gunsnaxls

I've heard so many Guns songs on radio it's hard to even count. The other day I actually heard Hair of the Dog for the first time on radio, and I've also heard such obscure songs like Since I Don't Have You, My Michelle, Rocket Queen, Used to Love Her, and Sympathy for the Devil. I hear these rarely (the most common are the bigger hits), but I guess I just have some good radio stations here in Michigan.

I know Guns toured in 1991 before the Illusion albums came out, but it was a much different situation. First of all, Appetite and Lies were only 4 and 3 year old albums, respectively, so the material in addition to the Illusion stuff was still fairly recent. Also, there was a plan to release the albums soon after the first leg of the tour; they didn't just decide to randomly start touring, and then happened to come up with a release date in September 1991. I believe Axl actually said the management or record company (some higher authority) really pressured them into touring before the album, and he didn't want to. Remember, they really only toured from late May to late August 1991, with the album coming out in September, plus they had a single (You Could Be Mine) and other songs, like Civil War and KOHD, which people knew.

This time around, this would be the second time touring w/o an album with a totally different band that wrote most of their playing material, which itself is pretty old now. Without any type of release with this new band, it's not even like it's a reunion tour or a Greatest Hits tour, where they play all the old songs with the old band. It's a new band, and with only 3 or 4 "new" songs being played in addition to the 15 or so old songs, I think it's pretty disappointing.

I wouldn't personally call this a marketing strategy. I just think it's a case of management and Axl being stubborn and not really worrying about their fans' opinions during the completion of the album. He realizes that the fans will come back regardless of their communication or lack of it, so they see no point in contacting the fans every once in a while and giving them a quick rundown of their situation. It's not a good idea.

If Slash left VR, then if the band is to continue, I'm sure Dave Navarro will be getting a call soon. He always seems like the guy that is rumoured to replace whomever is supposedly leaving another band (Guns N' Roses in 1991 with Izzy, Motley Crue in 2005 with Mick Mars, Guns N' Roses again in the late 1990s).

Going back to the lawsuit thing with Slash showing up at Axl's house...

If it did really happen, don't you think Slash would be really pissed at Axl for telling what happened in the lawsuit? I mean if he was really there to make amends and all of that, I'm sure he'd be very angry that Axl went behind his back so quickly again and listed the conversation in the lawsuit. The result would be Slash leaving VR because of the things he said about him, but possibly not re-joining Guns because of what Axl did. That would suck.

What a waste of time. This is an embarrasment. It's not like these guys work for the fucking CIA. They are musicians! All of their income is based on their fans' support of them. There's no reason there should be any of this confidentiality bullshit. I mean, I'm not expecting him to know everything or give out every detail of things, but this is another example of a missed opportunity for us to find out some real information.

I don't know of any other band that keeps their beloved fans in the dark as much as Gn'r does, notably Axl himself. It's not just the silence but the false hopes (like his several comments about new music coming out real soon during the '01 and '02 tours) that have made be disappointed. He also said on a radio interview with WRIF Detroit that it would probably come out within a year of November '02, and he is way beyond that. Plus, the cancelled shows and repeated silence despite our asking for just one statement about the progress of the record is really disappointing. That being said, I love Gn'r (old better than new, but I have no real complaints about the new band) and Axl and wish them all the best and obviously hope for a great record sometime soon. But I would prefer a lot more communication. So Axl, as much as I love him and his music, deserves our criticisms.

it would be a fucking mess. I want to see CD come out proper and toured with the guys that actually stuck around the last decade to make it. let Slash and Duff come back after CD.

Exactly. I want a full World Tour with the new band in support of Chinese Democracy, plus a second VR record and a World Tour. Then, sometime around the summer of 2007, re-unite the old band and get back to business. I want a reunion so bad, but there's a lot unfinished business that I really want to see with both Gn'r and VR before anything else.

On a sorta funny and ironic moment, I just decided to listen to "Sympathy for the Devil," a tune I hadn't listened to in several weeks. Then I see the headline that Slash quits VR. Remember, a lot of people (Slash included) say that this song is what led to the breakup of Gn'r and led him to quit that band.

It's great that Axl is taking the band to several locations in Europe where the fan base is obviously very loyal. As big as Guns have been in the States and Canada over the years, they have a more religious-type following in Europe and South America it seems. But he should not only tour in Europe, but then release the album and come back here for a North American tour as well. Most importantly, he should apologize to the Vancouver and Philly fans for not showing up and then play a free show for each city. I haven't seen this new band (they cancelled a week before I was about to see them), so it would be nice to get a chance.

"Yes and the best thing eould be if slash and duff were never in gnr again. The old band can not play the way the new band can. Slash CAN NOT play like fink and duff isnt talented. Besides they are in vr."

All I can say is wow. You actually think that Robin Finck is a better player than Slash? Wow. Whether you hate the guy or not, Slash is recognized by almost everyone is an amazing guitarist. Finck, imo, is decent at best, but you can make your own judgments on him. But to say Slash, SLASH, is not as good as him, is beyong belief to me. And remember the old band is Guns N' Roses, and the way they play the old songs (which the new band plays for about 85% of its set) is the RIGHT way, since they wrote and created the songs. So even the new band does a nice job with the songs, nothing, I mean nothing, can re-create the original. End of story.

As for Axl laughing at getting work done 15 years ago, I totally disagree, because he definitely had some minor work done then as well. It is so obvious to me. I'm talking about the difference in his look from right before the Illusion albums were released (August 91, where he looked like he always did) and right after they came back to to tour in December. Even without trying to notice anything, I always would think how different he looked. I'm positive he got his nose done a bit and possibly some other stuff, although I'm no expert. I also remember an interview where some girl he used to be with said how concerned he was with his appearance and how he would use all types of products for his hair and face, etc. Not saying there's anything wrong with that, since he was obviously in the spotlight and may be again soon, but I'm just pointing out what I think is fact.

Remember, the feud is between Axl and Slash. It should not (imo) be between people who are fans of one or the other. Like the original poster said, even though they hate each other and there's a new band and all, we should like them all (not necessarily as people) because of the great music they created with each other.

"He has reinvented music alone and in general."

With all due respect, I totally disagree w/that statement for two reasons. Number one, although the newer demos are certainly different, I don't see a re-invention of many sorts. Yes, it's different, but examples of reinvention are Gnr with Appetite and Nirvana with Nevermind, where the whole music scene shifted as a result. That brings up my second point. He hasn't released anything! Yeah we've heard a few demos, but nothing has officially come out to the mainstream public, so until then, we shouldn't speculate on what he's done. Who knows, maybe CD will come out and will reinvent the music scene, but for now, not much, if anything, has been accomplished. As Axl would say, "guess we'll have to wait and see."

It's so funny how people think the other members in the old Gn'r besides Axl were rubbish. All 4 of those guys (discounting Adler) were very instrumental in their success. Without any of those four, Gn'r would never have been as good. Axl obviously meant a ton to the old lineup and obviously means a ton to the new lineup, but the other guys had a ton of input. And you people who are saying that Axl is God are basing this on a few new demos which are good, but certainly not mind-blowing. All 4 songs are solid, with some better than the others, but none is a classic or even close to some of Gn'rs best stuff from back in the day. And this is after 13 years w/o an album. So based on a few good demos after 13 years, you are regarding this stuff as proof that Axl was the only creative force? It was the whole band that was creative, and however good CD is will be based not only on Axl, but the new guys in this band as well.

It just seems so strange that after more than a decade of almost complete seclusion (not including a few brief tours and maybe at most once a year appearances in places) he has been photographed or talked about at least once or twice a week for well over a month in the same city. I mean, something has obviously changed as far as I'm concerned for him to be out and about for so long. Hopefully, that something is the fact that CD is finished, but he did tell us in January that they're not totally done with the tracks (possibly, he could be finishing up those tracks by mixing, etc., and I hope this is the case). Either way, I think it's great news that he's out, because that should mean that CD is finished or is getting there at least.

Great article. For the most part it was unbiased and fair. I hope that I am not disappointed with Chinese Democracy if it ever comes out, but so far, most of my Guns experience has left me disappointed, with the exception of the great music from 15 plus years ago and Velvet Revolver.

Although I could have said the exact same thing for the 2002 North American/European tour, I can't possibly imagine Axl playing the same old set list. If they were only going to play the same songs as last time, what was the point of waiting four years to do that? Why suddenly, in 2006, not 2005 or 2004, did they decide to hit the road and play some shows? The only possible reason could be to simply show they are still together, but Axl hasn't seemed too concerned about that in the last four years. I think they are touring this time to play new songs based upon a release sometime in the near future. The 2001 shows were just a way to get some new material out and show off the new band. The 2002 shows were baffling, actually, as it was billed the "Chinese Democracy" World Tour, but I think and hope this time will be different.

To me, his presence in the band is almost completely zero. Nothing against him, but there's no reason for him to be in the band, imo.

No wonder Axl's been wearing the same shirt everywhere .

Merck really gets on my nerves. This guy doesn't tell the fans anything, and sometimes when he does, it's false. That being said, Axl and anyone else associated with this ordeal is also very frustrating. I'm not saying that any of these guys should spill their guts and give us every detail (like if Axl had his teeth worked on before the VMA's, ). But it would be nice if they could at least update us every few months and keep us somewhat informed on the state of this band. Gn'r and Axl are so lucky that their music is so incredible, because most fans of other mediocre bands would never put up with this for this long.

I'm not sure in anyone brought it up yet, but the last time Dave Navarro was rumored to join a band was last year when reports said he would replace Mick Mars on tour with the Crue. That rumor was false, so I would assume (but not guarantee obviously) that this one is as well.

I don't think it's fake, because the chorus continues through 2:06 for a few more seconds, although a lot of the other portion sounds pretty different.

How bout Silkworms ? Haha

It's one thing for people to not like Motley Crue, but to trash them and regard them as garbage is going way too far. Just because their songs don't have "deep" lyrics and nine-minute epic piano pieces doesn't mean they are not a really good band. They may not be the most advanced band musically, but they are pretty damn good musicians in their own rights. Tommy Lee is a better drummer than both Adler, Sorum, and Brain (imo), Nikki is at least average on bass, Mick is extremely underrated (he still doesn't come close to Slash though), and Vince is good enough to maintain an entertaining show (although he comes nowhere close to Axl). They have a lot of really catchy songs and put on a phenomenal show. That being said, Guns is definitely a lot deeper and more experimental, but they have done absolutely nothing since 1993. At least the Crue has been releasing albums and touring at least sporadically in that time. Gn'r are my favorite band and they are better than the Crue, but Motley Crue is not a joke and is pretty solid musically. Their current tour has had amazing sales, and hopefully the same will be said for Guns (and I'm sure it will). Both bands kick ass.