Art Tavana of L.A. Weekly reports:
Former Guns N’ Roses manager Vicky Hamilton, who’s in the process of publishing her memoir, was texting with Slash last night. Here’s what she had to say in a Facebook post about all those GNR reunion rumors you’ve been hearing: “OK … was texting with Slash who is on tour [in India] … he says the GN’R tour isn’t happening … so that’s all I know … your guess is as good as mine …” Hamilton confirmed the text from Slash directly to the L.A. Weekly as well, “He said it isn’t happening.”
L.A. Weekly reports that they talked to five different real sources (not “friends” or sycophants at the Rainbow Room), and here’s what they report they know:
Axl Rose, Duff McKagan and Slash, either through lawyers or managers, have been discussing the possibility of a GN’R reunion tour. We’ve been told that Steven Adler and Izzy Stradlin are not involved. Sources have told us that promoters like AEG and Goldenvoice have been courting the big kickoff show. But nothing is confirmed yet, and whatever talks may or may not be happening regarding a possible reunion could fall apart at any moment. Or, based on Slash’s text to Hamilton, maybe they already have.
Not a single original member or legal representative has confirmed or denied the rumors, which has resulted in mass hysteria among fans, bloggers and half the music industry in general. When we asked a former NIN tour manager what he thought about the reunion, his reaction was to freak out and walk away from us, quickly — as if we’d asked him for missile launch codes. The tour manager, who’s a close friend of bassist Duff McKagan, could have denied the rumors calmly; instead, his abrupt reaction sent a signal that something is happening. But it’s unclear what that something is…
…To be clear: Vicky Hamilton isn’t a direct source, either. She is no longer working for or directly associated with GN’R in any formal capacity. She’s a reliable source and very connected — a way more reliable source on this subject than, say, Scott Weiland. But for all we know, Slash could be trying to dispel rumors as details of an actual reunion are being hashed out.
From everyone we’ve talked to, the consensus is that Del James, a former GN’R road manager and close friend of Axl Rose (who once interviewed Axl for Rolling Stone), is the one person outside of Axl, Slash, Duff and their lawyers who might actually know what’s going on. But he’s not talking, and why would he? Would you? Axl could pull the plug on this at any time, because Axl is Axl, and nobody close to him wants to start a war with the man once nicknamed “Ayatollah” by his bandmates.
So everybody just calm down. There’s no Guns N’ Roses reunion. Unless there is. But there isn’t. Probably.
“But you never know,” says Hamilton.
Read more at the L.A. Weekly.
source: laweekly.com/music
22 Responses
Well, they’d be crazy not to, but then the rock world is peppered with bands who can’t get along well enough to make music. It’s silly. No knock on the musicians that have been touring with Axl as Guns, however it wasn’t Gun’s n Roses.
What nonsense. I saw them in the day (UYI tour, Brian May opening) and they were excellent. Probably the most “dangerous” band I’ve ever seen (meaning, the whole show was as if “anything could happen at any moment” (and it sometimes did!) but I also saw them on a small club tour in Philly about four years ago (right after Chinese Democracy came out) and it was actually a better concert. Yeah, I could have done without DJ Ashba in a top hat standing on the piano playing a solo (Ed, you make fun of Tommy Thayer, this was as bad if not worse) but Axl sang for OVER three hours, leaving the stage for only short breaks (like during Dizzy’s piano spot) and something like 40 songs. It was epic, and every bit “Guns And Roses” as ’87.
As for what constitutes a real reunion, I think this idol worship of the Appetite lineup is ill-placed. The last thing I want to see is Stephen Adler trying to keep up with the rest of the band. They are all fit and at the top of their game individually, you need a rhythm section that is the same. Give me Matt Sorum any day of the week for that.
Agreed! I saw Guns three times on UYI, and 10 with the CD lineups. The last two shows we saw in Vegas in ’14 were 3 1/2 hours long and Axl’s voice was incredible! There was a lot of talent in that band, and they absolutely ripped! It’s just the bullshit hate that everyone has for Axl that brings on comments like that, and the ones of people guaranteeing that Axl will cancel shows and start riots of the reunion happens. That crap happened 20+ years ago! He’s had three major US tours, numerous Euro and South American tours, and two sold out runs at the Hard Rock in Vegas without a problem, other than some shows in ’02. Like him or not, he’s one of the greatest frontmen of all time, and people will flock to see these shows.
“He’s had three major US tours, numerous Euro and South American tours, and two sold out runs at the Hard Rock in Vegas without a problem…..”
Sorry Jason F, I gotta call BS on this.
I’ve twice bought tix to a GnR CD show and both times Axl cancelled.
Several years apart and in 2 different cities, one in Sac and the other in Reno.
Much as I’d love to see a reunion, I’ve been burned twice, not to anxious to triple down on disappointment.
My predictions:
They get back together.
Huge stadium tour booked.
Fans overjoyed.
First night of the tour, three songs in, Axl gets pissed at someone in the front row who looks at him the wrong way, storms offstage and ends the show.
Riots break out, city in chaos, National Guard called in.
Tour cancelled.
Velvet Revolver gets back together.
There’s way too much smoke for there not to be a fire here. GnR (Axl) is as quiet and secretive as Van Halen. There are way too many stories coming out about this for it not to be worked on. The absence of Izzy is a huge disappointment, and I hope just a rumor. I saw him with Axl a few years ago, and he looked and sounded great! He was ten backbone of that band!
So…if it happens, no Steven and Izzy? Not a reunion then. I loved Gilby Clarke in Candy, and he did a great job in Guns, but him and Matt Sorum? I get the fact that at this point, all people care about is Slash and Axl being on the same stage together. I get that. But I’m not so much on board with a possible reunion without the Appetite lineup…besides, I saw GNR at L’Amour in Brooklyn in Oct. ’87. To me, they couldn’t get any cooler than that.
Joe,
You are SO LUCKY that you saw that show. I couldn’t get anyone to go with me at the time. Even I implored and said, “Trust me, these guys will never play a small club again.” Lo and behold, NostraDanaus was right. 🙂
D 🙂
Saw them at Giants stadium with Aerosmith and Deep Purple I think around 88 awesome show
Dude I was there. That was awesome. I had seen AEROSMITH prior and I left during that drum solo, but what an awesome show. Slash followed by Blackmore followed by Penny. That was a night to remember. I was in the upper deck to the right of the stage. I was wearing Bermuda shorts with a green shirt. I very much resemble a young Ted Kennedy if you remember seeing me there. I doubt you remember but I recall SPEED KING being played and G N’ R opening with IT’S SO EASY. Thank you for taking me back.
At the show I was at someone set a fire during deep purple set and during the g&r set there was a concession stand on field a tent and fans in stands close to toppled the tent
no roger, no rerun, no g&r reunion!