HAPPY BIRTHDAY AXL!!!!

Today is Axl's 47th birthday. I considered sending a card, but thought better of it. I would think it would be creepy to get bday cards at your house from people you've never met.

I wonder how he'll celebrate? Is he staying in with friends? Is he out of town? Is he freaking out that he's almost 50? I only say that because I am 10 years his junior and the thought that 40 is right around the corner makes me well, feel like I'm older than dirt.

If only I had some readers. If I did, I would have encouraged us to make youtube birthday messages to Axl. Not only is it a nice thing to do, but my thought was it would get the band some much needed press. The album keeps dropping on the charts and it's a damn shame because I think it's brilliant.

Anyway, happy birthday Mr. Rose. May this year bring you much happiness and success.

Sweet Child O' Die?

Look what I found....

Story goes as follows, photographer lived a few houses down from Axl and Erin Everly back in the early 90's. Axl & Erin were known to have very volatile disagreements (read: big ass fights). On one occasion, Axl obvioulsy felt the need to let the neighbors, and anyone else driving by, know how he felt about his wife (see photo).

Please follow this link to see more of the photographer's work and to read the original article...

http://www.staythirstymedia.com/200901-029/html/200901-laura-london-int.html

Axl's Prison Issued Badge Can Be Yours!!

I frequently search ebay for Axl/Guns related items. Mostly because I'm trying to find this killer Paul Frank handbag with Axl on it, but that's neither here nor there.

Check out what I came across last week. If I win lotto, maybe I'll buy it. I asked my husband to buy it for me, but he declined. Sheesh!

Follow the link to place your bid... it only starts at $2400. Such a deal!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=180317321761

Update: I'll post a picture of the badge soon, blogspot is having some type of internal error. Damn you!
Update#2: Picture posted....

On Chinese Democracy

I'll include a link this time after the jump. Why bother with formal interviews that assist in the sales of publications when you can talk directly to your fans via the net? Axl's been doing exactly that. Here's a few more excerpts that I find interesting...

Q: Just wanted to ask this: out of all of the music you have written, what song are you most proud of?

Axl: Right now, a lot on this album "Chinese Democracy". For me, musically, it would have to be the orchestral arrangement in the bridge of "This I Love".
Q: Which song on "Chinese Democracy" do you feel was your best work vocally?

Q: I find the verses on "Shackler's Revenge" to remind me of "The Sopranos" theme tune in certain ways. Should they do? Furthermore, any chance of getting the complete album on Rock Band? That would be swell.

Axl: Never thought of that with "The Sopranos", but a big fan of that song. And I think that's a yes on Rock Band.
Q: Which is the most emotional song for you too sing on "Chinese Democracy"?

Q: Outta the whole ["Chinese Democracy"] record, what is your favorite part of music on it? Like a breakdown at some point, strings, anything.

Axl: Bucket's blues fill at the beginning of the last verse in "Prostitute" and his "eventide" bits in the outro, the guitars in the bridge of "Better", Robin's [Finck] solo in "There Was A Time", for a few of them.

Q: Do you think "This I Love" is still the heaviest thing you've written, or has another song popped up that now holds that title?

Axl: That's still it and ultimately a great healing experience to compose something you have no real idea you're capable of such as the bridge. It's a lot more intricate than I think most realize yet as the guitar and vocals are placed as they should be so dominant. The main string melody in that section I had originally written to a hip-hop loop as well.

Q: What part of guitar work for "There Was A Time" is yours?

Axl: I wrote Robin's bit in the second verse. There's microscopic bits throughout usually woven down in the other guitars. The bits throughout the end, the basic power chord bit was originally mine. There's a ghost-like bit that formed the basis for the end vocal melody right before Robin's riff in one side in the outro before Bucket's solo and as it gets to the very end there's lots of little overdubbed bits woven in and out — very small, but structured bits.


Read more

It's here... (Chinese Democracy is in my hands)

Today is a very special day.

I tried to get it at midnight, but found bestbuy was closed. I really miss the days when people would actually get excited about something. Oh well. They did have a big ass display outside the store though. One that my husband and I considered taking but then we remembered we're old and the risk was not worth the reward. I'm going back tonight to see if they'll give it to me, however it will more likely end up on ebay.

I'm stoked to finally have the official cd with the album art and all. I haven't purchased a cd in quite some time. And even more exciting is I also picked up the vinyl. Yes, that's right I bought both and my husband bought his own copy of the cd. If every household bought 3 copies, that would ensure GnR beats out silly Kayne. If this album is not #1 on the charts, I will have lost respect for my fellow Guns fans and music lovers in general. Axl deserves that much for this effort.

As for the music itself. I have a section to post my review and haven't been able to do it yet. I can't find the right words to describe how awesome it is. Even that sounds lame, awesome. It's amazing, it's different and new, yet oddly familiar.

I'm going to spend the day rocking out to Chinese Democracy on vinyl...and the cd will surely live in my car's player for the foreseeable future.

Thank you Axl... it was well worth the wait.

Meeting Andy Gould - GnR's Manager

So Tuesday night I headed over to the Roxy on Sunset to be part of the listening party for Chinese Democracy. (I suggest you check it out. I dutifully bought my pre-order copy so I could jump the line and can't wait to pick it up Sunday. .\m/.) I was standing by the bar, writing down notes about the crowd, the tracks etc. when a man in a suit walks past me and says, "I hope you're writing good stuff," to which I replied, "Of course I am" and he non-chalantly says, "Good, I'm their manager." I go back to writing and notice he's still near me and think, what the hell... I'm going to introduce myself. I tap him on the shoulder and ask his name (Andy Gould) and then say, "Nice too meet you, I'm Sandy." While this transpires, TWAT is playing and he tells me he thinks it may be his favorite song. I said, "Really? Me too (love it!)" and he looks at me and says, "Oh, so you've heard it already?" I admitted I had and that it's kinda all over the net. He said something like, jeez everyone's heard it. I then proudly pull out my BestBuy receipt and tell him, "Maybe, but I happily paid for my copy" which pleases him because he gives me the thumbs up.
So he goes on his way to get a drink and I tell my husband that I just met the GnR manager and point him out. Scott walks over and offers to buy him a drink and then manages to tell him that I'm a huge GnR fan and am starting to write a blog. The guy then hands me his card and says, "Call me if you have any questions or anything."