Richard Fortus brief interview

[LIGuns]

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Richard Fortus told the Associated Press at yesterday's (Wednesday, April 23) Revolver Golden Gods awards show in Los Angeles that fans could see new music from the band in the next year.

"We are working on stuff and hopefully very soon we're going to have new stuff out," Fortus said on the event's "black carpet (see video below). "Well, in the next year."

He added: "We're going to be in [Las] Vegas all together [for next month's second residency at the Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel and Casino], so hopefully during that time we're going to be able to get in a room and start laying down some more stuff."


Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/guns-n-roses-could-have-new-music-out-in-next-year-says-guitarist-richard-fortus/#zq59dMupWzjdT2xC.99

[Dr. Blutarsky]

I really hope there is something to what he said about new music, but we have heard this all before.....

[D-GenerationX]

Obviously great news if its true.  But this situation the ultimate Boy Who Cried Wolf scenario.

[BangoSkank]

Richard's a great rhythm guitarist and I love him in the band, but this is his stock answer and it appears in every interview he does.

[FunkyMonkey]

This is the same exact thing that was said before the last Las Vegas residency, in 2012.

[D-GenerationX]

Richard's a great rhythm guitarist and I love him in the band, but this is his stock answer and it appears in every interview he does.

He's in an impossible spot.

A more honest answer would be "I have no idea."  But that opens up the can of worms about this not being much a legit band, so I can see not saying it.

But the other side of the coin is that no one believes him anymore since he's been saying this so long.  He truly has no good options here.

[BangoSkank]

Richard's a great rhythm guitarist and I love him in the band, but this is his stock answer and it appears in every interview he does.

He's in an impossible spot.

A more honest answer would be "I have no idea."  But that opens up the can of worms about this not being much a legit band, so I can see not saying it.

But the other side of the coin is that no one believes him anymore since he's been saying this so long.  He truly has no good options here.

Oh yeah, I don't think he's at all malicious, but, whatever his reasons, I can't look at this and go: "Awe! Awesome! New music!"

[JAEBALL]

I love all the articles online headlined New GNR Album coming this year!

ha like you have all said... we have heard this all before... word for word pretty much

[D-GenerationX]

In truth, while they are on tour is a not a realistic time to expect them to work on an album.

That time would be once the tour is over.  They take a little time to unwind, then get in the studio and work.

The problem with our band here is that they do the tour, take the time to unwind...then never go back in the studio.  The next action is the next leg of the same neverending tour.

[JAEBALL]

In truth, while they are on tour is a not a realistic time to expect them to work on an album.

That time would be once the tour is over.  They take a little time to unwind, then get in the studio and work.

The problem with our band here is that they do the tour, take the time to unwind...then never go back in the studio.  The next action is the next leg of the same neverending tour.

I don't really subscribe to that theory.... if they wanted to work on stuff while on tour they could...and them being on tour is better than doing nothing...

I subscribe to the theory that if Axl wanted to release a new album (no matter how old the songs are)... then he would find a way to do so


hence.... we wait for every star in the universe to align.....

[LIGuns]

Actually I would think a residency is a perfect time to work on new material. Figure they are all in a musical mode and in the same proximity why not..Kid if like the early 80's with band members playing mostly on the strip and living together or near each other..

[JAEBALL]

Actually I would think a residency is a perfect time to work on new material. Figure they are all in a musical mode and in the same proximity why not..Kid if like the early 80's with band members playing mostly on the strip and living together or near each other..

i agree...we have heard in the past while not on tour they all live in different place... so a month long stay in one spot solves that...

and we heard they would do exactly that during the last residency....obviously nothing came of it

[sofine11]

Richards been saying stuff like this for 3 years.  Most famously, when he mentioned a couple years ago that they were "finishing up" the next GNR album.  Please.  Less talk, more album fellas.  And I say that knowing full well that these poor guys have zero control over whether that actually materializes.  That rests on one man and his relationship with the label.

At any rate, as far fetched as it may be, it would absolutely be wonderful if he was being genuinely honest this time about new music coming soon. Ya never know.

[jarmo]

The good thing is that they'll all be in the same city at the same city for a specific length of time.

But as soon as the shows end, people have made plans ahead. For example, Bumblefoot starts his Guitar Gods tour with those other guitar players on June 12th.
So staying in Las Vegas to work on new material might not be an option for him. Then again, maybe his work can be done during the actual residency.




/jarmo

[sofine11]

The good thing is that they'll all be in the same city at the same city for a specific length of time.

But as soon as the shows end, people have made plans ahead. For example, Bumblefoot starts his Guitar Gods tour with those other guitar players on June 12th.
So staying in Las Vegas to work on new material might not be an option for him. Then again, maybe his work can be done during the actual residency.




/jarmo

Jarmo, I have a feeling it wasn't discussed, but to your knowledge is whatever was originally intended to be the followup to Chinese (The General, Atlas, Soul Monster, etc.) getting scrapped entirely? 

[jarmo]

I have no idea what songs they plan on releasing next. Sorry.

I know as much as the next guy who read the chats Axl did back in 2008.



/jarmo

[sofine11]

I have no idea what songs they plan on releasing next. Sorry.

I know as much as the next guy who read the chats Axl did back in 2008.



/jarmo

Yeah, in retrospect, even the band members don't really seem to know what the next album will be.  I hear a lot of "We'd like to get in the studio, we're all writing..."  But I also here them fall back on "We recorded so much stuff for Chinese..." 

Makes you wonder if Robin leaving had more an affect on the next album's release than we initially realized, as I'm sure he's all over it, as is probably Bucket on at least several songs.  We know these guys have been recording and passing around tracks behind the scenes, but to what extent?  Enough to get these tracks mixed and mastered for a release within a reasonable amount of time?  I sure hope so...

[jarmo]

As I've said multiple times in the past. There's no simple solution that will please everybody, so you might as well forget about even trying.

If the band releases the tracks that were recorded previously, with former members' contributions intact, you'll have certain elements of the so called fanbase saying shit like "it's not the current band". Just like with Chinese.

If you scrap that material, and record something new, we'll get the "so the unreleased material wasn't strong enough" or "why didn't they release the Buckethead/Robin/Paul/Brain material that they talked about?".


So obviously the simple answer is to release a box set with everything.   Edited to add: The boxset comment is a joke.



/jarmo

[sofine11]

As I've said multiple times in the past. There's no simple solution that will please everybody, so you might as well forget about even trying.

If the band releases the tracks that were recorded previously, with former members' contributions intact, you'll have certain elements of the so called fanbase saying shit like "it's not the current band". Just like with Chinese.

If you scrap that material, and record something new, we'll get the "so the unreleased material wasn't strong enough" or "why didn't they release the Buckethead/Robin/Paul/Brain material that they talked about?".


So obviously the simple answer is to release a box set with everything.  



/jarmo

That'd be amazing, wouldn't it?

Personally, I think a double disc from Chinese era featuring the unreleased tracks as well as the Red Hand & Grenade covers and booklets would be the coolest thing ever.  I'd buy ten.  Seriously.

[JAEBALL]

As I've said multiple times in the past. There's no simple solution that will please everybody, so you might as well forget about even trying.

If the band releases the tracks that were recorded previously, with former members' contributions intact, you'll have certain elements of the so called fanbase saying shit like "it's not the current band". Just like with Chinese.

If you scrap that material, and record something new, we'll get the "so the unreleased material wasn't strong enough" or "why didn't they release the Buckethead/Robin/Paul/Brain material that they talked about?".


So obviously the simple answer is to release a box set with everything.  



/jarmo

That'd be amazing, wouldn't it?

Personally, I think a double disc from Chinese era featuring the unreleased tracks as well as the Red Hand & Grenade covers and booklets would be the coolest thing ever.  I'd buy ten.  Seriously.

We all would....

you know ... us... "the so called fanbase" lol