May 1 -- Bumblefoot creates All-Star-Band

In support of 2008 ROCK AGAINST DIABETES Charity Concert

HOLLYWOOD, CA (May 1, 2008) - Guns N Roses guitarist Ron Thal (aka Bumblefoot) has committed himself to this years Rock Against Diabetes event by orchestrating an All Star Band composed of top metal/rock artists of the last two decades.

"I want to help bring attention, awareness, and hopefully get some people thinking about what they can do to prevent diabetes, or how they can lend a hand to someone living with it" explains Thal. "I have been reaching out to musicians to form a group that hasn't ever played together before, something very special just for this one night. This is an important event, and it's a privilege to be able to participate.

Participants of the All Star Band, yet to be named will be announced once they commit to the project. More information on the All Star Band, as well as current and any other lineup changes can be found at www.rockagainstdiabetes.org.

The band will perform live at www.deeprockdrive.com in Las Vegas. There are a very small amount of VIP tickets available only by auction. To bid on these limited edition VIP tickets, visit www.rockagainstdiabetes.org/auction .The rest of the world, will be able to take in the event from the comfort of their homes, in HD as a fully interactive web broadcast. Tickets are available at www.deeprockdrive.com/event/5462/rock_against_diabetes_2008 Tickets are only $9.99 and each ticket purchaser has the option to invite 5 friends to view FREE.

For more information visit www.rockagainstdiabetes.org, www.bumblefoot.com, or www.deeprockdrive.com

# # #

ABOUT ROCK AGAINST DIABETES
Rock Against Diabetes was created my Vancouver music writer and diabetic amputee Darrin Buchanan in 2007. After diagnosis as a type 2 diabetic in 2006, and a resultant below knee amputation of his right foot in March 2008, Darrin has chosen to dedicate his energies to this project to help ensure others do not walk down the same path that he chose previous to diagnosis. The main objective of Rock Against Diabetes, is to provide a FREE worldwide online tool, for all diabetic suffers as well as pre-diabetics to use to eat correctly, set goals and prevent the sometimes brutal complications the disease can inflict on sufferers. 88% of diabetic complications can be slowed or prevented with a proper safe diet. Rock Against diabetes will also donate a portion of all money collected to The BC Children's Hospital, to support the Endocrinology and Diabetic area of care, as well as the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, to support the breakthrough studies in diabetic research they have had. For more information on the causes supported by Rock Against Diabetes, visit www.rockagainstdiabetes.org/causes.htm. For more information about Rock Against Diabetes 2008 Darrin Buchanan darrin@rockagainstdiabetes.org

Forum Discussion

April 21 -- Official Site Update - Guns N' Robin

Robin's plans caught everyone in Guns, as well as our fans, a bit off-guard.

Really, Del James' private e-mail that someone took upon themselves to post publicly is the best way for us to address things at this time: "Only Robin knows what Robin's doing."

Neither we nor management, etc., know any more in this regard and we prefer not to speculate or offer opinions at this time.

Robin's Robin. We're in negotiations for the release of "Chinese Democracy" and things are going well.

When we begin to put tour plans together, we'll see where things are. Until then, Robin's touring with NIN and we're working with management on our game plans.

Our thanks to those who continue to show their support.

Forum Discussion

April 11 -- Axl delievers.

Guns N Roses have reportedly finished work on 'Chinese Democracy', the album that Axl Rose has been working on for the past 14 years.

Therockradio.com reports that Geffen Records, the band's record label, have confirmed they have received a finished copy of the album, and are currently haggling over money and rights issues with Rose.

Forum Discussion

April 5 -- Robin: Au revoir?

According to the official Nine Inch Nails website, Robin Finck is joining Nine Inch Nails for a world tour starting in July in North America. It's currently unknown whether he is still in Guns N' Roses. Del James has been cited on forums saying "Only Robin knows what the hell he is doing."

Trent Reznor continues... "Finck has served in numerous touring configurations of NIN, from tours supporting The Downward Spiral (1994-1997) to The Fragile (2000-2001). More recently, he played in Guns N Roses. Fownes has been performing with UNKLE, and has been a member of With Scissors and The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster.

The upcoming tour will feature the live debut of material from the recently released Ghosts I-IV alongside songs spanning the entire NIN catalogue."

Forum Discussion

March 27 -- AXL Announces New Management Team

I am very pleased to announce that Guns N’ Roses and I are now represented by the management team of Irving Azoff and Andy Gould. We are very excited and look forward to working with them and hope our relationship proves beneficial for everyone, especially the fans.

Axl Rose
March 27, 2008
Forum Discussion

Irving Azoff and Andy Gould have released the following statement regarding the new partnership:

"Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses is and will always be one of the most important recording and touring artists of our time, and one of the great rock n roll voices for his generation. We are honored that Axl has placed his trust in us."

February 19 -- KFLY exclusive interview with Sebastian Bach.

Sebastian Bach was recently interviewed by KFLY. An excerpt from the chat follows:

Q: Let's talk about the record a little bit.

Sebastian: "Yes Sir... it came out in November 20th... I've already sold way more copies than the last solo record, so that's good news. I have a full U.S. Tour that is gonna start in July with another big, huge band - I'm not allowed to say what it is yet, because it's not announced yet - but it's gonna be all summer long in the U.S., touring and playing a lot of the new album. The new album has 14 songs on it, and three of them feature vocals by Axl Rose! Everybody's been waiting for 15-16 years for Chinese Democracy, and I'm very lucky to have Axl sing three songs on my album - I'm very very blown away that he would collaborate with me on the CD. I just bought the new issue of Revolver Magazine - one of my favourite magazines - they got this article in there, painting Axl like a recluse, like Howard Hughes or something - but it doesn't even mention that he sang on three songs on my record and you can go buy it today - he's not hiding in his house, he's in the studio with me. We did a lot of touring all over the world... if you want to hear him right now, brand new, he's on my new CD. You gotta kinda ignore what people say - it's frustrating, nobody is hiding in their house, nobody has lost their voice...


On Chinese Democracy...

There's a lot of business people involved with him... it's not just him saying "I'm not putting it out!" - there's a lot of people fighting over it and all these kinda things. I've heard it and it's coming out. I sing on one song called 'Sorry' - incredible music. There's actually four albums that I've heard that he's played for me. Those are all albums, but I don't know which one is Chinese Democracy, if it's four parts or a four CDs set... but he's played to me four albums worth of finished material that's incredible - amazing attitude, very grand sounding like November Rain, big, huge, theatrical - but it's got that bad ass attitude of Appetite. It's definitely coming sometime. Audio Link

Discuss in the forum

December 24 -- Happy Holidays

Hey y'all...

NewGNR.COM wishes you a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and all the best for the forthcoming new year!

P.S. Sorry for the lack of news... can't do anything about it.


// UPDATE ... Ron emailed!

Heey!

Just wanted to wish y'all Happy Holidays and say *THANK YOU* for everything.

Last year during the US/Canada shows, I made a little tourblog. It's the Holidays, I'm in a sharing mood, here ya go... LINK

It may not be what ya wanted for Christmas (uh, ya think??) but it's still better than a dancing elf with your fucking face on it.

Happy Holidays - love ya's, will always be grateful for your support. Can't wait to see ya's again...

Ron

November 14 -- BAZ Back in The Saddle with Angel Down [link]

Sebastian Bach is a man who needs no introduction. With more than two decades in the limelight, no one embodies the spirit of rock n' roll quite like him. This jack-of-all-trades has run the gamut from rock frontman, to Broadway actor to reality TV star and back again. Bach is now ready to return to his metal roots and unleash his latest project. Jason Price of Live-Metal.net recently sat down with Bach to talk about what lies in store for fans on Angel Down, the evolution of the album, the re-emergence of W. Axl Rose and the burdens of being an unofficial mouthpiece for Gun N' Roses.

Check out the interview with Baz here:
Check out a review of his new album here:
Buy Sebastian's album through this sites' store!

November 1 -- BAZ Interview on 93.3 WMMR Philadelphia [link]

Former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach was recently interviewed by Matt Chord of Philadelphia's 93.3 WMMR. An excerpt from the chat follows:

I met you last year at a GNR aftershow party!

BAZ: I vaguely have some recollection of being at all of those Hammerstein aftershow parties, and it's like... I was sort of there. The next day, Axl's like... 'Dude, what did you think about me and Sean Penn?' and I go... 'Sean Penn was there??' *laughs*

Q: You have a new record coming out, "Angel Down", November 20. We've been waiting for songs from Axl Rose for about 15 years, and all of a sudden, you get him to sing on your record. How did that work, did you text him, did you call him?

Sebastian: "We've done about 80 shows with GUNS N' ROSES all over the world. At Christmas we did three nights at Universal Ampitheater in Hollywood... Axl had a Christmas party, we were playing pool. He played 'Chinese Democracy', a song called 'Sorry' came on and I started singing a harmony over top of the chorus. Axl loved that and booked studio time at Electric Lady in New York the next week, and I sang on 'Chinese Democracy'. So then, I was being silly and texted Axl, 'When are you going to sing on my record?' and he texted back, just one word, 'When' ... He sang three songs on my record."

Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about Axl Rose?

Sebastian: "They think that 'Chinese Democracy' is never coming out... that is #1 misconception, 'cause I've heard it... like, it exists. To me I think it has a lot more to do with the business side of it. I've heard four albums' worth of material that's incredible. So when people go 'Is it ever coming out?', I go 'Yeah! And you're ever gonna feel stupid when it does.'"

Q: He's a very down-to-earth kinda person.

Sebastian: "I wouldn't call him down to earth. He's lived a life none of us could ever imagine, because of the level of success he has achieved. GUNS N' ROSES is bigger than rock. They're not a metal or rock band, they're like the STONES, or LED ZEPPELIN, or THE BEATLES, to a lot of people. He can't go out on the street and walk around. Like, when I was in London, England, I went to Hyde Park, played frisbee with the road crew — he can't do stuff like that. And that must really suck... Paparazzi's always there. It's just a different life... and I've watched millions of people that were in a room with the man, and they don't say what they think — they try to figure out what he wants them to say to make him like them and then they'll say that. I've seen people get so flipped out, but when he's in the room with them, he can't get a straight answer out of them. He's not like a human, he's like a demigod walking around."

Q: He does have a bad reputation in town — December 8th 2002, it was a no-show.

Sebastian: "Go do an interview with him there. I wasn't on that tour... I don't know what to say. I read all the time about Paul Stanley cancelling shows — nobody goes 'Paul Stanley, man, what's up?!'… I just did a whole GN'R tour, 80 shows... they cancelled one show, out of 80 shows. That's not unheard of..."

Q: I always stick up for the lineup when people go "It's not the true GN'R..."

Sebastian: "It's not... but then what's better... Slash and Duff doing STONE TEMPLE PILOTS songs? I'd rather hear Axl sing 'Welcome To The Jungle' with Tommy Stinson on bass... I love Duff McKagan, but he's busy." (Laughs)

Q: You had a great line about Brain at the Hammerstein... "Where was this guy when you hired Matt Sorum??"

Sebastian: "To me, Brain is one of the best drummers I've ever seen in my life. I love drummers that kinda play behind beat, with that cool, sleazy groove like John Bonham, Joey Kramer, or Steven Adler on 'Appetite', and to me, Brain plays with that swagger and cool factor. And I watched this guy with GUNS, and I couldn't believe how incredible he was. Then I bought the new TOM WAITS record, and I look at the credits... Drums: Brain. I go... this guy! TOM WAITS, PRIMUS, GN'R — he's amazing."

Listen to the entire interview at this location.

October 21 -- Angel Down Preview

There has been a lot of anticipation for Sebastian Bach's 'Angel Down'. Skid Row's last album was 'Subhuman Race' from 1995. Bach's last solo album was 'Bach 2: Basics' in 2001.

I can tell you that without a doubt, the wait will be worthwhile. 'Angel Down' is the metal album of the year, if not the 21st Century so far.

'Back In The Saddle' is the first of three songs (in a row) with Axl Rose. What a corker of a cover. This is the old Aerosmith song. Aerosmith meets Guns 'n' Roses meets Skid Row – metal heaven. Bach only sings the first new lines on this one. The lead vocal is Axl.

'(Love Is) A Bitchslap' is the one they chose as the single. Co-written with producer Roy Z., it is another rocker with a hook. "I'm just having a goodtime" Bach and Rose sing on this one. That just about sums up the entire album.

'Stuck Inside' is again with Axl. We are getting to the heart of this album and this is one hell of a beating heart. In fact, the four-play of 'Stuck Inside', 'American Metalhead', 'Negative Light' and 'Live & Die' are the heaviest tracks on the album. 'American Metalhead' slaps those winey little punk wannabes across the face. 'Negative Light' gets dark and moody but builds to rival Metallica. 'Live & Die' doesn't waste a second. It burns from the first note.

Sebastian Bach's 'Angel Down' will be released on November 20 through EMI on Merovingian Music. - Undercover News

September 27 -- Ron's birthday & more

"My lady got me a GPS thang for the car - very cool. She made some killer brownies - I broke a big chunk off the corner and ate it. Went out for sushi that night with friends. Good shit." ... Ron again emailed to tell us briefly what he's been up to. A belated happy 38th birthday from NewGNR.COM, please continue delighting us all for years to come. :)

Remember when Rock Daily told you about Axl Rose's Johnny Cash/Bob Dylan-like collaboration with Sebastian Bach on the Celebrity Rap Superstar's first solo album since 1999, Angel Down (out November 20th)? Here's a quick refresher: "I texted Axl," Bach recalls. "I go, 'Hey, dude, when are you gonna come and sing on my record?' I was just joking. But he never ceases to amaze me. And his response was, 'When? Where? Where is the studio?' I was, like, 'Pinch me, I'm dreaming.'" Now Bach has kindly provided us with photographic evidence of the pairing. Bach also gave a quick Chinese Democracy update to the Albany Times Union a few days ago that demonstrates he could have a bright future as a publicist should the rock-star thing ever fail him: "I've heard Chinese Democracy and it rocks, dude. In fact, I sing on one of the songs, 'Sorry.' He's so prolific, dude, that he's recorded enough material for at least three albums, and it's all fucking awesome. It has the rawness and the power of Appetite For Destruction, but it also has the grandiosity of 'November Rain.' It's just fucking awesome." - Rolling Stone

September 20 -- BACH promoting his CD

Bach Interview / timesunion.com

Former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach is on the phone raving about his upcoming solo album, "Angel Down," his first since his solo debut in 1999 with "Bring 'Em Bach Alive."

But Bach -- who rolls into the Altamont Fairgrounds on Saturday as the headbanging headliner for the daylong Edgefest -- isn't just raving about his own work. He's also raving about a special guest who appears on the album. Of course, it's not just any special guest -- it's Guns 'N Roses frontman Axl Rose.

"I can't *** believe it. I just can't *** believe that Axl *** Rose is singing on my record. Not just one song, either. He's singing on three songs, dude. He's the best. He's just the best.

"The thing about Axl is that he's a *** genius. I've heard 'Chinese Democracy' " -- the long overdue Guns 'N Roses comeback album -- "and it rocks, dude. In fact, I sing on one of the songs, 'Sorry.' He's so prolific, dude, that he's recorded enough material for at least three albums, and it's all *** awesome. It has the rawness and the power of 'Appetite For Destruction,' but it also has the grandiosity of 'November Rain.' It's just *** awesome."

I've just copied the Axl parts, here's the whole interview.

August 20 -- BACH's New Album FEATURING AXL ROSE

Axl / gunsnroses.com
Bach Interview / blabbermouth.net

Bas asked me to sing on his new record, "Angel Down," and I agreed and came down to his studio where he played me the tracks. I really liked the title/opening track, "Angel Down," but I didn't feel that it would be right to be on that one, although, of course, it would've been cool because it's a great rip-your-head-off track!!

Since this session was rather a more fun atmosphere, the tracks I sang on kind of showed themselves and were also done out of curiosity on the part of Bas, myself, and his producer, Roy Z, just to see if my involvement brought something that worked for the tracks.

Bas really wanted me on "Bitchslap," [Demo of the song here] and I got to try my own ideas on it. We're not saying much about the second track, as it may be taken a bit further, and when Bas played the third track, "Stuck Inside," he suggested a kind of call-and-answer part. They allowed me the freedom to write my own words and melodies, and although it's only a couple of lines, it really felt great. The song has such a mean riff, and Bas' guys were so supportive in so many ways on tour and fun to hang with, that it was great to be a part of something of theirs and I think it really came out strong.

For me, the three songs together are a good package. They are all different, with different approaches and styles from each other and from material I have on the upcoming Guns N’ Roses record. For me, the timing couldn’t be better and I’m quite surprised to be on one song, let alone three!!!

Bas really knew where he saw my involvement on his album and had different options in mind. He knew what seemed obvious, what would be fun, what would work for his album and what he felt I would like. I really liked the energy of the tracks and since I'm rarely asked to do anything I'd actually enjoy or be glad to be a part of, I'm more than grateful for the opportunity and hope the fans get a kick out of it as well.

BLABBERMOUTH.NET was granted an opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with Bach this past Friday (August 17) about his upcoming CD and his collaboration with GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose on two of the album's cuts — first single "(Love Is) A Bitchslap" and a cover of AEROSMITH's "Back in the Saddle". The following is a transcript of that conversation:

Q: I understand that you recently did some work in the studio with Axl Rose on one of your new songs [Note: Before the interview being conducted, BLABBERMOUTH.NET was informed that Axl had only recorded a guest appearance on "(Love Is) A Bitchslap"]. Is that still being worked on right now or are you already done with all the recordings?

Sebastian: It's already done, dude. It's in the can.

Q: Wasn't the single already submitted to radio a couple of weeks ago?

Sebastian: That's an early version. I wasn't finished [with] the record, but the roughs that I did [are] really amazing. [Laughs]

The CD that I made that got me the record with Jason Flom [former A&R rep at Atlantic Records, now Chairman and CEO of Capitol Music Group] and Jack Ponti [CEO of Merovingian Music, Ltd. (MRV)] is a really good CD, but it wasn't finished. The one song, "(Love Is) A Bitchslap", premiered in the "Trailer Park Boys" in Canada, but then they did put it out to radio, but it wasn't completed. That's one version of the song that's at radionow that still kicks ass, but we've worked on it even harder.

Basically, the collaboration with me and Axl started when he asked me last December to sing on… I was at his house and he was playing me the new "Chinese Democracy" album — actually, there's more than one; there's, like, four — but he was playing a song called "Sorry", which is a very heavy, grinding kind of riff and we were partying and stuff and I started singing a high harmony on the chorus of this song and he flipped out, and he goes, "That sounds great." He goes, "I want you to sing that on the record." So in January, I went to Electric Lady [studios in New York City], and I sang the chorus of this song "Sorry", and it came out really, really amazing. So now that I'm finishing my record, just for the fun of it, when I got to L.A., I just texted Axl, I go, "Hey, dude, when are you gonna come and sing on my record?" I was just joking. [Laughs] I didn't think he would do that. But he never ceases to amaze me. And his response was, "When? Where? What time? Where is the studio? What time do you want me there?" I was, like, "You've gotta be fucking kidding me." I go, "Pinch me, I'm dreaming." So he came down on Tuesday night, I think, or Wednesday, and he sang… He sings two songs on the record. I don't wanna say which songs, really — I don't know if I should or not — but he sings two songs.

Q: Well, I was told that he's on "(Love Is) A Bitchslap".

Sebastian: Oh, you were already told that? OK, well, that's' one. [Laughs] He sings on that, yes, and it's unbelievable — his voice is like a razor; it just really cuts, and it's an amazing thing for me. It's kind of like a duet — he's not just in the background, it's more of a prominent sound. And there's another song that he sings on, too. [But] I'll leave that to your imagination. But he's in fact on two songs on the record.

It's kind of like… I have this one BOB DYLAN record called "Nashville Skyline" where Johnny Cash sings a lot on the record with Bob Dylan. I know it's not Blabbermouth territory, but it's a really good album and it's an amazing thing. I've always wondered how it would be [having] two singers in the band, like THE ALLMAN BROTHERS have two drummers. Me and Axl going back and forth, and he takes a line and I then I take a line and then we do harmonies, it's really cool to hear. It's really an amazing thing for my record. To have him come in and do that, it's mind-blowing. And there's actually another song that he wants to sing on called "Stuck Inside" that he loves, and I'm gonna get him a CD of that, so he might be on three [songs], but right now he's on two. And I am the luckiest guy in the world, for him to come and put his voice on my record. And then I asked him yesterday, "Can I talk about this and everything?" And he was like, "Yes." He goes, "Tell everybody, tell the whole fucking world." I'm like, "Cool. OK." [Laughs]

Q: Did he actually choose the songs [to sing on] then?

Sebastian: Yes. Absolutely. He came into the studio, I played him my whole record, and he chose "Bitchslap" and there's another song. I don't wanna give it all away quite yet 'cause the album is not out 'till November 20.

Q: It's not the AEROSMITH cover, is it?

Sebastian: Who told you this?

Q: No one told me but it seemed kind of like an obvious choice, perhaps.

Sebastian: What AEROSMITH cover? What are you talking about?

Q: Isn't "Back in the Saddle" on the record?

Sebastian [apparently unaware that a press release had been issued that morning containing details of his new CD]: Who told you..? Can I just ask you who told you this?

Q: There was a press release that was put out this morning with some of this information. It didn't include any information about Axl, but it included a lot of the details about the record, including most of the songtitles and information about, like, songwriting credits and things like that. So I was aware of the fact that the AEROSMITH cover was on there. So is that the other song [that Axl sings on]? [Laughs]

Sebastian: I'm not gonna say… [Changing subject] Yesterday I shot the TV show "L.A. Ink" and Kat Von D tattooed my new album cover on my arm, which you'll see on TV. And then that's an amazing thing, too. The album cover was done by my dad.

Q: Besides working on the production side of things, are there any songs on the album that were actually recorded from scratch after the sessions from last year?

Sebastian: No. Everything was recorded then… well, except for Axl Rose. We did a couple of vocal touch-ups here and there. 'Cause I've really come to know that the sound of my clean voice is something special, actually, and sometimes I have a tendency to overdo my vocals where if I just lay back a little bit, it gives you this clean, soaring vibe in my voice, which I've always known about, and really, when I concentrate on it, the results are really great-sounding vocals. I do the dirty a lot too, but when I really concentrate on picking where and when to go clean and dirty, it comes out fuckin'… I can't believe it's me. [Laughs]

Q: So is "(Love Is) A Bitchslap" still the first single? I mean, is that the song that's gonna go to radio officially?

Sebastian: I think so. It's a really good vibe. Everybody loves the lyrics, It goes, "Rolling down the avenue, I've got my fist in the air, checking out of the rat race, and I really don't care." People fucking dig that. It's just a good-time rock, party song.

Q: And it's got sort of an old-school GUNS N' ROSES feel to it, so I can see Axl sounding really good on it.

Sebastian: Well, wait 'till you hear him, man. Wait 'till you hear it with real drums too. [Laughs]

Q: How did the AEROSMITH cover come about and why did you decide to cover that song?

Sebastian: That was Roy Z's idea. I came into this project with no intentions of doing any covers, because I did a bunch of tribute records in the mid-'90s and I've definitely gotten that out my system. But Roy goes, "Dude, you're BACK! This is a statement of, like, you're back, 'here's my new record.'" When you hire a producer, that's for an outside perspective, even though you might think I think I am — I know I'm not always right. So I didn't wanna do it, and then he explained it to me lyrically how cool it is to come out and say, "I'm baaack!" And then he said, "Plus, your name, dude. You're 'Bach.' It's 'back'." So I was, like, "OK." And then we cut the track and it's so killer — it's so bad-ass. It just came out really, really on fire — that's the word. And then Axl comes in, and it's me and him screaming those screams at the fucking top of our range. [laughs] If you're into screams, this is a good album for you. This is definitely a singers album, let me put it to you that way. If you're into that, I'm giving it to you, big-time.

I've just copied the Axl parts here, here's the whole interview.

Few words on the lack of updates on this site... no it has nothing to do with the death threats I've been getting from some special kind of nostalgia-driven fanboys in the guestbook of this site. For one thing, I've been travelling around Europe, and still having an adventuresome summer, and for the other, not much is being reported about GNR at the time.