Why did Buckethead leave?

[smokingarthur]

Now we reckon the immense talent of Buckethead, but in those days he was considered a total freak. The band was laughed at, cause it was so different than the orginal, people seem to forget. I do believe great things, could have happened if Buckethead stayed. I also think if he continued working with Axl the band should have had a different name, maybe than the band with Bucket would have been better recieved. It just was so different than the orginal. The current band is more like the orginals and maybe that's why better recieved by the normal fans, while most die hard fans miss Bucket. Personally I never warmed up to his stage personality as well, shallow as it sounds, the whole bucket/mask thing, annoyed me.

I think Axl has to many people around him, who are 'protecting' him and feeding him with information, sometimes in his best interest, sometimes in theirs, especially in this case. It's like a court and Axl is king, the court fighting for his attention and them fighting who is most important to Axl or the most important in the court over all..Their was definately a miscommunication between Axl and Bucket. Think Axl was to 'protected' to see, what was really going on. Think Bucket didn't need Axl and he got to important to Axl, guess some felt threatened by him, that and his whole stage act thing which seemed to annoy some people. But it still is just guessing

Interesting read by the way

I agree that if axl wanted a band with bucket in he should have started a new band, I just think this would have made everything a lot easier.

I would love to see down the line bucket and axl put out something together, even something instrumental with bucket on guitar and axl on piano would be amazing. Say just a digital release.

I agree they should have called it "Bucket O' Roses".......

[themadcaplaughs]

Anyone know what Bucket's relationship with Paul was like? or Fortus? Maybe its been said but just wondering.

Paul would have been happy with anyone Axl brought in. As much I respect Paul for helping Axl out of his rut and being a songwriting partner, I doubt he would have ever had the balls to say anything bad to Axl: even more so when he was clearly enamored by Bucket.

Fortus has never mentioned his personal relationship with Buckethead, but joked about how he got the gig in 2000 instead of Richard, and has also complimented his ridiculously good playing before. Also, in some blog, Chris posted a picture of the band at Rock in Rio III in 2001, and said that Buckethead was an awesome guy.

Bucket left because he was a fuckin' freak.And I think Axl caught him sometime in the studio watching hardcore pornos and wanking' off in public in a chicken costume :-)

I assume that first part is in response to the Classic Rock article where they claimed Buckethead used to watch hardcore/fetish porn flicks for "inspiration." As for [sic] "wanking' [sic] off in public in a chicken costume," I cannot say I've heard that one.

Edited June 22, 2012 by themadcaplaughs

[Jordan Rose]

I really, really cannot stand 'Ali'. Goofball, nobody in this thread has claimed to be an insider, you insufferable berk. I, for one, have clearly stated i'm just a fan who talked to a few people with connections to Bucket's camp, as did a few others. Nobody pretended to be an insider. The only one around here who actually is an 'insider' is Mysteron and he's been rubbish recently and go sit in the corner. But you can go play in the pihrana tank, you pillock.

[UK SUBS]

Interesting comments here, gotta love HRS (sometimes!!!)... **edit, wrong thread, lol**

Dont care what anyone thinks - LOVE Bucket'

[snooze72]

Interesting comments here, gotta love HRS (sometimes!!!)... **edit, wrong thread, lol**

Dont care what anyone thinks - LOVE Bucket'

I'm with you there, I'm a huge Bucket fan, but that doesn't mean I'm blind to the downside or I'm not going to believe that he's weird and difficult. And ditto with HRS.

[Ali]

I really, really cannot stand 'Ali'. Goofball, nobody in this thread has claimed to be an insider, you insufferable berk. I, for one, have clearly stated i'm just a fan who talked to a few people with connections to Bucket's camp, as did a few others. Nobody pretended to be an insider. The only one around here who actually is an 'insider' is Mysteron and he's been rubbish recently and go sit in the corner. But you can go play in the pihrana tank, you pillock.

Funny how you took that personally even though I never mentioned you. nor was I even thinking of you when I wrote that.

Ali

[Crash Diet]

I really, really cannot stand 'Ali'. Goofball, nobody in this thread has claimed to be an insider, you insufferable berk. I, for one, have clearly stated i'm just a fan who talked to a few people with connections to Bucket's camp, as did a few others. Nobody pretended to be an insider. The only one around here who actually is an 'insider' is Mysteron and he's been rubbish recently and go sit in the corner. But you can go play in the pihrana tank, you pillock.

Funny how you took that personally even though I never mentioned you. nor was I even thinking of you when I wrote that.

Ali

Stop with the signs!

[Jordan Rose]

I really, really cannot stand 'Ali'. Goofball, nobody in this thread has claimed to be an insider, you insufferable berk. I, for one, have clearly stated i'm just a fan who talked to a few people with connections to Bucket's camp, as did a few others. Nobody pretended to be an insider. The only one around here who actually is an 'insider' is Mysteron and he's been rubbish recently and go sit in the corner. But you can go play in the pihrana tank, you pillock.

Funny how you took that personally even though I never mentioned you. nor was I even thinking of you when I wrote that.

Ali

If you weren't referring to the few of us who've offered some possible insight in the Bucket/Robin threads in the last week then I don't know who you meant. I haven't seen anyone playing 'insiders' at all; they've been really cool threads as far as behaviour and lack of bullshit spamming posts goes.

Sorry for the insults. I get major internet rage but I do try and temper my outbursts with humour. If I really meant it i'd say 'c**t' as opposed to quaint British insults.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

thanks for the love guys!

i know i like to have a laugh at axl and the whole disaster called nugnr. i know that pisses some people off. but now that we've got a forum that fosters more realistic conversations, i want to encourage it!

i want info!

[ironmt]

Axl grounded him from going to Disneyland.

[maynard]

not so sure about slash being a failure. i think the man is doing ok and so is gnr. at least, slash has released much more music, i'm not a big fan but chinese democracy is not that good either.

[maynard]

i know he fills clubs, plays important festivals, releases music regularly, appears on tv and radio all the time... sale numbers nowadays aren't really important, but i'm sure the generic rock fan will always enjoy a new slash tune and consume it some way.

i'm not that good with numbers, maybe everything in my list means 5% of success compared to GNR. i'm sure if slash had the gnr name things would be different, it's not fair to compare them.

but all that's off-topic.

to get a lil more on topic, i want to say i loved the info some posters provided us, good read. i love those stories from the cd sessions.

[Jordan Rose]

where did i say slash was a failure? i just said he's 5% as successful as GNR, so if GNR is a disaster, i'm curious to know what slash is.

Well he doesn't have the name. I doubt Axl would be doing so much better if he traded under his own name. (*edit - if he did it properly he would, I just mean if he'd done the same things he has or hasn't done the last 10 years).

Slash isn't playing arenas on every continent but he is respected and treated by the rock mags as a relevant, contemporary icon; has had 2 special edition Classic Rock mags, one with his album as part of the package; umpteen covers; can pretty much go to any celeb 'do' and be treated like royalty; has a star on the HoF; is consistently visble, open and approachable; has consitently released music and toured; has the unanimous respect of his peers; is well liked by everyone except Axl....

Don't get me wrong, I think Twat alone, or This I Love is worth more than almost everything the old guys have done outside GN'R put together. I'm just saying that the only thing Axl has succeeded at (apart from making one of my favourite records ever, and yours) is playing arenas and headlining festivals with a lot of help from the name GN'R. Aside from that he's succeeded in absolutely burying his reputation to the media, mags, rocks fans in general and a huge proportion of people at every show who leave well before the end (at all the UK shows i've been to about half the seats were empty during the encore).

In 2000 Axl said he had cried 'hot, burning tears of anger' over watching Slash throw it all away when he wanted him to be loved and respected. Very ironic.

Edited June 24, 2012 by Jordan Rose

[Kill Devil Hill]

Wow. I never thought I'd say this, but the Chinese Democracy drama is more interesting than the old band drama.

Edit: Just wanted to say that this is the most interesting stuff I've ever read. I mean, damn. I never actually gave BH leaving that much thought outside of, "What a waste," since the '02 lineup is my favorite new band lineup.

Edited June 24, 2012 by Kill Devil Hill

[Jordan Rose]

why not just answer the question. if GNR is a disaster and does 20x the business slash does, what does that make slash?

It makes him 20X the disaster NewGuns is. Until you factor in that the GNR name automatically generates more business than Slash's name and tyhat, money aside, Slash is doing much better in general than Axl.

[Patience 4 Axl]

why not just answer the question. if GNR is a disaster and does 20x the business slash does, what does that make slash?

It makes him 20X the disaster NewGuns is. Until you factor in that the GNR name automatically generates more business than Slash's name and tyhat, money aside, Slash is doing much better in general than Axl.

Where did this 20x number come from?

And I agree, of course Axl touring under the Guns brand is what makes all the difference. Why do people discount this? Axl does better than Slash. I didn't even know there was a competition going on, but okay. However let's factor in some of the variables shall we? Axl doesn't tour as Axl, he tours as Guns N Roses. The name has been around for 25 years and is a part of pop culture. Their music is played at every major sporting event in the US. Their songs are still played regularly on the radio. THIS is why Axl does more business, based on what 5 guys accomplished together in the past, it's not soley because it's Axl (get real people). It's because of the GNR name and the contributions of former members who helped build that name. Plain and simple.

Slash does quite well considering he's simply a lead guitarist who went out on his own. How many guitarists, who don't sing!! have achieved his level of solo success? He tours, makes new albums, is always requested for guest appearances on other projects, is highly regarded in the industry and liked by his peers, and he's accomplished this all without continuing to tour under his old band. He's made his own name. Quite frankly it's amazing that he can sell out any venue simply as a guitar player, but he does it, and on his own merits.

If Axl ever had the balls to tour as Axl and drop the name, then come back to me and compare the two. Otherwise, this whole point is nothing short of ridiculous.

[The Sandman]

And I agree, of course Axl touring under the Guns brand is what makes all the difference. Why do people discount this? Axl does better than Slash. I didn't even know there was a competition going on, but okay. However let's factor in some of the variables shall we? Axl doesn't tour as Axl, he tours as Guns N Roses. The name has been around for 25 years and is a part of pop culture. Their music is played at every major sporting event in the US. Their songs are still played regularly on the radio. THIS is why Axl does more business, based on what 5 guys accomplished together in the past, it's not soley because it's Axl (get real people). It's because of the GNR name and the contributions of former members who helped build that name. Plain and simple.

Slash does quite well considering he's simply a lead guitarist who went out on his own. How many guitarists, who don't sing!! have achieved his level of solo success? He tours, makes new albums, is always requested for guest appearances on other projects, is highly regarded in the industry and liked by his peers, and he's accomplished this all without continuing to tour under his old band. He's made his own name. Quite frankly it's amazing that he can sell out any venue simply as a guitar player, but he does it, and on his own merits.

If Axl ever had the balls to tour as Axl and drop the name, then come back to me and compare the two. Otherwise, this whole point is nothing short of ridiculous.

You certainly make a good point!

Although, we've seemingly veered from the topic...