Tommy Stinson On Guns N' Roses 'It's More Of A Collaborative Band'

[FunkyMonkey]

The irreplaceable Tommy Stinson

Rocker's new album stays true to his roots.

By Nick Cristiano

Aug. 12, 2011

When Tommy Stinson puts out his excellent new album, One Man Mutiny, later this month, it will mark only his fifth release - including an EP - since his original band, the legendary Replacements, called it quits two decades ago.

That relative lack of production is understandable. The 44-year-old guitarist and bassist spends a good deal of his time playing with two other bands - Guns 'N Roses and Soul Asylum, the latter of which came out of the same Minneapolis scene as the Replacements.

While the two gigs help pay the bills, Stinson also enjoys them.

"Soul Asylum, I've known those guys since we all went to school together, Dave and I anyway," Stinson says from his home in Hudson, N.Y., referring to Soul Asylum front man Dave Pirner. "They're good guys and we have a good time playing together. That's more a labor of love.

"Guns is a different thing in that it's a bunch of guys that come from all walks of life put together in this musical soup, and it has a whole different thing going on. It's more of a collaborative band thing - when we write, anyway.

"Guns has been nothing but a good gig for me for 12 years now. I started it with no expectations. I didn't think it would last 12 years, but here I am."

As for One Man Mutiny, Stinson says, "I don't ever veer too far from my roots. That's pretty obvious here."

Indeed, the album should put longtime fans in mind of the Replacements at their best - that is, a band whose artistry and influence far exceeded its commercial success. The set contains riff-driven rockers, a couple of tunes with a countryish bent, and quieter moments that recall Replacements leader Paul Westerberg at his most reflective and openhearted. (Westerberg cowrote one number with Stinson, "Match Made in Hell.")

Looking back at the Replacements' legacy 20 years after the band's demise, Stinson, who joined the Mats at age 12, says, "I'm totally proud of it. I've got no regrets about it. We left a good mark. For better or worse, we stuck to our guns for the most part and stayed true to ourselves. I wouldn't go back. It was pretty . . . brutal. But I have fond memories of it. It was a good life."

Unlike his acoustic performance at the North Star Bar in February, his show on Saturday in West Chester will be a plugged-in affair - "a full-band rock extravaganza." (He and the band will also do an in-store appearance Sunday at Main Street Music in Manayunk). But don't expect any Replacements songs.

"It seems kind of foolish for me to get up there and sing some of Paul's songs, even though I played on them, too," Stinson says. "You don't see Keith Richards going out on a solo tour and playing Stones songs other than the ones he sang on."

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/music/127539213.html

[FunkyMonkey]

It's more of a collaborative band thing - when we write, anyway.

There you have it.

[Spirit]

Was there ever any doubt? I mean, if you look at Chinese Democracy it's clearly not an Axl Rose one-man-solo-show. Every member of the band has always taken part in the writing process. 

[FunkyMonkey]

Was there ever any doubt?

Unfortunately on the message boards all the time.

And maybe you haven't been to the ex-gunners section lately.

[Spirit]

Was there ever any doubt?

Unfortunately on the message boards all the time.

And maybe you haven't been to the ex-gunners section lately.

Yeah, saw that now.. 

[jarmo]

Thanks for posting.


No matter how many times the band members say that, certain fans (of what?) choose to ignore it because it just doesn't fit their "honest opinion".





/jarmo

[DeN]

it's obvious that Guns is a collaborative band (and always has been), even if you try hard
to figure the opposite : Axl can't write guitar parts, play drums at a high level, etc...he needs
ideas and talents, after that of course he's the one who has the final word, that's logical,
he's the core of the band.

[HBK]

Excelent, Thanks

 

[FunkyMonkey]

it's obvious that Guns is a collaborative band (and always has been), even if you try hard
to figure the opposite : Axl can't write guitar parts, play drums at a high level, etc...he needs
ideas and talents, after that of course he's the one who has the final word, that's logical,
he's the core of the band.

Really good points.  He draws from everyone in the band to make the music that we all enjoy.

[lynn1961]

Ok, yeah - Gilby's words have been voted out, then.   

In small print and mumbling, if I could do it here....(is there a small print option thing that I've missed?) "although, you know, he was a legitimate member of the band at one time...although, ok, 20 yrs ago, but he still probably knows more about (print getting smaller) that band than what any of us really knows in this lifetime."  Just sayin'.  No argument invited at all, just sayin'...... 

He has a legitimate opinion too, as well as does Stinson, cause they were there at different times - and we weren't. Only they know based upon their own experiences. 

[Ali]

Ok, yeah - Gilby's words have been voted out, then.   

In small print and mumbling, if I could do it here....(is there a small print option thing that I've missed?) "although, you know, he was a legitimate member of the band at one time...although, ok, 20 yrs ago, but he still probably knows more about (print getting smaller) that band than what any of us really knows in this lifetime."  Just sayin'.  No argument invited at all, just sayin'...... 

He has a legitimate opinion too, as well as does Stinson, cause they were there at different times - and we weren't. Only they know based upon their own experiences. 

Like you said, Gilby was in the band 20 years ago.  He is not in the current band like Tommy Stinson.  Therefore, Gilby does not have a legitimate or informed opinion as to how the NEW band operates, whereas Tommy - being a member of the band - very much does.

Ali

[FunkyMonkey]

In small print and mumbling, if I could do it here....(is there a small print option thing that I've missed?) "although, you know, he was a legitimate member of the band at one time...although, ok, 20 yrs ago, but he still probably knows more about (print getting smaller) that band than what any of us really knows in this lifetime."  Just sayin'.  No argument invited at all, just sayin'...... 

He has a legitimate opinion too, as well as does Stinson, cause they were there at different times - and we weren't. Only they know based upon their own experiences.
 

Gilby is obviously entitled to his opinion.  But if I have this straight, Gilby was in the band for 2 1/2 years, and only worked on the Spaghetti Incident.  Tommy's been in the band for 13 years and helped put out Chinese Democracy.

One holds more weight for me.  Just sayin'.

[HBK]

In small print and mumbling, if I could do it here....(is there a small print option thing that I've missed?) "although, you know, he was a legitimate member of the band at one time...although, ok, 20 yrs ago, but he still probably knows more about (print getting smaller) that band than what any of us really knows in this lifetime."  Just sayin'.  No argument invited at all, just sayin'...... 

He has a legitimate opinion too, as well as does Stinson, cause they were there at different times - and we weren't. Only they know based upon their own experiences.
 

Gilby is obviously entitled to his opinion.  But if I have this straight, Gilby was in the band for 2 1/2 years, and only worked on the Spaghetti Incident.  Tommy's been in the band for 13 years and helped put out Chinese Democracy.

One holds more weight for me.  Just sayin'.

Songs From GILBY -> 
Songs From Tommy -> 

No Comments

[Stoned_In_L.A.]

it's obvious that Guns is a collaborative band (and always has been), even if you try hard
to figure the opposite : Axl can't write guitar parts, play drums at a high level, etc...he needs
ideas and talents, after that of course he's the one who has the final word, that's logical,
he's the core of the band.

Agreed.

Obviously, Axl is dependent on other musicians for various instrumentation.

In this sense, Guns would be considered a collaborative band, however; I think this interview does very little to discredit anything that may have been said to the contrary in the past.

Collaborate and final say aren't one in the same.

[Spirit]

it's obvious that Guns is a collaborative band (and always has been), even if you try hard
to figure the opposite : Axl can't write guitar parts, play drums at a high level, etc...he needs
ideas and talents, after that of course he's the one who has the final word, that's logical,
he's the core of the band.

Agreed.

Obviously, Axl is dependent on other musicians for various instrumentation.

In this sense, Guns would be considered a collaborative band, however; I think this interview does very little to discredit anything that may have been said to the contrary in the past.

Collaborate and final say aren't one in the same.

I'm not sure what you're refering to being said in the past? That Axl tells them how the song should go, and the band writes from that template?

This is Chris Pitman telling the story behind If The World... (thanks to Waldorf for finding it)


Q- Concerning songwriting: As the rumors go, you wrote the guitar
parts for 'If The World', the new Guns track that appears in Ridley
Scott's movie "Body Of Lies". Is that true? What was the recording
like and how did you get the idea?

CP- Like a lot of things i write, it started with my old 12 string
guitar that sits by my couch. i bought it years ago at a pawn shop
for $50, and have never changed the strings on it. That way is has a
very bass heavy sound. And I just started
this riff that suggested a cool vocal. Being weird that I am, i
recorded that straight into a drum machine sampler, MPC2000, and
manipulated the riff till it sounded almost mechanical. Then I wrote
the Drums with a kind of
Dub/Reggae beat, where i swing the 2 and the 4 beat real heavily.
Afterwards i went into my studio and added Strings, Piano, Bass,
Echo Guitar, Synth and Sub. This all took about 2 hours to write the
arrangement. I then gave those Tracks to Axl,
and he did likewise, laid down the vocals himself in one night.
When I heard what he had done with it, I was completely blown away,
just floored by it.
I had never heard a song like that before or since. We later
added guitar solo's for more flavoring.

[Spirit]

And as for 'Axl has the final say'..

Wasn't it Tommy and Robin who voted for This I Love to make the disc? Axl actually didn't want it on there originally.


Anyway... In some way I can understand Axl having more of a say to which songs they will use, he is after all the sole original member. The burden of the GN'R name weighs on his shoulders, and it's ultimately his responsibilty to bring the band forward - he is, afterall, the frontman of the band.

But that doesn't stop this band from being creative and write songs together. I very much doubt there's a single song on Chinese Democracy that, of all the band members, only Axl think is good enough.

[Stoned_In_L.A.]

it's obvious that Guns is a collaborative band (and always has been), even if you try hard
to figure the opposite : Axl can't write guitar parts, play drums at a high level, etc...he needs
ideas and talents, after that of course he's the one who has the final word, that's logical,
he's the core of the band.

Agreed.

Obviously, Axl is dependent on other musicians for various instrumentation.

In this sense, Guns would be considered a collaborative band, however; I think this interview does very little to discredit anything that may have been said to the contrary in the past.

Collaborate and final say aren't one in the same.

I'm not sure what you're refering to being said in the past? That Axl tells them how the song should go, and the band writes from that template?

If you re-read the first few posts in this thread, some are attempting to suggest that this interview with Tommy somehow disproves recent comments by Gilby.

The reality is, Tommy saying the band is "collaborative" does nothing to dispute what was said by Gilby.

Each musician commented about two separate things entirely.

It seems as if some here are trying to associate the two in an attempt to discredit or disprove the comments made by one.

[wight gunner]

And as for 'Axl has the final say'..

Wasn't it Tommy and Robin who voted for This I Love to make the disc? Axl actually didn't want it on there originally.


Anyway... In some way I can understand Axl having more of a say to which songs they will use, he is after all the sole original member. The burden of the GN'R name weighs on his shoulders, and it's ultimately his responsibilty to bring the band forward - he is, afterall, the frontman of the band.

But that doesn't stop this band from being creative and write songs together. I very much doubt there's a single song on Chinese Democracy that, of all the band members, only Axl think is good enough.

I think the weight of CD rather than G'nf R was a heavier deal for Axl,  a band evolving with new musicians applies to many bands, the folklore of CD actually was the $64,000 question. It became a symbol of ridicule when something in media land alluded to be taking for ever.  Funny that you don't hear those quotes now eh...

To me, Axl comes across as a person who values his friends more than we will every know. I have always believed that, whilst he doesn't suffer fools, he does allow (in want of a better word, maybe "doesn't judge") those close to him to be themselves and respects what they do.

[Ali]

it's obvious that Guns is a collaborative band (and always has been), even if you try hard
to figure the opposite : Axl can't write guitar parts, play drums at a high level, etc...he needs
ideas and talents, after that of course he's the one who has the final word, that's logical,
he's the core of the band.

Agreed.

Obviously, Axl is dependent on other musicians for various instrumentation.

In this sense, Guns would be considered a collaborative band, however; I think this interview does very little to discredit anything that may have been said to the contrary in the past.

Collaborate and final say aren't one in the same.

I'm not sure what you're refering to being said in the past? That Axl tells them how the song should go, and the band writes from that template?

If you re-read the first few posts in this thread, some are attempting to suggest that this interview with Tommy somehow disproves recent comments by Gilby.

The reality is, Tommy saying the band is "collaborative" does nothing to dispute what was said by Gilby.

Each musician commented about two separate things entirely.

It seems as if some here are trying to associate the two in an attempt to discredit or disprove the comments made by one.

No. Gilby said "contribute" in terms of a future record. Tommy said the band is a collaborative effort when writing. It proves that the band does "contribute" when writing. The problem is that you have some definition of "contribute" that goes beyond the word's basic definition because you believe that must have been what Gilby meant.

Ali

[HBK]

Simply:

Gilby contribute to GN'R -> NOT

Tommy contribute to GN'R -> YES