B-sides with a touch of Slash and Duff

[Carlos Gunner]

I will be back if "the GENERAL" is released as an Axl, Slash, Duff song.  

[Spirit]

Imho it's very simple: song was originally written at the piano by axl. Finck added the guitar parts. That's it. They erased the Finck guitar parts and voilà, the song is written by the 3 of them.

But we don't really know do we? We suspect that Hard Skool (Jackie Chan) originates all the way back to 95-96, which means the timeline could be:

- 95-96: Axl, Slash and Duff all did some work on the song.
- 98-99: New guys come in and reworks the song into the demo we know
- 20-21: Slash and Duff are back, either takes the song back to more of its original form, or comes up with a brand new concept. Either way re-records it, and it's released.


Obviously we don't really know, but maybe it could be the case with Perhaps as well. I am curious because of the comment Richard gave many(?) years ago that they were working on material that stems all the way back to when Slash was still in the band in the 90s.

[Carlos Gunner]

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1513648772798987&set=gm.10160529143510091&idorvanity=2346615090


Is this an official statement from the band?

Because it is written that Perhaps is a new single written and recorded by Axl, Slash and Duff, this year. and that is just not true.

[kyrie]

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1513648772798987&set=gm.10160529143510091&idorvanity=2346615090


Is this an official statement from the band?

Because it is written that Perhaps is a new single written and recorded by Axl, Slash and Duff, this year. and that is just not true.

The statement came in a press release from Audacy. Not sure if it came from the band, or from that company. It also appeared on gnrmerch.com and was modified there - it now reads:

"Guns N’ Roses return with a single entitled “Perhaps” out now via Geffen Records. It stands out as the legendary rock band’s first release since 2021. The 7” includes the R-Side, “The General.”"

It no longer mentions songwriting credits. Slash may get a songwriting credit in the end because he added guitar parts. The band has always tinkered with songs for years. Nothing new.

[Carlos Gunner]

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1513648772798987&set=gm.10160529143510091&idorvanity=2346615090


Is this an official statement from the band?

Because it is written that Perhaps is a new single written and recorded by Axl, Slash and Duff, this year. and that is just not true.

The statement came in a press release from Audacy. Not sure if it came from the band, or from that company. It also appeared on gnrmerch.com and was modified there - it now reads:

"Guns N’ Roses return with a single entitled “Perhaps” out now via Geffen Records. It stands out as the legendary rock band’s first release since 2021. The 7” includes the R-Side, “The General.”"

It no longer mentions songwriting credits. Slash may get a songwriting credit in the end because he added guitar parts. The band has always tinkered with songs for years. Nothing new.

Thank you, I just do not understand why Slash would get credit for writing guitar parts when he did not get them in Estranged for instance.

[bicycle handgrenade]

These are definitely NOT new songs, since we have had access to the original demos, we have heard them, at least for some years so far.

Nobody forced you to illegally download stolen demos of song ideas that weren't finished.

If a movie is worked on for 15 years, it's still a new movie when it's finally released.

[cybercurves]

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1513648772798987&set=gm.10160529143510091&idorvanity=2346615090


Is this an official statement from the band?

Because it is written that Perhaps is a new single written and recorded by Axl, Slash and Duff, this year. and that is just not true.

It's absolutely 100% true. The official version that got released was written and recorded by Axl, Slash and Duff.

[Bodhi]

“Perhaps” is a brand new Guns N Roses song released in 2023.  The fact that some people gained access to stolen demos that the band didn’t intend on you hearing doesn’t change that. 

A “b-side” is a term for a song that used to be on the other side of a single, so the term is not even being used correctly here.  The term “b-side” is used as a derogatory term but that also makes no sense because there is an endless list of massive hit songs that were “b-sides.”  A good portion of fan favorite songs by Oasis were b-sides.  Anyone know the b-side on the “ You could be Mine” single?  The list goes on and on.

What are the rules for what constitutes a “new” song ?  Do we have to lock all the band members in a room and they can’t leave until they record a brand new song that contains no lyrics or riffs that they previously thought of before  being locked in said room?  It’s beyond silly.   NO bands make music like that, especially in 2023.


Also by this logic, is “November Rain” the biggest “b-side” of all time ?

[sky dog]

Outtake is the proper description. Bob Dylan has a ton of incredible songs that weren’t on the album they were recording for. Sometimes outtakes can be better than the tracks on the album.

[jarmo]

GN'R has left songs off albums for reasons that certain people choose to ignore. Calling these songs leftovers just shows the biased ignorance.

Don't Cry wasn't on Appetite, and not due to its quality. Just like certain songs were left off Chinese. If you have more songs than fits on the album, you save some for later. Maybe you don't want to have more slow songs on an album. So you save some for later (Don't Cry, November Rain).

The Use Your Illusion albums contain many "AFD leftovers" and I've yet to see anyone being bothered by that, as much as these recent singles.



/jarmo

[Carlos Gunner]

These are definitely NOT new songs, since we have had access to the original demos, we have heard them, at least for some years so far.

Nobody forced you to illegally download stolen demos of song ideas that weren't finished.

If a movie is worked on for 15 years, it's still a new movie when it's finally released.

Did Axl ever refer to the demos as stolen?

What did Axl ever say about the demos?

I think demos were published on the internet twice, back in the beginning of the 2000s and in 2019.

How come this happened twice?

Did Axl ever sue anyone for uploading the demos on the internet?

[Carlos Gunner]

GN'R has left songs off albums for reasons that certain people choose to ignore. Calling these songs leftovers just shows the biased ignorance.

Don't Cry wasn't on Appetite, and not due to its quality. Just like certain songs were left off Chinese. If you have more songs than fits on the album, you save some for later. Maybe you don't want to have more slow songs on an album. So you save some for later (Don't Cry, November Rain).

The Use Your Illusion albums contain many "AFD leftovers" and I've yet to see anyone being bothered by that, as much as these recent singles.



/jarmo

Except these songs are written and almost completed with other artists.

[Carlos Gunner]

Let's be honest, most of us downloaded and listened to Chinese Democracy demos.

So they are not new songs for us.

[bicycle handgrenade]

Outtake is the proper description. Bob Dylan has a ton of incredible songs that weren’t on the album they were recording for. Sometimes outtakes can be better than the tracks on the album.

The reason I'd disagree about the outtake label here is the fact that GNR was working on two albums simultaneously. You wouldn't label Use Your Illusion II as outtakes from Use Your Illusion I would you?

[bicycle handgrenade]

Except these songs are written and almost completed with other artists.

ABSUЯD was written by Axl, Dizzy, Slash and Duff. Axl and Dizzy wrote the initial ideas for the song and then Slash and Duff added ideas when they rejoined the band.

Hard Skool was written by various members both new and old. Chris Weber co-wrote Reckless Life and Move to the City, but they're still GNR songs.

[Bodhi]

GN'R has left songs off albums for reasons that certain people choose to ignore. Calling these songs leftovers just shows the biased ignorance.

Don't Cry wasn't on Appetite, and not due to its quality. Just like certain songs were left off Chinese. If you have more songs than fits on the album, you save some for later. Maybe you don't want to have more slow songs on an album. So you save some for later (Don't Cry, November Rain).

The Use Your Illusion albums contain many "AFD leftovers" and I've yet to see anyone being bothered by that, as much as these recent singles.



/jarmo

Except these songs are written and almost completed with other artists.

Yes current or now former Guns N Roses members.  They were in the band at the time , these aren’t random people off the street. 

[sky dog]

Outtake is the proper description. Bob Dylan has a ton of incredible songs that weren’t on the album they were recording for. Sometimes outtakes can be better than the tracks on the album.

The reason I'd disagree about the outtake label here is the fact that GNR was working on two albums simultaneously. You wouldn't label Use Your Illusion II as outtakes from Use Your Illusion I would you?

Completely different because they finished all the tracks and used them all at same time.

Plans are meaningless if not executed. Outtake is not a put down.

November Rain, Don’t Cry and Back Off Bitch were AFD outtakes.

[bicycle handgrenade]

Completely different because they finished all the tracks and used them all at same time.

Plans are meaningless if not executed. Outtake is not a put down.

November Rain, Don’t Cry and Back Off Bitch were AFD outtakes.

You may not intend outtakes as a put down, but generally speaking "outtakes" is to refer to songs that weren't good enough or didn't make the cut for an album. Not songs that were intended for a different album in the future.

Shadow of Your Love is an outtake from Appetite, November Rain isn't. November Rain wasn't recorded for Appetite because it was decided to record it for a future album instead. Shadow of Your Love was recorded and didn't make the cut and used as a b-side.

[sky dog]

6 to one Half Dozen to another! I’m just glad they are formally releasing these songs.

[cineater]

6 to one Half Dozen to another! I’m just glad they are formally releasing these songs.

Agree there.  The band has been producing/working as a performing act but it's good to have them back as putting out music whether I like it or not.  I'll always have an interest in what this band is doing.  That's never going to fade away.

   Okay, Dead reference there but they don't do space and drums and that's a major plus for them.