Popular Post John Bonham Posted May 29, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted May 29, 2014 "We recorded a lot of things before Chinese was out. We've worked more on some of those things and we've written a few new things. But basically, we have what I call kind of the second half of Chinese. That's already recorded. And then we have a remix album made of the songs from Chinese. That's been done for a while, too. But after Vegas, we're going to start looking very seriously at what we're doing in that regard."AXL ROSE -- THE GUNS N' ROSES FRONTMAN AND RONNIE JAMES DIO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER TELLS NO LIES"We were making jokes backstage that after I went out to get my award, you were gonna shove me in a tube or something, like in The Running Man," Axl Rose says with a laugh. "Gotta go down below and fight or whatever..."Much to Rose's relief, upon accepting his Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award, Revolver did not send him, statue still in hand, to battle any subterranean warriors. But following laudatory speeches from comic legend Andrew "Dice" Clay and a spirited Nicolas Cage, Rose did indeed get right to work. The singer and his Guns N' Roses bandmatesguitarists DJ Ashba, Bumblefoot, and Richard Fortus; keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman; drummer Frank Ferrer; and original Gunner Duff McKagan. (filling in for current bassist Tommy Stinson, who is off on a reunion jaunt with his old band, the Replacements)took to the Golden Gods stage to close out the show in grand fashion, plowing through a nine-song, hour-plus-long set that featured plenty of Appetite for Destruction ("It's So Easy," "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City") and Use Your Illusion ("You Could Be Mine," "November Rain," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door") classics, with a few 21st century Guns tunes (the Chinese Democracy tracks "Better" and "This I Love") thrown in for good measure. It was a dynamic, career-spanning performance, as befitting an artist who had just been honored for a lifetime's worth of musical achievements. Which is not to say that all those achievements are in the past. As Rose tells Revolver in this rare and exclusive interview, there is still much work ahead for Guns N' Roses, both onstage and, he reveals, in the studio. (The band will release a new DVD and Blu-ray, Appetite For Democracy 3D: Live at the Hard Rock Casino - Las Vegas, on July 1.) So while he was happy to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award, he also makes it clear that he is still far from done."Hopefully, there'll be at least a few more years," Rose says, "and then we can judge everything a little better." He laughs again. "If I'm lucky!"Congratulations on winning the Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award.Thank you. It was actually kind of a surprise to me. And I appreciate it and stuff, but personally, I don't feel like I've done enough of anything to have a lifetime achievement award. But that's just me. I know other people were really happy for me about it so that was a good thing. I just feel like, you know, it's been a long, slow process beyond comprehension with Chinese Democracy, but it's still moving forward and there's a lot more that we hope to do.It was a nice moment when Nicolas Cage came out to present you with the statue.He's a big fan. We hadn't met before, but it's my understanding that he reached out wanting to do it. So it came together and we met before the show and it was really cool. But I didn't hear anything that he or Dice said about me onstage. It didn't come through my in-ear [monitors]. And really, anything they did say that was complimentary, it's probably better that I didn't hear it so I wasn't more embarrassed. One thing Nicolas Cage did admit to was that he prepared for his role as Johnny Blaze in the movie Ghost Rider by studying what he called your "cobra-like onstage movement."He told me that before the show! Because we were talking about some of his movies and I said I really liked the second Ghost Rider. And so he told me about it. He said it was kind of like I was in his movie.So when you watched it, did you stop and say, "Wait a minute..."[Laughs] I don't know about that. Though I would like to have some of those abilities...How did Dice come to be part of the presentation?I've known Dice for a long time. But I hadn't seen him since we played the Gibson Amphitheatre [in L.A.], back in '06, I think. And I don't exactly know how everything came together with his speech, but he did ask me before the show if I had been Gmail-ing him. And I was like, "Nope. I don't Gmail." So somebody's been Gmail-ing Dice, acting like they're me.The headline act at the Golden Gods typically plays four or five songs. Guns N' Roses did nine.We wanted to do that. We were very happy that you guys allowed us to do that. We were glad to be asked to do it and we had fun with it.And yet for Guns it was actually a pretty short performance you've been known to play gigs that run close to three hours.When we do that, as a band, we know we gave the most we could and we gave what felt right. And, generally, we like to give people more than they feel they paid for. I don't think it's necessarily fair for people to expect that from us, but it's something where we feel good when we do it. Like we rose to the challenge and we delivered and we didn't take the easy way out. We like that.]Is there a song of yours that is your favorite to play onstage?I can't really think of a favorite. I just kind of look at whatever particular show we have to do as a whole. But one thing I do like to do when I'm not playing or singing onstage is I like talking through the microphone into the other guys' in-ears and telling them jokes and stuff to try to mess up their playing. [Laughs] Really? Who's the easiest to mess with?DJ and Dizzy. I'll talk to them during their solos. That's always a lot of fun...Duff told us that it's been a great experience for him to play with Guns again.It went really well. He worked really hard on the parts and he liked playing the newer songs from Chinese. And you know, it's pretty funny because we'd go to talk about certain things from Illusions, and there's things he doesn't remember, there's things I don't remember. We kind of finish some of each other's memories sometimes. And the Duff that played these shows with us isn't really the Duff that I knew from what I'd call "Old Guns" or the Appetite lineup or the Illusions lineup. Because with this lineup, everybody goes out and tries to do their very best, and every guy's on. I don't have to tell the other guys what to do, they do it on their own. They push each other really, really hard. That also pushed Duff, and he liked the challenge of that. And he got along with the guys really well. He and some of the band and crew were doing their yoga together during the days we were out there, so...I would imagine that's not what was going on in earlier years.Back in the day? No. Definitely not doing yoga. [Laughs] That's when they would drink as much as they could. And they had this game they would play where they would jump over this ditch and slam themselves into a fence. And then slide down into the ditch, kind of in a coma. That was their version of exercise back then. It was great to see and hear you and Duff pairing up on the vocals in "It's So Easy," just like in the old days.That was a fun thing about some of these shows. Because there's also things like that little line in "Civil War" "Peace could last forever." Duff wrote that line, and he sings it. And I've always been a fan of Duff's voice. There's a punk element to it and a sincerity to it. I like hearing it.Do you think you and Duff will do more work together?It's possible. I don't know yet. It depends on scheduling, or what shows Tommy [stinson] wants to do with the Replacements and stuff like that. And you know, almost everybody in the band has some kind of issue going on, personally. There's people who have lost family members. Other people are dealing with separations. Sometimes court gets in the way. Real life!Where do things stand as far as recording new Guns N' Roses music?We recorded a lot of things before Chinese was out. We've worked more on some of those things and we've written a few new things. But basically, we have what I call kind of the second half of Chinese. That's already recorded. And then we have a remix album made of the songs from Chinese. That's been done for a while, too. But after Vegas [Guns N' Roses performed a residency at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino that ran through early June], we're going to start looking very seriously at what we're doing in that regard.Back when you were starting out with Guns, what was your idea of success?Well, I think Guns N' Roses achieved a lot of that. There were things that you were disillusioned by, but there were a lot of other things that would be considered achieving success. The amount of sales. The amount of people that were into it. Things like that. But I think that as much as we tried to be on top of the business, we were very naïve business-wise. I think there were things we could have done better, and I feel the labels and the attorneys and the A&R men all knew that. But they wanted the band to be set up in a way where they could attempt to manipulate it. And that didn't really work out for anybody. Including them. You know, we still have not done what I consider a legitimate U.S. tour [with the current lineup] because of prior managers and agents attempting to manipulate it so that it wouldn't be as successful as it could be. In order to try to steer me toward wanting a reunion [of the original lineup]. You feet that people have pushed you to try to make that happen?Well, I feel there's people in the industry who feel that they can make some money off that. So that's what they want. Even our last U.S. arena tour, that was put together by yet another manager and agent, who we eventually let go and took the tour over. But at the time of taking it over, most of it was already in place. So then we made it work for us, but had it been set up the way we feel it should have been from the beginning it could have been more successful than it was.It sounds as if, when you look back over your career, you have some regrets.I think saying you don't have any regrets has become a popular thing for a lot of pop stars or whatever over the years. But I never buy that. So yeah, there's things that I could've been done better...or not. At the same time, I don't know if I would have been able to do a lot of things, as far as with Guns N' Roses and how that's gone, any differently. As Revolvers Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, who do you think deserves a lifetime achievement award?It's hard to say. Mick Jagger? To me, Mick Jagger is one of the greatest athletes who ever lived, just for how much he puts into it onstage. I saw the Stones in Vegas on their last tour and it's evident how hard they work at it.Like Jagger, can you see yourself still doing what you do at age 70?I'm starting to get there! [Laughs] Bastard makes you work for it, doesn't he? 53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bacardimayne Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Diet Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 (edited) But after Vegas, we're going to start looking very seriously at what we're doing in that regard.Believe it when i see itAt least AXL talking about new music, not the leeches Edited May 29, 2014 by Crash Diet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bacardimayne Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 (edited) Nice to see Axl saying something constructive about a future release even if there's practically zero chance it comes to fruition. Thanks for transcribing this for us, JB! Edited May 29, 2014 by bacardimayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amir Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Thanks for posting. Surprised he's talking about the remix album at all, I mean, what market is there for that? I'm a big CD fan and even I'm not dying to hear a remix album. I love Brain's drumming on CD but the leaked remixes were pretty weak. Looking forward to 2nd half of Chinese, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post John Bonham Posted May 29, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 29, 2014 (edited) Edited May 29, 2014 by John Bonham 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yesterdays-Civil-War Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Him being open to working with Duff again is awesome! We also learned that DJ is so bad on the guitar because Axl is telling him jokes all the time. Also, Ax seems to have a different tone when he talks about new music, or at least to me it comes off as different. It isn't "we have three albums worth of material" anymore, it's, "we have some things here and some things there." I don't know exactly what to think of that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhazUp Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 I can't really think of a favorite. I just kind of look at whatever particular show we have to do as a whole. But one thing I do like to do when I'm not playing or singing onstage is I like talking through the microphone into the other guys' in-ears and telling them jokes and stuff to try to mess up their playing. [Laughs] Really? Who's the easiest to mess with?DJ and Dizzy. I'll talk to them during their solos. That's always a lot of fun...Shit Axl must tell DJ a ton of jokes during the shows then 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post John Bonham Posted May 29, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 29, 2014 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bran Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 thanks a lot JB! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Diet Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Damn i wish the interviewer ask more questions...It seems that Axl really give honest answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfierose Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 That was interesting. It was a good interview, a little more straightforward in his answers than some previous ones. Still I need to read it again, I usually miss something first time round.I think Warchild might have been emailing Andrew Dice Clay! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Diet Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 That was interesting. It was a good interview, a little more straightforward in his answers than some previous ones. Still I need to read it again, I usually miss something first time round.I think Warchild might have been emailing Andrew Dice Clay!or wfuckinga 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axlsalinger Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 (edited) Thanks JB. Interesting stuff.So, July 1 for the DVD (until it gets postponed again). And CD2 at a random undetermined date some time in the future. Edited May 29, 2014 by axlsalinger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lio Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Him being open to working with Duff again is awesome! We also learned that DJ is so bad on the guitar because Axl is telling him jokes all the time. Also, Ax seems to have a different tone when he talks about new music, or at least to me it comes off as different. It isn't "we have three albums worth of material" anymore, it's, "we have some things here and some things there." I don't know exactly what to think of that.Call me an optimist, but I was relieved that he said the 'second half' of CD is already recorded. I was beginning to doubt if anything was indeed recorded, as in: completely finished. It sounds like more definitive than the 'three albums worth of material'. I mean, if no song is really completed, you don't really have anything.Nice interview! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Great interview. Fun read. Thank you, JB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbo Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 It still feels like to me new music is such a secondary, back burner thing for him now. I know it's just a print interview, but it seems like it's not a high priority for him anymore. I think a part of him wants to put out another, and another part of him that just doesn't wanna bother enough and deal with the hassle.I am shocked however he even brought up the remix album. The shit sounded so amateur, and I can't imagine what market he thinks would be interested in it.We'll see, but I'd still be shocked it we saw another nu album before it's lights out for Axl.Nice interview otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crash Diet Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Thanks JB. Interesting stuff.So, July 1 for the DVD (until it gets postponed again). And CD2 at a random undetermined date some time in the future.I think the remix album will come out with the new CD as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GivenToFly Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Sometimes court gets in the way.- Axl Rose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IncitingChaos Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 It looks like they were doing the interview over a text message. Which is good for Axl, it allows him to say things how he wants them said. Great interview though! Glad Axl acknowledged the new music situation. Hopefully he's sincere on putting it together and getting serious after the Vegas shows. I also found it interesting that he mentioned the drawn out process of CD and how that should have kept him from receiving a lifetime achievement award. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThinkAboutYou Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 cool interview Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padme Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Thanks a lot JB Cool interview. As far as new music he just says the same things other members have said before. Now he is still bitter with Azoff. And I don´t get what kind of U.S. tour he wants to do. I don´t get the "legitimate U.S. tour" part Funny he says a lot of people will be making money with a reunion. Well... he would be making money as well. Unless he decides to donate it to charity. The best thing that happend to the band so far this year it was Duff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LA_0013 Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Cool interview.But it kinda confirms that this incarnation of GNR is first and foremost a touring band,LA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faxl Rows Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 A little communication goes a long way. Nice interview, thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daedalus Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Thanks for the interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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