Dude on the Couch

Axl Rose performed for Duff McKagan rather than the London audience when the former Guns n’Roses bassist made a guest appearance, says ex-drummer Matt Sorum.

McKagan joined the new lineup of GnR for a handful of songs in October after he and Rose happened to meet when they were staying in the same hotel.

Now Sorum, who replaced original GnR drummer Steven Adler before the band collapsed in 1993, says that during those songs Rose would have been performing towards McKagan rather than the crowd.

He tells Bravewords’ Mitch Lafon: “You could tell he was singing more for Duff than for the crowd – a ‘Look, I still got it’ kind of thing.

“Duff’s a completely different guy from when he was in Guns n’Roses – he’s running tow different business columns, he’s gone to school and he’s got a family. Axl probably didn’t recognise him.”

But like classic-era guitarist Slash, Sorum doesn’t believe the move has made a full reunion more likely, observing: “It was a very organic thing and Duff hasn’t had very much conversation with him since then. But of course all the vultures swooped and said, ‘It’s going to happen’. Well, I don’t know – it’s one guy.”

The drummer admits he doesn’t remember much about his time with GnR, although he describes it as “a great ride, probably one of the greatest times in my life, even though it wasn’t easy.”

But he says: “The reality of Axl’s feelings towards Duff are blown our of proportion. He’s a very sensitive guy at times – I know deep down he has feelings for all those guys. The communication factor is the biggest breakdown. People get between you and the truth.”

http://www.rockaaa.com/news/axl-played-guest-spot-songs-to-duff-says-sorum-1543

I thought is was interesting how Matt says Duff hasn't talked to Axl "much" since the encounter. Does that mean that they have in fact talked since London? If so, I wonder what kind of things were discussed. Reagrdless, it's great to hear the two of them are communicating again.

theres a thread at at cd.com where some guy is saying that axl will be issuing a statement before the end of the year which addresses what happened with the better video, 2011 tour dates, and the next album. is this part of the same interview in question?