Guns N' Roses/Axl Watch

[muthagoose]

Currently, all of those dates are heavily rumored to be fall back dates. I personally feel that the only possible dates are December 19th and December 26th.

More as this develops... until then...

[muthagoose]

AXL ROSE Throws 'THE PIGEONS OF SH*T METAL' Off GUNS N' ROSES Tour?

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL appear to have been removed from the GUNS N' ROSES tour after only one show due to an overwhelmingly poor reception the band got from the GN'R audience during EAGLES' tour opener. According to several fans who attended last night's (Nov. 24) GUNS N' ROSES concert at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio (also featuring SEBASTIAN BACH and SUICIDE GIRLS), people were booing throughout EAGLES' hour-long set, with some of the GN'R fans calling the group's performance "horrid at best" and describing the band's music as "pretty fucking lame," with a repertoire of songs that sound "almost the same."

GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose apparently agreed with his fans, because a few songs into GNR's set he reportedly said something to the effect of, "So how'd you like THE PIGEONS OF SHIT METAL? Don't worry, that's the last show they're playing with us."

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL released its second album, "Death By Sexy", earlier this year. The CD features appearances by Mark Lanegan and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE drummer Joey Castillo, while DISTILLERS frontwoman Brody Dalle (QOTSA frontman Josh Homme's girlfriend) and singer Wendy Ray added backing vocals on several tracks.

[Chick-O-Stick]

That is just further proof that Axl has flown the boobie hatch! What he was thinking when putting EoDM on as an opener I don't know, they are completely different from the type of music he comes out with. I saw EoDM in Cleveland at the Grog Shop a few years back and the reception they received was great. GnR fans obviously aren't able to fully appreciate their music, and Axl should be ashamed of himself for being completely unprofessional and dumping them in that way.

[muthagoose]

Ask and you shall receive. Here is the response from the EoDM... via the Rolling Stone site...

www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/11/27/axl-update-eagles-of-death-metal-strike-back/


Axl Watch: Eagles of Death Metal Strike Back!

Earlier today, we told you how Eagles of Death Metal got booted from their opening slot on the Guns N’ Roses tour after just one gig, with GNR fans booing them roundly and Axl calling them “Pigeons of Shit Metal” during his set. Well, the Eagles have responded: “At first the audience refused to welcome us to the jungle, but by the time we took our final bow, it had become paradise city. Although Axl tried to November rain on our parade, no sweet child o’ mine can derail the EODM night train. We say live and let die.”

While the Eagles’ rebuttal may be just as silly as Axl’s diss, big ups to them for not dipping so low as to mention Axl’s hideous cornrows, shaky voice, or how, you know, GNR’s new album has been delayed longer than the return of Christ.

[muthagoose]

AXL WATCH 2006: Milwaukee concert cancelled

[press release]

The Guns N' Roses concert scheduled for Milwaukee's Bradley Center tomorrow night (28th November) has been cancelled due to illness. Guns N' Roses front man Axl Rose is suffering from an ear infection and strep throat. Rose was first diagnosed with the ear infection on the 20th of November in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was seen again by a doctor last night following the band's show in Chicago and ordered to rest for a few days. The tour will continue as scheduled Friday night in Ames, Iowa at Hilton Coliseum.

Axl Rose commented, "We had a great show in Chicago tonight and had hoped to do a surprise acoustic show afterwards. I have been fighting this off for a long time but the doctor told me tonight that the only way not to jeopardise the balance of the tour is immediate rest. We will now have 3 days off before continuing Friday. We are sorry to miss the fans in Milwaukee."

[muthagoose]

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL Leader: AXL ROSE Is 'Out Of His Mind'

NME.com reports that EAGLES OF DEATH METAL band leader Jesse "The Devil" Hughes has vented his anger at Axl Rose, saying the singer is "fucking out of his mind" after his band were thrown off GUNS N' ROSES' U.S. tour.

The band were reportedly "let go" after getting a hostile reception from the audience at a recent gig.

However speaking to NME.com, Hughes said he was "shocked" by Rose's reaction when he branded them "The Pigeons Of Shit Metal", and then sacked them from stage during a recent gig at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena.

"Axl Rose is fucking out of his mind," raged Hughes. "He wasn't even there when we played. He got there about 30 minutes after we got done playing. He waltzed on to the stage and went nuts.

"He had a couple of fans thrown out for pissing him off. Then when he called us The Pigeons Of Shit Metal, Tommy Stinson, their bass player took his bass off and goes: 'Fuck you, that's it'. And then he threw his bass down. But then Axl picked up his bass and fucking threw it at him dude. It was a fucking circus up there."

Despite reports claiming that his band were thrown off the tour for the poor reception they received, Hughes said by the end of the show EODM managed to win the fans over.

"When we first walked out there the crowd were jeering but it was because we weren't Axl Rose," he admitted. "These kids had been waiting there since seven o'clock for the second coming of Christ and Axl wasn't there yet. So a bunch of happy go lucky sincere and real deal rock and rollers came out and started playing. The jeers only went on for a little bit. By the end of the set we'd won those fuckers over."

Despite throwing his band off tour, Hughes claims that his tour manager then received a call later that night from Rose's management apologizing for the singer's actions and he asked them to return for the remaining dates of GUNS N' ROSES' three-week tour.

"By the end of the night that guy [Rose] had caused a giant uproar," said Hughes. "It was like a total mutiny on the part of his band and everyone. I could hear screaming in the dressing room, 'Those are our friends and you've insulted our friends.' Then at 4am in the morning our tour manager gets a phone call which essentially amounted to: 'Axl's thought about it, he thought you guys were a band getting shoved on his tour from the label. He's really sorry and you're more than welcome to finish the tour.'

"When my manager told me that, I just said, 'You can tell that motherfucker to go and fuck himself because I will never go through that again.'"



Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhat the hell ever!!!

[muthagoose]

Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" In 2006: What Are The Odds?
Insiders, oddsmakers, GN'R fans calculate the odds.[/b][/size]


Back in October, Guns N' Roses' management issued a press statement addressing the release of the band's oft-delayed, $15-million, dozen-years-in-the-making album, Chinese Democracy. It said: "The only comment at this time is that there are 13 Tuesdays left between now and the end of the year" — insinuating, it would seem, that the LP could finally see the light of day before the end of 2006.

"It will come out this year," GN'R ringmaster Axl Rose has steadfastly insisted in interviews, during press junkets and even while unwinding at parties. He said so on Eddie Trunk's radio show in May, and repeated it after his appearance at the VMAs on August 31.

Those claims are supported somewhat by the fact that the band has been gigging since the spring, both in the U.S. and abroad (see "Guns N' Roses Hint At Democracy's Arrival, Add Tour Dates"). Granted, GN'R also toured in 2002, the last time album-release speculation reached this height (see "It's Extra Official: Promoter Says GN'R Tour Totally Off"). Several tracks purported to be either from the album or demo versions of songs from it leaked in February (see "Are Guns N' Roses Finally Coming Back? The Signs Are There ..."), which may lend some credence to his statements.

Sources close to Rose have supported his assertion, and in February, even former GN'R guitarist Slash told a British radio interviewer that he thought the album would be out this year — although he said March. Online rumors speculated a November 21 release — erroneously.

With just four Tuesdays left to go — one of them being the day after Christmas — and the band's label maintaining that no release date is at hand, things are looking pretty glum for GN'R fans hoping to find Rose's magnum opus under the tree. (While Tuesday releases are the industry standard, other days are possible: In 2004, Interscope Records rush-released Eminem's Encore on a Friday in a leak-beating maneuver.)

It could still happen. But, to paraphrase one of Michael Corleone's henchmen in "Godfather II," it will be "difficult, but not impossible."

Unless an ultra-top-secret marketing plan is in the works, the album would have to be released without the major promotional push such a hot-ticket item would normally have — an approach that failed dismally with Limp Bizkit's stealthy 2005 release of The Unquestionable Truth, Pt. 1, which debuted with a thud at #24 on Billboard's album chart with just 37,000 copies sold.

None of the national retailers contacted by MTV News said they were aware of an official release date, and several major-label personnel declined even to speculate on the possibility of such a release happening before the end of this year.

One executive, Carl Severson, a former staffer at metal powerhouse Roadrunner Records who currently runs Ferret Records (and fronts metalcore act Nora), said he's reasonably confident that the album won't appear in '06. "First of all, all the print advertisements would have to be done and turned in already [as required by magazines' publication deadlines] — and someone would have leaked those," he explained. "Even if they were to do television spots, they'd have to be turning them in right now, just to get them to run the week before Christmas. If it is coming out this year, it's pathetic."

That hasn't stopped online gambling sites like Bodog.com from getting in on the guessing game. There, one can bet on whether Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie will adopt again next year — and even what country the child will be from — and whether Chinese Democracy will hit stores "in its entirety" before the seal on 2007 is broken. As of Thursday (November 30), the odds were more or less equal.

"Basically, with wagers like this, you have to take into consideration as many sources as possible," said Bodog spokesperson Greg Godden when discussing the method by which his firm sets odds on various events. "Things like Rolling Stone, MTV News, the Billboard charts and that kind of stuff. We do offer a wager on it, with the 'Yes' option at minus-130 — which is basically the same thing as a 56-percent chance the album will be released this year."

The "No" option, he said, places minus-110 odds on the album's release, or a 52-percent chance the album will not surface. But most visitors to Bodog's site seem to "think it will come out some time this year," with most of the bets being placed favoring a 2006 release.

Others beg to differ.

"There's really no chance, bro," said José Mangin, format manager for Sirius Satellite Radio's Octane and Hard Attack channels. He considers the fact that he hasn't received an advance copy for on-air play a telling sign. "We're playing singles from albums that are coming out in February now — we were playing them in October. After all the millions of dollars the label has put into this project and this album, if it was coming out in December, I'd think they would at least want to give it proper promotion."

Of course, this is no normal album, and Axl has, in his own unique ways, been promoting the heck out of it for years, especially in the past few months. One could even argue that the album is more famous for its non-appearance than anything else.

"Everyone knows the name," said M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, who toured Europe with GN'R this summer (and formed some five years after Rose began work on Chinese Democracy). "It's already more famous as a record that hasn't been released yet: Everyone knows of Chinese Democracy, but no one has heard it. That's kind of crazy."

Shadows said he thinks it's unlikely that Chinese Democracy will come out this year, but it may come soon. "When you've got as much money as Axl, and with as many records as he's sold, he's probably just sitting there going, 'I don't need to release this record.' It does seem closer, though. A couple years ago, when people were saying it was coming out, I knew it wasn't. But now that the demos have been leaked, and I heard [go-to mixer] Andy Wallace is mixing it — you know when you've got Andy Wallace mixing stuff, it means it's getting closer, at least."

"Will it come out? Hard to say," speculated Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello. "Axl is clearly talented ... and troubled: a combination often found among the best lead singers. If he can overcome his fears about the album's relevance or commercial prospects or whatever the underlying problem is, and just release it, then we would all be glad to hear it and can get on with our lives."

Indeed, while anticipation for the album remains remarkably high for a dozen-odd-years-in-gestation work, one wonders just how long Rose can tantalize his fans with false alarms before they stop caring.

"I'd like to say that I believe it will come out this year. But this has got to be, what, the fourth or fifth or maybe-even-more-than-that time that this has been announced as coming out," said Kelli Malella, Metal Blade Records' director of publicity and a longtime GN'R fan. "Part of me thinks, 'OK, they're touring so it's got to be coming out,' but they've done that a couple of times already. So if I put my money on it, I think it will be delayed again. I guess I've just lost hope."

Shawn Callahan, drummer for GN'R cover band Appetite for Destruction, is similarly pessimistic. "I mean, maybe there's a 50-50 chance it comes out before the end of the year, but I'm still skeptical," he sighed. "A lot of this might just be hype, but I think it remains to be seen if people will be buying this album."

And after all the buildup, how could the album not be disappointing? Mangin said the listener response to the leaked tracks (which Octane was playing before the label sent a cease-and-desist letter) was meek, at best. "It really didn't get a huge, like, 'Oh my God, this is awesome [reaction],' " he said. "No one was flooding the phone lines or the e-mails, saying they need it and they can't stop waiting for it."

"Do we really care at this point?," wondered Slipknot's Shawn "Clown" Crahan. "No disrespect, but I stopped looking at my calendar when the real [original] band was done. That was the real excitement. That was the real magic. That was the real truth. I'm kind of bored with it."

Severson agreed, adding that Axl may have tinkered the album to death.

"There's absolutely no way that it's going to be good enough to merit 10 years in the making," he said. "You know why [Axl has] changed producers [so many times]? Because the material's not good enough and he keeps trying someone who's going to fix it. He keeps trying to get the right record."

"I think after you take a certain amount of time, you might start feeling a little insecure about it," Shadows added. "You feel like it's never quite done. To me, it doesn't really matter at this point how good it is. A lot of people are going to say it wasn't worth the wait. I think it will be a great record, and I think for people to embrace it, they're just going to have to take it for what it is. It's just a rock record, and they need to listen to it like that. You can totally overthink sh--."

Of course, anything is possible with Axl Rose — including another dozen years of overthinking sh--. The album could appear tomorrow — or on Christmas Day or New Year's Eve or 2010, or never. It's hard not to think that the mystique surrounding Chinese Democracy — the thrill of anticipation, Axl's quixotic rebelliousness, the album's sheer elusiveness — is as much, if not more, of its appeal as the music.

"Axl is his own dude," Mangin said. "He's going to do what he wants. And I respect that."

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES Manager: EAGLES OF DEATH METAL Could Not Handle Audience Response

GUNS N' ROSES' manager Merck Mercuriadis has responded to the claims by the EAGLES OF DEATH METAL leader Jesse "The Devil" Hughes that GN'R bassist Tommy Stinson threw down his bass in disgust after Axl Rose went off on the EAGLES after Hughes and Co. opened for GN'R at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena Friday night (Nov. 24). EAGLES OF DEATH METAL took the stage in Cleveland to open the first of what was supposed to be 15 North American dates on the GUNS N' ROSES tour, but exited the trek after just that one performance following an onstage rant by Rose, during which he nicknamed the band "The Pigeons of Shit Metal" before informing his audience that the gig would be the EAGLES' last on the tour.

"When [Rose] called us the 'Pigeons of Shit Metal', Tommy Stinson took his bass off, threw it down and went, 'Fuck you, that's it!' to Axl," Hughes told MTV.com. "And then Axl picked [Stinson's] bass up and threw it at [him]."

Mercuriadis disagreed with Hughes' account. "There is no truth to either claim [that Rose fired a crew member or that Stinson threw down his bass] as evidenced by the fact that our crew remains identical to when the tour started almost six weeks ago, and to say Axl threw a bass at Tommy is pure fiction," he told MTV.com. "The EAGLES OF DEATH METAL were asked to leave the tour not only because GUNS N' ROSES' audience hated them and tore them apart but because they could not handle the response. They were supposed to play a 60-minute set but left the stage after 42 minutes due to the hostile reception. The facts do not support the image they are trying to portray, which is why they are attempting to put this spin on it."

[muthagoose]

AXL WATCH 2006: Turn In A Gun, Get Tickets To GUNS N' ROSES Concert

As AXL WATCH 2006 churns toward critical mass...

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland city officials will reward anyone who turns in a gun this Saturday in Sobrante Park and next week in DeFremery Park with two tickets to the Dec. 15 concert by GUNS N' ROSES at Oracle Arena.

"GUNS N' ROSES — the band?" asked Mike Magardo, a 34-year-old Oakland resident. "I think that's a little off the mark. In general, the folks who would show up for a gun exchange in those neighborhoods either don't know or care who GUNS N' ROSES are."

"Why would any youngsters want to go see GUNS N' ROSES," Andrew Smith, 32, asked.

Mark Lipsett, a 45-year-old banker, said, "That seems crazy to me. How about Raiders tickets, Warriors tickets, a pizza coupon, just about anything," he said.

Etah Allah, 31, who grew up in West Oakland, summed it up nicely.

"I wouldn't give them a sling shot," he said. "In fact, given some of the things that (Axl) Rose has said about black folks, I think I should get a gun for just going to the concert," he said, bringing a laugh from his friends.

Joe DeVries, who runs Oakland's violence-prevention program with tax funds from voter-approved Measure Y, says the GUNS N' ROSES promotion is admittedly not a great match. But he hopes it's the start of a program that will expand to include acts that speak to younger black audiences.

"I recognize that GUNS N' ROSES isn't a band that a lot of Oakland kids listen to, but there are so many stolen guns used in crimes in this city we'll take any guns we can get," he said.



"Original Gangsta"

[mavhimself]

i bet this promotion would have worked wonders in bmore. but in the meantime, i'll get my straps and head up to oaktown for the gnr show!

[muthagoose]

It is a shame you can't trade in one of your sick ass goblins for a ticket/

[muthagoose]

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL Leader: AXL ROSE Is 'The Caucasian MICHAEL JACKSON'

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL leader Jesse "The Devil" Hughes was interviewed by Buddyhead about his band's getting thrown off GUNS N' ROSES' U.S. tour after only one show. Watch the video interview at iFilm.com.

According to Metal Sludge, there are some of the "highlights" from the chat:

"We had just come off a tour with Joan Jett, which is badass. She represents everything that rock n' roll stands for to me, and Axl Rose doesn't, you know?!"

"If it's about firing the best aspects of your band, so they go and make a better band and call it VELVET REVOLVER, then fuck you."

"Sebastian Bach was a savage animal. It was more like 45 and on parole, then 18 and life."

"First he was Axl, then Paxil, then Waxil. I knew he (Axl) was crazy."

"Dude, the world does not rise and fall at the whims of Axl Rose."

"I kinda heard through the grapevine that his (Axl's) vicious, obsessive hatred of Dave Grohl, and because we're friends, that ah, that's what led to this possibly."

"Being dissapproved of by Axl Rose is like winning a fucking award."

"Dave Grohl is my friend and I don't give a fuck who doesn't like him."

"I wouldn't put anything past the white Michael Jackson. I mean, really, he (Axl) is the Caucasian Michael Jackson."

"He (Axl) had on these weird tight blue pants, that came up and his belly arched out, and his shirt was tailored tight in the arms so it looked like he looked slender, but tailored to go up over his belly. Actually, it was a sight to see, man. It was bizzaire — oh man, really ironic."

"This was our omen that is was gonna be a weird tour. We're on the plane and the first thing he (Sebastian Bach) says to us: 'Dude, this tour is gonna be badass. Axl is singing better than ever.' And I look at Davey and go, 'Is he trying to sell us something now or what the fuck?' Axl's singing better than ever? Yeah. How's Slash doing? Oh yeah, that's right, he ain't in the band."

"Every second you feel like everyone wants to leave, and the only thing that's keeping them there is the money."

[muthagoose]

AXL WATCH: "GN'R back at full strength"

Source: web.gunsnroses.com/

An official statement from Guns N' Roses:

Guns N' Roses had a great night in Ames, Iowa last night. It was fantastic for everyone to get back on stage with Axl, on the road to recovery from the ear infection and the strep throat that caused their Milwaukee show to be cancelled. It was also really positive to have Helmet join the band alongside Suicide Girls, Modern Day Zero and Sebastian Bach after the disappointment that was The Eagles Of Death Metal.

Axl and the band would also like to thank everyone for staying extra late in Ames. They left Chicago in the morning but what was supposed to be a 1 hour plane flight turned into a 12 hour bus ride due to the severe weather that hit Chicago and most of the country. The bus was diverted several times by the police due to major accidents and for a time there was real concern that the band would not make it. In the end it was all good and once again they would like to thank everyone for their patience and willingness to stay up late as well as apologise to anyone that had to leave! They look forward to seeing you over the next few weeks and wishing you Merry Christmas!

p.s. -- Regarding the Eagles Of Death Metal and their recent bogus claims, Guns N' Roses bass guitarist Tommy Stinson had this to say, "As a matter of fact, Eagles of Death Metal were a suggestion of mine a while ago. Turns out they were the wrong band for our crowd. They were booed and did not play for as long as they were scheduled to.

"As for all of the inaccuracies that have been said since, I would like to say that’s all they are -- inaccuracies. In the past I have thrown my bass. I have never thrown it at Axl or anyone else in the band nor has anyone thrown my bass back at me ... yet. Axl has been a dear friend to me for nine years. We have no problem communicating and wish that people would stay the fuck out of shit they don’t know anything about. There was no GN’R mutiny or any such thing after the Cleveland gig and as far as I’m concerned this tour has been the most fun yet. The band is playing great and getting along better than we ever have. With that said, either get on board or fuck off."

[muthagoose]

Italian GUNS N' ROSES Fan Site Goes 'On Strike' To Protest Lack Of Official Information

Italian GUNS N' ROSES fan site Gnronline.it has announced that it has gone "on strike" to protest the lack of official information regarding the band and the "phantom" album "Chinese Democracy".

Specifically, the Gnronline.it administrators are claming that GN'R management is playing favorites with the two big American fan sites, while other worldwide fan sites are being left in the dark despite their efforts over the course of the last ten years to support the group.

The Gnronline.it web site is not being updated and the almost 3,000-user forum is not being moderated until January 1, 2007. After that day, the entire site will be closed.

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES Guitarist: 'Life's Too Damn Short To Be Upset About What You Don't Have'

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal has issued a response to the news that the Italian GUNS N' ROSES fan site Gnronline.it has gone "on strike" to protest the lack of official information regarding the band and its long-awaited album, "Chinese Democracy".

As previously reported, the Gnronline.it administrators are claming that GN'R management is playing favorites with the two big American fan sites, while other worldwide fan sites are being left in the dark despite their efforts over the course of the last ten years to support the group. The Gnronline.it web site is not being updated and the almost 3,000-user forum is not being moderated until January 1, 2007. After that day, the entire site will be closed.

In a message that was released yesterday (Dec. 11, 2006), Thal had the following to say:

"Ron here — this is not a statement on behalf of GN'R, just speaking for myself, me to you.

"For whatever it's worth, I love you guys and appreciate all the support you guys have given the band. I haven't been in the band very long, but long enough to experience how great it is to have fans that care as much as you. Maybe it's too-little-too-late to let you know that, but that's how I feel, and it hasn't changed.

"From what I've seen, if ya give out info before it's 100% confirmed, and things don't happen as planned, it leads to people feeling betrayed, so info should only come at the final moment when all the piece are in place. That's not a GN'R thing, it's everything, every business or band or anything else.

"If you're looking for daily or weekly updates on things that are in the works, it'll become a big mess for everyone. Meanwhile, we're touring. It's been fucking great.

"Since my first show with GUNS in May, we've played nearly 70 shows, in 20 countries (if I counted right, at 3am after being up 30 hours... [***]) The way I see it, for two-and-a-half hours each of those nights, it's our time to connect with each other — we get to say *fuck it* to everything else in life and enjoy ourselves — that's what it's about. It's not about business or setlists or critics or anything else — it's about saying FUCK IT and gettin' high off it from beginning to end and a long time after.

"Hope y'all have been enjoying it to the fullest. Life's too damn short to be upset about what you don't have — enjoy what you do have.

"Not trying to change anything by writing ya, not answering the questions you want answered, just letting ya know that your support hasn't gone unnoticed, and I just wanna say *thank you* to the moderators and members of your forum. For the years you've devoted to the band, and hopefully years to come..."

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES: Fresno Show Cancelled

GUNS N' ROSES' show at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California on Wednesday, December 13 has been cancelled.

"Sincere apologies go out to all the fans in Fresno who bought a ticket," the group writes in a press release. "We hope you can make it to the band's show in Oakland, CA at the Oracle Arena (formerly Oakland Arena) on Friday night the 15th of December, which will proceed as scheduled. Refunds for the Fresno show are available at point of purchase."

[muthagoose]

Fans' appetite for new Guns album is undiminished

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Axl Rose's fans are hoping for a miracle this Christmas -- the release of "Chinese Democracy," the first album of original Guns N' Roses music in 15 years.

Rose, 44, the only original member of the combustible rock group, vaguely told MTV in late August that the album would hit store shelves "this year," 12 years after work started. The band is currently on a U.S. tour, its first since 2002, but the album still has no official release date.

With only a few weeks left in 2006, most Guns N' Roses fans now believe the only music they will hear on Christmas morning will be "Silent Night." During a sold-out performance at New York City's Madison Square Garden last month, Rose was mum about the album, which has cost roughly $13 million to make, according to a New York Times story in March 2005.

"Believing 'Chinese Democracy' is coming out this year is the same as believing in Santa Claus," said a fan on the popular HereTodayGoneToHell Web site (http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com) earlier this month.

Rose's manager, Merck Mercuriadis, who further stoked fan anticipation in early October when he told Rolling Stone magazine that fans "might walk into (their) record shop one Tuesday and find it there," declined to comment for this article. Interscope Records, the band's label, referred inquiries to Mercuriadis. (Albums usually go on sale on Tuesdays in the United States, a day earlier elsewhere.)

NEW SONGS, TOUR

Most of Rose's bandmates on Guns N' Roses' last album of new material, the two-volume "Use Your Illusion" set, either quit or were fired as the singer took control of the group, and then took his time recording a followup. Several waves of replacements also came and went.

Fortunately, the die-hard fans have more staying power. In January, they were sent into a frenzy when a casual Rose broke his silence to talk to Rolling Stone about the album, describing it as "complex."

That was followed in February by Internet leaks of four new songs, "Better," "I.R.S.," "Catcher in the Rye," and "There Was a Time." Two months later, Guns N' Roses announced a summer European tour, and then played four sold-out warm-up shows at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom in May.

"For the first time, we had proof that there was new material," said Eric Romano, 33, a Montreal computer technician and webmaster of www.MyGNRForum.com.

Finally, on August 31, Rose appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York, where he said "it is this year," in response to a question about the "Chinese Democracy" release.

"That's what did it for a lot of fans," said Brian Sharma, 28, a Philadelphia lawyer and owner of two cats named "Axl" and "Rose." "Axl (had) never said that before."

"This year the excitement level hit an all-time high," said Mark Strigl, 37, co-host of "Talking Metal," a pod-cast about heavy metal. "I don't know if that excitement will ever be topped again with the hard-core fans."

A NEW HOPE?

Disappointed fans now expect the album to arrive sometime in 2007, possibly timed with the 20th anniversary of "Appetite for Destruction," the band's 1987 blockbuster debut. Some expect an official announcement in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Guns N' Roses' global audience remains formidable. The band has sold 38.5 million albums in the United States, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, while worldwide sales are estimated at more than 90 million. Guns N' Roses' "Greatest Hits," released in 2004, has sold more than 3 million copies in the U.S.

In a way, however, the absence of "Democracy" makes the online fan community that much more cohesive, Strigl said. It "gives them something to hope for."

And Rose's dependable unpredictability is part of Guns N' Roses' lasting appeal.

"He's doing it his way, which is the rock n' roll ethos," Sharma said.

[muthagoose]

SEBASTIAN BACH: I Know When 'Chinese Democracy' Is Coming Out

Mike Osegueda of The Fresno Bee recently conducted an interview with former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

The Fresno Bee: How do you sum up the difference between guesting on "Gilmore Girls" and touring with Axl Rose?

Bach: There's a question. One is family entertainment and one is not. "Gilmore Girls", I like to surprise people. I love that, actually. It's one of the things that I've always strove for, if that's a word. Striven. Strived.

The Fresno Bee: You've done all kinds of crazy stuff — from reality shows, to "Trailer Park Boys", to performing on Broadway. How do get yourself into these situations?

Bach: I am extremely lucky. I don't know how this happened. I am one of the luckiest performers in this world in that I do get to pick and choose what I do. I've been offered the package tours outdoors with a bunch of bands I didn't particularly like. I've always said I'm not gonna tour until it's really cool. Then my friend Axl Rose called.

The Fresno Bee: Yeah, how did the touring with GUNS N' ROSES thing come about?

Bach: They were playing at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City for four nights. Axl texted me and says: "Hey Baz, you in NYC? Wanna hang out?" I said, "Who is this texting me, pretending to be Axl Rose?" I called the number back, and he was like "Hello," and it was him. He has the most unmistakable voice. That was back in May, and here we are in December — still on tour. It's been the most incredible year of my life.

The Fresno Bee: You toured with GN'R in 1991 with SKID ROW. How do you compare that tour to this one?

Bach: Different band members, that's an obvious difference. But the thing is, music is the most visceral art form to me, being that when you hear a song that you loved for years and years and years, it completely takes you to the feeling inside your heart of when you first heard it. You can just feel it in the crowd. When we step on stage and we start into "18 and Life", it's on.

The Fresno Bee: So being on the road with GUNS N' ROSES, is it as crazy as people would think?

Bach: Yes. You know that episode of "SuperGroup" where I quit drinking? I lied. I did quit for like two months, then I got offered the tour. On the road with GUNS N' ROSES is not the optimum opportunity to quit drinking. We live it up. That's how we do. We have fun. You only have one life.

The Fresno Bee: What exactly should people expect from the show?

Bach: We have a nice long set. We also have HELMET on the bill and the SUICIDE GIRLS. I'm doing the hits and some new stuff, too. Just like every other musician. The GUNS N' ROSES fans are not just interested in old songs. They want to hear "Chinese Democracy". I even know when it's coming out, but I can't betray my confidence. If you want to hear the songs, come by the show. Axl plays a long time, it's like two and a half … hours.

[muthagoose]

An open letter from Axl Rose

An open letter to our fans:

Guns N’ Roses regrets to announce that the following concert tour dates have been canceled:

January 10: Sacramento
January 11: Bakersfield
January 13: Reno
January 16: San Diego

Because of the scheduling of these particular shows, valuable time needed by the band and record company for the proper setup and release of the album Chinese Democracy would have been lost. Rather than delay the album yet again, all involved have decided to remove these shows from GN’R’s schedule. We hope our fans understand and we apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused. Tickets may be refunded at point of purchase.

To say the making of this album has been an unbearably long and incomprehensible journey would be an understatement. Overcoming the endless and seemingly insane amount of obstacles faced by all involved, notwithstanding the emotional challenges endured by everyone -- the fans, the band, our road crew and business team -- has at many times seemed like a bad dream in which one wakes up only to find that they are still in the nightmare. Unfortunately, this time it has been played out for over a decade in real life.

The true, ongoing, behind-the-scenes triumphs and casualties are much more complicated than any negative speculation that the media or otherwise has managed to hit upon. For much of the time, various legal issues have arisen, demanding that the best way to deal with these things publicly, quite frankly, was to keep our mouths shut in an attempt to ensure the best outcome -- especially one that wouldn’t jeopardize the band or the album. It’s easy for people to point out how others have handled similar situations or how they would have dealt with these issues themselves if they encountered them in their own lives. But again, without full knowledge of the various dynamics and circumstances involved, these types of comments or commentary are just uninformed, disassociated, generally useless -- and often hindering -- speculation.

When I agreed to do our recent North American tour, I did it with the understanding that my manager, Merck Mercuriadis, and I were in full agreement regarding our strategy and touring plans and, most important, that any and all things needed to release the album by Dec. 26 at the latest were in place. Unfortunately, it turned out that this was not the case, and I regret to say that the album will not be released by the end of the year. Although many things went extremely well and were very exciting, there were, in our opinion, unnecessary and avoidable complications on our tour having to do with the tour routing, scheduling and album and video plans that wreaked havoc on all involved. This was compounded by an overall sense of a lack of respect by management for the band and crew and each individual's particular expertise that has resulted, unfortunately, in the end of both Guns’ and my managerial involvement with Merck Mercuriadis.

In regard to a release date for the album itself, certain minor –- and I do mean minor -- additions, as well as contract negotiations, need to be completed. Barring any unforeseen complications, these things have now been adequately scheduled. The band and I, along with our record company, feel that this record deserves the proper setup and promotion, not the “13 Tuesdays left” and “It may just appear in your record store” approach offered by management. We believe this strategy may have been used as a tool by management to sell this latest tour to the various promoters, and if this was the case, this was obviously unfair to them. The stress of dealing with this situation has been considerable for everyone, including the band, but more important, in our opinion, it was something utterly insane to do to our fans. You have our apologies, and please know we have been laboring over this with management for the entire North American tour.

It takes approximately eight weeks for an album to hit the shelves once it has been turned in to the record company. For whatever reasons, it appears that it may have been mistakenly inferred by management that this time period could be condensed to three weeks. With that being said, this is not a promise, a lie or a guarantee, but we do wish to announce a tentative release date of March 6. This is the first time we have done this publicly for this album. Others have made up all the other dates for their own reasons. We would like to assure the fans that everything in our power will be done to meet this date. Once it is finalized and official, you will be notified. If we are delayed for unseen reasons, you also will be notified as soon as possible in regard to a new date, and the album will be released as shortly thereafter as is possible. We thank you for your patience.

In the end, it’s just an album, but it’s one that I, the band, our record company and all involved believe and feel is a true Guns N’ Roses album. Ultimately the public will decide, and regardless of the outcome, our hearts, lives and our passion has been put into this project every step of the way. If for no other reason, we feel those elements alone merit your consideration. We do hope you can hold on just a bit longer, and if not, please take a break and we’ll be more than glad -- if you so choose -- to see you again later.

Once again, we offer our sincere apologies and our deepest thanks. Guns N’ Roses also would like to thank all the fans who attended the 70 concerts in 21 countries for their support in 2006. All the best to each and every one of you over this holiday season, thank you and God bless.

Sincerely,

Axl Rose

[muthagoose]

Former GUNS N' ROSES Manager Merck Mercuriadis: 'I Believe In AXL ROSE'

Former GUNS N' ROSES manager Merck Mercuriadis has issued the following "open letter" to the group's fans:

"Along with all of the other GUNS N' ROSES fans around the world I read 'An Open Letter To The Fans From Axl' this evening with much interest. About half way through it occurred to me that I had read much of this before. In fact, I had written the blueprint for it in an email for Axl's attention two days ago which I have copied below.

"The reality is all of this year's touring was planned and agreed between Axl and myself, with a view to the album being in the stores before the 31st of December '06. This was confirmed by Axl in numerous interviews — most famously at the MTV Video Music Awards. We planned the tour in February, just after Axl's birthday and we were supposed to finish the album in May, before it started. We sent our engineers to New York, where we all waited, for over a month, for the muse to come but she never arrived. We then scheduled sessions in London in August and had our engineers meet us there at the end of the English tour. August came and went and once again the muse did not show. We postponed our proposed radio date of Labour Day for the first single and we came back to L.A. and tried to finish before the San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles shows but yet again she eluded us. Axl then asked me to postpone the North American tour which was due to start on 24th of September by a month and finally, early in that period after the euphoria of Inland Invasion, Axl made a breakthrough and got two or three very productive days under his belt.

"At this point we were very excited as Axl's feeling was that we had two or three days of work left to tidy things up and we still had three weeks before the tour started, so we were in good shape. Unfortunately the muse disappeared just as fast as she came and the tour started with no single at radio to support it and the album still needing two or three days of work. Despite this, it was a break through period as Robin, Bumblefoot and Frank had all made important contributions to the album that made it even stronger. By the way none of the above is meant as a criticism of Axl. It is the reality of trying to create something special under incredible pressure from the public — that wants and DEMANDS the record — and the record industry — that NEEDS it. The creative process is not something you can dictate and Axl is a true artist.

"At this time I seriously considered postponing the start of the tour, again, as the album was of paramount importance but the reality was that our historic track record left us with very little good will with you, the fans, and we needed the money to be able to complete the album and keep the band alive. We scheduled sessions in New York and once again sent the engineers there for the first two weeks of November while the tour was based there — but the hectic touring schedule meant nothing got done. The record company refused to conclude the renegotiation until we were ready to hand over the finished album and refused to prepare a marketing campaign or commission video treatments until they had it in their hands. This is still their position as of this week.

"At this point despite the success of many of the dates on the tour the pressure on all of us became unbearable. While some of Axl's letter is disappointing — As John Lennon once asked Paul McCartney 'How Do You Sleep?' — until you have walked a mile in his shoes you cannot begin to comprehend the pressure he is under. I know I sleep well at night in the knowledge that when 'Chinese Democracy' hits the streets in March that it is in large part down to my efforts over the last almost 5 years. I found the money and the motivation to keep Axl and the band alive and get the record made when everyone else had given up and walked away. We worked as a team united to make 'Chinese Democracy' a reality. In the end the album will speak for itself but our relationship could not survive the pressure.

"I have no regrets. I believe 'Chinese Democracy' is one of the best albums ever made, Axl Rose is one of the greatest vocalists and frontmen and the new GUNS N' ROSES (which kicks the shit out of the old) is one of the greatest bands. What we accomplished in 2006 only hints at what is to come.

"I believe in Axl Rose. I am the artist's manager and it is my responsibility and job to take the heat. I promise you 'Chinese Democracy' is worth it and you should keep the faith. I will walk away knowing I have done my best and that next year will see Axl recognized not only as a great singer and rock icon but as one of the greatest artists of all time.

"Merry Christmas and all the best to you for 2007!

"Merck Mercuriadis

"P.S.: I apologize to all the fans irked by my facetious comments regarding the release date to Rolling Stone magazine. They were meant to poke fun at a magazine that had announced a definitive release date, causing us all lots of grief, when none had been set. Unfortunately many of you took them to heart and for that I am sorry."

"Begin forwarded message:

From: Merck Mercuriadis
Date: 12 December 2006 14:11:02 GMT-08:00
Subject: Album Press Release

"Regardless of the issues that exist between Axl and myself, I believe it is important for an announcement on the album to be put out this week and at the same time cover the cancellation of the 5 shows in January. Further to this I have thought about the album release date taking into account the issues between Axl and myself and my view is that the album should be set for release on the 20th of March rather than the 6th of February. March 20th is the first day of spring and a positive day. This allows for three months to set it up properly around the world without unmanageable pressure and for it to be well imbedded in the market place before the summer lull sets in. It also allows for the deal to be done with the label and any change in management etc which may be made to be made as well as detailed meetings on the touring which on this basis would start in Dubai just before the album's release. The note will be most effective if it comes from Axl as he will then be seen as the good guy who is giving people the information they want. Having said that it could come from either Howard or myself or both of us. I have presented two options the first not giving a release date and the second one stating it. The message would be posted as the lead story on gunsnroses.com and we would then point all of the media there. I would appreciate it if you would all let me know your thoughts on all of this keeping in mind that this is a work in progress.

"Option 1

"Merry Christmas To You All

"We are into the last week of the tour and Christmas is almost here so I wanted to take the time not only to wish you Merry Christmas but to also explain why 'Chinese Democracy' is not under your tree or in the stores as we wanted it would be. We read the papers and we know you want — demand! — news. We have been in the final stages of renegotiating our deal with our record label and it has been a long slow process — not unlike making the record! The discussion started over a year ago but did not become serious until they started hearing the mixes. Everyone involved has worked hard to get the deal completed so we could get the record out this month but a few weeks ago it became obvious that was not going to happen. We then held out as we wanted to at least be able to give you the release date before Christmas but unfortunately we are still not there yet. This is not meant to spark a hate campaign on the label. This is an unusual and complicated situation as we have worked a long time on this album and it is important to us to make sure that everything including the deal is right. At the same time it is a business that has to work for everyone involved. We have all — you included — waited a long time for this and this is not the time to compromise. The first news you will hear from us in 2007 will be to announce the album's release date. Without the album out it does not make sense to do the 5 shows we have scheduled for January in isolation so they are being cancelled and we will focus on getting the album out. Until that time we want to thank you for all of your support in 2006 and wish you all the best for the holidays and a happy new year.

"W. Axl Rose

"Option 2

"Merry Christmas To You All

"We are into the last week of the tour and Christmas is almost here so I wanted to take the time not only to wish you Merry Christmas but to also explain why 'Chinese Democracy' is not under your tree or in the stores as we wanted it to be. We read the papers and we know you want — demand! — news. We have been in the final stages of renegotiating our deal with our record label and it has been a long slow process — not unlike making the record! The discussion started over a year ago but did not become serious until they started hearing the mixes. Everyone involved has worked hard to get the deal completed so we could get the record out this month but a few weeks ago it became obvious that was not going to happen. We have all — you included — waited a long time for this and this was not the time to compromise. We then held out on making an announcement as we wanted to at least be able to give you the release date before Christmas so here it is. 'Chinese Democracy' will be released on the 20th of March in the US and Canada — the first day of spring and a time for new beginnings! — and on the 19th of March everywhere else in the world. Without the album out it does not make sense to do the 5 shows we have scheduled for January in isolation so they are being cancelled and we will focus on getting the album out. We want to thank you for all of your support in 2006 and wish you all the best for the holidays and a happy new year. We look forward to seeing you in 2007!

"W. Axl Rose"

[muthagoose]

GUNS N' ROSES Joined By IZZY STRADLIN At L.A. Show

Ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Izzy Stradlin joined his former bandmate, Axl Rose, and his new version of GUNS N' ROSES on stage at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk in Universal City, CA Sunday night (Dec. 17) for several numbers, including "Think About You", "Used to Love Her" and "Patience". Izzy also reportedly performed a guitar solo at the show, which had been sold out for quite some time.

[muthagoose]

AXL ROSE Parties With PLAYBOY Bunnies In Las Vegas

According to Robin Leach of Vegas Pop, GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose spent New Year's Eve partying at The Playboy Club (located at The Palms Casino Resort) in Las Vegas, surrounded by Playboy bunnies. Check out a photo of Rose and the bunnies at this location.

Rose announced last month on GUNS N' ROSES' official web site a "tentative" March 6 release date for the band's eternally delayed new album, "Chinese Democracy". In the posting, Rose also revealed he has split with longtime manager Merck Mercuriadis due to disagreements over the set up for the album release.

[muthagoose]

"Axl Rose - The Unauthorized Biography" to hit shelves in May

On May 4, Sidgwick & Jackson (an imprint of PanMacmillan Books) will publish "Axl Rose - The Unauthorized Biography" (cover), written by longtime rock journalist Mick Wall, formerly of Kerrang! magazine. The official book description reads as follows:

"Axl Rose is one of rock's most colorful figures and yet his story has never been properly told until now. Mick Wall knew the original line up of GUNS N' ROSES before they were famous and has interviewed them many times. Drawing on exclusive unpublished material, he has written a no-holds-barred study of the troubled life and turbulent career of the group's singer and leader.

"The roots of Axl's behavior lie in his difficult childhood in Indiana — brought up in a strict Pentecostal household Axl claims, he was abused by his father William Rose and as a teen got into trouble with the police. Escaping to L.A., he and his fledgling band struggled to survive until they were signed up by Geffen in 1986. The first album, 'Appetite for Destruction' turned them into stars but the band's decadent lifestyle took its toll — they embarked on a two-year tour that sounded the death knell for the original line-up. As their lives slipped out of control, the original members all left and Axl turned into an increasingly reclusive figure. For the past thirteen years, he has been working on a long-awaited album, 'Chinese Democracy', and finally in 2006 has re-emerged into public view as the latest GUNS N' ROSES line-up embark on a world tour.

"Scrupulously researched and vividly written, 'W. Axl Rose' is an explosive biography of rock's biggest living legend."

For more information, visit www.panmacmillan.com.

Mick Wall's unauthorized GN'R biography, "Guns N Roses: The Most Dangerous Band In The World", first published in Britain by Sidgwick & Jackson in 1991 (and in America, in updated form, the following year, by Hyperion) so incensed W. Axl Rose that he wrote a song about it, "Get In The Ring", from GN'R's 1991 zillion-selling "Use Your Illusion II" album.

Wall recently wrote an article about GUNS N' ROSES' long-awaited new album, "Chinese Democracy", for the U.K.'s The Mail, stating, in part, "The last time I actually saw Rose, though, was when he and three menacing 'cohorts' cornered me in a Los Angeles bar and threatened to murder me if I went ahead with a planned book on his band. 'If I see anything with my name on it, I promise you this,' he said, pausing for effect while peering at me through his long red hair, 'I will track you down, and I will kill you.'

"Of course, I went ahead with my book. By then, Rose threatening people with violence was a fairly regular scenario.

[muthagoose]

TRACII GUNS: If I Had Stayed With GUNS N' ROSES, It Would Have Been A Very Different Band

L.A. GUNS guitarist Tracii Guns recently spoke to Gavin Allen of the South Wales Echo about his early years as a member of GUNS N' ROSES.

"If I had stayed with Axl [Rose], I don't know if GUNS N' ROSES would have been any better or worse but I think it would have been a very different band. We would have had a bit more fire. But the key to that band's success was Axl because at that time his singing really connected with people on a social level."

"I haven't spoken to Axl since 1988, but we still have a lot of mutual friends. I don't wish him ill, but it's hard because he never stops saying bad things about me. He was on my MySpace page doing that very recently.

"Axl's problem is that if people don't support him 100 percent in what he's doing, he just doesn't want to know them any more. He's so talented but that talent comes from being a nervous wreck and some place in your head you need to be happy, which he isn't."

"If I'd stayed with GUNS N' ROSES for two more years I could have financed my rock and roll dreams — got Blackie Lawless to play bass, Nikki Sixx on drums and Robert Plant to sing — but at the same time we had a pretty good run with L.A. GUNS, so I take the positives because I'm still touring Europe. But the problem with being on the road is that I do have a lot of time to think."

Muthagoose Says: Tracii Guns is one of the greatest thinkers of our generation.

[muthagoose]

Guns N' Roses to play South Africa

Guns N' Roses will perform in South Africa for the first time in the band's history at the My Coke Fest 2007, according to Billboard. The event is scheduled for April 27th in Johannesburg and May 1st in Cape Town, with Evanescence and Hoobastank also confirmed on the bill. The show is a sort of sequel to 2006's Coca-Cola Collab Massive Mix, which featured the South African live debut of Metallica as well as appearances from natives Seether and others.

Guns N' Roses is rumored to be planning more touring for later this spring and summer.

Although singer W. Axl Rose, who turns 45 on Tuesday, February 6th, posted a message in December revealing a tentative release date of March 6th for the long-delayed G N' R album Chinese Democracy, there's been no further word on whether the CD will actually surface on that date.

Of the band's first appearance in South Africa, W. Axl Rose said: "I’ve been fortunate enough to play in some of the most historic buildings and stadiums around the world but performing in South Africa will truly be an honor. I can’t wait to see South Africa. This is a dream come true".