"70% Awesome 30% weird"-Dave Navarro

[LIGuns]

Guitarist Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION, CAMP FREDDY, THE PANIC CHANNEL) was recently asked by a fan via Dave's official web site if he has had a chance to sit down and listen to GUNS N' ROSES' long-awaited new album, "Chinese Democracy", all the way through and what his thoughts on it were. "Yes," Navarro replied. "I have to say that I pretty much love it. The way I have been describing it has been 70% awesome and 30% really weird, but after a few listens the weird becomes awesome again. I don't know if it's the songs or the fact that I just enjoy hearing that guy's [Axl Rose] voice or both, but I am a fan. It's not GN'R as we know it. It feels more like an Axl solo record, probably because as music lovers we were able to get a feel for the old GN'R dynamics and the personalities of each member in the band. I know very little about this band so it's hard to connect with each member sonically like I did before. People have been commenting on how long it took to make, but I kind of don't believe he was working on all THESE songs the whole time. I'm sure there have been versions, stuff that got scrapped, breaks, lineup changes, personal time. I'm speculating, of course, but having worked on so many projects, I know that there are a million things that go down before you even decide on the track listing."

The original lineup of JANE'S ADDICTION played another tiny venue in Los Angeles last month. Following on the heels of October's near-impossible-to-get-into engagement at downtown's La Cita, the band performed at Silverlake's El Cid on November 20.

JANE'S ADDICTION, including founding bassist Eric Avery, did reunite for a four-song set at the NME Awards USA in Los Angeles last April, where they were presented with the Godlike Genius Award.

The band has reunited twice before, in 1997 and 2001, but without Avery. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea, Chris Chaney and Martyn LeNoble all took turns in the lineup.

[Christian]

Wow.
A very very very cool vision by a "Outside" person.

That "10 years spent" comment was very realistic, too

[CheapJon]

pretty cool/good for the most part i guess, but this is pretty much utter crap:

It feels more like an Axl solo record, probably because as music lovers we were able to get a feel for the old GN'R dynamics and the personalities of each member in the band. I know very little about this band so it's hard to connect with each member sonically like I did before.

how can this be a solo record when just for an example the guitarsolos on this record are as significant as the ones slash played? different bandmembers has writing credits on all songs except TIL

is it because axl has writing credits on all songs? does that make it a solorecord? no it can pretty much mean that axl wrote lyrics to all songs and made some arrangements, ok maybe more then "some" arrangement but it's disrespectful to take away shit from the bandmembers by calling it a solorecord.. they aren't hired guns, hired guns don't write the music they play, they play what others have written, note for note, this record were written by axl and a majority of others who at least have been in the band at some point.

how did people get a feel for the old band? thanks to videos, interviews and tours? well that is all coming up, but i still have a hard time of getting how people can't get a feel for the band, does that mean they don't feel the guitars etc.? do they only hear the voice? never bringing out their airguitar and going crazy, cuz they can't feel it? hard to believe tbh, i must have interpreted it wrong

if he, mr sell-out doesn't know much about the band then don't speak of it as a backing band to a solo artist

it's all his opinion and this is mine, without taking anything away from the old band nor overrating thw current

EDIT: on another note, one thing that "puzzles" me is that the "70% awesome, 30% different at first listen" "then the 30% becomes awesome after a few listens" well doesn't that add up to 100% awesome?
it's just stupid that the media is making a headline of the 30% weirdness, that's lame, Maybe its the topic starter that wrote the headline/subject at this site, but still.. for most of us it was different/weird hearing it the first time, this is something some of us have been waiting 15 years on, hearing that for the first time is weird, aint it.. then it becomes fully awesome, for me it was awesome at first listen but yeah u catch my drift

[sandman]

awesome comments. totally honest, and very positive.

i've always been a fan of his. Dave's the man!

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

pretty cool/good for the most part i guess, but this is pretty much utter crap:

It feels more like an Axl solo record, probably because as music lovers we were able to get a feel for the old GN'R dynamics and the personalities of each member in the band. I know very little about this band so it's hard to connect with each member sonically like I did before.

His ape drummer in that bar band made him say that.

[reed2009]

mr navarro is a cool guy and honest of course he would love the record!

[crow316]

how can this be a solo record when just for an example the guitarsolos on this record are as significant as the ones slash played? different bandmembers has writing credits on all songs except TIL

is it because axl has writing credits on all songs? does that make it a solorecord? no it can pretty much mean that axl wrote lyrics to all songs and made some arrangements, ok maybe more then "some" arrangement but it's disrespectful to take away shit from the bandmembers by calling it a solorecord.. they aren't hired guns, hired guns don't write the music they play, they play what others have written, note for note, this record were written by axl and a majority of others who at least have been in the band at some point.

For the record, I consider Chinese Democracy a GNR album, not a Axl solo album.  What I dont understand is people who cant see the other point of view.  Why is "Angel Down" a Sebastion Bach solo album? Other guys were involved in writing the songs and recording.  If Bach owned the name Skid Row, would it be a Skid Row album?   
    I always considered a solo album something a musician does when the band he is in doesnt allow for whatever content the musician wants to put out, or doesnt fit musically. Or a solo album is something a musician does when his band breaks up.  To a lot of people, these two things are what happened with Axl. Which is why you will always hear people refering to CD as an Axl solo project.

[jarmo]

Axl himself answered that whole "isn't it a solo record" question.

I didn?t make a solo record. A solo record would be completely different than this and probably much more instrumental. I made a Guns record with the right people who were the only people who really wanted to help me try, were qualified and capable while enduring the public abuse for years . The songs were chosen by everyone involved. I didn?t want to do This I love in anyway shape or form and Robin and Caram insisted gaining Tommy?s and the others support. There?s been a lot of pressure to go with using my name (all external) but that never felt right to me for this band and the parameters in regard to this music have lots more to do with the mindset of Guns than something else. The instrumental I wrote for End of Days that?s more a solo effort at least presently.

/jarmo

[crow316]

I fully understand why Axl doesnt consider CD a solo record. I dont either, as I said.  I was staying on topic and discussing why Navarro, and many others, can consider CD a solo record. And why they do so. 

[The Dog]

I fully understand why Axl doesnt consider CD a solo record. I dont either, as I said.  I was staying on topic and discussing why Navarro, and many others, can consider CD a solo record. And why they do so. 

I'm on the same page as you, Crow.

CD is 110% a GNR album in my book.  But almost EVERYONE else I've ever talked to about GNR/CD has said "it's not GNR anymore".

Once you step outside the echo chamber that is any GNR message board it becomes very apparent that not everyone is reading Axl's posts on message boards or at the official guns website and they haven't been following EVERY move from Axl and the band over the last 15 years. 

Even when explained to them, they still don't care, it's "still not GNR" to them.  I don't agree of course, but my guess is that is what the average Joe thinks.

I think Navarro's comments are on point with the average person who probably doesn't know much about who is in the new Guns, let alone anything about them.  I hope the new band is introduced to the world via interview or video.

To me, CD is a transition record between old and new guns in terms of members and in sound - people will get used to it and adjust.

[western_chaos]

Yeah, very good comments from Dave Navarro.

I do agree with him although I think I know more about the band that he does. 

And, it's not really an Axl solo album because the same band-members participated pretty much throughout the disc. (My 2 cents)

[GNR4L]

I think it's pretty stupid when people go around saying its Axl Rose solo project.   If it was it wouldn't be called Guns N' Roses just like Axl said.  Its just a excuse people make to justify why Slash and CO aren't in the band.  Some people are set in their way's, that goes musically as well. I personally think the album is weird in a good way ! its new and refreshing ! I always liked Dave Navarro he seems like a straight shooter, the more as time goes by I think the CD gets more popular.

[novemberparadise23]

cool. Daves always been cool. And he played on Oh My God which I've always loved

[Erin]

I like Dave and I think his statement was very well said.

[Yellow Discipline]

He said it feels like an Axl solo album.  That's his opinion.  His opinion is as correct as anybody elses.

I applaud his fine review of this album.  My opinion is that Navarro should have stayed on Heroin and avoided the whole Talk Show Host syndrome he is stuck in.

[GNFNR-UK]

Gotta love Dave, he's a kick ass guitarist and the epitome of rock n roll if you ask me, who cares if he goes on chat shows and plays poker on TV, have u forgot that he directed his own porno and plays with Jane's?? I don't think he's sold out musically and thats the main thing (Unlike the Chili Peppers for example).

Back on topic,

I think people have a hard time trying to grasp the new line up maybe beacuse of the revolving doors when it comes to players, I have friends who still think Bucketheads in the lineup! Everyone who has been in the 'NEW' Guns has a shit load of talent though so it's all good. I just hope they can just stick with one lineup from now on, well with Buckethead back 

[falungong69]

fuck dave.  who is he anyways?  a nobody.  does anyone give a shit about his stupid bands anymore?  who is he to say anything critical about axl rose?  he can go straight to hell as far as i am concerned.

[faldor]

fuck dave.  who is he anyways?  a nobody.  does anyone give a shit about his stupid bands anymore?  who is he to say anything critical about axl rose?  he can go straight to hell as far as i am concerned.

Well he did say the album was pretty much completely awesome.  Not sure that's so negative.

[falungong69]

fuck dave.  who is he anyways?  a nobody.  does anyone give a shit about his stupid bands anymore?  who is he to say anything critical about axl rose?  he can go straight to hell as far as i am concerned.

Well he did say the album was pretty much completely awesome.  Not sure that's so negative.

um, maybe we read different articles.  he said it was 30 percent weird, but that it became awesome.  so why not just say it was one hundred percent awesome?  simple... because he, like a lot of other assholes out there, just love to find any opportunity they can to trash axl.  so even when he loves the album as he clearly does, he still has to go out of his way to trash it in the same breath.

and even when axl has settled the 'solo project' business once and for all, he CONTINUES to spread that bullshit.  he knows it's not a solo album.  he knows it's a gnr album.  but he's still running his mouth, trying to put the new band down.  so quite simply... fuck him.  i have no need for haters, moaners and whiners in my life.

[crow316]

so quite simply... fuck him.  i have no need for haters, moaners and whiners in my life.

Thats kindof an oxymoronical statement there, dont ya think?   Dave never trashes Axl. And calling the album 30% weird is not necessarily a bad thing.  When I show the album to people who havent heard any of it yet, I tell them that its a bit weird. No big deal.

[duga]

I thought WTTJ was weird the first time I heard it. 

[Gargh!]

um, maybe we read different articles.  he said it was 30 percent weird, but that it became awesome.  so why not just say it was one hundred percent awesome?  simple... because he, like a lot of other assholes out there, just love to find any opportunity they can to trash axl.  so even when he loves the album as he clearly does, he still has to go out of his way to trash it in the same breath.

and even when axl has settled the 'solo project' business once and for all, he CONTINUES to spread that bullshit.  he knows it's not a solo album.  he knows it's a gnr album.  but he's still running his mouth, trying to put the new band down.  so quite simply... fuck him.  i have no need for haters, moaners and whiners in my life.

Do you think everyone outside the wee bubble of Guns N' Roses internet fans has been avidly reading Axl's posts on message boards about why it's not a solo record?  He thinks it feels like a solo record - so what?  Fair enough, to a lot of people it will.  Does that mean they hate Axl, does that mean they just want to "bash the new band" or does it simply mean that this sounds like Axl Rose's project?

At some point you're going to realise that not everybody thinks that Chinese Democracy is the greatest thing since sliced bread.  This doesn't make them idiots, haters, or any other abusive names you feel like adding: it just means the record doesn't do "it" for them.  Fair enough, all music is like that.

The last line of your post did make me chuckle, by the way. 

[mrlee]

fuck dave.  who is he anyways?  a nobody.  does anyone give a shit about his stupid bands anymore?  who is he to say anything critical about axl rose?  he can go straight to hell as far as i am concerned.

Janes Addiction. one of the best rock bands to come out of the late 80s.

Hes played with the Chili Peppers, hes played on a Marilyn Manson album, hes also played guitar for a GNR song.

Who are you?


I think Dave ment because he is knew the old guns personally, it feels more like an axl record.

Because he personally knew Axl and the rest of them. To him, its Axls output.

He also goes on to talk about how he doesnt know the guys in the band now, which would also make sense about his comment.

[Chuzeville]

fuck dave.  who is he anyways?  a nobody.  does anyone give a shit about his stupid bands anymore?  who is he to say anything critical about axl rose?  he can go straight to hell as far as i am concerned.

Well he did say the album was pretty much completely awesome.  Not sure that's so negative.

um, maybe we read different articles.  he said it was 30 percent weird, but that it became awesome.  so why not just say it was one hundred percent awesome?  simple... because he, like a lot of other assholes out there, just love to find any opportunity they can to trash axl.  so even when he loves the album as he clearly does, he still has to go out of his way to trash it in the same breath.

and even when axl has settled the 'solo project' business once and for all, he CONTINUES to spread that bullshit.  he knows it's not a solo album.  he knows it's a gnr album.  but he's still running his mouth, trying to put the new band down.  so quite simply... fuck him.  i have no need for haters, moaners and whiners in my life.

Man, you've got issues! 

[LIGuns]

Overall it sounds as though he loves the album..He didn't mention playiing on OMG....

[falungong69]

fuck dave.  who is he anyways?  a nobody.  does anyone give a shit about his stupid bands anymore?  who is he to say anything critical about axl rose?  he can go straight to hell as far as i am concerned.

Well he did say the album was pretty much completely awesome.  Not sure that's so negative.

um, maybe we read different articles.  he said it was 30 percent weird, but that it became awesome.  so why not just say it was one hundred percent awesome?  simple... because he, like a lot of other assholes out there, just love to find any opportunity they can to trash axl.  so even when he loves the album as he clearly does, he still has to go out of his way to trash it in the same breath.

and even when axl has settled the 'solo project' business once and for all, he CONTINUES to spread that bullshit.  he knows it's not a solo album.  he knows it's a gnr album.  but he's still running his mouth, trying to put the new band down.  so quite simply... fuck him.  i have no need for haters, moaners and whiners in my life.

Man, you've got issues! 

yeah, my issue is that i love the best band in the world and don't like it when people shit on them.  my 'issue' is called loyalty and respect.  look into it some time.

[Erin]

yeah, my issue is that i love the best band in the world and don't like it when people shit on them.  my 'issue' is called loyalty and respect.  look into it some time.

I think you're reading too much into it. I thought what he said was pretty positive. He's entitled to his opinion just like the rest of us.

[falungong69]

yeah, my issue is that i love the best band in the world and don't like it when people shit on them.  my 'issue' is called loyalty and respect.  look into it some time.

I think you're reading too much into it. I thought what he said was pretty positive. He's entitled to his opinion just like the rest of us.

and i'm entitled to my opinion that he's a trash talker with a stupid opinion.  so deal with it.   

[BlowUpYourVideo]

He never actually said it was an Axl solo record, he said it felt like one to him because he's not that familiar with the rest of the band. I don't think there was any spite involved....

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

yeah, my issue is that i love the best band in the world and don't like it when people shit on them.  my 'issue' is called loyalty and respect.  look into it some time.

I think you're reading too much into it. I thought what he said was pretty positive. He's entitled to his opinion just like the rest of us.

In the United States?

Nooooo.....that's some crazy talk! 

[sandman]

navarro played on a gnr song, so his opinion is worth more than anyone's on this board.

yes, this is a gnr album and this is Axl's vision.

but it's completely unrealistic for people to expect everyone to feel the same way. for OVER 20 years, people associated Slash with gnr. and slash has a very distinctive sound. so when people hear gnr and they don't hear slash or anything that resembles slash, it doesn't sound like gnr to them.

i'm not sure why this bothers or surprises people. who cares what they think. just be glad they are listening at all.

[Alfie Bones]

navarro played on a gnr song, so his opinion is worth more than anyone's on this board.

Except for Mr. Dexter and Fernando Lebeis. 

[Jim Bob]

Chinese Democracy is what GnR sounds like now.   That album is the current GnR sound, so to say it doesn't sound like GnR is simply a false statement.

[Buddha_Master]

Especially considering Lies didnt sound much like Appetite and UYI didnt sound like Lies or Appetite. Saying Chinese Doesn't sound like GN'R when its Axl singing and the songs are masterful is silly. But, saying that, Dave was real fucking positive and cool. You people seeing it any other way are fucking nuts.

[Silverchair]

navarro played on a gnr song, so his opinion is worth more than anyone's on this board.

yes, this is a gnr album and this is Axl's vision.

but it's completely unrealistic for people to expect everyone to feel the same way. for OVER 20 years, people associated Slash with gnr. and slash has a very distinctive sound. so when people hear gnr and they don't hear slash or anything that resembles slash, it doesn't sound like gnr to them.

i'm not sure why this bothers or surprises people. who cares what they think. just be glad they are listening at all.

because... if someone isn't performing metaphorical fellatio about the album/Ax,l then they're talking shit. Dave Navarro is a great musician and songwriter. his opinion does carry something. and he wasn't bashing the friggin' album. the album has the GNR name. but it sounds nothing like classic GNR. he's not taking away anything from the current band/sound. he is just stating that based on nostalgia... it's not old GNR.

Axl did say it's not a "solo record", but he is the only original member. i think this is a GNR record, but it isn't the GNR i grew up listening to. simple as that.

some people are just to damn sensititive. does Navarro have to say it's the greatest record ever made for him to think highly of the record? he obviously does.

 

[falungong69]

navarro played on a gnr song, so his opinion is worth more than anyone's on this board.

what strange reasoning.  slash played on lots of gnr songs.  so does that mean that his opinion is worth more than the loyal fans who've stayed loyal to this band through the highs and lows?  by your reasoning, even a lying manipulative snake would have an opinion that's worth more than mine just because axl allowed them to do some recording in his band. 

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

navarro played on a gnr song, so his opinion is worth more than anyone's on this board.

what strange reasoning.  slash played on lots of gnr songs.  so does that mean that his opinion is worth more than the loyal fans who've stayed loyal to this band through the highs and lows?  by your reasoning, even a lying manipulative snake would have an opinion that's worth more than mine just because axl allowed them to do some recording in his band. 

I don't understand.

[The Dog]

navarro played on a gnr song, so his opinion is worth more than anyone's on this board.

yes, this is a gnr album and this is Axl's vision.

but it's completely unrealistic for people to expect everyone to feel the same way. for OVER 20 years, people associated Slash with gnr. and slash has a very distinctive sound. so when people hear gnr and they don't hear slash or anything that resembles slash, it doesn't sound like gnr to them.

i'm not sure why this bothers or surprises people. who cares what they think. just be glad they are listening at all.

because... if someone isn't performing metaphorical fellatio about the album/Ax,l then they're talking shit.

some people are just to damn sensititive. does Navarro have to say it's the greatest record ever made for him to think highly of the record? he obviously does.
 

it's insane isn't it?  Some of the people on this board are beyond obsessed.

[The Dog]

navarro played on a gnr song, so his opinion is worth more than anyone's on this board.

what strange reasoning.  slash played on lots of gnr songs.  so does that mean that his opinion is worth more than the loyal fans who've stayed loyal to this band through the highs and lows?  by your reasoning, even a lying manipulative snake would have an opinion that's worth more than mine just because axl allowed them to do some recording in his band. 

I don't understand.

I don't think we're supposed to 

[sandman]

navarro played on a gnr song, so his opinion is worth more than anyone's on this board.

Except for Mr. Dexter and Fernando Lebeis. 

actually, i don't consider Axl's comments an "opinion." he is the decision-maker. and Fernando's opinion is worth no more than yours or mine. and based on all his retractions, his comments are worth less.   

and yes, the opinion of a guitar player that contributed to a gnr song who was NOT part of the "old gnr" carries more weight IMO. he was directly involved with the "current" gnr.

it's like interpreting a song. Axl said he wants "to give people the opportunity to get what they can from the material for a while before clouding that with my inspirations." it's the same with the band name...Axl has his vision and belief of what "gnr" represents, but other people have their own interpretations of what "gnr" means to them.

i just think some people are way too sensitive about this stuff. who cares what people think about the band name??? it's the music that matters.

[IKnowWhereIAM]

JHC!  It's Dave Navarro's opinion.  The guy divorced Carmen Electra, and was in a mildly successful band...don't go throw yourself off a bridge because he made comments that may not be (although I think they ARE) supportive of the new GnR Album. 

[uzisuicide2002]

very cool. I got to meet him back in like 200 2001 and had him sign my End Of Days cd