Here Today... Gone To Hell!

"THE RAZZ: SLASHED AND BURNED
Mar 5 2004

Axl Rose

THERE'S a Guns N' Roses Greatest Hits CD due out later this month,but there's little chance of guitarist Slash and singer Axl Rose getting together to celebrate the event.

While Rose still uses the band's name, Slash and original group members Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum are now in Velvet Revolver with singer Scott Weiland and guitarist Dave Kushner.

There has been a tidal wave of bad blood between the two camps especially over the decision by Rose to keep the name.

And when asked about a possible reunion, Slash, whowas born in England and whose real name is Saul Hudson, said: 'I haven't talked to him since I quit. I don't really see a reunion happening.

'The things that are keeping us apart are so much tougher than money.

'He made some idle threats while we were touring and wouldn't go on stage unless we signed a piece of paper.We opted to go on stage and not let everybody down so we signed the piece of paper.

'I didn't want to be involved with the name if the band's not together anyway.

'Even to this day I still don't care. But now he's dragged it through the mud so much that even if he said, 'Look guys, I've been to therapy and I'm a better person now, let's get back together anddo a show.' We'd all be like, we don't want to be in that band. 'None of us would have even bothered to think about taking the name.'

While the bad feeling simmers away, it is perhaps better to remember some of the great rock tunes the band produced.

The Greatest Hits package, released in the UK on March 15, is a 14-track collection and includes Welcome To The Jungle, Sweet Child O'Mine and Paradise City as well as covers of Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Live And Let Die and Sympathy For The Devil.

GN'R are the only act to hold the top two album spots in both the UKand the USon the week of releasing Use Your Illusion II in September 1991.Use YourGN'R are the only act to hold the top two album spots in both the UKand the USon the week of releasing Use Your Illusion II in September 1991.

Rose and guitarist Izzy Stradlin started the group in 1984 and over the next couple of years they brought in Steven Adler on drums, guitarist Slash and Duff McKagan on bass.

They became Guns N' Roses and their everyone by contributing Oh My God to the soundtrack of End Of Days. Backed by new musicians, he also embarked on The Chinese Democracy tour and claimed to have finished the band's long-awaited new album.

They started a tour, but after just nine performances it was scrapped (including a date at Glasgow's SECC). Chinese Democracy has still to be released.

So what would it take for Axl and Slash to kiss and make up?

Slash said: 'No amount of money will make that happen. It's a relationship that's too human, too delicate and too volatile to have money manipulate it.

'There was a period where people said, 'Why not doone show?' And I'd say, when you get him straightened out, then we can talk about doing a show, but right now it's just not my priority. I'm not really waiting around for Axl to get his head together.'

off-stage activities made Liam Gallagher's antics look like schoolboy pranks.Their appetite for drugs, drink and groupie sex was legendary.

But, like the title of their first album Appetite For Destruction, bad times were always around the corner.

Two fans died during crowd disturbances at the Monsters Of Rock show at the Donington Festival in 1988.

The beginning of the end of the classic line-up and there have been many member changes began in September 1990 when Adler was replaced by Matt Sorum.The following year saw the departure of Stradlin. He actually returned to the fold in 1995, but by that time Rose and Slash, the main focus of the band, were at loggerheads.

In November 1996 , Slash confirmed Rose's departure.Then in February 1997 it was Slash who was was on his way out with the singer purchasing the rights to the band's name.

Slash said: 'The way things were headed I wanted to quit while it was still cool.

'I didn't want to go down the drain with Axl in that sense.

'When you're in a band which goes in that direction it's rare that you ever make a comeback. Leaving Guns was hard, but I'm glad that I left, despite all the legal problems and stuff that goes along with leaving.'

Source:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/therazz/music...ll&siteid=89488

how is that talkin shit?

axl is not a little angel.

Yeah. How is he talking shit? From what I can see, Slash is merely telling his side of events as he remembers them and how he feels about the overall situation. I don't think he was really talking shit about Axl. It seems to me that people in this world just want to play the blame game all the time. Shit happens. Each person is responsible for the part that they played including Axl.

No shit in his words !!!
Slash rules !!!!!!!!!

nice piece of info and I don't see here any shit talking.

it makes me think if Axl had all figured out at that tour..perhaps he saw which direction they were heading and managed to get the name rights etc.

Well, the utopists who keep praying for a reunion will finally know what to expect (or rather what NOT to expect)....

Hes not talking shit about axl. Hes saying how he feels in regards to what has happened.

what everyone else said, it's just his side of the story.

LOL

This one's classic!

I never knew Glasgow's SECC was located in the US.

Its funny when you look at both sides of the story.

Slash said the infamous tale of Axl blackmailing the band, that if they did not sign the papers (which apparently gave Axl 100% control over the bands name), then he would not go on stage.

But from the other side, one has to wonder what the band did that drove Axl to that point of desperation.

There is two sides to every story. True...true.

Agree with you 100%

I really hope you guys don't believe that that is how he 'lost' the rights to the Guns N Roses name.
Its a lot more complicated than that.  I wish Slash would stop spewing that little anecdote.  If he really wants to present a case for being ripped off he should have his lawyer issue a statement about it.  If Slash (and Duff) were forced into an agreement they would have a case for nullifying the agreement.  That hasn't happened because they don't have a case.  Plus money exchanged hands.  Was that forced too?

C'mon Slash... gimme a break!

Plus he has ALSO said that he didn't want the name because after GN'R was done he thought that was it for the name (something to that effect).

And to contradict himself further yet again, a couple of years back he was indeed pursuing legal avenues to get it back.

And we have to wonder why Axl called him a liar? ::)

I think Slash and Axl, Axl and Slash just need to TALK.
please talk, an then let's reform one of the greatest Rock n' Roll band of all time: the REAL Guns n' Roses!

If Axl talking to Slash results in disbanding the new band then I say fuck Slash.

Slash spends a lot of time talking about how he wouldn't get back with Axl - if that was the case why does he keep bringing it up????????????????????

Them getting back for a few shows would be so awesome......

I concur with everyone here, Slash was just asked (yet again) about his relationship (or lack thereof) with Axl, and he simply answered the questions.  I think he did so very delicately to avoid trash-talking.

My disdain for this interview comes with the factual inaccuracies......


Matt Sorum was not an original GNR member.


No, they started Hollywood Rose.


Say what?   ???


Okay, now they sharply shift to Axl as if they'd been talking about him alone the whole time.  Well-tailored article, eh folks?   ::)


Steven was fired on July 11, 1990.  Not September.



He did?  He did shows in 1993, but I don't remember him rejoining the band.


Do what?  Slash's departure was announced in October 1996.



Wait a minute, I thought Axl was out of the band?   ::)

Duff was the one who quit in 1997.



That site needs to get its shit together.  What a piss-poor article.   I hate factual inaccuracies.  >:(

Come on, this will NEVER happen, time to wake up now!

Because he keeps getting asked about it.

well.... The band did nothing, but Axl is one greedy motherfucker

Adler might have been fired in July, but he wasnt replaced immediately...Then again, Im not exactly a date buff, so correct me if Im wrong.


I agree


Come on Dizzy, you know common sense is frowned upon in threads like this...

And does anybody else suspect most of these quotes are old?  I say this because not only do half of them look famliar, but its incredibly odd that a new interview with Slash inside of an article about the Greatest Hits wouldnt have him touch on that subject at all  ???

I think Slash shouldn?t answer those Questions anymore. He should concentrate on VR.

Exactly. He should oppose a "no comment" to that kind of questions. It's for his own benefit too. If I were him, I'd be really frustrated to be asked those questions over and over. I would feel like interviewers don't care about my new project and only want to hear about GN'R. That's one more reason to stop answering, IMHO.

Judging from the amount of information given about VR, I dont think thats a problem.  In most of his major recent interviews (Guitar World, etc.), 90% of the interview is about VR.  So being forthcoming and honest about another important aspect of his career isnt that big of a deal.  Only those highly fixated with Axl, like many on this board are, would take offense or pay the comments more attention than they deserve.

Its kind of you guys to ignore that almost all of Axls few interviews over the past 5 years (including press releases and rants) discuss (and criticize) Slash and the old band at length.  At least  be fair with your "taking offense" to such "insults".

You're right, Sorum didn't come in immediately.  However, the article leads one to believe that Adler was fired and replaced by Sorum immediately in September 1990.



Even if they aren't old, it's obvious people are asking Slash to answer the same damn questions over and over again.


I concur.  And as far as Slash answering those questions goes, maybe he's too nice of a guy to say "FUCK OFF!" to someone who asks him a question about Axl.  Because it's a given that everybody in the free world is going to be asking him about Axl and GNR.  So Slash would establish quite a cantankerous reputation for himself if he replied rudely to everyone who asked him questions about that issue.

But as Booker said, 90% of the interviews are about VR now, and if he's asked to comment on Axl, he does so, and to boot, he's always careful about what he says.  I don't see anything wrong with that.

Why is it when slash talks like this its him telling his side of the story but when axl tells his side its axl talking shit?

Speculating here, but in most cases, Slash comes off much less bitter and abrasive than Axl.  He seems to be a more sympathetic figure in the entire situation (whether he's sincere or not, who knows).

There is no doubt two sides to every story, and I'm sure plenty of ill will, blame et al to go around in this sordid tale.  

You never fail booker....
Axl has rarely spoken in an official interview. The press release is basically the most recent and official type of interview. In that interview he said his side of the story. In case you havnt noticed there was a lot more discussed in that release than just slash and the old band. And it wasnt liek Axl bashed them. He said his side of the story for the 1st time. He also complimented slash. WHther he comes across a certain way, well maybe he is. Maybe he is hurt. Maybe he is bitter. Maybe he could give two fucks about them. The point is hes allowed to discuss the issue and his side, especially being its the first time we have heard directly from him about the topic.

During the past tour he had a few "rants" about the old lineup. He is telling his side of the story. The old members have told their side countless times. I am always hearing slash talk about Axls musical direction and ideas, but when Axl talks about Slash's ideas its bashing. When Slash says "oh i rather just do straight rock rather than stuff like nr" thats ok but when Axl says slash never wanted to push the envelope and do stuff liek estranged etc than thats bashing. ANd Axl has said countless times how slash was great at it but just lazy. Point is he is telling his
side of the story. Whether you believe him or not is tough shit. They are both right and they are both wrong. But the funny thing is they have all moved on except their fans.
Axl has only recently talked about it. Whenevr Axl says something people jump on him. And thats fine. Hes the villian. ANd thats unfortunate only because he has only recently decided to discuss it. Slash and the old lguys will always be the angels. They get all the brownie points and thats fine. They are great guys. But so is Axl. Its ashame to see people like you jump on him every chance you get.

He hasnt said shit for years. Axl has kept to himself for well over a decade until recently. And even recently we dont know much. As he has said the past 10 years will be told thru the music.
Axl hasnt gone out of his way to get the story out there. Its not important right now.

Completely agree. Axl comes across as a dick or some crazy guy because he doesnt talk about it over the years. People dont know where hes coming from. But when he finally talks about he he gets jumped on. Like i said they are both right and they are both wrong. They had musical differences. The reason slash is more liked is because he hasnt been in hiding for the past 10 years. He has remeained in the spotlight. Axl hasnt by choice. And as a result peopel think he is the villian.

"Basically I was interested in making a Slash record with some contributions from everybody else. There?d still be some chemistry and some synergy happening and whatever dynamics anyone else could bring in to the project. It seemed to me that anytime we got close to something that would work, it wasn?t out of opinion that Slash would go ?hey it doesn?t work?, but it was nixed simply because it did work. In other words, ?Whoa, wait a minute. That actually might be successful, we can?t do that.? People like to call me paranoid. It has nothing to do with paranoia; it was to do with reality. If the material were strong enough for me to sink my teeth in then I would still be in a certain public position in regards to Guns, we?d have possibly still held a certain popularity with the public as I have previously been fortunate enough to have had."
Now people can say ?Well Axl, you?re after control of the band too.? You?re damn skippy. That?s right. I am the one held responsible since day one. When it comes to Guns n? Roses, I may not always get everything right but I do have a good idea about getting things from point A to point B and knowing what the job is that we have to do. Within those parameters, I give everyone as much freedom to do what they want something Slash has verified in several interviews. Had Slash stepped up and written what we captured glimpses of, it would have created an environment that was beyond Slash?s ability to control. He did not want to do that or put himself through the rigors of taking the band to that level even if he was capable of writing it. Was he capable of doing it? Absolutely 100%. I think that some of the riffs that were coming out of him were the meanest, most contemporary, bluesiest, rocking thing since Aerosmith?s Rocks"
That part of the interview he is strictly talking about the music. His side of the story. FOR THE FIRST TIME. Where is he bashing. Where the fuck is he bashing slash?

The albany rant he was saying how the old band never liked doing slower type songs. Its no different than when slash has mentioned a zillion times how Axl is obsessed with pushing the envelope rather than just "jamming".

To bring some sense to these topics?  No, I never fail.


And Ive noted that theres been few.  Check those interviews - in MTV, Kerrang, Spin, or Rolling Stone.  And the most in-depth portion of the press release: Slash.  Most of the stuff in there is either no different, or more negative than what Slash has said in interviews.  


The same can be said for nearly any Slash interview.  Nobody said Slash was all that Axl talked about, onlt that his words have been no better than Slashs, which are currently being discussed and referred to as "dissing" or whatever ("Bashing" seems to be this sites buzzword).


Naaa, not at all.  

When he said "Slash is in my ass" and "They can suck my fuckin dick," he was only telling his side of the story.


Lets go with bitter...

 
Not likely...


 :confused:

Who said he wasnt?


 ::)

"Suck my fuckin dick"?


I dont think anybody said that....


Again, who said that?

People might have their opinion on whos right and wrong, but nobody with an ounce of sense would call that bashing...Your using imaginary examples it seems like.


Yeah, so lazy that hes done three full albums, a million collaborations and more than a few tours...not to mention tons of public appearences ::)

Thats nothing compared to Axls...uh...one soundtrack song and aborted/mini-tours and assorted shows.


How havent we moved on?  Because were discussing it?  Hmm...kinda like how they discuss it?  Im right there with Slash & Co. with Velvet Revolver, I cant wait.  And Id love to "move along" with Axl & Co. but... :-\  And take a guess why tats not happening.


Hes been telling his side of the story for about 5 years  now.  I understand how thats "recent" in GNR terms, but come on...


And people dont jump on Slash?


I dont "jump on him" as much as you think..but when hes kicking people out for yelling something about Slash or telling the guys who helped make GNR what it is to "suck his fuckin dick" he certainly helps in writing his role as the villian.

You take note of the fact that nearly everyone thats ever had a relationship with Rose is now estranged from him, while they all get along with each other, and things start to add up and make sense.


What?  Hes been doing interviews since '99 - 3 years after Slash left.  Nice try though.


He had a "10,000 word essay" prepared for Rolling Stone preapared, inexplicably backing out.  But I assume much of it was used for the 2002 press release.  If that doesnt "tell the story" I dont know what would.


No, its because hes frequently acted like a dick or a crazy guy.


Yeah, thats exactly it  ::)  You cant really believe that. :no:

that was better than goofy mike monroe

i respect slash he seemed to be honest and just told his feelings, nothing wrong with that

I didn't see any 'shit talking'.Anyways it also said Matt was an original band member which isn't true,as we all know : ok:

Slash didn't say any shit about Axl here... and these are some old quotes! I really don't think Slash wants to talk about Axl, because he gives 100% to VR!

Well obviously the reason slash is talking about axl is yet again in an interview they bring up old shit over and over again, from which we have heard the same response 50 times.

Every time i want to see somethin on velvet revolver 25% of the interview is the interviewer asking slash the same shit, u'd think they would have known the answer back in 1999 ::)

I don't know anymore. It would've been cool a while back but I don't want GNr to become like the Eagles when they reunited. Also, a reunion would only be possible if both projects ( new GNr nd VR) fail to succeed.

i wonder if we really get to know what is the truth.
what really happened?Sure everybody is to blame but it is such a creepy situation,very sad

Did I miss something?

1999: November 8th - Axl Rose - A conversation with Kurt Loder
MTV US November 8th 1999

2000: January - Axl Speaks
Rolling Stone, January 2000

2002: August 14th - GN'R press release with Axl interview
gnronline.com


Those are the only interviews I can think of where the topic of Slash has been brought up.....  ???



/jarmo

I never said slash has bashed axl. WHat slash says isnt bashing. He is saying his side. People who say otherwise are idiots. But you are the one hwo brought up how axl bashes slash not me.
I was talking about the press release. As for the rants. SO what he says slash could suck his dick. How is that bashing his music? He thinks slash lies so as a result he is angry with slash. Is slash lieing? I have no clue. Is axl lieing? No idea. But when each talk about the band issues they dont bash each other.
Actaully very liekly because he has been adament baout there being no reunion. WHereas slash has left it open for debate. So that tells me he could give two shits about slash etc.
Then why say axl was bashing slash in that press release?
Its all average work. Its nothing to get excited over from the once greatest guitarist in the world. Im talking about being lazy in gnr. I could careless what slash did outside of gnr. Axls says slash didnt ant to push the envelope. Slash says Axl wanted to do too much. There is no right or wrong. Its musical differences and philosophies.
 SLash has been doing average work all of these years. Maybe vr will be good, i hope it is. they got talent. But gnr have 3 albums worth of material. WHat if its great? Then what? If it flops then you win every argument we have had. But that cannot be answered till the albums are released. You can say how its become a joke, and it has but what wipes all of that out is great music. SO if great music is there then all the complaints and whiners have nothing to stand on.
AGain in those interviews he briefly mentioned it when asked. How come its ok for slash to mention gnr becuase hes always being asked but when axl is asked questions about it you people say he cant let the subject go.
Except for the press release he never went in depth about it. Again how come its ok for slash to say his side of the story all of these years but when axl does it he cant let go of the topic?
Your right he should say all that stuff. But again he isnt bashing their talents. He isnt saying those things when discussing the old lineup. He says those because he thinks they have lied thats why hes mad.

Take note that Axl has distanced himself from people involved with the old lineup. Take note that since 94 every dam interview i read says he is a nice guy. He is a great friend. He is a loyal friend. He does stuff for kids etc. Is he a dick or spoiled brat? absolutely. but their is a whole other side that the public doesnt see because he has kept himself quiet for 10 years. As a result, theres a price to pay with staying in hiding. That price is people dont know how you have changed since you left the scene. He could give two shits about publicity and being in the spotlight. Gnr have been working night and day since 98 on making music. Taking there shits. SOme of those shots well desereved. And the way things have unraveled it has become a joke. But again, when the music is released, its a whole new ballgame.
Frequently? In the past 10 years he has been barely seen. What you are referring to is the speculation and myth that axl has. Im not syaing axl is an angel. he def isnt. Aside from the 99 arrest and the vancuver show when has axls behavior been crazy or obscene?

i think axl is bitter; being someone who is very self conscious, I think the departure of the old guys hurt him a great deal. He had a vision and felt that the old guys weren't seeing it his way. alot of very smart people often times cannot work with others because their vision is so grand, the people around them cannot appreciate what they are trying to do. i think this was the case here; axl wanted to move forward without compromising with each step along the way. The betrayl the redhead feels stems from the complete and total abandonment he feels now.

As for the flame war between slash and axl, I think it goes both ways. I don't really want to read anymore axl is a bastard threads when the redhead talks about the old band as well as those that put slash up there on the crucifix when he talks of the past. There was a point in this whole process where slash and Co. made a conscious decision to walk out. They must stand with that decision and stop making it look like they were forced out. The whole rights signing away story is not factually complete because any attorney worth his/her salt could litigate a return of slash's share in the name.

The pressure of the GnR name is squarely on axl's shoulders now and he isn't a person who can handle alot of pressure. i believe a lot of the new band's problems stem from the rather weak self confidence embodying the redhead. I hope he pulls it all together to show the world what he is capable. Axl Rose's public perception does not mirror his true talent.

He doesn't.  If you believe he phones up and starts talking about Axl to the journalists whenever he can, you are more stupid than I thought.  Journalists will always ask the questions.  Slash just answers.  Fool.

man, as much as I love the idea of a GnR reunion, if it were to happen, there would have to be some fucking HUGE compromises.  Slash, Duff, Matt, Izzy... none of them were into Axl's eventual vision (I say eventual, because Axl used to be a hard rockin' motherfucker... lord knows what happened)... and likewise, Axl just isn't into the rock n roll vision of the other guys.  Fact is, Axl and the rest of the band will NEVER see eye to eye on music opinions again.  If they did get back together, they would only end up splitting with major arguments again.

I agree with that. And its ashame they couldnt work ou that stuff. But what i have a problem is when people somehow say slash and companys departure is valid. We dont know what Axls vision was yet. We dont know if its gonna be this new fresh sound, we dont know if it might be more rnr that people liek to believe and we dont know if its gonna be a techno thing. I thinks its gonna be a lil of everything but bleneded into a very special gnr way.

My point is the jury is still out on axl. When the albums get released that is when slash and company can say :see now you know why we left" till then they should pipe down about that stuff because they excately havnt been putting out great regular bluesy rock stuff either. Maybe vr will finally deliver on thier desire to just "jam" but till then they should pipe down. If cd flops then we all know who wins all the arguments.

But what if cd is a masterpiece? What does that say about axl and what does it say about the old? To me it wont take away from what tha past did. But it will show that Axl did indeed have a vision. And it was a great one, and the old guys jumped ship. Is 10 years a lobg time? hell fukin yea but if thats what it takes to get it right then so be it. And its not liek the old guys have been active making great music either.

The funny thing is they have just recently made vr. They too have done shitt all this time. If you wanna say their side projects and their countless colaborations with everyone and thier mom is gnr worthy material then i guess you have that right but to me they havnt done anything excited yet.

point is the jury is still out. The vr album and the 3 gnr albums will decide all that. They each have the chance to be great. Vr will rock but gnrwill rock the world.

"those guys can suck my dick"  Who should pipe down?