Bumblefoot is doing an AMA on Reddit on 27th Dec

I honestly get so turned off by the layout. It strikes me as being deliberately outdated and unfriendly. Makes me feel like an old, out-of-touch man...I just don't really get it, though. Every time I read one of these AMAs I have trouble navigating the layout. :lol:

I appreciate people posting all the responses here. And maybe I'll try that Reddit plugin.

ABOUT NEW ALBUM
Thank you Honestly, I don't predict a new album soon, unless they release unreleased Chinese Democracy era songs..........
ABOUT LEAKS
They don't help progress.....

Discouraging, but not exactly shocking, either.

I'd be very surprised if we ever get another record from this GN'R lineup, tbh.

Rovim · December 27, 2013

Seems like the Chinese leftovers is the best we can hope for if we're talking about a release in the next few years...

Nick85 · December 27, 2013

Seems like the Chinese leftovers is the best we can hope for if we're talking about a release in the next few years...

That's all I really want. Hope it happens.

highvoltage · December 27, 2013

Q: My question - you've been touring a lot of new parts of the world the last couple years, with GN'R and on your own. Having now played in India, Indonesia, Albania, Lebanon, etc. are there any other countries few rock artists get to that you'd particularly like to play in? I know you've mentioned in interviews that you really like to play places that people are starved for live music.

BBF: Thanks so much. I'd love to play throughout Africa, Iceland, more Asia (Kazakhstan to Nepal...), the Philippines & Thailand... haven't played anywhere I didn't like, everywhere in the world has something special to offer, you learn & grow every time

Q: Hey Ron! When you decided to start using a fretless guitar, was it anything to do with influence from middle-eastern musical culture? Is it so you can get those 'inbetween' notes?

BBF: I experimented a lot as a kid & teen with guitar modification, made some crazy guitars...

http://www.bumblefoot.com/gear/01-pensive-expenguin.php

http://www.bumblefoot.com/gear/03-the-mutant-cow.php

I hooked up with VigierGuitars.com in the late 90s and they were making a beautiful fretless guitar, I started playing it in '99 and loooved it. It's a different approach. Definitely recommend trying it

Q: I was looking at the setlist for the solo shows you did in Chile and Argentina and I wanted to ask you: why did your show in Chile consisted more of your solo stuff, and the one in Argentina was basically shared with a covers band? I would've love to see you man, but in totally different circumstances (actually seeing you play your stuff, which is great IMO).

Also, any news on a Córdoba show next year? That would be fantastic, as I was completely starstruck by your presence and couldn't articulate myself very well

Lastly, is there anything that you would change from your time so far with Guns?

BBF: The Chile show was an actual 'Bumblefoot' show. The Argentina show was an invite to jam covers with another band. I hope to come back to S. America and do a bunch of solo shows Gracias!!

I can't change anything about the past, can only think about what I want to be better for the future w/ Guns, for fans, for the band, for myself. Might be a lost battle, lol, but still worth fighting.

Q: If you could play lead guitarist for any band other than GNR, what would it be?

BBF: Muse. Foo Fighters. System Of A Down. Can make a list 1000 bands long....! Thanks!

Q: What's Axl really like to work with?

BBF: On stage, he gives all he's got, and is always cracking jokes in the monitors trying to make me laugh & screw up my solos, often succeeding, LOL!

Q: Were you ever close of leaving GNR? If so, why?

BBF: Dozens of times, yes. Would rather keep things positive & not elaborate tooooooooooo much, but it's been from late show starts, to health issues, to bizz issues...... once you hit the stage you seem to forget all the bad stuff though.

Q: Is there any chance of you playing in Bosnia or Serbia? What's your favorite story (that you can tell us) from being on the road with Guns?

BBF: Thank you!!! Would love to come back to Serbia, and would be great if we could play Bosnia as well. A lot of great memories... some of the best ones are when we'd bring a kid on stage, I'd have him strum my guitar during a song, things like that. Things that inspire

Q: Dear Bumblefoot, I play guitar and I dream of going to a music school to get a degree. Unfortunately, it's too expensive to go abroad and in the country I live there aren't any course on "modern music". I really want to make music part of my living/income. Any tips?

BBF: You don't need an education or a degree. You need passion, perseverance, dedication, and you goal should always be to make the best art you can. The rest of the world decides if they like it or not, it's not in your hands. So being a 'success' should never be a goal. Giving the world something of artistic value, because you have no choice, you MUST- that's what matters. Education will come through experience. And at that point you may have more opportunities to explore academic paths. Get the experience, don't wait for it to be given to you.

Q: Hello Ron ... just wondering, is there a plan in 2014 to hold you or GNR show in Indonesia again ... once is not enough for us to see the appearance of you here ....

BBF: Totally up to Indonesian promoters & GNR's booking agent & management. You know I can't get enough of Indonesia, my fingers & toes are crossed!

(LOVE your photos brutha!!!)

Q: When was the first time you decided to throw more than 1 finger into the mix when tapping? Where did you find the inspiration to do it?

BBF: I looked down and noticed all those unused fingers, it only made sense to use them. Was a teenager when I started getting fancy-shmancy with the tapping...

Q: Hello Ron. Have You some ideas for Your new solo album? When we can expect more new great music from You? Greetings from Poland.

BBF: Greetings! I'm slowly starting to write solo songs again, usually takes some devastation to bring out the lyrics..

Q: Hey Ron, you said Simple Days was supposed to have been a Guns N' Roses song. I think it's a great tune, why it didn't work out for GNR? Are there any other songs in your solo albums that were meant for the band?

BBF: There's going to be plenty of songs on my next releases that would have been for GNR, that I'm keeping for myself. I don't want to give songs to GNR - I want to write songs WITH GNR, so that they're truly GNR songs...

Q: What would be your #1 tip for beginners learning guitar?

BBF: Have fun. Play what you want, how you want...

Q: What is your favorite Tarantino film?

BBF: That's a real tough choice....! Pulp, Dogs, Kill Bill's, Jackie, Dusk Til Dawn, Grindhouse.....

Q: Your solo stuff got me through high school and you are the greatest person ever that's all

BBF: Thank you so much. Means a lot to me to know this, THANK YOU

Q: If you had to perform a holiday song, what would it be and why?

BBF: This.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYfPppe7TFQ Lol!

Q: What is Axl like in real life, is he as difficult to get along with as the rumors leave us to believe?

BBF: Axl is a person. Only difference is that if you get frustrated for a moment, it doesn't end up on YouTube as entertainment and your legacy forever... lol. He likes to have fun, and I've seen plenty of that

Q: Was there any pressure suceeding "Buckethead"?

BBF: No. We're all musicians, not a competition, you do what you love and share that love. (Last time I saw Bucket was in 99, he told me he really dug my Hands album & asked if I'd sing on his music, gave me his #... called a few times, never answered - then heard he had joined GNR, aaaaah.)

Q (multiple):

Any chance we'll see AWOL released digitally? I've been looking for it forever.
What's your favorite moment with Guns?
Was it your choice to add the little bit of Buckethead to the end of Going Down? Or was that done after you completed your additions?
Can you put in a word to Axl & Team Beta that the fans would LOVE to see Chinese Democracy on HDtracks in all its glory. It is without a doubt my favorite record and I really want to hear it in 24bit/192khz.
If you could go back in time and see any performer/concert/event - what would it be?

BBF:

Hmmm, I don't have clean mixes of it, any digi copies would have vinyl clicks & pops in 'em, lol...
Fave moment was when we played the Bridge School Benefit show, to me that meant more than anything else we had done...
I think that was a rough mix, I wasn't part of the mixing...
They should release the albums as all stems, to 'make your own mix' - I did that in 2011 with my own songs, loved hearing what people did
First one that comes to mind is Beatles in Hamburg 1962

Q: Are you guys planning to release a new album any time soon? You're one of my favoirite guitar players out there btw

BBF: Thank you. Honestly, I don't predict a new album soon, unless they release unreleased Chinese Democracy era songs..........

Q: What's your personal view on GNR leaks?

BBF: They don't help progress.....

Q: How did you know Joe Satriani for him to refer you to GNR?

BBF: We had just jammed a month earlier, he had me join him on a song - fun stuff. He knew a bit of my solo stuff - there are a few degrees of separation between all guitarists, lol...

Q: Is there anything on the gig 'rider' which is personal to you? (red m&ms )

BBF: Blueberries and water. That's it. In the past year I did ask for plain Greek yogurt, but that seemed to have been too outrageuos a request. I'm such a diva. lol.....

Q: I was wondering who wrote the guitar parts for shacklers revenge and what is it like to work with buckethead?

BBF: The song was already written when I joined, and Bucket had already left, so unfortunately we never got to make music 'together'. Hopefully we can some day. The final mix was Bucket's main rhythms & whammy parts in chorus, I did fretless riffs in verses, rhythms in the rest, and all the soloing throughout..... such an interesting song, love playing it live!!

Q: Ron, please tell us you're putting out another album. Your solo releases have been awesome.

BBF: Workin' on new solo songs sloooowly, yes. Thank you!

Q: When you were a kid, you were a fan of Gn'R?

BBF: I remember seeing the vid to Jungle at 3AM on MTV, loved it. Played some GNR covers with friends in local cover bands growing up, yeah man - who didn't love Guns?!

Q: Hermit is a brilliant album. How do you look back on its themes of solitude and lonliness now that you're so well known?

Also, I heard a rumor years ago that you transcribed most of Mike Varney's Shrapnel artists for something called Shrapnel University. Any chance you have some floating around?

BBF: Thank you. I'm very happy with the Hermit album, it was honest. Just wish the mastering was clearer...!

Don't have those transcriptions, gaaaaah!!

Q: Why won't Axl Rose release out the remainder of the Chinese Democracy session material?

BBF: Don't know. Think it'd make a great box set chronicling a significant era in the band's history - should include interviews & footage, I think fans would love that. But that aint my call....

Q: What is one GNR song that you with Guns N Roses have never played that you would like to add to the setlist ?

BBF: Perfect Crime, Yesterdays... would like to do Scraped more often...

Q: Did you ever meet Kurt Cobain and what was he like?

BBF: Ahhh, never met him, no... Love Nirvana, loved where things were heading...

Q: I know you struggled a lot after your car accident, how are you feeling physically and mentally these days? It seems like you're in a better place and that's nice to see.

BBF: Thank you. Pain for the rest of my life, that I've learned to control by re-learning how to move & completely changing my diet to strict anti-inflammatory. I feel like I've been murdered and the murderer got away. But I channel it into useful things - I made guitar cases that are easier to carry, for people that need it...http://www.eastsport.com/deluxe-electric-roller-case.html We're tested for a reason. The reason comes in time...

Q: Ron, what's the weirdest thing you've ever seen a fan do in order to get in touch with you or any other artist?

BBF: One crawled through air-ducts of the venue and came crashing through the ceiling backstage, lol. Another burnt one of my family members with a cigarette, later threatened to slice an assistant's throat. It varies...

Q: My question is... do you know argentinian music besides tango?

BBF: I know some, but I'm no expert. Can always learn more.

Q: If a new GNR album happens, in your opinion, will it be mostly made of new tracks, "old" tracks or a mix of both?

BBF: No idea... I've said for the last 5 years that every time we're going to do a leg of touring, we should hit the studio a week before and bust out a new song that we'd release and play during that leg. If we did that there's already be a new album written by this band at this time... not that simple though, everyone has to be in agreement and it may conflict with label agreements. GAAAAHH!! Would have been great though.

Q: Did you have a good holiday? and any chance of an American Bumble tour one day?

BBF: Hoping to do more Bumble touring everywhere in the world. I let it fall to the side and that was a mistake. Finally getting back to it. Solo shows coming up in LA & Vegas in January (info at bumblefoot.com)

Q: I have tried to make music with my friend for the last few years. I am wondering what steps do you have to take to become recognized in music. I am asking before I will act just to make sure

BBF: Don't worry about that. Make music that moves you, and share it. Let the world decide from there.

Q: Which artists/bands are you currently listening to?

BBF: Latest Dillinger Escape Plan album, and the aforementioned THANK YOU SCIENTIST, my fave new band.

Q: What is a Tartufo ? By the way, ever considered coming to Ecuador again ? To do some guitar-clinics ?

BBF: Would love to do some guitar clinics in Ecuador, all around S. America Those are fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcKKhYVQSv0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartufo

Q: We do know there are songs that aren't played since 2006 but they're in the setlists (If The World, Riad, Oh My God, Going Down). Why don't you play those songs for the sake of it?

BBF: Live shows are all at the mercy of the singer's throat. The throat is the boss. The throat governs the singer who governs the set list. It's a fragile irreplaceable instrument and the main focus, so all has to be done to insure the longevity of the throat. That means, cutting songs and changing orders, making sure that the throat can survive a tour. It's scar being the singer when your throat isn't at 100%, I know this first-hand, ugh. I'm lead singer in my solo stuff, done too many tours with the flu where you don't know how you're gonna make it through the night, let alone the next 20 nights... so it's all about the throat.

Q: After joining Guns, how did you enter the recording process of Chinese Democracy? Since you are credited in many songs, did you wrote new soli/parts or did you edit the existing ones by Finck, Buckethead, Fortus? Your own records are full of different music styles, how did you manage that with the "classic" GNR style?

Many thanks for playing in Austria this week. Hope to see you soon again!

BBF: Thank you, had a great time in Austria!

In-between touring legs in 2006 & 2007, I'd hit studios in NY or LA for 14 hours a day, playing to songs I had never gotten to hear before, with two people yelling opposite thoughts in my ear at the same time. Youch. I'd take different approached to each song - groovy, technical, melodic, loose & riffy, wah, fretless, heavy, clean, and then see what worked & what didn't.... I had complete freedom and wrote my own parts, my own solos, played what I wanted, and Axl/Caram (producer) kept what they liked...

Q: What is your favorite song you've written? I've had Dash stuck in my head for the last month. When will your next solo record be out?

BBF: Thank you. Hard to say, definitely a lot of things off Normal & Abnormal... then there's Heart Attack, and Green, each took 8 years before I felt like the music & lyrics were right & ready to be recorded - some songs are just like that....

Q: Back in the day when you was starting your carrer... how did you make to afford the costs of buying new gear like guitars, amps, mics, etc? I mean, it's pretty expensive for a musician to start a career, specially a solist one.

BBF: When I was 12 I painted Iron Maiden albums on the backs of dungaree jackets for $20 each. The best thing you can do for your music is GET A JOB, lol. Support yourself, take care of your life, be responsible & independent, and fund your interests. It's the most honorable thing you can do, EARN.

**Got to run some errands, will complete this when I get back - NGOG, if you want to take this post, finish it off and post it in a new thread, you're more than welcome to - you can get his posts from here and click "context" underneath each post to get the links I've been using.

ManetsBR · December 27, 2013

It has been kind of lame, honestly. Predictable questions, predictable answers. So far, not good.

Edited December 27, 2013 by ManetsBR

December 27, 2013

Updated GNR highlights: http://www.mygnrforum.com/index.php?/topic/204581-bumblefoot-is-doing-an-ama-on-reddit-on-27th-dec/page-9#entry3629959

ManetsBR · December 27, 2013

If you guys wanna read a good AMA, check Snopp Dogg's. That was hilarious.

Powerage5 · December 27, 2013

It has been kind of lame, honestly. Predictable questions, predictable answers. So far, not good.

I was happy with the answer he gave for my question.

It's not like he was gonna reveal any huge GN'R revelations in this. I expected some good, honest answers and he's provided those I'd say.

If you guys wanna read a good AMA, check Snopp Dogg's. That was hilarious.

Loved when he started asking himself questions :lol:

Nick85 · December 27, 2013

Glad he thinks all the Chinese Era tracks should be released together as part of a set. Been saying this for years. Fuckin' Axl...

bumblecool · December 27, 2013

"Thank you Honestly, I don't predict a new album soon, unless they release unreleased Chinese Democracy era songs.......... :P"

axlsalinger · December 27, 2013

On a couple of questions regarding new music, Ron's answer was basically "Don't know". My question is, who does know? Does Axl know?

Edited December 27, 2013 by axlsalinger

Rovim · December 27, 2013

Seems like the Chinese leftovers is the best we can hope for if we're talking about a release in the next few years...
That's all I really want. Hope it happens.

That's not all I want, but it's what I want the most. I really hope Axl won't butcher Bucket's and Robin's work on it with Ashba fucking around all over it, or even worse: replacing Bucket's and Robin's solos with DJ's and Bumble's solos. (I like Bumble but I prefer Bucket and Robin)

Hated DJ's version of studio Better.

Axl said it was going to be the same players on CD ll, so I'm clinging to that.

Edited December 27, 2013 by Rovim

shannen · December 27, 2013

On a couple of questions regarding new music, Ron's answer was basically "Don't know". My question is, who does know? Does Axl know?

Definitely maybe

Nick85 · December 27, 2013

Seems like the Chinese leftovers is the best we can hope for if we're talking about a release in the next few years...
That's all I really want. Hope it happens.
That's not all I want, but it's what I want the most. I really hope Axl won't butcher Bucket's and Robin's work on it with Ashba fucking around all over it, or even worse: replacing Bucket's and Robin's solos with DJ's and Bumble's solos. (I like Bumble but I prefer Bucket and Robin)
Hated DJ's version of studio Better.
Axl said it was going to be the same players on CD ll, so I'm clinging to that.

I hate using the word "owed" in a Guns N' Roses forum, but I really feel that the fans are "owed" the next album from the Chinese sessions, if only to make up for years of promises of a multiple album opus and all the famous yet unheard song titles that have been waved in our faces for years.

Padme · December 27, 2013

I find it interested that he said that the set list depends on Axl´s voice. I hope Axl can do something about it. Otherwise I don´t see 2 or 3 new songs added for the next tour

Black Sabbath · December 27, 2013

I find it interested that he said that the set list depends on Axl´s voice. I hope Axl can do something about it. Otherwise I don´t see 2 or 3 new songs added for the next tour

Based on what? No one knows what the new sounds sound like or how they're supposed to be sung. For all we know, some new songs could be as easy to sing as Mr. Brownstone and It's So Easy. :shrugs:

ManetsBR · December 27, 2013

You don't know how hard the songs are and what are they gonna cut.

Nick85 · December 27, 2013

I find it interested that he said that the set list depends on Axl´s voice. I hope Axl can do something about it. Otherwise I don´t see 2 or 3 new songs added for the next tour
Based on what? No one knows what the new sounds sound like or how they're supposed to be sung. For all we know, some new songs could be as easy to sing as Mr. Brownstone and It's So Easy.

It'd be pretty sad if from here on out, Axl could only sing in his low bass voice due having absolutely no power anymore.

Padme · December 27, 2013

I find it interested that he said that the set list depends on Axl´s voice. I hope Axl can do something about it. Otherwise I don´t see 2 or 3 new songs added for the next tour
Based on what? No one knows what the new sounds sound like or how they're supposed to be sung. For all we know, some new songs could be as easy to sing as Mr. Brownstone and It's So Easy.

Based on the fact that many songs from CD were not played in a long time according to Ron because Axl´s voice dictates the set list. I don´t think The General is like It´s So Easy. Because CD songs are not like AFD songs

Faxl Rows · December 27, 2013

Was the answer about not 'giving' songs to Guns a reference to DJ? Thinking of when DJ said he had like 12 songs written.

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Bumblefoot is doing an AMA on Reddit on 27th Dec

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