The Divisive Legacy & Surprising Future of Guns N' Roses' 'Chinese Democracy

[Gambit83]

New article with new interviews 

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8490842/guns-n-roses-chinese-democracy-album-legacy

[RussTCB]

Most interesting part of the article for me was that Chinese streams have increased from 8 million to 24 million since the start of the NITL tour. 

[gunsguy]

12 minutes ago, RussTCB said:

Most interesting part of the article for me was that Chinese streams have increased from 8 million to 24 million since the start of the NITL tour. 

yes thats a big jump!

[Crazyman]

Of course Niven gets a word in about Izzy at the end. I'm surprised his main criticism wasn't about Axl sounding like the devil on "Sorry"

[adamsapple]

That's actually a good and thoughtful article, thanks for the link.

Very underrated and underappeciated album.

[Georgina Arriaga]

1 hour ago, Gambit83 said:

New article with new interviews 

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8490842/guns-n-roses-chinese-democracy-album-legacy

Thanks very much. 

Very deep and interesting article. The author did his job very well

[UsedYourIllusion]

That is a great article, of all the times in a bands history, Chinese Democracy sticks out to me as one of the most intriging in Rock history.

[AxlSlashthebest]

that's what I call an article. The Autor made a great work 

[patiencepatience]

I love the authors dedication 

Edited March 30, 2021 by patiencepatience

[Asdiz]

For me the get-up-to-pee songs were the covers; kohd, lald, etc.  but that’s just me personally.

[Blackstar]

Quote

As for Slash, when he told Total Guitar in 1997 that "Rose's sound is a lot more synthetic than anything I would get anywhere close to," he would arguably curse Chinese Democracy with a scarlet letter. Without Slash's endorsement, Chinese Democracy lacked the necessary seal of approval to click with the aging fans from the Sunset Strip. Then again, Chinese Democracy, those 14 songs, may have sounded too organic with Slash. Part of the appeal of Chinese Democracy is that it sounds post-apocalyptic and completely cybernetic in parts.

The quote from Slash has been taken out of context in the article. Slash said that for Axl's guitar playing, not his sound in general.

Full quote:

And the band's guitar ranks have swelled to three - with Rose picking up an axe of his own.
"That tripped me out when I first came back," Slash says. "I figured 'Okay, that's where his focus has been. I haven't really talked to him about it, to tell the truth. I guess he's just been sitting at home, figuring out chords or something. Maybe he's been taking lessons."
So how is he? "How's Izzy?" Slash asks with a laugh."I'm avoiding the question." Well, is he better than Mick Jagger on guitar? "I've never paid attention to Mick Jagger playing guitar, so I couldn't compare them. Rose's sound is a lot more synthetic than anything I would get anywhere close to. That's about all I can say."

http://www.a-4-d.com/t2670-1997-01-dd-interview-with-slash-in-total-guitar

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by Blackstar

[History2010]

1 hour ago, RussTCB said:

Most interesting part of the article for me was that Chinese streams have increased from 8 million to 24 million since the start of the NITL tour. 

Definitive proof that the songs being featured on the NITL tour has helped increase the profile of the album.

[gunsguy]

7 minutes ago, History2010 said:

Definitive proof that the songs being featured on the NITL tour has helped increase the profile of the album.

And without the record company pushing it on commercial radio, I cant remember the last time i heard any CD on radio, I dont listen often but

[Sosso]

Just now, gunsguy said:

And without the record company pushing it on commercial radio, I cant remember the last time i heard any CD on radio, I dont listen often but

I don't care that much about the commercial success of music. Other aspects should be valued much more. 

[IncitingChaos]

The quote about Axl releasing everything in 2016 if the reunion didn’t happen just isn’t true. Anyone that has followed the band for 3 months can tell you that wasn’t going to happen. However maybe Axl reunited to avoid releasing anything haha

good article. I think the main point remains that the album was being attacked from fans, the label, managers, and eventually the release of this monsterous album was sabotaged from all angles. Makes you wonder how crazy Axl really is when it comes to his quotes about “surviving this war” and the album being a “miracle” he must have felt like the target everyone was trying to hit. 

[Edward Nygma]

14 minutes ago, gunsguy said:

And without the record company pushing it on commercial radio, I cant remember the last time i heard any CD on radio, I dont listen often but

Heard 'Better' on Planet Rock UK on Thursday. Heard 'There Was A Time' during summer also. Although CD songs rarely pop up.

[Gnrfan2001]

2 hours ago, Gambit83 said:

New article with new interviews 

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8490842/guns-n-roses-chinese-democracy-album-legacy

he was punishing the hypocrites with diss tracks that were, unfortunately, a bit too cerebral for his fanbase. It felt like Axl was asking hard rock fans to think like poetry majors.

Billboard hasn’t read my 3-page analysis of Oh My God.

[soon]

45 minutes ago, Blackstar said:

The quote from Slash has been taken out of context in the article. Slash said that for Axl's guitar playing, not his sound in general.

Full quote:

And the band's guitar ranks have swelled to three - with Rose picking up an axe of his own.
"That tripped me out when I first came back," Slash says. "I figured 'Okay, that's where his focus has been. I haven't really talked to him about it, to tell the truth. I guess he's just been sitting at home, figuring out chords or something. Maybe he's been taking lessons."
So how is he? "How's Izzy?" Slash asks with a laugh."I'm avoiding the question." Well, is he better than Mick Jagger on guitar? "I've never paid attention to Mick Jagger playing guitar, so I couldn't compare them. Rose's sound is a lot more synthetic than anything I would get anywhere close to. That's about all I can say."

http://www.a-4-d.com/t2670-1997-01-dd-interview-with-slash-in-total-guitar

 

Slash calling Axl by the name "Rose" stands out to me. I don't think he called him that very much? 

Coming from a 1997 article it's hard to tell if theres hints of legalize seeping into Slash's vocabulary - where in a legal document Axl would be referred to by his last name. Or perhaps Mr Rose was his new bosses name. But maybe Slash has called Axl by "Rose" many times and I just didnt notice?

Edited December 22, 2018 by soon

[IncitingChaos]

Late 90’s early 00’s Slash seemed much more hostile towards Axl than Axl was to Slash but by 04 that had switched. 

[Sosso]

12 minutes ago, soon said:

Slash calling Axl by the name "Rose" stands out to me. I don't think he called him that very much? 

Coming from a 1997 article it's hard to tell if theres hints of legalize seeping into Slash's vocabulary - where in a legal document Axl would be referred to by his last name. Or perhaps Mr Rose was his new bosses name. But maybe Slash has called Axl by "Rose" many times and I just didnt notice?

You know that things are fucked up when you are calling people by their last name - ask @DieselDaisy

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by Sosso

[Blackstar]

6 minutes ago, soon said:

Slash calling Axl by the name "Rose" stands out to me. I don't think he called him that very much? 

Coming from a 1997 article it's hard to tell if theres hints of legalize seeping into Slash's vocabulary - where in a legal document Axl would be referred to by his last name. Or perhaps Mr Rose was his new bosses name. But maybe Slash has called Axl by "Rose" many times and I just didnt notice?

Indeed, Slash calling Axl by his last name is very odd sounding. To my memory it's the only time Slash referred to Axl like that. Good point about Slash's wording possibly having been influenced by legal documents. Unless the interviewer paraphrased Slash.

11 minutes ago, IncitingChaos said:

Late 90’s early 00’s Slash seemed much more hostile towards Axl than Axl was to Slash but by 04 that had switched. 

I think in mid-00s it was balanced. The peak of Axl's hostility towards Slash was around 2008-10.

[axlinkafayette]

i listen to sirius XM daily, i don't think ive EVER heard a single song from Chinese Democracy played

[History2010]

22 minutes ago, Wagszilla said:

Oh and this is exactly the type of piece you write when you’re starting to create demand for a new album. The slow trickle.

Take that as you will.

I agree. Lots of media attention going along with all the new album rumors actually makes me thing something might happen. I know better than to get hyped however.

[IncitingChaos]

33 minutes ago, Blackstar said:

Indeed, Slash calling Axl by his last name is very odd sounding. To my memory it's the only time Slash referred to Axl like that. Good point about Slash's wording possibly having been influenced by legal documents. Unless the interviewer paraphrased Slash.

I think in mid-00s it was balanced. The peak of Axl's hostility towards Slash was around 2008-10.

Around the time VR went dressed as Axl’s band for Halloween was the turning point. I think Axl could deal with the legal stuff because it was “you quit, I own the name” but the personal trashing of his current band was something that didn’t sit well. That’s when it became psychological and Axl eventually placed blame on all things negative towards Slash. 

[Blackstar]

6 minutes ago, IncitingChaos said:

Around the time VR went dressed as Axl’s band for Halloween was the turning point. I think Axl could deal with the legal stuff because it was “you quit, I own the name” but the personal trashing of his current band was something that didn’t sit well. That’s when it became psychological and Axl eventually placed blame on all things negative towards Slash. 

There was no anti-Slash talk between 2002-08 though, apart from the lawsuits/counter-lawsuits and the press release from Axl's lawyer in '06. Axl even said that he "loved the guy" in the beginning of 2006 (that was when there were persistent reunion rumours).

I think what affected/hurt Axl the most was Slash's book )in combination with the fact that CD would have to compete with VR) and that's why he was so venomous against Slash in 2008-10 interviews.