DJ's Letter

[jarmo]

I think its hard to spin 2 major defections within the past year as a good thing.  Leaving us with an uncertain future, at best.

Nobody's spinning anything.

You've been making these uncertain future posts for months now.....



/jarmo

[GNR4L]

I will take The Magical Mystery Vault.  I will take a reunion.

Most people won't take both.  I will. 

Because I refuse to accept an outcome where the best frontman of my lifetime site at home.  No god damn good.

Sits at home ? South Anerican tour, 2 Las Vegas residencies  (Blu-Ray DVD), touring from 09-14... Staying in Vegas to work on the new album in June 2014....  Might wanna take that one back.

[fito_gnr]

I don't know if anybody noticed but since May- June the posts in the official GN'R Facebook page has been about the classic line up... Using the old logo.. Nothing about the latest line up...

[OscarAxl22]

I think its hard to spin 2 major defections within the past year as a good thing.  Leaving us with an uncertain future, at best.

Nobody's spinning anything.

You've been making these uncertain future posts for months now.....



/jarmo

This may be too much to ask...

But are you willing to provide us with your view on how you see this departure and the future for the band? You've hardly said much since this story broke?

[faldor]

I always thought Eddie Trunk just personally felt that a reunion would happen someday. I don't think he has any inside knowledge on the subject.

I didn't know much about Richie Kotzen until he joined forces with Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan to form The Winery Dogs. He'd offer very good background vocals. Sounds like a poor man's Chris Cornell to me.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fnMBix9Zq5o

[GnR-NOW]

I don't know if anybody noticed but since May- June the posts in the official GN'R Facebook page has been about the classic line up... Using the old logo.. Nothing about the latest line up...

I have noticed that too. Just chose not to read too much into it.

[mortismurphy]

Claiming excitement over major band defections is just about the very definition of the concept you will cheer anything, literally anything, that comes down the pike with this guy.

How about murder?  Could we spin a murder?  Would it be an extension of there never being anyone like Axl Rose?

The usual nonsense from you.

You seem to lack the ability to see anything good in the world of GN'R.

Since that ability is missing in your life, let me explain it to you. Nobody is necessarily claiming this to be great news, they're merely expressing an opinion that they're not seeing this as the definite end of the world (as some others seem to) and that something will come out of all this that could very well be good. The last time a new band member joined, it was followed by years and years of activity that we really hadn't seen the like of (at least not in the Internet age).

Of course, this concept is alien to you. See above. And I'm expecting you to somehow try to ridicule what I said. I'll save you, and everybody some time by just saying: Move on.

Just because something is true for you, doesn't mean everyone else is like you. And thank God for that! 


The irony of the situation is that now fans actually have a reason to feel upset or whatever, but it's the same handful of posters who were whin... expressing their honest opinions in 2014 that are still doing it....



/jarmo

The word used was 'exciting', 'excitement', not 'optimism for the future'. If you feel Guns will be able to recuperate and maybe find two guitarists even better and come out better, that is fair enough but I fail to see how a reaction to the initial news could produce feelings of excitement. I actually think it is a fair bet that Axl was dismayed by Dj's defection. Some of you are even more in 'la la land' than your mentor is. Can you imagine Axl saying, ''wow, exciting - exciting times'' when Ashba said to Axl that he was quitting?

Moaning Mortis-  Why not whine about the Vegas residencies one more time, I don't think you have really made that point clear to some 

I think the next chapter of GNR  could be very interesting and intriguing, for me something interesting and intriguing leads to some degree of excitement and enjoyment, why would someone voluntarily spend leisure time on something they didn't enjoy?

You may as well hold on to your casino chips awhile longer as he isn't going to be playing Vegas for awhile (thank god for small mercies): he is at least one but probably two guitarists down!

[MeanBone]

I just want to ask why is anyone thinking richie kotzen is on the table. From what i understoond from 4tus interview, richie auditioned a long time ago, which makes sense because everyone who's anyone was asked to audition.


But for someone to say richie is a poor mans version of chris cornell... damn you just don't understand music. Richie is a freakin' genius, amazing singer songwriter and is doing pretty good for himself with the winery dogs, he may of have never had the musical success of GN'R but that's not the point, he is an amazing guitar player and singer and songwriter and he is no poor man's version of nothing!

Only problem is Richie doesn't really like to play with a les paul, i think there's only one video where he does that and he stops half way through and to see someone shred on a telecaster with no guitar pick playing gn'r might not sound exactly what gn'r fans are expecting.

But i think a reunion is the most likely scenario. I don't see richie giving up a band ( the first one he started) with Portnoy and Billy Sheehan to go and tour for Axl. Doesn't make that much sense.

[reayj2003]

One other reunion factor could be the fact that divorce can be a very costly thing. Just saying Slash might be feeling the pinch!

[kukol1978]

Axl: Bring back the old buddies,show them what you have written those years,let them make some songs with you,let them make some changes in your songs and sing like you know,and we will end all in happiness and pride.

[EmilyGNR]

One other reunion factor could be the fact that divorce can be a very costly thing. Just saying Slash might be feeling the pinch!

Did they not have a prenup agreement? That could prove very costly if not.

[JAEBALL]

One other reunion factor could be the fact that divorce can be a very costly thing. Just saying Slash might be feeling the pinch!

While at present time it really seems we are closer than ever before and both lead guitar players have quit..

There is really very little to no evidence that Axl's feelings towards Slash and or a reunion have changed.

[DeN]

so basically DJ was a touring member like Gilby

They are all touring members...   Like Gilby

Axl is there employer.

There is no partnership between Axl and any current travelling band member..

Its not a bad thing, its just a thing

no, no. there's members who writes music with Axl, who records with Axl, and make what GNR sounds like today.

and there's people who "only" tour in the band, for some years.

[mortismurphy]

I just cannot see a reunion happening. I don't know why everybody is talking about it? A reunion if it ever happened would collapse within a week. Slash is happy putting out his conspirator releases without the pressure of an erratic frontman. Duff has his thing musically and also writes and runs a business. Izzy is well Izzy. And by Axl agreeing to reunite it would mean that he has accepted the fact that his nugnr has been a disaster. He is too locked into his ancient feud with the 'cancer'. He has demonized Slash so much that he cannot be the bigger man and climb down from that position. Only Adler would be willing at the drop of a hat. And then you have the lawyers and management teams and hangers on to contend with. There is no way Slash would agree to work with Beta Lebeis in the background.

[JAEBALL]

I just cannot see a reunion happening. I don't know why everybody is talking about it? A reunion if it ever happened would collapse within a week. Slash is happy putting out his conspirator releases without the pressure of an erratic frontman. Duff has his thing musically and also writes and runs a business. Izzy is well Izzy. And by Axl agreeing to reunite it would mean that he has accepted the fact that his nugnr has been a disaster. He is too locked into his ancient feud with the 'cancer'. He has demonized Slash so much that he cannot be the bigger man and climb down from that position. Only Adler would be willing at the drop of a hat. And then you have the lawyers and management teams and hangers on to contend with. There is no way Slash would agree to work with Beta Lebeis in the background.

I think Slash would do what he had to do on his end to make it work.

[reayj2003]

You can imagine the email.

Subject: classic reunion GN'R

Slash old buddy,

You may have read that my guitarists have walked out on me (much like you did in the 90's).

Fancy rejoining along with the others?

Let's get together in Chicago to play around with some song ideas in a few weeks. I'll probably arrive a month after- you know me still pretty tardy in that respect.

Toodles for now.

Axl

Ps sorry about the whole cancer thing!

[pilferk]

Look at the flip side: its hard to argue that ron and dj aren't imminently better off having been in gnr. They made good money (you'd think), were exposed to a much wider fan base, and have a much higher public profile than they did when they started. I'd argue thats true for Bucket too..lthough i'm not sure he sees that as a net positive.

Its not all bad, even if the things people are assuming are true, are true across the board.

Which kind of goes to my point...John5 doesn't need Axl for that... he has it, everyone else with the exception of maybe Robin and Tommy were widely unknown and participated in largely 'indy' projects. Why would you give up all control and input over years of your musical career just to get a free plane ride around South America? After the 3rd reboot (5th if you count the AFD and UYI lineups) the name recognition of being the GnR guitarist is losing a little lustre.

(edit) Quick example John5 has had a Fender Signature model for years... I know that's not the ultimate measuring stick but no replacement player has walked into that roll in GnR with that type of contract, DJ got his signature Les Paul after (sans bumble with a Vigier signature released the year he joined Guns and lets be honest Vigier isn't exactly Gibson or Fender).

I was speaking more in general terms, rather than targeting a specific person. There are benefits to associating yourself with GnR (and now, people will come out of the woodwork and enumerate all their percieved minuses...save your bandwidth...I'm aware of the general bent of those opinions).

I agree, John5 might not be the guy, more because I think he's happy in his current gig with Rob (he's still there, right?), than anything else.

[pilferk]

I will take The Magical Mystery Vault.  I will take a reunion.

Most people won't take both.  I will. 

Because I refuse to accept an outcome where the best frontman of my lifetime site at home.  No god damn good.

Sits at home ? South Anerican tour, 2 Las Vegas residencies  (Blu-Ray DVD), touring from 09-14... Staying in Vegas to work on the new album in June 2014....  Might wanna take that one back.

I think he meant "sits at home for the forseeable (and maybe not so forseeable) future".  As in, going forward.

[JAEBALL]

I really can't even fathom bringing in two new guitar players under the current model...

It just seems like ... enough already..

If an Apetite/illusion thing is still off the table in Axl's mind.... Beg Robin to come back and go at it with just him and Richard.

Of course, Axl won't ask me  

[C0ma]

I think Slash would do what he had to do on his end to make it work.

I would say if this was looked at realistically and not through 'Rose' colored glasses, Slash needs this less than pretty much all of the original members. He's released 3 albums (not counting VR) and while they are not breaking records, neither did the 1 that GnR released in 2008 which had a decade of speculation and mystique behind it. He has played 121 shows since July 9th 2014 and has another 23 scheduled between September and October. I haven't sat and counted each of them this morning, but just scanning through the tour dates I don't think GnR has played that many shows if you count 2012-2014 (maybe if you count 2011). He is a musician who loves to create and play music, not be paid to start and stop at Axl's whim. (which is why I see them having trouble getting an 'established' fill in for DJ and Ron (if needed))

I don't think Axl would ever budge on his overall control of the band and/or Team Brazil's role in the band, and Slash would help the Guns N' Roses brand more now than Axl would help the Slash brand... With that said I don't see how a reunion occurs. As far as money goes based on publishing rights etc... Slash does just fine off of the same back catalog that pays Axl.

Slash or someone close to him has to know that it is him and his top hat that are missing from the casual fan's view of the band so (IMO) he is the one who holds all the chips. At the same time I highly doubt Axl's ego would allow him to see it that way and I also think Axl (while playing at his own pace) also would be more interested in creating music on his terms the way he wants without having to change for Slash (even if it would raise the public perception of the band.)