One of my main complaints in the political thread was people bitching about the was things are, but not doing anything to change the situation.  That being the case, I'll offer what I believe is a better solution to you:

Eliminate the VR area and add it to the Former GnR section.  Create a sub board to the former GnR area.  Allow topics in the main area to go wherever they go naturally.  When the discussion is over, have one of the staff take the entire thread and copy it to the sub board.  Have them then eliminate all posts not related to the original subject and leave that thread in the main section.  If people want to carry on the conversation, the whole thread is still there to do so on the sub board (once the main discussion has died off).  If people want to just read the stuff related to CD, it's in the CD section.  If a new "off topic" discussion picks up in the thread left in the main section, let it happen and repeat the process once it's completed. 

Yes, this will create more work for the staff.  "Hire" more staff if you think that's necessary.  I believe it will ultimately be less work than trying (in vain) to stop threads from heading in the direction that they will naturally end up going.  Think of it like a river.  You can move it, but ultimately the water is going to go where it wants to go.  It's too powerful. 

I don't know if it's logistically possible from a technology perspective, but I'm offering a solution.  If the technology won't allow it, let me know and I'll come up with another solution.  There has to be a better way than this.

Axl Rose and Air Supply.  It's really not that far of a stretch actually.

Unfortunately, some of the longtime members and management team are just as guilty as everybody else.  We're all here because we love something about GnR.  We're very passionate about the music we love.  We have to accept the downside (these arguments) that comes with all the positive things about the site.

But where do you think every thread is going to go?  As soon as someone doesn't like something and says something about it, they get accused of living in the 90s or loving Slash like that's some sort of crime at a GnR site.  Once that happens, they defend themselves, which includes a why they don't like something about the new band.  It's never going to stop...it's only going to get worse, and telling people they can't discuss it other than in this thread is not a solution.  Nobody wants to make a great point where nobody will see it.