Ericstacey

On 3/30/2024 at 7:33 PM, rocknroll41 said:

Axl doesnt need these forums anymore. He has X/Twitter now.

This-those chats are from 15, 16 years ago? I think if he did, he would do it the same way Nikki Sixx does on Twitter, but I think he has zero interest in doing it ever again

3 hours ago, El Guapo said:

I think so as well,  VR has such a negative vibe all around, I guess  it's not inspiring to the guys in any way anymore.

Same. I think Slash has zero interest in doing VR-it seems like he's the one who pulled the plug on it, seems to enjoy working with Myles, and I'm not sure they would play much bigger venues than he's playing in now, if at all.

I'm ready for this, I wasn't the biggest fan of the albums with Myles, but I'm watching the concert footage that is up and really digging it.  I even went back and listened to Speed Parade a few times from Snakepit.  

I'm 51, and had never heard of The Replacements, or Tommy, before he joined the band.  (Same with Moby although he wasn't in the band) and Buckethead.  I remember buying Moby's Animal Rights, when the rumor that he was going to produce Chinese Democracy was going around, just to get an idea of where they might be going. Years later Play came out, and became one of my favorite albums of all time. It got me thru the death of a friend. It's weird where the GNR universe takes you.  

On 1/1/2024 at 7:43 AM, Trin9498 said:

By 93, GNR had become too grandiose. People thought the estranged video was too over the top. The dolphins? Lol….no one really cared for the spaghetti incident. Ain’t it fun (which I love, had some air play) was the only popular song. Grunge was dominating the radios….Dave Matthews started to dominate college dorms and GNR was easily forgotten. Who knows what really went down but by all accounts back then, Axl was the bad guy. He was seen as a diva with a huge ego. 

Agree with a lot of this-even aside from grunge, by the mid 90's, radio was dominated by stuff Collective Soul, Gin Blossoms, Bush, Oasis.  The rock station in Cleveland at the time went totally alternative and never played GNR

I think this was during the ending credits of the Making of the Estranged video I had on VHS, Slash and Duff called Teddy Zig Zag on the phone and tried to get him to come out drinking or go to a strip club (I can't remember which), Teddy said no, they still tried pleading to no avail-they ended the call, and I think Slash said something like "this shows what few friends we really have" lol

On 11/1/2017 at 1:40 PM, killuridols said:

I will respond as I was a teenager in the 90's and living in Argentina:

1) My friends never liked GN'R so I don't know what they were saying.... the same shit as always... that they were crazy psycho drugaddicts and that I should not listen to them

I think no one in the press was saying anything. They are as clueless as the fans. After 1994, GN'R totally faded away from the news.... Once in a while one mag would rehash some info or say a little gossip but that was it. Everybody knew there was a fallout between Axl and the rest of the band so it was reported everytime a member left: Sorum, Clarke, Slash, Duff. There wasn't really anything to write or talk about. You have to remember there was no Internet back then like there is now or social media where everybody shares pics or conversations or slips gossips like a gossip machine. Back then, if mags or tv or radio wouldn't mention something there was no way to know anything about anyone. So, nope. Total silence during those years.

2) I think TSI didn't cause any significant impact because everybody knew it was an album of covers, not original material and most of songs didnt have anything to do with GN'R sound so no one cared or liked it like the Illusions or AFD. Sympathy For The Devil, another cover no one cared about..... why? Because we were kids back then, most of us kids of 14, 15, 16 years old and we didn't care for listening to covers of bands that looked like our grandpas back then.... The Rolling Stones and all the bands in TSI were like huh? to us teenagers.

Besides the offer of modern music, bands of the era, groups that you could identify with because of age or whatever was wide..... It was very stupid of GN'R to think they could compete against Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Radiohead, etc with music from the 60's....

3) They fell from grace because they presented an album that disappointed everybody. A LAZY ASS ALBUM with music that had nothing to do with what the kids were listening at the moment, music that was not written by them and they fuckin' disappeared from the face of the earth. No more interviews, shows, pictures.... so that's what you get when you become lazy and go sleep thinking you can rest on your laurels when your audience mainly consist of TEENAGERS.

Metallica and U2 didn't sit on their lazy asses.... Metallica changed their looks, kept presenting new albums, new videos, shows... U2 did the same, for better or for worse, they kept working and didnt vanish.

4) Yes, MTV did play their videos but there were lots of new bands and new videos, so why would they play GN'R when GN'R wasn't active?

MTV is a media corporation, they don't do charity. GN'R are the only ones to blame for their falling from grace.

I don't think there's too much science behind why they failed..... It was all their fucking fault..... they broke up, stopped working, continued fighting for decades. In the meantime other bands formed, released music and gained fans. No one was going to sit and wait for GN'R, especially when you are so young as the fans that GN'R left in the dark were when they disappeared.

 

I was 21 in 1993, and I think this is a very fair take on how they were at the time.  Were they still selling albums around 92, 93 and stadiums? Yes, but they didn't feel like a cool band anymore.  Pearl Jam and Nirvana were playing shows as stripped down bands, where GNR had the horn section, backup singers, Teddy Zig Zag, Axl changing outfits uring shows.  I always sensed anyone younger than me in the 90's had zero interest in them.  MTV was Smashing Pumpkins, STP, R.E.M.  People were kind of sick of GNR.  They put out too many videos and singles, by the time Dead Horse came out, you could sense the run was done-there wasn't much interest in TSI?  It would have been interesting to see what they would have put out in '96 or '97 but I think it would have sold like an Aerosmith or Bon Jovi record at the time-people who were younger when Appetite and the Illusion records came out had moved on in life.  I still think they dropped the ball not releasing something in 2002-they had been away, and people were ready for them again-hence the Spin Magazine "What the world needs now is Axl Rose".  

His early solo stuff is good, Pawnshop and the Hangover-the Col Parker album was excellent, and I was one of a few people I think that really enjoyed the Rockstar Supernova album

17 hours ago, Draguns said:

I would love to hear completed tracks from the 94-96 sessions. Additionally, Down By The Ocean  is something I would like to hear. 

I was a member of the GNR Fan Club in '94, I remember they used to send out a newsletter every so often, and one had a quote from Duff saying something like "Don't believe the bullshit, we are working on new songs", or something like that.  I know he has a writing credit for Beggars and Hangers On, which of course became a Snakepit song, but I'd love to hear what else they worked on before things imploded

On 9/6/2023 at 3:16 PM, Coma16 said:

When Axl tried to cancel the tour. "To aviod..."

 

In all seriousness though, I loved that era where it felt like "our" band. Meeting fans felt different back then. I'd say one of my favorite moments was the Axl chats. Wish he would do that again.

I agree with this-it felt like a different band in a lot of ways,  I know casual fans basically tuned out anything with NUGNR, but I was ok with it.  I used to go on HTGTH every day looking for updates, or chatting with people.  It kind of died off there after CD was released, some people I talked with haven't logged on in 10 plus years

Rock in Rio 2001.  MTV 2002-I still love it-I know people hated it-also seeing them in 2002 in Detroit, my first GNR concert. 2002 was just such a magical time for me with the band-I had so much hope they were going to put out multiple albums lol. No regrets. The journey of Chinese Democracy was so much fun. And frustrating lol

I met him before one of his shows at a private house 4 or 5 years ago, I paid extra for the "drinks with Tommy", or whatever it was. He did mention wanting some of his songs back from Guns.  I didn't want to ask too many GNR questions, did ask about Roy Thomas Baker (I remember reading somewhere he didn't like him)-confirmed he hated him lol. He didn't hold back. Hated him as a producer.

On 8/16/2023 at 8:26 AM, Seb91 said:

Thinking about it, there are some parallels between The Smashing Pumpkins and GN'R. The 2006 comeback was just Billy and Jimmy so a bit like the NuGuns era, then Jimmy eventually leaves and Billy's the last person standing and it seems a full-on reunion's nigh on impossible so we're into NuGuns territory. Revolving lineups and then James guests for a few songs (not too dissimilar to Duff getting back into the GN'R fold) and then there's a reunion eventually. However, like the GN'R reunion it's more of a continuation than a reboot - Jeff's still on guitar and he's been in the band since 2007 and Jack Bates is on bass rather than D'arcy (which seemed unlikely, a bit like Adler) or Melissa. The Pumpkins have been a bit more prolific after their reunion though 

The Pumpkins comparison was always the one for me-it was interesting to see 2 really big bands go down to one original member and still play to big crowds.  I know there are smaller bands playing clubs and stuff probably down to one member, but Pumpkins and Guns did it while still on top.  I admire the way Billy always puts out a ton of music to this day

Loved VR, anyone remember years ago the rumor that someone asked Axl about Contraband, and he said something like "I wish I could have produced it"-probably never said it, but if true I always wondered if it was a jab at the record or if he really liked it. I do think he was probably an STP fan. Still shocked they did Slither. Glad I got to hear it at least once, was really good in person

On 6/5/2023 at 5:17 AM, rumandraisin said:

First time I've heard this! Would certainly tie in with some of the on stage moments from Tommy that year, i.e Hammerstein and Download. 

Wasnt there talk of a supposed reunion, or partial reunion at Download that year? This is why we need an autobiography from Axl. The 2002 to early 2006 period is still a mystery for us. 

This was around the time Scott Weiland had suspected, or was paranoid about a GNR reunion, if I'm not mistaken. Velvet Revolver was slowly falling apart, even though they did put Libertad out. I think Duff put a lot of effort into Loaded, and when that maybe didn't do as well as expected, he probably made an effort to get back into GNR. I am a bit surprised he dosen't talk to Axl, but Ive been at a job for over 20 years, and there are people who you work with for years that leave, and you never hear from them again-it happens.  I did buy the latest Cowboys in the Campfire, it's pretty good. Tommy is right near the top for solo albums from former members for me

On 5/11/2023 at 6:42 AM, adamsapple said:

For a musician who has been in the business for about 40 years, this is beyond embarrassing. We're talking about a guy here who recorded AFD and UYI and has toured the world multiple times. If he wasn't Duff McKagan ("of Guns N' Roses" - that's the ONLY point of sale there), this abortion of a song wouldn't get more than 20 clicks on YouTube and rightly so. No wonder Axl doesn't feel like working on new music with these guys, they just don't have it in them anymore. Any bedroom recorder has more talent, heart and fire than this pathetic excuse of a smarter than me wannabe punk. Absolutely embarrassing.

It might be a bad song, but being in the music business for 40 years has nothing to do with  putting out better material-I think we can all bring up examples of bands who have been around forever that have put out bad releases in the last 5 years or so. Many artists dont necessarily get better with time-I loved Pawnshop Guitars, but each Gilby record declined in quality as time went on for me.  

On 1/30/2023 at 11:36 PM, MaskingApathy said:

I can believe it.

I'll just say I believe Axl when he said Slash had showed up at his house, and bad mouthed Duff, Scott, and I think Matt-I think he called Duff spinless-not saying Duff is, but a lot of this went on with VR-to think that none of the band members never bad mouth each other might be a little far fetched. It happens

Id prefer Rogan over Stern-the interview with Billy Corgan was interesting because they got into the music industry, what broke up the original band, which could lead to a lot of info from Axl.  Stern's music interviews seem to be a lof of playing snippets of their hits, saying "Remember when you wrote this song?"  I remember Howard playing a minute of Chinese Democracy when it came out, but probably he nor Rogan ever listened to the album.  I'm not sure many interviewers or casual fans care about an album now 15 years old, which many never bought

On 11/10/2022 at 10:40 AM, t-p-d-a said:

Same with Motley Crues: Live: Entertainment or Death (1999) and Carnival of Sins Live (2006)

The worst is Carnival of Sins, in some parts it's like two Vince Neils are singing at the same time

I agree with "industry practice" at the time. Just to improve the quality, bring the best and re-recording parts more crazy or bigger. Like the high note on Nightrain, he never did this live.


 

I remember Sammy Hagar said he re did the vocals on the VH live album by literally playing the video from whatever concert it was and just singing along with it to re record the vocals.

20 years ago today, my first GNR show at Palace of Auburn Hills-probably most known for how Patience was botched, and Axl just left-no Paradise City. My first GNR related show was an Izzy solo show in 92 or 93 on the JuJu Hounds tour. I had seen a bunch of Gilby shows, Snakepit twice, even the Cult with Matt drumming, so it was finally neat to see Axl and an official GNR show. I drove 2/12 hours from Cleveland to Detroit. I loved it. I remember the first snow of the year after leaving the concert also. It was such a unique lineup. I did see them in Cleveland the following Sunday also. 2002 was still my fav Guns year ever

I think Slash prefers what he is doing now-it seems like he's the one who wasn't interested in doing VR anymore-not sure adding Izzy would sway him

I loved the album at the time because it was something new GNR related, and it was so different that all the alternative stuff at the time, but listening to it now, it dosen't hold up that well for me. As others have said, it was in the height of alternative/grunge.  I think the fact that Matt and Mike Inez played on the album but didn't tour may have hurt general interest in it

Met Gilby in 1994 here in Cleveland at the site they were building the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame-the local radio station was on site-they were interviewing him-he wasn't happy they weren't playing Cure me Or Kill me in regular rotation-Gilby is from here, so he was a little pissed and let them know lol. He signed my cassette cover of Pawn Shop Guitars-he was cool. Met Tommy last year at one of his shows at someone's house. I bought the early meet and greet-it kind of sucked because he showed up late. He did do a shot with us and talked with us. He's for sure different. It was neat but not worth $100. 

On 1/8/2021 at 1:19 PM, StayofExecution2020 said:

Fartus comes off like a douche. Bumble has ten times more personality and bucket is 100x the better artist than this guy.

Is Richard even an artist? All be does is go on tour and play songs he had nothing to do with

Maybe, but love watching him play.

On 11/16/2020 at 4:05 AM, El Guapo said:

I listened to that album again a couple of weeks ago plus some newer Gilby stuff - I was quite shocked how boring and lame it all sounded! :/ Back in the day I liked it quite a bit, but yeah, I totally understand that Axl wasn't thrilled about the idea of writing with him.

Loved Pawnshop and The Hangover, his last few weren't that good, and his new stuff dosen't sound that great