Fortus says there was only a "brief moment" of chemistry in NuGNR

[Blackstar]

He did this interview a couple of weeks ago (I don't think it's been posted here) and said some interesting things. I think it's the first time he talked so openly about this. He also talked about working with Slash.

I believe you're the only person who survived both the Axl-only version of GN'R with Buckethead and Brain [Mantia, drums] and Tommy, but then also played in the proper GN'R where you're the only new guy among the all-original band. Can you compare the experience?

"No, you can't. [Laughs] I mean, literally, you can't; it's two completely different things - completely different things. Just the overall vibe, everything about it is different.

"The experience of playing, of being on stage and that chemistry - there really wasn't much of a chemistry. There was for a brief moment with Robin [Finck], after Bucket left [in 2004] for a minute there.

"It was just Robin and myself, and we were doing rehearsals and Brain, and it was phenomenal, I mean, absolutely amazing. And literally, I think it was two days before we were supposed to do our first show, the energy was palpable.

"Everybody that was in the room was like you knew something was happening, it was electric, it was really outstanding, and I'd never had that feeling before of, 'Oh my god, this is incredible.'

"Axl came down, he was like, 'This is the band I've always wanted.' The next day Bumblefoot comes in [in 2006], and I guess, they found this guy and he came in, and the whole dynamic just completely shifted.

"But the vibe in the band now is even beyond what that ever was, it's really incredible. Slash is just such an incredibly natural musician, and there's a reason why he is the legend he is."

[...] 

Asked how his musical contributions to the band have changed since joining the fold, Richard replied:

"It's been very interesting because, as different players come and go, my parts morph and change to cover different parts. So it's constantly evolving.

"Obviously, when Slash came [back] in, the parts of his that I was playing I wasn't gonna be playing anymore. [Laughs] But he's been incredibly gracious with me as a player.

"When he first was coming back, mutual friends of ours were, like, 'Man, good luck getting to be on the fifth fret.' [Laughs] But I have not experienced that at all.

"He's been incredibly gracious and really an inspiration to play with. It's very competitive in a very, very friendly, same-team type of way - always pushing each other - which I am flattered to be in that role, and for him to welcome it."

[...]

What was your favorite Guns song to play live?

"You know, generally it's the newest one. [Laughs] Newest to the setlist, to us. Slash and I did this duet for a long time while they would get the piano in place to do 'November Rain.'

"The two of us would do it, and this happened at soundcheck of the first show, and Axl had a broken leg, so it's the first arena show - we played a club show where he broke his foot and was in a cast and in a chair.

"And we were at soundcheck trying to figure how the hell we were gonna do this, 'How are we going to pull this off with our frontman in a chair? How we were going to pull this off?'

"And the question of, 'OK, how do we get the piano up?' And this is gonna take time, to wheel him out to the piano, and at that point, he's like, 'You guys got to do something while we get this all in place.'

"Slash looks at me; he's like, 'What do you want to play?' And I'm like, 'I have no idea.' He's like, 'What about [Pink Floyd's] 'Wish You Were Here'?', and I'm like, 'Sure, let's try it.'

"So the two of us, at soundcheck, he started playing it, and I played the vocal melody - it's got to be there - and then we just went back and forth over the progression, trading solos, and the band comes in, and we did this just off the cuff at soundcheck.

"And the crew, which is the most hardened bunch of pirates you'd ever come across, they are incredibly unimpressed by anything, stopped and applauded. It was just magical. And so we did that for two or three years in the show, and that was my favorite thing because it was different every night.

"There's a few things like that, like 'Heaven's Door' is different every night, there's this big open section, we don't know what's gonna happen. And one thing - and this is a real testament to the legend that is Slash: he never plays the same thing twice in situations like that.

"As a guitar player, you sort of fall into your ruts, you get into your lead, your licks that you feel comfortable in that song... He doesn't, and I love that. So that's why I buy that competitive thing - we push each other, we don't want to fall back and rest on our laurels.

"I'll say this: he comes out every night and does a guitar solo. Axl introduces him, and he just plays by himself - walks to the front of the stage and just plays. I've never heard him repeat himself.

"I'll be honest: sometimes, the hair on my arms is standing up, and it's hard not to because sometimes we'll come in with a progression behind him and he'll sort of lead it, and there's times when it's very hard for me to focus on what I'm doing because I'm listening to him.

"And it's just awe-inspiring. Some nights are not magical; some nights you're just like, 'Ooh!' [Laughs] But overall, his musicality, I think that's the sign of real genius.

"You listen to Jeff Beck, and one night he is the greatest player ever, and then the next night it's not so great, and Hendrix, like, every show was so different. They released a box set of four different concerts with Hendrix over the course of four years, and each set was a lot of the same songs, but completely different versions.

"He played completely different - that's genius. You listen to bootlegs of Hendrix on the same tour and within different nights he just completely play different things - he approached the song completely differently, I love that."

I think Slash is a very underrated improviser, that kind of output you only really see when you're seeing him night after night and seeing him constantly creating.

"You know what? He can't improvise the solo to 'Sweet Child,' right? Because when we play South America, every person of 80,000 people is singing the guitar solo. You know, you can't improvise that. There are sections when he does, but hat's not the time to experiment."

-------------------

There are some more transcribed excerpts here:

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/richard_fortus_explains_tricky_thing_about_guns_n_roses_talks_how_slash_is_treating_him_since_reunion.html

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/gnr_guitarist_explains_strange_reason_why_band_is_playing_pink_floyd_classic_live_recalls_state_of_group_after_buckethead_left.html

Edited August 29, 2020 by Blackstar

[Coma16]

Forget about setlist surprises, the real way to keep fans on the edge of their seats is to keep them wondering how KOHD is going to be played...

BBF lol

[rocknroll41]

So basically he says Bumblefoot ruined everything lol.

[guitarpatch]

39 minutes ago, rocknroll41 said:

So basically he says Bumblefoot ruined everything lol.

Mainly because that was going to be his role. He’d take the Bucket leads in a 2 guitar lineup going back and forth with Robin in 2006. It’s a shame we didn’t see that

[rocknroll41]

Just now, guitarpatch said:

Mainly because that was going to be his role. He’d take the Bucket leads in a 2 guitar lineup going back and forth with Robin in 2006. It’s a shame we didn’t see that

You’d think he would’ve just quit the band at that point, but I guess he knew that a paying gig was a paying gig.

Oh well. At least it paid off for him in the long run, cause he gets to play those Bucket leads now, and he gets to do it alongside Slash, on top of that!

[NeonKinight]

according to GNRontour, There was a moment in the 2002 Tour where axl stopped a song, said something to the crowd, and then the band just went back exactly where they were.

If that's not chemistry, at least musical, I don't know what it is.

But that's actually the whole point : MUSICALLY, New Guns was never a bad band, the only thing missing there was charisma...a charisma that only Richard had, trough the years.  

[marlon_brando]

BBF was a perfect replacement for Bucket, can't blame Axl for wanting three guitars, that was his vision at the time. Wonder if that's why BBF felt so mistreated when he joined.

[Powerage5]

As an attendee, I haven’t felt like there’s been much of a chemistry shift between the Ashba/BBF/Fortus lineup than the NITL lineup. The band generally has good chemistry with one another I’ve felt with a couple outliers (Ashba and Pitman felt like lone wolves in the former, Melissa in the latter), with Axl not carrying much chemistry with anyone in either lineup except little glimmers of it here and there. Truth be told, I felt like Axl had a lot more chemistry with the rest of the band in AC/DC than I feel like I’ve ever witnessed firsthand with GN’R. 

[WhazUp]

1 hour ago, guitarpatch said:

Mainly because that was going to be his role. He’d take the Bucket leads in a 2 guitar lineup going back and forth with Robin in 2006. It’s a shame we didn’t see that

I would have loved that.  Not anything against BBF of course, I like him both personally and as a guitarist.  But to me GNR has never needed 3 guitarists on stage, the two shows I caught in 2011 and 2012 the songs were there but the guitar parts were just this huge murky sound of so many guitars going at it you couldn't make out any one particular thing save for guitar solos and lead licks

The shows I caught in 2016 were much better.  Slash was super high up in the mix compared to Fortus but I heard their distinct parts, exactly what they played, and how they related to what the other guy was playing.

Edited August 29, 2020 by WhazUp

[GnR Chris]

Thanks for posting this. The way the question was phrased to Richard was pretty disrespectful. “Axl-only” GNR vs “proper” GNR. LIke, way to diminish his contributions. But then again, NITL GNR has pretty much relegated everyone but “the big three” to the background. 

[ToonGuns]

2 hours ago, NeonKinight said:

according to GNRontour, There was a moment in the 2002 Tour where axl stopped a song, said something to the crowd, and then the band just went back exactly where they were.

If that's not chemistry, at least musical, I don't know what it is.

But that's actually the whole point : MUSICALLY, New Guns was never a bad band, the only thing missing there was charisma...a charisma that only Richard had, trough the years.  

Interesting, as for me Richard had the least charisma. I rarely looked at him the three times I saw NuGnr. Bucket, Bumble, Robin and of course Axl, but Richard...? He blended into the background.

[ToonGuns]

3 hours ago, rocknroll41 said:

So basically he says Bumblefoot ruined everything lol.

It isn't Bumble's fault. He came in to play a gig. Sounds like Richard was jealous if anything. Could also be why it didn't work with Bucket. Being 3rd guitarist in a band must automatically bring some jealousy. 

[GNR_RNR]

6 hours ago, Powerage5 said:

As an attendee, I haven’t felt like there’s been much of a chemistry shift between the Ashba/BBF/Fortus lineup than the NITL lineup. The band generally has good chemistry with one another I’ve felt with a couple outliers (Ashba and Pitman felt like lone wolves in the former, Melissa in the latter), with Axl not carrying much chemistry with anyone in either lineup except little glimmers of it here and there. Truth be told, I felt like Axl had a lot more chemistry with the rest of the band in AC/DC than I feel like I’ve ever witnessed firsthand with GN’R. 

Really? I'd say from the shows I've been to I notice a difference. 

Axl seems way more open in general.

Just the vibe of the show in general is better as well. There's a video of Bumblefoot talking about hating doing the solo sections when he was in the band (like DJ Ashba's Ballad of death) because he knew people didn't want to hear him play. But that changes when it's Slash. People are happy to hear him freestyle a solo. No one wanted to hear 'Motivation' but 'Attitude'? Hell yeah!

It just feels more like a band. 

8 hours ago, rocknroll41 said:

So basically he says Bumblefoot ruined everything lol.

Lmao I noticed that too. 

I really liked Bumble, amazing player. While I don't doubt he benefited greatly from being in GNR I wonder if he regrets getting involved with the circus?

[Sisyphus]

The band really had a problem with Buckethead and then Bumblefoot. Shame for Buckethead especially.

I wonder how Fortus felt when Ashba butchered those solos night after night. What the fuck was Axl thinking? Just the fact he brought Ashba in is a testament how detached he must have been at that point. A Motley Crue clone/reject in GN'R? To reaplace the awesome Robin Finck no less? Thank god those days are over.

Edited August 29, 2020 by Sisyphus

[Stress Fracture]

I imagine trying to find a chemistry with Buckethead would be difficult for anyone but always thought the final line up was a rock solid unit to the point of being boring.

Easy to see why Richard would enjoy playing second fiddle to Slash more than third fiddle to Ashba, though. This line up is by far the best it’s ever been for him even if he has had to give up some of the solos he did before.

[Dean]

Indirectly pointing the finger at Bucket, yet another member shitting on him.

Conclusion: a poor mans PHT.

All joking aside, an incredible talent and I hope he gets to shine on any potential new material. 

[ChineseDemocracy2004]

23 minutes ago, Dean said:

Indirectly pointing the finger at Bucket, yet another member shitting on him.

This saddens me.

Switching gears slightly, am I remembering this incorrectly;

Didn't Bumble arrive at rehearsals but management hadn't told the band a third guitarist was joining?

[ToonGuns]

46 minutes ago, Sisyphus said:

The band really had a problem with Buckethead and then Bumblefoot. Shame for Buckethead especially.

I wonder how Fortus felt when Ashba butchered those solos night after night. What the fuck was Axl thinking? Just the fact he brought Ashba in is a testament how detached he must have been at that point. A Motley Crue clone/reject in GN'R? To reaplace the awesome Robin Finck no less? Thank god those days are over.

The Ashba era is the only era I don't reminisce about. 

48 minutes ago, GNR_RNR said:

Really? I'd say from the shows I've been to I notice a difference. 

Axl seems way more open in general.

Just the vibe of the show in general is better as well. There's a video of Bumblefoot talking about hating doing the solo sections when he was in the band (like DJ Ashba's Ballad of death) because he knew people didn't want to hear him play. But that changes when it's Slash. People are happy to hear him freestyle a solo. No one wanted to hear 'Motivation' but 'Attitude'? Hell yeah!

It just feels more like a band. 

Lmao I noticed that too. 

I really liked Bumble, amazing player. While I don't doubt he benefited greatly from being in GNR I wonder if he regrets getting involved with the circus?

Bumble's Don't Cry instrumental solo was amazing.

[Dean]

20 minutes ago, ChineseDemocracy2004 said:

This saddens me.

Switching gears slightly, am I remembering this incorrectly;

Didn't Bumble arrive at rehearsals but management hadn't told the band a third guitarist was joining?

Correct my good sir.

It's well documented that Tommy made things 'difficult' in the earlier years as I think it was more a case of what 4tus describes in that interview - the band had rehearsed and gotten everything down with just 2 guitarists then Bucket comes into things. Granted I think this was in a period of time where Finck had left to rejoin NIN, but with the two of the lead guitarists clashing themselves, it probably wasn't the best of environments for everyone involved, and I bet Axl was probably none the wiser 

[DieselDaisy]

Quote

The next day Bumblefoot comes in [in 2006], and I guess, they found this guy and he came in, and the whole dynamic just completely shifted.

[rocknroll41]

It’s pretty obvious that it must’ve been Axl who got bumble into the band, against everyone else’s will. To be fair, though, Axl has been doing that shit since nearly the very beginning. He put Dizzy in the band in 1990, despite nobody else really wanting him, and then he kicked Gilby out in 1994 (against the rest of the band’s wishes) and replaced him with Paul (even more so against the band’s wishes).

At this point, Axl being who he is and making these rather bizarre choices is just kinda part of the band’s “dna,” for lack of a better term.

Still tho, one can’t help but wonder what it would’ve been like had Bumble never joined. On one hand, things might’ve gone smoother from then onward (cause Bumble is a whiner), but on the other hand, he contributed some stuff to ChiDem that I consider to be rather important for that album; fretless guitar on the title track, shackler solo, catcher outro, and the additional riffs on IRS. For me, those were all important updates that helped all those songs sound more like “classic” GnR.

[soon]

I have a foggy recollection of Bumble sharing, in maybe a Loudwire interview, that he pulled a knife on Tommy eventually (?)

[RussTCB]

lol4tus.... 

[Powerage5]

2 hours ago, GNR_RNR said:

Really? I'd say from the shows I've been to I notice a difference. 

Axl seems way more open in general.

Just the vibe of the show in general is better as well. There's a video of Bumblefoot talking about hating doing the solo sections when he was in the band (like DJ Ashba's Ballad of death) because he knew people didn't want to hear him play. But that changes when it's Slash. People are happy to hear him freestyle a solo. No one wanted to hear 'Motivation' but 'Attitude'? Hell yeah!

It just feels more like a band. 

Lmao I noticed that too. 

I really liked Bumble, amazing player. While I don't doubt he benefited greatly from being in GNR I wonder if he regrets getting involved with the circus?

I don’t disagree with the points you bring up, but those aren’t really the same as chemistry within the band. The crowd wanting to hear certain solo spots over other solo spots from different members is more of a popularity thing, it’s not because the band didn’t have chemistry. Ashba solo spots were definitely boring, but I don’t blame the band for that, I blame Ashba because he wrote them. On the contrary, Fortus’ Bond Theme and Bumble’s Pink Panther Theme were super cool, probably my favorite solo spots I’ve seen from GN’R. The latter even featured a large chunk of the then-current lineup when Bumble released a studio version - that doesn’t scream lack of chemistry to me. 
 

As for Axl, he seems to interact better with the crowd nowadays, but I don’t necessarily agree about the rest of the band. That’s where I don’t feel a change between lineups. 

[GNR_RNR]

2 hours ago, ToonGuns said:

The Ashba era is the only era I don't reminisce about. 

Bumble's Don't Cry instrumental solo was amazing.

Indeed but it was less solos to do with GNR music and more the likes of his Pink Panther (Or Richards James Bond) solo he was referring to. 

It must have been disheartening to know they were playing to crowds that didn't want to hear them.

1 minute ago, Powerage5 said:

I don’t disagree with the points you bring up, but those aren’t really the same as chemistry within the band. The crowd wanting to hear certain solo spots over other solo spots from different members is more of a popularity thing, it’s not because the band didn’t have chemistry. Ashba solo spots were definitely boring, but I don’t blame the band for that, I blame Ashba because he wrote them. On the contrary, Fortus’ Bond Theme and Bumble’s Pink Panther Theme were super cool, probably my favorite solo spots I’ve seen from GN’R. The latter even featured a large chunk of the then-current lineup when Bumble released a studio version - that doesn’t scream lack of chemistry to me. 

I'd say it all factors in to the chemistry of the band. Sharing the load of the spotlight definitely leads to better chemistry on stage. Axl not disappearing as regularly for air also helps, on top of that when he does leave the stage there's still Slash and Duff. Just feels like more of a band than a solo project.

I mean it's from Bumble himself that he could tell people didn't want to hear his solo instrumentals. No one's saying that they weren't good (his playing was always immaculate) just that it wasn't what people wanted to hear.