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Damn, I just saw this.

I understand if GNR is contractually bound to UMG. But, if they (UMG) have been given an album, and refuse to release it, then I would certainly have to believe Axl and Guns N Roses could take legal action to help themselves out of what would seem to be a helpless situation. But, the fact that things just continue on without a word from TB, or Axl himself, only seems to further prove there is no real concern on there part to release any new music. If it were me, id be letting my fans and anyone else who would listen and say "Hey!!! Im getting fucked here. We want to get out new material, but the lable is holding us hostage".

I just honestly believe now, the Axl is perfectly content with touring the greatest hits, and enjoying the road, and not having to deal with exposing himself to further criticism with another release. I think hes pretty much in retirement mode. Kicking ack, and making a living off of his past. Of which is entirely his choice, and totally fine if he chooses to do so. But all the stringing along of potential new releases and new music, should be put to rest. Just come out and have the balls to say what your intentions are. Dont keep making excuses and forcing your band members to look like idiots when they get asked about the possibility of something new.

In the world of GNR, ive learned that things like "exciting news coming", "big year coming up for GNR" or "Breaking news upcoming on GNR" usually means Gilby Clarke is getting interviewd on Metal Sludge, new DJ Ashby Swag or Dizzy Reed getting interviewd by someone online in Peru. Its always piddly useless bullshit. It never means what anyone hopes it will. Never.

Yes

I just say, don't expect anything. I won't believe anything until I see & hear it.

I've said this many times, but I honestly don't think we'll see another GN'R album in Axl's life time.

I agree 100% with Russ. And I've believed it for quite some time, and have posted about it several times. Whether it's Axl's own perfectionist attitude, lable issues, forced reunion bullshit, whatever the excuse, I don't believe we will see another complete studio release from Axl until it is no longer in his control. Which will only come in a fashion I never hope to see. When that day comes, the vaults will open, the haters will become his biggest fans, and the enigma that is Axl Rose will be forever cemented in music history. I wish it were different, and I truly hope I'm wrong.

Catcher is not only my favorite song on CD, it's also in my top 3 GNR songs of all time, as well as being one of my favorite songs ever by any artist. I know everyone connects to, and hears a song differently(one reason why I don't care for videos) and for me I hear and connect to it by the senseless loss of John Lennon. I still vividly remember hearing the news on the radio. I was just 9 years old. I was raised on the Beatles, and was one of millions waiting for a reunion, of which turned out was completely possible, as the band were on and off discussing not just a reunion tour, but new studio material.

The first time I heard it, with Brian May, I loved the song immediately. Like I said, I took my own perception of the song. Small discrete sections possibly being Mark David Chapman's warped and twisted sense of reality slipped within a line here and there. The world wide effect Lennon's death had, and how extremely surreal it all was. On to the people who literally felt like they had just had a part of them torn out. People around the globe that followed his whole hearted belief of piece. People who had always turned to Lennon and his music in times of sadness & sorrow, happiness and joy, sensibility and senselessness.

Then the outro. This is where I felt a personal connection. Beginning with "on an ordinary day", because it's a perfect description. "No longer would it play for anybody, or anyone" describing the near immediate thing that crossed everyone's mind. Which was, we will never get to see or hear him again. Axls acknowledgement that Lennon was truly one of a kind in the verse "who cared to be". And the hard truth in the loss of innocence I felt, and my friends felt. That millions felt. It was a song that really hit home for me.

I know Axl has stated it's not entirely about Lennon. That it's about the book, and Holden Caufield syndrome. Among other things. But I'm glad I heard the song along time before I heard what it was about. This way I was able to take my own meaning away from it.

This song should be a staple of the set. And I really think, if promoted, pushed, and played, it could have been a song that could have helped bring CD into the mainstream, and showed Axl's musical progression.

I think several sounded great, especially TIL, OMG, Silkworms and Goin down. It seems obvious more than a handful of people have these, there's no money to be made by hoarding, and in all likelihood, if they aren't eventually leaked, they will never see the light of day as the majority are just remixes, all be it, some very interesting ones at that.

At this point,mid be surprised if they aren't leaked in there entirety sometime in the near future. I'd think that these songs that seemingly have no intention to be commercially released, being leaked would do zero damage to the band, and to the contrary, may actually help put the band back in somewhat of a spotlight, and provide some positive press, as well as give something to pacify the fan base until 2016 or 2018 when it may be possible an actual full album of material may eventually be released. But I'll believe that unicorn when I see it.

Where to begin? To me, it was a success when considering anybody could have had every single song before the stores opened the moment it was officially released. Also, in the age of downloading, I think the overall sales were respectable. It just didn't smash in the US. By the time it came out GNR had been long thought dead in the states. And, rock music itself, for all intensive purposes has been dead in the USA for going on 15 years. With that being said, I'd sum it up like this, in no particular order, with regard to its disappointing sales in the US, And US only.

1. The delays, and the jokes and mockery that built upon itself for decades.

2. Lack of material between between TSI & CD. To the point that today's youth, without doing some homework or actually really being into blues based rock n roll, the average 13-20 year old kid here only knows GNR's TOP greatest hits. NR, SCOM, PC & WTTJ. With maybe 2-3 more. Like Patience or Brownstone. That's all that gets radio airplay. And you can reduce that number of songs if you don't take satellite radio into consideration.

3. Rock music is on life support the US. When was the last time a rock song was number one on Billboard here? 2001? 2002? And I'm gonna guess its a Nickleback song.

4. Pathetic promotion. Especially for such a mythical record. They played half the songs live, here and there for a decade before studio releases. Then the record comes out, the label promotes it for shit. Absolutely nothing. For a fact Def Leppard got more radio and television promotion for there "return" than CD did. And to make it worse Axl went into seclusion again. Disaster on all fronts.

Obviously there's more. A lot more. But this is a pretty good recipe for absolute, complete, genuine epic failure. And yet, they still managed to sell a solid, respectable amount of records. Released any time before 2003, I believe its a whole new ball game. Not because of the band members, but because rock music was still relevant, all be it headed for life support. Because Axl was still relevant along with the rock scene. CD was already an albatross, but it wasn't the monster it came to be. It crossed the line of mythical to ridiculousness.

I don't think he is very happy when that happens. I think he would rather put them out when they are ready.

Hey Marc, I gotta believe he doesn't like it, especially since by all intensive purposes, Axl really seems like an obsessive perfectionist. But what's your opinion as to whether or not Chinese Democracy would have ever been released without the leaks of the entire record?

I have zero inside information, I'm only speculating. But by appearances, the leaks sure seemed to get that record out. Maybe as a way of getting the weight of CD off of everyone's back, lable included. Kinda like they released the songs that had been fully leaked. It's been said that the track list that eventually made it on CD, was intended to be different. If true, and including the chain of events, it seems certainly plausible. And as to future music, leaks may be the only way these songs come out prior to Axl's remaining performing days are over.

I find it hard to believe he'd put this much work into his music only to never allow its release, regardless of whatever level of a perfectionist he may be. I also find it difficult to understand (other than attempting to force a reunion, which should by now, be known as an impossibility with 100% certainty) why the lable would refuse to release new material. As it has been alleged. Neither makes any sense. Any idea, or opiniun of the leak/release theory, or as to what could possibly be the current problem?

Why was the name changed? Was there ever an official explanation?

If there ever was, I never heard why. Only thing I recall is that "The Blues" was the working title. I love this song. It's definitely among my top 10 GNR songs of all time. Lyrics are great. Two things about the name change that never made sense to were, #1 to me, it was the perfect name for that song. And #2, is the fact that there is already a classic rock song, of which has gotten, and continues to get, more radio air play than any song on Chinese Democracy called Street Of Dreams by Ritchie Blackmores' Rainbow. Point being, if you ever happen to mention the song to anyone, as soon as they hear the song title, they automatically go straight to the Rainbow song.

So it always made me wonder, why change a great song title to a different title? Especially to a title that already has another version, of the same name, that's continued to get solid airplay since 1983. Still, doesn't change my opinion of how great I think the song is. Just one of those GNR things that makes me think why?

Is there much difference? Pretty much the same thing except some little productioney touches. I gotta say this song is a cracker, feels like listening to Guns n Roses again

To me it has an entirely different feel. The 2001 live version just feels better to me. I still like the CD version, but I prefer the 2001 version. I also hated the name change. I always thought "The Blues" was a perfect song title. Didn't care for the name change at all.

I won't believe the DVD is coming out until I physically see it in a store.

DVD is not coming out this year.

Just talk to anyone who owns/works at that kind of retail outlet.

LOL at people thinking “you just might walk into your record shop one Tuesday and find it there.”

Exactly! I don't believe it will ever see the light of day. This year, next year, any year.

I won't believe the DVD is coming out until I physically see it in a store.

No. I don't think we will ever see a release of new material with the new band, and I'm highly doubtful we will ever see a new release of any kind ever.

I think its safe to say Axl has had shows where he was so bad I literally felt bad for him, and as a fan of his. Shows of utter shit mixed in with excellence. And great shows where he makes me remember fuck yeah! This is the performer I've liked for 25 years!

This is still going on? Top thread here at the moment?? Wow. Talk about feeding a shark. He's working everyone. Getting just what he probably wanted. Lol

Coma is hard as hell to sing period. To do it live is ridiculously hard. Some sections would have to have someone else picking up a few verses. And there's no running around while trying to sing this song. So much breathing and breath control is required. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if the outro, or from the "suspended deep in a sea of black" point on, if the vocals were recorded in a near verse by verse sections.

I've always wanted to know the true, real reasons Bucket and the others left. All bullshit aside. It seems more than a little odd that all these guys left, but yet had very little to say regarding details. Makes me wonder if there not allowed to speak about certain aspects due to something they are contractually bound to. As to BBF, I think he's great, I think Ashba is pretty solid to, and I've always liked Fortus. But until those guys (BBF & Ashba) get the opportunity to write and record new music with Guns, there always going to be looked upon as replacements, or hired hands so to speak. IMO.

Fade To Black

No.

KEA, RTL, MOP are amazing, groundbreaking, beginning to end fantastic records. The original Garage Days EP that came out after Cliff died, but before AJFA, is pretty good to. AJFA I immediately felt the loss of Cliff, although it was sill a solid release. I've disliked everything thats been released ever since.

Some of the best lyrics he's ever written. Trumps almost all of the stuff on Chinese Democracy.

I would cherish that paper if I were the owner. So much cooler than a regular ole' John Hancock autograph.

It's also better than all the stuff on UYI I&II

No way. I realize this is your opinion, and your entitled to it, as I am my own. OMG has some excellent lyrics, but it doesn't touch Coma, Locomotive, or many other UYI songs.

I don't know, Axl's vocals were pretty awful during this period. Mickey to the max; how he can't seem to find some sort of happy medium between nail-gargling rasp and clean singing, I'll never understand.

Still don't get the obsession with Finck. What did that guy ever write? I know, I know, you'll say "Better," but what parts did he actually contribute? If it was just the lick in the beginning and the verses, that ain't saying much for his songwriting abilities! He's a hired-hand touring musician, just like the rest of Axl's troupe. I'm actually quite cool with all of the New Gn'R lineups as long as Axl sounds good.

I agree 100% about Axl. A lot of people complain about his voice now. I think it was at its worst during this period. And I didn't get into the whole freak show thing. Great group of musicians though, no question.

Yeah, I'd go with MSL. He's a smart guy, with a real passion for GNR, and I'm fairly certain he'd be pretty aggressive at getting them where they should be already.