Axlin, love your posts man but I respectfully disagree with some of your conclusions.

In the UYI days as GNR got bigger and bigger, the consequences of Axl's tantrums and walk offs became more and more  dangerous and expensive to the band. There are several interviews where Slash, Izzy & Duff individually expressed disgust at fans being hurt and checks for hundreed of thousands having to be written for destroyed GNR backline and smashed arenas because Axl picked up his ball and left the pitch for whatever whim pissed him off on the night.

If the leader of your huge juggarnaught company (lets not bullshit ourselves here, here this is the music business) is isolated from you to such an extent that he barely talks to you, he's sourrounded by security and handlers who can effectively keep you away from him AND he's on some crazy personal trip that makes him feel entitled to cause  such mayhem; whether you like it or not you find yourself having to capitulate to keep things going. It's very hard to roll a grenade into the mix when you've got a line of paying gigs and committments made stretching out into the future; where many people are depending on you for a job, there are millions of $$$ at stake and you'll be the cause of several expensive lawsuits which will cost you personally if you're the one to pull the plug.

That said, I fully agree that those pussies should have "done a Noel Gallagher on it" and collectively downed tools and demanded independent councilling and mediation between them and Axl to get the band back to health again. The demand for the GNR name should have been rebuffed and scheduled for discussion after the UYI tour was complete.

Don't forget, all of the band members secretly felt that after the UYI tours that this was the end anyway so, when you feel the war is hopelessly lost, why cause yourself further injury and pain fighting the inevitable? They probably just wanted the last few $$$ they could make before the end was called.

I don't understand how you can say that Slash has had to "submit to the business". The guy has always just wanted to be on the stage on time, playing his ass of for his fans. He has proved that time and time again with his massive work ethic. What the fuck is wrong with that? Why does he get so much shit from obviously sane, intelligent posters like you for wanting to work hard and enjoy the mighty $$$ that it creates for him? Sure, hate the man personally if you wish but as a fan pleaser...he has few peers.

And speaking of money,  Izzy demanded big paydays to play some one offs with nu-GNR, Axl plays weddings and promotes piss beer, Duff works in journalism and finance, Matt is in retail... all members look pretty fucking addicted to the mighty green to me. But in defence of every one of them except (until recently)  Axl...they always kept their end of the bargain with the fans and got out there and delivered.

You assume that a Slash-led GNR would go down the shitter to be a low-ebb boogie woogie bar rock band and I agree with you on some levels. Snakepit II proved that point very clearly. HOWEVER, in a proper band environment like VR, Slash emerged with modern rock chops that went back to the top of the charts again. VR lasted 7 years and it wasn't Slash that the band fucked out in the end.

Finally, let's shine the light on what actually happened to GNR at the hands of his nemesis. His two decades of self pity, paranoia and sheer fucking laziness delivered a GNR that is just as disappointing as the Slash-led-GNR you imagined but for a polar opposite set of reasons to the ones a GNR-led Slash would have created. The fact is that both men had the wrong idea of what GNR was to be remembered as.

It is not a cinematic rock opera that releases deeply considered albums creaking under their own weight, and its not an adolescent rock band that sings three minute scream fests about skulls and pussy....GNR was an very original and much loved mix of the two. Even in the early days songs like "Rocket Queen" kick off with a huge rock riff and a lurid tale of drugs and slime and end with plucked chords and an earnest declaration of love and support. That's the seemingly impossible mix of sentiment and style and street sleaze that drew so many to GNR. Once both of the main men forgot that that's what the fans loved, the fucking boat sank.

Don't forget that it was Axl who said that Izzy left because he couldn't agree to him enjoying "the power rewards of my vision" (source: http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/arti … icleid=42).

I challenge you to find any quote , any where form any time by any of the old members that exhibits such a dangerous belief that GNR was theirs to do with as they wished.