New Dj interview at LegendaryRockInterviews.com (Sep 2014)

[D-GenerationX]

I think they do better outside the U.S. than within it.

Its hard to not make this sound condescending, so I won't try and dress it up.  This is condescending.

Other countries seem to have lower expectations than we do here.  I can absolutely buy into the fact that who is on stage does not matter as much in other countries, because the number bear that out.  They fill places in other countries of sizes they couldn't replicate in this country even giving away free tickets.

I think the difference between me and some of you is that I don't see that as a positive. 

[LongGoneDay]

I think AFD/UYI era GN?Rs greatest enemy were easily themselves. They were the only real obstacle in the way of attaining/maintaining Rolling Stones caliber status.
Not grunge, not numetal, hop hop etc. They were kings during the last great era of music, and would probably continue to be so today. No one carried the torch. Popular music today is watered down pop bullshit with no heart. Not everyone is fooled so easily. There would always be room for a band like GN?R. Foo Fighters and Green Day were in a lower tier than GN?R, Metallica, Nirvana etc but have maintained their massive popularity, in my opinion, thanks in part to the simple fact they managed to stay together.

Who?s to say they?d even be breathing today had they tried, but if they were, they?d still be huge.
The reason they aren't is because Axl is a once in a lifetime frontman, who lost his once in a lifetime band and chemistry.
The name is a band aid on a bullet wound.

Interesting.  I remember quite a few people I knew turning away from hard rock bands like GN'R in favor of bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.  Now, I didn't agree with that, and personally could appreciate all of the bands, but I did feel at the time like there was a backlash against GN'R.

But, the point is I see a lot of people assuming that any decline in attendance in the US (and to a lesser extent, the rest of the world) due to the change in the band lineup.  I think that is a component, probably a large component.  However, many bands I like have seen (Queensryche, Megadeth, The Cult, and others) have had ebb and flows to their career.  GN'R could have seen that to some extent had the old lineup stayed together in some fashion.  The sales of The Spaghetti Incident and Live Era MAY have been indicative of a decline in commercial popularity. 

We'll never know for sure, though.

Ali

Pearl Jam was definitely top dog in my neck of the woods around ?93, ?94, but by this point, GN?R?s last album of original material was a few years old.
In my experience, I don?t think fans turned on GN?R. People?s attention spans weren?t quite as minuscule as they are today, but still there?s always going to be that "what have you done for me lately" mentality, or out of sight out of mind, and PJ, and Green Day?s albums were more fresh in people?s minds.

A cover album wasn?t going to compete, but new original material possibly could have.
I don?t disagree with you that interest could have declined had they stayed together, but I can?t fathom it happening to the extent it has today.

The mighty have fallen pretty far since ?93, and I think it took some real effort to get here.
They were the modern day Rolling Stones. GN?R has alienated it?s fan base over the years, and many share the opinion the name and legacy has been diluted.

Regarding the cast of musicians, the average fan may not know Izzy Stradlin by name, and hell, may even confuse Richard Fortus for him on sight, but there sure as hell is no sneaking Buckethead or Robin Finck by anyone who grew up watching GN?R videos on MTV. GN?Rs look and sound disappeared for a decade, then re-emerged drastically different. These aren?t exactly recipes for success. Some of this may have been out of the bands control, some of it was not.

Like you said, we will never know what would/could have happened had the classic lineup stayed together.
They could have decided to make a techno dance rap album for all we know, so maybe we were spared an album we could never un-hear.
They don?t appear to be losing any sleep over it, but I?ve never seen a fanbase lose as much faith/interest in a band as massive as GN?R was in their heyday. 

[D-GenerationX]

They don?t appear to be losing any sleep over it, but I?ve never seen a fanbase lose as much faith/interest in a band as massive as GN?R was in their heyday. 

True, but there aren't really that many parallels.

I am a monster Pearl Jam and always will be.  If Eddie replaced everyone else on stage and drastically altered their sound, I would still be there because I am a monster Eddie fan.

But I sure wouldn't be trotting out this mock surprise that I can't believe people en masse aren't onboard.  Nor similar phony shock that people would likely consider it Pearl Jam in name only at that point.  Of course they would.

[LongGoneDay]

Well that?s exactly where I fall with current day Guns.
I?m personally past the point of really caring about the name, but can obviously understand why many people consider it a farce.
It?s been discussed many times over, and will never be resolved between the two camps.

I follow GN?R today solely because I?m a fan of Axl Rose.
He is the one and the only draw for me. I?d love to be won over by the other members, but at this point in time, I could take or leave them all.

[D-GenerationX]

Well that?s exactly where I fall with current day Guns.
I?m personally past the point of really caring about the name, but can obviously understand why many people consider it a farce.
It?s been discussed many times over, and will never be resolved between the two camps.

I follow GN?R today solely because I?m a fan of Axl Rose.
He is the one and the only draw for me. I?d love to be won over by the other members, but at this point in time, I could take or leave them all.

Spot on.  I'm right with you.

If he came out tomorrow and said he was replacing every other person on that stage, I'd shrug and accept it.

And its because of stuff like that I find it hard to consider this a legit band.  That should not be a normal reaction to such an upheaval in personnel.

[draguns]

Well that?s exactly where I fall with current day Guns.
I?m personally past the point of really caring about the name, but can obviously understand why many people consider it a farce.
It?s been discussed many times over, and will never be resolved between the two camps.

I follow GN?R today solely because I?m a fan of Axl Rose.
He is the one and the only draw for me. I?d love to be won over by the other members, but at this point in time, I could take or leave them all.

Spot on.  I'm right with you.

If he came out tomorrow and said he was replacing every other person on that stage, I'd shrug and accept it.

And its because of stuff like that I find it hard to consider this a legit band.  That should not be a normal reaction to such an upheaval in personnel.

Agreed. Btw, glad to hear you survived Camden. I live in NJ and have no desire to go there. Not even to see Axl.

[D-GenerationX]

Agreed. Btw, glad to hear you survived Camden. I live in NJ and have no desire to go there. Not even to see Axl.

Before GNR in 2011, I hadn't been there in a few years.  Since a Pearl Jam show in the summer.

For GNR, we blew in late night, had a few drinks in the lobby, and in we go.

But for Motley Crue this August, my brother and I tailgated.  I forgot just how grim Camden was.  I mean, you know it sucks, but when its right in front of you...it hits home.

We saw daytime hookers.  That looked, well, like you'd expect daytime hookers to look, I suppose.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Agreed. Btw, glad to hear you survived Camden. I live in NJ and have no desire to go there. Not even to see Axl.

Before GNR in 2011, I hadn't been there in a few years.  Since a Pearl Jam show in the summer.

For GNR, we blew in late night, had a few drinks in the lobby, and in we go.

But for Motley Crue this August, my brother and I tailgated.  I forgot just how grim Camden was.  I mean, you know it sucks, but when its right in front of you...it hits home.

We saw daytime hookers.  That looked, well, like you'd expect daytime hookers to look, I suppose.

Aw c'mon man, the tailgating was GREAT that night!  They had Monster Energy trucks with Monster Energy girls giving out free Energy drinks...there was GNR blaring everywhere...the night was actually really nice.  I remember running a few laps around the lot feeling really damn good.  We met some nice folks from South America who let us try some licorice-tasting alcohol.  Pretty potent stuff.
Just a good time all around.

...and do I need to mention how awesome the show was?  They were fantastic.  DJ was awesome.  Full of energy.  Great times, great memories.   

...and yeah, one person begging for money before the lot filled up.  No hookers that I could see...

[GnR-NOW]

There were so many cops there you had no choice to feel safe lol

[mortismurphy]

There were dates cancelled on that same tour because of lack of sales. They were just cancelled, without an explanation (which I thought, rather nice of the band).

[Ja5oN]

Van Halen - Metallica - KISS - AC/DC - Megadeth - AIC etc. etc. etc.

All BIG bands, still operating under their name .... None have all original members.
Whether someone died or  people got pissed off, whatever .... the show goes on.

I have seen Izzy and Duff play with GNR recently.  They seem to have made peace with it.  Can't we just move on.

I think what it comes down to is;

If GNR announces a concert December 31st 2014.....are you gonna go?  Will it be an awesome show, filled with wicked songs.....fuckin right it will be.

There's no sense spending great amounts of time wishing otherwise.

[JAEBALL]

Please please please stop comparing Gnr line up changes to other bands....

It really makes ur argument or contribution to the discussion worthless...

Take Paul or gene away from kiss too and see how they are perceived... Take angus out of ac dc and let Brian tour as Acdc or take Lars and Kirk out and let James tour as Metallica by himself then you can compare them to GNR

It's not a different lineup it's a totally different band !!!

You are happy with it .. Great .. I enjoy the shows as well.. But call a spade a spade .. Please

[Ja5oN]

LOL

Dude....comeon

Kirk is not original (replaced Dave).  Brian is not original (replaced Scott).

Is your next argument going to be "well they have been there a long time"....LOL

Few holes in that bucket you are carrying there.

[JAEBALL]

I'm going to take the same approach as I do with my ex ....

"You are right"

[D-GenerationX]

LOL

Dude....comeon

Kirk is not original (replaced Dave).  Brian is not original (replaced Scott).

Is your next argument going to be "well they have been there a long time"....LOL

Few holes in that bucket you are carrying there.

Only if you REALLY want to believe.

Bon died.  Rather out of everyone's control.

And by the time anyone even knew who Metallica was, Dave was already gone.

Pretty strained analogies here.

[Ja5oN]

Malcolm is out and the band is going on.

Newsted left and Metallica goes on.

[mortismurphy]

There is simply no analogy to be made, between any other band, and Axl's GN'R. Other bands either maintained a core unit (Metallica, Stones), were originally built around one member (Motorhead and Lizzy) or went to hell, to ever decreasing album and ticket sales (Iommi's Sabbath). What Axl did was truly unprecedented.

[GnR-NOW]

What Axl did was maintained the name and GNR product. The shows are excellent and the production is so over the top and awesome. If you don't appreciate it then don't watch it. I brought friends to shows that swore it wasn't GNR going into it but after we're blown away by the show

[D-GenerationX]

There is simply no analogy to be made, between any other band, and Axl's GN'R. Other bands either maintained a core unit (Metallica, Stones), were originally built around one member (Motorhead and Lizzy) or went to hell, to ever decreasing album and ticket sales (Iommi's Sabbath). What Axl did was truly unprecedented.

Agreed, 100%.

I also don't think there is an analogy to made with other bands that patched it up.  Any other example you want to try and throw out there where there was bad blood but they did eventually reunite (Eagles, Van Halen, etc.) it was for reasons like money, to get back in the spotlight, or both.  Axl, for whatever reason, is not motivated by either.  That absolutely makes him the rarest of the rare in this business.

Which is why any and all reunion talk is ridiculous.

[mortismurphy]

I suppose what you could argue is, Axl turned GN'R from a Beatles sort of set up, that is, 3-4 members of (loosely) equal democratic importance, into a Motorhead/Lizzy type set up, that is, one member and a bunch of guys basically. Legalistically, in terms of power and control, at least that is what happened. Musically, Axl incorporated the other members on Chinese but you can rest assured that none of the other members could veto some Axl decision (would any have said, ''I hate This I Love, let's axe it''?).

You have to remember the importance of the other members to the old band. Slash designed the band logo, hired Sorum/Clarke and put together the 1992 ensemble. Izzy wrote a hell of a lot of material (more than Slash in fact) and was there from the beginning. Duff engineered the Hell Tour and chipped in with the odd bit of songwriting. Then you have the iconic status of 'Slash' in the media, and Slash's status as an icon to guitarists. The whole power structure of the band was different, not just the persona.