YOU GOT US, UPROXX — MARC CANTER NEVER HAD A PLAN TO REUNITE GUNS N' ROSES

[wkuk04]

http://www.laweekly.com/music/you-got-us-uproxx-marc-canter-never-had-a-plan-to-reunite-guns-n-roses-5761418

Marc Canter is the owner of Canter's Deli, L.A.'s oldest rock & roll pastrami-and-coke joint. He's also the world's biggest Guns N' Roses fan, someone who can honestly say Axl Rose performed "November Rain" at his wedding.

"When I didn't have money to print flyers or even buy myself guitar strings, Marc Canter was there for me. He'd front me the cash to take care of whatever needed to be done," said Slash in his 2008 autobiography. The guitarist, who met GN'R bassist Duff McKagan in a Canter's Deli booth, was a childhood friend of Canter's, and once referred to him as "a sterling specimen of the obsessed, die-hard rock devotee." The kind of guy who would collect GN'R memorabilia like rare baseball cards, all of which he turned into a book on GN'R's early years, Reckless Road, filled with Canter's personal photos of the band.

It's also the book that destroyed his relationship with frontman Axl Rose.

"I was told that if the book came out before the record [Chinese Democracy], I would lose a friend," says Canter, who got the message from a member of Rose's camp during constant delays and miscommunication regarding the release date of Chinese Democracy. Canter's publisher released Reckless Road about a year prior to the belated arrival of Chinese Democracy in November 2008. Rose, true to his word, cut Canter off.

Eight years later, Reckless Road inspired the buzz-bloggers at Uproxx to create a three-part documentary on GN'R. Canter says the first part of the series, which focuses on him, was originally going to be titled "GN'R: Where It All Started." But when the video landed on YouTube on April 22, it was curiously retitled to "One Man's Plan to Reunite Guns N' Roses." Which sounds way more epic than revisiting GN'R's halcyon days on the Sunset Strip.

The juicy clickbait, along with a teaser of two additional mini-docs about Canter's so-called plan to reunite the band, led to a shit-storm of attention and controversy. In May, Billboard asked McKagan about Canter's plans to reunite the band. "That came out of left field for me. My manager sent me the link and I looked at it like, 'What the hell?' Little weird. But Marc is a good guy. He’s been around forever, and if that’s what he thinks, it’s his thing," he told Billboard. There was also a think-piece in Vice (by this writer), and L.A. Weekly rode the hype with its own piece titled, "The Owner of Canter's Deli Has a Plan to Reunite Guns N' Roses."

But when we finally decided to talk to Canter, we found out that there was no such plan.

"I'm passionate about the history of this band, and I would want to see them get back together, but that was not at all my plan," says Canter, who turns into a child unboxing his first Nintendo at the mere mention of GN'R. He's also obsessive about details and facts, and maintains a close relationship with the GN'R community on MyGNRForum — where he has his own page. In many ways, he's the unofficial one-man fan club of all things GN'R. So the last thing he wanted to do was mislead the fans.

"My plan was to be a part of a cool documentary about my time with the band. And it moved me watching it. But the question was something they threw in the last 20 seconds and spun it." According the Canter, the original question was, "What would it take to get these guys back together?" Canter answered: "It's simple. Come back to where it all started," he said, pointing to the shitty rehearsal space at Fortress studios on the corner of Selma and Highland where the original lineup first jammed. "I believe that the chemistry inside them, the gravitational pull is so strong that if they were to just walk into this room, music would pour out their souls. You put those guys together in that little 15-dollar-an-hour rehearsal space where it all started? That's all you need."

That was it. No mention of a plan. But the passion in Canter's eyes talking about his friends, along with some creative edits over a suspenseful film score, pulls you into the fantasy of a GN'R reunion — one orchestrated by Uproxx, not Canter. "I'm still happy with it," says Canter. "Change the name and I'm good to go."

Canter had to conduct some damage control as a result of the controversial title.

"I emailed Slash about the Uproxx doc, and told him that they changed the name." Canter was warning Slash before the media broke the story. In May, Slash appeared on CBS This Morning and offered a "Never say never" to questions about a potential GN'R reunion. Rose's camp, meanwhile, reached out to Canter and told him to stop what he was doing, because only Rose could make those plans. Except Canter wasn't planning a thing. In fact, he's on Rose's long shit-list of enemies, which includes Slash and everyone associated with Slash.

The truth is the only person who can reunite the Appetite-era GN'R lineup is Axl Rose, who hasn't talked to Slash since 1996. Other than McKagan (one of the only people to have maintained friendships with both Axl and Slash), the only thing the two have in common is animal rights. So maybe PETA can reunite GN'R, but not Canter, who's more focused on helping turn Reckless Road into a script for a future GN'R biopic.

As for Rose, it's always victory or death. While many believe a reunion is possible (including Slash), the dictatorial frontman of GN'R, whom Slash once nicknamed "Ayatollah," is the only one who can wave the truce flag and end the band's 20-year civil war.

Canter, ever the optimist, believes that war will end within a decade. "My best guess? Seven to eight years, because Axl moves slowly. But before ... it was never. You could put a gun to his head, and ask him to get on stage with Slash, and he'd pull the trigger."

[maynard]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

[Amir]

I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

[wkuk04]

Maybe MYGNR should be a members only site, where you can only view it as a member. To me, sites like this are the only place the newspapers get there info these days. (just a suggestion)

[downzy]

Wasn't it Izzy, and not Slash, who nicknamed Axl "Ayatollah?"

Glad UPROXX finally owned up to the title.

[downzy]

Maybe MYGNR should be a members only site, where you can only view it as a member. To me, sites like this are the only place the newspapers get there info these days. (just a suggestion)

That will never happen, but we will be announcing what's going on with our original plans later today/tonight.

[magisme]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

That can't be real, right?

[IncitingChaos]

So Axl''s people did reach out to Marc? Basically saying this isn't his party to plan.

[Subtle Signs]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

That can't be real, right?

Does it really seem far fetched when this is a band with teenagers who pretend to be band members along with all the other weird shit that goes on? I don't visit many other band sites so maybe that kind of stuff is common. We also on here have kids who think they are closer to GN'R than Marc Canter.

[magisme]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

That can't be real, right?

Does it really seem far fetched when this is a band with teenagers who pretend to be band members along with all the other weird shit that goes on? I don't visit many other band sites so maybe that kind of stuff is common. We also on here have kids who think they are closer to GN'R than Marc Canter.

Sometimes I forget that we roam with the hardcore of the hardcore on the forums, and that includes mental cases.

[Słash]

Its really great to have Marc on this forum, Marc is the reason why I am on this forum, I wanted to ask him questions, I was never a forum type of a person, but after asking him, I stayed on, I am really proud to say that I am a part of a community where Marc Canter is active cause he was so close to the band and still is close to some members.

Marc if you could tell us who from Axl's camp called you and what did they tell you?

[maynard]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

That can't be real, right?

They actually brag about doing it.

[Apollo]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

That can't be real, right?

bro........have you read this forum?

I can think of 8-9 different posters that would do something like this.

[Apollo]

Maybe MYGNR should be a members only site, where you can only view it as a member. To me, sites like this are the only place the newspapers get there info these days. (just a suggestion)

Didn't you and your bff say you guys were going to take a break from the forum?

[wkuk04]

Maybe MYGNR should be a members only site, where you can only view it as a member. To me, sites like this are the only place the newspapers get there info these days. (just a suggestion)

Didn't you and your bff say you guys were going to take a break from the forum?

Yeah. I didn't want you guys missing me though.

[Słash]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

That can't be real, right?

bro........have you read this forum?

I can think of 8-9 different posters that would do something like this.

Im not pointing fingers at anyone, but wkuk would you do this kind of a thing?

[wkuk04]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

That can't be real, right?

bro........have you read this forum?

I can think of 8-9 different posters that would do something like this.

Im not pointing fingers at anyone, but wkuk would you do this kind of a thing?

Hell no. I'm not a weirdo.

[tomfriend]

Its really great to have Marc on this forum, Marc is the reason why I am on this forum, I wanted to ask him questions, I was never a forum type of a person, but after asking him, I stayed on, I am really proud to say that I am a part of a community where Marc Canter is active cause he was so close to the band and still is close to some members. Marc if you could tell us who from Axl's camp called you and what did they tell you?

"Jump and be good"

"But I don't vant to do eet"

And then they probably wanted to know why he wouldn't act the way they think he should.

Edited July 7, 2015 by tomfriend

[maynard]

Wkuk is a reasonable dude most of the time and I don't think he hates anyone. This forum is comprised mostly by sane people (it's weird to say that, since this is a GNR forum in 2015 but anyway...). Other forums which are more pro-Axl will have weirder fans and they have their own enemy list too! I wouldn't say Marc's life is danger but I know for a fact some Axl fans keep bugging and stalking him online and in person. Thankfully, this type of poster is not allowed in MyGNR. Our small robot friend was the last one of its kind.

[WhazUp]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

Marc is safe, there are just plenty of overdramatic people over on that other forum who like to cause a ruckus because they have nothing better to do

Edited July 7, 2015 by WhazUp

[Nosaj Thing]

I never read other forums, specially those that gather mentally disabled people and their irrelevant opinions, so not sure what you guys are talking about and being honest, I don't care. Marc Canter is a successful man, if something like that really happened, I think he probably laughed his ass off.

[recklessroad]

The guy from the LA weekly came by to meet me because he wanted to do something with me at some point. He told me he liked the Uproxx doc and wanted to know if I knew anything about any reunion that was a rumor. Thats when I told him that it was not my plan to do that in the doc and it was just a question they asked me at the end and that the working title was "GNR where it all started". We talked about a few other things GNR and then he said it was nice meeting you and that he would be in touch soon. The next thing I know he emailed me telling me that the story would be up Tue. I thought we were just talking off the record and that at some point we would do an interview. I thought what we did was like a pre interview. He also filled in some things that he resereched from the internet for the story.

Edited July 8, 2015 by recklessroad

[recklessroad]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

Marc is safe, there are just plenty of overdramatic people over on that other forum who like to cause a ruckus because they have nothing better to do

They can hate all they want. who cares. They have a handful of supporters who buy in to that crap. All they are doing is ruining their own credibility.

They are spreding lies and when their few supporters find out, they will be upset with them.

They say that I have tried to sell bootlegs. Haha good one. They say that the few shows that are out like the roxy or music machine were sold to bootleggers by me for 30k or that I tried to sell them. Wrong, how about the facts? I made the band copies back in the day and their girlfriends loneed them out. I don't sell bootlegs of my friends band. Free audio clips were put on enhanced book for Reckless Road and now can still be founf on youtube for people to enjoy for free. Anything else they have to say about me I don't care its a free country and they can think what they want but the made up lies will bounce back at them.

They said that I said I would leave MYgnr unless MLS got kicked off, I don't think so. I don't give 2 fucks about that shit. Everyone knows who the assholes are. You know you have to be a really big one if you get yourself kicked off. Then there that girl that goes by the name of Jim, she is a real piece of work. Didn't she have 2 user names here one as a guy and one of a girl?

I didn't have anything to do with them getting kicked off but I'm glad they are gone. All they do is fight with people. Who wants to see that shit. People come to thses kind of places to share their stories and photos with other fans not to get caught up in that bullshit.

As far as the guy that returned the book. At first it was very creppy. It was put into a nice gift bag all wrapped up nicely with a card that you might fine from a serial killer. However latter I found out that it was delivered by his girlfriend so that made some sense on why it was wrapped up so nicely. The joke was on them because they were returning it because they said that the book was not authorized. Well they got that wrong, just because the book took 12 years to get published doen't mean that it was not authorized.

Also how weird is that to say your a fan of GNR and then turn around and get rid of something that has the first 50 gigs that the band did with all the early memorabilia and the interviews of the band members and all those others that help tell the story including Axl's own words that he told me while looking at the first and second drafts that were included. The whole thing was just very weird that they would spend all that time to do that and give up something that has information that any real fan would want to know about and keep.

[DeadSlash]

What some people say and do to Marc make me sick. Honestly don't know if the guy is safe. I heard stories about Axl lunatic going to his deli to return the book... "If he's Axl's enemy then he's my enemy"

Marc is safe, there are just plenty of overdramatic people over on that other forum who like to cause a ruckus because they have nothing better to do

People come to thses kind of places to share their stories and photos with other fans not to get caught up in that bullshit.

+1

[Nosaj Thing]

I'm fucking dying of laughter from reading Marc Canter's latest post. Fucking Ace.

"It was put into a nice gift bag all wrapped up nicely with a card that you might fine from a serial killer."