AOL Interview With Sebastian Bach: Axl/Chinese Democracy Mention

[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 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.

seb says

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.

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.

yep what song should be on what album and things like that weren't all sorted out I guess.
so maybe it gonna end up being 5 albums.

[FunkyMonkey]

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].

These are my two favorite lines...I think it sounds promising.

[FunkyMonkey]

More from Sebastian on Chinese Democracy 


SEBASTIAN BACH: 'Rock And Roll Should Always Be Fun' - Nov. 30, 2007

Mark Carras of Rock My Monkey recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW vocalist Sebastian Bach.

Rock My Monkey:  Do you have any idea when fans will get to hear you sing on the Chinese Democracy song, ?Sorry??

Sebastian Bach: I think it will be sooner rather than later. I really do, because I?ve heard it. I know Axl was very serious about putting something out before Christmas. He was talking to me about it. He was talking about finishing liner notes. I don?t know what happened. I don?t know why the fuck it didn?t happen. I know it wasn?t him. People like to say ?Why doesn?t Axel put out his record?? I think there?s a lot of business shit that goes on with him. It?s just not as easy. It?s a little more complicated than people think.

http://www.rockmymonkey.com/interviews/07/11/SebastianBach.php

[ppbebe]

lalalalala liner notes? 

[Jaci_Roxx]

The record company should just do whatever Axl wants and when he wants it. They're the ones who are losing money as we speak if they want to be in charge ...or something... It doesn't work like that when you're talking about GnR. 

[CheapJon]

More from Sebastian on Chinese Democracy?


SEBASTIAN BACH: 'Rock And Roll Should Always Be Fun' - Nov. 30, 2007

Mark Carras of Rock My Monkey recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW vocalist Sebastian Bach.

Rock My Monkey:? Do you have any idea when fans will get to hear you sing on the Chinese Democracy song, ?Sorry??

Sebastian Bach: I think it will be sooner rather than later. I really do, because I?ve heard it. I know Axl was very serious about putting something out before Christmas. He was talking to me about it. He was talking about finishing liner notes. I don?t know what happened. I don?t know why the fuck it didn?t happen. I know it wasn?t him. People like to say ?Why doesn?t Axel put out his record?? I think there?s a lot of business shit that goes on with him. It?s just not as easy. It?s a little more complicated than people think.

http://www.rockmymonkey.com/interviews/07/11/SebastianBach.php

before christmas as in december 2006 or 2007?

[SLCPUNK]

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

Yup.

[GNR4L]

There is a reason why we haven't heard from them is cause their focusing on putting the album out and when their ready we will hear a update, release date, ect.  Who knows before they announce it maybe they wanna shoot a music video ? or maybe just surprise us with a single on a radio ( BETTER) its been along wait and I think there is light at the end of the tunnel and its Guns n Roses forthcoming album Chinese Democracy.

[bazgnr]

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.

What exactly could Iovine have said "no" to?  Axl singing on Bas's record?  Iovine can veto Axl making appearances like that?  Am I misinterpreting this?

[slashsbaconpit]

Baz is a solid guy. I really like him. I hope he tours with GNR again, and I hope to hear more records from him as well. Plus, he knows how to say a lot without saying very much at all about CD. Maybe he could run for office? Baz for Governor of California anyone? Nah, it'd take too much time from his singing career.

[Juanjay]

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.

What exactly could Iovine have said "no" to?  Axl singing on Bas's record?  Iovine can veto Axl making appearances like that?  Am I misinterpreting this?

Technically depending on Axl's contract with UMG/Geffen, Jimmy could've said "no". Ever see in liner notes when it says "____________ appears courtesy of _________ records"? Thats usually the reason for it. Especially because Axl's voice would be making another label money where as he still owes Geffen an album.

Jimmy has alot of power in the dealings of that part of UMG, think the only guy with more would be Doug Morris.

[HoldenCaulfield]

I'm not sure I buy the whole money issue. If the record is in the label's hands, why would it make sense to put out AFTER the busiest shopping season ever? I'm sure it's true, but that makes no business sense whatsoever. I'm sure there's conflict because, on one hand, you've got Axl, who obviously wants a very particular kind of release (date, promotion, i dunno?), and you've got the record company who, I would assume, want it out as ASAP. It's all said and done. They're not gonna make any more money on it if they release it in Feb. than they would if they did in Nov. Less, if anything...

[SamBob1]

They're not gonna make any more money on it if they release it in Feb. than they would if they did in Nov. Less, if anything...

Maybe they think that if it's around Valentine's Day, people will start buying the stuff, rofl.

Probably not. I have no idea why the would release it on Feb. I would think Dec. would be nice.

:]

[axe]

Your take on the matter is too straigthforward. It's not about how much it would sell; it's about control. Of course I don't know anything, but at this point it's pretty obvious that Axl wants things in his contract one way and the record company wants them another way. If it's about royalties, about promotion, about putting out more albums after the first one, or whatever, I don't know, but Axl's position in the negotiations is not nearly as strong as it was 15 years ago, and on the other hand, he himself is not in an immediate need to compromise. And the hold-out continues although the material is ready

The situation now is basically not all that different than it was in 1990-91. Axl wanted the Illusions out his way and Geffen had another, more conservative, vision about the release. Back then, though, Axl had all the leverage in the negotiations, and although it delayed the record a bit, ultimately Axl won. But times were really different then, GNR could have "recorded their shopping list and still sold 10 million records".

Not knowing the facts it's hard to tell if Axl's demands now are unreasonable, or if the record company should just back out. Whatever the case is, I really believe that they should. The way things have been going for the past few years, nobody wins, everybody loses. By releasing the record, the company would probably lose (not necessarily money, but power), but the rest of the world would gain at least a small victory. The small part of the music world that waits and/or writes seemingly endless articles about Chinese Democracy and why it's delayed and everything, would finally be able to move on.

The delay is not about music, it's not just about money - it's about power.

[SLCPUNK]

The delay is not about music, it's not just about money - it's about power.

It's a nice write up, but really, how do you know?

[Jaci_Roxx]

lalalalala liner notes??

I'm still laughing at your reaction, it was just so funny! I can imagine you reading and going... lalala... whaaat?