Axl Speaks

In an exclusive interview by longtime friend and road manager Del James for AOL’s Spinner.com, Rose finally talks. And talks. And talks.

The first topic, of course, is Chinese Democracy and Rose takes the opportunity to put some misconceptions about the album to rest.

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.

Which brings us to the next topic, one that GNR fans have been curious about for a really, really long time: Who was responsible for the destruction of the band’s original lineup? Rose has a lot to say about that, so we’ll just cover some of the highlights here.

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.

The rest of Rose’s answer deals with changes in the band’s sound between Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion I and II. Once again, the singer takes the opportunity to clear up some of what he believes are false perceptions about that. Which leads into a discussion on the sound of Chinese Democracy and what led to some of the instrumentation choices on the album.

Then things really get good. Now pay close attention, don’t make Axl say this more than once.

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

No.

Got it? Not going to happen. Ever. Here are some highlights from Rose’s reasons for that decision.

On Izzy Stradlin:

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.

On Duff McKagan, Slash and that New Year’s Eve incident at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas:

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.

On Steven Adler:

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.

Then James raises the question of money. After all, plenty of other musicians have said never again, most famously Sting. And look how that turned out. After outlining a lot of things would have to be in alignment for that to happen and explaining he doesn’t believe they ever will be, Rose really lets Slash have it.

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.

Ouch!

The rest of the interview is just as juicy and covers Rose’s opinion on Slash’s musical ability (“I prefer listening to others in general”), his favorite drummer (“I liked elements that each brought in”), GNR’s current lineup (“I think we’ll go with a combo of who’s around”), the next album (“Have no idea and don’t care”) and his legal battle with photographer Robert John (“Anyone whose opinions I trust seems to think he lost his mind…”).

Who knew Axl could be so catty chatty?

Read the entire Spinner.com interview here.