Guns N' Roses/Axl Watch

[Üncle Snake]

GUNS N' ROSES keyboardist Dizzy Reed recently spoke to Debby Rao of Glam-Metal.com about his upcoming solo tour (under the DIZZY REED'S HOLLYWOOD BULLDOZER banner) and his working relationship with Axl Rose, among other topics. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Glam-Metal.com: Axl seems like a nice guy to work for. Tell me about him.

Dizzy Reed: "Axl is great. He is wonderful. He is the reason that I still do this. You know the new band that we have now is in my opinion the best band that I have ever been in absolutely!"

Glam-Metal.com: Buckethead is gone right?

Dizzy Reed: "Yeah. But, you know Axl sounds better than ever. I support everything that he has been doing. I think the new guys really put in a lot of what eventually will come out. I think it is amazing that we are going to pull this off. Because we are all coming from different backgrounds."

Glam-Metal.com: Who else is in the new GNR lineup? I know you and Axl are, but who is the new guitarist?

Dizzy Reed: "We have Robin Finck, he was in Cirque de Soleil before he was in NINE INCH NAILS. We also have this guy named Richard Fortus, who is phenomenal playing guitar. He actually just sat in with me at the Cat Club Thursday night with the STARFUCKERS. Brian plays drums. Tommy Stinson, who plays bass, was in the REPLACEMENTS. That is the core of the GNR lineup now. Oh, and we have this cat named Mother Goose. He plays keyboards and does a lot of computer programming."

Glam-Metal.com: Will GNR be touring anytime soon?

Dizzy Reed: "When the new album comes out, we will have to tour. I haven’t gotten any word yet as to when that will happen."

Glam-Metal.com: I can hear a little bit of country influences in your acoustic playing, too. Do you listen to different types of music?

Dizzy Reed: "I do. I listen to everything, I think it is important as a musician to listen to whatever you can. It is pretty easy when you are younger to be close-minded and say metal rules, country rules, hip-hop rules. You should listen to everything and incorporate that into what you are playing. It is going to appeal to more people, but at the same time, you are learning more about the music. It is going to make your stuff better. I kind of always have been that way. My parents were always listening to music. They loved music. My dad and mom had a big record collection. My dad listened a lot to NEIL DIAMOND. He got into rock in the Seventies, when the band BOSTON came out with their first record. He fell in love with the song 'More Than a Feeling'. He used to crank that song. Before I joined GUNS N' ROSES, I told him you gotta check out this band, they are friends of mine. They checked out the video 'Paradise City'. They freaked out. They went out and bought the album. Then I ended up joining the band. That was really cool. They were fans before I joined the band."
::)

[muthagoose]

Yeah... sorry for holding up Chinese Democracy.

[muthagoose]

More information has surfaced regarding the early Axl Rose recordings made while he was a member of the band RAPIDFIRE. The tapes, which were purportedly recorded in May 1983, have been in storage in the original eight-track format for the past 20 years, and are currently being mixed for a late 2004 release. The songs featured on the tape are as follows:

01. Ready To Rumble
02. All Night Long
03. The Prowler
04. On The Run

RAPIDFIRE's lineup was as follows:
Axl Rose - Vocals
Kevin Lawrence - Guitar
Mike Hammernik - Bass
Chuck Gordon – Drums

In addition, the CD's packaging will reportedly include "plenty of pre-tattoo Axl pictures." More information will be available at www.TheAxlTapes.com

[LotB]

I'll be looking forward to the Axl Tapes. Keep us posted if you hear more.

[muthagoose]

Slash will soon be immortalized in plastic by Spawn creator Todd McFarlane.

McFarlane Toys has announced the latest figure to join their expanding collection of music figures. Slash, considered to be one of the greatest guitarists to come out of the late 1980s, and a former member of GUNS N' ROSES, has become the latest edition.
With his trademark top hat and omnipresent cigarette, the guitarist born Saul Hudson challenged and destroyed the stagnant musical scene of the late '80s with his former band. Slash still remains one of the premier hard rock guitarists of all time, touring currently with VELVET REVOLVER whose debut album, "Contraband", has reached platinum status.

"It's extremely flattering and humbling to be immortalized in plastic," Slash said in a statement.

The figure will feature Slash with his top hat and leather jacket while playing guitar. It will be available in July 2005 and will sell for $10-$12.

Always check in on what is happening at McFarlane Toys at: www.spawn.com

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson has told the Rocky Mountain News that the group's long-delayed, well-over-budget album, "Chinese Democracy", is almost out.

"I'll probably be touring [my solo] record up till the end of the year," he said. "Then I'm thinking the GNR record will be coming out real soon after that. Then I'll be touring behind that record. I'm anticipating being on the road for the next year and a half, two years."

According to Stinson, "Chinese Democracy" "is almost done. Closer than it has ever been, for certain. I went and listened to some of the songs before I left L.A. to make sure my two cents were thrown in, so to speak. I was pretty stoked about it. I heard some really, really great stuff that I hadn't heard in a long time."

Stinson is currently touring in support of his solo debut, "Village Gorilla Head", which was released in July through Sanctuary Records.
The founding REPLACEMENTS member recorded the material for the set in a Los Angeles studio owned by Charles Thompson (a.k.a. Frank Black) with contributions from A PERFECT CIRCLE drummer Josh Freese, his brother Jason Freese on saxophone, CATHOLICS guitarist Dave Philips, and GNR guitarist Richard Fortus and keyboardist Dizzy Reed.

[Üncle Snake]

GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson promises that the group's long-awaited new album, "Chinese Democracy", will appear before there are democratic elections in the People's Republic.

"It's really close," he tells the Toronto Sun newspaper in today's edition. "There are a few small things to finish up, and some negotiating with the record company. So I'm guessing it'll be released sometime in the New Year, and of course we'll tour the world afterwards."

Stinson says "Chinese Democracy" sounds "a little like the old GUNS, but a lot deeper lyrically. There's more introspective and socially minded stuff, and musically it takes a lot more risks than they ever took. It's going to be amazing."

With regards to how his GN'R gig compares to his previous band, THE REPLACEMENTS, Stinson told the New York Newsday, "It's more family-oriented, a lot more stable, which is a good thing, because I'd rather not work with unstable people anymore."

Asked who the "better boss" is — Axl Rose or THE REPLACEMENTS mainman Paul Westerberg, Stinson said, "Paul was really never a boss, and Axl isn't really a boss, either. He's more of a collaborator. Axl is much better to work with; he wants to include you rather than exclude you. Paul's very, 'It's mine, do it this way.' Axl wants to get the best from everyone and give credit where credit is due."

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson recently told Canada's Chart Attack that the group's long-awaited new album, "Chinese Democracy" is nearing completion. "I would imagine they would start mastering it some time in October, November, somewhere in there," Stinson said. "I just wanted to make sure I got my two cents in so I couldn't look back and go, 'Dudes, what's up?' And they go, 'Dude, where were you? You didn't say anything!' So I got my two cents in on it."

And what was Stinson's two cents?

"My two cents was very much like a cent and a half," he said. "It's like, all the stuff I heard was phenomenal. I didn't get a chance to listen to all of it, because I was pressed for time. But also I wanted to hear the things I hadn't heard yet. Some of the stuff had been done a while ago and hadn't changed much; I didn't really bother with that. But I wanted to hear all the new stuff and I heard about six things that I hadn't heard finished yet, that were really mind-blowing. A few of the songs are pretty epic in length, but that's always been GN'R's thing, hasn't it? I don't think it's a particularly long album, but I think the six I heard are pretty epic. I mean they are just... fucking huge, you know [laughs]. I think pretty much all of us in the band have some songwriting credits on just about everything. The undertaking was pretty much a large collaboration between eight people, even a couple others who aren't around anymore, but maybe started with pieces of the old band or whatever. But yeah, there is probably a lot to go around with that one."

[muthagoose]

Guitar shredder Ron Thal of the New York City-based alternative-rap-metal project BUMBLEFOOT has been asked to join GUNS N' ROSES as the replacement for Buckethead ( www.buckethead.com ), according to a posting at www.bumblefoot.com. "Since, the rumors are already flyin', I might as well say," Ron writes on the site. "I was asked to join GUNS N' ROSES two months ago. It's not definitely happenin', we're just feelin' it out. When decisions have been made, I'll let y'all know."

Ron Thal started as a solo artist on Shrapnel/Roadrunner Records with the instrumental guitar-oriented CD "The Adventures Of Bumblefoot" in May 1995 (voted one of the Best Newcomers in Young Guitar magazine's Readers' Poll in January 1996) and the vocal "Hermit" CD in January 1997. Through his own production company, Hermit Inc., Thal (a.k.a. Bumblefoot) has released his own music, and has worked as a producer, songwriter, and hired musician. Credits include CNN, MTV, Jessica Simpson, Cher, LeAnn Rimes, and many more.

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES have issued a statement refuting reports that the band are close to finding a replacement for departed guitarist Buckethead. The statement reads as follows:

"There have been numerous reports over the last few weeks from various sources claiming that one person or another has been invited to join GUNS N' ROSES. To set the record straight no one — we repeat no one — has been invited to join the band. We would normally not respond to rumours but it is wrong to allow a few self publicists the platform to mislead the media and GUNS N' ROSES fans. We will let you know when there is credible news on this subject."

Late last month, New York-based guitarist Ron Thal (BUMBLEFOOT) posted a message on his web site claiming that he was asked to join GUNS N' ROSES tumultuous ranks. At the time, he explained that "it's not definitely happenin', we're just feelin' it out."

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson recently spoke to the GN'R fan site Here Today... Gone To Hell! about the group's long-awaited new album, "Chinese Democracy", and the departure of guitarist Buckethead, among other topics. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

HTGTH: Have you heard about the rumors about the new guitar player being auditioned?

Tommy: "I knew there were some guys on the hook for checking it out. I haven't heard anything past that. I don't think we've actually..... I don't think there'd be any auditions without me being there. Because I think, we need to put the band together to hear them play. So I would imagine that's probably gonna happen when I get home at some point.

HTGTH: Everything that happened this year with GN'R, people are worried about the band. Are they together?...

Tommy: "No, no... Buckethead going away is the best thing that could've happened to the band. It's gonna be great.

"I won't get too far into that, because I don't really like slamming people or getting into people's personalities or anything like that. It's a really good thing."

HTGTH: You said "Chinese Democracy" is almost done. But people are wondering what's been happening all these years? Have you worked on 18 songs for one album or is it like a bunch of songs that you could put out within a year or so?

Tommy: "Originally we had a fucking whole lot of songs we were working on. We kinda rolled around them and just kinda kept molding them as we went along.

"The process of making the GN'R record is a long process to begin with. Because basically, Axl as a producer is trying to get the best out of eight guys and get them all in a song, like trying to pull everyone in. You know, mush it together like a fucking piece of clay or something. Trying to form a piece of art work out of it. It takes time.

"It's not like when I was in the REPLACEMENTS, Paul would come to rehearsal with a couple of songs. 'OK, this is how they go, watch me play the chords,' we play it, go to the studio and knock it down in an hour. It's not like that.

"He has a way of working with people and pulling them in. Get you to bring something to the plate that's gonna be special and cool for that song. And it just takes a long time. Because you got eight guys you know. So that process takes a while.

"When you're working on 35 or so pieces of music that you're trying to finish. Trying to... Basically the cream of the crop of that, to make a record of. It's really hard to decide. Because out of 35 things, we might all like parts and bits of 30 songs. So then you gotta further narrow that down, and you know. It just takes a while. That's all I can say about that. It just takes a while and when it's done, it'll be done and when it comes out we're gonna totally tour behind it and fucking, and rock out.

"It's really, to say to the GN'R fans that are waiting for that.

"Axl ain't just sitting up there fucking, sitting there watching fucking TV, waiting for the fucking sun to come up. It's like he's been working on this shit for a long time, we've all been working on it sporadically throughout. It's gotta be right."

HTGTH: It's gonna be like your album, all kinds of styles or focus on just one...?

Tommy: "No, no, no... This record is definitely, you know, got some chances on it that I think are great.

"There's some really beautiful pieces, some really hard pieces, there's some real fucking, you know, somewhat self indulgent creative pieces that people are either gonna love or hate. But they're fucking there because, as an artist that's how you fucking have to make records you know."

HTGTH: You've all been writing songs for it? Everyone's basically credited for every song?

Tommy: "Yeah, I mean, I think pretty much everyone's brought something to the plate that we've turned into one thing or the other. I don't know if the song or two I wrote is necessarily gonna make this record or the next record. But everyone's brought stuff together that we've worked out and turned into stuff and it'll probably used at some point one way or the other. We've all contributed to pretty much everything on it in some form or another, you know."

[Üncle Snake]

In a brand-new interview with The Times-Picayune, former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER bassist Duff McKagan explained that despite perceptions to the contrary, mercurial frontman Axl Rose was not the sole creative force behind GUNS N' ROSES.

"Axl made it an Axl thing, but it really wasn't," McKagan said. "He never wrote any of the music. That was part of the reason it broke up, because we'd play shows and he'd say, 'Here's a song I wrote about . . .' and it would be a song he had nothing to do with."

Rose has yet to finish a long-promised GUNS N' ROSES album with an ever-changing lineup of musicians, even as his former bandmates have successfully launched a new project.

"I'm not knocking him," McKagan said. "We did go through a lot together, and we accomplished a lot together back then.

"But this is now. And we're having a great time. We hope to do this until we can't do it no more."

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES keyboardist Dizzy Reed recently spoke to Richmond.com about playing with Axl Rose and his recent tour with his solo project, HOLLYWOOD BULLDOZER. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Richmond.com: What's the status with [the long-awaited GUNS N' ROSES album] "Chinese Democracy"?

Dizzy Reed: "Actually, 'Chinese Democracy' is very close to coming out. I've heard a few of the tracks and it sounds amazing. There are a few more things to do then it'll be ready. They were originally shooting for November, but it may be February now. It's gonna be great."

Richmond.com: Do you do any GN'R covers with HOLLYWOOD BULLDOZER?

Dizzy Reed: "We do songs from the '70s. Every now and then we'll do one, but it's pretty hard to do a GUNS song without Axl. He's one of the best, one of the greatest."

Richmond.com: Why a cover band? What appealed to you about that?

Dizzy Reed: "What I'm doing now is fun. There's something very romantic about it. There's no pressure. You know, when you're doing GUNS there's pressure."

Richmond.com: How were you the only member of GUNS to stay on Axl's good side?

Dizzy Reed: "I believe in him, and I believe in what he's doing. I don't know what happened to the other guys. They quit one at a time. That's something I want people to know. They weren't kicked out of the band. They made the decision to leave and they had plenty of opportunities to come back. They walked out on us. And I didn't. I chose to stay, for a lot of reasons. I was at the point where I had put so many years of writing into it. I wanted to see it through. Axl gave me the chance to be in that band, and I am always going to be grateful for that."

Richmond.com: You rehearsed right next to GUNS N' ROSES back in the day, right?

Dizzy Reed: "Yeah, we had a rehearsal space next to them. We lived there and would have crazy after-parties. This was before they had even gotten signed, but you could see GUNS N' ROSES were gonna be huge. Being around them you could tell. Axl had told me he wanted a keyboard player and he wanted it to be me. People talk like that all the time … but he kept his word."

Richmond.com: Do you ever get nostalgic for the good ol' days on Sunset Strip?

Dizzy Reed: "When I moved out to the suburbs, I stopped going to Hollywood for years. Recently I started playing at the Cat Club with the STARF**KERS, so now I'm up there a lot more. I'm next to the Whiskey. It's so different. It's so dead. People who weren't there during the '80s don't get it. You can't explain it to them. There were thousands of bands from all over the world trying to make it there on the Sunset Strip. 'Cause that's what you had to do. It was crazy. But going back to your original question, yeah, sometimes I get nostalgic. But it was tough. None of us had jobs, we were constantly having to find a place to sleep and something to eat. But you had nothing to lose. Everyone was going for it."

[muthagoose]

In addition to featuring GUNS N' ROSES's "Welcome To The Jungle" as one of the tracks, it appears Axl Rose's voice can be heard as one of the DJs in the forthcoming video game "GTA: San Andreas". Axl apparently does the voice of Tommy "The Nightmare" Smith, the K-DST DJ.

Listen for yourself at RockStarGames.com. Click soundtrack and then the green button #4 (wait until it has loaded, you might have to press Stop and then Play in order to get it to actually play).

[LotB]

This marks the first recorded release of Axl's voice in a decade...

[muthagoose]

Acclaimed orchestral arranger and Grammy-award winner Paul Buckmaster has apparently worked on arrangements for four songs that are slated to appear on the long-awaited GUNS N' ROSES album, "Chinese Democracy". According to Buckmaster's official discography/list of credits, he has served as the arranger and conductor on the tracks "Blues", "Twat", "Madagascar" and "Prostitute", all of which are expected to surface on the much-anticipated CD, due next year via Interscope.

As previously reported, legendary Italian film composer Marco Beltrami ("Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", "Resident Evil", "Scream", "Blade 2") has also provided orchestral arrangements for four tracks that are tentatively set to appear on "Chinese Democracy". According to Beltrami's official web site, MarcoBeltrami.com, the four cuts the composer was asked to work on have the working titles of "Seven", "Leave Me Alone", "General" and "Thyme".

"Chinese Democracy" will feature the band's first new music since "Oh My God", the group's contribution to the soundtrack to the 1999 movie "End of Days".

GUNS N' ROSES' last studio album was a covers CD, "The Spaghetti Incident?", which was released in 1993.

[muthagoose]

Former L.A. GUNS and current BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION guitarist Tracii Guns revealed in a recent online posting that he has reached out to GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose about possibly joining GN'R as the group's touring guitarist. Asked by a fan if he had been contacted by GN'R regarding the lead guitarist position, Guns responded, "I sent Axl and email. I let him know I had a year off and that I would be willing to go kick some ass with him. I got no reply. "

[Ponyone]

GUNS N' ROSES bassist Tommy Stinson told the Pioneer Press earlier this week that the long-awaited new GN'R album "Chinese Democracy" is being finished as we speak."

When pressed to elaborate on what could possibly be left to finish on a record that has been at least a decade in the works, Stinson said "some vocal parts and mixes," adding that once the band decides what songs make the final cut, GN'R will, oh yes, tour.

"You know, it'll come out probably sooner than later, I can just about assure you," he said. "I've been told as much, anyway. Without giving a date, it'll be sooner than hell freezing over."

After the current tour to support his solo debut, "Village Gorilla Head", Stinson goes back to GN'R — assuming that album actually comes out — and hopes to produce some new bands and maybe stretch out into film scoring.

"My goal this year is to do everything better," he said. "And to do a lot more of it," he said.

[LotB]

This whole situation is just fucked-up. Does anyone think the album is ever going to come out? China really will have a democracy by the time it ever happens.

[muthagoose]

For those who attended the quasi-riot at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center in December 2002 due to the GUNS N' ROSES no-show, GNR bassist Tommy Stinson claims the band is coming back and will actually perform this time.

"We owe Philly," Stinson told Ed Condran of SouthPhillyReview.com. He wouldn't elaborate about the aforementioned debacle. "That's all still in litigation." But he promised that GN'R would be on the road this year after the release of "Chinese Democracy" in April.

[muthagoose]

According to MusicWeek.com, Sanctuary Music Publishing announced on Monday (Jan. 24) that it has signed the publishing for GUNS N' ROSES legend Axl Rose.

The deal, which was confirmed by Sanctuary, covers all catalog on futures for the composer, including classics such as GN'R's "Sweet Child Of Mine".

It also follows a year after the company — a division of the 360-degree Sanctuary Music Group — announced its deal to sign UB40's catalog at Midem 2004. It has also recently signed a deal with Kobalt Music to use its technologies for administration purposes.

A spokesperson for Sanctuary Group says the deal represents the latest step in building the Sanctuary Music Publishing portfolio; publishing is a strategic priority for the group, he says.

[muthagoose]

Versailles Records is presently completing work on a forthcoming millennium tribute to GUNS N' ROSES, which will feature current and former members of MÖTLEY CRÜE, GUNS N' ROSES, FASTER PUSSYCAT, RATT, SCORPIONS, LOVE/HATE, L.A. GUNS, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION, THE SCREAM, UNION, ADLER'S APPETITE and THRILLS FOR KILLS, as well as Jasy Andrews, Richard Kendrick, THE ISSUES, Ross Stevens of STRAITJACKET SMILE, Andrew Walker of DRAMA QUEEN DIE, John Spinner, and Corey Craven. Release is set for late summer 2005 in the U.S., and a licensing deal has been secured with Netherlands-based Mascot-Provogue Records.

In related news, Versailles Records has finalized deals with several new independent acts, including Canadian rock band ONE BAD SON, featuring Shane "The Impaler" Volk on lead vocals; longtime Versailles collaborator Corey Craven, and Nashville-based singer-songwriter John Spinner. Look for a late summer, 2005 release date on Jasy Andrews' and John Spinner's respective debut albums, as well as the double-LP debut of STRAITJACKET SMILE, featuring Ross Stevens, Richard Kendrick and A.J. Caruso in the later fall of 2005; and spring/summer 2006 release dates for ONE BAD SON and Corey Craven's respective debut releases.

Lastly, Versailles Records recording artist Richard Kendrick has recently joined Steve Blaze's (LILLIAN AXE) solo band NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE on lead guitar.

Versailles Records is based in New York/Nashville, and is distributed by Big Daddy Music Distribution in the United States.

[muthagoose]

The Associated Press is reporting that rock recluse Axl Rose has signed a multimillion dollar publishing deal, and that isn't sitting well with his former GUNS N' ROSES bandmates.

The deal with music powerhouse Sanctuary Group covers both the back catalogue, which includes hits such as "Sweet Child of Mine", "Paradise City" and "November Rain", as well as Rose's future material, including dozens of new tracks he recently recorded for Universal Music.

After burning up charts and selling out stadiums around the world in the late '80s and early '90s, GUNS N' ROSES endured a bitter split, leaving only Rose and keyboard player Dizzy Reed to soldier on under the GNR banner. Former members Slash (Saul Hudson) and Duff (Michael) McKagan, now part of the band VELVET REVOLVER, filed a lawsuit against Rose last year over who controls the rights to the old GNR songs. The suit is still pending.

McKagan's lawyer, Glen Miskel, expressed surprise when told of the Sanctuary deal. He said Rose, Slash and Duff were part of a partnership and "neither Sanctuary nor Axl Rose have provided the remaining partners with a copy of that agreement." He added Rose is trying to transfer copyright interests in songs which "are not owned by Mr. Rose." GUNS N' ROSES' manager Merck Mercuriadis, who just so happens to be CEO of Sanctuary Group, said he didn't want to comment beyond the announcement of the deal.

Industry experts have valued the 20-year deal at about $19 million. Guess a GUNS N' ROSES reunion won't be happening anytime soon.

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: Guns N' Roses - Madagascar

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[muthagoose]

According to Pause & Play, Geffen Records has set a November 29, 2005 release date for the long-awaited GUNS N' ROSES album, "Chinese Democracy".

Yeah Right.

[stallion]

I've got a feeling that album will suck ass.