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#781 Re: Guns N' Roses » How we will know for sure that CD is done » 918 weeks ago
Now that you bring Merck up...
Yeah, he did say Axl had roughly a week of studio work before the Hammerstein gigs. After KROQ Inland Invasion, he spent two-three nights at the studio, with the other half of work left. Now, Merck never said the only hold-up (as if he even used such terminology) was the label, or the general lack of money. The situation was two-fold. Universal wanted a master copy before they'd budge. Also, Merck hinted a new deal was instrumental. Now, the catch-22 of late '06 is this: GNR wants Universal to work with them on the release, meaning video shoots, pre-release marketing, etc. Universal wants to a finished CD before they'll admit to anything. Axl keeps stalling the CD completion - in the December letter, it sounds like he himself has little clue of what's going in Universal's end.
If Universal would've come aboard earlier, Axl might've finished CD earlier. Now Merck was seemingly looking at both ends playing chicken with each other; by the time the tour wrapped, he'd been ran over. Axl's promise of March 6th only further states how little he was told by Merck about what needs to be done before the record can be released. Knowing that Merck has a reputation for cushioning hard facts for his artists, it doesn't actually come as a surprise. Doug Goldstein is also known to have kept his job as GNR manager for nearly a decade, because even band members have concurred he knew how to pamper Axl.
But try reading Merck's letter and Del's update while mindful about the trilogy concept. It does put a lot of things into different perspective.
#782 Re: Guns N' Roses » How we will know for sure that CD is done » 918 weeks ago
CD may very well be 'done', it may have been done for a good while now. Still, look at the history of the project. However you slice it, you get over 10 years of production time, label mergers, revolving staff both in GNR and the label(s), finance restructuring including a complete shutdown by Geffen in 2004, the current lack of proper management for the band...
Face it, Axl turning over the damn disc (or even the Baz-hinted trilogy of discs) isn't going to do that much to Universal. They're not going to fall on their knees singing praises. Instead, they'll likely look into what he's got, and take note of what he's selling. Then, and only then, I'd imagine the label will get into the table with Axl and start talking about who pays for what. How to release it, when to release it. Axl's (GNR's) contract would likely be looked at, they'd figure out whether his deal would still hold, to what extent, and whether or not would 1-3 discs from the CD sessions relieve him from his contract. Universal and Axl would both have to agree on a lot of things, and if the trilogy concept is in fact true, Axl'd have to sell them the idea of releasing three separate discs.
Thus, I believe 'label holding the release' is a very strong implication that CD (if not its successors) is done. After delivering the master, Axl has over a decade's worth of answers to be given to the label. His March 6th letter, while true to his intentions at the time, was certainly overoptimistic in this respect, as any regular relations with the label had been severed in early 2004, and Merck and co. were in the process of rebuilding the bridges.
The only question which was valid for 2007 was when the label would start hindering the release. Now, it's happening and thus I believe the record is done.
#783 Re: The Garden » Fatal shooting at Finnish school » 918 weeks ago
In reading this I couldn't help but think of Columbine.
The shooter was, in fact, an idolator of Eric Harris, the other half of the Columbine massacre.
Hmmm, are these people who have wronged him or he just picked out of the school that he felt, should die because they are unfit what does that mean??
The grapevine is that the only person with whom he had a personal grudge was the high school principal, all other victims were apparently selected randomly during the first few minutes as the shoot-out began. Moments later, the principal confronted him outside the school premises; some students, now barricaded in nearby class rooms, observed the events through the windows and witnessed him order the principal to kneel on the ground and shoot her point-blank in execution style.
The next day, the Finnish government began their major rethink on local gun control. Currently, minors between the ages of 15 and 18 can acquire a firearm for the purpose of sport or hunting with the consent of a guardian. However, any new ruling on the matter wouldn't prevent a new Jokela situation, as the shooter was already an adult and had obtained his handgun through a membership in Helsinki Shooting Club. The last time HSC made it to national press was when a 30-year old IT expert shot and killed three men to death on the range in 1999. She was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and has received treatment in a local mental institute to this day. Debate was raised on whether restrictions in HSC and similar shooting clubs should be raised throughout the country, but in 8 years, nothing of consequence came to be.
You reap what you sow, unfortunately.
#784 Re: The Garden » NEW MEMBERS introduce yourself here » 918 weeks ago
And to think
I find myself
Back here again
And again
I used to know who I was
Until you came along
I return
To the only place
I've ever felt
That I belong
#785 Re: Dust N' Bones & Cyborg Slunks » Slash's Version Of The Bands Break-Up » 918 weeks ago
Just how did that "new Guns" come about? It started when Axl and the band's manager had the other members of the band sign a contract that gave Axl control of the group name if they ever broke up.
Slash and Duff, more precisely.
Then on August 31, 1995 Axl dropped a bomb on Duff and Slash, the only remaining members at the time, when sent them a letter "saying he was leaving the band and taking the name with him under the terms of the contract." Of course, Slash and Duff were invited to still be part of Axl's band, but you'll have to read to book to learn more about how that worked out.
I guess I'll have to take a look at that book, then. The 08/31/95 letter from Axl was always one of the big question marks in the CD saga; it was undoubtedly sent, as it would later appear as material evidence in the 2004 S&D v. A lawsuit. However, Slash himself has gone on the record saying Axl bought the GNR name from them, which did raise some questions.
Now, if things had worked out the article suggests, I find it hard to believe Axl would've had to pay a dime to either Slash or Duff while acquiring the name.
If anyone who has the book would like to transcribe the significant parts of this issue here, we might be able to stop chasing our own tails.
#786 Re: Management » Custom Titles - Request Them Here » 918 weeks ago
Chinese Whispers
Mkay? 
#787 Re: Guns N' Roses » What Did You Guys Think Of This Rant...? » 918 weeks ago
Cant blame Slash on contracts. That dog wont hunt. The GNR contract was restructured in the post Slash era. I am vague on details, but maybe Madagas, sic(if you're lurking jump in here), or russ can go into more detail.
As far as I know, the original GNR recording agreement with Geffen has been remodeled several times during the years. I think Alan Niven, the original manager, negotiated an extension to the deal in the UYI-era (enabling it to cover subsequent albums). Then, in late '92, Axl, Slash and Duff re-defined it, so that the three of them would be considered responsible for the GNR business entity, and Axl would be entitled for the b(r)and name if he'd leave the three-way business partnership. There have reportedly been later revisions, although the latest one we know of dates at 05/01/98, when Slash and Duff were alleviated from the recording expenses and all other responsibilites concerning Chinese Democracy. At this point, they were acquitted of any financial responsibility relating to their time in the GNR musical partnership.
