Why would Interscope release a GNR record?

[Guest NGOG]

The tendency is to focus on GNR's role in the new album debacle, but how could Interscope possibly deem a new GNR record viable? Frankly as a label they are more focused on names like will.i.am or Eminem or newcomers like Azealia Banks and M.I.A. Even if they were to suddenly take an interest in the rock genre again, clearly it would be focused on U2 or getting something out of the Rolling Stones. With the way Best Buy were basically hustled, Interscope would find it difficult to repeat such a deal and that seems the only way a GNR record could be distributed en masse. Surely at this point all Interscope would be interested in musically from GNR would be exploiting the Appetite and Use Your Illusion years?

Edited June 30, 2013 by NGOG

[Damn_Smooth]

Release? It would cost them nothing more than packaging to release the second half of CD. To not release something that would be pretty much pure profit is pretty stupid, and the current reality of the situation we're living in.

Now, if you want to change your question to why they won't fund a new album, all of your reasons and many more apply.

[Crash Diet]

Release? It would cost them nothing more than packaging to release the second half of CD. To not release something that would be pretty much pure profit is pretty stupid, and the current reality of the situation we're living in.

Now, if you want to change your question to why they won't fund a new album, all of your reasons and many more apply.

agree with this

[shotgunblues1978]

Chinese Democracy was the #14 selling album worldwide in 2008, and was only out for 5 weeks that year.

UMG/Interscope would definitely like to release another GnR album. But they don't want to promote it; they know it will sell 2-3 million copies worldwide with minimal promotion, and not a ton more even with a ton of promotion. The labels are generally not interested in spending money to market/promote albums by older acts. It's better spent on newer/younger acts that don't have a built in, global fanbase, where the marketing $$$ will have a greater impact.

This is the biggest issue. Axl was pissed off at the way that the CD release went (particularly, the release of the fucked up draft booklet, the lack of the alternate covers, the complete lack of promotion following the actual release, no budget for a music video, etc). He wants "assurances" and a marketing plan that he hasn't received. The label doesn't want to make these assurances, but they can't release the album without Axl's permission, so here we are.

[BBA]

UMG/Interscope would definitely like to release another GnR album.

Yes; they would. Unfortunately for Axl, that GNR album has to feature Slash if he wants any label support whatsoever.

[kyrie]

Look at what a top album sells these days. It wouldn't take much for a record to go #1 or close to it at this point, with one decent song with decent airplay/promotion.

The label I suspect wants to do the bare minimum however.

[dalsh327]

There was some bad blood with Interscope's people and GNR, but the same can be said with NIN and 50 Cent. Eventually they work things out and move on from what happened, and people working there move on to do other things in the music industry. As Trent Reznor said about Chris Cornell, he knows the guys who talked Cornell into making a cash grab by working with Timbaland.

There's no way GNR can get the promotion money they used to get, but social media is cheaper and more effective than slapping it up on billboards and buses. GNR and Axl wind up trending and discussed in mainstream media when there's something new, so a new GNR song or album would definitely be in the news, even if they make fun of it.

I wouldn't expect the next album to be a "sequel" - just a continuation of what they did last, and some new music with this lineup. It would be like Hollywood wanting to make a "Gigli II" or an "Ishtar II'".

"Chinese Democracy" has come to mean blown out of proportion projects that cost a lot of money and take forever to put out. It wouldn't be a good name to use for a new album. GNR's better off with a self-titled album than trying to come up with a name.

[phaeryen]

Why? Because it would sell in the millions of course.

[AndreCC]

Nobody really cares about this new band, the focus on GNR is the classic lineup! The Classic lineup is all over you tube, all over everyone's radio, all over radio stations, all over the World! Nobody even cares about Chinese Democracy other then us goofballs, that have been here for years waiting for it to come out.

Let's face it, New GNR was a joke ever since it started... Let's take a look at "Oh My God" the single from the End Of Days soundtrack, it started great with that (Being Sarcastic), an unfinished demo on a major movie's soundtrack (are you fucking kidding me?!). Don't get me wrong... it was the song with most potential since New GNR has started, but by then it already featured two people who weren't even in the band, Dave Navarro and another guy (i think his name was Scaturro or something).

What major band you know would actually release a song that is unfinished for a movie soundtrack?! It's unbelievable, even if you can put some fault on the label.. it's still unbelievably negative to say the least...

Then you finally have a band, and Axl finally introduces the band in Vegas and in RIO (to a more international extent), people wanted Slash but were fine with it, no one took it seriously but they still went and check it out... all of a sudden, Paul Tobias decides.. meehh... this ain't for me, i can't tour, i can't be what i have worked so hard and accomplished... i can't be a full time musician...(how stupid is that? you finally make it, you're in a huge household band and you quit...)

Then you have Fortus coming in... even with Tobias out, the audience in the US still went to check the new band, either out of curiosity, fun or just to see Axl and the old songs, the fact is they still went to check it out. Hell even the guy from Stone Sour/Slipknot went to check them out... one way or the other people were still curious. (Even though they wanted the old band back).. i think everyone thought this was just temporary and Axl would eventually come to his senses and reunite with the Classic Lineup.

All of a sudden after a couple of successful dates, Axl decides to go home...now when a tour doesn't complete, this can only mean three things...either a break up of a line up, unprofessionalism or the band not being ready and being a huge fuck up at that point. You decide.

Then all of a sudden we're still waiting for a new album, everyone disappears. At first everyone things Axl is probably finishing the album so he can come out on tour again with the album, but years and years pass and nothing happens...people forget about Guns N'Roses...continue to enjoy the Classic Lineup songs. By then NUGNR is already a WORLDWIDE JOKE...

To help things up there's a big comeback and hell maybe fans will give it a second chance and go to RIO 4 check out the new band, by then Tobias had left, Freese left... then Buckethead leaves and most of all reveals that things are a mess in the camp and reveals that Axl can't put the record out no matter out. 3 member leaving... that's it! NUGNR was over right there... any small credibility that they would have (because they didn't have much considering the past and the band's history), it was gone right there.

General audience was gone right there... we were the left overs... the "hardcore" fans. We stood here waiting for more, and finally in 2006 princess Axl decides to do a full World Tour. (But no album... what?!?!). After all this time, Still no album to promote a tour?! What have you been doing all this years (nothing...), that right there shows that Axl didn't give a flying fuck about this band, and was in it to just collect some million bucks.

You can say that if Axl wanted the millions of dollars then he would have reunited. But that's not necessarily viable or even needed. Axl can still make millions of dollars and save the trouble of actually being in a real band and have to take and confront any of the old members. Besided if they reunited, Axl would have to give up on that famous contract and share everything with the old members again. So in the end maybe Axl even does more money now or if he doesn't he makes enough money to not care or need a a reunion.

Successful tour in 2006, bunch of excuses about a new album... tentative release bullcrap, Another manager being fired, 2 more members leaving (Robin and Brain)... at this point, there was so much negativity that people didn't even care GNR had just made a successful tour...two other members were out, no album, no manager, no news....

The only thing that saved Axl's ass that year, was someone from the camp giving out cds with songs from the album, and the songs eventually leaking.

That alone fucking saved his ass that year and he knows it! The hardcore fans were already setting up a white flag and saying "i give up on this nuGNR thing", then the songs leaked and everyone was willing to give princess Axl another chance.

2008 arrives, complete silence for a full year until finally GNR confirms there's a single coming out and they put the song up on their website. By then we all thought... hey maybe this thing is really coming out... a little bit too late, but the music is good, it's Axl so we're still checking it. And we did...great music as confirmed...but most of the members were GONE!

No press, no tour, no nothing... we got the album though... at least we got the best part of it. Then we hear that the album wasn't planned out that way, the cover wasn't supposed to be that way, and we have Axl actually coming here, talking with us (pretty cool, after all we waited for so long, it was a nice gesture).

Axl teases fans, that he had another plan for CD and it was supposed to be a 2 disc album and starts asking people to give him some names of songs they have heard about (rumors), then confirms the songs that are legit and those that are not.

When you do something like this, not to knock down Axl... but you're giving people false hopes that there might be a second disc coming out soon.

Until now... nothing has come out....band continues to tease us that they're recording even that they plan to release Silkworms this year bla bla bla...It's been what? 5 years? Since Axl came here to chat.

How much credibility does this band have left?!

[The Glow Inc.]

Yes but 1 million copies sold is surely better than 0 copies sold...

[DownUnderScott]

Release a new cd with an agreement that Interscope must promote new cd properly and in return they get a cut on touring and merchandise revenue. This deal would obviously include a commitment/contract that a tour of a certain length is mandatory. Simple!

[Guest charlie555]

...

How much credibility does this band have left?!

More than you.

[trqster]

Commercially CD2 probably has little interest from the record label and rightly so after CD...

Musically after CD I'm not really excited about hearing new music from Axl's band. Happy enough with the 'greatest hits' touring.

[phaeryen]

Commercially CD2 probably has little interest from the record label and rightly so after CD...

Musically after CD I'm not really excited about hearing new music from Axl's band. Happy enough with the 'greatest hits' touring.

Your first phrase makes no sense at all. The record label would love to put out CD2, if there was one to put out. The sales for CD were great, and the band seems like they will be carrying on with touring for atleast the foreseeable near-to-mid future. That's a simple winner for them.

... Just don't tell the label anything about any recording-writing-mixing-producing that would have to be done. Because that would just be like telling a bad joke at a funeral. When you go to the office, go with a finished album in hand, self financed and produced. Or don't go at all.

[Apollo]

Yes but 1 million copies sold is surely better than 0 copies sold...

Exactly.

Record Companies are in business to make money.

If they think an album by Axl's current version of GnR is going to sell enough copies to make them enough profit, they will release it and put forth the required amount of promotional dollars.

They cannot sit on a GnR album and NOT release it under the "we're not releasing any GnR material until Slash is back in the band" idea that so many people on here think is the case. Axl's lawyers would have an open-and-shut lawsuit. You can't prevent somebody from making a living under those circumstances.

And if they aren't releasing GnR material because they think it sucks - then eventually Axl's lawyers could sue them to have the band released from their contract - with the band buying their way out of it.

The reason there isn't another GnR album is because Axl hasn't turned one in yet. Simple as that. Whatever his reasons might be. His band wants to record their own music. Axl fans would LOVE to hear new GnR music. But for some reason, Axl and Team Brazil are choosing to not go that route. Sucks for the band of for Axl's millions of fans.

[smokingarthur]

Nothing stopped Axl from promoting CD. It would have been as easy as a phone call. He made the choice.

[DeadSlash]

Nobody really cares about this new band, the focus on GNR is the classic lineup! The Classic lineup is all over you tube, all over everyone's radio, all over radio stations, all over the World! Nobody even cares about Chinese Democracy other then us goofballs, that have been here for years waiting for it to come out.

Let's face it, New GNR was a joke ever since it started... Let's take a look at "Oh My God" the single from the End Of Days soundtrack, it started great with that (Being Sarcastic), an unfinished demo on a major movie's soundtrack (are you fucking kidding me?!). Don't get me wrong... it was the song with most potential since New GNR has started, but by then it already featured two people who weren't even in the band, Dave Navarro and another guy (i think his name was Scaturro or something).

What major band you know would actually release a song that is unfinished for a movie soundtrack?! It's unbelievable, even if you can put some fault on the label.. it's still unbelievably negative to say the least...

Then you finally have a band, and Axl finally introduces the band in Vegas and in RIO (to a more international extent), people wanted Slash but were fine with it, no one took it seriously but they still went and check it out... all of a sudden, Paul Tobias decides.. meehh... this ain't for me, i can't tour, i can't be what i have worked so hard and accomplished... i can't be a full time musician...(how stupid is that? you finally make it, you're in a huge household band and you quit...)

Then you have Fortus coming in... even with Tobias out, the audience in the US still went to check the new band, either out of curiosity, fun or just to see Axl and the old songs, the fact is they still went to check it out. Hell even the guy from Stone Sour/Slipknot went to check them out... one way or the other people were still curious. (Even though they wanted the old band back).. i think everyone thought this was just temporary and Axl would eventually come to his senses and reunite with the Classic Lineup.

All of a sudden after a couple of successful dates, Axl decides to go home...now when a tour doesn't complete, this can only mean three things...either a break up of a line up, unprofessionalism or the band not being ready and being a huge fuck up at that point. You decide.

Then all of a sudden we're still waiting for a new album, everyone disappears. At first everyone things Axl is probably finishing the album so he can come out on tour again with the album, but years and years pass and nothing happens...people forget about Guns N'Roses...continue to enjoy the Classic Lineup songs. By then NUGNR is already a WORLDWIDE JOKE...

To help things up there's a big comeback and hell maybe fans will give it a second chance and go to RIO 4 check out the new band, by then Tobias had left, Freese left... then Buckethead leaves and most of all reveals that things are a mess in the camp and reveals that Axl can't put the record out no matter out. 3 member leaving... that's it! NUGNR was over right there... any small credibility that they would have (because they didn't have much considering the past and the band's history), it was gone right there.

General audience was gone right there... we were the left overs... the "hardcore" fans. We stood here waiting for more, and finally in 2006 princess Axl decides to do a full World Tour. (But no album... what?!?!). After all this time, Still no album to promote a tour?! What have you been doing all this years (nothing...), that right there shows that Axl didn't give a flying fuck about this band, and was in it to just collect some million bucks.

You can say that if Axl wanted the millions of dollars then he would have reunited. But that's not necessarily viable or even needed. Axl can still make millions of dollars and save the trouble of actually being in a real band and have to take and confront any of the old members. Besided if they reunited, Axl would have to give up on that famous contract and share everything with the old members again. So in the end maybe Axl even does more money now or if he doesn't he makes enough money to not care or need a a reunion.

Successful tour in 2006, bunch of excuses about a new album... tentative release bullcrap, Another manager being fired, 2 more members leaving (Robin and Brain)... at this point, there was so much negativity that people didn't even care GNR had just made a successful tour...two other members were out, no album, no manager, no news....

The only thing that saved Axl's ass that year, was someone from the camp giving out cds with songs from the album, and the songs eventually leaking.

That alone fucking saved his ass that year and he knows it! The hardcore fans were already setting up a white flag and saying "i give up on this nuGNR thing", then the songs leaked and everyone was willing to give princess Axl another chance.

2008 arrives, complete silence for a full year until finally GNR confirms there's a single coming out and they put the song up on their website. By then we all thought... hey maybe this thing is really coming out... a little bit too late, but the music is good, it's Axl so we're still checking it. And we did...great music as confirmed...but most of the members were GONE!

No press, no tour, no nothing... we got the album though... at least we got the best part of it. Then we hear that the album wasn't planned out that way, the cover wasn't supposed to be that way, and we have Axl actually coming here, talking with us (pretty cool, after all we waited for so long, it was a nice gesture).

Axl teases fans, that he had another plan for CD and it was supposed to be a 2 disc album and starts asking people to give him some names of songs they have heard about (rumors), then confirms the songs that are legit and those that are not.

When you do something like this, not to knock down Axl... but you're giving people false hopes that there might be a second disc coming out soon.

Until now... nothing has come out....band continues to tease us that they're recording even that they plan to release Silkworms this year bla bla bla...It's been what? 5 years? Since Axl came here to chat.

How much credibility does this band have left?!

[bax]

i'm thinking Interscope sees this as a de facto noncompetition clause. GN'R cannot release the record anywhere else, It is highly unlikely CD 2 will be complete anytime soon so interscope won't have to deal with the headache of releasing it either. Stalemate and the tour continues.

[jmapelian]

Chinese Democracy was the #14 selling album worldwide in 2008, and was only out for 5 weeks that year.

UMG/Interscope would definitely like to release another GnR album. But they don't want to promote it; they know it will sell 2-3 million copies worldwide with minimal promotion, and not a ton more even with a ton of promotion. The labels are generally not interested in spending money to market/promote albums by older acts. It's better spent on newer/younger acts that don't have a built in, global fanbase, where the marketing $$$ will have a greater impact.

This is the biggest issue. Axl was pissed off at the way that the CD release went (particularly, the release of the fucked up draft booklet, the lack of the alternate covers, the complete lack of promotion following the actual release, no budget for a music video, etc). He wants "assurances" and a marketing plan that he hasn't received. The label doesn't want to make these assurances, but they can't release the album without Axl's permission, so here we are.

I don' think this is the case, though it makes sense. I say that because the label released greatest hits w/out his permission and he tried to stop it.

[Aussiegun]

Nothing stopping GNR playing new songs on tour..

[volcano62]

Hell even the guy from Stone Sour/Slipknot went to check them out...

This is where I stopped reading.

Who gives a fuck about that?

[Apollo]

Nothing stopped Axl from promoting CD. It would have been as easy as a phone call. He made the choice.

That's the sad part.

If Axl is mad about that and is unwillingly to play the game for a new album...........who is he really hurting? So his pride makes him "win" the battle against the label, while his MILLIONS of fans are rewarded with NO NEW MUSIC. Axl's pride and stubborness wins, the fans lose. Awesome.

I just can't believe that Axl would be that self-centered, shallow and have such little feelings towards his fans. There has to be other reasons!!!!

[Alpachiris]

GNR still have to take out two albums under universal contrat.. (according to what beta said)

[tat2d1]

Yes but 1 million copies sold is surely better than 0 copies sold...

Exactly.

Record Companies are in business to make money.

If they think an album by Axl's current version of GnR is going to sell enough copies to make them enough profit, they will release it and put forth the required amount of promotional dollars.

They cannot sit on a GnR album and NOT release it under the "we're not releasing any GnR material until Slash is back in the band" idea that so many people on here think is the case. Axl's lawyers would have an open-and-shut lawsuit. You can't prevent somebody from making a living under those circumstances.

And if they aren't releasing GnR material because they think it sucks - then eventually Axl's lawyers could sue them to have the band released from their contract - with the band buying their way out of it.

The reason there isn't another GnR album is because Axl hasn't turned one in yet. Simple as that. Whatever his reasons might be. His band wants to record their own music. Axl fans would LOVE to hear new GnR music. But for some reason, Axl and Team Brazil are choosing to not go that route. Sucks for the band of for Axl's millions of fans.

They may not be able to not release it because "Slash isn't back in the band", but they can just take the "throw it out there and see if it sticks" route, meaning no promotion whatsoever and there probably wouldn't be much Axl could do about it. Nikki Sixx went through that with Elektra when Motley was recording Generation Swine. It was originally recorded with John Corabi on vocals, but the label made it damn clear that unless Vince was back, the Crue would still get their albums released, but with no promotion or touring support whatsoever. The label would've just written it off as a loss. That's how Vince ended up back in the band. I would hope Universal wouldn't try to pull any shit like that with Axl though.

I would think the reason no new album has been released, is like you said, Axl hasn't turned one in yet. Once he does, Universal will be chomping at the bit to get it out there.

[shotgunblues1978]

Chinese Democracy was the #14 selling album worldwide in 2008, and was only out for 5 weeks that year.

UMG/Interscope would definitely like to release another GnR album. But they don't want to promote it; they know it will sell 2-3 million copies worldwide with minimal promotion, and not a ton more even with a ton of promotion. The labels are generally not interested in spending money to market/promote albums by older acts. It's better spent on newer/younger acts that don't have a built in, global fanbase, where the marketing $$$ will have a greater impact.

This is the biggest issue. Axl was pissed off at the way that the CD release went (particularly, the release of the fucked up draft booklet, the lack of the alternate covers, the complete lack of promotion following the actual release, no budget for a music video, etc). He wants "assurances" and a marketing plan that he hasn't received. The label doesn't want to make these assurances, but they can't release the album without Axl's permission, so here we are.

I don' think this is the case, though it makes sense. I say that because the label released greatest hits w/out his permission and he tried to stop it.

Those songs were all previously released, though, and the band's contract (based on the lawsuit) stipulated a Greatest Hits release. Axl (and Slash) didn't really have a leg to stand on when they sued to prevent the release; Axl's only argument was that it would hinder/delay the release of CD, and Slash's was something along the lines of disagreeing with the tracklisting.

Releasing new material is a different ballgame; I'm sure that when Axl renegotiated the contract prior to CD he had a clause added to ensure that the label could not release new (previously unreleased) GnR material without his consent. I'm sure that's why the UYI documentary has never seen the light of day.

I personally think Axl should use the old era material (AFD remaster, Greatest Hits 2, UYI documentary) as leverage to get what he wants from the label. In other words, tell the label he'll sign off on all those things if they give him the marketing budget he wants for his new album. But I think he's so opposed to any releases that would directly promote (or create royalties for) the old bandmembers (or Slash in particular) that he won't do it.

Nothing stopping GNR playing new songs on tour..

Actually labels can (and often do) prevent musicians from playing unreleased material that the label has rights to, unless it is specifically to promote an imminent release.