With Buckethead’s departure, the new album which had been rumoured to be released in November was now delayed. The parts Buckethead contributed to the album were confirmed to be staying, and writing and recording continued. Many times Axl had asked the band members to come back in while they were working on other projects to re-record/re-write the material to appear on CD. Axl refused to settle for anything less then perfection; this was to be his comeback after all.
As the months went by with still no news or word from the band or Geffen, the album progressed in secrecy. Whilst writing and recording continued till November, Axl desperately searched for a guitarist to fill Buckethead’s shoes. Tracii Guns, the original guitarist of Guns N’ Roses sent an email to Axl asking for a spot in the band in December. Tracii himself has confirmed this to be true, but as to whether Axl accepted the offer or not, this remains a mystery. Neither side will give a yes or a no.
During December of 04 and January this year, the long-awaited Chinese Democracy was at least in the stage of mixing and mastering. Band members Tommy Stinson, Robin Fink, and Richard Fortus have confirmed that the writing/recording stage of the CD is done, and that mixing and mastering is currently going on. It has also been confirmed that Axl brought in orchestra conductor Buckmaster to add to the epic new direction CD would go.
Currently, the band line up is as follows:
W. Axl Rose (Lead Vocals, Piano, Programming)
Dizzy Reed (Keyboards, programming)
Tommy Stinson (Bass)
Robin Finck (Lead guitar/Rhythm guitar)
Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Lead guitar/Rhythm guitar)
Richard Fortus (Rhythm guitar)
Brian Mantia "Brain" (Drums)
Chris Pitman (Keyboardist, Special Effects)
The following is a track list of songs to appear on CD (bold titles are only rumoured to be on CD):
Blues
Chinese Democracy
Madagascar
TWAT (There Was A Time)
IRS
Prostitute
Leave Me Alone
General
This I Love
Catcher in the Rye
Seven
Better
If The World
Sway
Sorry
Oh My God *Possible B-Side*
Thyme *Buckmaster confirmed that he orchestrated this song, but unconfirmed if it’ll be on CD*
Ides Of March
Closing In On You
Substitute *Possible name change of the track “Prostitute”*
Silkworms *Was played live in 2002*
Rhiad & the Bedouins *Was played live in 2002*
As is, this is the current state of Guns N’ Roses. Axl Rose is still in hiding, rumors constantly circulating of a release date, CD is being mixed and mastered, and the remaining members of the band are still 100% committed to Guns N’ Roses. Sales of Guns N’ Roses’ “Greatest Hits” album in 2004 has also proved that the fan base is still there (as well as paying for multi-million dollar recording costs of CD). In 2006 GNR are currently touring, playing a few of the new leaked tracks (IRS, Better, TWAT) still without a confirmed release date. If you can bear with me for a moment, I’ll take you through my brief “where are they now?” section.
Where Are They Now?
Slash, Duff, and Matt
After leaving Guns N’ Roses in 96-97, Slash went full-time with his hard rockin’ sideproject band “Slash’s Snakepit” (which Slash had formed a few years prior to leaving Guns and had released a debut in 95). Their first album was composed of material that Axl previously wanted to use for the next Guns N’ Roses album. Listening to that album makes me thankful the band did break up when it did; although I am still a fan of Slash's blues-influenced hard rock style. Slash eventually ended Snakepit and reunited with Duff (who had been floundering around with his own solo projects). Slash, Duff, and Matt began what was once known as “The Project”, now known as Velvet Revolver in 2002. They would bring aboard Ex-Wasted Youth guitarist Dave Kushner and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) before releasing their debut album in 2004.
Interesting Fact
Izzy wrote several songs for Velvet Revolver, none of them were used because they were too reminiscent of Guns N’ Roses from the Appetite days.
Steven Adler
Steven Adler as you know was the first to leave Guns N’ Roses because of his drug habits. The drugs were very apparently affecting his performance. In the studio he would often just lose it and literally not be able to play anything the others gave him. His drumming ability was in a chokehold and the others had enough. In the summer of 1990 Steven Adler was fired from Guns N’Roses.
"I went totally off, I was thrown out of the band because they said I was doing heroin, but everyone was, Doug Goldstein (band manager) took me to this doctor, the doc gave me this thing called an opiate blocker, and it works by making you violently sick if you take any opiates. You can absolutely not take it if you have any trace of heroin in your system, because you can die. Now I did have, they put this injection in my buttocks and I have never felt pain like that, I can still remember it now, I was so sick, I will never forget that needle in my ***. I was sick for 6 weeks, and during that time, Slash called up and said that they were in the studio recording Civil War, and I had to get down there. I said ****, man, I can't, he said, but we can't waste the money, so I got up and went and I was so weak and sick that I had to play the song 25 times if not more, Slash and Duff got ****ed up, I was not, but I was so sick. I never said nothing bad, I love those guys, Guns n' Roses was always the five of us. This was something that Axl wanted; there was a whole plan to get rid of me."
- Steven Adler
The 1990's were a troublesome time for Steven. He had serious drug-problems and attempts at forming bands and playing again always seemed to fail at an early stage. The drugs led to several times in prison. He definitely lost touch with the GN'R camp when he sued them for turning him onto drugs. The main thing was that Steven wanted to secure enough money to support his family because the plan (in the GnR Camp) was to give Steven $2000 and the boot. Steven won the lawsuit.
Currently Steven is in the band “Adler’s Appetite”. This is the current line up:
Steven Adler – Drums
Jizzy Pearl – Vocals
Keri Kelli – Lead Guitar
Brent Muscat – Rhythm Guitar
Robbie Crane – Bassist
For those that don’t recognize the names in Adler’s new band let me elaborate. You may recognize Jizzy Pearl from his vocal work in Ratt and Love/Hate, Keri Kelli from Slash’s Snakepit and Ratt, Brent Muscat from Faster Pussycat’s and former Vince Neil and Ratt bassist Robbie Crane. This however is not the official line up as several times different vocalists and guitarists have joined and left and come back to the band. The name of the band has also changed back and forth several times to Suki Jones. Pre-production for the first Adler’s Appetite album began last year in September and the release date is slated for this summer (with some singles released in February).
http://www.adlersappetite.com/
Interesting Fact
Apparently Steven really wants to bring the original Guns N’ Roses back together. Steven has stayed in touch with the boys (except Axl) and interestingly enough Slash, Duff, and Izzy played with his band at the Key Club. When asked on his web site about a reunion Steven very specifically said that he thinks they owe it to the fans to get back together at least for 1 show. In fact he has even gone as far to soften the idea on the others…not to get anyone’s hopes up (because it probably won’t happen anytime soon) but it is in the talking stage. Who knows what the future holds?