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Slash Quits Smoking After Losing Mother To Lung Cancer
June 18, 2010 – Let’s face it, most people don’t change unless they have to. For Slash his big lifestyle switch came after he lost his mother to lung cancer. The former Guns N’ Roses guitarist had tried quitting before but it didn’t stick, “I’ve been off them for a year. The first time I quit smoking was because me and my wife just had a baby and she claimed the baby smelled like an ashtray. So I thought, 'Well, I’ll give it a shot.’ So I quit for a year and then I started again.”

Death on the other hand tends to be a stronger motivator for most people and it certainly was for Slash, “Then this time my mom died of lung cancer, and I got sick with pneumonia. And after I got sick I had a cigarette in my hand and a lighter and I was about to smoke – and it just seemed really stubborn of me.” More

Slash Yawns at New Rock Scene
May 25, 2010 – Slash says he’s not holding his breath for the next big thing in Rock. In fact the former Guns N’ Roses guitarist is disappointed in the current Rock scene.

He says, “Usually hate talking about the state of rock music, because there’s nothing positive to say about it. The whole vibe of new, exciting hard rock bands seems non-existent right now.”

“I always say that the heavy metal spirit is alive and well and holding its own, but the broader rock ’n’ roll thing of bands like AC/DC or Guns N’ Roses seems pretty slim. The rock ’n’ roll spirit is extremely diminished.”

“There’s no shortage of bands out there trying to make it, but they’re hard pressed to get a foot in the door. There’s no movement on the streets.” More

Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose Is a Movie Producer
May 15, 2009 – When he’s not fielding questions on how much his ex-Gun N’ Roses band-mates hate his guts Axl Rose likes to take long walks on the beach and spend time with his movie buddies.

That’s right, Axl Rose is in the movie business. The singer is listed as movie producer for the new film “Almost Home.” Chances are Axl is, at least, partly funding the production.

The movie is based on a book and the premise is quite interesting. It follows the adventures of seven homeless teens from the streets of L.A. who form their own dysfunctional family.

The original producer for the film was Jon Bon Jovi. – by John Beaudin

Gun N’ Roses Full ‘Chinese Democracy’ Download Available Soon for "Rock Band"
Feb. 18, 2009 – The lackluster reviews and disappointing sales of Gun N’ Roses comeback album ‘Chinese Democracy’ haven’t affected MTV Games from adding the album for download for Rock 2.

Axl Rose said yesterday that the album would be ready for download for the game on February 28 however MTV games said it would closer to spring.

Rose said, “They [MTV Games / Harmonix] felt the record-based on the nature and complexity of the depth of instrumentation-deserved a bit more attention and some more involved elements than they’ve generally dealt with, I have no idea what that means but it’s my understanding they were very enthusiastic.” – by Chas Dordie

Axl Rose Explains His Solo Artist Status
Jan. 3, 2009 – Was the new Guns N Roses album, ‘Chinese Democracy,’ really an Axl Rose solo CD? Some say it hasn’t been GNR since Slash left. Rose went online to clarify that the band is still very much alive. "A solo record would be completely different than this and probably much more instrumental. I made a Guns record with the right people who were the only people who really wanted to help me try, were qualified and capable while enduring the public abuse for years."

"As far as a new name...this is who I am not whatever else someone else thinks of. I don't see myself as solely Guns but I do see myself as the only one from the past making the effort to take it forward whether anyone approves or not and giving beyond what many would or fight for to do so. The name helped the music more than you could ever know and I'm not talking in regards to studios or budgets I mean it as in being pushed by something and having to get the music to a place where I can find my peace regardless of what anyone says. And that wasn't fully achieved until the last round of mastering and swapping out a version of a track at the pressing plant that had gotten inadvertently changed at the last minute."

Slash Likes the New Guns N’ Roses Album
Oct. 27, 2008 – His response was quick but positive. Slash has given Axl Rose, a thumbs up on the latest Guns N’ Roses single and title song to ‘Chinese Democracy.’ He told a Boston radio station, WBCN 104.1, "That sounds cool. It's good to hear (Axl Rose's) voice again, y'know?" The guitarist quit the band in 1996 after rumoured insane fighting between him and Rose. The Guns album will be out Nov. 24th.
 
Meanwhile Slash says he’s at the tail end of the demo phase for a new solo album that has hints of his Guns N’ Roses years and there may be a third Velvet Revolver disc in 2009. The solo project was inspired from a need to get out the democracy of a band. He plans on using a few very well known singers but is not naming names yet. We hear Robert Plant is free.

Velvet Revolver is looking for a lead singer to replace Scott Weiland and though they received tons of offers to make the search a TV show Slash says, "There's such a huge lack of integrity in that process.” – by John Beaudin

New Guns N’ Roses Single Now on Radio
Oct. 23, 2008 – Could it be true? Guns N’ Roses have released a new single to radio. Although much of Guns new album has already leaked on the internet, the title song to ‘Chinese Democracy’ was delivered to stations at 5AM yesterday. It’s their first official produced CD in nine years. The album is due No. 23 via an exclusive deal with Best Buy

In other Guns news, the man accused of leaking the new album on the internet pleaded innocent in Los Angeles federal court on Monday.

Kevin Cogill, 27, is in trouble with the band and is charged with violating federal copyright law. FBI claim he posted nine tracks from ‘Chinese Democracy’ on the website antiquiet.com. He was arrested in August. He faces three years in federal prison if convicted and it could get worse. If the prosecution can prove he did it for personal gain Cogill could be going away for 5 years.

Guns N’ Roses were last on the charts in 1999 with ‘Oh My God’ from the ‘End of Days’ movie. It peaked at No. 26 on Billboard. – by John Beaudin

Guns N’ Roses To Finally Release ‘Chinese Democracy’ Nov. 23
Oct. 10, 2008 – If the market doesn’t crash, if no one drops the bomb or if we don’t all become Scientologist Thetan’s and have lunch with Zorack the friendly promiscuous ET, GNR might just release that new album. Billboard reports that ‘Chinese Democracy’ will finally be released on Nov. 23 as an exclusive deal with Best Buy. More than a decade after it was started and God knows how many personal changes; the album will break tradition and be released on a Sunday. CD’s and DVD’s are usually released on Tuesdays.

The tune ‘Shacler's Revenge’ is already out via ‘Rock Band 2’ and you can hear another song ‘If the world’ playing during the credits in the new Leonardo DiCaprio/Russell Crowe movie ‘Body of Lies.’

The bands classic debut album from 1987, "Appetite for Destruction," will be reissued on vinyl on Oct. 28.

My money goes on Zorack to spoil the party. – by John Beaudin

Slash to Honour Les Paul at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Oct. 10, 2008 – Expect a wall of guitars at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebration this year. Slash will be there to help induct Les Paul, known as the father of the electric guitar.  Slash says, "The legion of guitar players I grew up listening to would have been completely different had Les not been around." The 93 year old who is expected to attend, built the first ever solid-body electric guitar in 1941. Slash says Paul is still one of the best and had a hard time keeping up to the guitar legend at the American Music Masters series years ago, "He just cleaned the stage up with me." Also set to appear on stage this year Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, The Ventures and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi. The show is November 15, 2008.

The former Guns N’ Roses guitarist says he hopes that if and when his old band is inducted into the Hall of Fame they will be adults about it, "I hope whatever differences we'd accrued over the years, we'd be able to show up as professionals and accept it with dignity." It’s well known that Slash and Guns lead singer Axl Rose aren’t exactly having tea and Crumpets every morning. Gun N’ Roses will be eligible for the award in 2012. The rules are artists are eligible 25 years after recording their first single or album. Slash delivered his guitar masterpiece on "Appetite for Destruction" with a replica of a 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar. He last performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame two years ago with his band Velvet Revolver. By John Beaudin

Former Guns’N’Roses Drummer Arrested
July 18, 2008- Nothin’ like a little drama to put you back in the headlines. Former Gun’N’Roses drummer Steven Adler was arrested this morning for being under the influence and an outstanding warrant. In 2005, he was charged for being under the influence of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license. He proceeded to miss his court date and here we are. Ironically, Adler plans on being on “Sober Living” a new spin-off of VH1’s “Celerity Rehab.” -By John Beaudin

FBI Visit Alleged Gun ‘n’ Roses Leaker
July 5, 2008 – Big brother is also watching you online these days. Rumour has it Kevin Skwerl was the blogger that leaked the new Guns’ n’ Roses CD ‘Chinese Democracy.’  Skwerl once worked in the distribution department of Universal and a few FBI agents visited him at work last week. Rolling Stone magazine reported that the whole new album by the band was leaked online including 3 previously unheard tracks. Skwerl who is now a web designer said the leaked album was due to an anonymous on-line source. As for the visit from the FBI he said it was an ambush, "When I came back from lunch they were waiting in the lobby for me. It's a little creepy they know where I work."  - by John Beaudin

Guns ‘n’ Roses ‘Chinese Democracy’ Leaks onto Internet
June 25, 2008 – That’s what you get for making us wait 101 years for an album! The new Gun ‘n’ Roses album has leaked onto the internet. In fact, it’s become one of the most bootlegged albums in the world. So far no one knows if the fast-swapped version on the net is the actual finished product but it’s some sort of reasonable, hand-drawn facsimile. Remember we reported a few months ago that leader Axl Rose had handed over the finished product of the album to Geffen but the parent company has done nothing with it yet.  Is it any good?  Also, Axl and company have now signed on with Azoff Management who has also worked with the Eagles, Neil Diamond and Van Halen among others. It’s nuts but Rose actually started ‘Chinese Democracy' over 14 years ago and the price tag for the album is $15 million. – By John Beaudin

This is the track listing of the current bootlegged version of ‘Chinese Democracy.’
1 - The Blues
2 - Catcher in the Rye
3 - Chinese Democracy
4 - IRS
5 - Madagascar
6 - Oh My God
7 - Rhiad and the Bedouins
8 - Silkworms
9 - There Was A Time