BF says no new songs, DR says "a shitload of songs" close to done?

[star]

By Kory Grow
July 11, 2014 9:20 AM ET

Soon, Guns N' Roses might be releasing even more than the Chinese Democracy sequel that Axl Rose teased in June. Keyboardist Dizzy Reed tells Rolling Stone the group has "a shitload of songs" – enough to make up another record or two – that were recorded while making their 2008 album. "If the new record is not done, then it's close to being done," he says. "I think it's just a matter of picking out which songs will be on it." As for the direction of the music, Reed said that the recordings were "congruent with Chinese Democracy," but he didn't have an idea of when that or the remix record that Rose also mentioned would be coming out.

Currently, the group is celebrating the release of Appetite for Democracy 3D: Live at the Hard Rock Casino – Las Vegas, their first concert film in over two decades. Filmed during their first Sin City residency in 2012, the movie captured GN'R playing a career-spanning set that features aerial dancers and a flying piano for Rose to play during "November Rain." The whole thing lasts nearly three hours: "That's a bit of a short night," Reed says straight-faced.

"They tried to get me to go up on the piano at soundcheck, and I said, 'Absolutely not,'" Reed recalls. "I'm not afraid of heights; I'm afraid of Murphy's Law. Eventually, they needed to test it and Axl couldn't be there so I gave it a shot. It was pretty sturdy. It looked more like everything was moving down below. But whenever Axl would go up on that thing, I was just worried that something bad was going to happen."

Other than Rose, Reed is the longest-running member of Guns N' Roses, having joined the group just before they recorded the Use Your Illusion albums in 1990. He first met Rose when Guns N' Roses moved into the studio next door to his band, the Wild. "We lived in a shithole," he recalls. "There was no running water. There was a toilet that didn't work out in the parking lot. I think we had air conditioning, but it just stunk. We slept on the floor in sleeping bags." But despite the odd circumstances, he still remembers the GN'R guys as having "a certain aura" and wanting to join the group after seeing them play L.A.'s Troubadour. "Everyone's expectations were if they don't self-destruct, they're gonna be huge," he says. "Most bands did self-destruct."

In a 1991 Rolling Stone cover story, Reed recalled a panicky phone call to Rose at a time when he had to vacate his squat. After telling the singer that no one would be able to get a hold of him upon leaving the apartment, Rose offered him a place in the band. "He gave me an opportunity when he didn't have to, and he stuck to his word when he really didn't have to," Reed says now. "I'll always appreciate that. I remember that and I just try to give back 100 percent."

Reed says that GN'R's three-hour concerts are often unpredictable as the group doesn't work with a traditional set list, instead learning the songs they play each night through a clandestine line of communication. "When someone new joins the band, I tell them, 'Don't get comfortable,'" he says. "If you think we're not gonna do a song, we will do it. If you think we're not gonna play for three hours, because we just played for two and a half, we could play for three."

Sometimes, Rose attempts to mess him up mid-solo by telling jokes in Reed's in-ear monitor from back stage. "There's a couple that I can't repeat," Reed says, laughing. "He's definitely thrown that challenge my way a few times. That's how he is. It's not easy to get around that, but I do."

Now that Guns N' Roses are done with their most recent Las Vegas engagement, Reed is focusing his attention to his two other bands: the supergroup Dead Daisies and Hookers & Blow. While the former is recording new songs and touring with Bad Company and Kiss, the latter is celebrating its 10th anniversary with concerts in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

There's one thing that remains constant at any concert Reed plays. "If I'm not the first person onstage, I'm definitely the first person offstage," he says. "I just like to get a cold drink in my hand."

[D-GenerationX]

I take the inconsistency to mean that there is really nothing new or any "new" song that was not primarily recorded over 10 years ago.

[SoulMonster]

Dizzy is talking about songs from the CD sessions (he says so explicitly in the article) while Bumblefoot talks about new music made after CD. There is no conflict here.

[star]

Maybe BF is out (as he don't want to simply cover songs), Buckethead will return, thus they can use the Buckethead material that failed to make it onto CD

Edited August 12, 2014 by star

[Nulla Lex Ink.]

Maybe BF is out (as he don't want to simply cover songs), Buckethead will return, thus they can use the Buckethead material that failed to make it onto CD

That would be sweet. Most likely won't happen, but it'd be cool if, against all odds, it did. That might make Axl go back to doing stuff again, or in my mind it seems like it could. For whatever reason, I made some kind of weird justification for Axl not doing things these days. This isn't the band he wants, or something. If he could just get them all back, then maybe there'd be some progress. But then I think to myself, "Wait, he had that band for nearly two years and all we got were a handful of new songs at live shows." That might justify him not writing with the current band, but it doesn't really justify him not releasing the material of the old one. But this is Axl Rose's world, where justifications are anomalies. Although I guess you could say he doesn't think the new band can do them justice?

Really, who knows? However, my fear continues: If Axl does end up releasing all he did with the old band, what next? He clearly doesn't want to write with the new one. I guess you could justify (there's that word again) it by saying "He doesn't want to keep piling up unheard music." Eh, I dunno, I think I'm done speculating on this man. I'll just sit back and see what happens, and in the mean time listen to other bands' music and occupy yourself. About all you can do now, and about all people did for the better part of a decade.

[supercool]

the future looks bright

Edited August 12, 2014 by supercool

[D-GenerationX]

Maybe BF is out (as he don't want to simply cover songs), Buckethead will return, thus they can use the Buckethead material that failed to make it onto CD

But wouldn't Buckethead rather set himself on fucking fire than work with Axl again?

Haven't we been told time and again that he doesn't look back on his time with GNR fondly and never talks about it? I recall someone going as far as to say that of everything that Buckethead ever did (which is diverse) the one topic that was verboten on his forum was GNR.

Does this sound like a guy itching to come back?

[Lio]

Maybe BF is out (as he don't want to simply cover songs), Buckethead will return, thus they can use the Buckethead material that failed to make it onto CD

But wouldn't Buckethead rather set himself on fucking fire than work with Axl again?

Haven't we been told time and again that he doesn't look back on his time with GNR fondly and never talks about it? I recall someone going as far as to say that of everything that Buckethead ever did (which is diverse) the one topic that was verboten on his forum was GNR.

Does this sound like a guy itching to come back?

Plus, on the recent Twitter chat GNR (whoever controls it) answered that they still spoke with Finck and Brain (I think), but not with Buckethead.

[DieselDaisy]

Reed says that GN'R's three-hour concerts are often unpredictable as the group doesn't work with a traditional set list, instead learning the songs they play each night through a clandestine line of communication.

Why do they persist with this lie?

[D-GenerationX]

Reed says that GN'R's three-hour concerts are often unpredictable as the group doesn't work with a traditional set list, instead learning the songs they play each night through a clandestine line of communication.

Why do they persist with this lie?

I know, it's such a joke.

The setlist.fm site is a thing, folks. Not sure why they think this can't be debunked in about 4 seconds.

Edited August 12, 2014 by D-GenerationX

[Apollo]

As a die-hard fan of Axl Rose, it actually makes me a bit sad to know that he has that much music stored away, but doesn't want to share it with the millions of fans that made him rich and famous.

Two more albums worth of material? Plus we know DJ is a writing fool. And BBF loves to write. We should be on here overjoyed at the volume of music that Axl had released over the past decade.

Why not share that music with his fans?

[RandallFlagg]

Reed says that GN'R's three-hour concerts are often unpredictable as the group doesn't work with a traditional set list, instead learning the songs they play each night through a clandestine line of communication.

Why do they persist with this lie?

It would be interesting if we did a count from 2009 to now of how many times they changed the song inclusion, I loved the 2010 tour but even then, which I consider a very high point of new GNR, they weren't being as spontaneous as they seem to like claiming.

[axlsalinger]

"If the new record is not done, then it's close to being done," he says. "I think it's just a matter of picking out which songs will be on it."

At long last, somebody in the band has finally explained what has taken 6 years to accomplish.

[Gackt]

Being that you obviously enjoy being a mysterious, anonymous figure in the music community and appear to be fairly reclusive, was it difficult working with Axl Rose, someone who seems to be fairly over the top and in love with the spotlight (at least in some twisted way)?

No answer.

Did you get frustrated with the fact that you were a member of Guns 'n' Roses for four years and nothing really ever came of it besides a few concerts?

Again, no answer.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2012/08/buckethead_interview.php

Buckethead wants nothing more to do with GnR.

I believe there's a big pile of recordings somewhere, but they're currently just a pile of solos, riffs, jams and fills that will never be constructed and produced into a proper album until Dr. Pepper promises 12-packs to everyone if ChiDem2 is out by 2015.

[D-GenerationX]

As a die-hard fan of Axl Rose, it actually makes me a bit sad to know that he has that much music stored away, but doesn't want to share it with the millions of fans that made him rich and famous.

Two more albums worth of material? Plus we know DJ is a writing fool. And BBF loves to write. We should be on here overjoyed at the volume of music that Axl had released over the past decade.

Why not share that music with his fans?

Fear.

I can honestly see no other logical reason. This level inactivity is comical, even by Axl's low bar. This isn't a case of not doing shit, its actively not moving on shit you've already done.

That's fear.

[pockets]

Reed says that GN'R's three-hour concerts are often unpredictable as the group doesn't work with a traditional set list, instead learning the songs they play each night through a clandestine line of communication.

Why do they persist with this lie?

well. to be honest. lately in 2014 the setlist ratio from guns classics to new guns stuff is like 16 to 5. which means there is 16 guns classics played and 5 new guns songs played. the 16 guns classics are the songs that gnr has played live at every concert since 2002

[jbhutto]

All of the limited edition Leatherface toys in the world will not get Buckethead back in the band.

[dalsh327]

Axl's working on the menu for the burger place in the Hard Rock so you know that's going to delay the next album.

[wasted]

Axl is still focused on "the second half of CD", Ron is talking about the current band which to him is maybe new but the core of Reed, Tommy, Richard, Pitman and Axl were there for CD. Frank is a drummer so he's not really looking for songwriting credit. Dj maybe but he might be happy to get parts.

I can understand Ron's frustration but this is GNR, the fans won't care if it's "new" material or Atlas Shrugged. Ron is still playing parts on most of the follow up songs and that's what he did on CD. It's mainly Axl's vocals, lyrics and melodies that we are looking for, with a variety of creative guitarists playing they trade.

I'm really looking forward to Richard's contributions song writing wise. Also a Axl n Dj song could be interesting.

Hopefully they put out a double cd of material and keep touring.

Drop the Monsterlode!!!

[axlsalinger]

Pretty selfish of Ron to want to drop out now. I mean, all it will take is a couple more years to pick the songs for CD2, 5-6 years to tour the record, then the new band can get together to write and record something. This could all happen WITHIN A DECADE. Have some fucking patience.

[jbhutto]

I'd imagine BBF trying to talk to Axl usually goes something like this:

[wasted]

I think Axl is more interested in working with Dj as a songwriter, whereas Ron is more to cover Bucket parts live or re-record them. But that's much later, we're still on CD II which is done, so I can understand why he's feeling tired. Maybe after resting up he'll be ready to go again. I mean will Axl even ever come back? It could be next year it could be 10 years.

[star]

I think Axl is more interested in working with Dj as a songwriter, whereas Ron is more to cover Bucket parts live or re-record them. But that's much later, we're still on CD II which is done, so I can understand why he's feeling tired. Maybe after resting up he'll be ready to go again. I mean will Axl even ever come back? It could be next year it could be 10 years.

Have to admit, if there is a CDII in the works, hearing Robin and Buckethead would be so much better than hearing BF and DJ. If BF wants out, does that mean his only future would have been to cover Buckethead? ..also, could this mean DJ will be allowed to record and appear on the next album? (should there be a next album) - if true is a huge insult to BF..

[Seb91]

I've always thought Ron's talking about new new music ie stuff written by the current band together. There's probably a ton of unreleased stuff from the CD era. I'd imagine another album's worth of completed tracks and even more instrumentals and sketches. Even if another record of leftovers were to come out next week I could still understand Ron's reasons for leaving. I mean CD came out six years ago and even then a lot of the songs on there were pretty old. So if another record were to come soon on the current timescale it'd still be a long time before anything really new was done. I've always thought Axl/Guns should do a Bob Dylan - release a 'Bootleg Series' style boxset of the CD sessions to write a line under it and then go and write and record a completely new record.

[wasted]

I think Axl is more interested in working with Dj as a songwriter, whereas Ron is more to cover Bucket parts live or re-record them. But that's much later, we're still on CD II which is done, so I can understand why he's feeling tired. Maybe after resting up he'll be ready to go again. I mean will Axl even ever come back? It could be next year it could be 10 years.

Have to admit, if there is a CDII in the works, hearing Robin and Buckethead would be so much better than hearing BF and DJ. If BF wants out, does that mean his only future would have been to cover Buckethead? ..also, could this mean DJ will be allowed to record and appear on the next album? (should there be a next album) - if true is a huge insult to BF..

There is that question whether Dj will get a song on CD II and Ron seems not. But Ron said he has played on bunch of unreleased songs. I think some tracks he rerecorded Bucket but some are his original parts. Like his stuff on Chi dem wasn't rerecorded it was just added?

Ron just wants to record fresh material as a band. Tommy seems think this is the next step.

Axl, Richard and Dizzy seem to be CD II.

Axl said CD II and remix are finished and he's seriously going to look at releasing something.

Where the label are on this is anyone's guess. Suppose cds aren't that profitable.

CD has been worked pretty well. Songs like Chi dem, Better, SOD, TIL are pretty staple.

The band is on hiatus so now seems like the time to set up the next release. I do wonder what they have that will break into such a quality set right now. The first track has to be like YCBM level song.

I'm pretty convinced the follow up material is as good as CD so I think it's go time!

Edited August 15, 2014 by wasted