Slash Says Original Lineup is the "real Guns N' Roses" - from Sunday Herald Sun

[madison]

In an interview in today's Sunday Herald Sun Slash says the original lineup is the only "real GNR" and that "whatever Axl's got going on now is his trip."  I've highlighted in bold his comments.

For me, I partially agree. While I think CD is a great album - I have to admit I don't think of it entirely as GNR. I do think of it as Axl's solo project.

On another point - this is just the latest interview that Slash has given to promote his new solo album. He's worked hard to get music fans to know the album is out there, and it seems to be working.  .. In that respect, I've always believed that if Axl had taken steps - any steps - to promote CD, it would have sold much better.

Anyway, here's the article.

Your thoughts?



Only one Slash
4 April 2010
Sunday Herald Sun
 

Giving up the life of a band member inspired Slash, he tells NUI TE KOHA

SLASH is finally solo. The former Guns 'N Roses superstar, rated by Time Magazine as the No.2 electric guitarist of all time (behind Jimi Hendrix) releases his debut album this month.

He is not entirely alone, though.

Slash gets by with a little help from singer friends including Ian Astbury (The Cult), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother), Ozzy Osbourne and Iggy Pop.

He quit Guns 'N Roses in 1996, fed up with autocrat leader Axl Rose.

Slash's current band, Velvet Revolver, is in hiatus. He sacked singer Scott Weiland two years ago for lack of commitment to the band.

Slash says music saved him, but wife Perla Ferrar and sons London Emilio and Cash Anthony remind him of what's really important.

My wife and I were both crazy party people.

Probably the most hardcore couple I know. There came a point when we had kids and we didn't want to be the parents who weren't there for their kids. You need to be present. My music is important -- take care of it. My kids are important -- take care of it. You can't be fried all the time. I burned out on all the drugs and alcohol thing, anyway (laughs). It stopped being fun.

Family gives me a sense of responsibility.

Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, all those guys have kids. It's no big deal. After everything I've been through in life, music has always brought me around. It's what has saved me nine out of 10 times. In addition to that, when you have kids, there is a bigger stabilising effect.

I set out to make a record on my own.

It's very liberating. I didn't do it on purpose, to see what I was capable of, or if I could pull it off, but now, looking back on it, with the amount of moving parts that I had going on, it's very, wow! It feels like I've accomplished something.

I wrote the music first, then I thought who would sound good on it.

Simple as that. I didn't have a list of people. It was more, who would sound good on this piece of material?

I had this one song that was screaming: ``Andrew Stockdale!''

I'd never seen Wolfmother, but I knew the record and I knew he had a fantastic voice. He is genuine. There are a lot of posers in this industry at this point. We met, hung out and next day, we sat down with acoustic guitars and worked out the song. There is no lying in Andrew. He is pure and straight to the point.

Going solo allowed me to relax and write some songs. I didn't stress out over timing.

I had no set schedule. I had no record company or band to answer to.

Velvet Revolver is on hiatus.

There was only one problem in the band and it's what I call the Scott thing. One of the major issues was he made us cancel Australia twice. He was at that point where he was completely disconnected. It got very frustrating. So we sacked him. After that situation, I'd had enough of dealing with politics, drama and stupid things.

Englebert Humperdinck is not replacing Scott Weiland.

That was a joke. I did something with him and Dave Stewart in Canada (laughs). Now that rumour has gone all the way to Australia.

I recorded a version of Paradise City with Fergie and Cypress Hill.

I've been playing it live with Cypress Hill since 2002. I've always told them we should record it. So when it came time for my solo record, we did. I got Fergie to sing the chorus. She's a big Axl fan and sings it pretty good. I didn't put it on the record because I didn't want people to take it too seriously. It's not a big Guns 'N Roses cover. It's a fun version.

The only Guns 'N Roses I relate to is the one I was in.

That's a really important part of who I am. I grew up in that band. It was a huge achievement. It was a pity we didn't stay together longer. That's the real Guns 'N Roses to me. Whatever Axl's got going on now, that's his trip.
I don't know why Guns 'N Roses were always late to get on stage.

That was always a big problem for me. There were other issues, sure, but I never understood how it was cool to keep fans waiting for two or three hours (laughs). I mean, I can't wait that long.

Slash will perform at the launch of MTV Classic at the Palace Theatre on April 28. He returns for a national tour in August. Self-titled solso album Slash is out now.


HISTORY LESSON

Guns N' Roses: Was formed in early 1985 by Axl Rose (vocals) and Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar) and L.A. Guns members Tracii Guns (lead guitar) later replaced by Slash, Ole Beich (bass) later replaced by Duff McKagan and Rob Gardner (drums), later replaced by Slash's close friend Steven Adler.

Slash's Snakepit: A hard rock band formed by Slash in 1993. They released their debut album, It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, in 1995.

Velvet Revolver: The early incarnation of Velvet Revolver began in 1998 when three former members of Guns N' Roses, Slash , Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum united to record original music for the independent film, Soundman.
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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/sunday-heraldsun/only-one-slash/story-fn52nri7-1225849291247

[floppyfish27]

madison = Perla Ferrar

[axlrose4eva]

Why are you still here?

[TWT (free at last...)]

Well, Slash is right, and Buckethead, Robin Finck, Brain and maybe even Paul Tobias could say the same about New GNR, but Axl didn't ask/order any of them to leave, so what can he do apart from offer willing GNR fans some form of GNR?

[AxlRoseCalifornia]

i love axl and all, but the reality is some of these things are still happening. Axl and the band are always late and everyone knows thats the true. and i agree with Slash, the real band was that appetite for destruction band, however im happy that axl took the time to form a new band and brought more music to us, and i hope he continues to bring music to our homes, unless a reunion becomes possible

[Iconic Shawn]

You have to agree.

~S~

[2NaFish]

You have to agree.

~S~

You also have to ask, does anyone give a shit anymore? Or, does it matter in the slightest what any band is called? The answer to both is no.

Outside giving folk like you an opportunity to whine and moan this whole thing gets nobody anywhere. If a band's name has any effect on what you think of their music then you have missed the point.

[RP88]

the real band was that appetite for destruction band

Sure, but I think they'd also have to add Sorum to the Band list when they're inducted into the RNR hall of fame.

[Iconic Shawn]

You also have to ask, does anyone give a shit anymore? Or, does it matter in the slightest what any band is called? The answer to both is no.

Outside giving folk like you an opportunity to whine and moan this whole thing gets nobody anywhere. If a band's name has any effect on what you think of their music then you have missed the point.

To Axl followers who are true and true to the dude the name of the band doesn't matter. Who's in the band doesn't matter. What type of music he plays doesn't matter. What the band represents, doesn't matter.

To everyone else my friend, it does matter.

The reason the shit wont just blow over like you'd like is because the dude is selling a sham. And even those music fans who aren't necessarily Gn'R fans still feel Gn'R is that kick ass rock band thats still legendary and gets all kinds of respect.

Do people still give a shit? Yes.
Do people care what the band is called? Yes.

Does it mean anything to Axl who sits like a tyrant over it all? No.

Are people going to ever forget the true Gn'R and spirit of the old band? No.

Thats how it is no matter how YOU feel as an Axl Rose fan and what YOU would like for the world to do.

Axl is still Axl though and that statement holds both good and bad aspects to it.

~S~

[2NaFish]

well done answering questions no one asked.

im not interested if you care, im asking why you care. how does you whining help anythining

[Iconic Shawn]

Dude.. its not whining. Its wishful thinking. And YOU asked if anyone cared. The world does and that was my point.

But we'll omit that and brush it off because you don't like hearing it.

Trust me.. I hate that my fave band isn't what it use to be and every time I mention Axl or going to see the new Gn'R everyone shits on them but that doesn't mean I'm going to cry and tell everyone to shut up or scream "la la la" until it goes away.

Truth is the truth hurts dude.

And again.. I'm not whining about it. I'm responding to a thread where one of the main members of the band happens to feel the same way I, and a lot of the world does.

~S~

[2NaFish]

why do you care what they're called?

(obviously i asked if anyone cares, but it was patently obvious you do. my reference to you answering erroneous questions was in reference the rest rest of your diatribe)

[madison]

Dude.. its not whining. Its wishful thinking. And YOU asked if anyone cared. The world does and that was my point.

But we'll omit that and brush it off because you don't like hearing it.

Trust me.. I hate that my fave band isn't what it use to be and every time I mention Axl or going to see the new Gn'R everyone shits on them but that doesn't mean I'm going to cry and tell everyone to shut up or scream "la la la" until it goes away.

Truth is the truth hurts dude.

And again.. I'm not whining about it. I'm responding to a thread where one of the main members of the band happens to feel the same way I, and a lot of the world does.

~S~

Exactly.
This thread is asking people to comment on Slash's comments.

 
2Na - like it or not - admit it or not - a lot of people care about this issue.  You're right in one area  - the name doesn't affect how the music sounds or how good the album is.  CD is a great album, but it's not really a GNR album - it's more of an Axl solo album.

btw, I noticed that another Slash interview thread, where Slash describes Axl as "phenomenal" stayed in the main section, but this was one was moved.  Why is that?  Just wondering.  I thought the second part of my question in this thread - asking about the promotional aspects - was more relevant for discussion in the main section than a thread saying "axl is phenomenal." 

[madison]

i love axl and all, but the reality is some of these things are still happening. Axl and the band are always late and everyone knows thats the true. and i agree with Slash, the real band was that appetite for destruction band, however im happy that axl took the time to form a new band and brought more music to us, and i hope he continues to bring music to our homes, unless a reunion becomes possible

Agreed.

Well said.