An open letter to Axl Rose from a Guns N' Roses fan.

[Baz Rose]

Dear Axl:

Now that the freak show is over, I just wanna say a few things I'm sure a lot of fans around the world could relate to.
We appreciate your loyalty to the current lineup of the band. A lot of them means creatively much more than some of those "officially inducted" into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (not to disrespect them either) and who made it to that induction ceremony last saturday. People like Paul Tobias, Robin Finck, Brian Mantia, Buckethead and those who are currently into Guns N' Roses have worked very hard to preserve the band's legacy and create much more music. This people deserved to be included on all the process but, obviously, that wasn't the business target.
Also we are thankful for stick to your principles and not allow those nasty big shot money-makers that have been trying for so long to force a reunion between the "Appetite" lineup to fill their pockets, instead of showing a little respect for the current members of the band and stick to the fact that THIS IS GNR and there's nothing left to discuss. Why do we keep wasting time talking about it? Why do we focus on GNR evolution and create a false perception that there is an "old" and a "new" lineup almost coexisting together in a parallel universe? Why don't the media makes the same difference with other bands like Kiss, Megadeth, etc? Why do we, the fans, have to keep feeding this bullshit by discussing this stuff on online forums?
The music business "reunion" wave works on bands that are dead in a way... Guns N' Roses have been alive since 1985 and never stopped making music.
We thank every effort you have made over the years to keep GNR alive and rocking, despite all other people's efforts to accomplish the exact opposite (that including some "inducted" people). Also we thank your inner drive onstage, please keep touring to overwhelm us fans everytime we watch one of GNR shows.
Thanks to Dizzy, Paul, Robin, Bucket, Brain, Chris, Richard, Bumble, Frank and DJ; you guys will always be "inducted" in our heart's Hall of Fame.
Keep rockin', stick to your hearts and minds, and keep giving us your music directly from your souls.

Love,
Sebastian Fuenzalida
Santiago, Chile.
@sfuenzalida

[volcano62]

Dear Axl:

Now that the freak show is over, I just wanna say a few things I'm sure a lot of fans around the world could relate to.
We appreciate your loyalty to the current lineup of the band. A lot of them means creatively much more than some of those "officially inducted" into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (not to disrespect them either) and who made it to that induction ceremony last saturday. People like Paul Tobias, Robin Finck, Brian Mantia, Buckethead and those who are currently into Guns N' Roses have worked very hard to preserve the band's legacy and create much more music. This people deserved to be included on all the process but, obviously, that wasn't the business target.
Also we are thankful for stick to your principles and not allow those nasty big shot money-makers that have been trying for so long to force a reunion between the "Appetite" lineup to fill their pockets, instead of showing a little respect for the current members of the band and stick to the fact that THIS IS GNR and there's nothing left to discuss. Why do we keep wasting time talking about it? Why do we focus on GNR evolution and create a false perception that there is an "old" and a "new" lineup almost coexisting together in a parallel universe? Why don't the media makes the same difference with other bands like Kiss, Megadeth, etc? Why do we, the fans, have to keep feeding this bullshit by discussing this stuff on online forums?
The music business "reunion" wave works on bands that are dead in a way... Guns N' Roses have been alive since 1985 and never stopped making music.
We thank every effort you have made over the years to keep GNR alive and rocking, despite all other people's efforts to accomplish the exact opposite (that including some "inducted" people). Also we thank your inner drive onstage, please keep touring to overwhelm us fans everytime we watch one of GNR shows.
Thanks to Dizzy, Paul, Robin, Bucket, Brain, Chris, Richard, Bumble, Frank and DJ; you guys will always be "inducted" in our heart's Hall of Fame.
Keep rockin', stick to your hearts and minds, and keep giving us your music directly from your souls.

Love,
Sebastian Fuenzalida
Santiago, Chile.
@sfuenzalida

Very nice and you bring up lots of valids points. I hope someone from the GNR camp (THE REAL GNR) understands how us real fans feel.

[3STRANG3D]

Thank you for the letter, at least its a reaction, right?

So I suppose Axl did not stop existing in between releases of Spaghetti Incident/Oh my God track & Chinese Democracy.
Maybe we had to ask from (...) to confirm since he can obviously only talk for himself, just incase anyone has any doubts on the internets (or elsewhere) of the whereabouts of Axl & future plans & achievements...... 

I take pride that they have just released relatively few albums & have created so much 'motherfuckin turbulence'.

Oh btw, I dont think that anyone is into quantum psysics so, no parellel universes, its only a fact: "Its their show, not mine."

[Satapher]

lol You forgot to mention Tommy Stinson hehe
Nice letter btw!

[Baz Rose]

Oops! My bad, sorry Tommy

[FanSince87]

Really?  I understand loving the current lineup.  It's very talented.  But to say that people like Brain, Paul Huge, or Buckethead mean more creatively than some of those officially inducted is just silly.   I just don't understand why so many fans of the current line up (and I am a fan of the current lineup, just saw them twice on the tour) feel the need to justify their love of the current lineup by putting down the classic lineup.   Buckethead is/was a great guitarist.  But to even compare his contributions or creativity to the GnR legacy to those of Slash, Duff, Adler, etc is ridiculous.

[volcano62]

Really?  I understand loving the current lineup.  It's very talented.  But to say that people like Brain, Paul Huge, or Buckethead mean more creatively than some of those officially inducted is just silly.   I just don't understand why so many fans of the current line up (and I am a fan of the current lineup, just saw them twice on the tour) feel the need to justify their love of the current lineup by putting down the classic lineup.   Buckethead is/was a great guitarist.  But to even compare his contributions or creativity to the GnR legacy to those of Slash, Duff, Adler, etc is ridiculous.

Don't use Buckethead in the same sentence as $la$h. Totally different leagues.

[FanSince87]

Really?  I understand loving the current lineup.  It's very talented.  But to say that people like Brain, Paul Huge, or Buckethead mean more creatively than some of those officially inducted is just silly.   I just don't understand why so many fans of the current line up (and I am a fan of the current lineup, just saw them twice on the tour) feel the need to justify their love of the current lineup by putting down the classic lineup.   Buckethead is/was a great guitarist.  But to even compare his contributions or creativity to the GnR legacy to those of Slash, Duff, Adler, etc is ridiculous.

Don't use Buckethead in the same sentence as $la$h. Totally different leagues.

Agree. One has created some of the most enduring riffs ever and was instrumental in GnR's rise and success while the other was a fill in guitarist between Slash and DJ Ashba who, while being technically proficient, has never had any real commercial success. 

[Baz Rose]

If you guys want to go to the extremes by reading this letter, be my guest. Personally I believe that this type of emotions have fed all the nonesense about the old-new lineup comparison.
My perception is simple, Robin Finck is much more relevant creatively into GNR history than Gilby Clarke (present in last saturday's ceremony). Also I dare to say that Brain is, in a way, more valuable to GNR than Matt Sorum (who took a lot of Steven's drum lines for the Illusion albums).
I insist, I don't want to disrespect anyone, but we MUST be objective.

[FanSince87]

If you guys want to go to the extremes by reading this letter, be my guest. Personally I believe that this type of emotions have fed all the nonesense about the old-new lineup comparison.
My perception is simple, Robin Finck is much more relevant creatively into GNR history than Gilby Clarke (present in last saturday's ceremony). Also I dare to say that Brain is, in a way, more valuable to GNR than Matt Sorum (who took a lot of Steven's drum lines for the Illusion albums).
I insist, I don't want to disrespect anyone, but we MUST be objective.

Okay. YOu didn't mention names. You said, more relevant creatively than some of those inducted.  Gilby wasn't inducted so I totally agree Finck is more valuable.  Sorum was present for UYI years and huge tour while Brain most likely took drum lines from Josh Freese - let's not forget him too).  The last 90s, early 00's GnR lineups really were a revolving door.  The current lineup is excellent and hopefully stable for awhile. 

[jarmo]

Brain has song writing credits, Matt Sorum played drums.

Since you wanna stick to facts.



/jarmo

[FanSince87]

He has 2: Shackler's and Sorry.   Interestingly, neither Adler, nor Sorum got credits on either UYI album.  No drummers at all. 

[3STRANG3D]

Brain has song writing credits, Matt Sorum played drums.

Since you wanna stick to facts.

/jarmo

  I almost spat the coffee on the monitor! You are killing me!  

*Currently listening to Killing me softly with his words.

[Baz Rose]

My point exactly, Jarmo.
And about the drumming credits, check the ASCAP website if u want to know how they are registered song by song, after every lawsuit Axl had to face about it, directly from some of the recently "inducted" people...

Hey! There's an idea! We can now compare the lineups as "the inducted GNR" and "The non-inducted GNR". That would easily leave the discussion behind.

[Axl8302]

He has 2: Shackler's and Sorry.   Interestingly, neither Adler, nor Sorum got credits on either UYI album.  No drummers at all. 

That's because drumming isn't "songwriting". Lyrics, melodies and chord progressions are what counts.