Richard Fortus Talks Guns N' Roses and The Dead Daisies

[HBK]

Richard Fortus joined Guns N' Roses  in 2001 becoming their longest serving new lineup guitarist and playing on GNR's 2008 album Chinese Democracy. The St. Louis, Missouri native got his big break when his band Pale Divine opened for The Psychedelic Furs. In 1992 this led to Fortus forming the band Love Spit Love with Psychedelic Furs' frontman Richard Butler and future GNR drummer Frank Ferrer. In 2000 Fortus and Ferrer became touring members of the re-formed Psychedelic Furs before Fortus became a member of Guns N' Roses in 2001 with Ferrer later joining GNR in 2006.

More Here:

http://rock.about.com/od/Interviews/fl/Interview-Richard-Fortus-Talks-Guns-N-Roses-and-The-Dead-Daisies.htm

[RnT]

What is the current status of GNR. You've said before that there might be plans to record and tour with GNR next year. Is that still happening?

The current state of GNR is pretty up in the air. The last I heard they wanted to finish up the recordings that we have and put them out next year and start touring. But it has been a while since I've heard from anybody in that camp as far as management or Axl. So I really don't know.

[RnT]

Did you play on The Dead Daisies song "Lock 'N' Load" with Slash?

No. That was recorded before I was in the band. I wouldn't do that out of respect to Axl. Not that he would make a big deal out of it. But after all the s--- that's gone down between those two guys it would be a real slap in the face. Slash wanted to sit in when I was with Thin Lizzy and I told Scott Gorham, the other guitar player, 'If Slash wants to sit in he can use my gear, my amp, and my guitars.' But just out of respect for my friend I can't stand on the same stage with Slash. And nobody asked me to do that, it's just a personal thing. And it's no slight to Slash, he's one of the greatest guitar players ever. I just can't do it out of respect for my friend [laughs].[/i]


 

[draguns]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

[The Wight Gunner]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

He has good as said that.    The point he is making IMHO is until they resolve their issues, out of loyalty to Axl he'll stay clear of any situation that may be seen as being, or more importantly, being construed as being disrespectful to Axl.  The media would have a field day if this happened, the question is, why would you put yourself in that position? He has acknowledged that Axl wouldn't worry about it, its a personal thing that Richard alone doesn't feel comfortable with, and that's his stance.

[jarmo]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

He's just stating that he doesn't want to create any extra drama by playing eight the guy.
Pretty obvious.



/jarmo

[mortismurphy]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

He has good as said that.    The point he is making IMHO is until they resolve their issues, out of loyalty to Axl he'll stay clear of any situation that may be seen as being, or more importantly, being construed as being disrespectful to Axl.  The media would have a field day if this happened, the question is, why would you put yourself in that position? He has acknowledged that Axl wouldn't worry about it, its a personal thing that Richard alone doesn't feel comfortable with, and that's his stance.

You really think that? In my opinion the media couldn't care a less if Slash guested with 'Thin Lizzy' containing a Richard Fortus. It probably would have went completely unreported.

[HBK]

Did you play on The Dead Daisies song "Lock 'N' Load" with Slash?

No. That was recorded before I was in the band. I wouldn't do that out of respect to Axl. Not that he would make a big deal out of it. But after all the s--- that's gone down between those two guys it would be a real slap in the face. Slash wanted to sit in when I was with Thin Lizzy and I told Scott Gorham, the other guitar player, 'If Slash wants to sit in he can use my gear, my amp, and my guitars.' But just out of respect for my friend I can't stand on the same stage with Slash. And nobody asked me to do that, it's just a personal thing. And it's no slight to Slash, he's one of the greatest guitar players ever. I just can't do it out of respect for my friend [laughs].[/i]


 

Very Good, Congratulations Richard

 

[GnR-NOW]

Stand up guy.

[HBK]

"I've worked with a lot of people in this business, and I've never seen, or met, anybody that was motivatd purely by that - by the desire to make art," he explained on the podcast.

"And you can say whatever you want about it, 'cause he's not gonna defend himself, but he is that, and that's for sure. Otherwise, there would have been a reunion, because the offers for money have been outrageous. But he would never do a reunion unless it was for something besides money."

Guns N' Roses guitarist Richard Fortus' interview could be heard below:

http://www.franchiseherald.com/articles/32429/20150717/guns-n-roses-new-album-dj-ashba.htm

[westcoast_junkie]

This makes me like Fortus even more.  Stand up guy, great player. At least one guitarist who's stable 👍

[reayj2003]

I wonder why he's changed his tune. Only weeks ago he said there would be action in 2016.

[D-GenerationX]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

He's just stating that he doesn't want to create any extra drama by playing eight the guy.
Pretty obvious.

I agree.

And I think its the right move.  It would be unnecessarily antagonistic with no real payoff.

[JAEBALL]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

He's just stating that he doesn't want to create any extra drama by playing eight the guy.
Pretty obvious.

I agree.

And I think its the right move.  It would be unnecessarily antagonistic with no real payoff.

I could care less about what he thinks is the right thing to do reagarding two 50 year olds who can't play nice..

My take from the interview is how he hasn't heard from the GNR "camp" in a long time . I feel that's the part that should be of concern.

[faldor]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

He's just stating that he doesn't want to create any extra drama by playing eight the guy.
Pretty obvious.

I agree.

And I think its the right move.  It would be unnecessarily antagonistic with no real payoff.

I could care less about what he thinks is the right thing to do reagarding two 50 year olds who can't play nice..

My take from the interview is how he hasn't heard from the GNR "camp" in a long time . I feel that's the part that should be of concern.

To amend your concern a bit, I don't think it's a big deal that he hasn't heard from the GNR camp, or Axl for awhile. It's not like they'd give daily morning briefings. He could easily receive a call tomorrow telling him to get ready to play some shows. Unlikely, I know, but that seems to be how they operate. The thing that may be of concern is that Richard does not seem as hopeful about the direction of the band as he did a month or so ago. Or, yet another possibility. He has no answers to the questions he continually gets asked regarding Guns and this is his way of passing the buck.

[draguns]

For me, there really isn't any reason to comment on not wanting Slash to play with Thin Lizzy when he was involved. With that being said, I hope he hears from the GNR camp or Axl soon.

[JAEBALL]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

He's just stating that he doesn't want to create any extra drama by playing eight the guy.
Pretty obvious.

I agree.

And I think its the right move.  It would be unnecessarily antagonistic with no real payoff.

I could care less about what he thinks is the right thing to do reagarding two 50 year olds who can't play nice..

My take from the interview is how he hasn't heard from the GNR "camp" in a long time . I feel that's the part that should be of concern.

To amend your concern a bit, I don't think it's a big deal that he hasn't heard from the GNR camp, or Axl for awhile. It's not like they'd give daily morning briefings. He could easily receive a call tomorrow telling him to get ready to play some shows. Unlikely, I know, but that seems to be how they operate. The thing that may be of concern is that Richard does not seem as hopeful about the direction of the band as he did a month or so ago. Or, yet another possibility. He has no answers to the questions he continually gets asked regarding Guns and this is his way of passing the buck.

Well said.. you articulated my thoughts better than I did.

[EmilyGNR]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

He's just stating that he doesn't want to create any extra drama by playing eight the guy.
Pretty obvious.

I agree.

And I think its the right move.  It would be unnecessarily antagonistic with no real payoff.

I could care less about what he thinks is the right thing to do reagarding two 50 year olds who can't play nice..

My take from the interview is how he hasn't heard from the GNR "camp" in a long time . I feel that's the part that should be of concern.

"Should" be of concern to whom?

[GNR4L]

There's a thing called "loyalty" and Richard is very loyal.  Great interview.

[JAEBALL]

Really?! This is just BS on Fortus part. He has nothing to do with the fight between Axl and Slash.

He's just stating that he doesn't want to create any extra drama by playing eight the guy.
Pretty obvious.

I agree.

And I think its the right move.  It would be unnecessarily antagonistic with no real payoff.

I could care less about what he thinks is the right thing to do reagarding two 50 year olds who can't play nice..

My take from the interview is how he hasn't heard from the GNR "camp" in a long time . I feel that's the part that should be of concern.

"Should" be of concern to whom?

To those of us who'd prefer to see GNR perform and release some new music in the near future. If you're one who doesn't care when that happens... then yes , it's not a concern to you.