The Seeker

I've often wondered what exactly motivates Axl. It isn't money, fame, or notoriety. He certainly seems to have no desire for attention. The only thing I could think of was the desire to keep topping himself, by his own standard. A more grandiose, broad sound to the music. Longer shows, concerts in exotic locations where nobody else plays. As time goes on though I've seen the passion wane. Every move he makes onstage is practically choreographed. You can watch video after video after about 2010 and he's in the same spots during the same songs. I think for all his trouble putting CD together, and to still be mocked and have it called a failure in virtually every article that makes even passing mention of it, he's probably done spending his time and money going out on a limb for any grand visions. He may also not want to be in the position where he has to either play more new material live and drop some classics, or stick to classics and tacitly admit his new music is irrelevant. That's all speculation on my part though, who really knows. I think he's a really interesting, eccentric character who stuck to his guns against crazy pressure, for better or worse, and while I wish for more out of him I have a great deal of respect for him regardless. I don't feel like he owes me or anyone else anything, but I damn sure would appreciate it. I guess to go back to the original topic though; the soap opera is less interesting at the moment, but I haven't lost interest.

There.

Quit with your negative agenda.

It's just the truth man, I don't have an agenda. I saw a video awhile back where some guy giving a tour of the backstage area showed off Axl's fancy oxygen/steam inhaler thing. There's a picture of him using it in the 90s. I don't care, if that's what lets him put on 3 hour shows when I see him then fuckin' A, go for it.

Not true, it's to huff oxygen so he doesn't get criticized for being out of breath like he was after the VMAs. He's been doing it since the 90s, but now he does it almost every song. Sometimes he changes his hat too.

I really don't understand why anyone is so excited about Silkworms. It's my least favorite Chines Democracy era song out of any I've heard in whole or in part. The lyrics are lame, there's basically no vocal melody, the keyboard part and the poorly executed punkish verses don't sound like they belong in the same song. It's crap. OMG on the other hand is great, but if anything leaks I'd rather it be something I haven't heard any version of, something totally new to my ears, not Silkworms.

These goofy bastards need to learn English or get out of America.

Why do any of you think Beta has a say in whether a new album gets made or not? Axl and co. have had several managers over the years, it doesn't make a difference. Her response was rude and sort of strange, until you realize she's basically of the species I call "the band girlfriend", just not actually a girlfriend in this case.

She thinks she's part of the band, she's invested in it, she's defensive of it. She makes Axl happy, they get to fly around in private jets and party all over the world in between shows. Axl is calling the shots at the end of the day I'm sure. Beta would have to threaten to abandon him to get him to do anything he didn't wanna do, and she won't.

It'll happen for sure. They're even planning on having Shannon Hoon do guest vocals on a new song West Arkeen co-wrote with Axl for the new album.

now thats just plain fucking mean lol

Maybe, but as long as we're entertaining fantasies here....

It'll happen for sure. They're even planning on having Shannon Hoon do guest vocals on a new song West Arkeen co-wrote with Axl for the new album.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; Myles Kennedy sounds like a tranny trying to do a mocking impression of Geddy Lee. In addition, he has the charisma and stage presence of an unplugged toaster oven. He is and will forever be a buttrocker. I'd rather watch Axl take a shit on stage while singing the theme song to The Mickey Mouse Club than see Myles Kennedy do anything.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/331204/mickey-rourke-calls-in-a-favor-from-axl-rose.jhtml

If it costs a million and a half bucks for SCOM to be used in a movie that's much more money than they'd make off DVD sales through a record company with this lineup.

I think Axl gets the most royalties and also makes the call on what is licensed out.

That is bullshit.

Well from what I've read the band worked out a complicated system to calculate writing credits for each song. Doesn't that play into how much royalties each member gets for the use of a given song? I also remember Mickey Rourke saying Axl gave him a good deal on the rights to use Sweet Child o' Mine in The Wrestler. Maybe he didn't really know how that deal was worked out, I don't know. Who makes the call then?

Guns n' Roses material is on soundtracks to major movies on a regular basis. That surely makes more money than a DVD would. I think Axl gets the most royalties and also makes the call on what is licensed out.

You should pay me royalties for stealing my screen name and using it to make really dumb threads.

That idea is stupid as hell for the reasons DirtyDeeds stated and you stole my screen name.

Any man who must say he is king is no true king.

Being designated a truly great and signficant guitarist involves the right combination of technical skill, style, and impact. Bumblefoot has no shortage of technical skill, but his style from what I've heard is an acquired taste and his impact is minimal. He isn't a household name and probably never will be. I like him in GnR but to say he's anywhere close to 'the greatest guitarist of our time' is absurd.

"We went back to the hotel, went to the bathroom and chatted right there till 1.30 in the afternoon."

There is only one reason people ever hang out in a bathroom and chatterbox for hours, and if you don't know that I'm not gonna bother explaining.

If you're looking for rock music to be your moral compass you'll either end up being an asshole or listening to shitty music.

I would say Prostitute, hands down.

He's playing to satisfied crowds, getting some good to great reviews, and he makes news anytime he's seen in public. That's as relevant as any middle aged rock stars are. Aerosmith got ambitious and put out a new album last year, it flopped, and they continued touring because they're a great live band. The Rolling Stones put out a few new songs but for the time being they're doing shows and playing the hits because they're a great live band. All of those bands made a noteworthy contribution to music to gain their status, now they're basically nostalgia acts. That doesn't mean they aren't relevant.

It was a really great, solid show. I went with a friend who wouldn't have had any problem leveling criticism at Axl or the band if he wasn't impressed, and he walked away with nothing but good things to say. The crowd was a bit tired but pretty much everyone stuck around for the full set. Axl had a great amount of energy, seemed to be taking a few less oxygen breaks, and he was definitely in a good mood. To people nitpicking about hats and setlists, knock yourselves out. Everyone who was actually there seemed to be loving it.

Other highlights of the festival were great performances by The Sword, Clutch, and Alice in Chains.

I live in San Antonio. GnR, Alice in Chains, The Sword, and Clutch on the same bill is a really damn good show and I will definitely attend. Tickets are pretty cheap too, I think cheaper than the times I saw GnR and AIC by themselves.

I love these "what if Axl did this, would he be the most popular EVAR?!!1" threads.

Songs written by Weiland are best performed by Weiland, much like songs written by Axl are best sung by Axl and not that buttrocker extraordinaire Myles Kennedy. It's a pointless thing to speculate about anyway. Both the idea of Axl singing in VR, and Axl regaining the popularity he had in the 90s.

I see absolutely nothing to complain about here. Axl set an unreasonably high standard for himself in the 90s. It isn't normal to be able to sing like he did while running in a full sprint across stage. He's 51, and that looks and sounds damn good to me.

A new Guns album will never get the support, positive attention, and success Axl wants. If the bar of "success" were lowered to something reasonable, and Axl wanted to promote the thing like a normal person and do interviews, it would probably work out fine. Actually writing the music isn't the problem, meeting Axl's expectations of grandiosity and perfection are.