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Re: Where do Guns N' Roses Go from here?
Great article from Rolling Stone....
On Wednesday night, Guns N' Roses will wrap up the 2017 leg of their Not in This Lifetime world tour with a hometown show at the Forum in Los Angeles. The tour resumes in June with a six-week run of festivals and stadiums in Europe, but their plans beyond that are unclear. By the final date of the 2018 European leg they will have been on the road for two years and three months, hitting just about every territory imaginable – from Las Vegas to Osaka, Dubai and Tel Aviv. They managed to do it without talking to any major U.S. press outlet, showing any sign of tension between band members, taking the stage late or igniting even a single riot. But where do they go from here? Here are some scenarios.
Keep the Tour Going Indefinitely
The global audience willing to pony up big bucks to watch Axl, Slash and Duff play the classics is clearly enormous. During the past two years fans coughed up about half a billion dollars and there's certainly plenty more where that came from. If GN'R are so inclined, there's no reason they couldn't do this for at least another three or four years. Sure, they may no longer be able to do multiple nights at football stadiums, but that doesn't mean they can't make huge money playing arenas and festivals. So far, they've only played arenas in the biggest U.S. markets. The country is full of smaller arenas in places like Roanoke, Virginia; Dayton, Ohio; and Bangor, Maine. Guns N' Roses can sell out every one of them and bathe in money each and every night. There's also festivals like Rocklahoma and Rock on the Range that would love to have them. This is basically the REO Speedwagon scenario where the tour never, ever ends.
Go to Las Vegas
The previous version of Guns N' roses sputtered to its final gig at the Hard Rock Las Vegas where they played a long residency. With Slash back in the fold, they could take over for Elton John or Celine Dion at the much larger Colosseum at Caesar's Palace. They could basically set up shop there until the end of time, never change the set list once and sell every ticket every night. Such a move would have seemed absolutely impossible back in 1988, but we live in a weird future where anything is possible. And if the Who are reportedly about to do it, why not Guns N' Roses?
Record a New Album
This may seem like a far-out idea, but most bands do this crazy thing where they write new songs, record these songs and then play them on tour. Guns N' Roses have had a hard time doing that ever since Slash and Duff left the band. There's only been one GN'R record in the past 26 years, and creating it was just about the most laborious/expensive process in rock history. There's not even a tiny hint that Axl is contemplating cutting new music with Slash and Duff. Playing old songs for adoring fans heaving money onto you is one thing, but the tough work and endless compromise it takes to craft new ones is probably too much for these guys at this point. But if they do ever pull it off, they could simply become a normal band again that releases new albums and takes them on the road.
Truly Reunite the Old Band
The Not in This Lifetime tour has been touted as a Guns N' Roses reunion, but that's really not the case. Duff McKagan played a bunch of gigs with the group in 2014 when Tommy Stinson had to step aside for the short-lived Replacements reunion, so this tour was basically just Slash taking the place of guitarists Bumblefoot and DJ Ashba. (And, yes, keyboardist Melissa Reese took the place of Chris Pitman.) Founding rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin never stepped foot near the stage and drummer Steven Adler was only allowed behind the kit on a handful of very, very brief occasions. If they want to get the old fans excited by the same songs yet again, the best move is to bring back Izzy and Adler.
Get Creative With the Set Lists
GN'R have largely stuck to the same basic set list ever since they reunited, though they have added in a few covers to honor departed rock stars and every once in a while they sprinkle in some new Chinese Democracy songs. If they want to keep touring without anything new, they should consider really mixing things up. The most obvious move is to play their albums. An Appetite for Destruction show would be the obvious money-maker, but imagine a multi-night stand where they played both Use Your Illusion albums. (Actually, with songs like "Get in the Ring," that is a little hard to imagine.) Chinese Democracy night might not be a huge hit with the public, even though Slash has added wonderful bits to songs like "Better" and "Prostitute," and seeing him tackle all of it would be fascinating. A complete Lies means they'd have to do "One in a Million," and that's not happening for obvious reasons. OK, maybe this isn't the best plan. But there's no reason they can't do Appetite for Destruction in sequence.
Call It Quits
Nobody wants to see this happen, but it's not like Slash, Axl and Duff will be strapped for cash when this tour ends. If they leave now, they really go out on top. What are they going to realistically do at this point beyond continue flogging these songs to death? Axl has gotten his voice into pretty good shape on this tour, but he's just a little over four years away from hitting 60. Perhaps they've always seen this as a swan song.
Go Back to the Pre-Reunion Groupings
Axl and Slash seem pretty copacetic onstage and were even filmed briefly chatting offstage at one point, but who knows what things are like truly behind the scenes? Once Axl fulfills his reunion tour commitments he might pull a Mike Love and go back to the fake GN'R. After all, he owns the name rights and can do whatever he wants. Any group of randos he throws onto a stage instantly becomes Guns N' Roses. They'd be back to playing B-list festivals and large club gigs, but maybe he'd prefer that to putting up with Slash each and every night. Then Slash can get back with Myles Kennedy and it'll be like all of this never happened. That's a little hard to imagine, though. Now that the public has seen Axl and Slash back together and proved how much they'll pay for it, they'll have a hard time accepting any other version of the band. Whether or not they like it, Axl and Slash are now probably stuck with each other forever.
- FlashFlood
- Rep: 55
Re: Where do Guns N' Roses Go from here?
Love the last line "Axl and Slash are now probably stuck with each other forever"
My biggest fear is the last scenario. It seems so implausible but is eerily possible. I'd much rather them become the Axl and Slash lounge act touring the hits than THE EXACT SAME THING except with Ashba.
Re: Where do Guns N' Roses Go from here?
No chance in hell of any CD lineups returning. While they're not stuck together, new GNR isn't feasible anymore. His guarantee would drop astronomically and the venues would not be full. Fans would know all they have to do is wait him out.
If they do decide to hit the pause button, Duff can work with his new band, Slash can go back to solo projects and Axl can do AC/DC, a supergroup, or a solo project.
That Vegas thing will happen eventually. It's a no brainer.
Caesar's Palace presents A Night of Destruction. AFD in its entirety with some piano ballads tossed in. RS is right...it would sell out every night.
- TheSundanceKid
- Rep: 30
Re: Where do Guns N' Roses Go from here?
Release a fucking album I hope.
None of this take forever shit.
All that matters is the songs. Songs, songs, songs, and songs. If they're good they're good. If they're shit, they're shit.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Where do Guns N' Roses Go from here?
This is my guess:
2018 : Nothing happens GNR except for those mid year shows. late year Slash does a solo album with Myles and spends the next 8-12 months playing theatres with Myles getting back to his roots.
2019: Axl/Dc releases an album and does a tour for 12 months or so. Slash is finishing up his Myles Run.
2020 to 2021 - Nothing really happens aside from the occasional GNR gig at a festival or maybe short runs in specific places like vegas. Think 2012 era GNR but now with Slash/Duff. Probably better venues...but I mean those kinda years where it's not nothing but it's not a full tour either.
2022. Nothing much happens. Silence and Rumours.
2023. GNR project of some kind launches. Either a new album (please) or more likely some type of Greatest Hits or Farewell Tour.
*Then blow out any of those timelines by 2-3 years for mismanagement and self harming behaviours and you have GNR 
- metallex78
- Rep: 194
Re: Where do Guns N' Roses Go from here?
Apparently Slash’s Mrs has posted recently confirming that the Conspirators will be back in the studio shortly, which to me is a damn fuckin shame.
Another bunch of Slash riffs wasted with Myles Kennedy instead of Axl. And I happen to like Myles Kennedy.
Axl should just do the easiest route for new GNR music. Let Slash and Duff redo all his leftover CD stuff, use his prerecorded vox, and there you go - NEW Guns album...!
- A Private Eye
- Rep: 77
Re: Where do Guns N' Roses Go from here?
I tend to think the side projects could be dropped like a stone if required. Whilst a return to Myles would suggest no plans for new GNR material that could easily change.
The only one that’s too big to just drop is AC/DC. If Axl is wanting to do it again and Angus wants him then that is a pretty large time commitment that would put GNR on the back burner. With that said events of recent weeks may have changed things. Angus has lost two brothers in the last month, that may motivate him to kick on and do more AC/DC with the time he has. Conversely he may decide to step back and focus on family. With Cliff gone as well the guy’s got to half rebuild the band, at this point in time that might be a task he no longer wants. I wouldn’t be surprised if Axl/DC never happens again.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Where do Guns N' Roses Go from here?
Yeah I could see Axl/Dc going either way.
There's grounds to retire and call it a career and see your family after a life of touring. That would keep the purists happy too - as the Axl shows were justifiable as Angus said "you can't name it rock or bust then go bust" - but a full Axl led album would certainly anger some of the hardcores.
On the other hand Angus has always been driven to continue this band. They continued after Bon died. They continued with a new record once Malcom was sick (which is also something purists thought would never happen) and they continued out their commitments even once Brian was down. That's hard to imagine a few years back. So it also wouldn't be at all surprising if they kept on keeping on and moved forward.
I can see Angus deciding he has one more cycle left in him - he loves playing - is a classic rock icon now - he doesn't have much to lose even if hardcores bitch about it. He's probably got 5-10 more years in him - he seems the type to use it.
GNR on the other hand is hard to predict. For what it's worth Axl said at the china exchange that one day he wants to release more music. But if that good intention translates to anything or not is anyone's guess.
