BangoSkank

Hey Marc,

Can you speak a little about the work Tom Zutat did on Chinese Democracy?

A few years ago (2007?) there was an article in Classic Rock magazine where he detailed his time working on the album. I actually still read it from time-to-time and there’s a few bits that stick out:

1). Buckethead loved the smell of puppy shit and insisted on it being around his chicken coop inside the studio

2). Zutat was given the boot because he arranged for Axl to see Black Hawk Down in a private screening (It was possible they were doing a new version of “Welcome To The Jungle” for it), but when Axl walked in and saw other people there, he accused Zutat of lying to him and fired him.

This last bit is obviously a lie, or very exaggerated, but I was wondering if you had any insight as to this period of making the album.

Much thanks again for all this.

Here http://www.mygnrforum.com/index.php?/topic/203172-gnr-songs-in-movies/

The Buckethead issue was not mentioned. So I guess Marc could still explain that

Awesome, thanks. I figured the article in Classic Rock exaggerated things. Would really like to hear about Buckethead's chicken coop, etc.

HOB without question. Shame Bucket will never be on an official release.

Oh shit, my bad. I did a search on this forum for "Zutat" and only saw a topic relating to demos he was apart of. I'll search through a bit more.

You spelled his name wrong in the search.

That bastard with a second "U"

Oh shit, my bad. I did a search on this forum for "Zutat" and only saw a topic relating to demos he was apart of. I'll search through a bit more.

Hey Marc,

Can you speak a little about the work Tom Zutat did on Chinese Democracy?

A few years ago (2007?) there was an article in Classic Rock magazine where he detailed his time working on the album. I actually still read it from time-to-time and there’s a few bits that stick out:

1). Buckethead loved the smell of puppy shit and insisted on it being around his chicken coop inside the studio

2). Zutat was given the boot because he arranged for Axl to see Black Hawk Down in a private screening (It was possible they were doing a new version of “Welcome To The Jungle” for it), but when Axl walked in and saw other people there, he accused Zutat of lying to him and fired him.

This last bit is obviously a lie, or very exaggerated, but I was wondering if you had any insight as to this period of making the album.

Much thanks again for all this.

Leaks?

Shacklers, Ron did a solo in 2004.

.

Think that was 07, no? I remember reading an article with Ron - might have been in like, Guitar World or something - where they were asking him to give his memories of recording all his tracks on the album and he talked about Summer of 07 being in the studio and eating takeout Thai food all the time and he referenced Shackler's, I think in the same paragraph. Plus, wasn't Ron not even rumored to be rehearsing with the band until 05? Or did those rumors indeed start in 04?

I might be wrong, but wasn't Ron a very last minute addition to the band in '06 and beforehand it was, allegedly, only Robin & Fortus after Buckethead left?

This. God, I still remember not knowing who Bucket's replacement was until reading unconfirmed reports, here, on the day of the first Hammerstein show. Awesome times.

Exactly. Even on the Eddie Trunk show Axl was tight-lipped about the replacement and that was the night before (or something).

I know people rag on Ron, but I'm so glad he joined. He's one of the few people who actually can play to, and add to, Bucket's sound. I can't imagine it with just Robin & Fortus, if no other reason than now it would be just Ashba & Fortus.

If we survived the barren wasteland of 2002-2006, we'll make it through.

Shacklers, Ron did a solo in 2004.

.

Think that was 07, no? I remember reading an article with Ron - might have been in like, Guitar World or something - where they were asking him to give his memories of recording all his tracks on the album and he talked about Summer of 07 being in the studio and eating takeout Thai food all the time and he referenced Shackler's, I think in the same paragraph. Plus, wasn't Ron not even rumored to be rehearsing with the band until 05? Or did those rumors indeed start in 04?

I might be wrong, but wasn't Ron a very last minute addition to the band in '06 and beforehand it was, allegedly, only Robin & Fortus after Buckethead left?

The embarrassment started w/ the VMA and then Exerted to RIR and bridge school. It's a shame some of Axl worse performances have been captured by large audiences and some of his best go unnoticed.

Go unnoticed? They don't exist.

Except for virtually all of the '06 tour

I'm in the minority here: I'd rather they hold off and release a 3D concert when it could feature Axl in top shape (weight-wise, vocal-wise).

It's far from bad, but I'll be sitting there going: "damnit! why isn't this an '06 show!"

Rio is made out to be a lot worse than it was. The footage used in that video comes from the worst-of-the-worst moments, but I watched most of it recently and it was better than I expected (given the shit storm around it).

He forgot lyrics to songs he wrote himself...he wore a yellow raincoat.

I rest my case. You can't make that worse Axl looked bad enough..

Barring the mickey voice, a mobile Axl, dressed in the way we expect (though i actually love the absurd raincoat) and not forgetting the lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUFhu168fbs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YBu0ho22Ts

As far as I can tell, whoever made the "AXL ROSE DISASTER" video from Rio '11 selected the most outrageously bad clips to make the show (and Axl) look far worse than it was. Don't get me wrong though, it was far from perfect, but nowhere near the atrocity people pretend it to be.

Rio is made out to be a lot worse than it was. The footage used in that video comes from the worst-of-the-worst moments, but I watched most of it recently and it was better than I expected (given the shit storm around it).

As long as he loses some weight and gets that voice back in shape, he can wear a fucking panda costume for all I care.

What are the rumors flying around about his being a no-show in Philly? I've heard his apology and pseudo-explanation, and it sounds pretty legit. I'm a little inclined to think that Clear Channel wanted it to just end (given the bad reviews, half-filled arenas, riots to start-off with), but that evening was sold out and it immediately followed a critically-hailed performance at The Garden (the first nearly unanimously praised show of the tour, one that sold out in 15 minutes). I really can't see anyone, Axl or otherwise, wanting to jump ship after that.

This is after throwing out the rumors of the basketball game and the fur coat.

the really weird part about all this was the homeless people around the venue all knew the show was cancelled well before it was even cancelled. More than one said to us "you might as well leave because he's not coming, it's cancelled"

wtf

I'm not joking. That was something that was very strange. 2 homeless people said it to us as we arrived at the venue and another one said it to us while we were trying to sell some extra tickets we had. That guy said "Good luck selling tickets. You know he's not coming and the show is cancelled"

Also another very strange observation I made that night. The parking lot at GM place was 100% completely empty aside from the tour busses. Huh? Not a single person drove to the show? When I went to U2 in the same venue 4 years later the parking lot was packed. It's almost as though the GnR riot was planned. Why did all those fans have roman candles? Did they expect to get in with those? Were they planning on shooting them at the stage or did they bring those for the planned riot? How the hell did the police arrive on scene within minutes. All of them. Dogs and everything. If this riot wasn't planned it should've taken a good while for that many officers to arrive let alone the dog squad haha.

I'm not a massive conspiracy theorist but explain to me how the GM Place staff had the foresight not to allow the crowd into the building. Apparently the Guns N' Roses band was there and had soundchecked......

the whole night was weird but in my opinion Axl never planned to play that show. Why was a Canadian date picked as the first show of their first NA tour in almost 10 years?

Not going to lie, it's a pretty good argument you're making. I just wonder (and speaking as someone who was in the Philadelphia riot a few months later), why exactly he would purposely incite a riot? I don't see much to gain outside of publicity (and a loooooot of backlash).

Axl Rose was trying to negotiate a reunion as recently as 2006.

[A]ccording to Classic Rock magazine, via a GN'R insider, recent attempts were indeed made by Axl Rose to reform the original band for shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, and then again for the Download Festival at Donnington Park.

The magazine also reported that both were allegedly to be filmed and released on DVD with an accompanying live album to mark the 20th anniversary of the band forming. As the story goes, all parties were interested until the fine print of the contracts were examined.

Apparently, despite the shows and the potential earning power of the subsequent CD/DVD sales, in agreeing to the terms and conditions, each member then agrees that all rights to the entire Guns N' Roses back catalogue would henceforth transfer to Axl.

Needless to stay, negotiations stalled

http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/303/9/

I find this VERY hard to believe. CR is also not the most reputable magazine.

I mostly agree (though they did have a really in depth interview with Zutat a few years back).

I'm down for anything as long as he's in better shape vocally & physically.

would you rather have one song from slash/izzy/duff GNR? Or would you rather have an entire album from the various new musicians (99-2013)?

By far the latter. No telling how the quality of the "classic" lineup will be and this band still has a lot of juice in them that hasn't been seen yet.

What was the deal with his voice being so good in '06? Was it ever confirmed (or just rumored/guessed) that he had Baz's vocal coach helping him?

I'm amazed at the hate BBF gets. The guy is, really, the only one who could step up to Bucket's shoes. He's way, way underused.

::Crossing my fingers for Buckethead via Herbie the Hand Puppet::

FUCK NO

Axl IS Guns N' Roses. If they all formed a band with Tommy, Ron and Dizzy singing I'd most lilely be a big fan, but they shouldn't call themselves GNR

100% agreed. It'd be really, really funny if they called themselves "Guns N' Roses," but that'd never happen. If Axl left the guys would probably dissipate.

I think there's really only two ways to view of what comprises GN'R:

1. GN'R is like NIN with Axl is the sole member it all largely comes from him. The people around him write, assist and bring a lot to the table. Axl would prefer that they stay as long as possible, but they can, ultimately, leave and be replaced.

Or

2. GN'R is like the Stones, with a lead singer & guitarist combination that there'd be no band without. You'd need, at least, the two of them (I.E. - There currently is no band because there is no Slash).

I recognize some people are purists and want Duff and crew back, but I'm just speaking sort of generally.

In either view, there is no GN'R without the lead singer, so I'm not too sure how people, no matter what view is taken, could accept an Axl-less Guns N' Roses.

That shit ain't happening, time to move on.

I'd still kill to see Bucket on this song.

That goes for Shackler's too.