NewGNRnOldGNR Interviews Guns N' Roses' Richard Fortus.

[Chinese Monopoly]

After the interview with Guns N' Roses' Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, I decided to contact Guns N' Roses' Richard Fortus to conduct a similiar interview. Thankfully, Richard accepted, and I am grateful for that.

1. First off Richard, who would you consider to be your biggest musical influences?
I think this is pretty impossible to pinpoint.  Certainly the art rock era of Yes, King Krimson, early Genesis, Roxy Music, Soft Machine.  Then also bands like the MC5, Stooges, Velvet Underground, moving in to Bowie, T Rex, Iggy, in to the Clash, Ramones, Smiths, Furs, Echo and the Bunnymen, then in to Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, etc

2. How did you enjoy your time on the ?Good Girl Gone Bad? tour with Rihanna in 2007? 
It was definitely a learning experience.  The band was an amazing group of musicians that I learned a lot from.  All very cool people and it was a very different experience.  A very different type of tour for me.

3. Some have noticed that since the last Guns N? Roses tour, you?ve become very muscular, have you been working out much or what?
To be honest, i haven't been working out more than i did before, just started eating more.

4. How was South East Asia, and was there any show that particularly stood out for you?
The Tokyodome show was amazing.  In my opinion, it was by far, the best show of that run.

5. Now that you?ve had the chance to play each song off ?Chinese Democracy? live, which song/songs off the album do you most enjoy playing?
I still love playing Chinese Democracy, but I really like playing Catcher as well.

6. What inspired you to create and perform the ?James Bond Theme??
I did music for the James Bond video game for Activision.  They then asked if I would do the classic Bond theme for Guitar Hero World Tour.  After doing that, it seemed like an obvious choice for a solo piece with Guns.

7. It is evident that the band?s chemistry onstage is fantastic, is it fair to say the band is almost like a family unit when on tour?
That sounds fair.

8. It?s great to see the excellent reviews coming in of the concerts so far, could we be in for the best tour yet?
I hope so, otherwise, what's the point?

9. Winnipeg and Calgary were both a very good start to the Canadian leg of the tour, will there more of the same in store for the rest of the Canadian concerts?
only going to get better

10. Are you using the same equipment from South East Asia, or have you added a few bits and pieces for Canada?
Same gear

11. How did you find the South East Asian fans, and so far what have the Canadian fans been like?
To be honest, i'm much more focused on trying to lose myself in what i'm doing.

12. It must be great to be back on the road with Guns N? Roses, what do you yourself want to take from this tour?
memories

13. Have you got anything to say to the South American fans who are eagerly awaiting your arrival?
I've never been to S. America with Guns.  However, i get so much mail from fans there, it's pretty overwhelming.  Probably 1 out of every 4 emails i get, come from South American fans.  I'm really looking forward to it.

14. Will there be any more surprises in store during this ?Chinese Democracy World Tour?, is there any chance of some unheard material being played?
Are you kidding?  It's Guns n' Roses, of course there will be surprises for ALL of us!

15. How has the atmosphere been on the tour bus, has DJ settled in well?
DJ is great guy.  He's a very natural fit.  He's a pleasure to work and play with.

16. Finally Richard, what are your hopes and wishes for 2010?
I'm hoping for Gn'R's inevitable world domination

[The Hinge]

nice work in getting an interview. Some good questions.

[Spirit]

I'm hoping for Gn'R's inevitable world domination

HELL YEAH!!! 

[Gaymo, the Hobbit]

Some questions are rather dull. I would have asked him about the lack of Illusions or some tour stories.

[Giantrobott]

Cool thanks, But come on Richard give us more then one word answers, somethin to work with! 

[CheapJon]

I'm hoping for Gn'R's inevitable world domination

HELL YEAH!!! 

you said it man ellz 2 the yeah!!

[Halo69]

I honestly thought this interview had pointless question but its good to hear from Fortus!

[ppbebe]

GN'R hasn't played in front of South East Asian fans yet i believe.

anyhoo, thanks i like the interview.

I'm hoping for Gn'R's inevitable world domination

HELL YEAH!!! 

you said it man ellz 2 the yeah!!

inevitable is the word. it rhymes with chinese democracy 
GN'R invasion starts now!

[Chinese Monopoly]

I honestly thought this interview had pointless question but its good to hear from Fortus!

What could I have asked then? He can't answer any of the "juicy" questions you're after, just basic things like what I asked.

[EstrangedBrazil]

lol most questions were pointless indeed, but ill go ahead and say this is the worst one:

7. It is evident that the band?s chemistry onstage is fantastic, is it fair to say the band is almost like a family unit when on tour?
That sounds fair.

[coolman78SLASH]

the questions were a lot longer than the answers...

[Chinese Monopoly]

You want me to answer for him then? I asked the questions, Richard answered them, whether they're short or long is irrelevant. I know the questions are basic, but they had to be, otherwise Richard couldn't answer them, what do you want me ask, "When's Chinese Democracy II out"?

[gunns1]

Lighten up guys, the guy put together, for the most part, some really good questions.

If you guys want to send some interviews for the band to get a better response then post them here 

[CheapJon]

You want me to answer for him then? I asked the questions, Richard answered them, whether they're short or small is irrelevant. I know the questions are basic, but they had to be, otherwise Richard couldn't answer them, what do you want me ask, "When's Chinese Democracy II out"?

don't care about the jerks, man.. they think they can do it better but it seems as if they can't get their fingers out their asses to prove it

[axlrosegnr]

You want me to answer for him then? I asked the questions, Richard answered them, whether they're short or long is irrelevant. I know the questions are basic, but they had to be, otherwise Richard couldn't answer them, what do you want me ask, "When's Chinese Democracy II out"?

Thanks for putting in the effort!! I agree, we already know that they won't say anything too revealing, don't worry about them, and thanks!

[ppbebe]

i don't see anything wrong with the questions except for the geographic error. and im rather severe on interviewers.

[GUNNER]

14. Will there be any more surprises in store during this ?Chinese Democracy World Tour?, is there any chance of some unheard material being played?
Are you kidding?  It's Guns n' Roses, of course there will be surprises for ALL of us!

16. Finally Richard, what are your hopes and wishes for 2010?
I'm hoping for Gn'R's inevitable world domination

Surprises and world domination ... what else can we ask? 

[Hatchepsut]

Good interview.

6. What inspired you to create and perform the ?James Bond Theme??
I did music for the James Bond video game for Activision.  They then asked if I would do the classic Bond theme for Guitar Hero World Tour.  After doing that, it seemed like an obvious choice for a solo piece with Guns.

16. Finally Richard, what are your hopes and wishes for 2010?
I'm hoping for Gn'R's inevitable world domination

Me too!   

[helenluna]

I'm hoping for Gn'R's inevitable world domination

HELL YEAH!!! 

Amen Richard!!!

[Funkadelic]

What could I have asked then? He can't answer any of the "juicy" questions you're after, just basic things like what I asked.

I think the questions were quite sufficient. I mean, when you asked him what his hopes and were for 2010 were he could've answered "That we'll release CDII". He didn't, which sucks, but that's his choice and not yours - so kudos and thanks for the interview!