New Dj interview at LegendaryRockInterviews.com (Sep 2014)

[D-GenerationX]

I just want a competently run operation.

I've long made my peace with guys being gone, but continue to shake my head and the consistent sloppiness that goes on with this band.

[jarmo]

There is incredibly less demand and the band has little relevance outside their already existing fan clubs who ask no questions.

When you are papering the house in a 3,000 seat venue, you ain't on top of the world looking down on creation, no matter how many times you say that's the case.

I'm sorry for you.  Not sorry for me.

Keep repeating yourself. You had nothing to come back with and this is your best attempt? Why don't you mention all the other shows? Doesn't make sense to mention shows that sold well because it doesn't fit the agenda of "no demand"?

Mr "it's not GN'R", it's difficult to take anything you say about the current band seriously. Sorry.







/jarmo

[GeorgeSteele]

Look, I'm not trying to be an asshole here.

But this is like talking to a campaign manager who's guy is 25 points down in every conceivable poll a week out from the election, yet keeps assuring me that all is well.

If I can produce easily verifiable evidence that completely refutes your stance, and all you can do is shrug and tell me "nuh-uh", it would appear that we are at an impasse on this one.

It happens.  We move on.

EDIT : were we at the same show in 2011?  Camden?  Or were you at the Meadowlands?

I don't think you're being an asshole, just obstinate out of a sense of loyalty to the original members.  I love those guys too both while in and since out of Guns N' Roses.  But I do recognize that a great deal of the fans at shows these days or people who like CD don't have this staunch opposition to recognizing the current lineup as Guns N' Roses; they mostly don't have an opinion one way or the other.  My recognition of that fact does not have anything to do with how I feel about the original members.  A huge number of people have gone to GNR concerts since the classic lineup break-up.  Frankly, I don't think you really believe that of all those people, only an extreme minority of them accept the band they are watching to be Guns N' Roses.

I was at Meadowlands in 2011.  Maybe I'll see you next time they come by and we can discuss this while we're drunk and so make much more sense to each other.

[D-GenerationX]

I don't think you're being an asshole, just obstinate out of a sense of loyalty to the original members.  I love those guys too both while in and since out of Guns N' Roses.  But I do recognize that a great deal of the fans at shows these days or people who like CD don't have this staunch opposition to recognizing the current lineup as Guns N' Roses; they mostly don't have an opinion one way or the other.  My recognition of that fact does not have anything to do with how I feel about the original members.  A huge number of people have gone to GNR concerts since the classic lineup break-up.  Frankly, I don't think you really believe that of all those people, only an extreme minority of them accept the band they are watching to be Guns N' Roses.

I was at Meadowlands in 2011.  Maybe I'll see you next time they come by and we can discuss this while we're drunk and so make much more sense to each other.

Hahahaha.

Know what's weird?  As much as I loved the original band, I never really got into anything the others did once they left.

I thought Izzy was the second most important guy after Axl.  But I was never all that impressed with his stuff.  Duff, I like a lot, but don't even have his solo album, Neurotic Outiders, Loaded...any of it.

And then there is Slash.  I thought Snakepit was god damn horrendous, and I never even remotely blamed Axl for not wanting any part of that material.  I have all 3 of his solo albums on my iPod, yet not sure I have listened to them all the way through.

And then, you got Velvet Revolver.  Which, I think I never really got into because their existence pissed me off.  I never got past that this should have been Guns N' Roses, if not for all the ego and bullshit.  If they were going to give it another go with another lunatic singer, why not the best one out there?

[D-GenerationX]

Mr "it's not GN'R", it's difficult to take anything you say about the current band seriously. Sorry.

Which would be a biting comment, if you hadn't spent the past year shitting on every single thing I say. 

You put me in the troublemaker pile early on, and that was that.  Look, I think most of your arguments are preposterous, but even I have found the odd thing I agree with or find fair and said so.  No one is wrong 100% of the time.  That's not rational.

The reality is that I spend so much time talking to you because there's like, 10 people here.  Its not because I find the exchanges sparkling.

[Ali]

Not sure I'd put Queensryche, Megadeth, or The Cult on a level with GNR.

And I love me some Megadeth.  But even touring behind some of their more popular releases, they were still opening.

That wasn't the point, though.

When I saw Queensryche in the 90's, they were headlining tours in arenas.  After their first album of the new millennium, they were headlining theaters.

The point is that many bands, especially bands who were ones who saw their greatest record sales during the early to mid 90's, have seen peaks in their drawing power, and subsequent declines in that drawing power.

GN'R may have followed the Metallica path had they stayed together and maintained a high level of popularity, or they may have followed a path something similar to (not exactly like) a Queensryche, Megadeth, etc.

I'm not convinced that they would've followed the Metallica path, although it's certainly possible.  So, GN'R's drawing power may have declined to some extent over time regardless of the lineup change.

Ali

[JAEBALL]

Gnr is on such a highs level than megadeath and queensryche...it's not even close...

The Gnr songs have stood the test of time I'm sure if they were still together they would be doing big things

[mortismurphy]

I disagree with Ali. I do not think there is any doubt that GN'R would have remained at, at least arena level. I could certainly see their crowds take a hammering. I could see the end of stadia, certainly, but they would have never plummeted to theatre levels. The fact that Axl could return minus the rest of GN'R in 2002, and still enter arenas, proves this point. Sweet Child and November Rain draw in too many casuals.

[D-GenerationX]

I disagree with Ali. I do not think there is any doubt that GN'R would have remained at, at least arena level. I could certainly see their crowds take a hammering. I could see the end of stadia, certainly, but they would have never plummeted to theatre levels. The fact that Axl could return minus the rest of GN'R in 2002, and still enter arenas, proves this point. Sweet Child and November Rain draw in too many casuals.

I'd agree.

Axl did arenas in 2002 and 2006, and that was without an album in over 10 years and a bunch of strangers sharing the stage.  Pretty amazing, really.  But that is why you keep the name.

But as of 1993, they already had enough hits and a lasting enough legacy to stay comfortably at the arena level for as long as they toured.  A new album comes out, maybe 4-5 songs make the setlist, sort of like with CD.  They make that work just fine. 

And never sniff a theater caliber tour.  No chance in hell.

[sandman]

I have friends that saw gnr in 88 and 91 that will not go see "the axl rose band". But if slash was on stage, they would be there. I have at least 10 friends/family that have said to me multiple times "why don't they just get back together?"

That is the common thought among many.

The fact that promoters would pay them MILLIONS of dollars is proof that people know and care about the old band. People would go bananas if they reunited.

The current version of gnr couldnt sell out the electric factory in philly. That place holds about 3,000.

[GNR2014]

The current version of gnr couldnt sell out the electric factory in philly. That place holds about 3,000.

It's quite arrogant of Axl Rose to think that he alone is Guns N' Roses.
Izzy brought in the songs, Slash designed the logo, etc.

[D-GenerationX]

I have friends that saw gnr in 88 and 91 that will not go see "the axl rose band". But if slash was on stage, they would be there. I have at least 10 friends/family that have said to me multiple times "why don't they just get back together?"

That is the common thought among many.

Absolutely correct.

I wear a GNR hat everywhere I go.  It leads a lot of people to ask me what ever happened to them.  And then you find out that not only do they have no idea Axl is still around with a new crew, once you break it down for them, they make a face.  Never once have I ever had that conversation and then had people ask me to burn them a copy of CD.  Not one time.
 

The current version of gnr couldnt sell out the electric factory in philly. That place holds about 3,000.

This is also 100% accurate.

I also live here.  That show was never in the cards for me because it was midweek and with work the next day...no good.  But everyone assumed I was going.  I had a  buddy text me the day of the show and ask about meeting up.  I tell him I'm not going. 

I also ask him if he has tickets yet, and he says no.  I laughed, literally laughed.  I told him that the Electric Factory is a small little shithole, and those tickets are long gone.  And it was at that point he tells me that not only can he still get them, he can get 5 of them.  This is the day of the concert, folks. 

So "if the ticket says Guns N' Roses, people think its Guns N' Roses"?  Wake up and join us in the real world.

[jarmo]

The current version of gnr couldnt sell out the electric factory in philly. That place holds about 3,000.

It's quite arrogant of Axl Rose to think that he alone is Guns N' Roses.
Izzy brought in the songs, Slash designed the logo, etc.

Show me where he thinks he is. Because Chinese Democracy is a collaboration between several band members. It's a team effort.

No one is wrong 100% of the time.  That's not rational.

I agree with you on Snakepit and his solo albums. 




/jarmo

[GeorgeSteele]

I have friends that saw gnr in 88 and 91 that will not go see "the axl rose band". But if slash was on stage, they would be there. I have at least 10 friends/family that have said to me multiple times "why don't they just get back together?"

That is the common thought among many.

Absolutely correct.

I wear a GNR hat everywhere I go.  It leads a lot of people to ask me what ever happened to them.  And then you find out that not only do they have no idea Axl is still around with a new crew, once you break it down for them, they make a face.  Never once have I ever had that conversation and then had people ask me to burn them a copy of CD.  Not one time.
 

The current version of gnr couldnt sell out the electric factory in philly. That place holds about 3,000.

This is also 100% accurate.

I also live here.  That show was never in the cards for me because it was midweek and with work the next day...no good.  But everyone assumed I was going.  I had a  buddy text me the day of the show and ask about meeting up.  I tell him I'm not going. 

I also ask him if he has tickets yet, and he says no.  I laughed, literally laughed.  I told him that the Electric Factory is a small little shithole, and those tickets are long gone.  And it was at that point he tells me that not only can he still get them, he can get 5 of them.  This is the day of the concert, folks. 

So "if the ticket says Guns N' Roses, people think its Guns N' Roses"?  Wake up and join us in the real world.

So your local anecdotes outweigh the demand exhibited from all the worldwide touring since 2006 and solid record sales for CD?  OK.  And all those fans don't think its Guns N' Roses?  If you say so.  In your 'real' world, is the weather the same worldwide as it is outside your doorstep? 

Yes, a lot of people out there are pining for a reunion... and a lot of people aren't.   Yes, a lot of people know the old members... and a lot of people don't.  Etc., etc.   

[D-GenerationX]

I agree with you on Snakepit and his solo albums. 

Hahahaha

Yeah, just not good.  No way would I want hat stuff released under the Guns N' Roses banner.

[jarmo]

Philadelphia is apparently the norm.... Yeah, no way those people would hold any grudges against Axl. 

 


/jarmo

[D-GenerationX]

So your local anecdotes outweigh the demand exhibited from all the worldwide touring since 2006 and solid record sales for CD?  OK.  And all those fans don't think its Guns N' Roses?  If you say so.  In your 'real' world, is the weather the same worldwide as it is outside your doorstep? 

Yes, a lot of people out there are pining for a reunion... and a lot of people aren't.   Yes, a lot of people know the old members... and a lot of people don't.  Etc., etc.   

Let's approach this a different way.

Suppose Axl actually makes good, and there is a new album sometime in 2015, with an actual, legit domestic tour afterwards.

Does the size of the venues not paint a picture of where Guns N' Roses is as a viable entity in the present day?  Meaning, no promoter is going to go for an areans tour if those arenas will be 50-60% filled.  So if they are only playing smaller places all over the country, can you honestly still cling to this notion all is well?

"Guns N' Roses" can certainly do better and 3,000 seat spots across the country, right?

[D-GenerationX]

Philadelphia is apparently the norm.... Yeah, no way those people would hold any grudges against Axl. 

We were all pretty shocked he came back.

I went and saw them in Camden in 2011 because I figured that's as close as he was going to come to a city he fucked over.  I do respect him coming back.  Took balls.

But, back to the real issue.  The Electric Factory is a dump.  Its a small little shithole.  And Philadelphia is not only one of the top 10 major cities in this country, we are a consistent good rock town. 

They didn't sell the place out.  Drawing from a population of god knows what in the city and surrounding suburbs, there were still tickets to be had in bulk as late as the afternoon of the show.

Troubling. 

[jarmo]

But they sold out many shows on that same leg.

Your example is one show in a city known for a specific event that occurred there in 2002.
Coincidence?



/jarmo

[GeorgeSteele]

So your local anecdotes outweigh the demand exhibited from all the worldwide touring since 2006 and solid record sales for CD?  OK.  And all those fans don't think its Guns N' Roses?  If you say so.  In your 'real' world, is the weather the same worldwide as it is outside your doorstep? 

Yes, a lot of people out there are pining for a reunion... and a lot of people aren't.   Yes, a lot of people know the old members... and a lot of people don't.  Etc., etc.   

Let's approach this a different way.

Suppose Axl actually makes good, and there is a new album sometime in 2015, with an actual, legit domestic tour afterwards.

Does the size of the venues not paint a picture of where Guns N' Roses is as a viable entity in the present day?  Meaning, no promoter is going to go for an areans tour if those arenas will be 50-60% filled.  So if they are only playing smaller places all over the country, can you honestly still cling to this notion all is well?

"Guns N' Roses" can certainly do better and 3,000 seat spots across the country, right?

If I approach it your way, I make the observation that this band would sell out the 20,000-seat Garden in a heartbeat and so that means it can sell out major arenas worldwide.

But I know better.  Neither I nor anyone else here said that they can fill an arena anywhere anytime.  They have to pick their spots nowadays.  Some towns they can still do an arena, others they can't.  Point is, even with the smaller following the band commands these days, worldwide we're still talking about a huge number of people in the aggregate.