MUZ Muziek
Het forum voor 's werelds enige universele hobby! Snaren of toetsen, vinyl of cd, eendagsvlieg of rasartiest, op de radio of op een festival! Hier kun je al je ongebreideld enthousiasme, maar ook je weldoordachte kritische noten kwijt over muziek
Vergeleken met Axl valt dat best mee .quote:Op woensdag 12 juli 2006 20:54 schreef MrTorture het volgende:
Ik denk dat Slash af en toe een beetje overrated wordt...
.
A gentleman is a man who can play Jump on an Oberheim and chooses not to.
quote:Op woensdag 12 juli 2006 20:55 schreef Litpho het volgende:
[..]
Vergeleken met Axl valt dat best mee .
Nouja, het schrijf en produceertalent van Axl is echt niet klein hoor
No fear, no pain.Nobody left to blame. I'll try alone. Make destiny my own.
Dave: Al draagt een mod een blauwe kleur, het is en blijft een oude zeur.
yvonne says: nee hoor die Danny is gewoon een werknemer
Vis een optie?
Dave: Al draagt een mod een blauwe kleur, het is en blijft een oude zeur.
yvonne says: nee hoor die Danny is gewoon een werknemer
Vis een optie?
Slash maakte vaak fouten tijdens zijn GNR optredens, dus valt het wel mee hoe perfect hij wel niet was. Daarentegen verbeterde zijn styl tijdens deze nummers zijn fouten wel.
Chinese Democracy
Het is rock n' roll, geen prog rock. Als hij nou als tweede gitarist van Yes was gevraagd ...quote:Op donderdag 13 juli 2006 06:50 schreef JosD. het volgende:
Slash maakte vaak fouten tijdens zijn GNR optredens, dus valt het wel mee hoe perfect hij wel niet was.
A gentleman is a man who can play Jump on an Oberheim and chooses not to.
Ondanks het rock n' roll is, wil het niet weglaten dat hij fouten maakte bij GNR.quote:Op donderdag 13 juli 2006 08:27 schreef Litpho het volgende:
[..]
Het is , geen prog rock. Als hij nou als tweede gitarist van Yes was gevraagd ...
Chinese Democracy
Ik bedoelde ook helemaal niet dat Slash technische beter is, maar het is meer het stylistische dingetje wat ie toevoegt waardoor het zo lastig na te doen is. Qua stijl gebruikt ie enorm veel bends en die moet je steeds maar net goed kunnen aanvoelen.
Every fool's got a reason for feelin' sorry for himself, and turning his heart to stone
Tonight this fool's halfway to heaven and just a mile outta hell
And I feel like I'm comin' home
Tonight this fool's halfway to heaven and just a mile outta hell
And I feel like I'm comin' home
Het is nooit de bedoeling van Slash geweest om live exact het zelfde te brengen als op cd. Hij zocht vaak (zeker in bends) het randje op van vals/niet vals. Beetje bluesy effect geeft dat Doen meer gitaristen livequote:Op donderdag 13 juli 2006 06:50 schreef JosD. het volgende:
Slash maakte vaak fouten tijdens zijn GNR optredens, dus valt het wel mee hoe perfect hij wel niet was. Daarentegen verbeterde zijn styl tijdens deze nummers zijn fouten wel.
No fear, no pain.Nobody left to blame. I'll try alone. Make destiny my own.
Dave: Al draagt een mod een blauwe kleur, het is en blijft een oude zeur.
yvonne says: nee hoor die Danny is gewoon een werknemer
Vis een optie?
Dave: Al draagt een mod een blauwe kleur, het is en blijft een oude zeur.
yvonne says: nee hoor die Danny is gewoon een werknemer
Vis een optie?
Axl die perse een concert wil geven, dat is nieuwquote:Guns N' Roses-zanger ziek
LONDEN (ANP) - Axl Rose heeft de laatste show van de Europese tournee van zijn rockband Guns N' Roses niet kunnen afmaken. De zanger haakte kort voor het einde van het concert in Londen af, omdat hij zich ziek voelde. Dat meldde de Britse nieuwszender BBC dinsdag.
Rose voelde zich zondagochtend, na twee concerten op zaterdagavond en -nacht, niet lekker. Een arts constateerde dat de Amerikaan een lage bloeddruk en bloedsuikerspiegel heeft en raadde hem af het slotconcert te doen.
De zanger besloot toch op te treden, maar moest de Londense fans uiteindelijk eerder gedag zeggen dan gehoopt. Sebastian Bach, voormalig zanger van Skid Row, nam de plaats in van Rose. Hij zong onder meer afsluiter Paradise City.
Guns N' Roses begint in september aan een Amerikaanse tournee. De band trad begin juli nog op in het Goffertpark in Nijmegen.
ik heb het hele GNR nieuws niet echt gevolgd van de afgelopen tournee....en sorry als het al gemeld wordt in het topic Maar komt er een DVD uit van deze tour?
Domme vraag.quote:Op woensdag 12 juli 2006 18:22 schreef JosD. het volgende:
In wat voor opzicht zou hij Slash nodig hebben?
Axl zonder Slash is gewoon niks, en andersom idem. Die 2 zijn onlosmakelijk met elkaar verbonden.
Daarom trekken beide personen met hun band nog veel bezoekers . Je hebt het hier over een imago over 1 van de 2. Musicaal gaat Axl er echt niet minder om zingen als Slash er niet bij is hoor en dat geldt hetzelfde voor Slash, maar dan qua gitaar.quote:Op woensdag 2 augustus 2006 06:23 schreef Frau.Pfeffertopf het volgende:
[..]
Domme vraag.
Axl zonder Slash is gewoon niks, en andersom idem. Die 2 zijn onlosmakelijk met elkaar verbonden.
. Je hebt het hier over een imago over 1 van de 2. Musicaal gaat Axl er echt niet minder om zingen als Slash er niet bij is hoor 
en dat geldt hetzelfde voor Slash, maar dan qua gitaar.
Chinese Democracy
Heel gewoon, je weet toch....quote:Op woensdag 2 augustus 2006 06:23 schreef Frau.Pfeffertopf het volgende:
[..]
Domme vraag.
Axl zonder Slash is gewoon niks, en andersom idem. Die 2 zijn onlosmakelijk met elkaar verbonden.
Teren op oude glorie heet dat.quote:Op woensdag 2 augustus 2006 06:48 schreef JosD. het volgende:
[..]
Daarom trekken beide personen met hun band nog veel bezoekers .
Vertel ik nog iets nieuws als ik zeg dat je op http://www.newgnr.com/newgnr.html gratis complete shows kunt downloaden (ook van Nijmegen)...? Nee zeker...
Ik kom enkel een video van Nighttrain tegen (300mb)... Ben hem nu aan het downloaden, ben benieuwd!quote:Op donderdag 3 augustus 2006 11:36 schreef schaap001 het volgende:
Vertel ik nog iets nieuws als ik zeg dat je op http://www.newgnr.com/newgnr.html gratis complete shows kunt downloaden (ook van Nijmegen)...? Nee zeker...
Helaas kom ik geen andere nummers van Nijmegen tegen...
Ja, ik bedoelde dus eigenlijk audio. Daar zijn complete shows van te downloaden. Kwam het tegen en dacht dat het wellicht interessant zou zijn om hier te melden.quote:Op donderdag 3 augustus 2006 12:29 schreef Sm0keZ het volgende:
[..]
Ik kom enkel een video van Nighttrain tegen (300mb)... Ben hem nu aan het downloaden, ben benieuwd!
Helaas kom ik geen andere nummers van Nijmegen tegen...
Er zijn inderdaad slechts enkele video's te downloaden.
Die cd heb ik al een tijdje idd...
Maar die video is wel erg matig van kwaliteit hoor, voor 300mb! Het beeld is nog wel in orde, maar het geluid zuigt gewoon
Maar die video is wel erg matig van kwaliteit hoor, voor 300mb! Het beeld is nog wel in orde, maar het geluid zuigt gewoon
Voor de geintresseerden, een tv commercial van Harley Davidson met een stukje van de nieuwe gn'r single "better"
http://www.harley-davidso(...)eep.jsp?locale=en_US
http://www.harley-davidso(...)eep.jsp?locale=en_US
Hmm..zag het net op mygnr staan, drums klinken idd anders..stem ook wat?
iemand nog meer wat anders is?
iemand nog meer wat anders is?
na al die jaren eindelijk een voorlopige release date van Axl zelf
http://web.gunsnroses.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061214&content_id=a1&vkey=news&fext=.jsp
An open letter to our fans:
Guns N’ Roses regrets to announce that the following concert tour dates have been canceled:
January 10: Sacramento
January 11: Bakersfield
January 13: Reno
January 16: San Diego
Because of the scheduling of these particular shows, valuable time needed by the band and record company for the proper setup and release of the album Chinese Democracy would have been lost. Rather than delay the album yet again, all involved have decided to remove these shows from GN’R’s schedule. We hope our fans understand and we apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused. Tickets may be refunded at point of purchase.
To say the making of this album has been an unbearably long and incomprehensible journey would be an understatement. Overcoming the endless and seemingly insane amount of obstacles faced by all involved, notwithstanding the emotional challenges endured by everyone -- the fans, the band, our road crew and business team -- has at many times seemed like a bad dream in which one wakes up only to find that they are still in the nightmare. Unfortunately, this time it has been played out for over a decade in real life.
The true, ongoing, behind-the-scenes triumphs and casualties are much more complicated than any negative speculation that the media or otherwise has managed to hit upon. For much of the time, various legal issues have arisen, demanding that the best way to deal with these things publicly, quite frankly, was to keep our mouths shut in an attempt to ensure the best outcome -- especially one that wouldn’t jeopardize the band or the album. It’s easy for people to point out how others have handled similar situations or how they would have dealt with these issues themselves if they encountered them in their own lives. But again, without full knowledge of the various dynamics and circumstances involved, these types of comments or commentary are just uninformed, disassociated, generally useless -- and often hindering -- speculation.
When I agreed to do our recent North American tour, I did it with the understanding that my manager, Merck Mercuriadis, and I were in full agreement regarding our strategy and touring plans and, most important, that any and all things needed to release the album by Dec. 26 at the latest were in place. Unfortunately, it turned out that this was not the case, and I regret to say that the album will not be released by the end of the year. Although many things went extremely well and were very exciting, there were, in our opinion, unnecessary and avoidable complications on our tour having to do with the tour routing, scheduling and album and video plans that wreaked havoc on all involved. This was compounded by an overall sense of a lack of respect by management for the band and crew and each individual's particular expertise that has resulted, unfortunately, in the end of both Guns’ and my managerial involvement with Merck Mercuriadis.
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.
It takes approximately eight weeks for an album to hit the shelves once it has been turned in to the record company. For whatever reasons, it appears that it may have been mistakenly inferred by management that this time period could be condensed to three weeks. With that being said, this is not a promise, a lie or a guarantee, but we do wish to announce a tentative release date of March 6. This is the first time we have done this publicly for this album. Others have made up all the other dates for their own reasons. We would like to assure the fans that everything in our power will be done to meet this date. Once it is finalized and official, you will be notified. If we are delayed for unseen reasons, you also will be notified as soon as possible in regard to a new date, and the album will be released as shortly thereafter as is possible. We thank you for your patience.
In the end, it’s just an album, but it’s one that I, the band, our record company and all involved believe and feel is a true Guns N’ Roses album. Ultimately the public will decide, and regardless of the outcome, our hearts, lives and our passion has been put into this project every step of the way. If for no other reason, we feel those elements alone merit your consideration. We do hope you can hold on just a bit longer, and if not, please take a break and we’ll be more than glad -- if you so choose -- to see you again later.
Once again, we offer our sincere apologies and our deepest thanks. Guns N’ Roses also would like to thank all the fans who attended the 70 concerts in 21 countries for their support in 2006. All the best to each and every one of you over this holiday season, thank you and God bless.
Sincerely,
Axl Rose
http://web.gunsnroses.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061214&content_id=a1&vkey=news&fext=.jsp
An open letter to our fans:
Guns N’ Roses regrets to announce that the following concert tour dates have been canceled:
January 10: Sacramento
January 11: Bakersfield
January 13: Reno
January 16: San Diego
Because of the scheduling of these particular shows, valuable time needed by the band and record company for the proper setup and release of the album Chinese Democracy would have been lost. Rather than delay the album yet again, all involved have decided to remove these shows from GN’R’s schedule. We hope our fans understand and we apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused. Tickets may be refunded at point of purchase.
To say the making of this album has been an unbearably long and incomprehensible journey would be an understatement. Overcoming the endless and seemingly insane amount of obstacles faced by all involved, notwithstanding the emotional challenges endured by everyone -- the fans, the band, our road crew and business team -- has at many times seemed like a bad dream in which one wakes up only to find that they are still in the nightmare. Unfortunately, this time it has been played out for over a decade in real life.
The true, ongoing, behind-the-scenes triumphs and casualties are much more complicated than any negative speculation that the media or otherwise has managed to hit upon. For much of the time, various legal issues have arisen, demanding that the best way to deal with these things publicly, quite frankly, was to keep our mouths shut in an attempt to ensure the best outcome -- especially one that wouldn’t jeopardize the band or the album. It’s easy for people to point out how others have handled similar situations or how they would have dealt with these issues themselves if they encountered them in their own lives. But again, without full knowledge of the various dynamics and circumstances involved, these types of comments or commentary are just uninformed, disassociated, generally useless -- and often hindering -- speculation.
When I agreed to do our recent North American tour, I did it with the understanding that my manager, Merck Mercuriadis, and I were in full agreement regarding our strategy and touring plans and, most important, that any and all things needed to release the album by Dec. 26 at the latest were in place. Unfortunately, it turned out that this was not the case, and I regret to say that the album will not be released by the end of the year. Although many things went extremely well and were very exciting, there were, in our opinion, unnecessary and avoidable complications on our tour having to do with the tour routing, scheduling and album and video plans that wreaked havoc on all involved. This was compounded by an overall sense of a lack of respect by management for the band and crew and each individual's particular expertise that has resulted, unfortunately, in the end of both Guns’ and my managerial involvement with Merck Mercuriadis.
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.
It takes approximately eight weeks for an album to hit the shelves once it has been turned in to the record company. For whatever reasons, it appears that it may have been mistakenly inferred by management that this time period could be condensed to three weeks. With that being said, this is not a promise, a lie or a guarantee, but we do wish to announce a tentative release date of March 6. This is the first time we have done this publicly for this album. Others have made up all the other dates for their own reasons. We would like to assure the fans that everything in our power will be done to meet this date. Once it is finalized and official, you will be notified. If we are delayed for unseen reasons, you also will be notified as soon as possible in regard to a new date, and the album will be released as shortly thereafter as is possible. We thank you for your patience.
In the end, it’s just an album, but it’s one that I, the band, our record company and all involved believe and feel is a true Guns N’ Roses album. Ultimately the public will decide, and regardless of the outcome, our hearts, lives and our passion has been put into this project every step of the way. If for no other reason, we feel those elements alone merit your consideration. We do hope you can hold on just a bit longer, and if not, please take a break and we’ll be more than glad -- if you so choose -- to see you again later.
Once again, we offer our sincere apologies and our deepest thanks. Guns N’ Roses also would like to thank all the fans who attended the 70 concerts in 21 countries for their support in 2006. All the best to each and every one of you over this holiday season, thank you and God bless.
Sincerely,
Axl Rose
en het antwoord van zijn inmiddels ex-manager
An Open Letter To Guns N' Roses Fans From Merck Mercuriadis
Along with all of the other Guns N' Roses fans around the world I read "An Open Letter To The Fans From Axl" this evening with much interest. About half way through it occurred to me that I had read much of this before. In fact, I had written the blueprint for it in an email for Axl's attention two days ago which I have copied below.
The reality is all of this year's touring was planned and agreed between Axl and myself, with a view to the album being in the stores before the 31st of December '06. This was confirmed by Axl in numerous interviews - most famously at the MTV Video Music Awards. We planned the tour in February, just after Axl's birthday and we were supposed to finish the album in May, before it started. We sent our engineers to New York, where we all waited, for over a month, for the muse to come but she never arrived. We then scheduled sessions in London in August and had our engineers meet us there at the end of the English tour. August came and went and once again the muse did not show. We postponed our proposed radio date of Labour Day for the first single and we came back to LA and tried to finish before the San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles shows but yet again she eluded us. Axl then asked me to postpone the North American tour which was due to start on 24th of September by a month and finally, early in that period after the euphoria of Inland Invasion, Axl made a break through and got two or three very productive days under his belt.
At this point we were very excited as Axl's feeling was that we had two or three days of work left to tidy things up and we still had three weeks before the tour started, so we were in good shape. Unfortunately the muse disappeared just as fast as she came and the tour started with no single at radio to support it and the album still needing two or three days of work. Despite this, it was a break through period as Robin, Bumblefoot and Frank had all made important contributions to the album that made it even stronger. By the way none of the above is meant as a criticism of Axl. It is the reality of trying to create something special under incredible pressure from the public - that wants and DEMANDS the record - and the record industry - that NEEDS it. The creative process is not something you can dictate and Axl is a true artist.
At this time I seriously considered postponing the start of the tour, again, as the album was of paramount importance but the reality was that our historic track record left us with very little good will with you, the fans, and we needed the money to be able to complete the album and keep the band alive. We scheduled sessions in New York and once again sent the engineers there for the first two weeks of November while the tour was based there - but the hectic touring schedule meant nothing got done. The record company refused to conclude the renegotiation until we were ready to hand over the finished album and refused to prepare a marketing campaign or commission video treatments until they had it in their hands. This is still their position as of this week.
At this point despite the success of many of the dates on the tour the pressure on all of us became unbearable. While some of Axl's letter is disappointing - As John Lennon once asked Paul McCartney "How Do You Sleep?" - until you have walked a mile in his shoes you cannot begin to comprehend the pressure he is under. I know I sleep well at night in the knowledge that when Chinese Democracy hits the streets in March that it is in large part down to my efforts over the last almost 5 years. I found the money and the motivation to keep Axl and the band alive and get the record made when everyone else had given up and walked away. We worked as a team united to make Chinese Democracy a reality. In the end the album will speak for itself but our relationship could not survive the pressure.
I have no regrets. I believe Chinese Democracy is one of the best albums ever made, Axl Rose is one of the greatest vocalists and front men and the new Guns N' Roses (which kicks the shit out of the old) is one of the greatest bands. What we accomplished in 2006 only hints at what is to come.
I believe in Axl Rose. I am the artist's manager and it is my responsibility and job to take the heat. I promise you Chinese Democracy is worth it and you should keep the faith. I will walk away knowing I have done my best and that next year will see Axl recognized not only as a great singer and rock icon but as one of the greatest artists of all time.
Merry Christmas and all the best to you for 2007!
Merck Mercuriadis
PS I apologize to all the fans irked by my facetious comments regarding the release date to Rolling Stone magazine. They were meant to poke fun at a magazine that had announced a definitive release date, causing us all lots of grief, when none had been set. Unfortunately many of you took them to heart and for that I am sorry.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Merck Mercuriadis
Date: 12 December 2006 14:11:02 GMT-08:00
Subject: Album Press Release
Regardless of the issues that exist between Axl and myself I believe it is important for an announcement on the album to be put out this week and at the same time cover the cancellation of the 5 shows in January. Further to this I have thought about the album release date taking into account the issues between Axl and myself and my view is that the album should be set for release on the 20th of March rather than the 6th of February. March 20th is the first day of Spring and a positive day. This allows for three months to set it up properly around the world without unmanageable pressure and for it to be well imbedded in the market place before the summer lull sets in. It also allows for the deal to be done with the label and any change in Management etc which may be made to be made as well as detailed meetings on the touring which on this basis would start in Dubai just before the album's release. The note will be most effective if it comes from Axl as he will then be seen as the good guy who is giving people the information they want. Having said that it could come from either Howard or myself or both of us. I have presented two options the first not giving a release date and the second one stating it. The message would be posted as the lead story on gunsnroses.com and we would then point all of the media there. I would appreciate it if you would all let me know your thoughts on all of this keeping in mind that this is a work in progress.
Option 1
Merry Christmas To You All
We are into the last week of the tour and Christmas is almost here so I wanted to take the time not only to wish you Merry Christmas but to also explain why CHINESE DEMOCRACY is not under your tree or in the stores as we wanted it would be. We read the papers and we know you want - demand! - news. We have been in the final stages of renegotiating our deal with our record label and it has been a long slow process - not unlike making the record! The discussion started over a year ago but did not become serious until they started hearing the mixes. Everyone involved has worked hard to get the deal completed so we could get the record out this month but a few weeks ago it became obvious that was not going to happen. We then held out as we wanted to at least be able to give you the release date before Christmas but unfortunately we are still not there yet. This is not meant to spark a hate campaign on the label. This is an unusual and complicated situation as we have worked a long time on this album and it is important to us to make sure that everything including the deal is right. At the same time it is a business that has to work for everyone involved. We have all - you included - waited a long time for this and this is not the time to compromise. The first news you will hear from us in 2007 will be to announce the album's release date. Without the album out it does not make sense to do the 5 shows we have scheduled for January in isolation so they are being cancelled and we will focus on getting the album out. Until that time we want to thank you for all of your support in 2006 and wish you all the best for the holidays and a happy new year.
W. Axl Rose
Option 2
Merry Christmas To You All
We are into the last week of the tour and Christmas is almost here so I wanted to take the time not only to wish you Merry Christmas but to also explain why CHINESE DEMOCRACY is not under your tree or in the stores as we wanted it to be. We read the papers and we know you want - demand! - news. We have been in the final stages of renegotiating our deal with our record label and it has been a long slow process - not unlike making the record! The discussion started over a year ago but did not become serious until they started hearing the mixes. Everyone involved has worked hard to get the deal completed so we could get the record out this month but a few weeks ago it became obvious that was not going to happen. We have all - you included - waited a long time for this and this was not the time to compromise. We then held out on making an announcement as we wanted to at least be able to give you the release date before Christmas so here it is. Chinese Democracy will be released on the 20th of March in the US and Canada - the first day of Spring and a time for new beginnings! - and on the 19th of March everywhere else in the world. Without the album out it does not make sense to do the 5 shows we have scheduled for January in isolation so they are being cancelled and we will focus on getting the album out. We want to thank you for all of your support in 2006 and wish you all the best for the holidays and a happy new year. We look forward to seeing you in 2007!
W. Axl Rose
An Open Letter To Guns N' Roses Fans From Merck Mercuriadis
Along with all of the other Guns N' Roses fans around the world I read "An Open Letter To The Fans From Axl" this evening with much interest. About half way through it occurred to me that I had read much of this before. In fact, I had written the blueprint for it in an email for Axl's attention two days ago which I have copied below.
The reality is all of this year's touring was planned and agreed between Axl and myself, with a view to the album being in the stores before the 31st of December '06. This was confirmed by Axl in numerous interviews - most famously at the MTV Video Music Awards. We planned the tour in February, just after Axl's birthday and we were supposed to finish the album in May, before it started. We sent our engineers to New York, where we all waited, for over a month, for the muse to come but she never arrived. We then scheduled sessions in London in August and had our engineers meet us there at the end of the English tour. August came and went and once again the muse did not show. We postponed our proposed radio date of Labour Day for the first single and we came back to LA and tried to finish before the San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles shows but yet again she eluded us. Axl then asked me to postpone the North American tour which was due to start on 24th of September by a month and finally, early in that period after the euphoria of Inland Invasion, Axl made a break through and got two or three very productive days under his belt.
At this point we were very excited as Axl's feeling was that we had two or three days of work left to tidy things up and we still had three weeks before the tour started, so we were in good shape. Unfortunately the muse disappeared just as fast as she came and the tour started with no single at radio to support it and the album still needing two or three days of work. Despite this, it was a break through period as Robin, Bumblefoot and Frank had all made important contributions to the album that made it even stronger. By the way none of the above is meant as a criticism of Axl. It is the reality of trying to create something special under incredible pressure from the public - that wants and DEMANDS the record - and the record industry - that NEEDS it. The creative process is not something you can dictate and Axl is a true artist.
At this time I seriously considered postponing the start of the tour, again, as the album was of paramount importance but the reality was that our historic track record left us with very little good will with you, the fans, and we needed the money to be able to complete the album and keep the band alive. We scheduled sessions in New York and once again sent the engineers there for the first two weeks of November while the tour was based there - but the hectic touring schedule meant nothing got done. The record company refused to conclude the renegotiation until we were ready to hand over the finished album and refused to prepare a marketing campaign or commission video treatments until they had it in their hands. This is still their position as of this week.
At this point despite the success of many of the dates on the tour the pressure on all of us became unbearable. While some of Axl's letter is disappointing - As John Lennon once asked Paul McCartney "How Do You Sleep?" - until you have walked a mile in his shoes you cannot begin to comprehend the pressure he is under. I know I sleep well at night in the knowledge that when Chinese Democracy hits the streets in March that it is in large part down to my efforts over the last almost 5 years. I found the money and the motivation to keep Axl and the band alive and get the record made when everyone else had given up and walked away. We worked as a team united to make Chinese Democracy a reality. In the end the album will speak for itself but our relationship could not survive the pressure.
I have no regrets. I believe Chinese Democracy is one of the best albums ever made, Axl Rose is one of the greatest vocalists and front men and the new Guns N' Roses (which kicks the shit out of the old) is one of the greatest bands. What we accomplished in 2006 only hints at what is to come.
I believe in Axl Rose. I am the artist's manager and it is my responsibility and job to take the heat. I promise you Chinese Democracy is worth it and you should keep the faith. I will walk away knowing I have done my best and that next year will see Axl recognized not only as a great singer and rock icon but as one of the greatest artists of all time.
Merry Christmas and all the best to you for 2007!
Merck Mercuriadis
PS I apologize to all the fans irked by my facetious comments regarding the release date to Rolling Stone magazine. They were meant to poke fun at a magazine that had announced a definitive release date, causing us all lots of grief, when none had been set. Unfortunately many of you took them to heart and for that I am sorry.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Merck Mercuriadis
Date: 12 December 2006 14:11:02 GMT-08:00
Subject: Album Press Release
Regardless of the issues that exist between Axl and myself I believe it is important for an announcement on the album to be put out this week and at the same time cover the cancellation of the 5 shows in January. Further to this I have thought about the album release date taking into account the issues between Axl and myself and my view is that the album should be set for release on the 20th of March rather than the 6th of February. March 20th is the first day of Spring and a positive day. This allows for three months to set it up properly around the world without unmanageable pressure and for it to be well imbedded in the market place before the summer lull sets in. It also allows for the deal to be done with the label and any change in Management etc which may be made to be made as well as detailed meetings on the touring which on this basis would start in Dubai just before the album's release. The note will be most effective if it comes from Axl as he will then be seen as the good guy who is giving people the information they want. Having said that it could come from either Howard or myself or both of us. I have presented two options the first not giving a release date and the second one stating it. The message would be posted as the lead story on gunsnroses.com and we would then point all of the media there. I would appreciate it if you would all let me know your thoughts on all of this keeping in mind that this is a work in progress.
Option 1
Merry Christmas To You All
We are into the last week of the tour and Christmas is almost here so I wanted to take the time not only to wish you Merry Christmas but to also explain why CHINESE DEMOCRACY is not under your tree or in the stores as we wanted it would be. We read the papers and we know you want - demand! - news. We have been in the final stages of renegotiating our deal with our record label and it has been a long slow process - not unlike making the record! The discussion started over a year ago but did not become serious until they started hearing the mixes. Everyone involved has worked hard to get the deal completed so we could get the record out this month but a few weeks ago it became obvious that was not going to happen. We then held out as we wanted to at least be able to give you the release date before Christmas but unfortunately we are still not there yet. This is not meant to spark a hate campaign on the label. This is an unusual and complicated situation as we have worked a long time on this album and it is important to us to make sure that everything including the deal is right. At the same time it is a business that has to work for everyone involved. We have all - you included - waited a long time for this and this is not the time to compromise. The first news you will hear from us in 2007 will be to announce the album's release date. Without the album out it does not make sense to do the 5 shows we have scheduled for January in isolation so they are being cancelled and we will focus on getting the album out. Until that time we want to thank you for all of your support in 2006 and wish you all the best for the holidays and a happy new year.
W. Axl Rose
Option 2
Merry Christmas To You All
We are into the last week of the tour and Christmas is almost here so I wanted to take the time not only to wish you Merry Christmas but to also explain why CHINESE DEMOCRACY is not under your tree or in the stores as we wanted it to be. We read the papers and we know you want - demand! - news. We have been in the final stages of renegotiating our deal with our record label and it has been a long slow process - not unlike making the record! The discussion started over a year ago but did not become serious until they started hearing the mixes. Everyone involved has worked hard to get the deal completed so we could get the record out this month but a few weeks ago it became obvious that was not going to happen. We have all - you included - waited a long time for this and this was not the time to compromise. We then held out on making an announcement as we wanted to at least be able to give you the release date before Christmas so here it is. Chinese Democracy will be released on the 20th of March in the US and Canada - the first day of Spring and a time for new beginnings! - and on the 19th of March everywhere else in the world. Without the album out it does not make sense to do the 5 shows we have scheduled for January in isolation so they are being cancelled and we will focus on getting the album out. We want to thank you for all of your support in 2006 and wish you all the best for the holidays and a happy new year. We look forward to seeing you in 2007!
W. Axl Rose
