nothing

I don't think that Axl paid $30,000 for Slash to get him write and play for NR and Estranged. But I do remember that Slash once paid $10,000 to the others cause he wanted to start a show with his favourite Nightrain. They lived a lifestyle none of us can imagine. 30,000 just wouldn't have been enough to buy any of theirs service. On the other hand I remember an Axl interview where he insinuated they were blackmailing each others during the UYI sessions. He said something like they told each other that "if my songs will not be done, then yours won't be done either".

It shows the tension even during the UYI era. I think the frustration of these recordings is overseen. Slash was full of it, publicly, sometimes blaming the absence of Axl and Izzy for the delay. They felt it took a lifetime to finish that album. Slash wanted it to be done by late 1988. The never-ending sessions were a nightmare for them. Axl not meeting them, being available only on phone was also a nightmare. Izzy's no-shows during the rehearsals also damaged the band. He disappeared for months. I remember Slash slamming Izzy for travelling across the US and not playing guitar for 2 months - when he was supposed to be with them (in Chicago I guess) to finish instrumental writing. So basically only 3 of them were working their asses off, in a really bad state of mind. No wonder that Slash's, Duff's and Steven's addiction worsened during this period. They also had problems with the amount of slow songs.

Considering this, it's no surprise Slash didn't want to repeat it. He's an addict, but he was aware that working hard was (and still is) the only solution not to kill himself with drugs or booze. But he's not the man for never-ending sessions, he needs to see the goal and it cannot be far off. He's the man of the minute - hence we have this amazing skills for improvisations and creating something quick, but the never-ending tinkering kills him. He wanted to survive.

So first he wanted to do a heavier blues rock record and totally ruled out the "ballad band" way. He didn't like the dolphins, the back-up singers, the "bigger than life" reality GN'R had become.

(Slash, Canadian Radio, 04/20/95)

He thought he can guide the band back to its rock rules, instead of the mix of Elton John, Pearl Jam and Nine Inch Nails, that he hated then. It's a confusing mix anyway. He couldn't understand what Axl wanted from him - and I guess Axl only knew what he didn't want from Slash. Unfortunately that was the kind of music Slash wanted to make.
But Axl was in the position of power, cause he got the name and started a new band with the same name. He invited the others to join, but it was clear they didn't have power anymore. They had no say in what to do or what not to do.
I guess Slash panicked. He knew that he risks the existence of the whole band and even his life. He decided to give it another try, another tries, whatever it is, just to please Axl. He publicly said they were working on songs - Axl songs. (I can't find the qoute right now.)

Slash 1996:

Then they broke up.

I get what you're saying and absolutely agree that he's there only for the money, but hey, what about the others? I'm sure all of them there only for the money. There is no musician on Earth (Steven Adler included) who could be satisfied with touring the same shit in the same order for years and years, playing songs written by other people (mostly), and there is no sign of moving forward, there is no hope to create something together or to leave a mark behind you musically. It's extremely frustrating. I think Ron's venting shows that he has MORE integrity than the others, cause Tommy's, DJ's and the others' silence are bought by the paychecks (Dizzy and Fortus sold themselves to the level of bullshitting the fans), while Ron has the biggest problem with the Axl and TB bullshit and he dares to call them out for this.
I guess his days are numbered in the band. He'll leave (I guess he hasn't till now) or Axl will fire him as soon as he finds a replacement. Ron's biggest luck is that 1, Axl's extremely lazy and can't things done 2, Axl needs him for his nostalgia cash-grab tours. As ironic as it is, Ron'll probably get sacked the day Axl decides to move forward.

You don't get into a near suicidal situation for shit and giggles. You don't leave the still biggest band of the world for jack shit. No need to rewrite history like Slash would have easily quit Guns N' Roses to blackmail Axl, and the situation wasn't that bad. All source says the situation was horrible and unbearable.

BTW Slash didn't leave Guns N' Roses. Axl left the band and started a new one with the same name. Slash just didn't join this as an employee.