Slash Diplomatic About 'Chinese Democracy'

Posted on Oct 28th 2008 3:00PM by Benjy Eisen

All the music world is abuzz about the Nov. 23 release of Guns N' Roses' forever-in-the-making album 'Chinese Democracy.' Well, save for ex-GN'R guitarist Slash.

"I don't talk about it," he tells Spinner. "I'm not on that record, I have nothing to do with it and there's really nothing else to say."

Fair enough. From the sounds of it, we could guess "the real GN'R" won't be reuniting anytime soon. But with Slash poised to perform in a concert honoring Les Paul for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in a couple weeks, we still had to ask what will happen when Guns N' Roses are inevitably inducted into the Hall (they'll be eligible beginning in 2011).

"It'd be cool if we could all be there to actually receive it, as far as the induction is concerned," Slash says. "It's a little ways down the road, so I don't think anybody's dwelling on it."

Slash did say that the first time he thought about GN'R at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was when he was there to help induct Van Halen in March of 2007. Essential members Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth were both absent. "That was one of those experiences where it was like, "God, well, I would hope we'd at least all be able to show up.'"

Here's hoping the award going to Guns N' Roses won't be accepted by Velvet Revolver.

The Chinese Democracy' Controversy

Seventeen years in the making and at least $13 million spent during production, Axl Rose's 'Chinese Democracy' has become a music industry enigma.

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In all those years, Rose has gone through at least three studios, four producers and countless musicians during the recording process of 'Democracy.' Rose has notorious issues with creative control and perfectionism, and hoped 'Democracy' would be the greatest album ever made.

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Guns N' Roses was one of the most important and influential bands to come out of the '80s, as their aggressive, blues-heavy take on rock was a delight amid the rash of light hair-metal fare.

Kevork Djansezian, AP

Their landmark 1987 debut album 'Appetite for Destruction' album is often considered among the top records of the past 25 years, and some consider it to be one of the best rock records of all time.

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Clashes between the bandmates, however, did them in. Axl's unpredictable temper often wound up in him walking off of the stage mid-show, which incited riots in some cases. His bandmates eventually had enough of it.

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Slash, who was the band's lead guitarist, has been the most oustpoken against Rose, often saying that he has zero interest in ever playing with him again. He currently mans the axe for Velvet Revolver.

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For a brief time, Rose enlisted the quirky guitar genius Buckethead to replace Slash for a Guns N' Roses tour, but the stint was short-lived.

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