As cool as it is to see Duff on-stage with Axl........

[neatd99]

........does it really matter? I used to think I wanted a full reunion, but after seeing Izzy and Duff on stage with Axl, I don't think I care anymore. The music with either of these guys playing doesn't sound any different from Axl's lineup, other than (I guess?) hearing slightly different backing vocals. Duff's stage presence isn't anything unique or special.........he just walks around. He's not David Lee Roth with a bass. Izzy just stands still the whole time.

Without new music, I don't care about a reunion.

I believe a reunion is possible (with everyone except Steven Adler)............but I think a reunited GNR writing new songs and releasing a (good) album is nearly impossible. These guys are pushing 50 right now......how many veteran rock musicians release a groundbreaking album post-50 years old? I thought Chinese Democracy was a good, solid album....but Axl started it when he was in his 30s. Contraband was average at best and Libertad was just awful.

My question, for those of you who are dying to see a reunion.........what are you really expecting? Appetite For Destruction II? Or do you just want to see the original members on stage together? If the latter is the case, then do you expect the music on-stage to be any different from what we're hearing now with Axl's current lineup?

Edited October 17, 2010 by neatd99

[Nintari]

I don't think being 50 means you can't write great music anymore. I think the reason we see that happen so often is because at that age, most musicians become complacent. When you're young, you have alot more hunger etc.

Would a reunited GNR release a subpar, lazy and generic record? I doubt it. Axl wouldn't let that happen. There's a reason why Slash's best work came while working with him. Plus, I think all of them would feel like they have something to prove.

[Vincent Vega]

I don't think being 50 means you can't write great music anymore. I think the reason we see that happen so often is because at that age, most musicians become complacent. When you're young, you have alot more hunger etc.

Would a reunited GNR release a subpar, lazy and generic record? I doubt it. Axl wouldn't let that happen. There's a reason why Slash's best work came while working with him. Plus, I think all of them would feel like they have something to prove.

Yeah but that was when they were in their mid-late 20s...Which generally is a lot more creative time for most people, and for Guns it was a lot more tumultous time, which fueled creativity. Plus all of the members were on some substance or another at the time which helped, now they're mostly all clean.

[Encore]

i don't want a reunion.

Edited October 17, 2010 by Encore

[neatd99]

Nintari, you make a good point. I don't think Axl would allow his band to release crap. However, this seems to reinforce my belief that if there ever was a reunion, no new music would be released!

[LightningBolt]

I don't think being 50 means you can't write great music anymore. I think the reason we see that happen so often is because at that age, most musicians become complacent. When you're young, you have alot more hunger etc.

Would a reunited GNR release a subpar, lazy and generic record? I doubt it. Axl wouldn't let that happen. There's a reason why Slash's best work came while working with him. Plus, I think all of them would feel like they have something to prove.

...and then the other members would complain that he's a tyrant and nothing ever gets done and no new album would ever come out and it would all just happen all over again.

[KBear]

There's an album that was supposedly almost ready for release in 1996. They could dig up that material and finish it off. They could finish off songs like Crash Diet and put those on the album. Plus, I think these guys can still come up with a great album. People may not like VR, but a lot of us do see a lot of merit in that material. If Axl put his slant on those songs instead of Scott you'd get a whole different vibe to them and they'd sound a lot more GN'R than they do.

Then there is seeing the old band on stage together. And I don't think the songs sound the same at all, Finck, BH, Thal, Ashba, and Fortus...these guys don't sound like Slash and Izzy. Brain and Frank don't sound like Steve or Matt. Get rid of all the extras (like Pitman), and the old band would sound a lot more raw and stripped back. It's not just that though, the old guys had unbelievable chemistry and maybe we don't know if that would still be there but by the same token you don't know that it wouldn't.

It's hard for me to fathom a Guns N' Roses fan saying they don't care about a reunion, but there seem to be a few of you here. With all due respect, I'm guessing if it happened most of you would be singing a different tune.

[droezle]

I believe a reunion is possible (with everyone except Steven Adler)............but I think a reunited GNR writing new songs and releasing a (good) album is nearly impossible. These guys are pushing 50 right now......how many veteran rock musicians release a groundbreaking album post-50 years old? I thought Chinese Democracy was a good, solid album....but Axl started it when he was in his 30s. Contraband was average at best and Libertad was just awful.

U2, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Metallica just to name a few.

[The Sandman]

i don't want a reunion.

[Towelie]

I used to think I wanted a full reunion, but after seeing Izzy and Duff on stage with Axl, I don't think I care anymore. The music with either of these guys playing doesn't sound any different from Axl's lineup

So judging by that mentality then anybody can call themselves Guns N Roses as long as they play the right notes. Hell, in 30 years time when Axl pops his cloggs we could just get a soundalike vocalist to replace him as well.

A great band is made up by the chemistry created by it's members. The chemistry of the AFD lineup resonated with millions and made the brand name of GNR what it is today.

Axl's just riding the crest of that legacy, no different to Adler's Appetite.

Edited October 17, 2010 by Towelie

[tkarmy]

I mean it would be cool to see slash Izzy Axl and Duff (doubt stevie could ever do it) but seriously there is no way in hell those guys could ever get together and write a great record... Like someone else said Axl wouldn't let them put out crap and if they did get back together and put out a shit album like every other 80's glam band it would probably suck and tarnish the legacy...

Personally I want whatever line is likely to get more new music from Axl into my ears PERIOD! and a reunion wouldn't do that... so I say LONG LIVE NUGNR

[Lines&Noses]

I used to think I wanted a full reunion, but after seeing Izzy and Duff on stage with Axl, I don't think I care anymore. The music with either of these guys playing doesn't sound any different from Axl's lineup

So judging by that mentality then anybody can call themselves Guns N Roses as long as they play the right notes. Hell, in 30 years time when Axl pops his cloggs we could just get a soundalike vocalist to replace him as well.

A great band is made up by the chemistry created by it's members. The chemistry of the AFD lineup resonated with millions and made the brand name of GNR what it is today.

Axl's just riding the crest of that legacy, no different to Adler's Appetite.

I disagree, I think the YCBM Duff played was the best version that I have heard in years (and I've seen the band several times) of course this is not down to Duff alone but there is no doubt that the whole place got a lift when he came on stage.

He also the charisma and stage presence to share a stage with Axl.

As I've said repeatedly the orginal line up had a chemistry that they have each totally failed to recreate on their own.

I just hope they at least write together again if nothing else.

[moreblack]

John Paul Jones don't jump around like a maniac but believe me, if he walks on stage with Robert Plant, people would lose their shit, and it'd be in the papers.

[FuddMckagan]

It matters because it's Duff Fuckin' Mckagan.

[Roy79]

I believe a reunion is possible (with everyone except Steven Adler)............but I think a reunited GNR writing new songs and releasing a (good) album is nearly impossible. These guys are pushing 50 right now......how many veteran rock musicians release a groundbreaking album post-50 years old? I thought Chinese Democracy was a good, solid album....but Axl started it when he was in his 30s. Contraband was average at best and Libertad was just awful.

U2, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Metallica just to name a few.

So when did The Rolling Stones, U2, Metallica, or AC/DC release that groundbreaking album after their 50ties and which albums would that be?

[Naupis]

There's a reason why Slash's best work came while working with him.

Same can be said of Axl's work with Slash. Clearly he was much more confident as an artist with him than without as he released 3.5 albums of new material within a little over 5 year window after Slash joined the band.

Whether it was that he inspired him creatively or made him more confident in the material, it wasn't until Slash left that Axl started to really struggle to complete and release material as it took him 10+ years to muster up the courage to release just one album of new material (and at that he wasn't even proud enough of it to promote or talk about it).

If you look at Axl's career both before, with and after Slash, clearly having him around sparked some sort of feeling in him that allowed him to flourish artistically and quell any insecurity/self-doubt about whether the material he was working on was complete and worthy of being released and promoted.

They were most effective together, as Axl pushed Slash, and Slash in turn provided Axl with material that was good enough as to not cause him to be confident and not agonize for a decade about trying to cobble together one album worth of songs worthy of carrying the GNR banner.

[Vincent Vega]

There's a reason why Slash's best work came while working with him.

Same can be said of Axl's work with Slash Izzy. Clearly he was much more confident as an artist with him than without as he released 3.5 albums of new material within a little over 5 year window after Slash Izzy joined the band.

Whether it was that he inspired him creatively or made him more confident in the material, it wasn't until Slash Izzy left that Axl started to really struggle to complete and release material as it took him 10+ years to muster up the courage to release just one album of new material (and at that he wasn't even proud enough of it to promote or talk about it).

If you look at Axl's career both before, with and after Slash Izzy, clearly having him around sparked some sort of feeling in him that allowed him to flourish artistically and quell any insecurity/self-doubt about whether the material he was working on was complete and worthy of being released and promoted.

They were most effective together, as Axl and Izzy pushed Slash, and Slash in turn provided Axl and Izzy with material that was good enough as to not cause him to be confident and not agonize for a decade about trying to cobble together one album worth of songs worthy of carrying the GNR banner.

Edited October 17, 2010 by MetalForever

[Izzy_Stradlin_XX]

So when did The Rolling Stones, U2, Metallica, or AC/DC release that groundbreaking album after their 50ties and which albums would that be?

Are you stupid?

[Uncle Buck]

I believe a reunion is possible (with everyone except Steven Adler)............

Why is that? I just saw Adler's band play this past week and I can attest that he looked sober and didn't miss a beat. You're clearly talking out of your ass with this comment.

i don't want a reunion.

Yeah, and you have a Britney Spears avatar. Go figure.

[chevelle]

I believe a reunion is possible (with everyone except Steven Adler)............but I think a reunited GNR writing new songs and releasing a (good) album is nearly impossible. These guys are pushing 50 right now......how many veteran rock musicians release a groundbreaking album post-50 years old? I thought Chinese Democracy was a good, solid album....but Axl started it when he was in his 30s. Contraband was average at best and Libertad was just awful.

U2, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Metallica just to name a few.

Groundbreaking, not decent. I don't know about U2, but the last three released nothing except their standard fare, not anything that was new or fresh.

[moreblack]

I believe a reunion is possible (with everyone except Steven Adler)............but I think a reunited GNR writing new songs and releasing a (good) album is nearly impossible. These guys are pushing 50 right now......how many veteran rock musicians release a groundbreaking album post-50 years old? I thought Chinese Democracy was a good, solid album....but Axl started it when he was in his 30s. Contraband was average at best and Libertad was just awful.

U2, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Metallica just to name a few.

So when did The Rolling Stones, U2, Metallica, or AC/DC release that groundbreaking album after their 50ties and which albums would that be?

groundbreaking is relative, but clearly a lot of those bands have stayed on top without compromising their style, others have experimented up the wazooo and still retained their fanbase while selling out stadiums. It's not like Guns is doing groundbreaking stuff either...

[31illusions]

I could care less about Axl making new music with his band. Frankly CD was mediocre at best.

If it ain't the original members. Then it's just another band. GN'R changes members so much

you don't have time to care about them. It's just like..... NEXT? Original members are all that

matters, (to me anyways) on stage or in the studio.

[sascha]

........does it really matter? I used to think I wanted a full reunion, but after seeing Izzy and Duff on stage with Axl, I don't think I care anymore. The music with either of these guys playing doesn't sound any different from Axl's lineup, other than (I guess?) hearing slightly different backing vocals. Duff's stage presence isn't anything unique or special.........he just walks around. He's not David Lee Roth with a bass. Izzy just stands still the whole time.

Without new music, I don't care about a reunion.

I believe a reunion is possible (with everyone except Steven Adler)............but I think a reunited GNR writing new songs and releasing a (good) album is nearly impossible. These guys are pushing 50 right now......how many veteran rock musicians release a groundbreaking album post-50 years old? I thought Chinese Democracy was a good, solid album....but Axl started it when he was in his 30s. Contraband was average at best and Libertad was just awful.

My question, for those of you who are dying to see a reunion.........what are you really expecting? Appetite For Destruction II? Or do you just want to see the original members on stage together? If the latter is the case, then do you expect the music on-stage to be any different from what we're hearing now with Axl's current lineup?

Stage presence has nothing to do with running around and putting on a show. DJ has everything you could ask for in a star guitar player but even if he's just being himself, in the context of GNR it comes across as if he's trying too hard or poking fun at Slash. What I'm saying is he can't win. On the other hand Izzy walks out being Izzy and is home. Reunion...you probably need a 20 piece all star ensemble to make everyone happy. The original and the 2002 lineup clicked the best, but one lineup was a machine and the other a river. Both can take you there, but the feel will be a lot different. I for one would love to see them fusing the best of both worlds like in 2006 or now with Duff, but I also learned to take and enjoy the band for what it is rather than what it was or I think it should/could be. And I can tell you it's a lot more fun that way.

[Matt13]

I don't think being 50 means you can't write great music anymore. I think the reason we see that happen so often is because at that age, most musicians become complacent. When you're young, you have alot more hunger etc.

Would a reunited GNR release a subpar, lazy and generic record? I doubt it. Axl wouldn't let that happen. There's a reason why Slash's best work came while working with him. Plus, I think all of them would feel like they have something to prove.

No offense. But that was the dumbest post, or analysis of anything, I have ever read on this forum... or anywhere for that matter. I'm guessing you're either young-dumb-and-full-of-cum or just plain stupid and naive.

The simple fact of the matter why acts are successful today is because they're young acts. Young acts appeal to the young fans that dictate what's popular and what's not. A very small percentage of music fans between the ages of 10-25 are going to appreciate any music being created by the likes of a David Gilmour, Axl Rose, Eddie Vedder, Sting, Tom Petty or any other number of aging music stars.

The only aging acts that break the mainstream anymore do it on nastalgia only. U2, the Stones... etc.

This was a dumb post because to say that a 50 year old becomes lazy with music or whatever is ridiculous. Listen to David Gilmour's new album. Listen to any artists' album post 50 and that's probably their best work. You just have to not blow it off initially as an older artist trying to get attention.

The best gem's are from aging artists. Just because they're not on MTV with the rest of the teenie-boppers doesn't mean their heart-and-soul isn't in it anymore.

It's quite the contrary.

Dumb post. Dumbest ever.

[wasted]

It's a folly to try to recapture AFD. If they evolved their sound and worked at it... Oh wait what am I saying

Bridges to Babylon is as good as Exile. Razors Edge best DC album for me. My favorite aerosmith album is Pump.