My read on Axl's quote about the price being too high is that getting up on stage with just the original guys (or guys up to UYI) is almost like an admission that what came after that isn't GNR. 

Yet Axl has tried (largely unsuccessfully) to convince the world that GNR still exists and the new band is just as legitimate as old GNR etc etc.  Maybe he sees turning up with the old guys as an admission of defeat on this front?

That said how could the new band get up anyhow, I mean DJ doesn't even have any music written under the GNR name.  If he's there shouldn't Bucket and Finck be also. 

That's where it gets stupid, so it's the original guys plus maybe Matt and Dizzy (Gilby??)  and that's it.  Anything more than that becomes farcicle.  Therein lies Axl's dilemma.

That said it would be nice to think that after all these years Axl has somewhat developed as a human being, that he has developed some type of progression and maturity to the point where he could actually act llike the adult he is and be civil and suck it up for one night, before retreating to Malibu Hollow. 

Who knows he might actually even end up having fun if he dared let himself.

Looking forward to have a read.

Agree with what you say about the solos on some of those tracks you listed.  That's one reason why I like listening to some of the demos and versions without lyrics, you can really hear some awesome guitar work in there.

Done!

I would hazzard a gues it wasn't Ron's decision.

I still have to laugh at the irony of the title Chinese Democracy!

Look at the girth on it. Big bastard!