Axl is no different:

Old Axl says that Slash didn't care if the UYI tours caused him huge personal damage. Young Axl tells Rolling Stone the guy is his closest confidant and ally on the tour and a "hand that he would never bite."

Old Axl says taking the name was because of the health issues within his band. Young Axl described the move as "the power rewards of my vision".

Young Axl says that GNR would never become the band that Old Axl turned it into.

There are many more...there were two dancing this tango.

This is EXACTLY where I stand with Slash as a performer. A group with Cantrell, Cornell, Slash, Duff and Grohl would for me be the ultimate opportunity for him to raise his game back to the level he operated on in the Axl days.

I have bought and do listen to Slash's albums but find myself just like Axlin, always that creeping feeling of being a little under-fucking-whelmed. I feel exactly the same about CD, hence my monomania about a reunion. It;s the A+S = FUCK ME! equation that I miss.

PS: When Slash was high on junk and hammered, he was still better guitar than DJ.

You sound pissed off, that was not my intention.
I'm, not on anybody's side, just using quotes from those that were there to try to establish where the truth is.
Its been done to death but there's not much to discuss these days.
I could give two shits about Slash & Axl on a personal level, compared to the rest of us they have an embarrassment of riches and good luck.
You should follow my lead.

First of all, thanks guys for the kind words, it meant alot and put me in great form yesterday!

Second, I empathise with Slash and the others alot becuase I had (and lost) a record deal because the most talented guy in the band (and my oldest and closest friend too), became a very similar character to Axl in alot of ways. When you are trying to realise a dream and you are exhausted trying to manage somebody who seems happy to upend the whole thing for a million different illogical reasons, and yet he's too good at what he does musically to fire, you soon find yourself high and drunk all day because it takes the knot out of your stomach and lets you sleep and stops you beating the shit out of him.

ID just to reply to your mail and continue exploring this topic (for the millionth time I know but sure what the hell...)

Sure, Duff and Slash had real issues with substances but I remember Gilby talking about the band drinking coctails to try to stay calm as the booing started in the arena because Axl was late and not even on site.
That kind of brinksmanship takes a massive toll on people. Axl has never even acknowledged the anger Izzy & Slash had with him sabotaging gigs and cauising riots. Has he ever apologised for those who got hurt back then? That's not a rhetorical question by the way, I just don't recall ever hearing an apology from the man to his bandmates or his fans for the consequences of him abusing his position as the key stone of the whole fucking tour's operation.

Anyway, if he was so worried why didin't he offer to stop coming on late and storming off in return for a more measured use of drugs and alcohol by the band?  The guys all stated their frustrations about Axl's issues in measured tones in the press but only once backing the Rolling Stones do I recall Axl calling out his band for their behaviour.

Lets say both sides were wrong... a strong and fair manager would have sorted this with a few size tens up each ass, a slap, a hug and some therapy. Instead Axl had a yes man installed who wanted GNR for Axl and himself so it never happened.

This is just not true, read the Rolling Stones interviews with Axl from the UYI tour, Slash was and remainded core to all business dealings with Axl, until things started to fall apart at the end where Doug & Axl pushed Slash to the side. In fact, in the early days it was Slash who did all the business stuff, Axl was reclusive and left that shit alone, only getting an interest when real success came. Most of Axl's lawsuits at the time were to do with him personally and not the band.

I always point to the fact that Izzy stayed with Niven after GNR; Izzy was sober, measured, critical of all sides (Slash & Axl) and one of the creators of GNR so I consider him the only true impartial from that time.  Him staying with Niven endorses Niven to me. I choose to believe Niven had "GNR" as his vested interest not Axl. As a good manager, he saw one guy fucking it up for for the many and he explored the idea of getting rid of the one to save the rest. That's just good analytical business thinking nothing more. Of course, it would have spelt a disasterous end for GNR as Axl was the nuclear bomb of talent in the band but Niven's arms length thinking was spot on. A good manager  always ensures that each band ego understands that Nobody is bigger than the band. Of course Axl disagreed and his actions, and after '93 he proved he actually did believe he was bigger than the band. Niven can be neither lauded or despised for his role because we were not there but look where GNR went after he got sacked..20 years in the wilderness.

Have you ever been so beaten down by someone that you have just given up and walked away, to hell with the consequences? I have, I'm sure many here have. 
Fans should consider that these were still very young men, addicted to drugs, probably very tired from touring, isolated and sick of living with each other, sepearted by hangers on, managers and other low lifes, filling their heads with lies, struggling to stay on the monster that GNR became. All of them got it wrong here, BADLY wrong, but when you consider the circumstances they were in mentally and physically its hardly surprising.
Airline Pilots have killed hundreds of people when they are tired, flying planes in ways their trainers could never understand. Imagine trying to read legal documents in twice as bad a condition?

[I'm not saying Axl was a devil either but lets be scientific, EVERY band member talked about his dictatorial attitude. A sober Izzy and a sober Duff and a sober Matt referenced it many times. Niven mentioned it. The evidence is there from credible sources. I think the "worried they'd die" stuff is crass to say the least. Where were the interventions? Duff went after a dealer with a gun to try to stop him selling dope to Steven, these guys used to help each other. Not this time...not one word.

Pure speculation.  Slash loves the band dynamic, he's stated it countless times in interviews. He stated that the solo thing only became a driver after his fall out with Scott, he'd had enough of the lead singer drama. Sure he has his image and brand, so does James Hetfield, that's quite a seperate thing from being solo. If Axl had stayed, Slash would have too. I don't think Slash ever stopped appreciating what Axl brought to the table musically and in terms of his massive persona.
Slash did what, 7 years in GNR and 7 in VR? His record speaks for itself. What Slash wanted of GNR was AC/DC II / Rolling Stones career trajectory, not a solo gig.

That was the beginning of the end. Watch old interviews with Axl, he is ferocious in his defence of GNR. It was "his" band back then too, but every guy was an integral part, loved and defended to the last. Suddenly Axl had the world at his feet, and all options became open to him as an artist - very exciting for sure. I am speculating here but his fascination with NIN and Trent obviously led him to look at how Trent ran his creative and business affairs. I think Axl figured he'd have a bit of that for GNR. And here we are.

I'm sure after 15 years, these grown up family men probably did VR for more than a school yard revenge move...$$$$ probably figured more heavily! BUT I'm sure they enjoyed the fact that the old band showed Axl that in two short years they ciuld remerge and show the world they still had the chops to reinvent themselves as a hugely successful modern rock act. I think Slash's heart was in it initially but personally I get the feeling he never liked Scott or his work so he stayed to enjoy the success and kudos, but you're right I didn't see the right chemistry. Great band in their day live though...hold shit!!

You know, that's probably the sanest and most measured summary of the whole affair. I don't believe anything was romantic per say but when you look back at that old band in interviews and live on stage (I'm talking AFD days) that was the nearest thing to rock n roll perfection I have ever seen in my 44 years. I miss that band and those times every day.