SERPICO

No matter which way you look at it there hired guns. The only reason they've stuck around so long is their paycheck. They wouldn't be making anywhere near what they're making now.

No doubt it's a good show. Axl doesn't need Slash now that he has a GNR cover band.

nah man, he was reffering to that Axl dont need Slash cus he got Finck/Fortus/Thal to play the fuck outa the songs rock1

Isn't that what I said???

No doubt it's a good show. Axl doesn't need Slash now that he has a GNR cover band.

He should apologize, after all it's the fans that give Axl his money. That Del kisses his ass for.

I wonder if it was hard for Del James to write that while kissing Axl's ass at the same time.

Wow, this has been said before so I'll just repeat. This whole "Guns N' Roses family" thing has turned into one giant group of yes men. Axl signs their paychecks and in return takes all of their independent thoughts and opinions. And now Del James, on payroll mind you, is writing an article about "how things really are."

And with regards to Slash and Duff... what "vision" of GNR was never theirs??!!! It must have been the whole 13 years of silence since TSI. Maybe Axl is trying to wait until all the old fans die off and start fresh in 2087.

And last I checked, that last Guns album featured both of them. So what is he saying? That the overall vision of Guns N' Roses is "Oh My God"?! That's just great.

Del James has turned into such a yes man that if Slash running GNR and Axl were out, he'd write something bashing Axl. Anything to get paid.

And then he goes on talking about how rock n' roll is an all nite party that's rebellious and non-conformist, then in the next paragraph he's talking about yoga, chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy?!! Rock n' roll forever baby!

This whole thing is just getting sadder and more discouraging.

Great post, I couldn't agree anymore.

Would really expect Del to say something negative when he's in Axl's back pocket?

Yup this is a real band. Now that Brian's going to be getting his royalties he ditches the band. I guess GNR just a paycheck to him.

It's sad that GNR has turned into a revolving door of studio musicians.

So now Frank's a member of GNR

GNR is turning into a big fucking joke

They should cut Brain's pay (he said he'd tour if he got paid), let Frank go and get Popcorn back. Now THAT would rock.

Couldn't agree anymore. Axl needs to pull an Izzy.

It's nice to see that he's spending time with his family.

If only Slash would put his guitar where his mouth is. At the gym the other morning I saw a concert video of Chic playing their apocalyptic disco-disaster, "Le Freak," and who pops out to solo, but Slash. I almost puked . . .

Didn't you know he's a Carlos Santana clone as well?

It's funny how the Slash lovers ignore these facts as if they never happened. They read over posts like this and then just blank it out as if they never even read it. If playin' with MJ wasn't enough ... freakin' sellout. Meanwhile, GnR now consists of true musicians who have artistic integrity.

Izzy was right. Slash would do anything for money and fame.

Slash + Chic

Wasn't Slash the one to complain about the female backup singers Axl hired for GnR's UYI tours? What a double talkin' jive. You can't trust anything he says anymore.

Oh, isn't that the same solo he did in the Zakk Wylde video as well?

Finck being pleasured by another man onstage, does that count as artistic integrity?

Does it really matter if Frank's in the band? There's been soo many member changes that I don't think no one would really notice.

Some people don't even know how Axl and Finck met. When Axl was looking for another guitarist, Matt Sorum took Axl to see him play in Cirque de Soleil. Matt thought Finck would be a good fit with Slash. Kind of like that other guitarist in VR. A young innovative guitarist to complement Slash's old rocker style. That's what Matt thought. Axl thought differently. Axl knew right there and then, he wanted Finck to replace Slash.

So for all you suckas out there, blame Matt if you don't like Finck!!!!

That brought tears to my eye.

Do you have any links of Robin playing with the circus?

Cirque de Soleil is not a "circus" in the traditional sense of what you are thinking. It's musical theatrical production. A very successful and critically acclaimed production. You can read more here:

http://www.answers.com/topic/cirque-du-soleil

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirque_du_Soleil

Finck was the musical director for two years. Cirque del Soleil isn't some small time gig. It takes more then knowing the blues scale and a bunch of powerchords to be land this gig. For Finck to be able to land that gig and for two years, shows you how much talent and respect this guy has as a musician and artist.

Now, on the other handle, to land a gig with MJ requires only that you like 7UP.

On another note, Finck wasn't the one who scared Slash off. Finched joined GnR in 1998 well after Slash had left. Zakk Wylde was one of the earliest guitarist Axl asked to work with GnR.

Zakk Wydle vs. Slash:

Watch as Slash tries to keep up but can only do his cheezy same old blues solos over and over ...

Thanks for explaining how Finck sold out to the circus.

That was a cool clip of Slash and MJ doing Billie Jean. Slash pwned. Did he get a little carried away there? With that guy tapping/telling him something?

I've seen that Zakk & Slash video a long time ago. They both owned. It's a shame Slash's guitar wasn't turned up. Zakk highly respects Slash.

Did read the GW Interview a couple of months ago, where Zakk said he saw Axl, and told him to get the fuck out of here.

Whether or not you like Slash, he is one of the most respected guitarists in the business, and one of the most influential.

You're right ... Slash is respected in the "business" world. He is probably the most "sellable" rock guitarist today. Oh, there's no doubt about that. He's got that cool look with his afro that appeals to a lot people. He's got that cool look when he's on stage. He's like that hot girl you see in ads.

Face it: Slash is a MAINSTREAM POP rock guitarist!

Why is it, guitarist like, Joe Sat or Bumblefoot, aren't commercially appealling to the mainstream, but are like a million times more talented then Slash? Why was it that Buckethead got more mainstream media publicity then any other new GnR guitarist? Obviously, being respected in the "business" has more to do with your look and image then it is with your talent. Just ask Britney Spears ...

Why is it that Izzy, the more influential guitarist and song writer of old GnR's hits, doesn't get more media, fan fare, or mainstream attention then Slash?

If you shave Slash's head, put on modern clothes on the guy, and take away all those tatoos and earrings, he wouldn't be as cool anymore. He would be just like Izzy (but not as talented as a song writer though).

Slash left GnR because he was unwilling to share the "spotlight" with other guitarists. Slash is a business man, he knows that his value and "image" will deteriorate if he had to share the stage with guys like Zakk Wilde or Buckethead. Zakk totally owned Slash when they performed Hendrix's Voodoo Child together. So when Axl asked Slash to work with these more talented guitarists, he got scared and ran. It was a business decision.

There are a million guitarist more talented then Slash. But they aren't "cool" looking. Slash is "cool" looking. If music could only be heard through the radio or CD player, no TV, internet, or magazines, you Slash fans wouldn't be popping a boner everytime you see him.

Now, Finck plays more of the leads in the old songs, well, because he's the one that's been with Axl and writing with Axl since the beginning of the Chinese Democracy era. Finck is the main guitarist for the new material. So, if you are Axl, why would you put the main guitarist of your new material in the background? That would be disrespectful. Oh, you don't play like an 80's rocker, so we'll stick you to rhythm on the old material, and once the new material comes out, you can come out and play lead again. That's stupid from all levels.

Finck gets slated more because he isn't as "cool" as Slash is in his presence and look for the traditional fans of GnR. Fortus and Bumblefoot have a look that's closer in line with that of the old GnR, so that aren't bashed as much. Finck had an "unconventional" look to him when he first joined. And these old school rockers and Slash lovers slate him because of his "image". Just imagine what how badly Slash would be slated if he joined NIN ...

Some people don't even know how Axl and Finck met. When Axl was looking for another guitarist, Matt Sorum took Axl to see him play in Cirque de Soleil. Matt thought Finck would be a good fit with Slash. Kind of like that other guitarist in VR. A young innovative guitarist to complement Slash's old rocker style. That's what Matt thought. Axl thought differently. Axl knew right there and then, he wanted Finck to replace Slash.

So for all you suckas out there, blame Matt if you don't like Finck!!!!

* * * *

Slash at his MAINSTREAM best selling out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEGU-yaUO3w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fFYm7_SE0Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWGAnCPyJso

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhg_t3YJwQI

"Slash is about money and fame." ~ Izzy Stradlin

Maybe it's a good thing Finck ain't like Slash.

SLASH IS THE COOLEST

Do you have any links of Robin playing with the circus?

Finck a good guitarists, but he butchers too much of the old material. Just go listen to any bootleg.

I don't think he gets slated because he replaced Slash. You don't see too often any Duff, Steven, Izzy, and Slash fans criticizing the playing of Fortus, Brian, Tommy, and Ron. The problem is that Finck plays around the solos, not in a good way, and it doesn't sound too good.

I don't have any problem with his playing on the new material, that he plays good live.

But to say that he's the best guitarist in the band is a slap in the face to Fortus and Ron.

Richard's a great guitar player, it's a shame he and Ron don't handle all the old solos.

However, I still think Bumble rocks, listen to his work on RAR 'Nightrain'.

That song is a prime example of Ron just going off on his own world without regard to the song,

you tune out the music, and it's just a guy trying to cram as many really fast exercises into the time allowed...

I agree, I usually like Ron's take on the solos, but his shredding on Nightrain is pointless.

BUCKETHEAD

This band has so much more chemistry than the old band ever had.

I always thought the old band was very weak live. Good individual performers, but I have yet to see more than 5 or 6 shows where the interaction rivaled the new band at all.

Then you havent seen shit

This band is tight, but not nearly as much as the old band. Axl and Slash did shit like this too, but more importantly their strongest chemistry existed between them as musicians, as a band.

Bands dont rise out of skid row without understanding eacherther as musicians, but Guns N' Roses did so much more than that. They took the world by storm, sold out stadiums, sold millions of albums, changed the face of rock music, and they were genuine.

Sure, towards the end things got weak, but even their last performance of Paradise City in Argentina was amazing.

jesus christ he just posted his opinion and you go on a tangent

i happen to agree with adnan. the chemistry between axl and finck/fortus/brain/ron/tommy/dizzy is unmatched by any band I've ever seen. ever. stop wasting your time defending and dwelling on something that is no longer there and is not coming back.

time to get over the old lineup.

I bet you've never seen the original band?

Just Axl and his rock n roll allstars.

Chris Pitman was born in Independence, Missouri. He currently writes and records privately with Axl Rose, as they have collaborated on many songs for the upcoming Guns N'Roses album Chinese Democracy. He is a multi-instrumentalist on the album, contributing keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals, and programming. He has not been announced as an official band member, however, and mostly does orchestration, synthesizers, and sound effects when they play live. He compliments keyboardist Dizzy Reed on the more complex material that Guns N'Roses play.

Outside of Guns N'Roses, Chris Pittman was co-founder of Los Angeles-based art coalition 'Priory of the North', which focuses on conceptual/public art, and whose installations have been commissioned in many place around the world, including Rio de Janeiro, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

He studied at the Art Institute of Kansas City, as well as at the University of Missouri-KC. He worked with the controversial and world-renowned artist Les Levine in 1993.

Chris Pitman has also done sound design work for Arturia software synthesizers.

Collaborations:

* Dr. Dre (Aftermath) - In 1994 he worked in Dre's home studio.

* Medicine - Played live shows with this Brad Laner project.

* Replicants (BMG/Zoo) - In 1995, on this band's only release, Pitman played synths, piano, and guitars.

* ZAUM - Was guitarist and lead vocalist with Danny Carey of Tool.

* Tool (BMG/Zoo) - In 1994/95 Pitman toured with them and in 1996 played synths on the epic song "Third Eye", from Ænima.

* Failure - Contributed sound effects and sound mixing.

* Lusk (BMG/Zoo) - In 1996/97 Pitman recorded, co-produced, and was the lead singer and multi-instrumentalist in this Grammy-nominated band.

* Sony Panic (DogFight) - In 1997 Pitman worked with this L.A. experimental/improvisational band. He played guitars and managed software live.

* Blinker the Star (A&M & Dreamworks) - In 1996 Pitman contribued keyboards to the album Bourgeois Kitten. In 1998 he co-wrote the single "Below the Sliding Doors".

* Savvy Soviets - In 2003, Pitman was a producer/collaborater in Rio de Janeiro.

* Electric Company (Tigerbeat6) - In 2004, he played synthesizer on the album Creative Playthings and played live with this Brad Laner electronic music project.

* The Source of Uncertainty - In 2005, he played with Danny Carey and others.

He appears to have worked with a stack of artists.

A LEGEND

That was hilarious.

Bumblefoot rocks.

For those who didn't hear the part about Thomase:

Ron was asked about his myspace blog, and if all the GNR fans were driving him insane. He replied:

"That fucking myspace is going to be the death of everybody,'' said Ron.

"You motherfuckers don't give me a fucking break, do ya. Who's that guy Thomase that keeps myspacing me. Every fucking rumor - Thomase if you're listening to this - ease up motherfucker, ease up!" .. Everybody laughed, and then Ron said "Actually, he's cool. It's really cool hearing from everybody."

... Ron was then really gracious and thanked the fans and the way they've been connecting with him.

Ron should have been a comedian.

GNR will always be Axl, Slash, Izzy, Duff and Steven. Period.

no surprise coming from that same douchebag who was trying to start shit in the Tommy Stinson birthday thread. get a life mullethead.

Who's Tommy Stinson?

P. S.

What's wrong with a mullet?

Axl, Slash, Izzy, Duff, & Steven

& Pitman

Guys, please don't pointlessly diss Tommy in his birthday thread, of all places. It's really not fair.

Once again, Happy Birthday Mr Stinson, and all the best.

A voice of reason.

Happy Belated B-Day

I don't know what their source is,but HTGTH is reporting that Seb is opening the Warfield shows.

I wouldn't have seen that coming.

haven't seen you around on the forum much for the last couple of days, A_D. The 6000 votes explains a lot

Slash

Izzy

Gilby

Buckethead

Brian May

Ron Thal

Fortus

Tobias

Finck

It's no secret Axl didn't write the majority of the music. Izzy, Slash, and Duff would write the music, and Axl would come up with the vocals and vocal melodies.

I don't for one second believe Axl would do/sell as well if he didn't have the GNR name.

I guess that's why Mick Jagger solo sold as well as The Stones