The Daily Swarm

As Guns N’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy” continued to tank dropping to #18 on the Billboard Top 200 and selling 57K in its second week for a total of 320K – disappointing numbers for an album that reportedly cost $13 million and took 15 years to record—a reclusive Axl Rose finally communicated with fans via two message boards—mygnrforum and heretodaygonetohell. Parts of the interviews are surprisingly impressive as fans take Rose to task for being M.I.A. in a dogged way few music journos would ever dare. And Rose, to his credit, may not be such a looney tune coming off as relatively composed and lucid despite questions about bipolarity, Nyquil consumption and getting Rickrolled(!). Below are the best bits:

AXL ON NOT DOING PRESS:

Fan: Axl I would like to know why you avoid the press so much. I think it’s definitely hurting album sales, I mean, you haven’t even done one interview. I know for sure you’d be able to get a few magazine covers. So why don’t you? Why be such a hermit/recluse?

Axl: That’s ur opinion and it very well could be true.

What I have to say a lot of people have no desire to hear.

With our team we were able to negotiate thru a mountain of issues to be able to release the album. Within’ those negotiations I believed I had secured agreements, commitments and assurances that would have allowed a promotional strategy to be implemented that obviously I’ve had a fair amount of time to consider. Unfortunately those things never happened and once the record was closer to release the biz went about things in their standard business as usual mode.

ON BEING RECLUSIVE:

Fan: Is it that hard to talk to your fan base? Fuck you’re apparently doing it now…..the fans have put up with your shit and were the reason CD sold as much as it did along with every Gn“R record.
After all the years of telling people to suck your dick you’d think you’d grow a fucking pair to actually speak or say something after the release other than hiding in the batcave under your desk while WASP plays with strippers going up and down. Blame the fans or anybody else seems to be the GN’R moto.

Axl: Why would anyone have to tell me anything? What would you know of anything actually going on in my world. Nice fantasy though, wish I had the time.

Fan: I’m trying to figure out why the thing’s in the GN’R camp is such a mindfuck and get Axl out of this little world of comfort he’s apparently built for himself.

Axl: Your misconceptions and fantasies along with your misguided sense of entitlement don’t dictate my actions.

ON A REUNION:

Fan: If this is true. I have one question for you Axl. What is stopping the fans from seeing you Slash, Duff, and Izzy back on stage together?

Axl: U’ve been lied to and misled for such a long time that sorting through all that here is virtually impossible. A lot will come out over time but the truth has been out there for a long time as well but that doesn’t give you what you want so this dance just goes on and on.

ON OBAMA:

[fan mentions s/he worked for him)
Axl: Obama! That’s a big gig! I need some presidential press advisors and speech writers!!

ON ANOTHER GnR ALBUM:

Fan: Axl do you really have 2 or 3 other albums of material?

Axl: For now we’ll concentrate and keep our focus on this album but I will say I’ve always thought of it as a double.

And no offence but no one’s trying to talk in parables. The issues are a bit more complex than anyone would like.

ON KANYE:

Fan: Axl how do you feel about Kanye outselling Chinese Democracy? Do you like Kanye’s music?

Axl: I met Kanye at the Versace awards. He was very gracious. I love ‘Gold Digger’ and told him so. I’m a big fan of his stage performance as he seems to go for it physically which I relate more to. B4 r release I sent him a msg that any nonsense from the media had nothing to do with us and wished him the best. I’m humbled we’ve done as well as we have considering.

ON BIPOLARITY:

FAN: I have cyclothemia and sometimes get this feeling that I cant be around people and need my own space and area, how do you find the bipolar effect you, if you dont mind me asking that is?

Axl: I’ve not been diagnosed as being bipolar though many misconstrue statements I made earlier as alluding to such and unfortunately there’s been an abundance of misguided or unqualified speculation of various events but I definitely can relate to needing my own space.

In my world all bi polar means (and not to offend or make light of those suffering from a genuine condition or involved with those who are) is that someone can try to take cheap uneducated shots or try to claim I’m bipolar thus justifying why they should get paid a financial settlement for whatever nonsense they’re up to. Fortunately that hasn’t proved successful.

ON MAC VS. PC:

Axl: PC but I use both.

ON NYQUIL:

Fan: Axl, cherry or original flavor Nyquil?

Axl: prefer cherry night time for breakfast around 11pm

ON PORTUGESE GIRLS:

Fan: Axl what do you think about Portuguese girls?

Axl: Lots!!

ON PLAYING GUITAR:

Fan: just wondering what stops you from playing more guitar live?

Axl: skill

AXL GETS RICKROLLED:

Fan: C’mon! Really? People are spamming the board like crazy and being rude to our guest of honor, and my post gets deleted. I would just like to say that this is a very amazing song! I mean….it’s a classic! Axl, don’t you agree?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edaJP3Lp0Gg

Axl: He doesn’t like to go out much. Strange guy! Grin

FULL TEXT HERE: Mygnrforum

AND HERE: Heretodaygonetohell