Appetite for Distortion - David Wild's Wild Axl Interview

[Gambit83]

In 2000, Dave Wild had the rare opportunity to interview Axl Rose and hear Chinese Democracy 8 years before it came out! The longtime journalist and TV producer joins us for a bevy of Axl stories and reflection.

David Wild's Wild Axl Interview | Ep. 256 - YouTube

David was great. If you have any specific questions for him, he'll be on again.

[cineater]

8 years before it came out?  I just want to say, "honey you ain't the first".   Look forward to the interview.

[Gordon Comstock]

Definitely gonna listen to this one later tonight. Did you talk much about the 2019 leaks?

[downzy]

Nice get.  I won't have a chance to listen until later tonight.  Perhaps this was asked and answered but if not this is what I would return to if you have an opportunity.

I would be curious if he had any sense that the album wasn't going to be coming out any time soon during his time with Axl.

There was a lot of talk and expressed confidence between 2000 and 2007 that the album was just around the corner.  I'm curious if someone as keen and observant as a professional journalist could sense, even back then that, all was not as rosy as we were all led to believe.

[Gambit83]

10 minutes ago, Gordon Comstock said:

Definitely gonna listen to this one later tonight. Did you talk much about the 2019 leaks?

I brought them up, but I don't think he was familiar. 

9 minutes ago, downzy said:

Nice get.  I won't have a chance to listen until later tonight.  Perhaps this was asked and answered but if not this is what I would return to if you have an opportunity.

I would be curious if he had any sense that the album wasn't going to be coming out any time soon during his time with Axl.

There was a lot of talk and expressed confidence between 2000 and 2007 that the album was just around the corner.  I'm curious if someone as keen and observant as a professional journalist could sense, even back then that, all was not as rosy as we were all led to believe.

He thought it was coming out shortly, in the article Doug says as much. Never expected it to be another 8 years before its release.

Axl Speaks - Rolling Stone

[Blackstar]

Just finished watching it. That was a very interesting interview, @Gambit83 I'll be looking forward to part two, as there was a lot of intriguing stuff said in the interview that I'd like to hear being explored more. For example, the other Rolling Stone article that David had nothing to do with (and yet Axl wanted him to apologize for (!) ). That was a really damning piece on Axl, which seemingly completely soured his relationship with the magazine (he never did an interview with RS since then), and I wonder if David could share his thoughts on it and on how it came about (supposedly Axl had promised them an "essay" about the breakup of GN'R and then changed his mind - Doug Goldstein could also give his input on this).

It would be also great if you could get Kim Neely, too, who did Axl's 1992 RS interview (although I think she's retired and I doubt she'd want to do it).

[cineater]

Loved that interview.  Dave is really interesting.  Would like to hear some other artist stories he has.

Axl wants people to stop saying nice things about him?  Man, I would be afraid to say otherwise.  I mean he does have that middle name, asshole.  With all do respect, I do not want to fuck with that side of him.  Except for that poor hotel employee.  Axl owes him an apology.  He was not fucking innocent there.  Coming in drunk at 8 in the morning.  Look when you're under arrest you just putting your fucking hands behind your back, go quietly, you have people who will come get you.  The rest of the world is just trying to have their god damn morning coffee.  I hope Beta gave him the lecture of his life.

[LunsJail]

Imagine this scenario.....it’s 1999. Axl Rose and what’s now called GNR have been holed up in the studio for several years working on their highly anticipated next album. Millions of dollars have been spent but supposedly, it’s almost finished. Axl hasn’t done press in years, but on this night a journalist from Rolling Stone is coming to do an interview, listen to the album and inevitably tell the world about what he heard. The head of the record company (Jimmy Irvine) just happens to be there to greet said journalist and says to him “Just remember, it’s not really Guns N Roses without Slash.” 🤔

WTF? And yet we wonder why CD took so long to get released. We wonder why Axl was paralyzed by fear of the reaction. We wonder why he didn’t feel like his business partner (Interscope) never had his back with this project.

[Rovim]

8 hours ago, LunsJail said:

The head of the record company (Jimmy Irvine) just happens to be there to greet said journalist and says to him “Just remember, it’s not really Guns N Roses without Slash.” 🤔

 

was Iovine really wrong? Axl never found a guitarist that could fill Slash's shoes cause Gn'R is the kind of band that every member brought something unique to and Slash was one of the main contributors.

No one plays like him which I believe was the main problem for new Gn'R. Bucket was worthy but people didn't embrace him in Gn'R it seems. in the end Chinese came out and Slash/Duff came back. Apart it didn't work for any of them. Most of the released Chinese material could have been played by Slash in 1999 when Robin left cause I think as a commercial entity new Gn'R was destined to fail cause it was never just about Axl for most fans.

Edited March 26, 2021 by Rovim

[LunsJail]

33 minutes ago, Rovim said:

was Iovine really wrong? Axl never found a guitarist that could fill Slash's shoes cause Gn'R is the kind of band that every member brought something unique to and Slash was one of the main contributors.

No one plays like him which I believe was the main problem for new Gn'R. Bucket was worthy but people didn't embrace him in Gn'R it seems. in the end Chinese came out and Slash/Duff came back. Apart it didn't work for any of them. Most of the released Chinese material could have been played by Slash in 1999 when Robin left cause I think as a commercial entity new Gn'R was destined to fail cause it was never just about Axl for most fans.

I don’t think Iovine is wrong. But it does give you an interesting perspective on the relationship with the record company. Not only were they not really behind Axl but are doing things that seem designed to sabotage this project 

[Tom2112]

29 minutes ago, LunsJail said:

I don’t think Iovine is wrong. But it does give you an interesting perspective on the relationship with the record company. Not only were they not really behind Axl but are doing things that seem designed to sabotage this project 

I don't know if it was sabotage, but they definitely weren't fully behind the album. Axl is still in charge and responsible, but having the head of the label playing games? that has to shake your nerve a bit.

[WAR41]

Great interview @Gambit83.  David was great even though he rambled a bit at times.  It's interesting how there seems to be a pattern where Axl cuts people off because he has one-off issues with them after a longtime friendship.  Or maybe that was TB just seizing more control whenever they could, who knows. 

[AXL_N_DIZZY]

Awesome interview Gambit. Honestly think it’s my favorite (along w/Gilby) one you’ve done all-time.

Loved these insights from Dave:

(1) Axl needing a “Chinese Demoracy” band/life structure for his self-preservation;

(2) that only Axl can do what Axl does- and even he can only do it under certain conditions; and

(3) just how much Axl was shooting for the moon with “November Rain” (i.e. Elton John, Beatles, and everything before in rock rolled into one)- and how much he succeeded swinging that hard for the fences.

Very much look forward to a Part II at some point. One thing I’d love to know more about is if Dave got a sense of the actual vibe in the studio beyond just Axl. Timelines get a little fuzzy for me- but for example was that the whole chicken coop/porn-era? Were the pinball machines still around. Dizzy and Tommy watching cartoons all day or whatever (may have been earlier). Love to know how all that would stack up to any more “conventional” studio visits he’s made in his career, etc.

Congrats again!

[Tom2112]

2 hours ago, WAR41 said:

Great interview @Gambit83.  David was great even though he rambled a bit at times.  It's interesting how there seems to be a pattern where Axl cuts people off because he has one-off issues with them after a longtime friendship.  Or maybe that was TB just seizing more control whenever they could, who knows. 

Possible he sent that last message and Axls team never passed it on, or told Axl that he refused to apologise. The "team" he surrounds himself is another example of the isolation that David was on about. You can't have no opposition, it's just not good for you... not sure how someone gets to a point where they wsnt that though.

[The Garden of Guns N Roses]

Really enjoyed this episode, Brando !  Looking forward to part 2 

It was really interesting to hear David say that the title 'Chinese Democracy' might reflect on Axl's desire to be in control.

Surprisingly, Axl actually said "No" when asked in the China Exchange interview  if he loves being a dictator. 

Nobody knows for sure but sounds like an internal conflict maybe ?

 

 

 

 

 

[AXL_N_DIZZY]

I think it may be kind of a “benevolent dictator”-type thing- where Axl/TB creates a very “family” environment where everyone feels valued/“part of the gang”, etc., and encouraged to contribute, etc. (i.e. rather than Axl saying “Do this!”). That said, at the end of the day, nothing’s going to happen contrary to Axl’s will- and he needs that kind of security to function. In other words, not to “Lord” it over everybody- just to give him peace of mind. That’s what I took from Dave’s comments. Who the hell knows though. Lol.

Edited March 27, 2021 by AXL_N_DIZZY

[Sausagebrain]

On 3/26/2021 at 2:05 AM, LunsJail said:

Imagine this scenario.....it’s 1999. Axl Rose and what’s now called GNR have been holed up in the studio for several years working on their highly anticipated next album. Millions of dollars have been spent but supposedly, it’s almost finished. Axl hasn’t done press in years, but on this night a journalist from Rolling Stone is coming to do an interview, listen to the album and inevitably tell the world about what he heard. The head of the record company (Jimmy Irvine) just happens to be there to greet said journalist and says to him “Just remember, it’s not really Guns N Roses without Slash.” 🤔

WTF? And yet we wonder why CD took so long to get released. We wonder why Axl was paralyzed by fear of the reaction. We wonder why he didn’t feel like his business partner (Interscope) never had his back with this project.

It's an odd thing for his label boss to say. Having spent millions of dollars in to the project, you'd think that he would want it to be a commercial success. 

 

Wouldn't he?

[LunsJail]

16 minutes ago, Sausagebrain said:

It's an odd thing for his label boss to say. Having spent millions of dollars in to the project, you'd think that he would want it to be a commercial success. 

 

Wouldn't he?

Unless he wanted it to tank and force a reunion. The music business is swimming with sharks 

[Arnuld]

@Gambit83At the end of the interview you mentioned to David Wilde that Axl stated he wanted Dylan to hear a song. Axl was not talking about Bob Dylan. He was talking about Stephanie Seymour’s son Dylan. 

[Gambit83]

2 hours ago, Arnuld said:

@Gambit83At the end of the interview you mentioned to David Wilde that Axl stated he wanted Dylan to hear a song. Axl was not talking about Bob Dylan. He was talking about Stephanie Seymour’s son Dylan. 

I know, but David thought I meant Bob. We'll clear it up next time.

[Arnuld]

44 minutes ago, Gambit83 said:

I know, but David thought I meant Bob. We'll clear it up next time.

That was a GREAT interview @Gambit83 Really enjoyed it! 

[Jaygnr]

Fucking Great interview - we can live in hope for a real Axl interview or the band before they die  

[highend88]

@Gambit83 Hi Gambit, I recall around 1-2 years ago that you were going to try and reach out to Paul Tobias and try to have him to come to your channel. Any update on that? I assume that he refused? 
 

 

[Gambit83]

2 hours ago, highend88 said:

@Gambit83 Hi Gambit, I recall around 1-2 years ago that you were going to try and reach out to Paul Tobias and try to have him to come to your channel. Any update on that? I assume that he refused? 
 

 

just never heard back. Tried the email and social media route. I'm not sure if the email was current, it was what Brain had.

[Arnuld]

Paul Tobias would be a fascinating get. Kind of a mysterious figure.