Axl Rose Says Slash Is ‘A Cancer’
The boy Rose has really out-done himself this time.
In a shocking interview with his long-term friend and assosciate Del James (who also wrote the short story Without You that influenced the November Rain video), Axl Rose has said that he considers Slash “a cancer and better removed, avoided” and that “the less anyone heard of him or his supporters, the better”.
A section of the interview reads:
Q: Did you break up the old GUNS?
Axl Rose: 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.
Q: Would you consider a reunion with the “Appetite” or “Illusions” lineups?
Axl Rose: No
Q: Why not?
Axl Rose: 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.
Q: Wouldn’t you make more money?
Axl Rose: 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.
Read the full interview at Spinner.com
Didnt he just release an album or something? Didnt it just plummet off the chart?
Nice to see he has his priorities in order.
Yo Axl, where is that Better video, you know, the one that in December you promised would be out in a week????
I love the guys music but he really is a 24 carat prick!!!!
once he was an idol for so many now he has lost the last few fans left, as for chinese democracy what a flop
there’s always going to be bad blood between musos,
that’s life. this shit has been on going for ages. get
over it you guys & get on with life.
axl when will you stop this war???????????????between old line-up,i dont see izzy,steven,duff or slash saying shit about u know..get over it ant stop calling them stupid names….i love u to man but….u have to stop
Axl,everyone seen your record tank without those guys so keep making up stories,you should write children’s fables for a living! Your attempt at a Nine Inch Nails record was a total flop-your presumed tour will be a flop too,will you also blame that on Best Buy?Try making good music and see what happens….
slash a cancer .. that suck without slash and his guitar their will never be a gnr album ever
I don’t understand why so many think that album is a flop. It has sold almost 3mln copies worldwide without Best Buy suport, without tour, wthout video, without promotion. And it was released not in a way Axl wanted. I think he wants to focus on this album. In recent interview with Billboard he said then when full package is made (album, proper artwork, tour video) it is finished.
Having said that album will pick up more sales, when Gn’R decide to tour, with video, new merchandise, and albums with proper cover and artwork as he has said.
Concerning his rants about Slash, that’s why he is. He is true rock star, he doesn’t hide behind wall of lies, he says what he want and waht he thinks(maybe it is only his version of truth, but he isn’t lying) he has that all against the world attitude and face to face mindset, he won’t fuck with anybody without a reason. I loved when he spoke truth about his life back in 90s on stage many times, and many did too. Now he is talking how he feels about Slash he talks how he feels.
Is he discrediting Slash work in Gn’R ?
- No
Does he like what Slash is doing right now ?
- No, but many of us doesn’t like his(Slash) cliche, unispired playing, Slash is flushing his talent down the toilet. With Age he should be better, but he is acting like a fuckin’ guitar guru and hero but only thing that suits it is his image his playing isn’t there anymore.
I loved Axl attitude he don’t care about consequences etc he honestly answer questions. And I prefer Honest but Harsh opinion than snake-alike answers Slash is making.
I also tend to think that with so many stron personalities Gn’R was bound to fall. They made 3 awesome studio albums and that’s great. But everybody wanted something else, and Axl was willing to take Gn’R burden and expectations on his arms.
He was bound to fall but he tried to make the best Gn’R album possible. And he did it. Maybe some will hate it without hearing it but Bumblefoot said it before release that some people will hate it no matter what just to watch Axl go down in flames. When Axl is sayign about people talking nonsense and idiots he is talking to such people who want him fail no matter what.
And guess what that album proved Axl has it , it was critical success , all well know and objective magazines and websites gave it awesome marks – Rolling Stone , All music, Classic Rock for the record they have it great reviews. Classic Rock guy said it should be album of the year every year until someone makes something better.
And concerning another album. I Think Axl comment was made to cut all speculation, when he posted on oour boards, he hinted at another album strong. And know people want to know release dates etc and he wants to deliever full package of Chinese Democracy and then release another album. He didn’t said he didn’t have 3 albums worh of material, we know that there are mnay songs – Axl himself, Bumblefoot, Fortus, Baz, producers talked about songs. But talking like that he cut all talk about next release because he want to talk Chinese Democracy know, it is his goal. It’s highly likely that we will hear it in late 2010 or 2011 , after he finish with Chinese. At the same time he got enough information from Axl about next album to keep us interested – it will be meaner, darker, with powerfull epic songs, great solos, material will feature all guys playing on Chinese Democracy, but it will feature more diverse styles.
Some persons want to kick his ass about numer of drummers and line-ups. But he has two drummers becasue he want to tour behind an album and make the best music possible, if Brian can’t our for whole year or 2 years he need to have his back covered. Brian will work in studio for sure.
Rumours suggest that he will take Tobias on tour unless until Finck shows up, that’s great it build band integrity.
From that perspective it is one band, he even left door open for Buckethead to play with them some shows and maybe record one song or two.
from 2001 the line-up is pretty stable – Axl, Dizzy, Pitman, Tobias,Tommy, Finck, Fortus. All of them will feature on otehr material and played in the band for years. They are leaving band to play their own things but return to tour and record. That’s fine with me. Axl isn’t looking for new drummer or guitar player. He has 4-5 guitar players 2 drummers and when he tour he will tour with those who are able and want to. That’s fluid and work good as it isn ‘t destroying band but refresh it. Finck doesn’t have to struggle with his two bands, he plays in NIN but is interested to play with GN’R . I am sure Axl would let Tommy play The Replacements reunion. Some of them may behave unprofessional. but Axl is cool with that and agrees.
That’s why they lasted in almost the same form for like 10years now.
Poor Guy! Millionaire but POOR!
axl is such a prick! its funny how all the rest of the guns members have been with slash in one way or another over years? he can’t be that bad then hey?
so slash talks thrash for 13 years in the media and trys to ruin axl’s image and when he talks and he is honest and always just says what he feels than he is a hippocript?
What the fuck, he was asked a question and he answered honestly, is he not allowed to dislike Slash? thats his and he probably has a reason for it…….
and why has CD flopped? it sold well considering no promotion, and every professional has reviewed the album greatly
Axl Rose ruined Axl’s image and reputation, noone else.
Axl’s reputation was mud by 1993 due to his childish, selfish, arrogant, petty, malicious and irresponsible behaviour and actions.
Some people never change, no matter how many decades pass them by.
Chinese Democracy is a masterpiece, Axl is a legend, the reason the old Guns lineup broke up was heroin, Slash, Izzy, Duff and Adler were all addict’s and simply were’nt capable anymore, all of them take Axl to court on an almost weekly basis, in short Axl may be abrasive but I’m sure he’s sick of almost 20 year’s of being blamed for the demise of a band that he was the only functioning member of.
Slash is a caricature and in his word’s Duff is spineless and he hate’s Sorum.
Long live Axl Rose
Reub
Classic Rock seem to talk to Slash every other week, why havent they called him on stealing Dirty Deeds riff?
i like gnr anyway old or new i thought chinese democracy was awesome, but so was appetite and i loved the illusions if axl is reading this tell me will there be more albums?