I hope so.

It was noticeable to me though that AFTER the Ac/Dc tour run - the 2017 GNR shows were noticeably weaker than the 2016 stuff.

I'm hopeful this was by design or just fatigue and not that those Ac/Dc nights fucked him up.

I still think the clock is ticking - i mean Axl is 56 this year - and he doesn't seem to have the eternal youth of a steven tyler.

I'm sure he can still go right now, but I think if the next 10 years is as aimless as 2008-2018 has been - then it might not be as good an outlook trying to do something at 66.

I also fear for their heath, I wouldn't be surprised if someone isn't around in another decade. Hope I'm wrong. I just see the time is now for stuff - but they don't seem to see it.

I agree.

But then I think we only really think that would matter because we've all become so accustomed to psychological paranoid secrecy head-fuck that is the way GNR has done things for decades.

Other big acts - for example Metallica - will premiere new songs live before the studio release.

It doesn't have to be this big secret deal except Axl seems to like everything to be. Look at the odd way they conduct themselves even during the reunion.

There's no way a 2-3 new GNR songs played live on youtube would actually hurt the album and the masses that would snap up such a record. If anything it would create Buzz.

The issue with CD wasn't that they played them live, it was that:

- The album was at least 10+ years late, and specifically 2 years late from the 2006 tour buzz.
- 3/4 of the Album leaked in full studio quality months before it come out.
- Love or hate them it was a 'fake' band to the general public who consider GNR needs Axl and Slash
- Stylistically, it's a lot less rock than UYI overall, and this was obvious to people when it was put up for a free-stream in it's entirety.
- The album had already become a joke due to delays, my local store would not believe me when I told them the actual release date to preorder.
- Axl hid from the media, and droped the release with no comment, no interview, no promo and not even a videoclip or anything.

That's why CD didn't go gangbusters, the fact he sang Madagascar in 2001 and Better in 2006 was actually one of the few things that kept some momentum with the fanbase and enthusiasm for the project.

The current GNR doing a "work in progress" version of a new jam live all over youtube would be amazing for GNR. There's no way it would hurt a new album unless it sucked, and there's no reason to keep everything secret all the time.

But then the interesting question is why not play new stuff live.

If the issue is the label won't support a song release or an album - the band could still be a creative force and do their normal hits show but just sub out the occasional song for a new track.

Whenever I suggest this I get a chorus of "but the audience would use new music as a piss break" - I agree but realistically - no one came to hear Whichitta Lineman or The Seeker or even Black Hole Sun even if those covers are fun. There is absolutely room in the setlist to play a couple of new songs occasionally if the issue is the label.

I mean Axl played unreleased music in 2001, 2002 and 2006 that way. So why don't they now?

Agreed. It's mind blowing on the studio. Also very impressive live in 2009!