New Dj interview at LegendaryRockInterviews.com (Sep 2014)

[ice cream sand pig]

Once again I can't speak for other fans but I will absolutely go to the store and buy the cd the day it comes out come hell or high water mark my words 

[D-GenerationX]

Another matter to consider is this --- if a band cannot rely on radio to play its new music, then concerts become a much more important way to market new material.  That can lead to better sales of the new material, which can possibly generate new fans, which can ultimately draw more fans to concerts.  To continue with your U2 example, if you go back to the 90s, their 90s albums were from a different planet compared to their 80s albums, but it created a whole new fan base for them to the point that so many people in that decade were going to their concerts for their new music (new at the time), rather than to hear their 80s radio hits.

Very true.

I knew and liked their 80s hits, but I didn't get really into them until the 90s and 'Achtung Baby'.

[D-GenerationX]

I agree that much of the way us internet folk feel about Dj will be strongly influenced by his contributions to a GNR album. I also agree that the hate for him is a little over the top. I wonder why Axl chose him? There are so many great guitarists in the world, there must be something really special about Dj for Axl to have chosen him over everyone else. I have a feeling it wasn't just because Dj is such a nice guy.

Well, you can't hire just anyone for this band.

You need a guy willing to accept some of the wacky parameters of being in this outfit, such as :

- prolonged inactivity
- no real release of anything
- even, god willing, if something does come out, your contributions will be extremely small because the songs are already recorded by other guys

Not everyone rolls with that. 

Bucket got fed up with the prolonged inactivity, for example.  Ron, if he is in fact gone, will be due to prolonged inactivity and the fact he was never asked to create one thing in 8 years.

[Spirit]

Does releasing an album equal better ticket sales?



/jarmo

I expect that it would.  Maybe I'm seeing it that way just because that is what bands have always done, having new albums coincide with new tours.  Part of it is also due to how the music business has been run.  When a new album is released, the label markets the band, putting the band into the public's consciousness, which in turn affects ticket sales.  That model has been starting to change, though. 

Personally I'm not so sure about it.
Maybe it's still true in some genres where you get played on radio or lots of views on Youtube.

The whole idea of putting out an album, touring to sell more albums while the record company supports the touring seems to be dying. Less and less people buy music.

Even if you put out new albums over the years, the majority of the crowd are still there for the familiar hits.
The hardcore fans who are there to hear the new stuff are usually in a minority. The rest will stand up from their seats for maybe one or two songs. The rest of the show they'll be telling every around them to sit down.


/jarmo

If the new music is good and the marketing is done right, I think it will have an impact on the concert attendance.

That doesn't necessarily mean that the album needs to sell really well in a traditional sense. If the music gains popularity on the streaming services and the radio, that's equally good for more potential concert goers. It just needs to "get out there", the method of doing so doesn't really matter.

As you said, some genres are more prone to get these kind of viewing numbers today. Rock n' roll isn't exactly on the top of the pile anymore when it comes to general popularity. But, I believe in Axl. He has changed the music scene once before, and I think he's capable of giving it a real punch to the gut, one more time. It has to be interesting, innovative music for that to happen, and the release must be smart and thought-out marketing wise.

Also, as was pointed out in the last Eddie Trunk interview, he was really blown away by the amount of young fans at the concerts. These young fans are probably the most likely group to embrace the new material, and the fact that GN'R has such many of these fans makes me optimistic about new music being successful.

[D-GenerationX]

That doesn't necessarily mean that the album needs to sell really well in a traditional sense. If the music gains popularity on the streaming services and the radio, that's equally good for more potential concert goers. It just needs to "get out there", the method of doing so doesn't really matter.

The band also needs to get out there.  If you can't be bothered and you are counting on your own fans to do all the legwork, that is reflected in the level of interest.

Internet forum diehards like us will seek that stuff out, but they already have us.  You need to grow the overall fanbase.

[Spirit]

That doesn't necessarily mean that the album needs to sell really well in a traditional sense. If the music gains popularity on the streaming services and the radio, that's equally good for more potential concert goers. It just needs to "get out there", the method of doing so doesn't really matter.

The band also needs to get out there.  If you can't be bothered and you are counting on your own fans to do all the legwork, that is reflected in the level of interest.

Internet forum diehards like us will seek that stuff out, but they already have us.  You need to grow the overall fanbase.

Well, they already have quite a big platform in Facebook and twitter. With over 30 million followers, that's a good start for them to get the message out there.

[JAEBALL]

That doesn't necessarily mean that the album needs to sell really well in a traditional sense. If the music gains popularity on the streaming services and the radio, that's equally good for more potential concert goers. It just needs to "get out there", the method of doing so doesn't really matter.

The band also needs to get out there.  If you can't be bothered and you are counting on your own fans to do all the legwork, that is reflected in the level of interest.

Internet forum diehards like us will seek that stuff out, but they already have us.  You need to grow the overall fanbase.

Well, they already have quite a big platform in Facebook and twitter. With over 30 million followers, that's a good start for them to get the message out there.

Good point... one gripe about the GNR facebook contains 90 percent of just Axl pictures...at least it seems that way...they should push stuff of the other guys

[GypsySoul]

Bucket got fed up with the prolonged inactivity, for example. 

Not true. 

The 'Buckethead no longer being in GNR' story is out there and 'prolonged inactivity' by the band was NOT the reason.

[Spirit]

Bucket got fed up with the prolonged inactivity, for example. 

Not true. 

The 'Buckethead no longer being in GNR' story is out there and 'prolonged inactivity' by the band was NOT the reason.

Depends on what side of the story you wanna believe.


http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=983

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=997

[D-GenerationX]

Bucket got fed up with the prolonged inactivity, for example. 

Not true. 

The 'Buckethead no longer being in GNR' story is out there and 'prolonged inactivity' by the band was NOT the reason.

Very well.

So correct the record then.

[Ginger King]

Bucket got fed up with the prolonged inactivity, for example. 

Not true. 

The 'Buckethead no longer being in GNR' story is out there and 'prolonged inactivity' by the band was NOT the reason.

Depends on what side of the story you wanna believe.


http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=983

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=997

Wait, so why did Bucket leave?  One article notes "After fours years as a member of Guns N' Roses, during which time the band canceled more shows than it played and released no original material, guitarist Buckethead has had enough." 

Another, written by Axl, lays blame on Bucket, and how he used Guns to secure another record contract.  That article, dated 2004, also notes that they hope to announce a release date soon.

Which one seems more credible?  Seems like prolonged inactivity indeed played a role.

[GypsySoul]

Depends on what side of the story you wanna believe.


http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=983

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=997

 
The 'side of the story' I was referring to didn't come from Buckethead or Axl.

Thanks for linking those.  IMO, they show a really interesting perspective of the "diplomacy" that must have been/is involved to keep the door open so that both sides can achieve their respective objectives (as far as the music is concerned).

Very interesting.

[14 Yrs Of Silence]

Depends on what side of the story you wanna believe.


http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=983

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=997

 
The 'side of the story' I was referring to didn't come from Buckethead or Axl.

Thanks for linking those.  IMO, they show a really interesting perspective of the "diplomacy" that must have been/is involved to keep the door open so that both sides can achieve their respective objectives (as far as the music is concerned).

Very interesting.

Can you share the side of the story you're referring to?

[ice cream sand pig]

Great post Spirit. Axl is a force to be reckoned with. It seems to me like just about anything is possible when it comes to him. I remember during his chat with the message board users when someone asked him what he should do if he wanted to become a successful musician like Axl. Axl mentioned something about how they should read every book they can get their hands on regarding how the music industry works. It seems to me like he must really know what he's doing on some level. Besides that, he also has all kinds of connections with famous people and musicians. I wonder what would have happened if so many Chi Dem songs didn't leak and Axl released Better as a single with grand scale promotion behind it. That song blows a lot of people away when I introduce it to them so that's why I am using it here as an example.

Do you guys think the second new album will provide the band with as big of an opportunity as the first one did (if the first one did indeed provide them with all that big of an opportunity)? I don't know how the music industry works but maybe this time Axl can kind of take everyone by surprise since everyone already saw CD coming and so much of it leaked and all. In reality none of us have any idea what the next album will sound like. To me that is very exciting. Axl seems to like saving his favorite songs for later so the next album could really be something amazing.

[D-GenerationX]

Depends on what side of the story you wanna believe.


http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=983

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=997

 
The 'side of the story' I was referring to didn't come from Buckethead or Axl.

Thanks for linking those.  IMO, they show a really interesting perspective of the "diplomacy" that must have been/is involved to keep the door open so that both sides can achieve their respective objectives (as far as the music is concerned).

Very interesting.

Can you share the side of the story you're referring to?

Yeah, what's the story?

This is like pulling teeth.

[EmilyGNR]

Does releasing an album equal better ticket sales?



/jarmo

I expect that it would.  Maybe I'm seeing it that way just because that is what bands have always done, having new albums coincide with new tours.  Part of it is also due to how the music business has been run.  When a new album is released, the label markets the band, putting the band into the public's consciousness, which in turn affects ticket sales.  That model has been starting to change, though. 

Agree.  And part of the problem with the current lineup (IMO) getting the respect/recognition as being a band is that the majority of their songs are from the AFD/UYI era, with a handful of CD songs (and even those songs were largely created by others).

I have said for a long time that for the current lineup to succeed, it needs to stand on its own two feet, and not rest on the catalog of the past.

No this is merely your little criteria for GNR to be successful in your head. The hits will always be played at shows because that is what the majority of people that go to shows want to hear, the band plays for audiences not internet nerds that obsess about setlits and don't attend shows.

Wow, you are bat-shit crazy.  Perhaps you neglected to read my post where I said I've seen this lineup multiple times, and have traveled internationally to watch them.  Sorry that doesn't fit your narrative of me being a loner internet nerd in my parent's basement.

And stop trying to find out how old D-X was in 1991...it's getting creepy.

I simply find it amusing that fault-finding kids that weren't old enough to see  GNR in 88-93 now think they have all the answers but are ashamed of their age.

Thank you for calling me names, I may be by your limited little definition both bat-shit crazy as well as a bitch but that trumps a dumb motherf*cker every time. 

Looking forward to getting my Appetite for Democracy Bundle

[EmilyGNR]

Bucket got fed up with the prolonged inactivity, for example. 

Not true. 

The 'Buckethead no longer being in GNR' story is out there and 'prolonged inactivity' by the band was NOT the reason.

Isnt it amazing the things they choose to believe to support their narrative and negative agenda?

[EmilyGNR]

That doesn't necessarily mean that the album needs to sell really well in a traditional sense. If the music gains popularity on the streaming services and the radio, that's equally good for more potential concert goers. It just needs to "get out there", the method of doing so doesn't really matter.

The band also needs to get out there.  If you can't be bothered and you are counting on your own fans to do all the legwork, that is reflected in the level of interest.

Internet forum diehards like us will seek that stuff out, but they already have us.  You need to grow the overall fanbase.

I find it amusing that you are a self-appointed expert on what the band "needs" to do

Imagine them not consulting you for advice, when you seem to be an expert on everything and parade it around these forums like the armchair quarterback you are.

[EmilyGNR]

I find it amusing that I have inquired how old you were in 91, and you refuse to answer which leads me to believe you were probably in diapers, or were sperm.

Its not that I have not seen them.  Its just that you bring so little of value to the table, I don't bother to respond.

I don't claim your clairvoyant abilities, so I have no idea if this is how you are real life.  I can only go by how you choose to present yourself here, and that's as an angry internet clich?.  Look at how many people you have put on blast just on the past few pages alone.  One is a brand new poster that has been here for like 10 minutes, for god's sake.

Trying to have a reasoned conversation with you would be like trying to do so with a Youtube commenter.  Its a great waste of my time.

All I see you bringing to the so-called table, is a negative agenda, constant faultfinding, a inflated sense of self-worth, and the arrogance or ignorance to think you are some sort of expert on what GNR "needs" to do.

Nobody solicited your amateur advice, some of us are tired of your negative attitude and constant criticism.

This is a fan forum, some of us actually enjoy and support this band, and have enjoyed GNRs for many years.

[mortismurphy]

It is not simply a question of equating album sales with ticket attendances, the people who buy the album with the people who buy the ticket. The release of an album (with most bands other than New gnr) brings out multiple ancillary factors (marketing, interviews, television spots and music promos, radio work) which heavily contribute to promoting a tour. And also, the 'modern day' argument works both ways. Surely someone who downloads an album '(legal' or other wise) may attend a show based on the strength of that album? What about these people who pick certain tracks from places like itunes and amazon - presumably that is not regarded as an 'album' sale?

Also, about this, 'people wanting to see the hits' agenda'. I never saw this agenda affect Pearl Jam or Neil Young. Funny that?