Here Today... Gone To Hell!

How would you like to see Axl and his mgmt handle the negotiations with the record company?

It appears that Axl and the record company are trying to find a way to get back the $13+ million spent after all of these years. I ask why? Is that even realistic for one album?
To the best of my knowledge CD alone did not cost $13mill to make. CD, along with 2 to 3 other albums cost Axl $13mill to make.

Im not saying this is the sole focus of negotiations, but if it is, why not spread it out? There are 3-4 albums that could be used to recoup the investment. Why should all the weight be put on Chin Dem from a financial standpoint?

I hate when I read journalists mock Axl for spending over 13 mill trying to make one album. The fact is he has made 3-4 albums with that money. Which isnt too bad.

So, with that being said, would you want to see Axl agree or disagree with the record company and put all their eggs in one basket with CD?

What if there is a halt in negotiations because Axl doesnt want to hand over the other albums and the record company tells Axl they arent releasing CD until they have the right or control over the other material. Should Axl play hardball or do whatever it takes, even if that means meeting any demands/requests by the record compay that he normally wouldnt agree to? What do you think?

Imo, if that scenario were to happen, it would be a tough call for Axl...and the record company for that matter. Its a game of chicken.
 

well, to make back some of the money they could pull a Gene Simmons. Put G'n'R or CHINESE DEMOCRACY on everything from condoms to caskets.

just market all they can until they can get a good chunk of change from it but with out looking like whores



as far as doing what it takes to get it out there just as long as its not sacrificing any musical influences meaning NOT changing anyhting on the album for there pleasure i would say go but if they have to change something i say no dice because CD (judging by the leaks) is just fine in itself.

:peace:

How much money did Greatest Hits make them?

What about the other albums?

GN'R must be one of the best selling artists on Geffen Records.





/jarmo

I agree.  They can't be in that big of a whole, if any, with GNR as of right now.

GN'R should do something that relates to music in the current times.  For example, release a new cd.  Although, they have been one of the best selling artists of all time they have not done anything that really relates to new music in 17yrs.  In the past they were a very successful band that released great cds.  That is not the case anymore. Would love to hear something new as I'm sure everyone one else would like also.

Did you even bother reading the original post?



/jarmo

axl should get what he wants or whats best for both sides.. it will work itself out with time..

i think they should just release CD for free as a digital download and tour the release.  or have it for free and sell the cd with the booklet and case candy at music stores. imo its the best way to get out there and takes  away alot of pressure for a immediate success and let word of mouth do its job.

you got 2 maybe 3 more albums worth of material sittin in the shop. take it slowly and let people and fans ease back into gnr rather than having it force fed down ur throat that they are back.  i think axl needs as less pressure as possible to keep himself in a somewhat decent mindframe  :hihi:

i dont think that releasing the record for free would justify the $13+ spent on making it somehow...
"let the fans ease back into it"  :rofl:  been easing back long enough, think you find were all hungry than ever for the record

record company doesnt need to  recoup everything w/ one release if there is 3 or 4 albums finished

I'd rather see Axl on Countdown than on Hardball....

Yes but it was a different lineup.
I don't deny for one minute that the albums are not great enough to have warranted such attention, financially, legally and emotionally over the years to warrant their release, though it needs to be done proper. I still think that the best songs are the ones that have not been played or demo'd yet. But if the first album does not do well, what chances will the 3rd or 4th album have? The momentum has to be there for everything to follow suit.

If I'm wrong and the record company is not convinced that they can proceed with this Crusade of Music or be committed to it for the next 5-6 years, then I'm afraid we won't be hearing any new GNR for a long while to come.

I'm just glad that GNR did not release the album in 2001 or 2002, they were not ready to do it. I think the timing is better than ever (assuming the whole Robin F. thing clears up).

MNW

A record company is not going to care what GNR sold with a greatest hits album in negotiations, or marketing a record-ask Motley Crue what happened in 1997

Every contract has clauses, what if's, and or number of albums to be delivered....

My guess is, that time is now on Axl's side by now...

I recall-correct me if i'm wrong- that Bowie for instance, had a clause that after a particular period of years, all release rights, benefits etc. of his songs go straight back to him..
leaving the record company and being master of his own product, and releasing with a company of his choice..

Perhaps Axl's got a contract for 1 album, but in case of the alledged "trilogy" ,things are getting interesting for Geffen/Universal to get Axl to sign on for more...

I think that they (Geffen) are pulling everything out of their high hat to get Axl to roll over...

And..Axl is holding out on signing anything cause maybe, just maybe..there is a time of date in their conract that just passes by and all could be different...

Just speculation...

IMO Axl should do everything it takes to release whatever and however he thinks (knows) is best for the fans, and himself artistically, to get the best possible product that GNR are able to produce...

Even if that means we have to wait even longer for official product to hit the shelves...

If snippets of it keep getting out there in cyberspace for free, all the negotiation in the world isn't going to make profitable, because everyone will have it already.

Well we don't even really know what's going with Mr. Axl. I mean the negotiations could be over who-gets-what with legally downloaded material, promotion campaigns, or could be GN'R trying to rewrite or buy out their contract.

From what I know Mr. Azoff plays hardball and gets his clients what they want, maybe it will take awhile for Geffen/UMG to break, and thus explains the long wait for us?


And to make back any money they need to put out the album with proper promotion but also come out with a deluxe online-only version with an extra CD of demos and something along the lines of Live Era 2001-2007 with Video from the best performances from the band. Or maybe just House of Blues?? Just like NIN did awhile back. I know a ton of sadsaps like me would pay through the roof for stuff like that.
 
:beer:

I'm not sure it's a fact that there's 3 to 4 albums worth of material. I know we've heard this rumor from a few different sources, but there's more rumors about GnR(or Axl) than any band in history.

Even if there is, record execs always want to get as much as they can as soon as they can. So that first cd needs to be one hell of a cd(in their opinion), in order to get the audience for numbers 2, 3 and 4.

Us hardcore fans will buy them, I'm sure. But they're trying to get the casual fans money more than ours.

It was in a Japanese magazine that said Axl said he has 40-50 finished or near-finished songs in 2007. He talked about a "trilogy" in 2002 on what I think was a Detroit radio station. He talked about "the second record" in 2006 on Eddie Trunk. "We're working on thirty-two songs, and twenty-six are nearly done," he said in an interview with Rolling Stone in January 2006 (Axl Rose Breaks His Silence)....

The list goes on and on. So yes, we do know. Bare minimum of two.

^^I should have been more clear. What I meant to say was that maybe some people(record execs) don't think he has that many good songs. And by good songs I mean songs that will make them a lot of money. Because thats all they really care about.

I have no doubt that they're good or great, but you never know what someone else is thinking.

I respect Axl's integrity.  The man could have long ago either:

A:  hired some lame-ass pop-rock music producer to coordinate a Nickelback-type album with the new band
...or
B:  gone the route of the easy, big money with a cliche' sell-out reunion.

Fuck the haters.  The man has a vision.  What we have heard so far is extremely promising.  

Give 'em hell Axl!   :peace:

Just an estimate, but if you sold at least 1 million and your record label takes about 1/2 of what the retail price is sold (assuming it's even just 14 dollars), then 7 x 1mill = $7,000,000.00     
...it wouldn't take too much for the record label to make their money back?

I know what you mean, but it's a lot speculation. I don't think the band would be done recording and mixing and all that if the Record Company didn't like the stuff. I don't know though. Just seems to be more an issue of finances for the album rather than the content.

Record company thinks the material is great and self-promoting, while Axl wants proper promotion. Doesn't want to do the whole re-release WTTJ thing all over again, but like I said I don't know. No one does but GNR and the Execs.

I think the first CD needs to be one hell of a CD for not only the management team, but for Axl and the rest of the band, and the fans.  Let's face it, if the management team thinks it's ready but Axl doesn't or vice versa it's not getting released.  It's been a heckuva long wait, they're obviously gonna be careful and make sure it's the absolute best possible before deciding to go ahead with the release.  Even if the band is not as BIG as they once were, once the album is released every media type is gonna give it a listen and review it.  You're not gonna please everyone obviously, some already have their minds made up that they're gonna hate it no matter what.  You'll hear plenty of 14 (or whatever it may be) years for this!  It's pretty much a battle that can't be won at this point I hate to say.  I have no doubt it'll be great.  But I just have a feeling that most people won't be able to give it the respect it deserves after all that has gone on since the last GNR record was released.

Journalists aren't making Axl look bad for spending $13million on a album.  They are making him look bad because he's been working on the album for over 10 years, spent over $13mil, and as of June 2008, hasn't released anything off  of it.  He can have 5 albums of material but it's yet to see the light of day.  I think thats why they are making him look bad.

The guys from Talking Metal had a good point in their last podcast. They said that music just doesn't sell like it did, and maybe it's just time for the record company to recognized that and put out the album ? whether it sells 1 million or 10,000 copies the first week.

Well that's for certain, and I don't think anyone is under the false presumption that any new material is gonna outsell AFD or the Illusions.  But I imagine there still are some ways to make money in the record/music industry and they're doing their best to maximize profits and get the best material out there at the same time.

It's one thing for a band to put out album after album, the expectations aren't out of this world.  Unfortunately Axl has put himself in the untenable position of carrying on the legendary GNR name and the large gap between releases.  That raises expectations for better or worse.  I really think it's at the point where he can't come out as big a winner as he'd/we'd like.  I hope I'm wrong though.

Well I think the 30,000 or so fans on the forums will by the album first chance. Some people are buying two or three to give away to family or friends. There's a good 30,000+ guaranteed on opening day. Obviously that's a very conservative estimate, but I saw tons of people in 2006 that weren't signed up on the forums but big GN'R fans. So if the fans want to be awesome, then everyone can encourage their friends and family to buy it but also buy a couple of copies themselves and give people a copy who wouldn't buy it otherwise. It's quite simple, don't order pizza or go out to dinner one week/weekend. You'll be showing love to your favorite band and helping the album kick some ass on the charts. Then there's all of the critics/reviewers going to buy a ton of copies for their music division....I mean I remember Chuck Klosterman saying something like 'if this ridiculous album ever comes out, I'm going to buy it 3 times'.

The album will obviously open well. So appealing to us is a moot point. Focusing on a creating/bringing in a new fanbase (and those have gone astray) is essential to making the album sell. Promotion seems like key.

the record label has made plenty of money from gnr. my best guess is that the negotiations involve other more complicated issues (marketing, distribution, appearances, rights, future releases, etc.)

but one thing people tend to forget. the record company does not just want to make their money back. they was to maximize their returns. maybe even make a profit.

What?

He should do whatever it takes to ensure that everything is wrapped up and taken care of by the time that the first album comes out, so they don't have to go through any serious hassles for future releases of this trilogy, and so that the time between releases is a couple years as they have planned

8,400 here + 14,000 CD.com + 30,000 MyGNR.

Some of those people have accounts on multiple forums. I think 30,000 is a good estimate.

So you're not talking active users.

Amen to that! ;D

Right.

I don't know but at this point since it's taken so long already, why not be completely happy and then release it??

Whatya mean Chief?

I think he means that it's been SO long, why rush it out at this time.  Might as well make sure everything is perfect at this point.

Thats a good point. Every day Guns N' Roses are making money for Geffen records from albums, dvds, vhs, t-shirts and more. Some times you have to spend money to make a lot more moeny  and thats whats going to happen.     

makes u wonder though

I wonder how many albums are left on the GNR contract?

Cause if there is only 1 left, and Axl has recorded 4 on THEIR dime. That could be a huge fiasco and the label could try to demand that Axl release those albums on Geffen since they paid for them and Axl is using those other albums as leverage or maybe do the new thing and go indy.

I could definitely see the label Shelving CD until Axl agrees to release all the albums on Geffen. GNR are the biggest Geffen moneymaker of all time and Im sure they will try to do all they can to have all those albums on their label.

Also, the greed of record labels, Im sure they dont count Greatest Hits as a Recoup for CD seeing as they had plans for a GH anyway.

oh please  ::)

If by contract GNR only owe the label one more album, then that's all they have to deliver.  The label can't hold anything hostage.  How many times do you hear about artists that owe a label one more album so they give them a GH cd or just throw together a shitty album to cover what's owed.

But the point you're missing is that if they only have one more album and have recorded 4 albums worth of material on Geffen's tab, the status of the subsequent albums is in limbo if a new contract isn't negotiated.  If that's the case, you can bet that part of the negotiations taking place involve future GnR albums after CD, not just CD

How can anybody prove that the money went to album #2 or #3?

They wanted one album. They invested some money in order to get it.

IF they are owed one album and they're not interested in negotiating a new deal, then that's what they should get.....





/jarmo

If they are owed one album and aren't interested in more, then yeah, they should get one album and that's it.  But I don't see why they wouldn't want to re-sign GnR to a new contract. 

None of us knows the details but we've heard of "contract negotiations" being an issue dating back to 2006, and if the label just wanted to put out CD and part ways with GnR then I can't imagine there would be much to negotiate.  Seems like they would want to re-sign them and release these future albums in this trilogy, if the "one album left on the contract" theory is true.

I think that Jarmo's point is that if Geffen pays for 1 record from GN'R, then the band shouldn't have to do anything. They can release their record and be on their merry way.
And with a rapidly shifting music industry, I think that's just what they want to do. Give them that album, then promote, release, distribute, etc., the other albums all by their onesy, savvy?

Sorry, been watching too much Pirates of the Carribean...

That depends on what the band wants.

If they want to put out three or more albums and not just one...




/jarmo

My point is that if the artist only wants to fulfill his contract obligations and then move elsewhere than the label doesn't really have any say in what they're given by said artist to complete that obligation.

The most infamous example is D's favorite artist, Prince:

In 1994, Prince's attitude towards his artistic output underwent a notable shift. He began to view releasing albums in quick succession as a means of ejecting himself from his contractual obligations to Warner Bros.

Chaos and Disorder, released in 1996 by Prince (his stage name at that time being an unpronounceable symbol, see cover art), was his final album of new material for Warner Bros, and as this conceived as a collection of leftovers only put on record to fulfill contractual obligations; it was one of his least commercially successful releases. It met mixed reviews upon release. Many fans appreciated hearing Prince experiment with rock sounds, while others found it stale and tired. Some reviewers commented that had it not been a Prince release, it would have been met with much wider approval. The album reached #26 in the US and #14 in the UK, and is now out of print.



P.S.  THIS IS ALL JUST SPECULATION ON MY PART IN RESPONSE TO THINGS POSTED IN THIS THREAD.  I have no knowledge what GNR's contractual obligations are or their intentions as far as negotiations are concerned.

Yeah, but Axl can't release some bullshit album to get out of a record deal.

Here is my point.

Right now, Axl doesnt own Chinese Democracy.

That album is propery of the label. He cant leave Geffen and take that album with him. So, Geffen can choose to not release it if they want to. Remember Fiona Apple and how they basically shelved her album and didnt want to release it but a huge fan campaign all but forced them to do so?


My point is, IF Axl recorded 4 albums on their dime and we are saying IF, then geffen could say that those 4 albums belong to them since they paid for them. so if Axl has 1 album left to deliver and they feel 4 belong to them, u have a huge problem.

We have been told their are "Legal" issues right?

Think about what Legal constitutes.  I definitely believe a big part is digital rights but I dont really see that cause Id say they would just cut Axl the standard Digital rights deal.

It could possibly be something more than that and I think this theory would greatly explain why they would have CD turned in but still no release date.

I completely understand why they would want to go the independent route, completely makes sense.  And we know that Axl has paid for some of the album out of his own pocket.  But my point is that if the label has funded songs that are intended to appear on future albums, and the band wants to part ways with UMG, then major issues would arise as to who owns the rights to the unreleased material

My thoughts are that the label has at least partially financed songs that are intended for future albums, and that *may* be causing issues because the band doesn't have enough records left on their contract to put all the music out.  So, say, UMG paid $13+ million in recording expenses, Axl paid some more out of his own pocket, and they ended up with 3 or 4 albums of material, with only one album left on the contract.  So who owns the rights to the songs that extend beyond CD?  Could part of the issue be that the label knows that Axl can walk away after CD is released, so they won't release the album until they extend the contract so they can get money out of the subsequent releases?  It's all speculation but it's certainly possible

Exactly Shotgun

Im not saying Axl isnt right cause after CD he should be free BUT, u know how record labels work and this could definitley be a big holdup.

Really? Because IF GN'R owes Geffen one album it has to be Chinese Democracy?

I think what you mean is they are owed an album?




Do you think they have receipts to prove they paid for X amount of albums?

Remember Use Your Illusion I and II?

I bet they paid an advance to get the follow-up for Appetite For Destruction and got 30 songs instead.

What if GN'R had just decided to release 15 of those songs. Do you think the record company would've asked for the rest?

How often do you hear about artists recording a bunch of songs but only about a dozen make the album?



It makes sense that there could be issues that need resolving before the album's release.

The whole industry has changed.






/jarmo

Only GNR knows the extent and intentions of the material they have so they have the upper hand in any negotiations.

You can't seriously believe that GNR hadn't taken into consideration what is owed the label BEFORE they showed and/or turned over the album to them.

True, Axl owes them "AN" album but Axl is somewhat into a corner himself. How he can release a CD that isnt Chinese Democracy?

After all these years etc.

Thats why I said the Prince thing was a bad example. Prince at that time could afford to mail one in although that album is pretty damn good but Axl doesnt have the ability to mail one in because this album has been so hyped and is now so mythical that it has to be excellent.

Like i stated. Im not saying Axl isnt right but if he is right but the label feel THEY are right, we are going to have a damn long standstill.

So you admit to being wrong and then go on about why you're not wrong.....

If the label thinks they have paid for more than one album, they need to prove it.


You don't buy a painting from an artist and then say you also paid for another painting that you'll have to get later. Just because the artist happened to do a lot of paintings.





/jarmo

And in the world of writing, it's quite common for an author to be working on multiple manuscripts at once, and even "sandbag" their manuscripts for a rainy day when they have a dry patch and need to meet their contractual obligations.

Let's face it, that vast majority of us know NOTHING about what is in the contract, the focus of the negotiations, or even the state of the negotiations.  It's almost exclusively conjecture.   But hey, we're limited in what we're allowed to discuss.   Regardless, IF this is a standard set of contracts then it's very likely that Axl has the ability to turn in a CD of material that is satisfactory to the record company and then do what he likes.   It could be speculated that the record company is asking for all the known big guns on one CD so that they DON'T get stiffed with the future tracks being released outside of their control.

Its hard to play "hard ball" when you have virtually zero leverage.

I think I am being misunderstood.

Im saying both sides feel they are right.


I dont know what the contract says or if this is even an issue. we are just sort of speculating

I can see where both sides would be coming from if this were the case.

Does Geffens money buy them 1 album?
Or does it buy them Everything recorded with their money?

That is the argument.

I can see where Axl and Co. would be right with only owning them 1 album however I can also see why the record label would feel that they should have control over future albums recorded on their dime as well.

Its definitely a very complex situation which is why I am saying could be the reason for the big hold up. The label could shelve CD as a negotiating ploy to get Axl to re-up for more albums so any other music recorded during this time would also be released on Geffen.

If they never release CD, Axl can never fulfill the contract and be free.


see what Im gettin at?

Who knows what the deal is, I'm just boggled over that fact.

Axl said they would announce a release date when they had one, which makes sense, and they obviously don't have one yet or atleast one announced publicly. So one wonders if there is a standstill or negotiations still going on, what's stopped GN'R from dropping in and telling us that? I

I'm not saying I'm owed that, but it seems like they would. I mean if the album doesn't come out this year, then will they not say anything about it until they get the release date?

I mean they were quite prompt with the scheduling conflict thing. But whatever.

Anyone care to comment?

This proves what I said before....the new management (eventhough they are so called though..) do not have control over Axl and he still will follow his instinct....therefor the way of informing the public won't change.

Behind closed door, the industry stuff, that probably has gone into higher gear yes, but we will know when it is finished  :peace:

You're not talking about some one hit wonder here.....





It doesn't really make sense that they would be "owning" like four albums of original material if they are only entitled to get one.


If the contract was fulfilled with that one album, what are they gonna do with the rest of the songs?


If the contract was for like three albums and they could prove that they had paid in advance for all of them, then you might have a point in my opinion.





/jarmo

they might own geffen 1 album, but I'm sure Axl didn't pay for studio time and salaries for players and producers from the mid 90's til now, which at this point has to be through the roof-I would have to believe they were footing the bill for that, as well as the 2002 & 2006 tour-I know they released greatest hits to foot some of this bill, but I'm sure Geffen has been told for years the album is almost done by people in the GNR camp

Let's say Axl plays hardball.  What can the record company do, sue him?  Would that be free publicity in a way?
I don't know.

If I was Axl I'd turn in 13 tracks of nursery rhymes to get out from under the contract, then move my ass to Fiji to just get the hell away.   :yes:

I think Axl shouldn't play hardball or do what it takes.

Cause you know, I'm sure he doesn't care about getting the record out  :confused:

somewhere in between,  I guess. axl should do what he wants and know what he's doing.
strike when the iron is hot.

GNR making multiple albums is  nothing new. It was mentioned by axl as early as in 2002.

There are songs that are going to be worth the wait. And there are songs that are not going to be worth the wait.

No matter how many times the stuff is mixed, recorded, changed, shifted, sanded down, primed, repainted, retooled, fixed, deconstructed, reconstructed, smoothed out, fixed up, overhauled, had pieces added, had pieces taken away and then worked over one more time ? that will not change. Some of the songs will blow some of us away, others will not. Some of the others will blow other people away, while leaving still others disappointed.

There is no way to make the album so that everyone likes every minute.

How about fast-pitch softball?

Good point Tkkyj...and as for doing What it Takes, I don't know.  Steven Tyler did a nice job with that tune. 

So it's agreed, no Aerosmith covers...and Axl does a couple celebrity softball fund-raiser tournaments!   ;D

well I thought it was a court game like tennis, volleyball etc rather  than baseball or softball.

I just wish it would come out. It seems like this is a blockage in the pipe, and once it gets out, it will clear the way for future GNR albums.

Even if it's met with mediocre sales and critical distain, so what? At least it's done with and GNR can move on. We've been told for years about the 60-80 tracks. So far, we've heard what, about 10? If CD were to get out, then the next tracks could finally start to be revealed.


It will be interesting to find out one day (maybe years in the future) as to what the actual holdup has been on this thing. Was it really just Axl tweaking things over and over and over? Was it legal B.S.? Was it a virus that ate all the digital copies of the tracks and everything had to be redone? Aliens? Drug dealers who Axl owed money from the good old days?

Me too. But with that being said, I think that when it does come out, it will be unexpectedly. Like announcement and a release 2 or so weeks later.

Hey Mysteron is it still in the whole negotiations thing or has there been progress?

Uhm... I think not.

"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."

http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=1744

You really think it'll have two weeks of promotion? Get real.

They've had 13 years. Almost every music fan knows Chinese Democracy. All it'd take is a few commercials, really.

Really, I've never read that letter before. THANKS!  ::) :rant:

That's interesting because a lot people from the music industry seems to think that a 2-week release would make sense.
I mean it would be a huge surprise, get a giant buzz out, prevent leaks and hardcore fans could get the album. Maybe it'd initially be a
download thing? I seem to remember GN'R in the news pretty much every day for about a month leading up to the
Hammerstein Shows.

Not to mention that Axl was management-less at the time of writing that article. Things may have changed, just like
"it's definitely this year" for the album etc., etc., things change. Maybe the new management team found a way to properly market
the album in a shorter-time frame. Remember GN'R doesn't do everything the typical way and all that? It's not like promotion has
to end there, they could use that buzz and continue promotion and a physical release.

And 2-week onslaught of promotion through the mainstream media is far different than "It may just appear in your record store".
That's also looking over the fact that "Chinese Democracy" is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest name in rock history. It's anticipated
by fans and critics alike. So if Axl updates his website and says "record is coming out.......XX/XX", then naturally everyone will pick it up.

It will be "Dr. Pepper on XX/XX" and "Legendary Guns N' Roses releasing their anticipated record 'Chinese Democracy' on XX/XX".

Who?

i've been told that even 2 months is short notice for a release of this size  :-\

Yeah, if anything this album would need a longer promotion than any other album ever made.
The question is, would the band be able to handle that? With the exception of maybe BBF no one else likes to appear in public and speak other than when performing at the shows. Without the regular media whoring these days of appearing at every talk show there is and giving interviews to any media online included (not to mention reality shows  :no:), it seems kinda impossible to achieve any "conquering of the world". Being cool, being deep, and having integrity are not virtues that sell very well in 2008.....unfortunately.  :-\

Now, if there is no pressure and no expectation to necessarily "win over the world" instantly, then I think they'll do just fine and we can be one happy bunch of fans for a long time.

Though, It may convey his sentiments, that letter was, probably, written by management. Few people, without education, would use such proper grammar.

That letter was written by Axl. If you've paid attention to his past interviews (video included), statements, and lyrics of certain songs, you'd know that his command of written and spoken English is far superior than that of most people and is certainly in contrast to that of most other rock stars.

Maybe, but Axl has always been very well spoken in non-concert environments, so you never know.
It will be interesting to see how it plays out, but if it's not a "shock" type release, one wonders why GN'R remains so mysterious?

Speaking, and writing, are two separate issues. I find it hard to believe that anyone without, at least, some post-secondary education would write with that style.

I doubt it.

Did he even finish High School? Those are not the writings of someone with little education.

...because only at school you can learn how to write properly, right.....comrade?  :peace:

yea seeing as how the letter was misinterpreted (as usual), maybe those were not the writings for some with little education.

as the letter itself says there wasn't a management at that point.
Maybe he got someone to proofread/type or to consult with, but I'm pretty positive that the letter was for the most part if not all written by axl.