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- jimmythegent
- Rep: 30
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
I'm generally blamed for the time it took to release 'Illusions,' but again the reality of my fault would be in not finding a way to manage Slash complete with his addictions and bring both him and Izzy together either similar to 'Appetite' or in some other progression more conducive to Guns than how 'Illusions' was accomplished. Unfortunately, that never truly happened, and both Guns and the public suffered for it. I'll take the responsibility in the sense that had I known how to achieve those goals we would have made what I feel would've been a more effective and powerful album at the time.
I somehow missed this on the first reading (probably due to some of the more outrageous comments) and I find it very interesting.
I can't help agreeing that the Illusions albums suffered greatly as a result of not having the magic interplay between Izzy and Slash that Appetite and Lies did. It was seperate guitarists with seperate influences, sounds and songs. Slash totally dominated, and for the most part, Izzy is barely audible. It is a shame, because one of the many great things about Guns was this interplay that existed. Not to mention the songwriting that these two obviously sparked.
Axl is letting himself off a tad easy here though if you ask me. The introduction of Dizzy (and keyboards in general), which was largely due to Axl by all accounts, left little room or space in the mix for the subtlties of Slashs' and Izzys interplay.
But it is nonetheless a point which is seldom ackowledged or discussed.
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
Izzy is barely audible in parts cause he was AWOL and Slash took over rhythm duties as well. I think the Illusions are a pretty miraculous achievement considering how bad relationships were between them all. I remember being flabergasted when I seen that interview with Axl and he was saying how him and Slash rarely crossed paths and they would work on the music over the phone.
Mabye if Izzy was more assertive he could have had more control, I guess getting sober and trying to work with junkies, alcoholics and Axl was a headache he could happily live without.
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
Izzy was very on and off when the writing and recording of Illusions took place. He'd just gotten cleaned up by the time the Chicago sessions took place in 1990, if memory serves me right. At that point, Slash, Duff and Matt were partying excessively and Axl was oftentimes AWOL, now spending time in past-regression therapy and whatnot. Axl's not as much off the mark as some people might think, as the later core of VR were dangerously veering into alcoholism / drug addictions and Izzy, a recovering addict, obviously didn't want to have anything to do with it at that crucial point in his life.
However, Axl seemingly forgets that the bulk of the instrumentals was completed somewhere in late '90, at which point he camped in the recording studio, putting down vocals and instrumentals. The mixing took an additional month or so... The album was ready to be turned over in July '91, I believe - Axl announced this on a certain UYI show.
His comments on a power struggle and the necessity to jolt others to work on certain tracks, however, may not be all that far from the truth, give or take some of the usual rose-red coloring of bitterness in Axl's tone.
- jimmythegent
- Rep: 30
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
I think it was a mixture perhaps of Izzy not being present and/or able to deal with drunks/junkies but also, Slash wanting to assert his dominance on the guitar make up of GN'R.
Interviews with Slash shortly after Izzy left were telling - he dismissed Izzy's style and sound while endorsing Gilbys playing, which was far less collaborative and gave Slash far more of the spotlight essentially
Age and wisdom have obviously made Slash see that his partnership with Izzy was special as he regularly acknowldeges these days (his recent comments in regards to Izzy appearing on his solo album being a case in point)
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
Izzy's got the same problem on the Use Your Illusion records as he had on the tour that followed...
He got tuned down in the mix.
I don't know who is responsible for the latter one but something tells me egos played a part.
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
Axl addressed the Izzy mix issue in the Boston show in 2002:
At one point he discussed some article that apparently was in a local paper (I didn't see it and he didn't mention the paper by name) that I guess talked about the old days of Guns N' Roses and Izzy needing roadies to stand behind because he coulnd't hear himself. Axl said that wasn't why they had roadies stand behind Izzy. He said basically that Izzy was usually too fucked up to play and he'd either play the wrong song or the wrong key and he'd try to turn his amp really loud. So, the only way the other guys could do a show was if they had roadies stand behind Izzy and turn his amp down.
Then again, that might applicable up to Farm Aid, tops. Izzy was still turned down in '91, and that would suggest more of a powerplay from Slash's and/or Axl's part than Izzy's previous difficulties in staying in key.
- Mikkamakka
- Rep: 217
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
I'm generally blamed for the time it took to release 'Illusions,' but...
We hear you Axl and we're very impressed with how you sped up the album making process later on CD. It really proves you right.
not finding a way to manage Slash complete with his addictions and bring both him and Izzy together either similar to 'Appetite' or in some other progression more conducive to Guns than how 'Illusions' was accomplished. Unfortunately, that never truly happened, and both Guns and the public suffered for it.
That's true, although as far as I know Izzy (in his mind) quit Guns long before the UYIs, so he was AWOL.
But as far as I know GN'R still suffers of the same problem, since the guitars on the last album are still "far" from each other. The guys don't play together, they don't complement each other, just some guitar themes in the same tone (except Robin, of course) are mixed together.
I'll take the responsibility in the sense that had I known how to achieve those goals we would have made what I feel would've been a more effective and powerful album at the time.
We hear you again. So had you known it earlier, you would have been even meaner and harsher towards the other guys. Typical Axl. The only time he admits his responsibility is when he feels he was too good and not hard enough. I'm sick of this crap. C'mon Axl, you stated that the UYIs would have been better without Slash. You lost all your credibility then.
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
He never said that, though.
What he did say was that he thought that Slash never should've been in Guns N' Roses to being with or that he should have left after the recordings of GN'R Lies.
I'm not trying to agree with Axl, that's just what was said in this interview. If you're referring to another event where he said such a thing I apologize.
And enough with taking swipes at Robin. Do better yourself and re-write Chinese Democracy if he's so damn shitty. Now that's crap that I've had enough of.
- Mikkamakka
- Rep: 217
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
I am sure that Axl meant that. Remember that awful article about Slash and Duff limiting Axl's mighty musical ideas on UYI, but now here is CD where the artist can shine without them? That made the official page, although they barely post anything.
About Robin: have you listened the separate guitar tracks? Haven't, I guess, otherwise you wouldn't defend him.
Sidenote: I think I can play better than Robin. Ouch. It doesn't mean much though, I think about 1,000,000,000 guitarists can play better than him. (Not to mention Robin's horrible live performances, Del James' words about his 'tuning issues'...) But even if he's better than me, it doesn't mean that his abilities were enough for GN'R. He's the worst lead guitarist a respected guitar band has ever had.
Re: Interesting part of Axl's February Del James interview
And enough with taking swipes at Robin. Do better yourself and re-write Chinese Democracy if he's so damn shitty. Now that's crap that I've had enough of.
Dude, Robin blows as a guitar player. That isn't remotely questionable. Every single song on CD would have been better without his contribution, so you're never going to win this argument. I wrote better guitar solos and riffs when I was in HS than he's written in his entire life. If you've had enough of it, I suggest not reading any threads about CD carefully, because you're going to see it over and over again.
