Blackstar

4 hours ago, wasteofammo said:

The half ass reunion sucks.  Axl was way better and entertaining during his fuck the world era. That Axl would have never considered a reunion. He now must be on happy meds. 

According to Merck, Axl was open about a reunion under certain circumstances. Which confirms what Axl said in China Exchange, that it was always a possibility.

3 minutes ago, rocknroll41 said:

Isn’t the Slash’s Snakepit song Lower also about Cobain?

According to Slash, it wasn't specifically about Cobain or dedicated to him, but included him, too. He said the idea came when he heard that Savannah (the porn-star who he had been involved with for a time) had killed herself (that was about three months after Cobain), so it was kind about both and the state of someone ending up killing themselves.

46 minutes ago, PatrickS77 said:

LOL at the thought of Axl being self-reflecting. Ever. I think that is one thing he's not capable of. Especially not in the year 2000.

I think he can be self-reflective, but wouldn't do it in the way of these lyrics, so directly. That's my opinion anyway.

11 minutes ago, 31illusions said:

Why does every song have to be about Slash? Like the break-up was Slash's fault? Axl was the egotistical maniac not Slash or Duff. I suppose Izzy never had issues with the red head either? Every other original member left of their own volition, except Steven.

No, not every song has to be about Slash. In my opinion, none of the songs on CD are about Slash (or at least only about him). But I think this one, Hard School, is.

You use an "objective" (or your subjective) point of view to interpret whether the song could be about Slash, but, don't forget, it's Axl's point of view here.

15 minutes ago, Lies They Tell said:

What does the "too hard school" part mean though? It reminds me of this quote by Axl:  ''Slash told me, 'I don't want to work that hard,'. So my interpretation is that from Axl's point of view being in GNR was too much work for Slash and that's what "too hard school" means. But I could be way off since english isn't my first language. Obviously it could fit Adler and Izzy too.

Anyway, would be interesting to hear other interpretations, especially from people whose native language is english.

3 minutes ago, Jordan Rose said:

Can't find that but I just assumed it's a play on old school/new school whereby hard school means a stubborn muther fucker.

15 minutes ago, Gunner927 said:

To add a little more fuel to the speculation that TB are fully supporting the takedowns, I noticed Wanker and Fernando had a cute little interaction on the GN'R subreddit the other day.

Also kinda hilarious that the only things Fernando seems to comment on are merch related posts. Like those "awesome" new toy semis. 

Is it confirmed that the account on reddit is really Fernando?

26 minutes ago, gnfnr2k said:

 

 

This was in 1999 the first time Robin left. He said Axl didnt have many songs done and most were just song ideas without lyrics.

 

We know in 99 Axl had a handful of songs wiht lyrics becasue he played them for RS.    But yeah Axl started putting more lyrics on stuff in 2000 which is why we probably have all of those locker room CDs. That is probably the first set of vocals Axl put down for most of those songs, and hard school is one of those songs.   It also makes sense why axl sounds similar on Atlas, Hard School and CITR. 

Yeah, Finck left in August '99. I believe Axl started recorded vocals after that, in the last months of '99, hence he played some songs with vocals for RS (the interview was done around November).

24 minutes ago, megaguns1982 said:

Yeah but he can still write a song about whoever he wants... some of those lyrics fit Adler perfectly:

had to be a fool had to throw it all away

all cautions made, every chance was given

to extend myself and lend you my hand

all fits Adler for me.

It wouldn't make much sense to write a song about Adler in the late 90s, though. He wrote one when it was recent (Right Next Door to Hell was partly about Steven).

Slash, on the other hand... To me the lyrics totally reflect Axl's side about the breakup with Slash, to the extent he told it in interviews and chats: that he made every effort to keep Slash, that he tried to save the band, and so on. Also "you had to play it cool."

It says "I would think you could be more of a man" so it's obviously not about Stephanie 

3 minutes ago, -W.A.R- said:

Its about Slash but the lyrics are pretty mild - not close to some of the nasty things Axl said about Slash.

The nasty things he said were mainly after Slash's book was released. I guess that hurt a lot.

14 minutes ago, gnfnr2k said:

 

Even when Robin left, he said most of Axls songs didnt have lyrics 

Yeah, he said Axl hadn't done any vocals yet. He probably did have lyrics by then, though. It seems, according to the Beavan interview, that Axl started recording vocals shortly after Robin Finck left.

31 minutes ago, ; D said:

I'm getting confused, IF the tune is about slash then why was it (possibly) started why he was still in the band, if it was worked on for the Jakie Chan movie then hopefully a work in progress version of the UYI lineup playing it. If it is about Slash I wonder will it be missed out on if it is being considered for a possible new GNR album 

It's possible that the basic musical composition originates from when Slash was still in the band - probably without his involvement - and the lyrics were written later. Slash, Duff, Zakk Wylde etc have said that Axl hadn't written any lyrics during that time, or at least he hadn't done any vocals. Even Axl himself has said that he had a writer's block then.

2 minutes ago, DieselDaisy said:

Sound like it is about Slash.

Totally about Slash 

There are a few examples of solo artists who have made great records later in their career, but it's much more rare in the case of bands.

13 minutes ago, jacdaniel said:

Technically, everyone outside of Axl, Slash, Duff, Izzy and Steven are hired hands. 

But back in the day, they were a full time active band. They toured, released music/content, videos, award shows, photoshoots, etc etc 

Now they don’t. So the hired hands are literally only touring members. 

It's worth noting that post AFD the joint band photos became less and less.

I think the first UYI lineup (with Izzy) did all in all two photo shoots as a band (the "Dead!" one that was featured in the albums and the one for the September 1991 Rolling Stone issue).

The second UYI lineup (with Gilby) didn't do any photo shoot together, if I'm not mistaken. Separate pictures of the members were featured in the 1992 and 1993 tour programs.

I think that was the case in the pre-CD era, too, but maybe I'm wrong. There is a band picture from the post-CD NuGnR lineup.

The current band has released two band photos, I think.

20 minutes ago, Ericstacey said:

This is something small and of course they worked together not long after, but I remember Gilby was touring for Pawn Show guitars and Slash had said in an interview he wasn't happy that he was doing Guns n Roses songs in his set. It sounds odd now, but I remember the only thing Slash did for Snakepit back then was a snippet of My Michelle. In Gilby's set he would start out doing the beginning of WTTJ but would go into It's so Easy. I actually think Gilby was still in the band at the time. This was in 1994

Do you remember which interview it was? Was it a video interview or in a magazine?

1 minute ago, Azifwekare said:

"Video has been removed at the request of IFPI".

So Fernando... found... the videos?

And did someone at the IFPI have to manually search through and verify them? They were up longer than usual, did they get distracted by something?

I think the person who uploaded the rehearsal video on PH is one of the people who have been accused of/known as being the ones taking down videos.

16 minutes ago, 31illusions said:

I'm not sure where you got that? In Steven's book, Steven reduced himself to 15% of royalties. Which means money based on each item sold and song writing credits. Steven sued GN'R to have his royalties reinstated and won.

https://gnrcentral.com/2018/09/24/25-years-ago-today-guns-n-roses-settles-steven-adler-lawsuit/

It was in the 1992 partnership contract:

(d)  The Partners shall divide all Net Old Record Profits as follows: twenty percent (20%) to Axl, twenty percent (20%) to Slash, twenty percent (20%) to Duff, twenty percent (20%) to Steven Adler, and twenty percent (20%) to Izzy Stradlin. As used herein, “Net Old Record Profits” shall mean Net Old Record Revenues (hereinafter defined) less Costs. As used herein, “Net Old Record Revenues” shall mean income earned by the Partnership or any of the Partners in respect of all phonorecords recorded by the Group prior to the recording of the Illusion LPs, including, without limitation, the Old Records.

http://www.a-4-d.com/t3745-1992-10-dd-guns-n-roses-partnership-contract-memorandum-of-agreement

By "Old Records" they meant AFD and Lies.

I believe these percentages still stand today as far as sales of AFD and Lies go. The publishing rights are a different matter.

As for the Adler lawsuit, what Steven said is not quite accurate. The reason he won (actually it wasn't a ruling by a judge or jury, but a settlement the band was dragged into) was mainly that there wasn't an attorney present on his behalf when he signed the "probation contract" and that the band didn't buy out his share after they fired him.

It's all in this thread:

See also the related chapters here:

http://www.a-4-d.com/t3967p90-the-history-of-guns-n-roses-in-their-own-words#14914

http://www.a-4-d.com/t3967p120-the-history-of-guns-n-roses-in-their-own-words#14916

http://www.a-4-d.com/t3967p120-the-history-of-guns-n-roses-in-their-own-words#14943

http://www.a-4-d.com/t3967p150-the-history-of-guns-n-roses-in-their-own-words#14961

http://www.a-4-d.com/t3967p210-the-history-of-guns-n-roses-in-their-own-words#15226

5 minutes ago, 31illusions said:

For the most part, yes. Technically it was Axl 25% Slash 20% Duff 20% Izzy 20% Steven 15% as far as song writing credits and percentage earned on sales.

Yes, those were the percentages for songwriting credits/publishing rights. But as far as percentage earned on sales, it was 20% each.

DEL: Is [Gilby] a "member" of Guns N' Roses?

AXL: This "member" thing is quite interesting, I read in an interview where Matt [Sorum, drummer] said that if he didn't get made a member, he wasn't going to be in Guns N' Roses. The truth of the matter is, Matt's a member of GN'R, but it doesn't really mean anything. It's kind of like a clubhouse/gang thing. We're all members of this gang. What it boils down to is, whose yard is the tree house in? Matt's a member of GN'R, and his opinions are taken into consideration. As far as that's concerned, Gilby is a member too, Dizzy is a member of the band. With all the background singers, horn players, keyboardists - we look at it like we're all Guns N' Roses. But the bottom line is, the business is basically run by Slash and myself. Then we run whatever it is we're discussing by Duff and see if he's cool with it. Guns N' Roses is basically Slash, Duff, Doug Goldstein and myself, but there's a lot of other people involved that are a part of our lives and a part of our family.

DEL: Do you think Matt's gonna be pissed when he reads this?

AXL: It would be nice if he wasn't. I love everybody in this band. It's kicking ass and feels really warm and really cool onstage. At this point it's the 12 of us that get onstage and f?!king go all out.

http://www.a-4-d.com/t545-1992-09-10-11-dd-rip-i-axl

Article in L.A. Weekly, March 22, 1985 (Friday), mentioning the formation of the band, the upcoming show at the Troubadour (March 26) and the radio interview, which would be on Sunday, so March 24: