Axl announces that due to Buckethead's untimely departure, that GN'R is unable to perform at Rock In Rio - Lisbon. 

"On behalf of Guns N' Roses and myself I apologize to the fans who planned to
see us at Rock In Rio - Lisbon....  In the meantime rather than dwelling on the negative, Guns will be moving forward... we hope to announce a release date within the next few months."
Sincerely,
W. Axl Rose

Click "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" Index Tab at Top of Page  for full text of 3/30/04 Press Release / Statement from Axl.

Click "Dear Axl..." Index Tab at Top of Page for my MSG 12/05/02 'review'

Click tabs at top to read my full review/comments for 12/29 & 12/31   Quite simply GUNS N' ROSES KICKS ASS! While HOB and RIO were impressive - You could definitely hear the difference a year made - THIS BAND IS T-I-G-H-T!! Axl sounded better THAN EVER... (if thats even possible!) holding notes longer and stronger than ever on my favorite live song "LIVE & LET DIE". And that song seems to apply to the rebirth of GN'R now more than ever. Though I will agree that without the release of a studio album Guns N' Roses is yet to 'prove' themselves to the 'world' there is no doubt that they will foot the bill as true Gunners. For those of us lucky enough to have witnessed them perform B*LLS OUT at the Hard Rock ... those of us who don't still have h*rd-ons (for better or worse) for 'old school' Gunners... who were capable of hearing - who are open to the EXPERIENCE - GUNS N' ROSES as reformed by Rock's greatest front man ever - AXL ROSE - (and thank you - no good deed goes unpunished) does indeed live up to its name. Guns N' Roses - as introduced to us in 01-01-01 by Axl Rose I feel will be rid of its asterik and other markers used to separate its identity from its former namesake... For what seems to most vividly and accurately identify this band as GUNS N' ROSES is what it produces - its music, its fans, and the unique nature of both of these. Joining old school die hard fans who seem to have together with Axl survived 'the losses' - and who hold fast to the fact that there IS a whole lotta meaning in a NAME - and appreciate the itegrity of one who will fight to keep their namesake alive - joining these are a whole new generation of badass mofo's who just wanna rock as hard as the generation before these softrock/pop riddled days - who want to see the return of headbangers ball and the monstors of rock tour - not to rehash it - but to see its evolution instead of its extinction. May Guns N' Roses lead the way - Axl you know we f*ckin' love you dude! F*ck all the losers who just can't wrap their mind around it. 

I had removed the info regarding the ad... but as some people are being referred here for more info... Well, after the HOB and then again after RIO III, I was so excited about the new band and the new songs... and I knew many, many fans were - I felt inspired to do something to show the band our thanks and to show them our support. The idea came to me and so it has materialized - just 2 days before the Hard Rock shows - thanks to the support and contributions of fans around the world I was able to take out this full page ad in the LA Weekly. Each fan that contributed 'signed' their name and is receiving a copy. I was also able to get the ad to the band in Vegas. During the NYE show Axl made reference to one fans 'message' printed on a towel an asked us if we had read the news in the paper! He then held it up the towel for all to see. At that point I was encouraged to pass the ad up to Axl on stage at which point Axl - evidently touched by the gesture - thanked us for it. Gunners Rule! Peace, Eva

Okay guys... it took me a while to open my mouth... and I now I will shut it for a bit.. But first I gotta say: You guys - you guys who got together with me on this LA Weekly Ad - you guys F'N RULE!!! Stay in touch..... take care of yourselves and I'll be sure to do the same

Guns Luv & Peace, Eva

Rocket Queen

I see you standing - standing on your own.  It's such a lonely place for you - for you to be.  If you need a shoulder or if you need a friend, I'll be here standing until the bitter end.  No one needs the sorrow.  No one needs the pain.  I hate to see you walking out there - out in the rain.  So don't chastise me or think I - I mean you harm.  Of those that take you leave you strung out
Much too far... Baby, yeah.    Don't ever leave me.  Say you'll always be there.  All I ever wanted was for you to know that I care. 

Looking forward to seeing you all on the road again.  Love to all the guys - Including  a heat wave of Robin Love and Tommy Love coming from South Florda. :)  Dizzy - you rule! Richard, Chris, Brain - I can't wait to get to know you guys better...  an' that ain't nuthin a little touring won't solve... :)

Axl Speaks regarding former GN'R members - 11/27/2002 Pepsi Arena Albany, NY, United States

"Now I was uh, perusing. I was reading all about my integrity, cause that's what I'm known for I guess---selling out my integrity. That's why I'm here with you now, cause I don't give a fuck I guess. Yeah, that's why we worked real hard at this, that's why these guys worked real hard at being in a band that they can get abuse for, because "they're the guys in the way of getting the old band back together." That's horseshit. I'm not trying to bum anybody out, but, you know, I was thinking about it. I'm pretty blunt so people get real pissed. And I haven't done a lot of talking on this tour. Ill shut up real soon don't worry. Y'know, I tried acting nice and that just ends up fucking me right up the ass. They take advantage of that. "Axl said something nice so how can we use that to our advantage?" The truth is they didn't want to be here for you at this level and they don't want to take it farther. I mean, that's their business right? But not at my expense or yours. You've been played. You've been lied to. You've been used. Youve been manipulated so that they can ride around in limos and jam with Snoop Dogg or whoever the fuck. You know, I don't care, that's their business. But they shouldn't really do it at your expense or mine. Now as soon as I say this it'll be on an MP3, someone will transcribe it, and the next person will say "Can you believe Axl said that? I mean my god. I mean he hasn't put out a record. I don't know why he would say that. I mean who does he think he is? That's not very nice. The other guys, they have gotten over it and they're his friend now and they're willing to be his friend and he just needs to grow up." I'm sorry. I'm a little bit more blunt. I mean Slash may sound like a De La Hoya, but he's the fuckin Vargas. That's just how it is. And just because he's got a bunch of guys agreeing doesn't mean shit. The truth is that they're a bunch of bad cops and I'm the fuckin Serpico and they can 'suck my dick'!
"Y'know without Axl and Slash we wouldn't have November Rain and Estranged." Well you don't know what the fuck I went through to get that guy to play those songs. You don't know about the argument we had at K&M studios, because Duff and Slash came to me going "We're not gonna do that song, we're not gonna do this song, nope, nope, we're just not gonna do it." But I wanna do it. We'll do it right now. This song is called 'patience'." ~ Axl Rose, Pepsi Arena, Albany NY  11/27/02

"I know that many of you are dissapointed that some of the people that you came to know and love could not be with us here today. Regardless of what you have heard or read, people worked very hard, meaning my former friends, to do everything they could so that I could not be here today. I say f*ck that. I am as hurt and dissapointed as you that unlike Oasis, we could not find a way to all get along, so I will begin to introduce the new band, who have worked very, very, very hard to come and see you today.. This is my friend Paul Tobias. He has worked in the darkness undergroud for the last 7 years to be able to be here today. I think this makes his 4th or 5th show alltogther in his life. Without Paul there would be no more Guns N' Roses. Along with Paul, the only man from the old lineup who stayed loyal and worked hard everyday is on the keyboards, Mr. Dizzy Reed. Well, so much for the past, this is Live 'n Let Die."~ Axl Rose, Rock in Rio III, 1/15/01