Zakk Wylde: Unreleased GN'R tracks in Duff's vault!

[Mikkamakka]

In the recent issue of Rockinform, a Hungarian rock magazine Zakk Wylde talks about his time with Guns N' Roses. He said that the recordings are in Duff's vault.     It's something new we haven't known.

[Stonerose]

Id love to hear that shit.

[duga]

Me too! 

[Will]

Axl said what Slash recorded back then was the best stuff he ever heard from him...

[RichardNixon]

I wonder if we will ever get to hear this "lost" album?

[blaqktiger]

Anything with Zakk is just amazing... but with GN'R... WOW! I really hope to hear it one day!

[jameslofton29]

The main question would be if any vocals were ever recorded. I remember this from along time ago, but dont remember if Axl mentioned the progress.

[Origen]

Axl said what Slash recorded back then was the best stuff he ever heard from him...

The sad thing is we'll probably never hear it. It's annoying to think that between 95-97 we could of had concerts with great material being played by the Axl/Slash/Duff/ lineup.

[Vadin]

Maybe it's the stuff we heard on contraband 

[LaTeRaLuS]

I wonder if we will ever get to hear this "lost" album?

no chance in hell if u ask me

[jameslofton29]

Origen, I think the Zakk sessions are from 94. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I'm pretty sure it was just a brief period in 1994/95 after Gilby was gone.

[slashisvr]

Origen, I think the Zakk sessions are from 94. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I'm pretty sure it was just a brief period in 1994/95 after Gilby was gone.

wasnt after that slash said them two could never play in a serious band together because the sound wouldnt be roght with two lead guitarists??

then shortly after axl was heard saying that zakk was goin to be slash's replacement

myself am too young to remeber, but im goin on past mags with interviews with slash etc in them

[Continental Drift]

My recollection is that everything Zakk did with the band was limited to the Autumn of 1995- which was they were actually all back together for the first time since the UYI tour.

I'm guessing the line-up was: Axl, Slash, Duff, Matt, Dizzy, Paul Huge and Zakk.

I believe Axl said that having Zakk around brought some really interesting and great material out of Slash- but Slash HATED the dual lead idea.

[blaqktiger]

I thought it was in 1994.... and I think Zakk/Axl never even played together.... Zakk played with the band (minus Axl)... If any vocals were added it was when Zakk wasn't around.

He went to play and record with Pride & Glory late 94/95.

[Eric]

Read an interview with Slash in '95-said it sounded like Guns N' Ozzy

[slashisvr]

im sure we will hear it, i mean suff wouldnt keep it locked away till he dies, he will release it someday im sure 

[Continental Drift]

I thought it was in 1994.... and I think Zakk/Axl never even played together.... Zakk played with the band (minus Axl)... If any vocals were added it was when Zakk wasn't around.

He went to play and record with Pride & Glory late 94/95.

You may be right about 1994. I just remember hearing about it in 1995. I'm not sure if Axl played together with Zakk either... he did listen in though as he made that famous comment about Slash and Zakk together being like a large Tyranasaurus Rex and a large Python in the same room together (or something along those lines).

Anyway, I think the answer to a lot of questions is in this old tibit in the HTGTH archives:

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/articles/showarticle.php?articleid=65

[blaqktiger]

Thanks for that... it also proves the Axl not joining in thing as wrong.

we jammed over a whole bunch of shit and came out with three pretty cool ideas. That was with the whole band: Axl, Slash, Dizzy, Duff, Matt and me. We were all just jammin' together and havin' a blast.

[russtcb]

I'm willing to bet that it sounds like GN'R with ALOT of pinch harmonics! 

[Scabbie]

I dunno why but It makes me laugh when anyone mentions 'vaults'!

I'm sure every band member has a lot of cool shit we'll never get to hear

[Continental Drift]

Thanks for that... it also proves the Axl not joining in thing as wrong.

we jammed over a whole bunch of shit and came out with three pretty cool ideas. That was with the whole band: Axl, Slash, Dizzy, Duff, Matt and me. We were all just jammin' together and havin' a blast.

Yeah. I think he was definitely "around". I'm not sure how much he was singing or playing the piano or whatever. I think Slash, Duff, Matt, etc. have all talked about how during this time (mid 90s) Axl was just hanging out in the producer's bunker and obsessively tinkering with the band's "sound". I think that qualifies as "jamming" for Axl though.

[michaelvincent]

The 'transition period' of GnR to me is the most interesting. By transition I mean the period of time as original members drifted out and the new guys came in, but before the final new lineup because so many people are rumored to have played with Axl in some capacity. I would be especially interested to hear the stuff they worked on while Axl was playing guitar, and what they were working on when Duff was the last of the original band still hanging around (besides Axl). Given what we've read I would say that we were probably looking at a lineup of Axl, Duff, Robin, Paul Huge, Dizzy, and Josh Freese. But at that time we also know that quite a few other players were around (Dave Abbruzzese of Pearl Jam, Billy Howerdel, Chris Vrenna, etc). I know they didn't record much in the way of proper songs but the ideas must have been awesome.

[liesin]

Hearing that stuff would be fucking mindblowing! High expectations but this must be really interesting pieces due to the many changes in the band.

[duga]

I would like to hear the "rough" UYI records Slash is supposed to have...

[DeN]

we'll have this stuff one day.
if it exists, it will be surface as bootlegs, things are stolen, things are lost...even some chinese democracy was leaked.

[CheapJon]

we'll have this stuff one day.
if it exists, it will be surface as bootlegs, things are stolen, things are lost...even some chinese democracy was leaked.

whawhaWHAT!!! is there leaked CD material?

[PhillyRiot]

I am sure there is a ton of material the old band has that we would love to hear.  Of course anytime you hear something specific like what Wlyde said is gets you excited!!!!

[Rockin' Rose]

we'll have this stuff one day.
if it exists, it will be surface as bootlegs, things are stolen, things are lost...even some chinese democracy was leaked.

whawhaWHAT!!! is there leaked CD material?

I think he means the demos

[russtcb]

we'll have this stuff one day.
if it exists, it will be surface as bootlegs, things are stolen, things are lost...even some chinese democracy was leaked.

whawhaWHAT!!! is there leaked CD material?

I think he means the demos

I would assume thats what he meant too. I tell you what.... I'd LOVE to hear what Zakk would do w/ either Better OR TWAT.

[ryan_of_lax]

I'm sure I remember reading that Zakk didn't record a single note with the band...

Maybe the songs he's referring to in Duff's vaults are the ones of the 4 piece band (Axl, Matt, Duff and Slash) that Axl and Duff spoke of in some old interviews.

[requiem156]

I'm willing to bet that it sounds like GN'R with ALOT of pinch harmonics!?

+1 to that, and I can't see why gnr would need someone like Zakk in the band if Slash was still there. Zakk doesn't have the punky/Stones rhythmic approach that you need for Guns stuff - he's more of a Sabbath type of guy. His chops are pretty good, but if you want a shredder I'd still go with the guy that is in the band, or the one that left(not mentioning names for fear of argument and thread locking).

[Vadin]

It would be nice if they released some sort of album wich featured all the songs from the past we haven't heard yet. Many groups have done that, like the beatles etc.

It's sad to say, but I think that will be the case when they are dead and buried 

or... slash & co will re-record some of it and release it with velvet revolver 

I still want to hear the "new-"gnr version of crash diet 

[St.heathen]

I'll try and find the mag with the info in at some point. ?

But i'm sure Moby's involvement with the band was around that time. Maybe just after Slash left. ?And he says the material they recorded was awsome and should have just been released there and then. ?But that due to fall outs with Slash and Duff, Axl seemed wounded and didn't release it.

Would be cool if someone like Del James or someone who wont be too one sided to give an honest opinion about those 'lost GNR years' in a book. Would be interesting.

 

[Lord Kayoss]

Read an interview with Slash in '95-said it sounded like Guns N' Ozzy

I believe that. ?I wouldn't want Zakk in GN'R. ?I'm glad he isn't in the new line-up. ?Great guitarist and blah blah but I just don't care for his style. ?Every song sounds the same. ?I can listen to Zakk-era Ozzy but I much prefer the Randy Rhoads stuff. ?Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman own anything Zakk recorded for Ozzy, IMO.

I wouldn't really want to hear the vault material, unless Axl is singing on it.

[michaelvincent]

All I'm gonna say is this....

Slash and Zakk Wylde together in GnR doing Locomotive. The power would cause you all to shit yourselves.

[jameslofton29]

But i'm sure Moby's involvement with the band was around that time. Maybe just after Slash left.  And he says the material they recorded was awsome and should have just been released there and then.  But that due to fall outs with Slash and Duff, Axl seemed wounded and didn't release it.

I doubt that Moby ever told Axl to release an album of instrumentals. Moby stated several times back then that NO vocals had been recorded during the timeframe that he was involved in the project.

[Onikeus]

 I hope the stuff that Zakk Wylde did with GNR is released one day. Zakk doesn't just shred, he writes very soulful, bluesy riffs on the guitar. His roots are with Sabbath and Zeppelin. It would be interesting to see how that'd affect GNR's sound. I think the problem was that when Zakk was jamming with Slash, Zakk overpowered him. This isn't saying he's a better guitarist, he's just brutal with his playing. There is a video of Slash and Zakk jamming on Voodoo Child where they share lead guitar and Zakk is clearly dominating Slash's playing. Slash is an awesome guitar player but Zakk's style is just so demanding. I think Slash wanted Zakk out of the band (I think he even stated this). I think Axl could have brought out the best musically in both of them and it would have been interesting to see.

[SkiX]

Oh god, this really pisses me off to think that there was good unheard gnr material!
And we will never hear it... 

[veritas55]

I don't think there is any such thing as a "lost" album with Zakk.  My understanding of what the players said was that Zakk BRIEFLY jammed with the band to see if it would work out.  It didn't.  But I would be very surprised if any fully formed songs developed, much less with vocals.  I thought Axl said that the material they kicked around for a while (and which Axl rejected) simply ended up being Slash's Snakepit's first album.  What Zakk was probably referring to was just that some of the riffs and the jams were recorded in progress.

[destroier]

If you can outlive the band, you'll hear it all.

[requiem156]

I hope the stuff that Zakk Wylde did with GNR is released one day. Zakk doesn't just shred, he writes very soulful, bluesy riffs on the guitar. His roots are with Sabbath and Zeppelin.

Actually his roots are with Skynyrd, the Allman Bros. and Sabbath.

Black Label Society - that's some soulful, bluesy stuff all right. 

[Elrothiel]

Yupyup!

Haha Duff's vault eh.... anyone up for a little trip to El Casa De Duff with a blowtorch and black balaclavas?

[CheapJon]

If you can outlive the band, you'll hear it all.

i hope and think so too.. just look at all the new jimi hendrix releases after his death that he had recorded..

if that was what you meant

[The New Fiona Apple]

We should raid it!

[mikegiuliana]

to think new gnr could have been zakk and slash

[chad_er33]

i don't think you could have 2 kick ass guitar players like that in one band.  it would be hard deciding who would play what solo's.  lots of egos.  Both of them are great though.

[DeN]

of course i talked about the demos.

(ok ok i have the complete Checkmate song 5.56 mns in 320 kbps mp3) 


anyway, since the mid 90s a number of bootlegs of Led Zep have surfaced,
who are believed to have been sourced from demo tapes stolen from
Jimmy Page's house....so maybe we'll see the same for guns, or maybe one
day Duff will put that online, who knows...

[ben9785]

Once/if "Chinese Democracy" comes out, it would be stupid if someone didn't approach the idea of putting out some sort of a disc with all this stuff...hell im sure it could even make up a box set from all the possible recordings. and im sure many different music fans all across the board would love to hear it, just think about who has collaborated with Axl in the years leading up to now, or whenever CD comes out

and re: Zakk Wylde's period in GNR, I think I remember reading somewhere about Axl was playing more guitar during that time or something..and how his guitar rig / pedal setup was like a spaceship or a jet

[Neemo]

I'd like to here that shit....Zakk rules, but since Axl has part say in what is released and what isn't then it prolly will never see the light of day

[Megaguns]

That would be some cool shit to hear. Surely it will surface some day, like the beatles songs did decades after. Hopefully in my lifetime.

[Bumblefeet]

Axl said what Slash recorded back then was the best stuff he ever heard from him...

but did we not get to sample some of this in its 5 o clock somewhere/ was some of the riffs ans stuff in that taken from late gnr stuff b4 he left, no?

[Butch Français]

The main question would be if any vocals were ever recorded. I remember this from along time ago, but dont remember if Axl mentioned the progress.

right, my guess is there's no vocals on them. or if there is, it's probably Duff singing.

[benchiefjr]

I hope the stuff that Zakk Wylde did with GNR is released one day. Zakk doesn't just shred, he writes very soulful, bluesy riffs on the guitar. His roots are with Sabbath and Zeppelin.

Actually his roots are with Skynyrd, the Allman Bros. and Sabbath.

Black Label Society - that's some soulful, bluesy stuff all right.?

listen to the very last piano ballad on the last BLS cd, that solo is amazing.

[Mikkamakka]

I hope the stuff that Zakk Wylde did with GNR is released one day. Zakk doesn't just shred, he writes very soulful, bluesy riffs on the guitar. His roots are with Sabbath and Zeppelin.

Actually his roots are with Skynyrd, the Allman Bros. and Sabbath.

Black Label Society - that's some soulful, bluesy stuff all right.?

You haven't heard The Hangover Music, have you?


BTW I don't understand why it was moved to the Dead Horse since none of us knew before that Duff has the recordings.

[Elrothiel]

I hope the stuff that Zakk Wylde did with GNR is released one day. Zakk doesn't just shred, he writes very soulful, bluesy riffs on the guitar. His roots are with Sabbath and Zeppelin.

Actually his roots are with Skynyrd, the Allman Bros. and Sabbath.

Black Label Society - that's some soulful, bluesy stuff all right. 

You haven't heard The Hangover Music, have you?


BTW I don't understand why it was moved to the Dead Horse since none of us knew before that Duff has the recordings.

God I LOVE that album!!

[ryba]

My recollection is that everything Zakk did with the band was limited to the Autumn of 1995- which was they were actually all back together for the first time since the UYI tour.

I'm guessing the line-up was: Axl, Slash, Duff, Matt, Dizzy, Paul Huge and Zakk.

I believe Axl said that having Zakk around brought some really interesting and great material out of Slash- but Slash HATED the dual lead idea.

1. Axl didn't actually ever "jam". He probably just listened to the guys jamming from time to time.

2. I don't think Dizzy was a part of the Guns N' Roses songwriting machine. He just did piano arrangements, didn't write songs.

3. Paul Huge was an asshole brought in by Axl from nowhere who contributed to Axl's kicking out Matt Sorum (after Matt said to Huge sth like: hey, don't ya ever say sth like that 'bout my friend [Slash that is])

None of the GN'R (apart from Axl) liked him, neither did they know him well. I remember I read somewhere that Slash wasn't even informed about Paul Huge recording a guitar track for  Sympathy For The Devil.

Paul Huge's name did not come up as being part of this jam

from http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/articles/showarticle.php?articleid=65

God I LOVE that album!!

Me too.

[mrlee]

Origen, I think the Zakk sessions are from 94. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I'm pretty sure it was just a brief period in 1994/95 after Gilby was gone.

then will it have a southern rock feel to it?

as at that time wasnt he doing pride n glory?

[T_Roxie]

Man, from what Zakk says in the article, it sounds awesome.

This stuck out tho..."as you'll read-that no one should bet on the Axl/Slash partnership breaking up just yet!" 

[BluesGNR]

Man, from what Zakk says in the article, it sounds awesome.

This stuck out tho..."as you'll read-that no one should bet on the Axl/Slash partnership breaking up just yet!"?

Hahaha... if only he knew what he was saying.  I wish it were true.

[BLS-Pride]

I hope the stuff that Zakk Wylde did with GNR is released one day. Zakk doesn't just shred, he writes very soulful, bluesy riffs on the guitar. His roots are with Sabbath and Zeppelin.

Actually his roots are with Skynyrd, the Allman Bros. and Sabbath.

Black Label Society - that's some soulful, bluesy stuff all right. 

Go listen to Book of Shadows which  his solo album and it is an acoutic ablum. Also Hangover is another one but not as good.. BoS will teach you that Zakk a soulful player. Way Beyond Empty, Heaven and Hell, Sold My Soul, Throwin' It All Away, Road Back Home etc.. All amazing songs.

And the stuff he was writing with GnR was hard and heavy. Not southern rock.