Ehh... I wouldn't throw Axl entirely under the bus here. Axl claimed to have tried numerous sources to communicate with him during that period, including Brain, and at one point Brain lost contact and Bucket was kinda lost in space for awhile.

What didn't help was Axl listening to handlers (again) instead of just talking to the guy when he got the chance. Universal got involved, and started doing what corporations do. Threatening. Lawyers. Private Eye's. Stalking. All the stuff to put pressure on him to come back and do as they demanded.

That just freaked him out more, and Bucket realized he signed up for something that he wanted no part of.

None of us knew this was all going on back then, and Brain later dropped the dime on it years later, how much Bucket was being threatened by Merck, the label, law offices, all of the above like some slave. Axl got drawn into it, because it was again his responsbility and again Axl listened to the WRONG people.

I think the 2006 blank check thing was a peace offering, but the bridge had been burnt. Bucket was skiddish at that point, and also miffed by Axl's lack of work ethic (something Robin also had issues with). Bucket walked away, then the shit hit the fan years later.

I've always had a fan boy dream that GN'R will tour with Axl, Slash, Duff & Dizzy (at the least), and Axl possibly with AC/DC. But when Axl gets time to tour solo... he and Bucket re-connect and do something together in the studio with Finck, Stinson, Brain & Pitman, but as 'Axl Rose' as a solo artist.

It COULD happen. Just a matter of if people want to do it. Bucket touring with Axl as a solo act, isn't GN'R, but it still would have to be awfully lucrative.

I thought Axl blamed the Lisbon 2004 cancellation on Buckethead qutting?

I'm convinced at this point Axl's issues stretch beyond food. I think Axl might have some personal health problems which is why he's starting to look the way he does.

As long as he's vocally there and happy, I don't care what he looks like. But I will say... he needs to do something that hair of his. It's fried. I know everyone is just loving no hats... but I kinda miss the hats. And bandanas. He looks better, younger, and healthier in them.

This is exactly how I feel about The Cult. I would've preferred Chains, but The Cult... I am a-okay with that. If I remember, The Cult was on my short-list.

I think with these opening acts, you just can't please everybody. Everybody wants something different. Some people love the idea of Black Crowes or RHCP... but I ain't into those bands. Others want Lenny Kravitz, but some don't. Another group is demanded a Skid Row reunion (even though Sabo & Bolan have repeatedly said NO, and are currently on their 5th singer I believe, in order to avoid Bach). I love having The Cult, but others feel they're too dated and irrelevant, and should be left in the 80's.

How to win? Some people are pissed GN'R tried to use contemporary acts like Chris Stapleton & Skrillex.

What are they supposed to do? A GN'R crowd can be rough. Acts like Alice In Chains, Lenny Kravitz and The Cult have immediate rock-respect with the crowd and will probably keep most butts in the seats during the opener. Then again i've heard some Alice In Chains fans who were pissed, because they wanted to see AIC perform in their area in front of 40,000 people, but didn't want to pay GN'R-prices to see an abbreviated 9-song set.

Yet if GN'R would've went with a newer rock act... who would've got the gig? Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown? A virtual no-name act to most. Sure they would've saved money, but there would've also been criticized there.

To have the majority of the tour, split between Alice In Chains, Lenny Kravitz & The Cult... I think GN'R did a pretty damn good job on picking openers. All three of those acts are a tip of the cap to the golden-era of GN'R. AIC was the one band of that era, big time influenced by GN'R to go on to major success. I believe all four original members (Staley, Starr, Cantrell & Kinney) all marked out at some point in various interviews. Kravitz harkens back to the Always On The Run 1992-era collabs with Slash, and specifically the Paris '92 show... a classic. And The Cult was one of the bands that gave GN'R their start and originally GN'R opened for The Cult, on their Electric tour in '87.

The Cult was also a band who not only gave GN'R one of their early prime slots on tour, but Axl & Slash both mentioned in interviews back then how well The Cult treated them, even though they were just kids and an unproven band.

This is them paying them back. So I don't get everyone's attitude about the opening acts. If you don't like The Cult, check your rock card at the door and fuck off, because you don't get it.

Agreed -- again. Haha. I don't think Axl ever makes the political rounds circuit (I don't count Maher's show, I see that more as intellectual entertainment), but shows like Fox & Friends or Hannity (who had Bumble as a guest), yeah that would've never happened.

But I could've totally seen Axl on Maher's ABC or HBO show at some point, with like a George Carlin or some Senator or something. Axl's certainly the smartest guy of the lot imo, with Duff a close second.

Axl claimed at one point he was approached by someone about acting, and turned it down, saying it didn't interest him. But the thought there was that Axl is so naturally funny, and has such charisma, that a good director could've turned Axl into a great actor. And I agree.

I do wonder when this is all said and done... what's next for W. Axl Rose? He's finally given the world back what it wanted, and that's Slash back in the band, and they are licking him all over and shaking his arm off screaming thank you at him.

With GN'R back in their rightful state... once the dust settles, will Axl just go back to AC/DC? Sit on ice and wait for the next GN'R movement? Or would Axl consider a Chris Cornell move, and possibly tour a solo band? I couldn't see that happening, but I definitely could see Axl touring with Dizzy & Melissa or possibly even Pitman, and all they do is working synth boards and computers like is so popular with EDM these days.

I don't see Axl doing rave music, but I am curious if he'd ever slow down and consider being more public in a smaller venue with nothing but a keyboard in front of him.