Sorry for late reply, I don't check the forums as frequently these days since not much happens with GN'R. No passwords have been compromised.

It was just a self-signed SSL certificate that was installed which some browsers may not consider secure, though in my opinion it's enough for a GN'R message board. I just looked at the certificate in my browser now and we're now using a certificate from Lets Encrypt which means you shouldn't see the browser warning anymore (since it's no longer self-signed).

Not sure why it's considered more secure by browsers when we use a third party to provide SSL. I'd think it was more secure handling it in house ourselves but then how would all the internet corporations make money?

I think you've pretty much nailed it.

The forums won't ever forget this one even if the involved parties have a mutual agreement to never speak of it again. Whenever someone mentions Fernando the next reply will always mention the sexual assault case that he paid off (or bestiality etc) - stuff like this isn't forgotten about. Doubt he'll be on the forums or GNR reddit ever again, I think we just witnessed the implosion of Team Brazil tbh and it'll be interesting to see if that effects the band or Axl at all.

I'm not sure I follow the Slash/David Geffen link? Anyone care to explain?

I remember Niven saying in an interview somewhere that they went to the UK because they knew the British tabloid newspapers would stir up controversy. They'd feed them stories (eg Axl killed his dog) which made them "the most dangerous band in the world" and used that free press in national papers to sell out tickets on the UK tour. They then went back to the USA as an international act that had sold out gigs overseas, making them more in demand back in the US. Something like that anyway, can't remember exactly.

I'd suspect Niven being the manager was the guy who knew that controversy sells and he used it to the bands advantage. And they've been using the same tactic ever since

I still have one or two tees that I picked up at the London Docklands Arena show in 2002. Can't remember the exact design and can't be arsed fishing it out of my closet but I think it was a GNR star design with a union jack flag flag watermark

Thanks to whoever leaked these Monsters is definitely my favourite of the two.