AOL Interview With Sebastian Bach: Axl/Chinese Democracy Mention

[FunkyMonkey]

Here is some of the interview...

P's & Q's: Sebastian Bach Embraces the Three R's: Rock, Rap and Reality TV

Posted Nov 28th 2007 6:00PM by Steve Baltin

Did you know it would be this big a deal when you got Axl Rose on your record?

Yes [laughs]. I'm a fan, too. I know that I'm friends with [maybe] the greatest rock singer ever. You can honestly maybe say that along with Robert Plant, Rob Halford. But Guns N' Roses is way bigger than Judas Priest will ever be. It's just bigger than that. Axl is bigger than metal, bigger than rock. So of course I knew that and of course I know that everybody, me included, has been waiting over 15 years for the return of him. He's just a different realm of success. So it's mind-blowing that he is on my record, so I understand what you're saying, and yes, I am aware of people's anticipation. People just want to put his voice into their iPod and I'm happy to bring that to you [laughs]. You're welcome is all I can think of saying. You're welcome.

Did you think you'd be able to get him to do this when this first came up?

No. I texted him from LAX [airport] at baggage claim. We text each other all the time -- silly crap, just stupid stuff. He'll be watching TV or talk about a movie or a song or just whatever. And I sang on 'Chinese Democracy,' and so I was just killing time at the baggage claim, goofing off, and I texted him, "When are you going to sing on my record?" And he just texted me back one word: "When?" That was it. I was literally joking around. Because you can be a friend, but to stand up business-wise and create such a stir in the music industry, that's a whole other story. He's done that for me time and time again. We had to play music that we recorded together for Jimmy Iovine, who is the head of Interscope, who has Axl signed, and he loved it when he could've said, "No." So Jimmy knew how important it was to Axl and said yes.

It took seven years for you to get 'Angel Down' out, but here it is. Any chance that might give Axl a push with 'Chinese Democracy'?

That's what the reviews are saying, and I can only hope that is the case. But he's got his own schedule, dude. He's got four albums' worth of material already done. I've heard it, a lot of people have heard it, it's really amazing. I cannot speak for him as to when it's going to come out, and I know he wants it out as bad as everybody else. I've talked to him about it at length and he just wants it to be presented in the proper way to the public.

You've had a chance to join him onstage many times. Will he be returning the favor?

I have no idea. All I know is when he goes back out there there's a good chance we'll be opening for him again. We spent the better part of the last year on he road opening for Guns N' Roses all over the world; America, Europe, just got back from Australia, New Zealand, and I did a bunch of headline dates, too. But we have a good relationship on the road, and I know that when he goes back out we'll probably be doing some more dates together. I'd also like to do some dates with Sixx: A.M., Nikki Sixx's band, because I just read Nikki's book and he talks really nice about me, which he doesn't talk very nice about many people [laughs].

Complete interview here: http://music.aol.com/popeater/2007/11/28/ps-and-qs-sebastian-bach-on-the-three-rs-rock-rap-and-real/

[faldor]

A tour with Sixx A.M. is an interesting idea.  Not sure Baz could fill up venues on his own at this point, but that duo would have a similar audience.  I think it'd be a pretty good match.

[GnR-NOW]

I really hope Bach goes on tour with GNR again.  No one can get the crowd ready like Baz !

[Chief]

thanks for posting, there was a little bit of new stuff in here which was interesting!

[ben9785]

Thanks for posting that.

I don't like to be one of those people analyzing every single interview comment, but based on what Bach said, it seems like Axl has finished the album(/s?) to such an extent that it could be released "at any time"..but i guess the record company is trying to work with Axl (or the other way around?) to decide as to how / what format the album is going to be released, which is a comment I believe Baz made in a previous interview..

[GeorgeSteele]

"he just wants it to be presented in the proper way to the public"

Curious as to what that means exactly.  Perhaps ultimate decision-making authority on all types of promotion by the record company?  Is there any precedent for that?

[ben9785]

"he just wants it to be presented in the proper way to the public"

Curious as to what that means exactly.? Perhaps ultimate decision-making authority on all types of promotion by the record company?? Is there any precedent for that?

thats what i was thinking.. it IS Axl's music, but at the end of the day he isn't releasing it independently.. it's the record company's "album", so all involved have to come to an agreement on how the music and how the album will be "presented" to the public, and i'd imagine everybody involved has something at stake in this decision.. Axl wants the music to be released with integrity and focus only on the music, maintaining credibility, and the record company would want to consider possibilities for promoting/marketing the album to the best possible response from the consumers..

[SLCPUNK]

I don't like to be one of those people analyzing every single interview comment, but based on what Bach said, it seems like Axl has finished the album(/s?) to such an extent that it could be released "at any time"..but i guess the record company is trying to work with Axl (or the other way around?) to decide as to how / what format the album is going to be released, which is a comment I believe Baz made in a previous interview..

I think that pretty much mirrors what Mysteron said.

[downzy56]

It does seem interesting that we are closer than ever to having new material from GNR officially released and yet little to nothing is being said.  Bach's comment, "he just wants it to be presented in the proper way to the public" seems to reveal the more about what's going on than anything we've heard since Del's update in February.  It's too bad we don't know what Axl's 'proper way' is when releasing his opus.  Not to suggest I know a lot about the man personally, but he does strike me as someone who is very private.  This might conflict with any promotional attempts by marketing companies or record labels.  Being the sole original member in the band, he is the brand name behind this album that will drive all publicity.  One wonders how that will work with his propensity to stay under the radar (which I have a lot of respect for). 

Whenever movie stars sign on for certain roles, there's a publicity clause stating that said actor/actress must participate in a certain level of publicity upon the movie's release.  I remember in 2002, when GNR first toured, one very rarely if ever saw Axl doing interviews himself.  More often than not you'd see Dizzy and Tommy doing all the press.  I wonder if this is the kind of dynamic that Axl wants to use with the album release.  If so, it's understandable how a label might not want to help push an album that doesn't have its main star out there as much as possible.  Then again, maybe the man has changed and now quite willing to to participate, hence all the public appearances last year when the release was planned for late last year.

What seems more likely the case is that legal and contractual negotiations are still underway.  If the rumored $15 million production costs are true, then the argument over how much Axl has to pay back could be a big issue.  With album sales at an all time low, Geffen might not feel too confident in recouping their investment and hence are demanding a larger percentage.

What ever is holding up the album now isn't clear.  Yet I'd wager a guess that the motive behind everything at this point in time is money. 


Cheers,

Andrew

[Jaci_Roxx]

I'm really starting to like Baz!  I've never been a big fan of his, but I'm really starting to like him, he sounds like he's not bullsh*tting people like many others do in interviews etc. I like the way he talks. He seems like a truly honest guy.

 

[The_Wretched]

I really hope Bach goes on tour with GNR again.? No one can get the crowd ready like Baz !

i'm not a fan of his solo stuff (i just wanna hear slave to the grind) but you're absolutely right... he was fantastic live. just hope to gawd Papa Roach is not allowed within 1,000 yards from the stage.

[Verasa]

I really hope Bach goes on tour with GNR again.? No one can get the crowd ready like Baz !

i'm not a fan of his solo stuff (i just wanna hear slave to the grind) but you're absolutely right... he was fantastic live. just hope to gawd Papa Roach is not allowed within 1,000 yards from the stage.

this is what scares me about gnr fans...  i think axl was helping out a friend by doing his album and letting bach open the tour. but imho gnr has to move on, let some of these up and coming bands that are blowin up a little bit  bring a crowd to a show.

[PrimaDonna]

I just got a revelation:

I think the word "PRESENTATION" is the key here. How did GnR/Axl present his music back in the day? November Rain, Estranged and Don't cry? Axl's triology?

With the biggest video-production in the history of rock n roll!

I remember when we were hyper a year ago, and we were expecting the album before christmas. Back then there was lots of talk about shooting a video for the first single. "Such a shoot wouldn't go unnoticed", someone said. Perhaps he was right.

From what we know, Axl likes to present his songs as art. You don't fully get it until you have seen the video.

Maybe that's the big issue here: the record company wants a low-profile, cheap-to-make video for the first single, while Axl want's to continue with his over-the-top, yet excellent, story-telling scripts?

Could that be what Bach meant by "presenting it right"? It could well be.

[fuckin crazy]

I'd wager a guess that the motive behind everything at this point in time is money.

If that is the case, then let me just say "goddamn lawyers"; they could screw up a wet dream.

[GypsySoul]

It took seven years for you to get 'Angel Down' out, but here it is. Any chance that might give Axl a push with 'Chinese Democracy'?

That's what the reviews are saying, and I can only hope that is the case. But he's got his own schedule, dude. He's got four albums' worth of material already done. I've heard it, a lot of people have heard it, it's really amazing. I cannot speak for him as to when it's going to come out, and I know he wants it out as bad as everybody else. I've talked to him about it at length and he just wants it to be presented in the proper way to the public.

I think the 'nature of the beast' with interviews like these is that it's basically the same questions n' answers repeated over and over.? But in this particular interview, there's one slight difference from the other interviews I've read.? In this one Baz uses the phrase "four album's worth of material already done" as opposed to the previous comments that seemed to hint that CD might be a multi-album release.? I would think that most artists record a lot more material than will actually make the final cut.

just hope to gawd Papa Roach is not allowed within 1,000 yards from the stage.

IMO, Papa Roach is phenomenal and were the best opening act on the tour!
I guess it's just a matter of your taste in music or maybe you just saw them on an ?off? night.

[jarmo]

I would think that most artists record a lot more material than will actually make the final cut.

Yes, they often do. B-sides and bonus tracks etc.

But not four albums worth.

That's a lot of B-sides if they did.


It's not a secret that Chinese Democracy is probably the first album out of a couple. Axl's even talked about it in the past.




/jarmo

[GypsySoul]

I would think that most artists record a lot more material than will actually make the final cut.

Yes, they often do. B-sides and bonus tracks etc.

But not four albums worth.

That's a lot of B-sides if they did.

I wasn't referring to stuff that would come out as B-sides or bonus tracks.? I meant it more like a lot of stuff that they just sorta try and after they listen to the results they decide that for whatever reason, it isn't anything they would actually release.

[ppbebe]

I would think that most artists record a lot more material than will actually make the final cut.

yea but do they let a lot of people hear the materials that are unlikely to make the final cut?

I think it just means the materials weren't mixed and mastered when he heard them or something like that.

[GypsySoul]

I would think that most artists record a lot more material than will actually make the final cut.

yea but do they let a lot of people hear the materials that are unlikely to make the final cut?

I understand what you're saying but in this case it seems to be only like a handful of peoples outside the band who got to hear that amount of material.

I think it just means the materials weren't mixed and mastered when he heard them or something like that.

Maybe you're right but I was thinking more along the lines of them finding the right song chemistry for one album with eight* guys ... each with such varied musical styles/ backgrounds ... contributing stuff over the years.? There must be a hellava lot of really great material there that isn't "just right" for a GNR album.


*I'm counting BBF/BH n' Brain/Frank as 1 each of the "eight guys" count.

[jarmo]

I think that just like in the past when Don't Cry, You Could Be Mine and November Rain were saved for the next release, some songs are not gonna be on CD.

Sometimes it doesn't even have to do with the song's style not fitting, the song might just not fit the flow of the record.




/jarmo