Why does Axl think it is necessary to add Ron and DJ to all the old Bucket and Robin songs?

[Randy Lahey]

Why does Axl think it is necessary to add Ron and DJ to all the old Bucket and Robin songs? Honestly Axl, the general public does not care. Hire new guitar players for the next tour if these guys aren't happy covering the Robin and Bucket guitar parts.

[Tom2112]

Hmmm? I don't think a lot of people would agree with that. I for one like the additions Ron put on the the song chinese democracy, ever listen to the early leak? much more keyboard focussed during the verses, Ron gave it some much needs balls. He wants to add the other guys because he hears new guitar players and he gets inspired by it, he can't resist thinking "if only ______ played on that song! wait, I'm a multi-millionaire I can make it so".

I doubt Ron or DJ are saying "we have to play on that song" their both big boys and they don't need to assert their dominance (I highly they could or would do that). Axl wants them because their the new blood in the band, he wants to represent that while still releasing material he worked hard on while the new guys were not in the band.

Both Ron and DJ seem far more interested in making new music. I remember an interview with Ron where he stated that he would like to quickly finish the Democracy session stuff, bundle it in a package do a quick tour and get to work on the "real" GnR record with the current band. I love that idea personally

[wasted]

Axl was quoted as saying he thinks a record should be the energy of the players in the band. That must be why he records new parts. But its more like the spirit of the machine that has taken over. What comes out doesnt have an organic feel, its like songs were abducted by technology. Molded in the death star to be released in the future.

[stumbleine]

it doesnt matter to me either who he hires to do what on the next tour.

and those two players represent nothing.

they are not really needed.

[Bruno P.]

DJ doesn't even play on any GnR song to date (not the ones we've heard).

Hmmm? I don't think a lot of people would agree with that. I for one like the additions Ron put on the the song chinese democracy, ever listen to the early leak? much more keyboard focussed during the verses, Ron gave it some much needs balls. He wants to add the other guys because he hears new guitar players and he gets inspired by it, he can't resist thinking "if only ______ played on that song! wait, I'm a multi-millionaire I can make it so".

I doubt Ron or DJ are saying "we have to play on that song" their both big boys and they don't need to assert their dominance (I highly they could or would do that). Axl wants them because their the new blood in the band, he wants to represent that while still releasing material he worked hard on while the new guys were not in the band.

Both Ron and DJ seem far more interested in making new music. I remember an interview with Ron where he stated that he would like to quickly finish the Democracy session stuff, bundle it in a package do a quick tour and get to work on the "real" GnR record with the current band. I love that idea personally

Great post. I totally agree with you

[Teroz]

Good point. The stuff written and recorded with Bucket, should be released that way as he is by far the best guitarist of this lot... by so so far.

[themadcaplaughs]

I think Ron and Frank were simply added in to "tie up loose ends." The songs were probably (at least in Axl's mind) not yet complete. Ron and Frank were around, Axl probably wanted them to be heard on the record, and they were lucky enough to get to play on the record.

On the other hand, DJ came in when we've been told most of the material is more or less completed. It's very possible Ron will be on the next album's songs, but I feel, at this point, even Axl has no desire to have DJ come into a studio and record new parts.

Edited August 29, 2013 by themadcaplaughs

[highvoltage]

Why does Axl think it is necessary to add Ron and DJ to all the old Bucket and Robin songs? Honestly Axl, the general public does not care. Hire new guitar players for the next tour if these guys aren't happy covering the Robin and Bucket guitar parts.

Releasing new material that doesn't feature either of the current lead guitarists sounds pretty silly to me. It's not about whether the public cares or not - it would be a huge slap in the face to those guys if Axl finally released something and didn't feature their parts on it.

Ron has been around for 7 years now and DJ for 3. It's not like they joined the band last week.

[CoolRanchDressing]

Axl loves making new musician rework old bands stuff. He even re recorded the bands first album allrogether with one if his various new bands. Now he's apparently re recording Chinese democracy too. I think it's awesome. By this point gnr can just keep remixing and re recording their catalog. They have enough songs that axl doesn't need to worry about writing new ones

[Guest NGOG]

If it isn't necessary, and Axl is just doing it to legitimize the current line-up, then he should refrain from tinkering.

Don't diminish the quality of existing material, just put a few new concepts together.

[Randy Lahey]

If it isn't necessary, and Axl is just doing it to legitimize the current line-up, then he should refrain from tinkering.

I don't think he can "legitimize" the current line-up. Any success or failure they might have is all on Axl now. It is essentially Axl and his backing band in the eyes of the general public, and far too much time has gone by to ever change that perception.

Edited August 30, 2013 by Randy Lahey

[Guest NGOG]

Chinese Democracy was definitely percieved as being approached in an NIN style. With Dj on board, an established songwriter, you do have a realistic chance of GNR being percieved as a creative duo.

As Axl isn't a prolific multi-instrumentalist like Trent Reznor, he does rely on having the prowess of others to help create a GNR album.

[rockerman]

Theres also this; THey get something out of it for future payment as well in percentages of sales. Its an enticement to be on a GNR album and to be associated with GNR in history. THere are royalties associated with it.

Plus a current line up should be featured on the album if it is in fact NOT a solo album.

Removing parts originally played by another player reduces their royaltys for that song. Even if its replayed note for note by another player. This was what was behind Axl wanting to rerecord AFD with the Fink/BH era band it was to obliterate the traces of the old band and thier claim to any future royaties at their current rate.

To paint that picture better Ill use Steve Perry and Dont Stop Believing as an example. When that song was used on the Sopranos, Glee other shows and it reentered the public attention via iTunes and other outlets...he made almost as much or more from that song in the last 5 years than he had since 1980 when it was on Journey's Escape album. He did so because he was the original singer and a member of Journey at the time it was recorded. Every time a commercial radio station spins up Dont Stop Believing ...there is a royalty that goes to the lable which filters down to the artists..

[wasted]

I thought royalties were based on writing credits, not parts played.

That why ron maybe want to record. He didnt have a writing credit on CD?

i think its part of intwgrating them into the band. Getting them ready to play live. Maybe Ron coukdnt play Buckets solos etc.

[Ana_1991]

Because he's pissed at them for leaving.
Two of them should be pissed at Axl for delaying CD for so long.

[highvoltage]

If it isn't necessary, and Axl is just doing it to legitimize the current line-up, then he should refrain from tinkering.

I don't think he can "legitimize" the current line-up. Any success or failure they might have is all on Axl now. It is essentially Axl and his back band in the eyes of the general public, and far too much time has gone by to ever change that perception.

It's not just about "legitimizing" the lineup for the public. I think it's equally important for his (and the band's) own mental health to "legitimize" things for themselves.

It's should be clear by now that Axl's more motivated by satisfying himself (even if that means never) than by satisfying the public or his fans. He's said it many times.

He's not going to derive that by just... putting "something" out that features a guitar lineup from 2004/2008. The public knowing the difference or not seems immaterial to him.