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My love/hate affair with Axl Rose

By MICHELE CATALANO

I was reading a few articles this morning about Axl Rose being sued and it got me thinking about my long, on again-off again relationship with Axl and Guns N’ Roses and how I never got to tell anyone how much I hated Chinese Democracy and everything that went into it. Old story? Sure. But hyperbolic hatred loves a new audience.

My history with Axl and company is a long and complicated one. I imagine that most metal fans who hooked on to the early GnR bandwagon followed the same path I did. Think of the seven stages of grief in reverse. From acceptance (Appetite for Destruction = welcome to my record collection!) to denial (I swear to you I never owned The Spaghetti Incident), we watched – and in some ways participated in – the slow death of a once great band. But it wasn’t their years of putting out head banging, fist pumping music that was the greatest show. No, it was watching Axl Rose trying in vain to raise the Phoenix from the ashes that offered the most jaw dropping, car-wreck kind of entertainment this side of the November Rain video.

Real music fans don’t just buy an album, get their groove on and put the album away until later. We invest a part of ourselves in each record we buy. And, by extension, we invest a piece of ourselves in the bands we love. We form a relationship, so to speak, with the band as a whole. And it’s a tenuous sort of relationship, because the only thing that ties us together is the actual music. A new album comes out, you listen for the first time and each perfectly crafted song is tantamount to being embraced by a passionate lover. Every lyric that resonates, beat that you feel in your bones, hook that captures your soul – it’s like making love to the music and those who made the music (metaphorically speaking, of course). The better the anticipated album or single, the more intense the action is. So each new album we wait for is like the promise of hot, dirty sex after your partner has been away for a while. And in that essence, Chinese Democracy was a years long cock tease.

My real lust for the band kind of faded right around Civil War. It was then I realized that Guns N’ Roses was the equivalent of the girl who teases you with her perky breasts for years and when you finally manage to get under the hood, you grab hold of three inches of padded bra. All that music before Use Your Illusion II was just a ruse to get us to this point. They gave us the good stuff first so they could later on sit back and make this pretentious, melodramatic drivel that they called art. There was nothing left to them. Empty D cups.

I never held a grudge against the rest of the band like I do Axl. He was – and is – a self indulgent monster whose posturing bravado could never hide the fact that he was really nothing more than a wimp, a nancy boy, a withered soul of a human being who couldn’t handle criticism or competition. Yet somehow, he managed to convince himself that he was the king of the mountain and deserved every indulgence he demanded – something the attempted creation of Chinese Democracy made all so evident, especially since during the recording of that disaster he surrounded himself with people just like himself.

He accompanied Buckethead on a jaunt to Disneyland when the guitarist was drifting toward quitting, several people involved recalled; then Buckethead announced he would be more comfortable working inside a chicken coop, so one was built for him in the studio, from wood planks and chicken wire.

That excerpt alone is what symbolizes both Axl Rose and the whole warped evolution of Guns N’ Roses. Ridiculous excess, indulgence, pretentiousness and the penchant for extending the idea of making an album to such ridiculous heights that, somehow, building a chicken coop for Buckethead seemed like a good way to spend money. The mere fact that Axl spent 14 years and 13 million dollars of someone else’s money making what amounts to a mediocre tribute to his own ego is all anyone needs to know about the mindset of the man.

Of course I listened to the album when it finally came out. I had to know. Was it worth the time and money? Would Axl regain my love? Does this band really deserve to be named Guns N’ Roses? And, like any great myth, the legend of Chinese Democracy was a tale bigger and grander than the sum of its parts. I thought it was bland, lifeless and sad, desperate attempt to recapture the hearts and minds of the people who swayed along to Sweet Child of Mine but who refused to acknowledge any Guns N’ Roses that didn’t include Slash. Sure, millions of people bought the album, but there’s only going to be so many people, most of them sporting mullets and sleeveless denim jackets, who will truly, honestly believe in their hearts that the band that put out Chinese Democracy, and the band that is currently touring under the Guns N’ Roses name is actually Guns N’ Roses. Because it isn’t. Not by a longshot. If Axl had any integrity at all, he would have ditched the band name and come up with something new. But ingegrity and Axl Rose have never gone hand in hand, have they?

I would say Chinese Democracy was the final chapter in the rise and fall of Axl, but it’s more like the rise and fall and fall and fall; he seems determined to make his plunge from rock star to “Where Are They Now?” last forever. Currently, he’s at the bloated, hardly recognizable stage of demise. But if it’s controversy and lawsuits that keep him alive, Axl will live forever.

I prefer to remember Axl the way I first loved him; all swaying hips and high decibel screaming, causing riots, forgetting to show up for concerts, making an ass of himself in ways that are forgivable in rock and roll. Everything from the original Guns N Roses on? As unforgivable as The Spaghetti Incident.

Every time Axl makes the news, I listen to Appetite for Destruction and yearn for the days when our relationship was so uncomplicated.

http://trueslant.com/michelecatalano/2010/03/26/my-lovehate-affair-with-axl-rose/

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Posted

Yes, "But hyperbolic hatred loves a new audience". Way to not have to come up with anything new. He should get over it and get on with his life.

Posted (edited)

who's michelle catalano? is that his michelle .. controversial find btwwink.gif

uh, i get it. michele is a guy

Edited by maXx
Posted

Another moron trying to get some attention by writing about Axl & GNR. She's just a fan, she didn't like Chinese Democracy.. so what?

It's kinda sick how some fans relate to the artists and talk about "relationships" that did never exist except in their minds. The best and healthy way to relate with an artist is enjoying their work.

Posted

(sigh) Alot of article was about her opinion of GNR's music. And how she liked AFD, didnt buy TSI, and hated CD.

Fine. thats ur opinion. but that shouldnt reflect your opinion of Axl.

I love all eras of GNR. each for their own different qualities. BUT people like her see GNR as one band, that can't evolve because they loved the first one so much.

That right there seperates people like myself who love all eras of guns and her.

Posted

"F this guy blah blah blah" - Axllite

Haha, theres literally one post that says something like that.

Its funny because we all came up with legitimate reasons why we disagreed with the article, which u can't apparently combat with, and u make it out like all we said was "f this guy"

Typical son of a bitch.

Posted

This has to be the first time the mulltheads were credited as the people who liked the new album though.

That's exactly what I was thinking . . . :rofl-lol:

It's kinda sick how some fans relate to the artists and talk about "relationships" that did never exist except in their minds. The best and healthy way to relate with an artist is enjoying their work.

Way to dismiss the metaphor and twist it into "kinda sick" . . .

We form a relationship, so to speak, with the band as a whole. And it’s a tenuous sort of relationship, because the only thing that ties us together is the actual music.

Posted (edited)

It's kinda sick how some fans relate to the artists and talk about "relationships" that did never exist except in their minds. The best and healthy way to relate with an artist is enjoying their work.

I'm going to assume she meant the artist work, and I agree with her.

I think albums/music that a person doesn't form some sorta of relationship or bond with, are albums that he or she won't listen to very often, or become disposable.

Edited by SunnyDRE
Posted

Great article

Everything that was said in the piece is 100% true. Chinese democracy is a joke compared to all of GUNS other records. EVEN TSI IS FARE AND AWAY BETTER THAN CHINESE DEMCORACY. Axl of today is nothing but a running joke. How can he not be with his rediculous plastic surgery and terrible wigs, and joke of a band.

After this so called tour, dont be suprised if Axl retires. he has nothing left musically to give to the world. Just enjoy the rest of your days Axl as a regualr person.

The real GUNS N ROSES HAS BEEN DEAD FOR 15 YEARS..... RIP

Posted

How dare someone talk about my Axl that way. Axl is God!! Axl walks on water. Axl's shit smells like perfume. If you agree with this then get the fuck out of here. Slash sucks balls. I bet Slash really wrote this. All 23 guitarists since the cancer left kick ass.

^^

This is the cliff notes version for the next 20 pages that will come to this thread.

I agree with the article. Axl has blown it due to his severe immaturity, lack of impulse control, lack of loyalty and in general just being a dick. He surrounds himself with yes men and can never see his fault in things. I feel sorry for him. He gets online and acts like a 13 year old calling people cunts, etc. Grow the fuck up, man, you're almost 50.

I like the music but hate the man.

Posted

It's kinda sick how some fans relate to the artists and talk about "relationships" that did never exist except in their minds. The best and healthy way to relate with an artist is enjoying their work.

I'm going to assume she meant the artist work, and I agree with her.

I think albums/music that a person doesn't form some sorta of relationship or bond with, are albums that he or she won't listen to very often, or become disposable.

Nope, she's not talking about the artist work, she's talking about the person

a self indulgent monster whose posturing bravado could never hide the fact that he was really nothing more than a wimp, a nancy boy, a withered soul of a human being who couldn’t handle criticism or competition. Yet somehow, he managed to convince himself that he was the king of the mountain and deserved every indulgence he demanded – something the attempted creation of Chinese Democracy made all so evident, especially since during the recording of that disaster he surrounded himself with people just like himself.

I have a strong relationship with GNR meaning I enjoy the music and the lyrics and have songs I listen to when I'm sad, happy or seriously pissed off. GNR's music has a positive psychological effect in me,

I like other bands but their music doesn't have the same effect. That doesn't mean I'm entitled to write about Axl's personality without even knowing him, basing in the speculation I made up in my mind!

And I hope he won't retire, he still have a lot to give to the world. The fact some of you miss slash and are stuck in the 80s & want AFD II, III, IV doesn't make Chinese Democracy a failure. I'm looking forward 4 their next album to be released

Posted

Great article

Everything that was said in the piece is 100% true. Chinese democracy is a joke compared to all of GUNS other records. EVEN TSI IS FARE AND AWAY BETTER THAN CHINESE DEMCORACY. Axl of today is nothing but a running joke. How can he not be with his rediculous plastic surgery and terrible wigs, and joke of a band.

After this so called tour, dont be suprised if Axl retires. he has nothing left musically to give to the world. Just enjoy the rest of your days Axl as a regualr person.

The real GUNS N ROSES HAS BEEN DEAD FOR 15 YEARS..... RIP

Your post is really pathetic, looks like you would love to see Axl fail. At the end of the day Guns N Roses is out, successfully touring while you are sitting behind a keyboard bitching and whining and unsuccessfully trying to spread negativity LOL

Guest Apollo
Posted

Everybody has their own opinion. She has hers. I disagree 100%. I love Chinese Democracy. Still listen to it almost daily. I also have loved most of the songs off of Slash's solo album.

What I find most pathetic (and slightly funny) are the Axl bashers who are still posting here!!!!!! You hate Axl, you hate the new album, you hate "Axlites".....but you have nothing better to do with your time than to hang out on a gnr forum and bash Axl and his fans. Does that make you feel better about yourself? I've never understood why Slash lovers have this deep need to come here and bash not only Axl, but his fans. (Not seeing the hypocricy in what they are doing).

But whatever. Sad that people can't just enjoy the music they love. I dont understand why anybody gets mad and upset over what OTHER people enjoy. Life is too short.

Posted

Everybody has their own opinion. She has hers. I disagree 100%. I love Chinese Democracy. Still listen to it almost daily. I also have loved most of the songs off of Slash's solo album.

What I find most pathetic (and slightly funny) are the Axl bashers who are still posting here!!!!!! You hate Axl, you hate the new album, you hate "Axlites".....but you have nothing better to do with your time than to hang out on a gnr forum and bash Axl and his fans. Does that make you feel better about yourself? I've never understood why Slash lovers have this deep need to come here and bash not only Axl, but his fans. (Not seeing the hypocricy in what they are doing).

But whatever. Sad that people can't just enjoy the music they love. I dont understand why anybody gets mad and upset over what OTHER people enjoy. Life is too short.

I couldn't agree more.

I love the old GnR. I also love CD. But the truth is, Axl isn't going to stagnate just for the people pining over what was. Either enjoy the music or don't. Stop trying to force people to be who they were 20 years ago.

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