In an seriousness though...how much longer do they have?

I think it's fair to say that Axl's voice has noticeably declined in recent years. I'm not just talking since his prime of 88-91 and stuff either. The modern shows make his 2006 shows look incredible. The difference is marked. I guess at this age 10 years is 10 years. It's perhaps a mild improvement from 2013 era in the sense that it's obvious he's trying harder now...but it's clear that he also struggles a lot harder now too.

He is still able to wing impressive moments in songs that let him use his spoken register (ISE, Nighttrain) and songs where he can just scream a lot (Shoot to Kill, Black in Black). But the cracks are showing.

It's clear its only getting harder and harder, and we've reached a point where while he still sounds great in certain moments, on some of the classic hits he's losing the battle. YCBM, Yesterdays and songs like that are starting to sound actively bad. He's getting away with it...JUST. But can anyone see him being able to pull of a tour of this type in 10 more years?

Meanwhile, in finger sills if perhaps not stage presence, Slash hit peak form around 2012 or so, and he's still very close to it now I would say, although there seems to be more error making recently than in the past (not including when he was drugged to hell in the 90s)  but how long will this last? He's 52 now...how fast will he be shredding at 62?

Lets put it in perspective. Angus young is a similar age to what Slash will be at that time. While he is still enjoyable to watch...he's noticeably slower and clunkier than he was even 3 or 4 years back. But at least when Angus goes...he will go having done his all first.

This is without the spectre of illness that haunts and us and particularly men once you get into your 50s, 60s and beyond.

The way i see it...there is a window now where they could still do something amazing....Axl has some pre-recorded vocals, and he can still scream enough today that in the studio he could write some songs that still sound killer and world-class...just...Slash still has some juice....it could still happen if they do it NOW and then get out and tour it as a fairwell album or something of that sort in the next 3 years or so.

But if they sit on their cards for another 5 or 10 years as is the pattern.

Well, I fear it's going to be too late.

I want to be cute and quote the line from CD about being out of time, but bullshit aside, they nearly are...they still have a chance to do something awesome here in the twilight years...and damn I wish they would.

Yeah poor bumble basically begged the band in every interview to do something, then took to releasing monthly songs and covers to show how easy it was to drop a single....

Bumblefoot 2014: "In the GNR world, Axl holds the key, and when he decides to do something is when he decides to do it"

DJ Ashba 2014: "The focus is getting in a studio and putting together what we all feel is the best Guns N’ Roses record. Lack of material is not an issue – we have tonnes of stuff and Axl has two full albums that he’s recorded"

Richard Fortus 2017: "It's too good not to happen"

<Crickets>

That's messed up. I could see the drinking being a factor. If you look at most boots Tommy was getting like 80s Duff...looked like a drinking level beyond fun and healthy to me.

But the whole thing is absurdist to me as well to be honest.

Like Bucket could play circles around Tommy on any instrument..

Mind you I've always wished Bucket would drop the gimmicks a bit. Like he's clearly great at guitar...he doesn't need a raincoat, mask, bucket, toys or mental illness act in order to distinguish himself....he would do fine amongst the guitarists like Vai, Gilbert, Malmsteen etc without it.

In a way it damages his credibility, cos like you have to look past the bullshit to notice he's got the chops to back up the antics. If i could play that well i'd have it hanging front and centre....

So many disgraceful things have occurred it's hard to pick....but I agree that was absolutely shocking. Interestingly bumble revealed he took some shit too when he joined but I think he said he eventually got physical and made it clear that he wasn't leaving.

The question is - who exactly was behind that? Tommy? Richard?

What worries me is Axl's awesome Ac/Dc scream that wet all our pants was his interpretation of Brian's Voice....when he does Bon songs I noticed he uses significantly less rasp (fair enough as Bon was more clean by comparison to Brian)

....but we know Bon is Axl's idol not Brian...which worries me that he might drop a Bon-esque Mickey Ac/Dc Album rather than a Brian-Style Axl scream, album...

It's really going to be a moment for me....if Axl does a scream heavy Ac/Dc album it will be amongst the coolest stuff I can imagine these days...but if he drops a mickey style record on Ac/Dc that will kill whatever is left of my fandom hahahah