Sausagebrain

I can see how Buckethead might be difficult to work with. Freakishly talented, but probably a guy who has to things his way (or 'no way'). At various times, he lost the chance to be lead guitarist for RHCP and Ozzy Osbourne, because he insisted on being 'Buckethead' at all times. I heard that they had to turn his amp down for much of the 2002 tour, because he insisted on noodling his way through the songs (which was putting everyone else off). Lest we forget that some people were concerned about what might be going on in that chicken coop that he had built in the studio during the CD sessions. And it's very telling that his solo shows are just him playing over a backing track (or at least the ones I am aware of. Maybe he does have a little Buckethead band nowadays?)

After 250 hours, I think I am finally approaching the end of the main adventure of Tears of the Kingdom. And I have loved nearly every minute of it. Best £2 I have ever spent!

I remember some bullshit rumour that Catcher In The Rye had a music video where the band (c2002), where all playing baseball in a ryefield. Or maaaaybe - it actually exists:-p

That some or all of the band would die young. When you think about how many band members there have been, and some of their recreational activities, it's really remarkable that only GnR member past or present has died (Ole Beich - yes he only played one gig but he still counts, ok?) And I am glad that the rest of GnR's members have so far lived to tell the tale.

I was going to write the same thing. But in a way I suppose that they have become like the Stones, in that they are now a touring juggernaut that trades on nostalgia.

Pity that it's the suckiest song on the album. It's like MJ's version of 'Get In The Ring' but much more boring.

I think that Joe's podcast is still one of the world's biggest. And he's had other rockers on there like James Hetfiels, Steven Tyler, Dave Lee Roth and Maynard James Keenan. Some of us may have our qualms about that show, but I bet if Axl were a guest each and every one of us would stop whatever we were doing at the time and listen to it immediately.

Funny - I got some quite HIStory album vibes from some of Chinese Democracy. In fact, the first time I heard Madagascar, it reminded me strongly of the song HIStory (especially, the use of samples to make speech collages). Of course - MJ's album has more Slash on it than CD does!

The 'Kitchen Sink' approach only works if care is taken to place all the instrumental and vocal parts carefully in the mix, and record them properly and even write good parts in the first place (examples of where this worked - Chinese Democracy, early Queen albums, 70s Todd Rundgren albums). In the case of Be Here Now, Oasis seemed to have just slapped a load of guitar parts and orchestras on top of eachother, and then fucked off down the pub. And yet I still like it!

When I first got into the band, as far as I was concerned it was 'Axl, Slash and the others'. It was only when I bothered to learn the difference between a guitar and a bass that I clocked that Duff was Duff and Izzy was Izzy.

Don't worry, I used to get Duff and Izzy mixed up!

Looking forward to hearing the 'UFO Your Illusion' album! Lead single 'UFO Could Be Mine'.

4tus and Slash are like Mick Taylor and Keith Richards in the Rolling Stones' prime. In that they trade between lead and rhythm parts seamlessly. (And that the less famous of each pair - 4tus/Mick - frequently outplays the more famous one - Slash/Keith). Izzy and Slash were like Ronnie Wood and Keith - magically weaving around eachother, albeit with a clear lead guitarist. Ashba,4tus and Bumble was ... its own thing entirely.

Maybe Slash is trying to sabotage it because he thinks that the lyrics are about him (I know - Axl said it wasn't about anyone in particular).

It's alright. Sounds like Rush covering 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.

Smart guy - alcohol sales might be the most lucrative part of any gig. It's like when Alec Guinness bargained for 2.25% of the gross box office for being in Star Wars. That made him $100 million in his lifetime (and imagine if he got a cut of the merch sales too!) Also - maybe that's why there are so many tedious instrumental breaks during these tours - it encourages people to go and get another drink! Oh Axl - you are a sly one!

You askin'?

Would any of the tough guys who abuse people from behind the safety of a screen - or from the safety of a crowd - do the same if they were literally face to face with the object of their abuse? I don't think so.

Maybe. I do find the recurring skull and skeleton motifs in their current merchandise a bit naff. To be honest, I thought all the skulls and skeletons were naff back in the 80s and 90s too.

Yep, it's deffo Blackbird.

Would have been awesome to have Josh as a permanent drummer for GnR, but in hindsight it was never going to happen. That guy likes to get around (professionally!)

Interesting that you should bring up Steely Dan in a thread like this. The Steely Dan guys were infamous for their studio 'perfectionism'. To the point where they would junk hours of performances from some of the top pop/rock/jazz musicians of the time. But despite this, in their heyday they put out a new album every year or two. Unlike.... you know who.

This is what happens when you ditch vodka and cocaine for mineral water and martial arts!

Absolutely right. Before Trump, before Boris Johnson, there was Silvio. Just like those other two, leveraging his public profile to take charge of a country. Anyways - nuff politics already. On with the show!

I am honestly not expecting anything of note to be announced by the end of this week. Not calling Duff a liar - he may well have been misquoted or, y'know 'plans changed'. It's just that 90% of the time we convince ourselves that something is going to happen, it doesn't.