Here Today... Gone To Hell!

We knew things were getting a bit rocky for Kevin "Skwerl" Cogill earlier this week, when it was learned that the FBI had arrested Mr. Cogill following suspicion that the Antiquiet blogger had violated federal copyright law. Cogill had admitted to leaking nine previously unreleased tracks purportedly from Guns N' Roses' perennially eventual Chinese Democracy LP via Antiquiet back in June.

What we didn't know was this: according to the Los Angeles Times, Cogill faces up to three years in prison and $250,000 in fines, seeing as he's now the first California resident to be charged under an anti-piracy law that makes it a felony to distribute a copyrighted work on computer networks before its release. Yikes! Careful where you put that Skeletal Lamping, everybody.

Cogill was released shortly after his Wednesday arrest on $10,000 bond, and was not required to enter a plea at this time. But according to former Guns N' Roses guitarist (and amateur law buff?) Slash, Cogill's potential return to the clink couldn't come soon enough.

"I hope he rots in jail," Slash told the Times. "It's going to affect the sales of the record, and it's not fair. The Internet is what it is, and you have to deal with it accordingly, but I think if someone goes and steals something, it's theft." I only wish he'd suggested they "throw him to the Snakepit."

Axl Rose and company also managed to get out a statement that, though intentionally vague, may bode a little better for Cogill. Said the Guns N' Roses camp, according to the Times: "Presently, though we don't support this guy's actions at that level, our interest is in the original source. We can't comment publicly at this time as the investigation is ongoing."

Ongoing too, as ever, is the wait for a proper release date for Chinese Democracy-- which, it would seem, would alone solve damn near all these problems.

in http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/145087-guns-n-roses-slash-react-to-arrest-of-chinese-leaker


I find it funny and ironic how Slash says that when back in the day he would steal LPs from the record stores...

If you steal from record stores the artist isnt missing out on money, the store is :P

Yes they are...


Regarding Slash stealing LPs from stores, he probably realises it's wrong now that he himself is an artist putting out music.

(But hoping the guy "rots in jail"? :o)

Slash drinks too much

^ last i heard he was going to give it all up

anyway slash stealing one album is peanuts

by thousands downloading the material has a much larger impact...anyway slash was like 12 when he stole shit...this dude skewrl is alot older...anyway you guys prolly all downloaded the material anyway so dont get all high and mighty on who is a theif and stuff :P

You think he stopped stealing when he was 12?



/jarmo

prolly not...drugs make you do crazy shit sometimes...just saying...stealing a few albums for personal use isnt anythign compared to giving thousands of people a copy of one for free...its not like slash stole the whole inventory and gave it away :hihi:

anyway its not the same thing IMO

I'm still curious why he seems so concerned about that.
wait...Slash doesn't play on Chinese Democracy, right ? hum

But he got his name in the paper.....




/jarmo

the jackass here is the reporter asking him about the whole thing when it has nothign to do with slash

i doubt slash just brought it up outta the blue like you guys suggest

y'all should be happy .... hes defending axl

well... he stole his first tophat too!  :P

True.

Do you think it ever occurred to him to say "no comment"?

 :hihi:



/jarmo

i wish he would too .... but he wont.... he does like to talk

yeah, yeah, yeah.  I figured, when I first read this, that this would be about the "jist" of it, here. 

What he did at 12 or 18 or 20 is a lot different, as it is for all of us.  I believe he's looking at this, from a musician's standpoint, and what can happen in this day and age, with the freedom of the internet.  Whether it's releasing leaks or downloading music, for free - it robs and steals from the music industry.   His comments had nothing to do with Axl, the potential release of CD, publicity for himself or what he did when he was much younger.   

And for anyone wanting to make negative comments -  think about yourself - any one of us - How many of us have downloaded and listened to those leaks? or many have downloaded music, for free......many of us have been part of that. 

I gotta agree with lynn1961 here, this is exactly how I see it. It wasn't a "way to get his name on paper" for him, I mean he's Slash, he doesn't need to say anything like this to do it. I think he really is just talking about his point of view as a musician.

TBH, Slash commenting on Chinese Democracy leaks probably won't make the front page anyway.

or maybe he was just asked about it?

slash can get his name in the newspaper if he passed gas at the local liquor store

True. Some people just find these quotes a way to bash him and his sayings.

"I think if someone goes and steals something, it's theft" - Slash


It's just ironic....

I'm not talking about what he did as a teenager, that's irrelevant in this case.

What if you steal a guitar (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/07/23/slash-returns-stolen-guitar-to-hard-rock-cafe-with-much-pomp-and-circumstance/) from Hard Rock Cafe? Is that theft too?

Obviously he's against theft when it's his top hat (http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=33157) that was stolen or when it affects his income.



On another note, doesn't this mean Slash hates GN'R fans?

And the "little guy"?




/jarmo

Now Jarmo, what is your motivation here? You should use that energy to something useful instead of using it to try to make Slash look bad. :P
Oh sorry, you're probably just "telling people the truth" or "telling the facts".

Btw. It is ironic, but can you say he's wrong? No? I think so too.

Humor.

It's funny in an ironic way.





The fact is, you didn't see him talking about stealing being theft when he stole that guitar.  ;)






What's your motivation to following me around from section to section only to whine about what I say?

No, stealing is theft. He's right.


But are you gonna say he hates GN'R fans and the "little guy" based on that comment?






/jarmo

I have to disagree with the publicity part.  He was obviously contacted by the LA Times regarding a quote for the story and he gave one.  He knew what would follow...various media outlets would pick up the story...and they did.

Now I'm not following you Jarmo. I read the topics I find interesting. I post if I have something to post. This time I wanted to know why you post in the VR section if it's always something negative. But hey, you're always the good guy and you're always right, so it's no use.. how fucking stupid is Slash to say something like that? I mean, he fucking hates everyone in the GN'R scene and can't get any publicity! How dare he, the sell-out, say that! He stole a guitar years ago, how can he say stealing is wrong, HYPOCRITE! JESUS! LIAR!

Happy on my attitude?

Awww, thanks.  :)



I don't know if I would use the word stupid.

The whole thing about even asking him to comment is a bit silly. He has nothing to do with it.

Who's next to comment? Matt Sorum?  :hihi:





Obviously you've missed the plot ages ago.

He can say stealing is wrong, because essentially it is.

But maybe he needs to keep that in mind when he's the one stealing.

That's the whole point that you don't seem to get because you're too busy trying to look for shit in my posts that's not really there.

You're too busy with your whole "you hate Slash" shit and don't seem to bother with the issue.


Simple things like the fact that his comment did get him a few headlines in a time when it's been kinda quiet from him.
http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/080829/340/i5thm.html&e=l_news_dm
http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/slash-blasts-guns-n-roses-leaker-171626
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/slash%20lays%20into%20gnr%20bootlegger_1078993


But that's not important, it's about me. Right?  ::)



You have an attitude?




/jarmo

I bet they were trying to get some kind of "Axl deserves it, CD is crap" comment from him. That didn't work :P

Yeah, wouldn't be surprised.




/jarmo

I get it. That's no problem. I just don't get this; where you get that energy to prove something that needs no proving, why you even bother.. this topic is just a great example :P


I think you missed the plot, or then you don't know what sarcasm is, or then you think that everything I say is against you. 'Cause that wasn't adressed to you, sorry.

Oh, I get it. Your "sarcasm" basically means replying to most of my posts with the same old "why do you post?" shit...

 :P




/jarmo

Ummm, no. But see it as you want to.

Jarmo, I have no idea how anyone can find something negative about Slash's comment........ U act like Slash is the only person that ever stole something, U don't think every member in GNR stole and shoplifted and shit when they were starting out?

I'm sure Axl in some old school RS interviews admits to stealing one thing or another so its basically pointless to say because someone stole when they were younger, they aren't allow to mature and realize the error of their ways.


Also, With his work in GNR and VR, he has more than made record stores back Tons more than he ever could've stole.

"U" don't know what I act like which is apparent since you didn't even read my posts. Just the usual "U hate Slash" shit.

As I said, I'm NOT talking about stealing when you have NOTHING.

It's one thing to steal a sandwich when you're hungry. It's something else to steal a guitar from the Hard Rock Cafe when you're a platinum selling guitar hero.



Where are all the comments about Slash hating the "little guy" and GN'R fans?

Isn't that how people work?

The guy is arrested by the FBI because of an investigation by the RIAA. Well, shit. Axl must hate GN'R fans!

Slash says he hopes the guy rots in jail, he's such a fan friendly person!


He's right about what he said. It's theft.

It's wrong. I agree with him.

I'm just surprised that there's no backlash the way there was one against GN'R from certain "fans".

Oh wait, maybe that's because they're Slash fans.....

And no, I'm not surprised at all. This is the usual story.

Slash, good. Axl, bad.






/jarmo

nope, he's just giving his fans what they want...answers to questions.

I think in this case most of us think "Slash, good. Axl, good". It's not like black and white..

"I think if someone goes and steals something, it's theft" - Slash

This doesn't say "people shouldn't steal, its wrong and bad" its more along the lines of accept the consequences of what you do. And as an artist he is allowed to get his back up after all its in reference to his income and way of life.

Artists are allowed to steal? ::) Nnaaahh. If you can't get enough money with your art, do something else.

or stay true to your art and be a real artist instead, if that's what u truly are.. rembrandt didn't fuckin' quit or whoever it was that got filthy famous after his death ;)

Looks like Kevin Cogill (Skwerl) doesn't think so.... :D

As a result, many old friends, new enemies, creepy strangers and reporters have been cramping my style; Asking questions, offering to help, threatening to injure / kill me, wishing me luck, wishing that I rot in jail for the rest of my life, hiding in my bushes, et cetera.

Yes of course, I agree with you totally. But I was just saying that it doesn't give you a right to steal from others.

A little more from Slash on the subject...

What are your thoughts on the blogger who posted tracks from 'Chinese Democracy' who was arrested last week?

I think it?s totally fine that he got arrested. I hope he rots in jail. It?s going to affect the sales of the record, and it?s not fair. The Internet is what it is, and you have to deal with it accordingly, but I think if someone goes and steals something, it?s theft. At one point, I had an early version of all of "Use Your Illusion" on CD and I had it all stacked up with a piece of cardboard around, wrapped in duct tape. I left a hotel in South America to do a gig, I came back and I saw that it had been ripped off. One of the staff at the hotel ripped it off. Fortunately, I got it back, and the guy got arrested. That was a really frightening experience? making a record is like making a painting or any other personal art project. I don?t see the difference between that theft and this one. [Editor's note: blogger Kevin Cogill is not under suspicion of stealing the forthcoming tracks from "Chinese Democracy." He is, however, accused of copyright infringement.]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/soundboard/2008/09/slash-gets-lite.html

slash isn't being a hypocrit, he's just a little unlear in his expression
and a little dumb.

But you can't compare him stealing guitars, or stealing anything to this - when it comes to music slash is passionate give him that.

he's looking at it like from their perspective/his own - a bands been working on something for 15 years, then it gets spoiled by a douchebag who leaks an early version of it... thats different to taking bikes or guitars - because its ARTISTIC theft. it fucks with their creativity. so leav slash alone hes a good guy

you big meanies :no:





 ;D

Ok what I have learned from reading this thread is, stealing is wrong dont do it.

More importantly if you have stolen in the past dont bash people that do it now because that makes you two faced.

 :peace: