Is there a possibility of Duff rejoining on a permanent basis?

[Bridge]

No.

Duff has gone on with his life, personally and professionally.  Not only does he have his own band and musical projects, he has a wife and two daughters who are obviously the center of his world.

Like it or not, I strongly doubt Duff would want to deal with Axl's still-erratic schedule (where Axl would be the one still controlling everything) on a more permanent basis.  It would disrupt everything in Duff's now stable life.

If Duff returns to GNR then that will be the bridge for Slash to return.

I seriously doubt it, especially since Duff said that he never even brought Slash up during the recent years he spent with Axl.  The Axl/Slash rift can only be healed by Axl and Slash.  I seriously doubt Duff would be bothered to get in the middle of that, and I don't blame him.

[Sosso]

Axl has GN'R, Duff has Loaded, Slash has his solo albums. I don't think that this situation should be changed because it works.

[reayj2003]

Axl has GN'R, Duff has Loaded, Slash has his solo albums. I don't thing that this situation should be changed because it works.

Do you like Tommy Stinson by any chance??

[TheBaconman]

Why would Duff ever want to come back to the band as an employee

When he was in the band as a controlling partner !

I can see duff just doing a couple of shows here and there

I can also never see Axl signing over rights that would make Duff a partner again.    Why would he?

[raindogs70]

Duff, Slash and Axl are still partners when it comes to the back catalog, it might make things a little easier in trying to get songs cleared. They're always going to have to deal with each other, even if it's indirectly.
 
If Slash and Axl can even get to the "speaking to each other" level, that's as good as it will get in my opinion.

[ITARocker]

It would be a good thing, but probably it won't happen. I Don't think Duff will come back without slash on a permanent basis, this is just impossible. Duff could rejoin the band even for a middle long term, but at the end he would leave.

[Bridge]

Duff, Slash and Axl are still partners when it comes to the back catalog, it might make things a little easier in trying to get songs cleared. They're always going to have to deal with each other, even if it's indirectly.

Being stockholders in GNR, and dealing with each other indirectly, means exactly that.  What it doesn't mean is that Duff is forced to center his entire life around the erratic uncertainly of Axl's plans and behavior.  There is nothing worse than having your life controlled by an external source (that's one reason why Duff left GNR in the first place), especially when you're in Duff's position where you have a family and plenty of satisfying musical projects to occupy your time.

If Slash and Axl can even get to the "speaking to each other" level, that's as good as it will get in my opinion.

Maybe so, but that's really an irrelevant, unforeseeable future.

Why would Duff ever want to come back to the band as an employee

When he was in the band as a controlling partner !

Exactly.  It's like divorcing your wife, then moving back in with her, and sleeping in the other room while she fucks her new husband.  It's pointless!

[sofine11]

I think Duff would definitely come back if asked.  That's just me.

[mortismurphy]

Duff, Slash and Axl are still partners when it comes to the back catalog, it might make things a little easier in trying to get songs cleared. They're always going to have to deal with each other, even if it's indirectly.

Being stockholders in GNR, and dealing with each other indirectly, means exactly that.  What it doesn't mean is that Duff is forced to center his entire life around the erratic uncertainly of Axl's plans and behavior.  There is nothing worse than having your life controlled by an external source (that's one reason why Duff left GNR in the first place), especially when you're in Duff's position where you have a family and plenty of satisfying musical projects to occupy your time.

If Slash and Axl can even get to the "speaking to each other" level, that's as good as it will get in my opinion.

Maybe so, but that's really an irrelevant, unforeseeable future.

Why would Duff ever want to come back to the band as an employee

When he was in the band as a controlling partner !

Exactly.  It's like divorcing your wife, then moving back in with her, and sleeping in the other room while she fucks her new husband.  It's pointless!

I agree with all of this. He has two functioning bands, a business, a literary side career, fitness pursuits and a happy family life. He is a renaissance man. Once he sobered up, Duff has become the most grounded and stable of all of the old band members. Why would he throw the Axl circus into the middle of all of that?

[sofine11]

Duff, Slash and Axl are still partners when it comes to the back catalog, it might make things a little easier in trying to get songs cleared. They're always going to have to deal with each other, even if it's indirectly.

Being stockholders in GNR, and dealing with each other indirectly, means exactly that.  What it doesn't mean is that Duff is forced to center his entire life around the erratic uncertainly of Axl's plans and behavior.  There is nothing worse than having your life controlled by an external source (that's one reason why Duff left GNR in the first place), especially when you're in Duff's position where you have a family and plenty of satisfying musical projects to occupy your time.

If Slash and Axl can even get to the "speaking to each other" level, that's as good as it will get in my opinion.

Maybe so, but that's really an irrelevant, unforeseeable future.

Why would Duff ever want to come back to the band as an employee

When he was in the band as a controlling partner !

Exactly.  It's like divorcing your wife, then moving back in with her, and sleeping in the other room while she fucks her new husband.  It's pointless!

I agree with all of this. He has two functioning bands, a business, a literary side career, fitness pursuits and a happy family life. He is a renaissance man. Once he sobered up, Duff has become the most grounded and stable of all of the old band members. Why would he throw the Axl circus into the middle of all of that?

As a touring member? Probably the same reason he joined Guns for a good long run last year, because he admittedly missed the songs and had a blast playing them live again.  I certainly wouldn't put a Duff return outside the real of possibilities.

[D-GenerationX]

I think Duff would definitely come back if asked.  That's just me.

I don't.  Why put up with Axl's bullshit at this stage of your life?

I'm sure the few shows he did were a nice trip down memory lane.  But, I suspect in an honest moment, he would tell you he also saw reminders why he cashed out when he did.

[mortismurphy]

Duff, Slash and Axl are still partners when it comes to the back catalog, it might make things a little easier in trying to get songs cleared. They're always going to have to deal with each other, even if it's indirectly.

Being stockholders in GNR, and dealing with each other indirectly, means exactly that.  What it doesn't mean is that Duff is forced to center his entire life around the erratic uncertainly of Axl's plans and behavior.  There is nothing worse than having your life controlled by an external source (that's one reason why Duff left GNR in the first place), especially when you're in Duff's position where you have a family and plenty of satisfying musical projects to occupy your time.

If Slash and Axl can even get to the "speaking to each other" level, that's as good as it will get in my opinion.

Maybe so, but that's really an irrelevant, unforeseeable future.

Why would Duff ever want to come back to the band as an employee

When he was in the band as a controlling partner !

Exactly.  It's like divorcing your wife, then moving back in with her, and sleeping in the other room while she fucks her new husband.  It's pointless!

I agree with all of this. He has two functioning bands, a business, a literary side career, fitness pursuits and a happy family life. He is a renaissance man. Once he sobered up, Duff has become the most grounded and stable of all of the old band members. Why would he throw the Axl circus into the middle of all of that?

As a touring member? Probably the same reason he joined Guns for a good long run last year, because he admittedly missed the songs and had a blast playing them live again.  I certainly wouldn't put a Duff return outside the real of possibilities.

On anything like a permanent thing though? I couldn't see it myself.

[Bridge]

As a touring member? Probably the same reason he joined Guns for a good long run last year, because he admittedly missed the songs and had a blast playing them live again.  I certainly wouldn't put a Duff return outside the real of possibilities.

All of that was convenient, temporary, and didn't disrupt Duff's life.  It isn't the same as being a contracted member of the band where it completely governs his life.  If Duff rejoined GNR on a permanent basis (or even a long-term touring member), the commitment would be 24/7.  He wouldn't be able to plan anything long-term with his family, his music, or anything else, because he would know that the phone would ring any minute and require him to drop everything and show up for rehearsals, recording, or touring, all at erratic, unplanned intervals which would disrupt anything and everything in Duff's now well-established stable life -- a life he obviously cherishes.

[LongGoneDay]

I don?t want a reunion, as that ship has long since sailed, but I?d prefer to see that over any single member of the classic lineup jump back on board full time.
Don?t get half pregnant.

I don?t see why any of them would rejoin unless they truly thought they had unfinished business.

From the outside looking in, I can?t fathom any of the alumni looking at the current state of affairs and second guessing their decisions to leave.

I?d love to see Izzy and Axl working together again, but outside of the GN?R banner.

[D-GenerationX]

From the outside looking in, I can?t fathom any of the alumni looking at the current state of affairs and second guessing their decisions to leave.

Not one of them.  From Slash right through to Ron.

Where would the regrets be? 

Leaving GNR wasn't exactly dumping Pfizer stock right before they introduced Viagra.  Axl has done nothing of note that was going to fill these guys with any sort of regret.

[sofine11]

I dunno.  If the contract covered one tour leg at a time with no commitments beyond that, I could see a Duff return.  You guys act like he would be selling his soul, whereas I think (barring any prior commitments) he'd be totally into it and done of his own free will.  I think Ron's screaming and crying over the past couple years have given us a jaded understanding of what life on the road with modern day GNR is actually like.  Duff certainly seemed to be enjoying himself last time.  And he's 50 years old.  What's he got to loose?

[D-GenerationX]

I dunno.  If the contract covered one tour leg at a time with no commitments beyond that, I could see a Duff return.  You guys act like he would be selling his soul, whereas I think (barring any prior commitments) he'd be totally into it and done of his own free will.  I think Ron's screaming and crying over the past couple years have given us a jaded understanding of what life on the road with modern day GNR is actually like.  Duff certainly seemed to be enjoying himself last time.  And he's 50 years old.  What's he got to loose?

Time.

As in, that first time he's sitting backstage waiting for the Axlcopter to arrive.  At 10:30PM.

[sofine11]

I dunno.  If the contract covered one tour leg at a time with no commitments beyond that, I could see a Duff return.  You guys act like he would be selling his soul, whereas I think (barring any prior commitments) he'd be totally into it and done of his own free will.  I think Ron's screaming and crying over the past couple years have given us a jaded understanding of what life on the road with modern day GNR is actually like.  Duff certainly seemed to be enjoying himself last time.  And he's 50 years old.  What's he got to loose?

Time.

As in, that first time he's sitting backstage waiting for the Axlcopter to arrive.  At 10:30PM.

I think Slash has a bigger issue with that than Duff.  Again, I'm just going by the events of last year and Duff's uber-willingness to tour with Guns for a good amount of shows knowing full well what the deal is with Axl going on stage when Axl's ready.  And the feedback we got on his twitter was glowing about what a blast he was having.

[Spirit]

I dunno.  If the contract covered one tour leg at a time with no commitments beyond that, I could see a Duff return.  You guys act like he would be selling his soul, whereas I think (barring any prior commitments) he'd be totally into it and done of his own free will.  I think Ron's screaming and crying over the past couple years have given us a jaded understanding of what life on the road with modern day GNR is actually like.  Duff certainly seemed to be enjoying himself last time.  And he's 50 years old.  What's he got to loose?

Time.

As in, that first time he's sitting backstage waiting for the Axlcopter to arrive.  At 10:30PM.

I think Slash has a bigger issue with that than Duff.  Again, I'm just going by the events of last year and Duff's uber-willingness to tour with Guns for a good amount of shows knowing full well what the deal is with Axl going on stage when Axl's ready.  And the feedback we got on his twitter was glowing about what a blast he was having.

Also, is this even an issue anymore. Haven't they been pretty much on time the past couple of years?

[sofine11]

I dunno.  If the contract covered one tour leg at a time with no commitments beyond that, I could see a Duff return.  You guys act like he would be selling his soul, whereas I think (barring any prior commitments) he'd be totally into it and done of his own free will.  I think Ron's screaming and crying over the past couple years have given us a jaded understanding of what life on the road with modern day GNR is actually like.  Duff certainly seemed to be enjoying himself last time.  And he's 50 years old.  What's he got to loose?

Time.

As in, that first time he's sitting backstage waiting for the Axlcopter to arrive.  At 10:30PM.

I think Slash has a bigger issue with that than Duff.  Again, I'm just going by the events of last year and Duff's uber-willingness to tour with Guns for a good amount of shows knowing full well what the deal is with Axl going on stage when Axl's ready.  And the feedback we got on his twitter was glowing about what a blast he was having.

Also, is this even an issue anymore. Haven't they been pretty much on time the past couple of years?

It's improved to point where I don't think Duff would *not* tour with GNR again over it.