I think the bottom line has always been that Axl is too afraid to put out new material. Especially since that new material features nobody (for the most part) from the old band that the general public knows. Sure you can be the last man standing, sure you can run everybody off, sure you can call yourself "GNR", but guess what? Now it's time to perform to that standard. In fact you may have to exceed that standard given that you are the last man standing. Fair or not, that was the reality I believe.

Chinese Democracy showed that he had something to worry about. It was good, sure, but it was the weakest of all the band's material. Musically GNR are HUGE shoes to fill and he knew that. He knew good and goddamn well that he had to bring the big guns to the table and that's why he fussed over it for so many years. Unfortunately the reality is that you can't recreate lightning in a bottle. All the money in the world (OK, how about just "Millions") and a revolving door of top rated talented musicians couldn't replicate that magic from the old days or produce a cohesive, consistent sound that a true band would conjure up.

This time may be a bit different, since the current line up seems to be firing on all cylinders and appear to be an actual band. If there is that fundamental group connection, and if Axl tried a little LESS in terms of production/obsessive fussing , we might just get some blockbuster music this time around. Sadly though, people don't change and I predict Axl will find a way to derail the good thing he has right now.