Saturday, February 28, 2009

What do you want to be?


Sour, this affliction
If it was me I'd have it fixed
And with everywhere you've been
You're much too old to be so naive

So what the hell do you want to be
Following the trends that never end
I can't stand the parties you attend
So what the hell do you want with me

Oh, you're so underground
Oh, ain't that swell
Well the word is on the street
You're collecting sympathy and
then you hide
And ya ain't been out in days
Will the sunshine burn your face
Preserve your precious skin
I'll go out, you stay in



Please don't feed the pigeons
Out of the same sad bag of tricks
I've heard it all a million times
You make me sicker than
the wine you drink

So if you think I need some help
Climb out of your own shell
It'll make you think

Friday, February 27, 2009

Del James Interviews Axl


For your enjoyment, a brand new Axl Rose interview conducted by his best friend, Del James.

Del James: As reported, were you, either in your mind or otherwise, trying to create the "best album ever made"?

Axl Rose: No. That's f---ing ridiculous and more negative media nonsense. We were all just trying to do our best for the fans and ourselves.

At any point did you feel or say either you or the band had to make a "masterpiece"?

Of course not -- more unaccountable nonsense. Obviously, media, elements of the public, fans and our detractors had all kinds of things going on such as high hopes, expectations, pressure, naysayers, etc. I don't think anyone would mind discovering a diamond mine and I don't think anyone in any competitive field would get very far if they didn't have dreams, aspirations or simply hope to do well. That said, these types of comments are more from our detractors, pulled out of their ass if not thin air.

Do you feel that your alleged sense of perfectionism has delayed the release of the album?

No. Guns in any lineup wasn't going to release anything all that great any sooner. And no matter how any of us tried, that didn't happen, and often while any number of us were pushing to try and do so with whatever we had going at the time. In regard to so-called perfectionism, I feel that has a lot to do with your goals or requirements with whatever one's doing or creating. Different levels may be required for different objectives. If you're making brakes for a vehicle, what's required? It's all relative, right? You try to make the best calls you can at any given moment and go from there. Generally, when this term is used by others in regard to me or how I work, it's said in a negative way or as an excuse for their shortcomings -- and again by my detractors. Whether they are open about such or not, some people love putting others in a negative light; helps them feel better about themselves. Too many ears and too many stupid comments have proven that.

Did you break up the old Guns?

It is my belief that the commitment to end old Guns came long before the band started in the heart and soul of one man. After that, it became more visible sometime before/during [the 'Use Your Illusion' albums], when the others opted for personal reasons to change our approach, styles and methods of working together. At the time, I unwittingly chose as a means of what I felt was both my own and Guns' survival to adapt, and threw myself into whatever I could get out of that to support and promote our efforts.



The group shot of the band in front of the piece 'Dead' was not a coincidence but not something I felt could be talked about openly, and something I hoped would change. I couldn't reach Izzy [Stradlin] and couldn't manage or curtail Slash and his personal objectives to take over Guns anymore than I did at the time, and I'm lucky to have survived, got what we did out of it and some still enjoyed the results. But for all intents and purposes, the 'Appetite [for Destruction]' lineup and approach was already dead, and with the addition of Matt [Sorum], the end of the then-lineup and what Guns was really about was only a matter of time. Only heartfelt choices by the others could or would change that. Unfortunately, nothing did.

I'm generally blamed for the time it took to release 'Illusions,' but again the reality of my fault would be in not finding a way to manage Slash complete with his addictions and bring both him and Izzy together either similar to 'Appetite' or in some other progression more conducive to Guns than how 'Illusions' was accomplished. Unfortunately, that never truly happened, and both Guns and the public suffered for it. I'll take the responsibility in the sense that had I known how to achieve those goals we would have made what I feel would've been a more effective and powerful album at the time.

See? There's the catch, right? All this time, most thought I changed the direction with 'Illusions.' A lot of nonsense theories, speculation and complete nonrealities put together by others, based on Slash and others' crap and off one interview taken out of context I did with Kurt Loder where I said I hated 'Appetite.' That sentence has been used and twisted in every conceivable way since to vilify me and purports to prove my guilt and responsibility, when I wasn't speaking to the music itself but the overwhelming and at that time seemingly drowning success of our record.

My statement was in specific response to the feelings I had listening to DJs at the L.A. hard rock station KNAC at the time complaining about having to play the entire record for the umpteenth time for fans. I simply wanted to make another record and have it be as good or better. If you don't think I would've liked to have five 'Appetites' and been living like the Stones at the time, you're high. With that, any other avenue I hoped to pursue musically would more than likely been available as well. This was something I could never get through to the others with. Personal need to dominate in Guns was very important to them. Izzy has to be in charge or he's not comfortable, same with Slash. Duff [McKagan] tries convincing himself he's equal partners with Slash. Each to their own.

Why didn't you write 'Appetite'-style songs yourself then?

Part of what destroyed Guns was the battle between those guitars that works so well for 'Appetite.' I have no concept how to duplicate that with either the old guys or anyone else. I liked it then but can't say I truly understood their nature as I feel I do now. Make no mistake: That was a war and the efforts of one man to "successfully" remove another in his path between him and I. Neither player wants to deal with each other in those ways again. Those battles have already been fought, both sides went their prospective ways. Regardless of if they were to work together or not, the true dynamics of back then aren't something Izzy has an interest in or would allow himself to actually be in to such a degree other than for appearances, if that. Also, anything I had written I felt was in similar directions then, during and after the 'Illusions' tour was more than rejected by both Slash and Duff at a time, which greatly helped destroy whatever confidence I may have had at the time.

Why so many guitars on 'Chinese Democracy'?

Why not?

Seriously, past Guns records have only two. Why did you feel the need for more on this endeavor?

I understand it's for whatever reason a bit of a challenge for most people to feel comfortable in their minds with any band having more than two guitarists, but technically, as far as our recording goes, we're a bit more alike with the older recordings than one might think. On the older records, though, it's very distinct that there are generally two guitar parts -- each part is actually performed and recorded twice, giving a fuller sound, so in effect you have four guitars. Leads and fills are another pass, and often songs were originally written and demos were done with other guitarists as well.

On 'Chinese,' instead of having the same player double his part, we chose to add another voice and either each player's own take on the part or their take of another's, then there's leads and fills which vary from one person or a few on a track. Also on this record, though, you may have one player playing more than one part in a section; they generally tend to be two distinct parts and not overdubs or harmonizing with their own leads or fills. No way is better than another; it's just whatever works for what you're trying to do, what you personally want or for whatever reason you feel you either need, choose or like.


For this record, I wanted a blend of different-style sounds and approaches; some at least a bit unique to the individual players and their takes on these songs. I feel the different personalities and techniques give the material its own sense of originality. Live, I prefer the more solid approach of the three guitars now, especially as the performances with the rhythm are more energetic, consistent and reliable. It was fun having Izzy on board a bit adding yet another voice to the mix and seemed to work better for the songs this way, as opposed to having him by himself.

Would you consider a reunion with the 'Appetite' or 'Illusions' lineups?

No

Why not?

A lot more reasons than I'll get into here now. Different reasons for each version and each individual. The Izzy bit was fun -- and also fun because we didn't have to rely on him in any way, which is how he prefers things and works better for everyone. That said, you never knew if Izzy would be there or not or if he'd remember the song or decide to leave early. It didn't cause any problems, because we were doing our show regardless and didn't have to depend on anything, but it did open everyone's eyes a bit and blow minds.

He called, asked to come out and negotiated a deal with management that it's probably best that none of us knew about or the fun would've seemed a bit more like being used or taken advantage of spoiling the moment. As it was, we had a great time.

It'd be highly doubtful for us to have more than one of the alumni up with us at any given time. I suppose Duff could play guitar on something somewhere, but there's zero possibility of me having anything to do with Slash other than by ambush, and that wouldn't be pretty. He wrote that whole bit about not having his guitar in Vegas, I'd assume, to save face. I was told by both the Hard Rock and different Guns industry people who had come out to be supportive of the new band and were a bit surprised to see him there, especially guitar in hand, but just assumed it was a surprise for the show and we were in on the arrangement.

Steven [Adler] brings assorted ambulance-chasing attorneys and the nightmare of his mother. One gig, or even a couple songs, could mean years of behind-the-scenes legal aftermath.

Wouldn't you make more money?

If the music was there, meaning new music, I can't say for sure right now -- and there have been market surveys, and various promoters have put together different projections and analysis that in areas where there could be more, it's not enough to sell your soul and live in hell the rest of your life for, that's definitely certain. But that's the catch, right, the music? If I believed in that as a reality which, no offense meant to anyone, I haven't seen anything in all these years to convince me or we'd be doing this interview under different circumstances of some sort, to say the least.

It's not some place I want to be or have any interest in being. If I believed in it in regard to the music, not in direction so much but in how it feels and to what degree, then maybe it'd be another story. I'm in no way trying to be offensive to anyone here, and I'm allowed to have my own feelings in regard to what inspires me, not someone else. Other than a one-off or something, I don't really do songs because someone else likes them.

There is the distinct possibility that having his intentions in regard to me so deeply ingrained and his personal though guarded distaste for much of 'Appetite' other than his or Duff's playing, Slash either should not have been in Guns to begin with or should have left after 'Lies.' In a nutshell, personally I consider him a cancer and better removed, avoided -- and the less anyone heard of him or his supporters, the better.

Didn't you say you loved him in what -- '06?

No. I said "loved," as in past tense. It was a misquote by a writer I mistook as a fan.

Do you think he can play guitar?

I prefer listening to others in general, especially those who both push their talents and infuse them with a level of energy that I've seldom heard in his efforts over the years. I'm not taking anything away from the man that are his to claim for his past efforts; it's just that for whatever reason for me, whether the approach, style or basic hands-on technique is there, the passion and true dedication to the art of guitar in his chosen area other than being, in my opinion, a whore for the limelight has generally seemed absent or lacking with most efforts for a long time. To me, it's sad. I don't get it. Where does it go? Is it a choice? Sometimes it's there on covers; I think Clive [Davis, legendary record executive] fell for that.

It wasn't there with me on 'Sympathy [for the Devil]' or ['The] Spaghetti [Incident?'] and it took years for me to get there again, in my opinion, and in the ways I wanted it to be. Will I keep it? Who knows? I'd like to, but who can say?

Who's your favorite drummer you've worked with?

I've liked elements that each brought in. Josh [Freese], [Brian] "Brain" [Mantia] and Frank [Ferrer] have been the easiest to work with and get along with, as well as it being fun to hang out with any of them. I do feel that all three were the right drummers to make this album. The rehearsals with [Dave] Abruzzesse and Pod as a duo were really cool; it was a shame then that it didn't work out but seemed for the best once we found Josh. In regard to old Guns, I don't listen much and for different reasons -- more because of the drums than anything else.

With 'Appetite,' for me the parts, playing, etc., timing flaws, whatever, are perfect, and as a moment in time for me, the whole record is. That said, the sound of the drums, which at the time in our niche of the woods was a bit of a bold statement and a somewhat successful effort to change things from the current flow at the time, and so may have been necessary but for me sound the most dated of anything there sound-wise.

With 'Illusions' several years ago, something came on the radio and I realized how the energy in the drums, though solid and consistent, brought me down in a way I feel damaged the material in the long run, if not from the get-go. Maybe it's there with some, most or all of us in ways, but I specifically notice it more with the drums. And when listening in that sense of analyzing how something feels to me in regards to its involvement or inclusion in the song, whether anyone disagrees I'm somewhat capable of removing myself and events from the picture.

For me it's more about certain energies and feel, and I'm not into what we did there for a good bit in regard to the drum work. To actually have a drummer that could play at the time, though, was a bit too overwhelming. The public has no idea what went into Steven's parts and the notion of getting through songs in rehearsal if ever, with no exaggeration, was unfortunately a nightmare that neither I or Izzy could take, and eventually the others as well, though they lasted longer for other reasons.

What do you think of Steven being on the VH1 rehab show?

I wish Steven the best; unfortunately Steven's given us the spoiler for that. I hope people are able to find answers and get the help they need; other than that, I'm not the biggest fan of the show.

Who's in the band?

I think we'll go with a combo of who's around and who's on the album for now and worry about that when we get ready to tour.

Is Robin [Finck] in the band?

Last I was aware, he had some interest in touring, though I can't say what that means until then. In our opinion, he's made things a bit awkward publicly, but that's just his way.

Is Brain in the band?

Last I checked. Brain works on several things with Guns either from his home or in the studio.

So you have two drummers? Will they both tour?

Yes, and who knows?

When's the next album?

Have no idea and don't care. Hopefully, we'll be working 'Chinese' for a good bit. Of course there's the same idiots that have been around forever already demanding release dates.

How much material is there?

Not as much as Baz [Sebastian Bach] thinks he heard! Really, it doesn't matter. If things go well enough, we'd like to get another out at some point in our lifetimes.

Is anything finished?

Depends how you look at it.

How do you look at it?

Not something we've focused on.

You're not saying much.

You got that? What I can say is if you don't like this, then you probably won't like that. Same people, lots more approaches, bit meaner in places and darker in some. Robin does a really great Stevie Ray Vaughan-type solo on one track.

Slash has said that the sessions they did with Izzy before Velvet Revolver were the best Guns album ever. What do you think of that?

Politics.

In what way?

Old Guns promotion.

What happened between you and [photographer] Robert John?

Hmmm ... I don't know anyone who knows. Last I heard he was allegedly doing a lot of meth and sleeping on his mom's floor. Anyone whose opinions I trust seems to thinks he lost his mind, lives in a fantasy world and knows everything.

What's that about, if you don't mind me asking?

Have no idea. This is a guy that I got in the business, got him gigs, paid and treated well, promoted, etc. Helped him get a house, helped him keep his house, bought his photos, and when Merck [Mercuriadis, former G N' R manager], for whatever reasons took forever to pay him, Robert sues me ... but I didn't know anything about it. Next thing, I'm the Antichrist because I didn't like some photos. F--- if I know.

I called Robert out of the blue back when, because I felt I knew something was wrong. Finally, he says he was gonna kill himself. I put up about 60-something-K on the mortgage, got a couple payments, but that wasn't where the trouble started. It was that the bank was foreclosing on that money, so he was pissed at our accountant, who kept on him trying to sort out what we should do and Robert avoiding him -- who was the others' accountant as well. I only learned of any of this near the end. He and Robert knew each other for years. He's one of the guys who allegedly saw Slash with his guitar in Vegas. And it seems genuine because he didn't know anything was going on. He's like, "Why was Slash there with his guitar?" And the Hard Rock people -- what did they have to lie about? They deal with all the bands ... friends, enemies, whatever, so it's just business. As far as I know, we're all good with that.

Spinner

The Beatles’ "Revolution 1 (Take 20)" Leaks


Beatles fans still patiently waiting for Paul McCartney to release the band’s 1967 sound collage "Carnival of Light" were surprised by an even better gift this weekend as a 10-minute version of The White Album’s "Revolution 1" leaked onto the internet, giving fans a never-before-heard listen of what the White Album sessions must have been like.

The track makes it clear why seemingly unrelated "Revolution 1" and the maniacal "Revolution 9" sound collage share the same name: In "Revolution 1 (Take 20)" John Lennon steers an extended, more experimental version of "1" to its breaking point, using it as a conduit before launching into the avant-garde "9."



Thanks to Rolling Stone

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Guns to Headline Download Festival ... ?


The official website of the 2009 Download Festival is counting down to the announcement of their third headliner. The big reveal will be at 8PM ET (3PM in the UK) on Monday, March 2.

The first two headliners of this 3 day festival are Slipknot and Def Leppard.

Considering that Guns are confirmed to play the KoBeta Sonik Festial in Spain on June 19-20, it's a pretty reasonable assumption that they're going to headline Download as well.

The Guns N' Roses - European Rumors 2009 Tour:

June 12,13,14 - Download Festival - Donnington Park, UK
June 19,20 - Kobetasonik Festival - Bilbao, SPAIN
June 26 - NORWAY
June 28 - Gods of Metal, Milan, ITALY

You can watch a couple of clips below from GN'R's performance at Download 2006.





Download Festival 2009

Gone Dead Train


My engine was pumpin steam
And I was ridin at you hard and fast
I was burnin down the rails, tryin to heat the way
Haulin ass and ridin up the track
And laughing at the conductor
Who was tellin me my coal, would never last

But when the fire in my boiler
Up and quit before I came
Ain't no empty cellar
It's a gone dead train



Once was at a time when I could
Mama shake em dry
(?)
Waitin at the station
With a heavy loaded sack
Savin up and holdin just to spill
Shootin my supply through my demon's eye
Instead of holdin for the time, I hope I will

Yeah it's a gone dead train
You got to help me to learn
Gone dead train
You got teach it to learn

There ain't no easy way
When your daily runs a downhill pull
And there ain't no easy day
Wishin for some jelly roll hole
Ain't no switch been made
To make your juicy lemon find
A spring to run a dry well full

Related: On Down the Road - Izzy Stradlin

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

We Hate Axl. Or Love Him.


The Classic Rock Opinion: We Hate Axl. Or Love Him.


Following today’s news that Guns N’ Roses may be coming to play in Europe this summer, Classic Rock’s Editor In Chief Scott Rowley offers his viewpoint on the band’s current status.

I might love Axl Rose. It’s either that or I hate the despicable, contrary, miserable ginger twonk.

I really can’t decide but it’s definitely one or the other. One minute I’m in thrall to the genius of Chinese Democracy tracks like Better or Madagascar, punching the air to ballads like Street of Dreams and There Was A Time, and ready to argue the toss that Chinese Democracy shouldn’t just have been CR’s album of the year in 2007, it should have been album of the year in 2008 too (c’mon: it out-gunned, out-crafted, out-ambitioned, out-emoted, out, er, song-ed Black Ice by a country mile and you know it in fact we should make it album of the year every year until someone makes something better).

The next minute, I see an article about him, read his comments online, see a picture of him, or consider the Michael-Jackson-in-training freakshow his life is in danger of becoming and I realise that, actually, he’s how to put it a bit of a dick.

That’s the weird impact the former William Bailey has on the world of rock.

And as the band currently known as GN’R look like they will come out of the woodwork this summer, the question has gotta be: Does anyone care anymore?

Well, yeah. The new GN’R have the most passionate internet fan community out there. The CR office is bombarded daily with updates on every rumour, whisper, movement and he-said-she-said from Axl and his enormous guitar army. Every posting on our website about GN’R is followed by postings from normal people saying, “Yeah, tell someone who cares” immediately followed by 30 posts from assorted lunatics who wrte n txt spk and thnk ChinDem is the tits and bthead is god.

But what about those normal people? Do they care? Well here’s the thing.

Recently I heard a great story about the Steven Adler trial (Adler sued the band for wrongful dismissal). The story went that the GN’R camp offered to settle out of court for a relatively small amount. The Adler camp at first accepted but then Axl stepped in. Axl didn’t want to settle he wanted his day in court, he wanted JUSTICE! (Read: he wanted to humiliate that motherfucker.)

So the band went to court and while Adler allegedly didn’t have a very strong case, as the days worn on and especially after Axl took the stand (see footage here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqNW2z4kvyY) a strange thing started to happen: everyone realised that the court battle had turned, as they tend to, into a personality contest. And the cuddly, dumb-ass, shaggy-haired drummer bloke who’d been sacked was much more likeable than the horrible, arrogant millionaire rock star bloke in the pale blue suit wot had sacked him.

So before things got out of hand, the band settled out of court for a considerable amount more than had been originally offered.

And here we are. Today we’re the jury and in the big pop culture popularity contest, Axl ­ slippery, evasive, arrogant, weird-looking old Axl is losing out. And as much as we might say that it’s not about the people, it’s about the music, when we look up to those guys onstage we want to just do
that: look up to them. And Axl is a hard man to love.

But I love him. Or hate him. I dunno. It’s one of the two. So let’s hope he does make it to Europe. It’ll be brilliant. And if it’s not it’s a good excuse to chuck stuff.

Scott Rowley

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Steven Adler to Appear in Dahmer vs. Gacy


Lots of Steven Adler news today, so let's get right to it.

Steven is set appear in the new horror/comedy film Dahmer vs. Gacy. Apparently he plays one of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims. There are more pictures at Steven Adler's MySpace page which promises 'more details coming soon.'

Steven's band Adler's Appetite has new February/March tour dates up (also at their MySpace page).

Adler's Appetite will perform Appetite For Destruction in its entirety along with other classics and some surprises.

The tour dates are:

Feb 21 - Las Vegas, NV - Hard Rock Hotel
Feb 27 - Yucaipa, CA - Angels Roadhouse
Feb 28 - Redondo Beach, CA - Brixton
Mar 01 - San Marcos, CA - Jumping Turtle
Mar 04 - Waterloo, IA - Reverb
Mar 05 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
Mar 06 - Springfield, IL - Club Chrome
Mar 07 - Greenville, WI - Route 15
Mar 08 - Bolingbrook, IL - Tailgaters
Mar 12 - Harrisburg, PA - Gulliftys Underground
Mar 13 - Farmingdale, NY - Crazy Donkey
Mar 14 - Springfield, VA - Jaxx
Mar 20 - El Paso, TX - Take 2

It's great to see Steven doing so well. He's really turned his life around in the last 6 months. In the video below, Steven discusses his recovery and talks about his experiences doing Celebrity Rehab and Sober House. "I wouldn't be here, backstage at the Grammys, if things weren't going a little better."



Finally, the video below features Steven's now-classic kickball catch from Episode 5 of VH1's Sober House.



Nice catch Steven!

Spotify


Spotify is a new music service that allows free streaming of music interrupted with a 15-second commercial every half-hour.

Last week I called Josh Freese's new scheme the future of music. I was wrong. Josh Freese's scheme is the present. Spotify is the future.

As of right now, Spotify Free is currently in an invitation-only beta, which means you need to have received an invitation token to access the service.

I don't have an invitation and I would like one.

My email address is mack.arillo@gmail.com

Thanks!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Report: Guns N' Roses to Headline KoBeta Sonik Festival



RAFABASA.COM is reporting that Guns N' Roses will play the KoBeta Sonik Festival in Bilbao, Spain this Summer.

The Festival will be held on June 19 and 20.

The official festival page has Motley Crue listed as the headliner.

Other rumored tour dates for this summer include June 26 in Norway, August 1 at the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, England and June 12-14 at the Download Festival also in England.

There are also reports of dates in Italy for the month of June.

Guns played their last show in July 2007 at the Intex Osaka in Japan. They are currently holding auditions for a guitarist to replace Robin Finck who left in March 2008.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

White Stripes on Conan


The White Stripes Reunion.

Since I'd be adding nothing new to the public discourse by saying that this performance "sucked," I'll instead try to think of something more charitable to say.

The White Stripes have always been "weird," and this performance has done nothing to tarnish that legacy.

They played their most famous song and instead of taking the easy route, they played an almost unrecognizable (ala Dylan) version.

As for Jack White "crying?" I just don't know. Was that for real?

Friday, February 20, 2009

Josh Freese Takes Variable Pricing to the Next Level


Former GN'R, Nine Inch Nails, and A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese has taken Radiohead and NIN's variable pricing model for his new album to the next level.

Cheap digital downloads for the casual fans, and deluxe editions for the hardcores.

The packages range from $7 to $75,000! The top-tier package even includes raw lasagna made by Robin Finck's wife.

You can laugh all you want at this model, but it's not a joke. This IS the Future. They are:

$7
Digital download of Since 1972, including 3 videos

$15
CD/DVD double-disc set
Digital download

$50
CD/DVD double-disc set
T-shirt
“Thank you” phone call from Josh for buying Since 1972. You can tell him what you like about the record that you purchased, or what you thought sucked. Ask whatever you want, like “Is Maynard really THAT weird?” or “Which one of Sting’s mansions has the comfiest beds?” or “Are Devo really suburban robots that monitor reality or just a bunch of dads from Ohio?” or “Why don’t the Vandals play more stuff off the first record?” It’s your 5 minutes to yack it up. Talk about whatever you want.

$250 (limited edition of 25)
Signed CD/DVD and digital download
T-shirt
Signed drum head and drumsticks
Go on a lunch date with Josh to PF Changs or The Cheesecake Factory (whatever you’re into)

$500 (limited edition of 15)
Signed CD/DVD and digital download
T-shirt
Signed cymbal and sticks
Meet Josh in Venice, Calif., and go floating together in a sensory-deprivation tank (to be filmed and posted on YouTube)
Dinner at Sizzler (get your $8.99 steak and “all you can eat” shrimp on)

$1,000 (limited edition of 10)
Signed CD/DVD and digital download
T-shirt
Signed cymbal, drum head and drumsticks
Josh washes your car OR does your laundry … or you can wash his car
Have dinner with Josh aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif.
Get drunk and cut each other’s hair in the parking lot of the Long Beach courthouse (filmed and posted on YouTube, of course)

$2,500 (limited edition of 5)
Signed CD/DVD and digital download
Get a private drum lesson with Josh, or for all you non-drummers, have him give you a back and foot massage (couples welcome)
Pick any 1 member of the Vandals or Devo (subject to availability) to accompany you and Josh to either the Hollywood Wax Museum or the lunch buffet at the Spearmint Rhino
Signed DW snare drum
Take 3 items of your choice out of his closet (first come, first serve)
Change diapers and make bottles with him for an afternoon (after hitting the strip club)

$5,000 (limited edition of 3)
Signed CD/DVD and digital download
T-shirt
Josh writes a song about you and makes it available on iTunes
Co-direct a video with him for the song about you and throw it up on the YouTubes
Josh gives you and a friend a private tour of Disneyland
Get drunk together. If you don’t drink, we can go to my dad’s place and hang out under the “Tuba tree”
Stone Gossard from Pearl Jam will send you a letter telling you about his favorite song on Since 1972

$10,000 (limited edition of 1)
Signed CD/DVD and digital download
T-shirt
Signed DW snare drum from A Perfect Circle’s 2003 tour
Josh gives you a private drum lesson OR his and hers foot/back massage (couples welcome, discreet parking)
Twiggy from Marilyn Manson’s band and Josh take you and a guest to Roscoe’s Chicken ‘n’ Waffles in Long Beach for dinner
Josh takes you and a guest to Club 33 (the super-duper exclusive and private restaurant at Disneyland located above Pirates of the Caribbean) and then hit a couple rides afterward (preferably the Tiki Room, the Haunted Mansion and Tower of Terror)
At the end of the day at Disneyland, drive away in Josh’s Volvo station wagon. It’s all yours … take it. Just drop him off on your way home, though, please.

$20,000 (limited edition of 1)
Signed CD/DVD and digital download
T-shirt
A signed drum from the 2008 Nine Inch Nails tour
Maynard James Keenan, Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo and Josh take you miniature golfing and then drop you off on the side of the freeway (all filmed and posted on YouTube)
Josh gives you a tour of Long Beach. See his first apartment, the coffee shop on 2nd Street where his buddy paid Dave Grohl $40 to rip up tile just weeks before joining Nirvana. See the old Vandals rehearsal spot, the liquor store he got busted at using a Fake ID when he was 17 (it was Dave from the Vandals’ old ID). Go check out Snoop Dogg’s high school. For an extra 50 bucks see where Tom and Adrian from No Doubt live. For another $25 he’ll show ya where Eric from NOFX and Brooks from Bad Religion get their hair cut.
Spend the night aboard the Queen Mary and take the “Ghosts and Legends” tour. (Separate rooms … no spooning.)
Josh writes 2 songs about you and both are made available on iTunes and appear on his next record (you can sing back up on ‘em, clap, play the drums, triangle, whatever)
Drum lesson OR foot and back massage (once again … couples welcome and discreet parking available)
Pick any 3 items out of Josh’s closet

$75,000 (limited edition of 1)
Signed CD/DVD and digital download
T-shirt
Go on tour with Josh for a few days
Have Josh write, record and release a 5-song EP about you and your life story
Take home any of his drum sets (only one, but you can choose which one)
Take shrooms and cruise Hollywood in Danny from Tool’s Lamborghini OR play quarters and then hop on the Ouija board for a while
Josh will join your band for a month … play shows, record, party with groupies, etc.
If you don’t have a band he’ll be your personal assistant for a month (4-day work weeks, 10 am to 4 pm)
Take a limo down to Tijuana and he’ll show you how it’s done (what that means exactly we can’t legally get into here)
If you don’t live in Southern California (but are a U.S. resident) he’ll come to you and be your personal assistant/cabana boy for 2 weeks
Take a flying trapeze lesson with Josh and Robin from NIN, go back to Robins place afterwards and his wife will make you raw lasagna

Soundcheck

Tommy Stinson Interview


Billboard

Despite the collective will of fans waiting with bated breath for a reunion, the book on the Replacements has likely closed with Rhino's recent round of deluxe reissues, according to former bassist Tommy Stinson.

Stinson tells Billboard that on the heels of the reissues, the best material has now been cleared from the Replacements vault, including live recordings, which may scotch longstanding rumors of a live album.

"It's not on the table," he says of that project. "I don't think we've got the quality takes. I think the best live record we could make is to gather up all the bootlegs, put them together and make it on our own. Those would actually make more sense."

The Replacements fan community went into overdrive last October when it was revealed that Stinson and Replacements frontman Paul Westeberg, who split up in 1991, had spent a couple of days jamming in Minneapolis. The group continues to receive lucrative offers to reunite, including a six-figure enticement to play the Coachella festival, and the rehearsal was seen by some as a tentative first step toward that goal.

But Stinson, who has been the bass player in Guns N' Roses since the late 1990s, says there've been no developments since, and that he is unsure whether a reunion will ever happen. "You know what? I just don't know if we have it in us," he says. "We've played together and we have things to offer each other. But I think ultimately it's like, why would we do it? The question comes up every time. Why would we do it? Well, they'll pay us really great. Is that the reason to go do it or not? I don't know.

"I think Paul probably struggles with it more than I, because I haven't played those songs in 20 years," he continues. "He has. To me, it sounds more of a fun idea to get up and play those songs again. Not for the money, but hey, it would be fun. Let's go do it. I don't think he's got in him, to be honest with you."

Asked if using the Replacements' name was an impediment, Stinson replied, "You know, we talked about that. But I've got people I like to play with (laughs hard). And I love Paul, but you don't really go start a new band with a guy you've already had a band with which was fairly successful."

That said, Stinson enjoyed combing through odds and ends to locate bonus tracks for the reissues. "There were some really great songs that were actually really surprising, as rough as they were," he says, singling out "Photo" on the Pleased To Meet Me reissue. "I totally didn't even know that song was a Replacements song. A friend of mine played it for me at his apartment and goes, don't you recognize that? It was like a 20th generation cassette dub, so it was really sped up. And I was like, wow, that's f*ckin' us! I think it's a great little song. It has a little funk to it."

Stinson also says he was particularly happy when he went back and listened to early material featuring his late brother Bob on guitar. "The real special stuff is the early stuff with Bob in the picture," he says. "There's some really good guitar playing, and you can hear he and Paul playing off each other a whole lot."

Last but not least, Stinson says Guns N' Roses is hoping to tour this year in support of its new album, Chinese Democracy, but dates have yet to be announced.


Billboard

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Halloween Jack


Hello friends!
Welcome to Halloween Jack 2009.

Halloween Jack is:

Gilby Clarke (Guns N Roses, Rockstar Supernova) - Guitar, Vocals
Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction, Porno For Pyros) - Drums
Daniel Shulman (Garbage, RUN DMC) - Bass
Eric Dover (Jellyfish, Slash's Snakepit, Alice Cooper) - Vocals, Guitar

Influences: David Bowie, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Queen, Elton John, Sweet, Iggy and the Stooges, The New York Dolls, Lou Reed, Mott the Hoople, etc ...

The band is still seeking a recording contract, but you can download to their 3-song EP below.

Halloween Jack - 3-song EP

01.School's Out.mp3
02.All The Young Dudes.mp3
03.Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting.mp3

Includes photographs of the band.

DOWNLOAD LINK

Thanks to: lucho jb

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Jimmy Fallon Wants Axl On Show


Jimmy Fallon Wants Axl On Show, Calls Album "Awesome."

Fallon talked excitedly Friday about his upcoming gig hosting NBC's Late Night from the front row at the Rag & Bone presentation at New York Fashion Week.

"I sat in my actual chair tonight," said Fallon, who takes over March 2 for Conan O'Brien.

The 34-year-old said preparations are well under way: "We're writing monologues, writing guest pieces (and) building the set," he said.

Fallon is mum about the debut's guest lineup. "We got 'em," he teased. "We got the first show. It's gonna be good."

AP
Ask Jimmy 12/13
Ask Jimmy 12/27

Sunday, February 15, 2009

On Newsstands Now


Axl Rose Speaks to Billboard

Wow! I don't think I've seen a new photo of Axl Rose on the cover of a magazine since 1992.

This will be worth getting just for the Tommy Stinson phone interview.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Nick Sterling is GN'R


Bumblefoot and Brain both said that they were in LA rehearsing with Guns N' Roses this week .

I think I'll let this video speak for itself. It was uploaded yesterday.



Nick Sterling Rocks

Like A Dog (Izzy Stradlin)


Izzy's punk album - except it's not a punk album.

Really, it sounds like the rest of Stradlin's solo work except it's way more aggressive, and the lyrics are a bit simpler.

Back in 2002, when Velvet Revolver was still known as "The Project," Izzy brought many of these songs in for Slash, Duff and Matt to try out. As we all know, Izzy ultimately decided not to join VR, and this batch of songs made it onto Like a Dog instead.

It's no coincidence that VR's "Do it for the Kids" and Izzy's "Bomb" have the same guitar riff.

This album almost didn't see the light of day. Izzy recorded the album in the Spring of 2003, but sadly, it was never released. In October 2005, however, a fan assembled a petition of over 1000 signatures and got Izzy to make the tracks available!

Currently, the collection is available only at the iTunes store.

My favorite cuts are "Chop Away" and "Win U Lose."

You can listen to /watch to 7 out of the 10 songs on YouTube.

"Bomb"


"Hammerhead"


"Snafu"


"Just Don't Know"


"Chop Away"


"Win U Lose"


"On the Run"


Related: Izzy Rolling Out "Dog" Days

Friday, February 13, 2009

Duff: "I Think We Have the Guy ... Yeah."


Duff McKagan was interviewed on The Opie and Anthony Show yesterday morning. He talked about a wide varitey of subjects from his new Playboy column to the breakup of Guns N' Roses and Axl's recent Billboard chat. When the subject turned to the search for Velvet Revolver's new singer, he had these things to say:
"I think we have the guy ... yeah."

"You'll be blown away by the quality."

"Semi-known."

"We all know he's killer."

"I think we have the right guy."

"I think we're all sort of settling on one particular guy."
Is it former Anthrax singer John Bush? Mack thinks so.

You can download the new track, "Flatline," by Duff McKagan's Loaded here. (Right-click, save as)

You can download the entire Duff interview here.

Related: Velvet Revolver "Weeks Away" From Announcing New Singer

Thursday, February 12, 2009

10 Reasons to Buy Chinese Democracy

http://holepuncher.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/ten-reasons-why-you-should-buy-chinese-democracy/

10 Reasons Why You Should Buy Chinese Democracy
(November 24, 2008)

Here we are. The Day After. And while Dr. Pepper struggles to come through on their promise, W. Axl Rose came through on his. Chinese Democracy exists and is available for purchase. Currently, it’s on my iPod, my computer, and my coffee table, yet I’m still kind of amazed to see it there, let alone hear it. I’ll leave a traditional review for the traditional press and instead list ten entirely biased reasons why you absolutely should buy this album.

10. Because the drummer from Hinder doesn’t like it. He said it “almost sounds too artsy.” He then went back to playing this song, which apparently is just artsy enough to suck.

9. Because the drummer from Hinder was asked his opinon of Chinese Democracy in the first place. You know why that is? Because there are publicists and label people out there who are desperately trying to tell us that bands like Hinder, Nickleback, Creed, Staind and 3 Doors Down are what we’re supposed to enjoy in the category of modern rock these days. Chinese Democracy is better than anything these bands will ever do. Ever. Those bands write singles. Axl wrote an album.

8. Because it sounds more like Guns N’ Roses than Velvet Revolver. I know, the math doesn’t work. Velvet has three former Gunners and Chinese only has one. And I like those two Velvet records, but at the end of the day is there anything on them that really sounds that different from Stone Temple Pilots? Sadly, no.

7. Because they’ll never get into the nickname hall of fame, but guitarists Buckethead and Bumblefoot (along with lame-names Robin Finck and Richard Fortus) are actually pretty good. The solos by Slash from his work in Guns can’t be touched. That goes without saying. But listen to the chaotic tweaky divebombs in “Shackler’s Revenge” or the smooth melodic (and “Estranged” sounding) lead in “There Was a Time.” Some cool shreddin’ going on here, Guitar Heroes.

6. Because Axl can still hit the high notes. Listen to “Riad N’ the Bedouins.” Holy crap.

5. Because the one-two punch of “There Was a Time” and “Catcher in the Rye” come at the middle of the record. Anybody with half a brain knows that what seperates a good album from a really good album is the quality of the songs after the first three or four tracks. “Paradise City” was track six on Appetite; “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was nine. Democracy has foruteen tracks and while there’s no “Sweet Child” hiding for you in the 2nd half, there’s enough good to keep you listening and excited to the end. Even when you first hear “This I love” and think “Oh my god, what is this? Musical theater?” you’ll still find yourself oddly amazed by what you’re hearing and probably end up later thinking, “I kind of want to hear that musical theater song again.” It’s okay. Nothing wrong with that…

4. Because Cool Hand Luke gets sampled again. Along with Mississippi Burning, Braveheart, Casualties of War, and Seven. All in the same song (”Madagascar”).

3. Because nobody writes about Axl like Axl. And thank goodness the lyrics are included in the liner notes. You can pick and choose at random and no doubt will find something that we can only assume is Axl answering some of those questions many of us have had regarding his sanity over this lengthy journey that has been the making of Chinese Democracy. In “Catcher in the Rye” he writes “But every time I see them makes me wish I had a gun. If I thought that I was crazy, well I guess I’d have more fun.” Intrigued, hmm? What about “Better” when he says “No one ever told me when I was alone. They just thought I’d know better.” Is he talking about us? Didn’t we all think he’d know better than to take fifteen years to make an album? Or in “I.R.S.” when he sings, “I bet you think I’m doin’ this all for my health.” Or in “Prostitute” when Axl asks “Why would they tell me to please those that laugh in my face?” That’s a good questions, isn’t it?

2. Because it’s way, way better than Phantom Menace. And you waited sixteen years for that.

1. Finally, because Axl’s already won. You can sit and stew and not buy the record or make fun of it even. You can laugh at Axl’s hair, his weight, his voice, and his decisions that make up the story behind the music. (Guilty.) You can envision some fantasy where the original lineup stayed together all these years making great album after great album that all sound like Appetite for Destruction and all those classic songs you still hear in movie trailers and at sporting events. (Guilty again.) You can somehow convince yourself that even after 20 years and the loss of 4/5 of a line up, that you know exactly how Guns N’ Roses should sound in 2008. You can tell yourself that Axl should’ve just released Chinese Democracy as a solo album. But that’s kind of missing the point. What matters at the end of the day is what the music is, not what it could’ve been, should’ve been, or anything in between. And the one thing you can take away from all of this with absolute certainty is that the music on Chinese Democracy is exactly what Axl wanted it to be. The rest is up to you (Holepuncher).

Nice article. 
-Mack


Wednesday, February 11, 2009

We Love Our Robin Best


2.11.09: a look at something else that's been going on, pt 4

NIN

LiveNation, TicketMaster Merge as Sirius XM Files Chapter 11


Nearly two years to the day after announcing a plan to merge, Sirius XM Satellite Radio is plunging headlong into bankruptcy.

Two sources familiar with the situation said Sirius XM is favoring a Chapter 11 filing over a deal with satellite-TV operator EchoStar, whose CEO, Charlie Ergen, has been buying up Sirius XM debt in a bid to take control of the company.

Meanwhile as I reported here, the boards of LiveNation and Ticketmaster unanimously agreed on Monday to merge their companies — potentially creating a concert and live entertainment behemoth.

In announcing the deal Tuesday morning the companies said they plan an all-stock merger of equals. The combined company will be called Live Nation Entertainment.

What a mess.

In other news, last night I saw a hot jazz band play at my local watering hole.

Cover Charge: $0
Service Fee: $0
Jamesons Whiskey: $7

Re-Connecting with Old Friends: PRICELESS

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Idolator Responds to Axl's Interview


The Top Five Quotes From Axl Rose's Big "Billboard" Interview

#5 "Actually, our first leaks were from using a sound system in a strip club in the early hours when it was basically empty. I went there to play the tracks for someone I was interested in working with. I'd gone there with a guy who worked band security, who was allegedly somehow related to the owners, feeling it was a bit more of a protected environment than it turned out to be." Presented for "the more you know (about the trustworthiness of people who want to meet you at strip clubs)" purposes. But what does this mean for Chinese Democracy tracks being serviced to other nudie bars?

#4 "That said, most of the nonsense has been from the same or the latest batch of negative idiots, so it was to be expected and really doesn't mean much. [I] did see some jump ship, and that's always funny. Watching some douche waving a flag and then being the first punk in the water's always great." This quote is on the media response to the album, and I'm not sure what "jump ship" means. Jump ship to detracting the album or to embracing Axl again? I'm probably a "punk in the water" for even asking, huh.

#3 "So at least in regard to the U.S., for the most part I don't look at it like we have a record company — I look at it for the most part like we have friendly but otherwise cutthroat loan sharks, and we were lucky to get what we got but feel we could have done more if they were at least, especially with some of their backgrounds, a bit more involved creatively. So in light of pirating and the mess the major labels are in, I have no sympathy for the record companies, based on our experiences in the U.S." By far the best parts of the interview are the sections in which Axl discusses how frustrating his record company has been—their over- and underinvolvement, their lack of a marketing plan for the record at all (which was definitely borne out by the quiet thud the record made when it came out back in November), the anger on the part of the rest of the band toward the label. But I do think that last bit is also going to be taken out of context by the types who skulk around the Pirate Bay if the next record ever does come to fruition....

#2 "I get freedom of the press, but I'm not clear in regard to their writers or those who choose to run their spin, why someone who no one's ever heard of with so little "real" information is deemed qualified — let alone allowed so much corporate backing — to promote negative and often completely inaccurate and purely opinion-based (at best, if that) shots in forums with so much exposure at the public's and our expense." Speaking of being in the water. Cough.

#1 "In regards to Slash, I read a desperate fan's message about, what if one of us were to die and looking back I had the possibility of a reunion now, blah blah blah. And my thoughts are, 'Yeah, and while you're at the show your baby accidentally kicks a candle and burns your house down, killing himself and the rest of your family.' " What else is there to say, really—except I hope that particular bit of imagery shows up in a song soon.

Related: Axl Rose Speaks to Billboard

Monday, February 9, 2009

New Single: Street of Dreams


4:21 Radio Edit, WTF?

If there was ever a song that didn't need a radio edit - it's this one. What gives?

"What I thought was beautiful don't live inside of you anymore"

Robin and Bucket really shine on this track, and even though it's over 8 years old I really really love this song.



So, are Mickey Rourke and Bai Ling going to be in the video?

Sorum: "VR Hope to Reveal New Singer in April"


HOLLYWOOD.TV: Who's a strong candidate for replacing Scott?

MATT SORUM: Robert Plant? No, that was already rumored. We got some guys in mind, but we're gonna let everyone know ... we're gonna do a thing in April. We have no idea who it's gonna be yet, but we'll know by then I hope, and it'll be on April Fools Day probably. No, we're workin' on it. We really wanna get on the road by next Summer. We'll see.

Adler Back to Rehab (Again) Feb 9


Steven Adler is headed back to rehab ... again.

According to TMZ, Steven Adler was ordered to check himself into Cri-Help Treatment Center first thing Monday morning.

You can watch a short, pretty useless video over at TMZ.

Related: Adler Busted Again

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Gong Est Mort? Vive Gong!



If you know Gong, you're going to want to hear this disc.

It features the best live versions of these songs available anywhere.

If you don't know Gong, and you like Pink Floyd or Phish, you should check them out.

This recording is from a 1977 gig at the Hippodrome in Paris.

Gong Est Mort? Vive Gong! features the classic lineup of Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Tim Blake, Steve Hillage, Mike Howlett, Didier Malherbe and Pip Pyle performing a one-night only reunion show.

Prog in Blog has a download here.

You can watch Gong play "Master Builder" below.



-Mack

Friday, February 6, 2009

Axl Rose Speaks to Billboard


Billboard

Axl Rose's first official interview in over 9 years was published this morning, on his 47th birthday.

Below is a brief excerpt. You can read the entire interview
here.

What are your thoughts on how Universal has handled the album?

We feel that, unfortunately, we've never been really anything all that much more other than a throw it at the wall, see if it sticks, no real ground work, something to take advantage of, last quarter, cook the books, write-off, fuck this headache, hoping to get lucky scam. And, unfortunately, for all their nice words and assurances, nothing that's happened since the week or so before the release has shown us much of anything to the contrary. So at least in regard to the U.S., for the most part I don't look at it like we have a record company -- I look at it for the most part like we have friendly but otherwise cutthroat loan sharks, and we were lucky to get what we got but feel we could have done more if they were at least, especially with some of their backgrounds, a bit more involved creatively. So in light of pirating and the mess the major labels are in, I have no sympathy for the record companies, based on our experiences in the U.S.

The last time Guns N' Roses had a new album out, the Internet was barely a reality. What was your response to the nine-song leak this summer?

Having someone jeopardize your efforts so cavalierly is pretty much a nightmare. I don't know that it hurt us though, at least as one might think. Hard to say. That's not to imply leaks don't hurt artists, but that they were earlier roughs and the level of sound quality is much higher with the finals. That said, you have those who become emotionally attached to how the leaks sound, which, for better or worse, usually isn't so great to contend with. And it seems that those who often do so and complain publicly, oddly and coincidentally, have a history of basically being detractors as well even if they're somehow considered part of a "fan" base.

Observers are interpreting some of the songs on "Chinese Democracy" as being about the process of making the album. Is this valid?

I'd say there's a lot in the lyrics regarding the journey to make the album, even if not in so many words.

Are you planning to tour?

No plans, but there's talk. Management and our promoters are really excited with the offers coming in both here and worldwide.

Is there any chance you'll work with the former members of Guns N' Roses in the future?

I could see doing a song or so on the side with Izzy [Stradlin] or having him out [on tour] again. I'm not so comfortable with doing anything having more than one of the alumni. Maybe something with Duff [McKagan], but that's it, and not something I'd have to really get down into, as I'd get left with sorting it out and then blamed on top of it. So, no, not me

Billboard

Happy Birthday Ax!


"Some people got a chip on their shoulder and some would say it was me."

Love him or hate him, Axl Rose celebrates his 47th birthday today.

What is there to say about Axl Rose that hasn't been said here or elsewhere?

Well, for one, as a teenager growing up in the late-1980s, I absolutely worshipped the man. His punk/outlaw style appealed to young, angry men such as myself. He was an anti-authoritarian figure who burst onto the scene in 1987, shaking-up the conservative Reagan/Bush '80s.

It wasn't just his music and lyrics that were so appealing, but his entire persona. In 1988-90, Axl Rose was everywhere.

MTV was GNRTV. Every magazine had interviews with the man. The band swore on awards shows. Axl swore in his songs. Sure, it was the hits that got me hooked, but it was his interviews that kept me digging deeper.

In 1989 he told Rolling Stone magazine: What I'd tell any kid in high school is "Take business classes." I don't care what else you're gonna do, if you're gonna do art or anything, take business classes.

And I did. All of them, I took every business class my High School offered, because Axl said so.

The past 12 months have been pretty amazing for Ax, he released his magnum opus, Chinese Democracy, and he finally told his side of the story regarding the breakup of Guns. Keep in mind, these 2 events took over 10 years to come to fruition.

Axl Rose may be extremely polarizing, but his place in Western Culture is firmly cemented.

Forty-seven years ago today Axl Rose was born.

Happy Birthday Ax, and thanks for all the great music, dude.

-Mack Arillo

"Old at heart but I'm only 47, Much too young to let love break my heart"