This is the winner

I have to speak out here on DJ, because people again are unjustly rolling him under the bus as the bad guy.

DJ from the time I briefly met him, as well as observing his interactions with others, with fans, and knowing people who spoke with him backstage numerous times... ALL of them had similar stories of DJ's behavior.

He was GREAT with fans. He was ALWAYS an ambassador for the band. He ALWAYS spoke well of Axl, Slash, other previous members, and always carried a positivity with him to write NEW music -- EXACTLY what the FANS wanted MORE than endless touring.

Just because people didn't want to hear an Axl/DJ -- GN'R album, doesn't make it any less what he wanted.

DJ was the ONE guy, from 1998-2014, the ONE guy out of all of those endless members that cracked into Axl's inner circle, and because a genuine friend of his and hanged with him, did stuff, went to shows, with the exception of Axl being forced to take Buckethead to Disneyland in order to get him to sign.

I also totally believe that DJ was going to be a THIRD guitarist in this reunion-version of GN'R. Slash was returning to replace RON. Richard was NEVER going anywhere. Axl's made it clear in numerous shows so far that "Ladies & Gentlemen... Mr. Richard Fortus... he's been in the band 15 years!"

Axl's original reunion lineup was...

Duff returned in 2014, and Tommy was being phased out by the end of Vegas.
Ron quit in 2014, after Vegas. Everyone has admitted to such.
DJ was going to bring Orianthi in to replace Ron. They passed.
The decision was then made for Slash to return.
Axl/GN'R briefly considered incorporating Slash into the 2014 version of the band, and pushing forward.
DJ bails to rejoin Sixx:AM full-time, as they were now going to become a full time touring/recording outfit with the retirement of Crue.

Axl loved DJ. I have no doubt that the decision to bail on the 3rd guitarist is the only thing that squeezed DJ out. Axl was never going to ask DJ to leave, for the same reasons he's been so defiant on keeping Richard & Frank. Ron quit, and Axl wasn't going to fire anybody that he didn't want to. Chris obviously became a negative distraction. Something DJ never ever did, which is why Axl stayed loyal. When DJ left, I think it came as quite a shock to them, but probably not a surprise. People are more willing to leave when they have big bands to fall back on, and although Sixx:AM isn't GN'R-level, they are certainly Motley Crue-lite level, which has to be some sort of a pay day.

In an alternate dimension, the 2015 lineup was...

Axl
Slash
DJ
Richard
Duff
Frank
Dizzy
Chris

Obviously DJ left, and Chris was shown the door.

Musically, i'm glad DJ parted for Sixx:AM. DJ is better in Sixx, and would've never really fit in with Guns musically, especially with Slash back on lead. Sixx:AM gets DJ, GN'R gets Slash... everybody is where they are supposed to be. Rock lives on.

I've always felt for the most part, this statement is simply not true. The hardcores didn't like DJ, because DJ was never about appealing to the hardcores. DJ was about bringing in casuals, and although I don't think DJ ever brought anymore than a few new fans, DJ also kept the lights on as well. Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal certainly was NOT that guy. DJ slowed the bleeding, simply because he was there.

People keep rolling DJ under the bus, but are forgetting that Axl shot himself perminately in the foot after the DEBACLE that was 2006 for Guns N' Roses. Not only did THE WORLD at that point expect the album by the end of the year (leaks + touring + Axl VMA appearence + activity + manager dropping hints)

Everybody got fluffed up and was about ready for climax, and then Axl hopped off and answered the phone.

I don't know about everybody else, but I was left in complete shock going into Christmas 2006, knowing there would be no album and the band basically did 2006 for fuck all. I wasn't the only person who felt that way either. I also was convinced going into 2007 that Chinese would NEVER be released and that Axl was just a man full of excuses and had used everyone, from the fans, to rolling Merck under the bus (still feel he and Beta rolled Merck under the bus).

Now in 2011-16, in the last five years, there's been all this love and revisionism for that 2006-07 period like it was so much greater than what we got, yet the 2009-10 band was a FAR better band, and at least the best group since 2001-02. They might not have had Robin, but they all seemed to be on the same page, DJ was FAR hungrier to be with Guns than Robin ever was, and Axl seemed to adore him. DJ also seemed to get along with the band, something Robin, nor Ron, ever did. Times seemed happy. Then 2011. The wheels fell off, because Axl hit the worst artistic period of his life. Not only was he a joke of an artist, not only was he a failure to his own dream, he had become the Mickey Thomas of Guns N' Roses... the weakest member in his cover band.

I remember several people, on THIS BOARD mind you, that posted again  and again about how "Man I wish THIS BAND would record something. They are so good. Without Axl is they have to"

What happened with that?

So in fairness, i'll say it in final...

Robin Finck sucks. Always has. Always will. And Robin Finck (as well as Bucket), BURIED Guns N' Roses with mainstream audiences YEARS and YEARS before DJ Ashba had even got out of being a replacement player in BulletBoys.

Blaming DJ for fucking up GN'R, is like hooking up with Jenna Jameson in 2016 and complaining that her pussy is a Mayo jar. That pussy was wrecked years ago by many of other men before you. All you can do is your best to get her off...

DJ Ashba in Guns N' Roses summed up
2009-2014

In the end -- blame Axl

Seconded

Until next weekend

Good

Fuckin'

NIGHT!

Maybe Don't Cry & Patience are now alternates?

Steven made a choice to do those druga and NOT clean up.

Slash & Duff did. End of story.