Guns N' Roses Set Their Date For Democracy
The game that we liked to call "Tuesdays With Rose-y", wherein the gullible continuously updated their guesses as to which of the year's remaining Tuesdays would see the release of Chinese Democracy, has come to close -- with a new promise made-to-be-broken in its place. Axl now says March 6th, but FOR REAL this time. This comes from GN'R's website titled, "An Open Letter From Axl Rose (which should read from "Axl Rose's lawyer"):
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.
... 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.Add this one to the Chinese Democracy timeline. At this point, dontcha think the album's more valuable to rock as a punchline, rather than as an actual sonic recording? It's like our generation's amp that goes to 11! Unreal, absurd, and perfectly misguided. May it never come out!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
Posted at 8:56 AM
Tags: Guns N' Roses
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Who is Guns and Roses? Is that that band with the fat lead singer who thinks he's Jesus with corn rows? Oh, no, it's that band with that guy who wears a chicken container on his head. Leave me alone, Billy Bailey...your shit is tired. You're not fooling anyone, you know. I"ve gone through 27 favorite bands since you totally fucked all of the fans by firing the band and putting your massive ego on a pedestal.
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"At this point, dontcha think the album's move valuable to rock as a punchline, rather than an actual sonic recording? It's like our generation's amp that goes to 11! Unreal, absurd, and perfectly misguided. May it never come out!"
I'm glad someone else realizes this too!
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file this under the "who gives a shit" category.
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File under: who gives a shit.
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File under "W" for...well, you know!
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file this under the "who gives a shit" category.
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Continue reading "Guns N' Roses Set Their Date For Democracy"
naw, that's alright.
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I guess I can go ahead and fill that #3 spot on my top albums of 2006 list.
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Note they said March 6 not March 6,2007.
The only record they'll proabably have out soon will most likely be in the Guiness Book under "Most Time Spent Recording An Album That No One Really Wants To Hear"
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the truth of the matter is, the only reason "Chinese Democracy" hasn't been released is they've only recorded those net-leaked four songs, an alternate take, plus the live version of Madatgascar (or whatever) that everybody already has heard. Axl is actually making good money busking at various street corners around the nation disguised as that no talent hack.
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The opening paragraph says March 13, but Axl says March 6, does Stereogum know about a future delay??
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ugh.
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It is more shocking to me that Rose keeps stating his utmost respect for 'the bands and the fans'. Always remember and never forget, Miss Romano, this bait n' switch called "Chinese Democracy" went through how many band lineups in its inception? Three? Four? Didn't they just lose Stinson too? Didn't Rose throw something at him onstage? Did Rose refer to opening act Eagles Of Death Metal as "Pigeons Of Shit Metal"?
Oh, and for the fans: Bought tickets to a show? You have a one-in-four chance of the show actually going on, either through cancellation or through Rose's petulance and spur-of-the-moment whimsy. When all is said and done, this will probably go down as the most-cancelled tour in history, barring outright full-tour-cancellation. Did you actually wait more than a decade for this supposed masterpiece? Do you realize that cassette tapes were still manufactured about the time when "CD" was supposed to initially be available?
All of this is to say 'who cares'? The lunks who still are salivating over the prospects don't care that they're being disrespected. The rest of the world has moved on. Rose has not only made this supposed "best thing since sliced bread" into a globally recognized joke, but in his own words have recognized it as "just an album" and his antics have diminished whatever good came from the back catalogue. There may have been a time when G'N R seemed more authentically rock 'n roll than hair bands like Motley Crue, Ratt, Skid Row and Warrant but, in the end, they're all pretty much the same - and all easily forgotten.
DwD
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On the bright side, it's nice to see writing from a rock star that manages to use proper sentences and even capitalization and, in general, doesn't make them sound like a moron.
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March 6, 2019.
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Well put, DwD.
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don't be throwin' shade on Buckethead.
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Ill be over here, playing 'Sweet Child O' Mine' on Guitar Hero II if anybody needs me.
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Does this mean Tommy Stinson is going to be released from his contract playing for GN'R/Axel????
If so, can he now commence recording/touring with the Replacements?
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Sorry guys, i'm going to lay down my indie cred for this one. i own every GNR record - i grew up with this band... well until at least nirvana blew them out of the water when i was 12. However, context is everything and GNR were the baddest fucking band around when they were in their prime.
Appetite, Lies, and even the sprawl of UYI 1 & 2 have stood the test of time. I mean, I was at a bar tonight and the dude singing tunes busted out a version of "don't cry" for fuck's sake.
Anyway, we all know that this album is likely to be pretty brutal. That being said, Axl Rose (and izzy stradlin and the old, real GNR) have released some pretty amazing music over the years. No one would care this much if it was bloody Motley Crue finally releasing a follow-up to Dr. Feelgood if Nikki Sixx lost his shit for 13 years and released nothing in between.
...the point is, wait until it comes out, listen to it and if it's shit, it's shit. Until then, save yr snide remarks.
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...and DWD? Comparing GNR to Warrant, Skid Row, Poison, etc. is trite.
Everyone who reads this, obviously cares about music - don't oversimply to make a point. Axl is obviously a narcissistic primadonna who surrounds himself with yes men. All one has to do is watch them when they were blowing up around Appetite vs. the bicycly short years to see the (devo)lution.
But putting "Look What the Cat Dragged In" and "Cherry Pie" in the same league as any proper GNR album is simply ignorant, and quite frankly - insulting to the readers of this blog, who know enough about music to know better.
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Total agreeance, pogue.
Axl is indeed mentally ill, but that doesn't mean I'm about to stop listening to "Nighttrain" anytime soon.
I believe in a world where you can be interested in both the new Arcade Fire AND Guns N' Roses albums. Call me naive.
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Well, nobody was calling Kim Deal a joke when it took her about ten years to release another Breeders album that went nowhere before she rejoined the Pixies for a moneymaking tour. Rumor has it she spent most of a recording session arguing about the click track in her headphones.
This isn't exactly the same as the Axl Rose situation, but similar.
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They cancelled their stop in Reno. I was surprised and not really phased, but I'm sure a whole slew of people are now crying.
But really I dont think most people care anymore.
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I like how all you dickwads crack on Axl Rose and how long it's taken him to come out with this album....one question: How long does it take you to write/record/release an album? I'm 28 and I'm still 6 months away from fulfilling that dream. I can't wait to compare your relase with GNR's. Care to step up to the mic?
What's that? You don't have an album? Let me guess, you all are probably the same people that roll their eyes at Ryan Adams for releasing 3 per year!! I know your type...you just want something to complain about becuase you're trying to project some kind of musical knowledge. Stuck up, smug, elitist, emo wimps that wouldn't know ROCK if it slapped them in their tiny weiners with a tunafish...
I can't wait for this f'in album to come out. It's going to rock my knards off and I'm going to wave goodbye to them with a doped up smile on my face. I'll be blaring it in my Wrangler with 6in lifts and run you and your '02 Saturn off the road with lame-ass Arcade Fire playing through your pink ipod...
There will be two date designations after March 6, 2006. BCD (before Chinese Democracy) and ACD (after Chinese Democracy). Rock will be reborn. You hear me Nickleback? Put on a fresh set of underpants...
http://www.myspace.com/mattdukemusic
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I think more than a "few" people care about the new G N R CD. They have the biggest tour in the world right now with no album to back. As for CD being a bust, the leaked tracks are great. Better than anything that the rock world has released in ten years. If no one cared, Rolling Stone, this blog and thousands of others wouldn't be covering it.
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