there's a difference.
this is not a solo record. Axl said after VMAs something along these lines, how do you make a whole bunch of guys something that already was"...
lot of energy was spent into making this band be GNR.
if Axl had a solo project, he'd have a lot less to worry about.
there would be a lot less constraints IMO.
It's probably tough to relax when you have to act in some sort of a margin.