An Open Letter To GN'R, Team Brazil, UMG and Those Who Are Ruining The Community

[RussTCB]

An open letter to Guns N' Roses, Team Brazil, UMG and those who are ruining the community-

After listening to the latest episode of @Gambit83's podcast, I'm left in the same state of many of you loyal Guns N' Roses fans; shocked, saddened, frustrated, angry but most of all disappointed.

Like so many users of this site, I am "just a fan". I'm actually a big fan of many, many different artists with GN'R just being one of them. However, I found a home in the GN'R online community a long time ago, so I stuck around. Over the years, it's been such a rewarding experience that many of us have stuck with it. Even while being fans of a band that for reasons unknown to us, refuses to release new music. We've all stuck together because we've made life long friends in some cases. It goes past the music, concerts & merchandise for many of us. It's about a sense of community and dare I say, family, that we've all cultivated. 

Speaking for myself, I've made friends literally all over the world because of this community. Pre-parties in Las Vegas, Chicago, New York City and even in my own home have produced countless memories with people I now call friends whom I never would have met if it weren't for this community. The wonderful thing is that my story is not unique! For every person I now call friend, those people have another 5-10 people they've met that they now call friend.

I'm creating this thread as an open letter to anyone who works with or for the Guns N' Roses brand because what is happening to the community right now can only be described with one word: disgusting. 

I'm tagging @Fernando in this in hopes that he or anyone from Team Brazil or anyone from UMG or anyone from Guns N' Roses will see it and begin to help the community that's been so loyal for so long.

What started as some YouTube videos taken down has now escalated far past that, TWICE. People are having their families threatened over this! @axlrosefan4life and Gambit83 are just the latest victims and my heart is heavy thinking about the fact that they may not be the last. I absolutely do NOT want any sort of harm to befall anyone, let alone members or previous members of this community.

We as a community need help from someone and we need it as soon as possible seeing as this is getting out of hand very fast. It seems that a couple of folks have no sense of boundaries, nor care or compassion which could lead to something beyond awful happening. All of this over what? Videos of old concerts being removed from YouTube?? If I weren't directly involved in this, I wouldn't even believe what I just typed!

To Team Brazil, UMG and/or Guns N' Roses; if you have anything to do with this material being removed because it is copyrighted, we understand. If you have anything to do with any material being removed because you intend to package it and sell it to us in the future, we understand. If you have anything to do with encouraging certain folks to take action on your behalf which has led to where we are now, we do NOT understand.

If you do in fact have any dealing with the people in question, you really need to understand the lengths they're going to in your name and the dark path we're already headed down. It's on you to step up now and clarify some things and help out the fan base that's done nothing but support you for decades. Concert bootlegs are something that have been enjoyed by music fans for decades upon decades. If you choose to take that away due to future earning possibilities, that's fine. I'm not here to argue that aspect of it. However, explaining that to the commnunity would've gone a long way prior to this and would even help out to some extent now.

Another aspect that needs to be considered is this; the open selling of original, studio works by Guns N' Roses has been rampant over the years. Why was no action taken then? Why has no action been taken now? If nothing else, why aren't you at least telling your biggest supporters why this is happening to them over concert bootlegs as opposed to those making thousands off of your hard work? Again, if you clarify why these things are being taken down, then the mystery is solved. We wouldn't need to discuss it here, on podcasts or anywhere else because we would already have the answer. Not everyone would agree with the answer(s) but it would at least be a start. Discussing the material being taken down is what has led us to where we are; a couple of people acting in your name, going so far as to make TWO (as of this posting) real life threats against families.

This needs to end now.

The only thing that will end it is some sort of communication from Team Brazil, UMG and/or Guns N' Roses. 

To those trying to ruin the community, you know who you are and you know in your heart that what you're doing is wrong. PLEASE. STOP. Please take just 5 minutes and think about how wrong your actions are, how quickly they've escalated and how badly this could all turn out.

To the community here at mygnrforum and my previous family at gnrevolution & newguns; you are and continue to be the only reason I'm still here. Thank you for all of the joy you've brought to me over the years whether in a foreign city or in my own home. Thank you to people like @downzy, @FRANSAD, @highvoltage, @metalms, @Gibbo, @Otto, @buzzsaw, @ZoSoRose, all of the people I've already tagged and all of the people I'm forgetting to tag for everything you've ever done to help another Guns N' Roses fan out.

To the current users of the board incensed by what is happening right now, please remember a few things; The community will survive this. We at mygnrforum can not, do not and will not encourage or support any sort of retaliatory comments or actions. I am doing what I believe is the only thing that can be done for the community; laying this at the feet of those in charge of the band and hoping they'll do the right thing.

Lastly, I'd like to say that earlier today I turned off a Guns N' Roses song for the first time I can ever remember since I first heard them in 1987. I never in my life thought I'd get to a point where just hearing their music made my upset, yet here we are.

Fernando, Team Brazil, UMG, Guns N' Roses.........someone..........please do the right thing and step in to help us out.

EDIT-

To clarify, two users here (axlrosefan4life and gambit83) have had threats made against their families by the people claiming to represent TB and/or Guns N' Roses. The details exact details aren't mine to share so I tagged both users later in this thread. They're more than welcome to post whatever details they chose, but I will not ask them to do so. The mere fact that their families are being threatened by a couple of people claiming to represent TB and/or GN'R should be enough for all parties to look into this IMO.

 

[ZoSoRose]

Thank you, Russ. If @Fernandodoes not address this, it speaks volumes

I share the same sentiments. I've been brought so much joy from this community. Joy from the awesome people Ive become friends with. Nobody should have their personal life attacked

We know Fernando reads this board, its time these issues are addressed. 

[sidman69]

well said. One question I have is that i remember one of the Mods saying they met Beta or have contact with her. Has anything been done on that front to resolve this? I think it was on brando's first podcast with the guys from the MYGNRFORUMS

Edited July 31, 2018 by sidman69
added another sentance

[AxlRoseCDII]

Someone should send this thread to Fernando over Twitter if we want any real response. He’s not going to log on otherwise.

Very nicely said Russ. Unfortunately it is a disgusting time to be a Guns fan.

[axlrosefan4life]

Well said Russ!!!! 

[zombux]

nothing to add of course. I'm only afraid that all you/we get as a response to this is a silent "fuck you, we don't care". I'd be extremely shocked if somebody (and I mean, anybody) actually reacted to this call.

[Haters Gonna Hate]

Hope this is addressed next time Fernando comes here and not new t shirts . It's just preventing fans from listening to music lol

[Gunner927]

Well said, Russ. It's despicable the depths these cretins are going to screw the fans over. For what? Some sense of power? To prove their loyalty to a man who will never give a shit about them or care that they exist?

And if this shit is being backed by @Fernando and Team Brazil, then it's just horrifying and I will lose all respect for them. To be so callus and hostile to the fans just because not everyone bends over backwards to praise every little thing the band/Axl does? That's unforgivable. We deserve some answers, because this has gotten way too far out of hand.

[WhazUp]

Beautifully said, and I share the same sentiment Russ.

There are shenanigans here that go way beyond the actual material out there as bootlegs.  You have a kid and one other person acting as GNR's de facto "internet manager" threatening and obsessing over bootlegs of live shows, and old demos and whatnot that are being traded freely just as any other band in the entire existence of the world does without issue or moral problem.  At the same time doing stuff that ACTUALLY harms the band like leaking demos after exchanging decently large sums of money in situations filled with lies and threats

And now tons of C&D letters.  Why?  For only one reason - old internet grudges or delusion.  There is no other reason to explain it, if GNR has a problem with a youtube video of a proshot concert from 1993 let THEM take it down - fans manipulating and taking advantage of how Youtube and the internet operates to take down stuff is only harming the fans who want to enjoy music in a positive and constructive way

 

@Fernando and Team Brazil - the reason why I became a hardcore GNR fan was because I stumbled upon various GNR live shows on Youtube back in the day of shitty AOL dial up.  Those videos blew my mind and that is why I now dedicated money to seeing GNR live, buying merch, buying all music that officially is released.  We are not the enemy here, and those bootlegs are not the enemy

Edited July 31, 2018 by WhazUp

[GNRfanMILO]

I think you speak for all of us, @RussTCB. I hope we get a solution to this, I'll send this letter to Duff via Twitter (he follows a page I own). I'll do my best to make them notice about this. 

[Jw224]

Very well said. Hopefully someone listens. 

[Uncle Bob]

Another great rant from Russ

[zigzagbigbag]

Whats about adressing this topic and/or Russ's great open letter to the relevant press?! 

[default_]

Im sending this to everyone related to the band, we should all do this in hope any of them will read this letter. 

[sidman69]

9 minutes ago, zigzagbigbag said:

Whats about adressing this topic and/or Russ's great open letter to the relevant press?! 

agreed! 

[pastortine]

Thank you RussTCB...

My sons birthday is July 24.  On July 27, 2017 we traveled to St. Louis for his 14th birthday to attend his very first concert featuring his favorite band, Guns N Roses.  GNR has been my favorite band since 1987.   I'm not into piracy, and have never spent a dime on pirated material, and don't intend to, but the youtube videos and channels that have been attacked were the only window my son had into the colorful history of this band and something we were able to share together and bond around.  Whoever is behind the current crapfest isn't helping GNR.  They are just taking the fun out of being a fan.  It sucks.  Really sucks.

I've found every era of this band enjoyable.  Heck, I bought every release after Appetite on release day, including Chinese Democracy (on CD and Digital download no less and I actually liked it, a lot!).  The same goes for Velvet Revolver, Slash solo efforts, etc.  I can assure you I will do the same as soon as something new comes out.  All of the things that are being taken away from us online hasn't diminished my appetite for GNR, it has actually fed it. 

I wouldn't want anyone to ever get hurt over any of this, not Alhole, Molehole, or whoever is behind the idiocy, and certainly not Brando or his family.  I'd rather give up listening to this band (which has almost literally been a part of my life every day since 1987) over that.

If Team Brazil, or UMG, or GNR can slow the roll on this business it would be appreciated.

Looking forward to enjoying his band for years to come!

 

[alfierose]

Well said as always Russ. I can't say it any better than you have but this is a really low point for the community and potential ramifications are very concerning.

[pastortine]

Forgot to mention @axlrosefan4life - don't like hearing about his family being threatened either.  Not cool.  Not worth it.

[Towelie]

I haven't got a clue what any of this is about, but I'm excited and I don't know why.

Anyone care to fill me in?

[Grayfox]

Well said. It’s sad it has come to the point of doing this. The sad thing is we probably won’t be given any answers. Assuming we are acknowledged we will probably be left with more questions than before. Whether false threats or sincere threats it’s sick and disturbed the lengths people will go to. We’re all fans sharing our common interest with each other. Yet there’s people who have to take the joy out of it for everyone. My sympathies to everyone who has been affected by these “people”. I agree though the lack of information and releases has basically created a monster that is getting worse and worse each day. They need to put an end to this immediately. Over the years I’d come and go from the GNR communities. When things are good they’re good. But when it gets bad it’s torture to be around and it’s not something I want to be a part of. They say they’re always watching the major boards and etc. But if this is what they will allow to happen to the people who kept GNR alive and cared throughout all the bullshit.. It leaves very little reason to stick around. I hope something changes but hoping with this band gets harder and harder.

[WhazUp]

4 minutes ago, Towelie said:

I haven't got a clue what any of this is about, but I'm excited and I don't know why.

Anyone care to fill me in?

The Appetite For Distortion podcast is a good start, especially the two podcasts regarding the Copyright stuff with youtube channels, and about how the House of Blues 2001 video came to the hands of various people, and eventually to all of us

[sl4yer]

Thanks, Russ. 

I was a big fan of Fernomenoyde's channel, I supported him and his channel is gone. Fckn fan-made videos. Some guy did multicams with Forum audio. Few days then, I wanted to visit his channel and it was gone. There was a Appetite4Illusions with RAR06 with good quality and now it's gone. There were a few Apollo Full Show videos all are taken down. I just realised that GNRPoland is taken down. what the fuck. Few years ago slasherr who was making this chanell even got a invate to meeting before concert in Rybnik with Bumblefoot because he liked his work. And now he's videos are gone. It's a fucking joke.

[The Matinator]

Good work Russ, I sincerely hope this doesn't fall on deaf ears. If any part of the GN'R organization is reading this, peoples families are being threatened and although you guys do not carry all the blame, the lack of engagement with your fan base for the better part of 20 years has helped create this culture. We're not asking for new music or content this time we're simply asking you to help deal with a situation that is causing the most hardcore fans, the people that have kept this band/brand alive, grief on many levels some deeply personal.

I love Brando's podcast and his content but for me the most interesting part of his program has been watching a fan without much experience in the deeper, darker part of our fan base getting immersed in it and seeing the highlights & incredible lows. It has further reinforced my belief that GN'R fans are the most passionate music fans in the world, and sometimes (more often than not these days) that's not a good thing.

Okay rant over, waking up this morning and hearing this from Brando was especially frustrating. Often times me & my girlfriend will spend hours showing each other music on YouTube and after spending an extensive period of time last night trying to show her anything GN'R related that wasn't a basic studio album cut, even she thought this was ridiculous, and shes not a guns fan by any means.

Edited July 31, 2018 by The Matinator

[IncitingChaos]

Like most things TB and UMG and the band will wait until someone gets hurt before they react. Probably blame us...

It would be in their interest to be proactive in this problem. 

I just have zero confidence that they see this as “their” problem 

[nikosgnr]

Time to bring @Dexter back. It's time for a good rant.

Anyway.. What's happening for the last 2+ months it's disgusting and a shame.

I'm curious to see an official response. This is the way you treat your fans?