tk1

I would love them to keep the momentum going since it took so long to establish it.  Likely will never happen, but a tour in smaller venues with some more acoustic performances, a couple of more new songs and some deeper tracks from their catalog would be awesome.  For a band that loves covers, it’s odd they don’t play much from the album of covers they put out.  There a few tracks from Spaghetti that would be fun to hear!   

My boy turned 14 yesterday and has loved the band since he was 5. What better way to celebrate than catching the show in the pit tonight?  

Any more rumors of opening acts for the cities not getting the Pumpkins? 

Don't Damn Me.  Great (and underrated) song that needs to be heard live.  Great guitars, lyrics...

Thanks!

-Chicago / Soldier Field 

i agree with the low profile approach.  However, considering the money and all the attention these shows will receive, I would hope Axl participates in some of the rehearsals even though that hasn't always been something he is heavily involved in.  Any belief that Axl has atleast been in the same room with the rest of the band in attempts to build chemistry?? 

I am curious why they seldom play By the Sword anymore?

Have you been in touch with Duff since he and Axl reconnected? Everybody talks about Duff being the catalyst for Slash and Axl to speak; perhaps he could help Axl realize your intentions were never malicious? Axl seems a bit happier from a fan perspective so perhaps he would be willing to talk again? Hell, even Slash who is the face of evil has a chance to clear the air with Axl if he is willing to publicly apologize for what Axl perceives is wrong doings. There has to be something you can do as well? Or, I would hope. I do agree you aren't biased at all. You are very honest about both Slash and Axl's good and bad qualities, for lack of better words..

Slash's only hope, if he even wants it, may be if Duff can slowly get Axl to warm up to even considering a conversation. However, Duff himself may not be willing to do that or maybe it was made clear to him that discussing Slash wasn't an option if he wanted to play with Guns.

At the end of the day, if Axl has no desire or need to work things out with Slash, then all of these topics and questions are moot points. I know Slash plays the role of the cool rock star who doesn't care about Axl but I wonder what his real thoughts are on duff reconciling with Axl. If rumors are true that Matt also has interest in playing with Axl and that actually happens, then I am even more curious of Slash's response. He has always had Duff and Matt in his corner, so to speak. Who knows, maybe Duff and Matt showing interest in Guns is partially a ploy to get Slash to focus on VR again!

Marc - you obviously were caught in the middle of the Axl / Slash feud for quite some time. I would guess at some point your answer to both would have simply been to have them simply talk about their issues face to face. Was that ever close to happening? Did you ever offer to facilitate a meeting? Maybe you have answered this but I still think the only way this stand off ends is if they somehow end up in a situation where they are forced to talk. They both have to realize they are pissing away such huge opportunity. Both have been successful but nothing like they could experience if they would simply ditch their egos and simply clear the air. It likely isn't that simple but probably not as hard as they are making it....

I always assumed "Izzy" was a nickname based on his last name - Isbell.

It is probably a long shot but it would be great if Duff could tell Axl he understands his anger but also explain his and Slash's side of the story. Of course, The same chat would have to take place with Slash too as he isn't innocent by any means. Not sure how willing Duff would be to try and be a peacemaker but one would think there would be an opportunity to at least discuss it in the next few weeks.

I don't think Slash was trying to sabotage Axl's career. I think Slash didn't think that there could be such a thing as GNR without him. When he saw that Axl was going to do it without him, I think he wanted Axl to put out a record or 2 with different people. I think Slash knew that the only way the old band could ever work together is after Axl put out music first. Also the fact that Slash tried to get into a GNR gig in 2002 is proof to me that his wanted to work with Axl again. Maybe even get on a few songs that Axl still wanted him to do. Slash is more of a bullshitter then a lier and its the cool factor like saying SCOM is boring or telling the press when asked back in 2007 where like a Suicide was recored, he said I don't remember I think it was the Santa Monica Civic. That was a backed in the corner deal. The band was not ready to tell the people that it was don't at Pasha. Same thing when he went to AXl's house that night with Perla. If he didn't lie, then he in deep with the VR guys.

Great response - thank you. Regardless of what I read or hear, I never believed either Axl or Slash to be bad people. They can both be stubborn but at the end, just had different views on what they thought Guns should do....

Below is the quote that I think bothered him. I did say some good things about Slash too but they got cut out. Once I told him that, he was ok. He knows how that works magazines print what they want to sell more magazines and shit like that. They also love to twist your words or leave some out and it can really change the outcome of what you were saying."Axl can do it. Hes not gonna just throw in the towel and say, Oh, well, Slash is gone. Hes gonna make it work somehow. And he has. Hes created a new band out of it. As long as you still have Axl, you still have Guns N Roses. The singer is really the most important part in a band sometimes. Axl feels that he is the voice of Guns N Roses. If you were Axl, would you give up that name?"

I think Slash had more of a reason to be mad about that than Axl does. If I were Slash I would be pretty pissed. Kind of implying that Axl was/is more important than he was.

Daria how can you say that?

Do you have any idea of how much stuff Slash lied in his book and has been lying this whole time since the breakup...

He basically hold Axl's career hostage to try to win a settlement at court to reunite Guns N'Roses.

He made his absolute best to prevent that Chinese Democracy to come out in court and other ways.

He even lied about going to Axl's house (he later admitted he did just that).

I don't blame Axl at all to not want to speak with Slash or not even having a business relationship with him. Slash tried to completely aniquilate Axl's career to force him to reunite the old band.

When Slash went to do his Snakepit record, Axl begged him several times to comeback. He didn't comeback. When the tour ended and he saw that he didn't do much money with the Snakepit record, he cameback all arrogant wanting to be in charge of the whole "new album" project. Axl tried his best to be in terms with Slash, he QUIT the band because Axl didn't agree with all the conditions that he was demanding in order to stay with GNR.

He told a completely different story in his book. His book is full of lies!

Marc - I am curious of your thoughts on this discussion. While you have acknowledged Slash has lied, it was typically in situations where he was backed in a corner or when it would make him appear to be cool at the moment. Basically, he would stretch the truth like many others would if in similar situations. He may have dodged the truth but he certainly wasn't being malicious.

However, this is a completely different scenario much beyond acting cool. This story is much more serious in that it is basically implies Slash was intentionally sabotaging Axl's career. I still tend to believe both Axl and Slash simply wanted different things and both played a role in the split. This, however, paints an awfully dark picture of Slash. I try not to get caught up in the 'Axl vs Slash' debates since what is done is done but am curious on your opinion of these thoughts...

Thanks!

Not sure about the rest but Slash was at the Indy 500 a few years ago...

Would Axl be willing to do the same? Slash may have said some things he shouldn't have but Axl played a role in the demise of the band too. Would he stand up and own his mistakes or acknowledge his actions also led to the break up of the original band??

Marc,

Just curious how you think Axl's career would have been different had he gone solo as opposed to continuing as GN'R. This isn't meant to turn into a discussion of who should have the name or if it all went down fairly. Just curious how you think Axl's career would be different. Do you think he would be playing in venue's similar to those Slash play in? I imagine he would have released more music but maybe not headlining festivals and probably playing smaller venues. Your thoughts? Thanks!!

I don't mind that Axl has the rights to the name. He came up with it and my understanding is he also wanted to secure it in case a band member died or quit just to avoid any potential issues. The part I don't agree with is, why force the issue? Nobody died or was looking to quit at that time. So, why quit the original partnership and then start a new band with Slash and Duff being employees? How in the hell would Axl not expect those guys to feel disrespected? Slash certainly has said some things he shouldn't have but I would have been upset too if I were in that position. You can argue Slash and Duff shouldn't have signed the name away and that is true. Still, that was a shitty move by Axl to quit the band and start his own 'GN'R' that basically demoted the guys who helped break the band in the first place...

I think they both should have a press conference and apologize for things they did wrong. Neither one is innocent nor is only one responsible for the demise.

Marc, I can't recall if you commented on this already but did either Axl or Slash say much to you about Slash's visit to Axl?

I was hoping Slash's being clean and sober would have influenced Axl to try and make amends. I think a lot of the things Slash said or did that upset Axl likely were fueled by his drug / alcohol use. Slash seems to be in a very good place in life and is playing better than ever now that he is sober. I always thought Axl might be able to realize Slash isn't the same person as he was 12 to 15 years ago and be willing to at least try and discuss some of their issues. Apparently, this is wishful thinking.....

Hey Marc, you mentioned you talked to Duff about the name change and some other things Axl believes Slash lied about. If you can comment, did Duff elaborate on his take? Does he think Slash lied or feel like things can be worked out? Many of us had a glimmer of hope Duff could at least be a voice of reason between the two when he "ran" into Axl and subsequently, played a couple of gigs with him. I can't fathom Slash didn't come up in their talks.

But apparently Duff and Axl both talk smack about each other to Baz, so things aren't that great there either.

I must have missed that - what was said?

Hey Marc, you mentioned you talked to Duff about the name change and some other things Axl believes Slash lied about. If you can comment, did Duff elaborate on his take? Does he think Slash lied or feel like things can be worked out? Many of us had a glimmer of hope Duff could at least be a voice of reason between the two when he "ran" into Axl and subsequently, played a couple of gigs with him. I can't fathom Slash didn't come up in their talks.

I wish Axl saw things differently. I know he wants to promote the new band, but not only did Marc earn the right to share his years and years of work, it is something the fans enjoy. Marc did a ton to help the band out; I wish Axl would support Marc just as a gesture of appreciation for all he did. You could also make an argument Axl is turning his back on the original fans by not supporting a project they clearly embrace.

I think we all often forget the musical differences were a huge part of the split. Slash commented in his book something along the lines of he was willing to do a more modern / industrial album but only if everybody had the same creative input instead of it being only Axl's vision. Too bad they couldn't compromise on the direction, whatever it would have been. Did you hang out with Slash much from 96 to 2000? He mentioned that period after Guns and before VR were some pretty dark days for him...