An open letter to the fans from Axl - Discussion

[metallex78]

Great letter from Axl, and it's the very first time we've ever gotten an "official" date rigt down to the day from his mouth aside from the "you will hear music this year" back in January.

I'm curious though, from what Axl has said, does that mean that Chinese Democracy was only handed in completed 3 weeks ago?


Anyway, bring on March 6th 2007!!!

[wells]

Thanks to the band & Axl for the open letter... much appreciated.

[nightrain_jh]

just read the letter. awesone from axl.  all the fans i'm sure appreciate the honesty.  march 6th is down in my diary right now.

axl you are a true superstar.

do we know of any reason this has not been posted on the official gn'r site?

[DemocracyRose]

Great letter. Thanks Axl...

[JimMorrison4]

Wow.. interesting read. I won't hold my breath for March 6 (because, well, you know), but there is some new hope. An official statement from Axl is always appreciated.

I didn't read the whole thread, but if anyone said "CHINESE DEMOCRACY STARTS MARCH 6" should never be allowed to buy, download, or even listen to the album.

[speak_truth]

just got in, can someone refresh me, did he say the album was done? if not then the cd was never really coming out this year, why waste time touring and not setting aside time for a real release.

[monkeychow]

Reading that letter was fantastic and I think such a communication was just what myself and i'm sure many other fans had
longed for.

GNR Foverver! 

And looking forward to march now 

[dodger girl]

I forgot one thing in my original post:

THANK YOU AXL!!

Merry Christmas for you and all GN'R, rock on!!

[SLCPUNK]

just got in, can someone refresh me, did he say the album was done? if not then the cd was never really coming out this year, why waste time touring and not setting aside time for a real release.

Here is a crazy notion.......read the letter.

[The Prez]

Great message from Axl! Finally some offical statements about chinese democracy....
MUCH APPRECIATIONS!

[sami ben tovim]

axl also said "it is this year".....so...
until i have cd in my hand i believe nothing

[crash_diet]

well, it s great we have news form the source - and Axl is definately THE source

from a first read here what i understand:

it seems that there was a problem with management - and when Axl said "maybe Merck did this ?just to sell the North American Tour to promoters", well that made me think that Axl was so pissed off at some point

anyway, i m sure that from now and till the album hits the stores, we will all anlyze the shit out of this letter, we ll discover any kind of conspiracies etc etc, but the bottom line for me is this :

I never thought all these years that Axl was dishonest or a liar - i thought that he was trying to do things in his way and deliver a great album... i sure dont know what legal problems exist or existed in the past - but i m sure that those legal problems was very serious and couldnt be overcomed in short time.... ?Now that we were near the end, some new problems obviously existed concerning the management of the group and the promotion of the album....

we can try and ?find millions of reasons to bash Axl and tell him he could do otherwise in every step of this way, i m sure some of use would so... or we can keep our faith, we can still support this man and his group , GUNS N ROSES, and have a little more patience... Axl proved with this letter he is sincere, he cares for his fans.. ?

cant wait for March....

PS: i hope people wont start to call Merck names etc... maybe he did some things wrong, maybe Axl fired him, but let s not forget that he helped a lot the last few years....

[Rocksteady]

That was really cool from Axl to explains some things to us like that ?

[speak_truth]

just got in, can someone refresh me, did he say the album was done? if not then the cd was never really coming out this year, why waste time touring and not setting aside time for a real release.

Here is a crazy notion.......read the letter.

Yes just read it, but wanted to know if anyone has ask the same questions I did earlier in the thread, reached a conclusion

[Schwarzgold]

axl also said "it is this year".....so...
until i have cd in my hand i believe nothing

And so Axl thought. Geez, that's a business. He thought, everything's in place for a relaease and it wasn't. That's Merck fault, because he's the manager, it was his job and he (seemingly) told the band wrong. And it was Axls fault to believe a bad-working co-worker too long. Absolute normal professional humpty-dumpty. Can happen. Everywhere.

Did stuff like this never happen to you in your job?

It's not like an music album can be pulled out of a musicians ass like a magic banana in no time.

[JimMorrison4]

"In regard to a release date for the album itself certain minor and by that I do mean minor things and or additions as well as contract negotiations need to be completed and barring any unforeseen complications these things have now been adequately scheduled. Both the band and I along with our record company feel that this record deserves the proper setup and promotion not the ?13 Tuesdays left? and ?it may just appear in your record store? approach offered by management. We believe this strategy may have been used in order for management to sell this latest tour to the various promoters." --Axl Rose

By the way, if there's anyone left here who believed the "surprise release date" nonsense and got on me for constantly criticizing the people who were posting "surprise" theories, read the above quote over and over.

[D]

I feel Merck dropped the ball.

He told Rolling STone that shit that got put in the magazine which m ade Axl look bad.? Got everyone's hopes up with the 13 Tuesdays thing which further made Axl look bad.

I dont know this is pure speculation but I always felt Merck was the one responsible for shutting us fans down and that really pissed me off.

So Axl did the right thing, He doesnt need a manager, he can close ranks and do it himself.

I know everyone gets sick of me mentioning Jon Bon Jovi but their managers almost broke the band up and the band would've broke up had Jon not fired them and formed his own management company.

This is what I feel Axl is doing.

He is taking control over his situation and is tired of depending on others.

[Jaci_Roxx]

Thanks Axl for writing a letter to us! You just saved us from a lot of speculation, fighting, rumours and lies.
By the way, that was a smart move (firing Merck). ?

March 6! ?

[anythinggoes]

Not the letter i was expecting but hey never mind roll on 2007 i hope every thing works out

but two questions i hope they can be aasked

1) Why hasnt this been posted on the official site (Actually the time may be a factor thinking about it)

2) who will take over Manager duties and without a manager can the album be released ?

[Ignatius]

This is good news!

This letter not only shows that Axl and Merck were not on the same page regarding the promotion for this album, but the behind-the-scenes legalities have been constanly pushing the release for this record. One day, I hope, we'll get to know more about these "legalities".

I'm happy that Axl has given a release date. Eventhough I don't think it'll be released in March (more likely may, june) but this is the closest we've ever been so far. So another six months is nothing compare to what I've been waiting.

On a sad note, I feel bad for those who had tickets for the Jan. shows...this time though, Axl has saved the day