The "New Album" Thread - Susan McKagan says album is coming

[Lio 4,542]

5 hours ago, GNRfanJen said:

I just have a few thoughts on Fernando’s Reddit posts. 

He says (as expected), that the pandemic changed all the plans they had for 2020. Other than the tour, what plans were those? The tour was announced and promoted long before the pandemic became a pandemic. We said it over and over at the time that if they had plans to release a new album, doing it to coincide with the tour announcement would be the best, most obvious way to do it to create a newfound level of excitement and buzz for the band. That didn’t happen. When a poster in that thread asked if an album release had to coincide with the tour (whenever it starts back up again), Fernando said it didn’t, but it certainly helps. Again...if that’s the case, why was there no album announcement when this tour was first announced months ago? To a similar point - when he says the album is “close” does that mean close to being completed, or close to being released? Big difference between the two, and I don’t believe he ever specified that. 

My next point is regarding the “fan and band gap” he’s referring to. It certainly seems encouraging that he publicly posted the email address and admitted to being open to ideas from fans, but has this not been done before? I’m sure he is fully aware of our gripes over the last several years, yet nothing seems to have been done, so I guess I’m just not sure why all of a sudden the interest in our ideas. And anyways, is a lot of it not common sense? Look around at literally every other band, the answers are right there. But hey, I suppose it’s worth a try (again). 

I am not trying to poke and prod at every word he says, I really try to be as level-headed and fair as possible when conveying my thoughts, but I can’t help but to question some of these things.  

(Ugh, I care way too much about this damn band. Why do they have to be my favorite?! ) 

My guess: Fernando doesn't know when it will be released or when it will be completely ready for Axl. If there was a set date, he'd tease us with: If only you knew what I knew. Or: 2021 is going to be unbelievable. My guess would be there was a date set, because he said last September or whenever, within 6 months, so roughly with the start of the tour in Mexico/SA. Then GNR/Axl happened again and it got postponed. And then corona happened, and that's a great excuse. Literally everything is uncertain now.

As for the gap between fans and band, you're absolutely right. So many people have tried to reach out and improve the situation between band and fans and all they've done is run into a brick wall. And it is common sense to treat fans with decency and communicate better. Sadly, this is something that Fernando isn't great at. Neither is his mother. Some people have a natural flair to deal with others and make them feel good. But they have a natural flair to rub people the wrong way. Honestly, after having done this for so many years, they should've gotten some training in communications. How is it possible Axl doesn't see this? They travel with a circus of assistants and I don't know what (Andrei ), but I can't think of anyone with great communication skills. They pick a fan to travel with them and moderate their official forum and it's Jarmo. All due respect to Jarmo, I have no problems with him, but he's not the world's best communicator and even less of a reconciling figure.

The only ones from the entourage fans have a completely non-hostile interaction with, seem to be Meegan and (to a lesser degree) Susan. That is because they're nice to fans, at shows and on social media.

Anyway, that's my take on it. I don't see anything changing anymore. (Unless this quarantine suddenly gives them a lot of time and insight ) I would just like new music and a tour again when this nightmare is over.

[WhazUp 4,121]

While I think that it is at least somewhat of step forward, with that "email us ideas" in an attempt to extend an olive branch - at this point do they really need emailed ideas to figure out what the fans want?

At this point, there is plenty of GNR merchandise out there.  They are playing shows - well not right now because nobody is, but you know what I mean lol.  The only thing left to do is either release studio material in any sort of form (album, EP, digital single, etc.) or live albums comprised of either shows from the old days or the reunion.  

In other worlds, we simply want our favorite band, to act like they are actually a band.  And maybe communicating why that isn't possible apparently, may at least be a good start - if we can't have any of the above stated things.

Edited April 20, 2020 by WhazUp

[axlvai 301]

Well... i dont have Fernando email, but if he can read this:

- Show some record/mix video or let us see something tangible to talk about the new album. Its painfull to read/make more than 150 page of nothing. Its really easy to make.

- Some of us want to buy music and Blurays. Make it happen! 

- We want exclusive material to buy. What about money goals contributed by fans to get that exclusive stuff? Like documentaries or completes shows from Canters Vault for ex?

Ty.

[Sydney Fan 1,966]

I think if i remember the bands attitude during 87 to 93 they seemed to be fan friendly. Especially with onstage axl rants just before the illusions came out with dissing Geffen for taking ages on releasing the albums. Then telling fans onstage during the illusion period of mixing up the setlist.

Then it seems sometime during the nuguns phase it was "we as a band owe the fans nothing. A fan pays for a ticket we play". nothing more nothing less. Somewhere axl no longer cared about what fans thought about gnr. I dont know why. If i read somd of the online chats axl had with fans, he had a real cut and dried type response. Maybe it was to do with the age of the internet, who knows.

Edited April 20, 2020 by Sydney Fan

[DurhamGirl 490]

5 minutes ago, Sydney Fan said:

I think if i remember the bands attitude during 87 to 93 they seemed to be fan friendly. Especially with onstage axl rants just before the illusions came out with dissing Geffen for taking ages on releasing the albums. Then telling fans onstage during the illusion period of mixing up the setlist.

Then it seems sometime during the nuguns phase it was "we as a band owe the fans nothing. A fan pays for a ticket we play". nothing more nothing less. Somewhere axl no longer cared about what fans thought about gnr. I dont know why. If i read somd of the online chats axl had with fans, he had a real cut and dried type response. Maybe it was to do with the age of the internet, who knows.

One of the reasons could very well be the internet, so called 'information' must have quadrupled including a load of made up stuff etc

[UseYourDemocracyIII 51]

What do people think are actually the chances of GnR releasing something? I want to hear from the optimists and the pessimists; I fell into this rabbit hole of GnR'dom in 2017 after going to see them and I know there are people here who know this band infinitely better than I ever will.

[ShadowOfTheWave 810]

14 minutes ago, UseYourDemocracyIII said:

What do people think are actually the chances of GnR releasing something? I want to hear from the optimists and the pessimists; I fell into this rabbit hole of GnR'dom in 2017 after going to see them and I know there are people here who know this band infinitely better than I ever will.

30% and that's my optimistic side. I believe Axl has serious intentions to release something, but he somehow always withdrawals when it's time to deliver.

[mikeman5150 269]

27 minutes ago, ShadowOfTheWave said:

30% and that's my optimistic side. I believe Axl has serious intentions to release something, but he somehow always withdrawals when it's time to deliver.

Sadly I have to agree, but really hope I’m wrong! 

[Sonicjam 20]

Does anybody have a screenshot or text exhert of what Fernando said? Perhaps put it on the 1st comment for everyone? Having trouble finding it on here and reddit. Thanks!

[marinergtfc 109]

Dear Fernando

Here’s the first idea for you.

Upload a new pro-shot Use Your Illusion show every week on the official YouTube channel.

 

that would be a good start.

[allwaystired 2,851]

2 hours ago, UseYourDemocracyIII said:

What do people think are actually the chances of GnR releasing something? I want to hear from the optimists and the pessimists; I fell into this rabbit hole of GnR'dom in 2017 after going to see them and I know there are people here who know this band infinitely better than I ever will.

I'd go with 'very unlikely at any point in the near future'. 

I'd imagine that when Axl passes away the vaults will open and we'll get unreleased stuff at that point. That seems to be the case with most deceased musical acts. 

[WildStar 444]

55 minutes ago, marinergtfc said:

Dear Fernando

Here’s the first idea for you.

Upload a new pro-shot Use Your Illusion show every week on the official YouTube channel.

 

that would be a good start.

Yes either that or let us buy Them! 

[imsorry 89]

Make a live stream debuting Hard Skool release it as single and donates part of the earns to covid victims could be a good start.

[jimisbatman 76]

57 minutes ago, allwaystired said:

I'd go with 'very unlikely at any point in the near future'. 

I'd imagine that when Axl passes away the vaults will open and we'll get unreleased stuff at that point. That seems to be the case with most deceased musical acts. 

Sad but true 

[jimisbatman 76]

33 minutes ago, imsorry said:

Make a live stream debuting Hard Skool release it as single and donates part of the earns to covid victims could be a good start.

Release hardschool as single with live footage from previous 4 years as the music video. I would think that Would be relitivly easy, and cost effective. And have CD & Better w/Slash and duff intros as the b-sides. That way your not sacrificing any songs off future album. 

[CAFC Nick 373]

1 hour ago, marinergtfc said:

Dear Fernando

Here’s the first idea for you.

Upload a new pro-shot Use Your Illusion show every week on the official YouTube channel.

 

that would be a good start.

Would genuinely be curious to understand if there is anything stopping this from happening. Seems like a no-brainer to me yet never even been teased.

[DTJ80 1,080]

4 minutes ago, CAFC Nick said:

Would genuinely be curious to understand if there is anything stopping this from happening. Seems like a no-brainer to me yet never even been teased.

Potentially legalities (not sure exactly what would be an issue) but it does seem odd - barring the obvious criticisms of just not releasing anything - that nothing has ever been released officially. I mean we did get AfDem so why not anything from UYI era?

[Voodoochild 961]

55 minutes ago, imsorry said:

Make a live stream debuting Hard Skool release it as single and donates part of the earns to covid victims could be a good start.

A live stream could be weird if it didn't have the whole band playing it (and with current Internet latency, it would only be possible to do it pre-recorded). 

[Dean 2,412]

33 minutes ago, jimisbatman said:

Release hardschool as single with live footage from previous 4 years as the music video. I would think that Would be relitivly easy, and cost effective. And have CD & Better w/Slash and duff intros as the b-sides. That way your not sacrificing any songs off future album. 

Naa, I'd scrap reworking already released songs and maybe throw in a few covers as B sides.

Wichita Lineman and The Seeker etc

[WAR™ 173]

C'mon Fernando it's not so difficult, that's the plan:

 

1 - Upload a 2016 pro-shot concert on YouTube in April

2 - Annuncement and release of a "new" single (hardschool) from the future EP* with a lyric video (like the SOYL tour ed.) in May

3 - Streaming of an acoustic show (1 hour aprox. with classic and new songs*... hey Axl do the songs with the low voice!!! you know... like it's an intimate performance, you can do it) in May

4 - Release the EP (5 or 6 songs) through streaming services and exclusively on Amazon for the CD and the Vinyl ed. in July

5 - New single from the EP with a lyric video (like the SOYL tour ed.) in July

6 - Release the acoustic show (+ the new 2 video singles and the behind the scenes) in Bluray / Bluray+CD / Bluray+Vinyl / Bluray+CD+Vinyl+Shirt (all of them with a digital download code) in August

 

Then see you maybe at the end of 2020 or directly in 2021 with the album (the "GN'R Lies" format could work, so the EP + 5 or 6 new songs) and the supporting tour

 

 

Let the 3 hours meeting begins!

[jackparker123 232]

38 minutes ago, jimisbatman said:

Release hardschool as single with live footage from previous 4 years as the music video. I would think that Would be relitivly easy, and cost effective. And have CD & Better w/Slash and duff intros as the b-sides. That way your not sacrificing any songs off future album. 

This would be incredible. 

They could also put out a public announcement at the same time around the status of the upcoming tour(s) and even publicly confirm the new album being somewhere on the horizon.

This would keep me very happy with GNR in 2020.

[CAFC Nick 373]

40 minutes ago, DTJ80 said:

Potentially legalities (not sure exactly what would be an issue) but it does seem odd - barring the obvious criticisms of just not releasing anything - that nothing has ever been released officially. I mean we did get AfDem so why not anything from UYI era?

Yeah my first thought was also possible legalities but then couldn't actually think of a tangible reason. Surely all footage is owned by Guns N' Roses the company which Axl/Slash/Duff own at this point? All quite strange, and I would be amazed if a lot of this footage wasn't readily available. Christ, even just a couple of pro-shot songs would be great!

[jamillos 2,030]

I definitely don't believe in any issues with "legalities" from nineteen ninety fucking one. And even if so, I think they have enough dough now to buy up anything.

[imsorry 89]

True @Voodoochild 

He could at least start put an end on all the strikes crap, only this would be a great start, YT channels from @Gibbo,  @FRANSAD n @fernomenoyde are really missed by the community.

Edited April 20, 2020 by imsorry

[brig 16]

12 hours ago, GNRfanJen said:

I just have a few thoughts on Fernando’s Reddit posts. 

He says (as expected), that the pandemic changed all the plans they had for 2020. Other than the tour, what plans were those? The tour was announced and promoted long before the pandemic became a pandemic. We said it over and over at the time that if they had plans to release a new album, doing it to coincide with the tour announcement would be the best, most obvious way to do it to create a newfound level of excitement and buzz for the band. That didn’t happen. When a poster in that thread asked if an album release had to coincide with the tour (whenever it starts back up again), Fernando said it didn’t, but it certainly helps. Again...if that’s the case, why was there no album announcement when this tour was first announced months ago? To a similar point - when he says the album is “close” does that mean close to being completed, or close to being released? Big difference between the two, and I don’t believe he ever specified that. 

My next point is regarding the “fan and band gap” he’s referring to. It certainly seems encouraging that he publicly posted the email address and admitted to being open to ideas from fans, but has this not been done before? I’m sure he is fully aware of our gripes over the last several years, yet nothing seems to have been done, so I guess I’m just not sure why all of a sudden the interest in our ideas. And anyways, is a lot of it not common sense? Look around at literally every other band, the answers are right there. But hey, I suppose it’s worth a try (again). 

I am not trying to poke and prod at every word he says, I really try to be as level-headed and fair as possible when conveying my thoughts, but I can’t help but to question some of these things.  

(Ugh, I care way too much about this damn band. Why do they have to be my favorite?! ) 

Of course he’s open to ideas from fans - he’s got none himself, but will happily monetise those the fans email him.