Nick85

So we are now well aware of the shitstorm that followed all the rumors swirling around about the state of the band, the next album, U.S. tour etc. This recently reached a head when Axl's lawyers contacted this website threatening this, his biggest fansite, with legal action if they did not remove all mention of said rumors. A lot of this has caused an undeniable love-hate relationship between the fans and Axl.

With that in mind, I started thinking, so much of this silliness & drama could have been avoided if Axl simply communicated with his fans and kept us even somewhat up to snuff about what we can expect from the band over the years. So many times over the years we've been left in the dark when we needed clarifcation the most from Axl.

Here's what I could come up with...

2002 - Axl refusing to explain to the fans why the tour which ended with people getting hurt at the Philly riot was cancelled. No apologies, nothing.

2002 - Axl telling the fans that CD would consist of 18 songs with the next two albums being release of the following 2 years while the band toured throughout. Never happened - no explanation to fans.

2004 - Early April, Buckethead leaving press release. "We hope to announce a release date within the next few months." Never happened, no explanation. Didn't hear from the guy for another two years.

2006 - In regards to the tentative release date of March 6th "If we are delayed for unseen reasons you will also be notified as soon as possible in regard to a new date and the album will be released as shortly thereafter as is possible." March 6th came and went and we didn't here from Axl Rose until the Axl chats two years later AFTER the release that he was completely MIA for.

2008 - In regards to the Better video, during the chats: "Soon as in a week or so." Came and went, no explanation from Axl. Three weeks later regarding the Lars issue "We hope to have our video out shortly." Never released. No explanation.

2008 - During the chats a seemingly enthusiastic Axl hinted at a possible "same bat time same bat channel next year" for the next album. 3 months later - Fans expecting the new album soon are now called "Idiots that have been around forever." When's the next album? "Don't know & Dont Care" With no word on the next album from Axl since.

2009 - Videos to fans: Got tons of questions from excited fans...Nada. No explanation. Took Ron a fucking year to give us his version of why it didn't happen, mentioning that he's not even sure why it didn't happen.

2011 - Having his lawyers threaten his biggest fansite if they do not remove any and all mention of band rumors started by MSL.

So what do you think? Has Axl damaged his relationship with his fans?

Nah. Release the next album and tour the states please. I promise I would love that more.

Without Axl they couldn't sell out a movie theater.

Yup.

But that's not their fault. Axl's done next to nothing to give them any sort of identities. Loosing guitarists every few years doesn't help either.

Ouch. So is it safe to assume there will be no exclusive for CD2?

this makes too much sense to be what will happen.

My thoughts exactly.

Realistically, we'll maybe get a few more SA dates peppered in with this, all a continuation of the Chinese Democracy World Tour setlist, with only rumors of what the status of the next album.

We'll probably get a couple more soundbites of DJ quipping about what he thinks the next album will be, followed by more silence. Rock n' roll!!!

I don't know. New tunes would be nice, with a tour right behind them, but that's not how this band works unfortunately.

Believe me, I know. I guess what it comes down to is that many fans see 2011, and RIR, as blank slate and a perfect opportunity for Axl to launch the next album and tour behind it.

But unfortuatly, Axl likes to keep things shrouded in secrecy, and if he doesn't do something the way he initially told us he's going to, like release a trilogy of albums or the 18 tracks that were supposed to be on Chinese Democracy (as per Axl in 2002), he'll be God damned if he's going to explain why it's not happening to us.

It seems that Axl only likes to comment these days when the media get ahold of a rumor he doesn't like.

How jaded have GNR fans become? Really, only we would brush away the prospect of a 'finished' album getting released 8 months from now.

I'll always love GNR, but this band can be just so damn sad sometimes.

Brian also recorded guitar parts on 'Atlas Shrugged'. Sounds amazing.

I pray this is the start of the CD2 launch.

You gotta be kidding me?

I wrote that, then I saw DJ's recent clusterfuck of a statement regarding the next album. Consider my enthusiasm deflated.

dude, you should know better - don't let that happen again!

Sorry Subsy. Too much caffeine plus a news drought can make a GNR fan think crazy things. You know, like they might release new music soonish and plan 2011 both smart & strategically. I won't let that happen again.

I pray this is the start of the CD2 launch.

You gotta be kidding me?

I wrote that, then I saw DJ's recent clusterfuck of a statement regarding the next album. Consider my enthusiasm deflated.

Um, so does this mean they're going to re-record all of Bucket & Robin's parts and it'll consist of both old and newer tracks??

We really need an update.

I pray this is the start of the CD2 launch.

It could be, but don't bank on it. There's no indication this is the case, really.

Ali

I certainly am not banking on it. However, I do think it would be an excellent opportunity for the band to introduce some new songs to what will surely be an emormous audience.

Remember, it was ten years ago that RIR3 introduced the new band to the world for the first time on a major scale and Axl is a huge fan of RIR and it's history. That said, I can't think of a better way for Axl to close out the CD Era and move the band forward than by playing RIR.

Of course, nothing's for sure until it's for sure if you catch my drift...

I pray this is the start of the CD2 launch.

Not sure why the prospect of 1 show featuring the same setlist we've gotten for the past year excites people.

Now if they were doing RIR in support of the next album, and not a continuation of the never-ending Chinese Democracy tour, that would be a different story.

C'mon Axl. Anounce the album, book the U.S. tour, play Rock In Rio, etc. and do what you do best...

I can't help but think Axl forsaw the clusterfuck of legal issues that were on the horizon when he batted away questions about the next album the last time he was asked about it. Starting to makes sense now. Darn.

For now, yes, it's pretty boring. But that can all change with a sudden announcement. Sad thig is, I think we all know what direction it's going to go at least for a while.

Yeah, I think Axl's ended his relationship with this forum, especially after he lost it on madison last year.

Fernando and Beta stopped posting here right around that time as well.

Who knows though, maybe they're all just taking a collective break.

I really miss Fernando.

It's funny, if Axl were to simply release a statement saying "We hope to begin mixing and mastering the songs we've selected for the next album this spring, with a release date hopefully to be announced shortly after." it would probably tide us over for a good 3 years.

We don't get many positive announcements directly from GNR, and it never takes much to please us and create tremendous amounts of positive buzz among the fans.

What if they haven't selected songs for the next album yet? What if that doesn't align with the current focus, be that organizing a US tour, or something else?

Ali

I was speaking hypothetically, Ali.

So, was I. What if there is nothing currently planned or concrete enough to announce? Unfortunately, that may be the current situation. Sometimes, things are just quiet for a while. I just wouldn't want to get in the area of expecting something, album-related or otherwise, to be announced if there just really is nothing to announce. That's just setting yourself up for disappointment, really.

Ali

I dunno man. I'm just sick of using the whole "people will bitch if it doesn't happen" as a constant crutch for Axl's lack of a relationship with his fanbase. It just doesn't fly with me anymore. But that's just me.

That's not what I was saying. What I was saying was more like "don't hope for something that there is no indication will happen or is close to happening". Don't put the cart before the horse. Don't put faith in unfounded rumors as well.

Ali

Good point. To be honest, I'm betting there's a reason we've heard zilch from Axl about the next album and U.S. tour (other than it not being set in stone). My guess is that when there's good news to be shared, we'll know because we'll be commenting on a press release announcing it....Errr, except maybe the U.S tour if it happens. We've seen the wonderful ways their tours confirmed, one date at a time.

It's funny, if Axl were to simply release a statement saying "We hope to begin mixing and mastering the songs we've selected for the next album this spring, with a release date hopefully to be announced shortly after." it would probably tide us over for a good 3 years.

We don't get many positive announcements directly from GNR, and it never takes much to please us and create tremendous amounts of positive buzz among the fans.

What if they haven't selected songs for the next album yet? What if that doesn't align with the current focus, be that organizing a US tour, or something else?

Ali

I was speaking hypothetically, Ali.

So, was I. What if there is nothing currently planned or concrete enough to announce? Unfortunately, that may be the current situation. Sometimes, things are just quiet for a while. I just wouldn't want to get in the area of expecting something, album-related or otherwise, to be announced if there just really is nothing to announce. That's just setting yourself up for disappointment, really.

Ali

I dunno man. I'm just sick of using the whole "people will bitch if it doesn't happen" as a constant crutch for Axl's lack of a relationship with his fanbase. It just doesn't fly with me anymore. But that's just me.

Its so unfair that the whole forum is being punished for the MSL crap. Axl probably hates us all

The whole thing is probably going effect the forum because the relationship is tarnished.

To be fair, Axl's relationship with his fans has been love/hate looooong before MSL.

It's funny, if Axl were to simply release a statement saying "We hope to begin mixing and mastering the songs we've selected for the next album this spring, with a release date hopefully to be announced shortly after." it would probably tide us over for a good 3 years.

We don't get many positive announcements directly from GNR, and it never takes much to please us and create tremendous amounts of positive buzz among the fans.

What if they haven't selected songs for the next album yet? What if that doesn't align with the current focus, be that organizing a US tour, or something else?

Ali

I was speaking hypothetically, Ali.

It's funny, if Axl were to simply release a statement saying "We hope to begin mixing and mastering the songs we've selected for the next album this spring, with a release date hopefully to be announced shortly after." it would probably tide us over for a good 3 years.

We don't get many positive announcements directly from GNR, and it never takes much to please us and create tremendous amounts of positive buzz among the fans.

I've said it before, I'm convinced that Axl looks at us as just another obstacle that he must overcome. It seems as though the only time he 'reaches out' to us lately is when he's pissed off about what the media's been saying about him.

Can we do this?

Seeing as though the last contact Eric had with GNR was from Axl's lawyers, I'm guessing, no?

Lol, good point. Sick the lawyers on their biggest fansite. Smashing PR work as always.

Although, at the very least, sending a good natured update to all the fansite would definitely help to repair the fractured relationship they currently have with the fansbase.

Indeed.

So then it won't happen, right.

Precisely.