James wrote:

We saw it happen in 2008 with Azoff.

I'm not denying the merits of professional management.

But I am questioning the only thing that matters: economics. And the only variable that matters: Axl.

The once fertile market of album exclusives has dried up, most acts struggle to break even, and the major successful acts have taught their fans to consume their products with an insatiable appetite, most times with a variety of corporate sponsors and product tie-ins. They're young, sexy. They play the game. Axl, contrarily, is an iconoclastic and obstinate old dog. Good on him to an extent but it is what it is. He's happy resting on his laurels to live comfortably in his golden years.

The economy has been bad and will only get worse. Stores will shutter, less movies will go into production. The shallow pool of revenue streams will continue to dry up. Guns N' Roses will consistently fall to the bottom of UMG's list of important acts for asset allocation.

Where's the money in Gn'R? Tours, like we all know. The single as promotional tool works. New albums? Not so much. Especially for the long dormant giant that is Guns N' Roses. In short, the bulk of the money is in the past which makes it all the more questionable how they re-release Greatest Hits instead of giving their fans something "new" to purchase. If only to validate their censorship spree the past couple of years.

Axl isn't likely going to renegotiate with the record company to give them tour profits for album release promises. It's half why he fell out with Azoff in the first place. And no manager is going to want to work for Axl knowing his past and knowing that his function will solely as functionary to get old albums released. There's no money in that.

Axl would have to again take the path of most resistance to even get an album released. And judging by his past, that's not going to happen. He's always been too comfortable, doubly so when there's money in his boot. In all probability, if we get anything, it'll be "Hard School" and then maybe followed by "Atlas Shrugged", and something like "Oklahoma" at the start of each leg of the tour in 2021 and 2022, if it happens at all. See: economy. The absolute bottom of the barrel, mass-market paperback stuff that scratches the itch of nostalgia.

A new album would, I think, release Gn'R from their contract with UMG but UMG would still own the masters. So even under the most optimistic of scenarios, Axl would be hamstrung by whether or not UMG wanted to release that material. This lineup of Guns is not releasing let alone performing the likes of "Zodiac" and "The General". It's off brand. And probably half the vault material Axl can't even sing anymore anyway. The only way these see the light of day is if Axl buys back the masters and splits the baby like King Solomon and reforms and rebrands New GN'R under it's own act. Try holding your breath for Jesus, I hear the payoff is that much greater.

And finally, let's go to Axl. He's doubled down on Caram as mixer and himself as producer with "Shadow of Your Love". An equally overproduced abnormality as the 2008 version of "Chinese Democracy". He's clearly learned nothing. You think he's let go of his control issues? His addiction to the apex fallacy? You think he's willing to take anything back to formula, get back into the studio, and work with an outside producer? There's a Uyghur-made bridge in China I'd like to sell you...

The sad reality is in theory this is all very do-able. Get a good manager, get off your ass, and go try to make it happen. But an object at rest tends to stay at rest, this not even considering the aforementioned issues with the record company and more importantly the economy itself.

It's dead, Jim. Err, James.

All we're doing here is chasing ghosts.

Late November Q4....that’s my story and I’m sticking to it

Franks instagram seems to indicate he is in New York....

I guess his drum parts are all done or? Was kind of hoping they'd favour a more live on the floor approach for basic tracks but I guess with Digital Audio Workstations and click tracks its not as crucial ... Either that or we are getting more cut and paste...