GN?R Reps Confirm Ron ?Bumblefoot? Thal Has Left The Band

[FunkyMonkey]

GN?R Reps Confirm Ron ?Bumblefoot? Thal Has Left The Band

Guns N' Roses has decided to clear up the status of guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, saying he is indeed out of the band -- and has been for some time.

A confirmed source with the band tells us that, "Bumblefoot quit last year. I don't understand why he continues to be evasive on his status with the band -- he quit in South America. He told Axl he was done and (Las) Vegas would be his last run with the band."

Bumblefoot, who joined GNR in 2006 to replace Buckethead, has hinted at his departure for some time, even telling us recently that "I think there's enough clues out there for you to figure out what I'm up to now" but adding that he was "honoring a request not to make any public statements" about his membership in the band. The GNR source's statement is the first confirmation of his departure.

The news follows in the wake of fellow guitarist DJ Ashba's announcement that he's left GNR to focus on his other band, Sixx: A.M., leaving Richard Fortus as the group's only guitarist. GNR drummer Frank Ferrer, however, said in an interview this week with Stone Chrome Radio that the group is "forging ahead;" "There's a plan in place, and it's happening, so that's all I can say."

GNR released the film Appetite For Democracy 3D: Live at the Hard Rock Casino -- Las Vegas last fall, but there's no word yet on a follow-up to its last album, 2008's Chinese Democracy, even though various band members have said there's new material around and some recording has been done.

http://wrif.com/2015/07/31/gnr-reps-confirm-ron-bumblefoot-thal-left-band/

JULY 31, 2015

[Spirit]

Well, finally that puts an end to that saga.

[HBK]

Thanks FM / Thanks BBFT

The Saga Continue... GUNS N' ROSES 4EVER !!!

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Guns N' Roses has decided to clear up the status of guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, saying he is indeed out of the band -- and has been for some time.

Finally.

[Spirit]

If Bumble had just announced this a year ago, just the way Dj did now, I think people would be more inclined to back him up and make his leaving more of a celebration of his time in GNR.

Personally I think he has been playing games with the fans for the past year, and it's really not that funny. If he indeed was denied to make any statements about it, then why did he? In every single interview he dropped "hints" about what's going on. I don't know why such a ban would be imposed on him in the first place though, no ban for Dj apparently. Seems really strange.

Anyways, good luck with whatever you'll do next Bumble.

[pilferk]

If Bumble had just announced this a year ago, just the way Dj did now, I think people would be more inclined to back him up and make his leaving more of a celebration of his time in GNR.

Personally I think he has been playing games with the fans for the past year, and it's really not that funny. If he indeed was denied to make any statements about it, then why did he? In every single interview he dropped "hints" about what's going on. I don't know why such a ban would be imposed on him in the first place though, no ban for Dj apparently. Seems really strange.

Anyways, good luck with whatever you'll do next Bumble.

I mean, I know the first assumption is that the band put those restrictions on him...and maybe so.

But, given the statement above from the "band rep", maybe it wasn't them?  Maybe, as some have suggested, it was his label and some of his gear sponsors?

I don't know..just floating that out for discussion.

[FunkyMonkey]

If Bumble had just announced this a year ago, just the way Dj did now, I think people would be more inclined to back him up and make his leaving more of a celebration of his time in GNR.

Who know what the situation was:

His current status with GNR, meanwhile, is purposely vague and something he's contractually "not [able] to elaborate on."  Billboard.com

Maybe we'll get that letter from Ron now.

[Spirit]

If Bumble had just announced this a year ago, just the way Dj did now, I think people would be more inclined to back him up and make his leaving more of a celebration of his time in GNR.

Personally I think he has been playing games with the fans for the past year, and it's really not that funny. If he indeed was denied to make any statements about it, then why did he? In every single interview he dropped "hints" about what's going on. I don't know why such a ban would be imposed on him in the first place though, no ban for Dj apparently. Seems really strange.

Anyways, good luck with whatever you'll do next Bumble.

I mean, I know the first assumption is that the band put those restrictions on him...and maybe so.

But, given the statement above from the "band rep", maybe it wasn't them?  Maybe, as some have suggested, it was his label and some of his gear sponsors?

I don't know..just floating that out for discussion.

Yeah, it would certainly be in the sponsor's best interest to keep the "Guns N' Roses guitarist" tagline in their advertising. Good point.

[Spirit]

If Bumble had just announced this a year ago, just the way Dj did now, I think people would be more inclined to back him up and make his leaving more of a celebration of his time in GNR.

Who know what the situation was:

His current status with GNR, meanwhile, is purposely vague and something he's contractually "not [able] to elaborate on."  Billboard.com

Maybe we'll get that letter from Ron now.

Even if he wasn't able to elaborate on anything, he did. Many, many times.

He started the speculation before Vegas with the countdown to the last show.


If you can't elaborate on something, then don't bring it up in the first place.

[FunkyMonkey]

Even if he wasn't able to elaborate on anything, he did. Many, many times.

I think everyone can agree it wasn't handled very well by Ron.

But it could have been cleared up long ago.

[Spirit]

I agree.

[HBK]

New Generations:

- WELCOME TO GUNS N' ROSES WORLD -

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Gary Graff

.@gunsnroses confirms it's down to one guitarist after @DjASHBA, @bumblefoot split

https://twitter.com/GraffonMusic/status/627141227935195136

1 hour

[mortismurphy]

Would this be his last gig,

June 7th, 2014 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Setlist: Chinese Democracy, Welcome To The Jungle, It's So Easy, Mr. Brownstone, Estranged, There Was A Time, Better, Rocket Queen, Richard Fortus Guitar Solo/Live And Let Die, This I Love, Holidays In The Sun (Tommy Stinson), Band Introductions, Dizzy Reed Piano Solo/Catcher In The Rye, You Could Be Mine, Dj Ashba Guitar Solo (Bella Vita)/Sweet Child O' Mine, Jam (Babe I'm Gonna Leave You/While My Guitar Gently Weeps)/Layla (Instrumental)/November Rain, Marseilles, Bumblefoot Solo (Abnormal), Don't Cry, Yesterdays, Used To Love Her, Civil War, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Jam/Nightrain
Encore: You Can't Always Get What You Want (partial - vocals by Tommy Stinson)/Patience, The Seeker, Jam/Paradise City (partial), Paradise City (restarted from beginning)

 
 
Notes: Estranged is introduced as a "song about togetherness, or the lack thereof".
Bumblefoot dedicates Abnormal to the GN'R crew.

After Yesterdays Axl and Tommy discuss who fucked up.

Axl talks about being distracted by the girls and messing up. Then Paradise City is messed up a bit and restarted.

Opening acts: Unlocking The Truth, Andrew Dice Clay

[sofine11]

I'm sure having his name associated with GNR hasn't hurt Bumble's media opportunities over the last year and a half. Kind of a dick move keeping things intentionally vague.  I'm hardly a fan of DJ, but he had the balls to put out a letter to clarify things.


So....Robin, Bucket & Duff return anyone?

[Princess Leia]

Even if he wasn't able to elaborate on anything, he did. Many, many times.

I think everyone can agree it wasn't handled very well by Ron.

But it could have been cleared up long ago.

 He wanted to get attention and cash in with the mystery game. I?m glad the camp put an end to it. Although they could?ve done it earlier

[sky dog]

would like to know who the "rep" is...seems a bit fishy.

[kyrie]

If Bumble had just announced this a year ago, just the way Dj did now, I think people would be more inclined to back him up and make his leaving more of a celebration of his time in GNR.

Personally I think he has been playing games with the fans for the past year, and it's really not that funny. If he indeed was denied to make any statements about it, then why did he? In every single interview he dropped "hints" about what's going on. I don't know why such a ban would be imposed on him in the first place though, no ban for Dj apparently. Seems really strange.

Anyways, good luck with whatever you'll do next Bumble.

I mean, I know the first assumption is that the band put those restrictions on him...and maybe so.

But, given the statement above from the "band rep", maybe it wasn't them?  Maybe, as some have suggested, it was his label and some of his gear sponsors?

I don't know..just floating that out for discussion.

Since we don't know who the band rep in this case is, it could just be a case of one hand not knowing what the other hand is doing.

[FunkyMonkey]

would like to know who the "rep" is...seems a bit fishy.

The journalist is credible:

Gary Graff

Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist based in Detroit. In addition to Billboard, Billboard.com, and Billboard.biz, he also writes regularly for the New York Times Features Syndicate, Journal Register Newspapers, Revolver, Music Connection, United Stations Radio Networks and more, and for radio stations in Detroit and Milwaukee. He has written books about Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, rock 'n' roll myths and other subjects.

http://www.billboard.com/author/gary-graff-6146

[rebelhipi]

Its not been the best week in GN'R land.


Anyway, goodluck for the future Ron!