live?

A.

Song                    Album or Soundtrack

Don't Damn Me,  Use Your Illusion I
Get In The Ring,  Use Your Illusin II
Shotgun Blues,  Use Your Illusion II
My World,  Use Your Illusion II
Sympathy For The Devil,  Interview With The Vampire Soundtrack
New Rose,  "The Spaghetti Incident?"
Human Being,  "The Spaghetti Incident?"
Raw Power,  "The Spaghetti Incident?"
Ain't It Fun,  "The Spaghetti Incident?"
Buick Makane,  "The Spaghetti Incident?"
Black Leather,  "The Spaghetti Incident?"
You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory,  "The Spaghetti Incident?"
I Don't Care About You,  "The Spaghetti Incident?"


Q: Where has the band played in the past?

A: As of early September 2006:

Countries they've played in: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, USA, Venezuela

US states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, CT, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV


Q: Who/what is "Harry Carey" (or whatever) that Axl mentions before Estranged in the Tokyo video?

A: Hara-kiri \Ha"ra-ki`ri\, n. [Jap., stomach cutting.] Suicide, by slashing the abdomen, formerly practiced in Japan, and commanded by the government in the cases of disgraced officials; disembowelment; -- also written, but incorrectly, {hari-kari}.


Q: What's the country solo that Buckethead played at Rock in Rio III?

A: Hog Bitch Stomp


THE BAND:

Q: What's Axl's, Slash's, Izzy's etc real name?

A: Axl - William Bruce Rose, Slash - Saul Hudson, Izzy - Jeff Isbell, Duff - Michael McKagan


Q: Who's that goth guy on guitar at Rock In Rio 3?

A: Robin Finck


MERCHANDISE/DOWNLOADS:

Q: Where can I order GN'R videos, merchandise, t-shirts?

A: Try www.gunsnroses.com or online stores like www.amazon.com www.speedy-promotion.de




GN'R & THE INTERNET:

Is gunsnrosesonline.com an official site?

A: No. Gunsnroses.com is the official site and www.myspace.com/gunsnroses is the Myspace address.

Interscope has a GN'R site at www.gnronline.com.





Thanks to: AdZ, GypsySoul, used illusions, John M, GitFuckedUp, MR. BROWNSTONE, the dirt, X-tos

 
 






More coming....



/jarmo

[jarmo]

MISC:

Q: How many albums have GN'R sold?

A: Overall, Guns N' Roses has sold more than 90 million records worldwide according to Geffen Records.

Appetite For Destruction has been certified to have sold more than 18 million copies in the USA.
GN'R Lies has been certified to have sold more than 5 million copies in the USA.
Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II have been certified to have sold more than 7 million copies each in the USA.
"The Spaghetti Incident?" has been certified to have sold more than one million copies in the USA.
Live Era '87-'93 has been certified to have sold more than 500000 copies in the USA.


Q: What does L.A.M.F. stand for (can be found on Duff's amps)?

A: Like A Motherfucker. It's also mentioned in You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory. L.A.M.F is also the title of a Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers album.


Was this site mentioned by Axl? When?

A: He said "'Here today, gone to Belgium for Jarmo!" at the Pukkelpop show on August 24th, 2002.

-

[jarmo]

CHINESE DEMOCRACY RELATED:


Q: I heard Chinese Democracy is going to be releases on (insert date).

A: The US release date is November 23rd, 2008.


Q: Google says Chinese Democracy is expected in (insert month). Is this an official release date?

A: No. Google's description for Gnronline, which includes the "Includes news and information on Chinese Democracy expected (date)" line has been wrong many times.


Q: What new song titles have been confirmed to exist?

A: Better, Catcher In The Rye, Chinese Democracy, I.R.S, If The World, Madagascar, Oh My God, Oklahoma, Prostitute, Riad N' The Bedouins, Scraped, Shackler's Revenge, Silk Worms, Sorry, Street Of Dreams (previously known as The Blues), There Was A Time (also known as Twat), This I Love


Q: I have downloaded a new GN'R track on Kazaa. It's really by GN'R isn't it?

A: The only new track you might find is Oh My God from the End Of Days soundtrack. That's the only new song that's available in a studio version. You can find live versions of the following new songs on various filesharing networks: Chinese Democracy, Madagascar, Oh My God, Rhiad & The Bedouins, Silkworms, The Blues.

Demo versions of Better, Cather In The Rye, IRS and There Was A Time were leaked online in February 2006. Several other tracks have leaked since.



Q: Is GN'R working on a double album / multiple albums?

A: The band has recorded enough songs to release more than one album. Here's what Axl said about it at the show in London, England in 2002:

"There's been some concern. That if we play five or six new songs, then there can't that many more on the album. Au contraire, mon fr?re. We're just playing the songs we're not considering putting out as singles or anything. So, you'll get 18 songs, and about 10 extra tracks. And when that, when the record company feels that has run its course, then you'll get it all over again. By that time, I should be done with the third album. So we'll see if all goes well boys and girls"

On January 13th, 2006 he told RollingStone.com:

"We're working on thirty-two songs, and twenty-six are nearly done"


Q: I heard there's gonna be a bonus disc with Chinese Democracy.

A: Nothing has been confirmed. Read the above quote, it doesn't say how these "extra tracks" are going to be released.


MADAGASCAR quotes:

I'm gonna tell you a story
(FBI Agent Monk (portrayed by Badja Djola), Chapter 35-A Razor Sharp
Confession-1:40:06; Mississippi Burning, 1988; written by Chris Gerolmo)


Stand up for righteousness!
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

What?
(Road Prison 36 Captain (portrayed by Strother Martin), Cool Hand Luke,
1967; written by Donn Pearce)

Stand up for justice!
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

What?
(Road Prison 36 Captain (portrayed by Strother Martin), Cool Hand Luke,
1967; written by Donn Pearce)

Stand up for truth!
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

How can a person grow up with all this around them?
(Detective William Somerset (portrayed by Morgan Freeman), Chapter 19;
Se7en, 1995; written by Andrew Kevin Walker)

You got to call on that something
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

Where does it come from?
(FBI Agent Alan Ward (portrayed by Willem Dafoe), Chapter 6-"where does
it come from, all this hatred?"-00:20:25; Mississippi Burning, 1988;
written by Chris Gerolmo)

That can make a way out of no way
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

All this hatred?
(FBI Agent Alan Ward (portrayed by Willem Dafoe), Chapter 6-"where does
it come from, all this hatred?"-00:20:25; Mississippi Burning, 1988;
written by Chris Gerolmo)

What we've got here is..
(Road Prison 36 Captain (portrayed by Strother Martin), Cool Hand Luke,
1967; written by Donn Pearce)

Fear!
(Detective William Somerset (portrayed by Morgan Freeman), Chapter 19;
Se7en, 1995; written by Andrew Kevin Walker)

That power that can make a way out of now no way
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

Failure to communicate
(Road Prison 36 Captain (portrayed by Strother Martin), Cool Hand Luke,
1967; written by Donn Pearce)

I tell ya I seen the lightning...I've heard the thunder roll!
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

Everybody's acting like we can do anything and it don't matter what we
do. Maybe we gotta be extra careful because maybe it matters more than
we even know..
(Private Eriksson (portrayed by Michael J. Fox), Casualties of War,
1989; written by Daniel Lang)

Sometimes...
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

Hatred isn't somethin' you're born with
(Mrs. Pell (portrayed by Frances McDormand); Chapter 29-Mrs. Pell Gives
the Vital Information-- 1:29:22; Mississippi Burning, 1988; written by
Chris Gerolmo)

I feel discouraged
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

It gets taught
(Mrs. Pell (portrayed by Frances McDormand); Chapter 29-Mrs. Pell Gives
the Vital Information-1:29:22; Mississippi Burning, 1988; written by
Chris Gerolmo)

Sometimes I feel discouraged
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

I felt this fear
(Detective William Somerset (portrayed by Morgan Freeman), Chapter 19
Se7en, 1995; written by Andrew Kevin Walker)

He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone, no never alone,
no never alone!
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

Let's get something straight, alright?
(Agent Rupert Anderson (portrayed by Gene Hackman), Chapter 27-- Ward
and Anderson's Frustration -1:24:58; Mississippi Burning, 1988; written
by Chris Gerolmo)

Promised never to leave me!
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

This whole thing was fucked up
(Agent Rupert Anderson (portrayed by Gene Hackman), Chapter 27-- Ward
and Anderson's Frustration -1:24:58; Mississippi Burning, 1988; written
by Chris Gerolmo)

Never to leave me alone!
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool, (Delivered
at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, on 27
August 1967)

All men betray. All lose heart!
(The Leper / Robert the 16th Earl of Bruce (portrayed by Ian Bannen),
speaking to his son, Robert the 17th Earl of Bruce in a scene concerning
the betrayal Robert the 17th Earl of Bruce committed toward William
Wallace; Chapter 15-Lands of Death-2:13:57; Braveheart, 1995; written by
Randall Wallace)

I don't want to lose heart!...I want to believe
(Robert the 17th Earl of Bruce, (portrayed by Angus McFadyen) responding
to his father (The Leper / Robert the 16th Earl of Bruce)'s nonchalant
attitude toward betrayal; Chapter 15-Lands of Death-2:14:02; Braveheart,
1995; written by Randall Wallace)

Black men and white men
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have A Dream, (Delivered as the keynote
speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on 28 August
1963; written by Julian Bond)

Together at the table of brotherhood!
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have A Dream, (Delivered as the keynote
speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on 28 August
1963; written by Julian Bond)

I have a dream
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have A Dream, (Delivered as the keynote
speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on 28 August
1963; written by Julian Bond)

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty!! WE ARE FREE AT LAST!!
(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have A Dream, (Delivered as the keynote
speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on 28 August
1963; written by Julian Bond)


Samples transcribed by chindem

[jarmo]

Why did Axl keep the name?

From Axl himself:

So let?s start here? the whole Axl wouldn?t go on stage yada yada? is complete and utter crap.

Never happened, all made up, fallacy and fantasy. Not one single solitary thread of truth to it. Had that been the case I would?ve have been cremated years ago legally, could?ve cleaned me out for the name and damages. It's called under duress with extenuating circumstances. In fact the time that was mentioned the attorneys were all in Europe with us dealing with Adler depositions.

Couldn't talk sooner as it could have jeopardized whatever nonsense was going on.

When Guns renegotiated our contract with Geffen I had the bit about the name added in as protection for myself as I had come up with the name and then originally started the band with it. It had more to do with management than the band as our then manager was always tryin? to convince someone they should fire me. As I had stopped speaking with him he sensed his days were numbered and was bending any ear he could along with attempting to sell our renegotiation out for a personal payday from Geffen.

It was added to the contract and everyone signed off on it. It wasn?t hidden in fine print etc as you had to initial the section verifying you had acknowledged it.

Now at that time I didn?t know or think about brand names or corporate value etc. All I knew is that I came in with the name and from day one everyone had agreed to it being mine should we break up and now it was in writing.

I still didn?t grasp any other issues until long after I?d left and formed a new partnership which was only an effort to salvage Guns not steal it.

In my opinion the reality of the shift and the public embarrassment and ridicule by others (which included a lot of not so on the level business types he was associating with at the time) for not contesting the rights to the brand name, were more than Slash could openly face. Also we aren?t lawyers or formally business educated so it was just a matter of all of us being na?ve and doing what we thought was right at the time. Slash was imo being on the up and up in agreeing I had the rights and I wasn?t trying to be some snake in the grass pulling a fast one. The others could?ve cared less.

But when the reality of the breakup hit and the strategy to have me crawl back was put into play Slash had to save face and get business team and public support. Painting me as the one who held a crowd hostage forcing the others to sign over the name worked out pretty well in that regard. I?m the bad guy and Duff, the fans and most importantly himself were the victims. Oh and they had actually made the sacrifice for the crowd, the people, the fans at the show. But again?. IT NEVER HAPPENED.

Media and others ignorantly, wrongly and falsely harped on about it at mine and the fans expense for years and Slash has hoped to use all that to continually sue and have some sort of legal nonsense going on behind the scenes in an effort to reverse things. He wouldn?t have been able to get the support and action on the part of his various team members over the years to do so if the truth were out there especially when the statute of limitations had run out years ago.

Why keep the name? I?m literally the last man standing. Not bragging, not proud. It?s been a fucking nightmare but I didn?t leave Guns and I didn?t drive others out. With Slash it?s been nothing more than pure strategy and saving face while manipulating the public like he used to me. I earned the right to protect my efforts and to be able to take advantage of our contract I?d worked hard for where Slash?s exact words were that he didn?t care. I get that some like a different version or lineup the same way some like a specific team line up or a particular year of a specific car but because you and I are getting played I?m supposed to throw the baby out with the bath water?

I didn?t make a solo record. A solo record would be completely different than this and probably much more instrumental. I made a Guns record with the right people who were the only people who really wanted to help me try, were qualified and capable while enduring the public abuse for years . The songs were chosen by everyone involved. I didn?t want to do This I love in anyway shape or form and Robin and Caram insisted gaining Tommy?s and the others support. There?s been a lot of pressure to go with using my name (all external) but that never felt right to me for this band and the parameters in regard to this music have lots more to do with the mindset of Guns than something else. The instrumental I wrote for End of Days that?s more a solo effort at least presently.

As far as a new name?this is who I am not whatever else someone else thinks of. I don?t see myself as solely Guns but I do see myself as the only one from the past making the effort to take it forward whether anyone approves or not and giving beyond what many would or fight for to do so. The name helped the music more than you could ever know and I?m not talking in regards to studios or budgets I mean it as in being pushed by something and having to get the music to a place where I can find my peace regardless of what anyone says. And that wasn?t fully achieved until the last round of mastering and swapping out a version of a track at the pressing plant that had gotten inadvertently changed at the last minute.

Also the name was what the industry wanted as well and the burden of keeping it was something to endure in order to make the record. After the monies invested by old Geffen (that were decisions made that have worked out for me but I'm on record as having opposed) dropping the name became suicide.

The cost of legal battles has been astronomical but I felt the deal made with Universal was fair for where it is and most things balanced out for both sides.

David Bowie likes Floyd with Barret, many with Waters and those without. And there are those who like all the different lineups. Imo what makes our situation a bit more unique at least in how it?s played out is the ugliness of what really took place. If I?d done what was said then I?d say fuck me too. I also realize this is just one issue in something with upteen however many more so conclusions can?t be formulated off this little bit alone by most which is more than understandable.

That said because someone leaves the shop I started in which I still legally have the rights to the name I started it with? makes up a bunch of nonsense to win public and legal support in an effort to get whatever it is they want at mine and the public?s expense? I don?t feel any reason whatsoever I should have to throw what I?ve not only worked for but fought and suffered for away because some hurt, angry, betrayed, misguided and lied to people with a lynch mob mentality, joined by others who could care less (especially in the media), enjoying the controversy and hate, choose one over the other regardless of what?s right because they want what they want. And you can still prefer then as opposed to now and no one?s arguing your right to do so.

In regard to nuGuns, I get that sometimes it helps to be able to clarify. Personally I call this Guns and the Illusions or previous lineups old Guns.

We can play what we want as far as I?m aware.

It wasn?t so much that it was a good course or that if looking back I could do something differently it?s that for better or worse it was the only course and had I not done this Slash would have succeeded in destroying me publicly much more than he, others or myself have so far and I would have gone bankrupt.

I don?t know where I?d be but there?s clearly no happy ending there and with everything else that had gone on in every other area of my life the devastation isn?t something I feel I would have overcome at least to any real degree publicly. Hopefully I would?ve been able to pick myself up enough to get a job or sing somewhere else but I doubt anything that significant.

The sharing thing is interesting but even with all this time the complications of the red tape and trying to get something out fall on my world to sort and not theirs. They are amazingly supportive and do their best to keep me in up spirits and focused which I had less and less of in Guns way before Sweet Child caught on. If that were to change then that may be something to look at. I hope for us to grow more together as we continue so who knows.

[jarmo]

If I hadn?t secured the rights I don?t know where I?d be and I?d probably call what would then be the current lineup ?Those mother fuckers!!? rofl-lol.gif

The name is something I take great pride in as I feel anyone who?s been a part of it should, the same as other bands or teams etc. The burden when it is such is a nightmare but not as much or as hopeless as I?d imagine without it could have been.

On the what?s the difference? I think I get what you?re asking? I feel it depends on how and in what ways either the formers members are using the association and what the true circumstances regarding why they moved on from both the band and the name that would or could affect the decision to continue on with the name by in this case this lineup and or myself.

As for selling more records it?d be nice to be in a position to possibly do so at some point but that?s never been my base reasoning. I would think it fits into not feeling I shouldn?t be forced to throw away possible opportunities in a hostile attempted takeover. I believe I should fight for Guns in a patriotic sense or sense of loyalty or honor. Not just my vision or direction for Guns as those things can evolve and you can make forward moving positive compromises by what others bring to the table but I mean more as in what principles I feel were important to Guns in regard to an overall commitment to the music.

It helped us get here but most of that was with Universal and the positives of that wore off years ago until recently and after the initial run it?ll be about the music and us. Then it?s about touring and there?s not a question the name?s helped at most everywhere but not so much the states. With that it comes down to the strength or quality of the performance. Having the name kicks your ass every night as it?s not some side project or something u can fuck off in. You don?t deliver u get your ass handed to u. So it makes us work much harder than I feel we would outside of it and it hasn?t been too ugly yet.

I didn?t see lineup changes etc back then I saw it more as a crash and burn, goin? down with the ship. On one hand I knew the band was over before we started touring Illusions but you have hope? but I saw it more like the Titanic sinking than moving on or surviving. And in reality I went the distance with each and every one in Guns to where they felt for whatever reasons they either couldn?t or wouldn?t give what Guns required.

And I?m not talking change of styles or sounds etc. A lot of people bought that crap and me having gone in other directions seems to many to have verified that. Then you have the mind twisting equally as true horseshit in Slash?s book but I have the rehearsal tapes. There?s nothing but Slash based blues rock and he stopped it to both go solo and try to completely take over Guns. I read all this if Axl would?ve put words and melodies on it could?ve? That was denied and I didn?t walk till several months after having 3 to 4 hour phone conversations nearly every day with Slash trying to reach a compromise. I was specifically told no lyrics, no melodies, no changes to anything and to sing what I was told or fuck off.

As to what would possibly make me change the name would be some form of evolving that I don?t feel we?ve reached yet and not in any way consciously trying to at this time. It?s really hard to say. I?d have to feel it was right for me and those involved and whatever we?re doing at that time.

Never thought about that , with the RRHOF. The whole ?mature enough? bit was cute. Not to offend anyone but personally I don?t have an interest and other than inducting Elton don?t quite get what it is exactly and who decides what. It seems to mean more to some than others and more so amongst fans. It?s nice to get recognition and have some form of acceptance but in regards to joining others the price is too high and just not worth it. It?s a ways away and seems a bit presumptuous to be contemplating being inducted now.

About following particular styles yes I do feel there are parameters with Guns as opposed to not being or in Guns. Chinese is imo an evolution not necessarily how each from the past would but how the music and intent could and did. Guns did not have specific lifelong criteria to follow and many of the influences on Appetite were abandoned by the others long before me. In fact Slash hated a good portion of those on Appetite and wasn?t all that into the involvement or association but knew it worked at the time and realized it was the cusp of a wave that was growing. It?s a trip for me to witness as so many of the people he performs with etc he hated then, them, their bands and their music where the others or I were the fans.

I like touring with these guys a lot more than the old band. The beginning was fun but it started going bad our first gig opening for the Cult in Halifax between Slash and I. That?s when the ok I put up with all Axl?s and Izzy?s crap now I?m gonna be the man trip started with him runnin? right out front on the ego ramp for the whole show. It was pretty funny. rolleyes.gif

No one ever talked about or suggested using another name. The guys are really respectful in regard to the old band and I?m not sure if they?ve said a paragraph apiece in all the years towards or about the old band whether I?m talking about whatever or not. But from being with me for so long they know a lot of it?s shit so they get bummed at the endless interviews and nonsense. Personally I?m so proud of them I wouldn?t know how to express it. I can?t see me handing something like this as they have with so much class and maturity especially being shit on publicly to such a degree. ?Hey join my band, bring an umbrella!!?

If I were to leave Guns I could consider giving, selling, shelving or opening a GNR Burger chain with the name!! Ha!! j/k. I?m not so different than the alumni in that there?s generally something going on that makes things suck and when that reaches overflow I want out too but if you didn?t when it?s ugly I think that?d be less normal.

If I went solo which I haven?t I wouldn?t call it Guns.

The name does come from mine and Traci?s as the original inspiration but was something I played with not Traci and Guns was Guns before Traci joined. It was Guns Before I knocked on Izzy?s window. Earlier I had gotten Tracii to use the name Guns (as he had mentioned a girl had called him Mr. Guns sometime) so he?d stop calling his band Persian Rose. So I guess we have the girl to thank.

The other?s having a sense of entitlement to the name isn?t completely off but has more to do with how Slash dealt with things and his particular strategy and I say strategy because that?s what it?s been. But since I managed to hold out that didn?t play out so well for him in regard to the name.

It?s a band name more than a brand name. As Tommy said regarding our struggles to make this happen ?We?re not lettin? what took so much blood and heart get turned to shit and dust.? And I guess you could apply that to current former or whatever.

Slash never had ANY arguments for keeping the name until long after and again I feel that had a lot to do with seedy biz types and him feeling he had to save face.

[jarmo]

Keeping the band name alive was very important. Not out of ego and I don?t know exactly why in the sense of putting into words but I think it has something to do with the global effect it has and how Guns surviving in some way is sometimes inspiring to others around the world and in that there?s a sense of obligation.

I don?t regret keeping the name though I wish more were supportive or at least not as aggressively opposed.

The details are that my attorney shit when I made the move. He was very against it fearing long litigation but even then no one talked about brand names or individual interests in a brand name. I look back and have no idea why. Not my people, not his people, no one.
No one pressured me, everyone was afraid and no one including myself wanted to break up Guns or the relationship. And Bubbles and I talk all the time!

We can ?chat? about the contract and the reasoning another time

The battles were during the breakup. Our people and my individual legal basically forced me to go thru the motions with everything I had to make things work for over 2 years in the sense that if they felt I wasn?t making every effort 110% and with all the sincerity and all above board I wouldn?t have their support which I wanted, couldn?t afford to lose or risk losing. Which led to the trial period where Slash played the key bits of Fall to Pieces but once I showed some interest that was over.

I get the part about reckless but it was more about strategy and underestimating how long I would stick with it.

As far as people knowing me, this is a statement that in light of others decisions that I chose to pursue as Guns N? Roses and what some may feel is a different this or that may seem as if the arguments or disagreements are about the band or the style of music such as blues or influences on earlier Guns has some relevance but imo points more to deeper base elements I wanted to put forth for people in general.

Such as a more positive intent and instead of as self destructive more of healing. There?s all kinds of things to help you die or be more negative. I wanted to try and make as powerful a hard rock album as we could while incorporating beauty and an openness to other forms both traditional and more recent without going religious etc. I didn?t attempt to make a party record or dance record both elements consciously in Appetite. I wasn?t trying to purposefully appeal to the heartland or middle America in those ways (not that I was trying to avoid them or have an issue). But for example Sweet Child wasn?t in any way trying to write a ?hit? mainstream song it was trying to write the best Guns N? Roses Lynard Skynard influenced song we could as tribute and recognition in the tradition of Tuesdays Gone With the Wind or Simple Man etc and at a time when nothing could have seemed more unpopular.

One man forced me to work with others. One man forced me to work with others to survive. And I can?t say what would have happened on different terms. I say yes because it was agreed from day one. U have to realize we were on the street. It wasn?t the first band. Whoever thought of the name kept the name unless he gave it up or moved on. Everyone was always having a new version of whatever their band name was. I wouldn?t have thought of using LA Gunns or any of Slash?s band names. We all knew that we could break up the next week. You had to have that stuff somewhat sorted between each other going in. It was a deal that we made. The issue becomes the value or perceived value now and the fans attachment and or acceptance. Really weren?t things we consciously considered even during the breakup.

I don?t exactly know what Guns N? Roses is but I know it?s my job in the sense of an obligation and I?m good with that.
The name and rights have nothing to do with the breakup. That?s all a created fa?ade a decoy and a smoke screen. Now had what Slash said actually transpired then I?d say of course but in reality, No.

Going into Guns there wasn?t a #2. At that time I was going to make it in a band that started as Guns N? Roses and could evolve but that was the starting point and it was all the way or bust. I knew what I wanted when I knocked on Izzy?s window. I also knew I wanted Slash but we still had differences and Izzy wasn?t down with it.

I wasn?t legally obligated but we probably would have gotten dropped and I would have been driven into bankruptcy.

[jarmo]

Acronyms and Abreviations

AA = Adler's Appetite [band featuring Steven Adler]
AFD = Appetite For Destruction
ALG = Ain't Life Grand [Slash's Snakepit's 2nd album]
BBF = Bumblefoot
BH = Buckethead
CB = Contraband [Velvet Revolver's debut album]
CD = Chinese Democracy
DTJ = Double Talkin' Jive
GNFNRS = Guns N' Fuckin' Roses
GNR, GN'R, G&R = Guns N' Roses [!]
IFOCS, I5OCS = It's Five O'Clock Somewhere [Snakepit's 1st album]
KOHD = Knockin On Heaven's Door
LALD = Live And Let Die
LLAS = Live Like A Suicide
NR = November Rain
OIAM = One In A Million
RIR = Rock In Rio [Festival in Brazil and Europe. GN'R played the festival in 1991 and 2006]
RIR3 = Rock In Rio [Festival in Brazil. GN'R played here in 2001]
SCOM = Sweet Child O' Mine
SIDHY = Since I Don't Have You
TSI, TSI? = "The Spaghetti Incident?" [cover album from 1993]
UYI = Use Your Illusion
VR = Velvet Revolver
WTTJ = Welcome To The Jungle
WTTV = Welcome To The Videos [collection of GN'R music videos]
YATF = You Ain't The First
YCBM = You Could Be Mine