Sacking of Merck...etc...

[Tallman]

Does anyone think that Axl might have been a little hasty in getting rid of Merck?

I mean OK, the guy messed up with the talking about the album, but then it STILL hasn't been released...

Was Merck replaced? if not do you think that Axl needs someone to manage the band and push him to get the album finished?

Lastly...there must be something that is stopping Axl mentioning the album when he is on stage - either there is no album to actually talk about, or there is something big that is stopping it...god knows what though...

[sunnyp]

I thought and still think the sacking of Merck was a bad idea. Axl knew it would be a popular idea with the fans to get rid of him and it bought him more time by making him a scapegoat/fallguy.

Merck was a link between the record company and the band and between the fans and the band. Now it has gone it seems the band is descending into anarchy with more personel changes, more delays, media blackouts etc.

The guy got completely used by Axl, properly chewed up and spat out in my opinion. Merck secured some comeback gigs at the begining ie Hammerstein, RIR, UK/Europe tour last year. He tried to push for an album release as a manager should and then was made out to be the bad guy when he got fired in that letter from Axl.

The funny thing is now Axl is doing exactly what he said Merck was fired for: giving false release dates to fans in order to get them in venues. What a hypocrite! 

[Lucky]

merck was good to us fans.
but I guess Axl knows what's best for him.

[Karin_Sixx]

merck was good to us fans.
but I guess Axl knows what's best for him.

True, but he was good to Axl as well, like on the last night of Wembley, Axl went off early because he was hungover and Merek came on and made some BS up about Axl being ill all day because of blood pressure etc.

[bar123]

if merck was stil with the band we wud hav the album by now.when merck was around there was always updates,remember the rolling stone article and other updates.i think axl got rid of him for a reason.merck wanted the album out as soon as possible.

[sunnyp]

if merck was stil with the band we wud hav the album by now.when merck was around there was always updates,remember the rolling stone article and other updates.i think axl got rid of him for a reason.merck wanted the album out as soon as possible.

This is true.

Axl obviously weighed up the positives vs the negatives of having Merck around and decided that he was no longer needed.

He had already organised dates in Europe, UK and US and was now pushing for a release date. He had achieved all that Axl needed him to.

Without a shred of loyalty and in the most ruthless way possible Axl canned his ass. It's harsh but it's business. Axl obvioulsy knows what he wants and if someone disagrees with him then he parts company.

I think Merck did an amazing job under the circumstances, and in the end of it all he wasn't rude or spiteful, he just said positive things about the record and got on with his next, less challenging job.

[chopper rose]

fuck that album sick of talking about when is it going to be released i say never and axl is making money to retire for another 12 years thats what i think chinese democracy world tour 3 times now and still no album its a joke

[blueheart]

fuck that album sick of talking about when is it going to be released i say never and axl is making money to retire for another 12 years thats what i think chinese democracy world tour 3 times now and still no album its a joke

nice... why are you here again then?

[shotgunbluesXXX]

I think that Merck did a good job from the standpoint of the fans because he kept us posted on certain things, but he also blatantly lied to the fans about something he knew wasn't going to happen, the old "16 Tuesdays left" spiel

At the end of the day nobody knows what happened behind the scenes.  Nobody knows exactly what was said or what made Axl decide to part ways with Merck.  Maybe there was a good reason and maybe there wasn't, but it's pure speculation

[Robbie]

nice... why are you here again then?

because he likes gnr 

[DemolitionRock77]

Well I remember reading Merck's open letter to the fans, it was much more detailed and contained more solid facts than Axl's letter. But I am fairly certain that they have some form of management now, or they wouldnt be touring.

[Shakers of Giza]

Well I remember reading Merck's open letter to the fans, it was much more detailed and contained more solid facts than Axl's letter. But I am fairly certain that they have some form of management now, or they wouldnt be touring.

And the letter From Axl was almost single-handedly done by merck 

[Madagascar07]

I actually liked Merck. I still believe that the sacking of him was an extremely bad idea. He got them back on the road again and for a time it seemed that the album would surface. Since his departure from GNR i honestly cant see anything to suggest that GNR have came any closer to releasing CD. Think Axl made him a scapegoat for his own failings.

[Gez]

nice... why are you here again then?

Indeed...it's ridiculous...where are they coming from...