Despite there being no new music or evidence of writing and recording in 2012' GNR has done a better job of pushing the brand by keeping themselves busy and touring extensively. Axl's reputation has somewhat improved through less cancellations, late starts and even television promotion. There is a website (!) and the band seem more cohesive. In the Malibu Mansion, things must have never seemed so good.

The quesion here is where do they go from here? To get the band together and begin recording could throw them back 3-4 years. I suspect to Axl the very thought of entering a recording studio sends a cold shiver down his spine after the complete mess that Chinese democracy was. To the best of our knowledge, the management still has a lot of work to do with the record label, building bridges and gaining their trust, or simply severing their relationship and going alone.

So what are your thoughts and predictions for the next year? If you were managing the band, keeping the band members engaged, fans happy, revenue coming in and the brand alive what would you do next? And if there are lots of old, unfinished songs, new ideas from band members, who will be able to make sense of all that and turn it into something?