Bumblefoot doing an Ask Me Anything on Reddit (Fri Dec 27, 2013)

[RnT]

like Robin and Bucket

[faldor]

I think the notion of Axl not wanting to release new music is just as crazy as the notion of Axl actually wanting to releasing new music. There's a grey area in between that none if us, and even the current band members have any idea of.

Axl and the current management of Beta and Fernando only "really" know what's going on I feel. And until we know the facts we can't judge or demand, that's the way this band has operated since 1999 really, like it or not.

obviously we have no idea on their true intentions. But I "think" Axl wanted to release Chinese Democracy and that sure was far from simple. So if he DID want to release another album I'd expect more of the same. And maybe due to the struggles on the business end, it's zapped some of his motivation in the music creation area.

[Ginger King]

I think the notion of Axl not wanting to release new music is just as crazy as the notion of Axl actually wanting to releasing new music. There's a grey area in between that none if us, and even the current band members have any idea of.

Axl and the current management of Beta and Fernando only "really" know what's going on I feel. And until we know the facts we can't judge or demand, that's the way this band has operated since 1999 really, like it or not.

obviously we have no idea on their true intentions. But I "think" Axl wanted to release Chinese Democracy and that sure was far from simple. So if he DID want to release another album I'd expect more of the same. And maybe due to the struggles on the business end, it's zapped some of his motivation in the music creation area.

Perhaps you're right...you'd think that'd be a pretty easy thing to (officially) communicate to the fans, right?  Instead of leaving it up to our (negative, whining, complaining) minds.

[faldor]

I think the notion of Axl not wanting to release new music is just as crazy as the notion of Axl actually wanting to releasing new music. There's a grey area in between that none if us, and even the current band members have any idea of.

Axl and the current management of Beta and Fernando only "really" know what's going on I feel. And until we know the facts we can't judge or demand, that's the way this band has operated since 1999 really, like it or not.

obviously we have no idea on their true intentions. But I "think" Axl wanted to release Chinese Democracy and that sure was far from simple. So if he DID want to release another album I'd expect more of the same. And maybe due to the struggles on the business end, it's zapped some of his motivation in the music creation area.

Perhaps you're right...you'd think that'd be a pretty easy thing to (officially) communicate to the fans, right?  Instead of leaving it up to our (negative, whining, complaining) minds.

it has been hinted at in the past, or just outright stated. But maybe they feel it doesn't benefit them to complain publicly about those they may need to do business with in the future.

[Princess Leia]

I think the notion of Axl not wanting to release new music is just as crazy as the notion of Axl actually wanting to releasing new music. There's a grey area in between that none if us, and even the current band members have any idea of.

Axl and the current management of Beta and Fernando only "really" know what's going on I feel. And until we know the facts we can't judge or demand, that's the way this band has operated since 1999 really, like it or not.

obviously we have no idea on their true intentions. But I "think" Axl wanted to release Chinese Democracy and that sure was far from simple. So if he DID want to release another album I'd expect more of the same. And maybe due to the struggles on the business end, it's zapped some of his motivation in the music creation area.

Perhaps you're right...you'd think that'd be a pretty easy thing to (officially) communicate to the fans, right?  Instead of leaving it up to our (negative, whining, complaining) minds.

Let?s examine this.

Option 1) They officially announce that there will be another album in 2015. Good news! Now they better meet that dealine. I don?t think people want a deja vu of what he had with CD. But what are the odds? Would you bet your house they, in fact, meet that deadline?

Option 2) They offically announce there will be another album. But no mention at all of a particular date. People are gonna get beyond pissed off with this kind of announcement anyway. This is not what people want to hear and they know it.

Option 3) They officially announce that there will never be another album. You gonna get people beyond pissed off, dropping numbers at shows attendance big time, people asking for a reunion, people telling Axl to call it a day

Option 4) They keep this current silence situation. We have hope, there is insterest, there is intringue,mystery, speculation, debate. People would still go to shows hoping to hear a new song, hoping for announcement.

If I was them I take 4. I think this is what they are doing. It?s their plan. How long can they keep this? As long as Axl wants to keep this charade.

In my own personal opinion. Axl must be honest about the album situation. But first he must meditate very carefully about what he wants in the future before officially saying something on the matter. I would respect whatever he decides to do or not to do.

[damnthehaters]

I think the notion of Axl not wanting to release new music is just as crazy as the notion of Axl actually wanting to releasing new music. There's a grey area in between that none if us, and even the current band members have any idea of.

Axl and the current management of Beta and Fernando only "really" know what's going on I feel. And until we know the facts we can't judge or demand, that's the way this band has operated since 1999 really, like it or not.

obviously we have no idea on their true intentions. But I "think" Axl wanted to release Chinese Democracy and that sure was far from simple. So if he DID want to release another album I'd expect more of the same. And maybe due to the struggles on the business end, it's zapped some of his motivation in the music creation area.

Perhaps you're right...you'd think that'd be a pretty easy thing to (officially) communicate to the fans, right?  Instead of leaving it up to our (negative, whining, complaining) minds.

Let?s examine this.

Option 1) They officially announce that there will be another album in 2015. Good news! Now they better meet that dealine. I don?t think people want a deja vu of what he had with CD. But what are the odds? Would you bet your house they, in fact, meet that deadline?

Option 2) They offically announce there will be another album. But no mention at all of a particular date. People are gonna get beyond pissed off with this kind of announcement anyway. This is not what people want to hear and they know it.

Option 3) They officially announce that there will never be another album. You gonna get people beyond pissed off, dropping numbers at shows attendance big time, people asking for a reunion, people telling Axl to call it a day

Option 4) They keep this current silence situation. We have hope, there is insterest, there is intringue,mystery, speculation, debate. People would still go to shows hoping to hear a new song, hoping for announcement.

If I was them I take 4. I think this is what they are doing. It?s their plan. How long can they keep this? As long as Axl wants to keep this charade.

In my own personal opinion. Axl must be honest about the album situation. But first he must meditate very carefully about what he wants in the future before officially saying something on the matter. I would respect whatever he decides to do or not to do.

Only in the world of GNR would option 1 be out of the question... Axl is obviously horrible with punctuality (has even said it himself).  So knowing this, why in the hell would Axl give a release date?

Its just like start times for concerts.  Thank God Axl is a rock star and not a teacher, coach, or pretty much anything else for that matter (where you have to be on time).  Really, punctuality is a issue of being organized and being able to think/plan ahead.  I don't see this ever changing, so Axl might as well never give a release date.  If only there was a way to not give start times of concerts, then Axl would be in the clear.   

[Ginger King]

I think the notion of Axl not wanting to release new music is just as crazy as the notion of Axl actually wanting to releasing new music. There's a grey area in between that none if us, and even the current band members have any idea of.

Axl and the current management of Beta and Fernando only "really" know what's going on I feel. And until we know the facts we can't judge or demand, that's the way this band has operated since 1999 really, like it or not.

obviously we have no idea on their true intentions. But I "think" Axl wanted to release Chinese Democracy and that sure was far from simple. So if he DID want to release another album I'd expect more of the same. And maybe due to the struggles on the business end, it's zapped some of his motivation in the music creation area.

Perhaps you're right...you'd think that'd be a pretty easy thing to (officially) communicate to the fans, right?  Instead of leaving it up to our (negative, whining, complaining) minds.

Let?s examine this.

Option 1) They officially announce that there will be another album in 2015. Good news! Now they better meet that dealine. I don?t think people want a deja vu of what he had with CD. But what are the odds? Would you bet your house they, in fact, meet that deadline?

Option 2) They offically announce there will be another album. But no mention at all of a particular date. People are gonna get beyond pissed off with this kind of announcement anyway. This is not what people want to hear and they know it.

Option 3) They officially announce that there will never be another album. You gonna get people beyond pissed off, dropping numbers at shows attendance big time, people asking for a reunion, people telling Axl to call it a day

Option 4) They keep this current silence situation. We have hope, there is insterest, there is intringue,mystery, speculation, debate. People would still go to shows hoping to hear a new song, hoping for announcement.

If I was them I take 4. I think this is what they are doing. It?s their plan. How long can they keep this? As long as Axl wants to keep this charade.

In my own personal opinion. Axl must be honest about the album situation. But first he must meditate very carefully about what he wants in the future before officially saying something on the matter. I would respect whatever he decides to do or not to do.

Yes, but Option 4 has been going on for a long time.  How long can it continue and how long can you expect people to still be interested in the intrigue and mystery of what could happen???

[faldor]

Yes, but Option 4 has been going on for a long time.  How long can it continue and how long can you expect people to still be interested in the intrigue and mystery of what could happen???

The numbers have been dwindling for years, but there's still some demand there.  As long as they can sell enough tickets to stay relevant and profitable, that will continue to be a viable option.  You're right, there might be a day where it won't be worth it.  But we're not there yet, so the status quo continues.  And I'd venture to guess, when that day comes, Axl will just call it quits.  Nobody knows for sure though, so we continue to stay tuned to see what's next.

[AXLRIVERS]

I honestly cant see bbf sticking around much longer. Love him. But just think he's had enough. Doesnt seem the same guy as he was.

[Ginger King]

I honestly cant see bbf sticking around much longer. Love him. But just think he's had enough. Doesnt seem the same guy as he was.

Yeah, he seemed to think (like so many before him) that he'd be able to get Axl on board to write and release music and be a real band...and now he's resigned to the reality that he can't...

[The Wight Gunner]

I honestly cant see bbf sticking around much longer. Love him. But just think he's had enough. Doesnt seem the same guy as he was.

Yeah, he seemed to think (like so many before him) that he'd be able to get Axl on board to write and release music and be a real band...and now he's resigned to the reality that he can't...

You have to remember the accident he had has changed his life.  BBF confirmed here on some discussion about his future comments where he has to live literally day by day. His injury is a long term one that in all honesty  will be with him for life.

Imagine having to plan things to get through each day, changing the drug regime on days that there are shows is such an example, if it starts 20minutes late not a big deal, in a self-preservation way. An hour plus delay I can see being a major head-fuck, not doing the show as such, but the wind-down afterwards. That hour delay comes at a cost, usually a crap sleep and a fucked day or two afterwards. Trying to factor-in these type of disruptions to your body clock high-light the condition suffers have to live-by. It might be that BBF has resign himself that in GnR World, that it compromises his own world beyond where he wants to be.

Or as I have, have the kind of day that despite all efforts to create harmony between living, drug control and ambition, he's having a shit time with it not happening for him. I'm not gonna say he is living a schizophronic existence, but there are no ground-hog days.  The same situation on two different days will be treated differently, the bad dark days where the pain and pain control don't see eye to eye, in my case tend to leave me not taking fools gladly and will let people know that. Other days I will just let it wash over me.

Ron really could have been in that phase, and spoke about it as he see's it. As a creative who lost my own business (Graphic Design) due to not being able to rise above the pain on many days, along with burning the candle at both ends with client demands, I get the frustration in having my own regime fucked around with. Other than DJ Ashba, the others have been old hands with GnR and have clearly worked around this machine of a group to suit their own means.

BBF has mentioned about being on the outside of the band for a good while before being accepted, whereas DJ appears to have just stepped in and meshed with the other members. This in itself suggests that there may be some frustration in how he perceives  what his role is and may be seeing things differently to everybody else. He has, it has been said, that he's recorded bits for CD+, DJ on the other hand MAY HAVE BEEN WRITING AND RECORDING PARTS FOR CD+, so who is wrong DJ for saying he's writing and recording stuff or Ron, who has already done the work? Both could be truthful. And Dizzy fuckin' Reed said he's been recording stuff for the album, could conceivably mean what he recorded once no longer works, but BBF's stuff is still ok.

Whatever the truth of the matter is, Ron has been in head-fuck land for a while and people need to remember that.  What you see on the outside isn't necessary the same rational you used to garner your opinion, as he is using at that moment  in time.

[The Wight Gunner]

If I had one wish, it would be to exchange chat on this matter with Ron. I'd love to meet him the next time he and the band visit London and speak about how certain meditation techniques work for me and hopefully help the guy find a better place on those shit days 

[Jude]

I said it once and I'll say it again.  Part of it is that there is no one, but Axl who has a stake in the band. Whereas Slash and Duff did and pushed Axl  to get stuff done. As much as I like Bumblefoot, he doesn't have equity in the band and really can't push Axl to get things done as much as he would like to. I think there will be a point where  Bumblefoot has enough of it and quits. Judging from what was said, I just this is the inevitable.

I agree 100%.

I honestly cant see bbf sticking around much longer. Love him. But just think he's had enough. Doesnt seem the same guy as he was.

Yeah, he seemed to think (like so many before him) that he'd be able to get Axl on board to write and release music and be a real band...and now he's resigned to the reality that he can't...

This is sad but very true. We have seen it before with Finck and Buckethead for example.


Thumbs up for Bumblefoot for doing this, it's always nice when some band member answers fan questions, even the harder ones, because GNR fans nowadays have so many questions but mainly so few answers from the band. Luckily everybody (or at least most of us) can read between the lines from this Bumblefoot's Q&A session and see what's going on with this band these days.

[D-GenerationX]

Q:Guns are rumoured to be adding 2-3 new songs to the set. Are they new Guns originals, or what
 

A:Only thing I can assume is that it would be 2 - 3 songs that we haven't played live...

Well, so much for that. 

Certainly seemed too good to be true.  I guess we should have seen this coming.

[Ginger King]

Q:Guns are rumoured to be adding 2-3 new songs to the set. Are they new Guns originals, or what
 

A:Only thing I can assume is that it would be 2 - 3 songs that we haven't played live...

Well, so much for that. 

Certainly seemed too good to be true.  I guess we should have seen this coming.

True, that is depressing, but considering how little BBF knows of the inner workings of the band he's in and the decisions that are being made (which is also depressing but try not to focus on that) does he really have any more knowledge of it than we do?  So I guess there's still hope?

[D-GenerationX]

Since Ron went on record again that they have yet to compose anything as a band, how do people still give us the "where have they said they aren't interested in releasing music?" spin that one?

For the record, Ron has been in the band 7 years now.  7 years, not one note written. 

[Ginger King]

Since Ron went on record again that they have yet to compose anything as a band, how do people still give us the "where have they said they aren't interested in releasing music?" spin that one?

For the record, Ron has been in the band 7 years now.  7 years, not one note written. 

Here, let me try:  So, just because a band doesn't write songs as quickly as you want them to, doesn't mean they're not interested in releasing new material.  Do all band members have to get together to write new songs?  What if they just haven't had time to get together as a whole group, but are collaborating with each other when they can?  What if the evil record com...

Sorry, I couldn't do it any longer.  There is no way to spin this...but if there is, I'm sure it will be tried here.

[D-GenerationX]

Since Ron went on record again that they have yet to compose anything as a band, how do people still give us the "where have they said they aren't interested in releasing music?" spin that one?

For the record, Ron has been in the band 7 years now.  7 years, not one note written. 

Here, let me try:  So, just because a band doesn't write songs as quickly as you want them to, doesn't mean they're not interested in releasing new material.  Do all band members have to get together to write new songs?  What if they just haven't had time to get together as a whole group, but are collaborating with each other when they can?  What if the evil record com...

Sorry, I couldn't do it any longer.  There is no way to spin this...but if there is, I'm sure it will be tried here.

We truly live in a parallel universe at this site where the absence of a press release stating "We, as a band, have no interest in recording and releasing music" means all is well.

Nevermind those years of inactivity.  Just the clam before the creative storm.

[Ginger King]

Since Ron went on record again that they have yet to compose anything as a band, how do people still give us the "where have they said they aren't interested in releasing music?" spin that one?

For the record, Ron has been in the band 7 years now.  7 years, not one note written. 

Here, let me try:  So, just because a band doesn't write songs as quickly as you want them to, doesn't mean they're not interested in releasing new material.  Do all band members have to get together to write new songs?  What if they just haven't had time to get together as a whole group, but are collaborating with each other when they can?  What if the evil record com...

Sorry, I couldn't do it any longer.  There is no way to spin this...but if there is, I'm sure it will be tried here.

We truly live in a parallel universe at this site where the absence of a press release stating "We, as a band, have no interest in recording and releasing music" means all is well.

Nevermind those years of inactivity.  Just the clam before the creative storm.

So true.  What's likely is that there will be no attempt to proffer a response, in the hopes that this thread gets sent to the bottom and we can focus on the important things, like how Slash and Duff lied...

[faldor]

Since Ron went on record again that they have yet to compose anything as a band, how do people still give us the "where have they said they aren't interested in releasing music?" spin that one?

For the record, Ron has been in the band 7 years now.  7 years, not one note written. 

Here, let me try:  So, just because a band doesn't write songs as quickly as you want them to, doesn't mean they're not interested in releasing new material.  Do all band members have to get together to write new songs?  What if they just haven't had time to get together as a whole group, but are collaborating with each other when they can?  What if the evil record com...

Sorry, I couldn't do it any longer.  There is no way to spin this...but if there is, I'm sure it will be tried here.

As far as we've been told, or led to believe, there is already music in finished form.  So an album could essentially be ready to be released, like Bumblefoot freely admitted from the CD sessions.  So the fact that they haven't gotten together as a band as a whole and written a song in 7 years, no matter how ridiculous that may seem, really doesn't preclude them from releasing an album.  Doesn't mean it's going to happen, obviously.  But I don't think anyone is trying to fool anyone into believing that the band has been working vigorously together nonstop for the last 7 years on creating the ultimate GNR album.  That's a story that some people seem to be creating on their own volition.