Yep, merry xmas to everyone, hope you all have a good one

Several reasons I guess

Firstly whilst I'm sure Axl has plenty of money I also doubt 13 million is just small change to him that he'd just 'pay back' without a blink.

That's also assuming Axl is so eager to get CD out there that he'd pay 13 million dollars of his own money in order to get it released.

Of course then there's the probability that it's not that simple, I doubt he could just 'pay them back' and get things rolling. There's supposedly so many people involved in this thing that trying to buy his way out now and change labels would likely be more complicated than just ploughing on.

Perhaps an independent label is better for Ron but a Ron album release compared to a GNR release isn't exactly the same thing, it's unlikely that a release on the scale of CD would be something a small independent label could deal with.

I thought Magnum TA was wheelchair bound?

Axl was reported to be in a studio in Vegas at some time in Jan from numerous sources. The album was said to have been 'finished' in Jan/Feb so that part of the statement they did keep to. It just seems from then on things have gone tits up in a way they only do for GNR. Forgetting all other delays we've had on the album and just focusing on the last year, it's absoloutley baffling to me how you can set a release date of March 6th, tentative or otherwise, and miss it by what surely now will be over a year.

If we are delayed for unseen reasons you will also be notified as soon as possible in regard to a new date and the album will be released as shortly thereafter as is possible. We thank you for your patience.

A years worth of unseen reasons? Sceptical, I think is the best way to describe my thoughts on that.

In the end it's just an album and one that I, the band, our record company and all involved believe and feel is a true Guns N' Roses album. Ultimately the public will decide and regardless of the outcome our hearts, lives and our passion has been put into this project every step of the way. If for no other reason we feel those elements alone merit your consideration. We do hope you can hold on just a bit longer and if not we hope you would please feel free to take a break and we'll be more than glad (if you so choose) to see you again later.

Someone brought up a good point the other week about this part of the statement. Why advise fans to take a break in waiting for the album if it was, at that point, less than 3 months away? Some people have waited 14 years for this album, yet they couldn't manage another 3 months?

Eerily similar to this statement from Axl back in 02 really isn't it?

It feels right, the timing, and a lot of things. We've sorted it down to what songs are on the record. What the sequence of the songs is. The album cover art is ready. Blah, blah, blah. If you're waiting...don't. Live your life. That's your responsibility not mine. If it were not to happen you won't have missed a thing. If in fact it does you might get something that works for you, in the end you could win on this either way. But if you're really into waiting try holding your breath for Jesus cause I hear the payoff may be that much greater.

That's twice in 5 years Axl has said the album's ready to go and then followed up by saying 'but don't hold your breath or bother waiting for it'. In hindsight great advice, although given the context still very bizzare, it was either ready or it wasn't, you don't warn people not to hold their breath or take a break from something that's coming imminently, it doesn't make any sense.

Not necessarily, that's not to say GNR will tour but Dizzy dates don't mean anything, he'll cancel those at the drop of a hat if Axl gives him the call. What it does mean is that of this moment there aren't plans to tour in early 08. That doesn't concern me too much though, a tour can be, and should be set up after the albums release has been finalised and set in stone. It's not necessary to be on a full tour when the album drops, a few dates here and there at key venues around the release for promotional purposes is enough, then kick off the world tour once the albums been out a month or two and there's a second or third single on the radio. That way demand for the band can be gauged and the appropriate sized venues booked.