What if CD were released in 2000? (An Alt GNR History).

[Raz0r]

In late 1999, after the heat on the single Oh My God cooled, Guns N Roses headed to the studio to put the finishing touches to the album now called Chinese Democracy. With the new line-up in place, Axl hopes to have the album out the following year. Robin (Finck also guitarist for Industrial outfit Nine Inch Nails) decided he wanted to rejoin NIN for their new tour. Which is fine with us; Huge (Paul Huge Axls childhood friend you may recognize from the UYI credits) has the chops for this record. Were currently looking for a new guitarist to fit the bill but the main thing at the moment is to get this record out so we can tour said Axl to Rolling Stone. But Robin has been such an integral part of the sound I wanted to achieve.. so I have a feeling he may return sooner or later.

In early 2000, rumours circulated that the album had been put on the backburner due to Roy Thomas Bakers influence. But GNR put out a statement quashing such talk with a simple message: Its coming.

In early April, a supposed track-list surfaced in a five-page spread of the band by Kerrang magazine. The alleged list featured I.R.S, Silkworms, This I Love and The Catcher in the Rye confirmed by Brian May and featuring his legendary guitarwork.

Then the news everyone was waiting for: Tuesday 19th September 2000. The release date of the forever delayed Chinese Democracy. A flurry of advertisements featuring a bandanna-clad Axl with the bands name in stylised font detailing the release of the album swamped the music world. The title track was being touted as the first release. But would GNR still be relevant in a world dominated by Nu-Metal and Pop-Punk? Only time would tell.

In early August, the single Chinese Democracy was released to mixed reviews. The rawness juxtaposed with the digital, industrial edge polarised many critics though ex band members Slash and Duff were more complimentary: It sounds pretty good!. Regardless, news of a tour surfaced as Robin Finck returned just as Axl predicted. It was taken as a good omen.

Finally, the album was released to strong reviews and strong sales. Rather than ride the nostalgia wave, GNR rise above it onto a new plateau. They never needed a movement to support them, rather they always show up (late!) to show up everyone else said one reviewer of NME. Musically, Chinese Democracy was an Industrial-tinged update of Appetite with much more experimentation. Sure, the techno-futurism of Silkworms seemed like an update of UYI IIs My World, but the theatrical ballads of Thyme and This I Love proved that Axl had retained his edge. A year long tour was planned, while Avant-Garde guitarist Buckethead was recruited to bolster the sound. Whisper arose of the eccentric guitarists musical influence on the supposed new demos that had been recorded not long after he joined.

2001 and 2002 were triumphant years for GNR on tour. Following Rock in Rio and the MTV Music Awards, it appeared GNR had been resurrected. Though Slash, Duff and Matt Sorum had formed their yet-as-unnamed band, all eyes and ears were on Axl. Gigs were highly volatile material-wise. New tunes were mixed in with old classics while even an unreleased song or two made their live debuts. 2003 rolled on and while GNR was winding down on a break, the newly named Velvet Revolver threatened to steal their thunder: Contraband was released to rave reviews and sold almost as much as Chinese Democracy. Perhaps sensing a need to compete, Axl rushed his new Gunners into the studio for a follow up record. It would lead to an interesting couple of years.

The Axl-Slash feud reached boiling point when Axl released a statement claiming Slash came to his residence inebriated and began to criticise his VR bandmates. Slash, who was still reeling after an earlier rant against Axl, retorted he was neither inebriated nor did he criticise his bandmates. Harsh words were exchanged between both camps which lead to intense media scrutiny. Fans would take sides, as did most music magazines.

In 2005, another press release from the GNR camp created an excitement in the music community. However, this was not a rant but a release date for the new album The General. The release was hotly anticipated mainly thanks to the single Better which cracked the Rock and Pop charts giving GNR their first number one for many years. However, things were not as rosy in the Velvet Revolver camp. Scott Weiland has been fired due to internal strife which left Contrabands follow up in limbo.

In October 2005, The General was released to much more critical acclaim than its predecessor. Gone was the Industrial edge, rather The General emphasised the Elton John-Queen style bombast which made the title track such a hit while the Izzy-cowritten Down By The Ocean would become a fan favourite. Atlas Shrugged became the second single and became note-worthy for its music video which seemed to continue the story portrayed in Estranged. Buckethead had left before a tour could coalesce, as did Paul Huge who was tired of life on the road. However, unknown Ron Bumblefoot Thal proved a worthy replacement while former guitarist Izzy Stradlin returned also. It surprised many due to Izzys alleged reluctance to play live with Axl again but soon rumours of a classic Guns N Roses reunion spread like wildfire. Rumours Axl vehemently shot down.

The 2006/2007 tour was the biggest since the grandiose UYI era. But the band felt exhausted due to the heavy scheduling and the constant studio time demanded by Axl. As a show of goodwill, Axl proposed a two year hiatus which the rest of the band was more than happy to oblige. Talks of a supposed solo album were rife in the music magazines though Axl kept quiet and retreated from the public spotlight once more.

In July 2008, Slash was rushed to hospital after a heart attack during a gig at the famed Whiskey a-Go-Go. It has been suggested that the combination of stress and fatigue lead to the episode and its believed he has been told to take it easy lest such an incident should reoccur.

Not long after, photographs surfaced of Axl visiting Slash at his home in LA. Neither could be reached for comment, though Duff McKagen wryly suggested that the old wounds may have finally had enough time to heal.

During May 2009, Axl Rose resurfaced as a solo act performing an intimate gig at the Rainbow. The biggest shock came during the encore, when Slash walked onstage with an acoustic and together they performed stripped back versions of Patience, You Aint The First and Used To Love Her. They were seen embracing at the end of the show, a photograph that has become iconic in the music world. And of course, speculation was rife of a reunion. But hey, Rock N Roll is a funny thing, eh?

http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=258280

Edited September 23, 2013 by Raz0r

[wasted]

It would have sold 4 mil in the US bcos thats what albums sold back then. That could have fueled videos etc. 10 Mil world wide. But I think the label wanted 20 mil in the US.

[dalsh327]

Axl should have gone under a pseudonym and made an industrial metal album.

[J Dog]

I din't read that whole post, sorry op. But I think the album would have had a different sound, more attitude. Sold more. And if you think back to the music culture around that time, I think they would have been more accepted.

[wasted]

It's weird that even an industrial album would have sold more in 99. the label must feel like assholes.

[J Dog]

Guess they were just freaked out by it not sounding like classic GNR. But if you look at who was popular at the time and who was selling millions, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Rob Zombie etc. it would have fit in pretty good.

[smoke]

I think it's great that you broke up VR pre-Libertad AND gave Slash a second heart attack

[rockerman]

In late 1999, after the heat on the single Oh My God cooled, Guns N Roses headed to the studio to put the finishing touches to the album now called Chinese Democracy. With the new line-up in place, Axl hopes to have the album out the following year. Robin (Finck also guitarist for Industrial outfit Nine Inch Nails) decided he wanted to rejoin NIN for their new tour. Which is fine with us; Huge (Paul Huge Axls childhood friend you may recognize from the UYI credits) has the chops for this record. Were currently looking for a new guitarist to fit the bill but the main thing at the moment is to get this record out so we can tour said Axl to Rolling Stone. But Robin has been such an integral part of the sound I wanted to achieve.. so I have a feeling he may return sooner or later.

In early 2000, rumours circulated that the album had been put on the backburner due to Roy Thomas Bakers influence. But GNR put out a statement quashing such talk with a simple message: Its coming.

In early April, a supposed track-list surfaced in a five-page spread of the band by Kerrang magazine. The alleged list featured I.R.S, Silkworms, This I Love and The Catcher in the Rye confirmed by Brian May and featuring his legendary guitarwork.

Then the news everyone was waiting for: Tuesday 19th September 2000. The release date of the forever delayed Chinese Democracy. A flurry of advertisements featuring a bandanna-clad Axl with the bands name in stylised font detailing the release of the album swamped the music world. The title track was being touted as the first release. But would GNR still be relevant in a world dominated by Nu-Metal and Pop-Punk? Only time would tell.

In early August, the single Chinese Democracy was released to mixed reviews. The rawness juxtaposed with the digital, industrial edge polarised many critics though ex band members Slash and Duff were more complimentary: It sounds pretty good!. Regardless, news of a tour surfaced as Robin Finck returned just as Axl predicted. It was taken as a good omen.

Finally, the album was released to strong reviews and strong sales. Rather than ride the nostalgia wave, GNR rise above it onto a new plateau. They never needed a movement to support them, rather they always show up (late!) to show up everyone else said one reviewer of NME. Musically, Chinese Democracy was an Industrial-tinged update of Appetite with much more experimentation. Sure, the techno-futurism of Silkworms seemed like an update of UYI IIs My World, but the theatrical ballads of Thyme and This I Love proved that Axl had retained his edge. A year long tour was planned, while Avant-Garde guitarist Buckethead was recruited to bolster the sound. Whisper arose of the eccentric guitarists musical influence on the supposed new demos that had been recorded not long after he joined.

2001 and 2002 were triumphant years for GNR on tour. Following Rock in Rio and the MTV Music Awards, it appeared GNR had been resurrected. Though Slash, Duff and Matt Sorum had formed their yet-as-unnamed band, all eyes and ears were on Axl. Gigs were highly volatile material-wise. New tunes were mixed in with old classics while even an unreleased song or two made their live debuts. 2003 rolled on and while GNR was winding down on a break, the newly named Velvet Revolver threatened to steal their thunder: Contraband was released to rave reviews and sold almost as much as Chinese Democracy. Perhaps sensing a need to compete, Axl rushed his new Gunners into the studio for a follow up record. It would lead to an interesting couple of years.

The Axl-Slash feud reached boiling point when Axl released a statement claiming Slash came to his residence inebriated and began to criticise his VR bandmates. Slash, who was still reeling after an earlier rant against Axl, retorted he was neither inebriated nor did he criticise his bandmates. Harsh words were exchanged between both camps which lead to intense media scrutiny. Fans would take sides, as did most music magazines.

In 2005, another press release from the GNR camp created an excitement in the music community. However, this was not a rant but a release date for the new album The General. The release was hotly anticipated mainly thanks to the single Better which cracked the Rock and Pop charts giving GNR their first number one for many years. However, things were not as rosy in the Velvet Revolver camp. Scott Weiland has been fired due to internal strife which left Contrabands follow up in limbo.

In October 2005, The General was released to much more critical acclaim than its predecessor. Gone was the Industrial edge, rather The General emphasised the Elton John-Queen style bombast which made the title track such a hit while the Izzy-cowritten Down By The Ocean would become a fan favourite. Atlas Shrugged became the second single and became note-worthy for its music video which seemed to continue the story portrayed in Estranged. Buckethead had left before a tour could coalesce, as did Paul Huge who was tired of life on the road. However, unknown Ron Bumblefoot Thal proved a worthy replacement while former guitarist Izzy Stradlin returned also. It surprised many due to Izzys alleged reluctance to play live with Axl again but soon rumours of a classic Guns N Roses reunion spread like wildfire. Rumours Axl vehemently shot down.

The 2006/2007 tour was the biggest since the grandiose UYI era. But the band felt exhausted due to the heavy scheduling and the constant studio time demanded by Axl. As a show of goodwill, Axl proposed a two year hiatus which the rest of the band was more than happy to oblige. Talks of a supposed solo album were rife in the music magazines though Axl kept quiet and retreated from the public spotlight once more.

In July 2008, Slash was rushed to hospital after a heart attack during a gig at the famed Whiskey a-Go-Go. It has been suggested that the combination of stress and fatigue lead to the episode and its believed he has been told to take it easy lest such an incident should reoccur.

Not long after, photographs surfaced of Axl visiting Slash at his home in LA. Neither could be reached for comment, though Duff McKagen wryly suggested that the old wounds may have finally had enough time to heal.

During May 2009, Axl Rose resurfaced as a solo act performing an intimate gig at the Rainbow. The biggest shock came during the encore, when Slash walked onstage with an acoustic and together they performed stripped back versions of Patience, You Aint The First and Used To Love Her. They were seen embracing at the end of the show, a photograph that has become iconic in the music world. And of course, speculation was rife of a reunion. But hey, Rock N Roll is a funny thing, eh?

http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=258280

i dig this history vastly more than the reality. Good posting!

[Faxl Rows]

Reads like a wistful dream. Enjoyed it, wish it had happened.

[Apollo]

It's weird that even an industrial album would have sold more in 99. the label must feel like assholes.

LOL. Yes, I'm sure the label feels super bad. People probably lost jobs over it.

[niceguy]

This sure is mighty cheesy.

It's like that episode of Saved By The Bell where Zack dreams he's in a huge rock band and it's all cheesy and huggy and lovey dovey and narrated by Casey Kasem.

[username]

This is called "having WAY too much time on your hands". At the end of the day the fact of the matter is they didn't.

[wfuckinga]

tl;dr

"Not in this lifetime"

[Apollo]

I can't even imagine having multiple albums from Axl's vision of GnR right now.

How amazing would it be if we had 4 albums worth of music instead of just one.

One can dream!!!

[DieselDaisy]

I actually dreamt all along, what we have now. When Axl was talking about a ''trilogy of albums'' in 1999 I said to myself, ''no, no, you need to play Vegas and become a greatest hits act.''

[classicguns4life]

I actually dreamt all along, what we have now. When Axl was talking about a ''trilogy of albums'' in 1999 I said to myself, ''no, no, you need to play Vegas and become a greatest hits act.''

Hilarious?

[wasted]

They probably need to spread the industrial stuff across 4 albums. Dj needs to do a few glam rockers to pad out the 90s stuff.

[Raz0r]

They probably need to spread the industrial stuff across 4 albums. Dj needs to do a few glam rockers to pad out the 90s stuff.

Lol, good idea. Just add them all one at a time as the last track of each new album going forward, like My World on UYI 2.

[wasted]

I think open side 2 with OMG and Silkworms. Like Scraped and Riad.