Just one thing I'd like to add...
When Ashba joined I was really skeptical... An emo dude? Eye liners? REALLY?
After seeing him with the band and him being here for 3 years now I've grown accustomed to him. I'm not fooling myself that he is higly relevant as a musician or is of any significance for the future of the band. However, he has proven to be a good friend of Axl, he respects the band and it's heritage and has a good stage presence. Sure he enjoys the spotlight, but this is what these guys live for.
Anyway, I've always had a "problem" with members of the band promoting solo material with the Guns N' Roses name. Some do it more, some do it less. For example I don't think Sex Tapes, a project involving Chris Pitman, ever had any association with GN'R. I respect that. Suposedly Buckethead's idea was to use GN'R to promote solo efforts.
Moving on to my point. This is nothing against Ron Thal. I like him and want him to stick around. But I don't understand how DJ is constantly trashed for whoring himself with the GN'R name while Bumble's ventures are so often overlooked.

This is not Ron VS. DJ, just a general wondering of mine.