Loads of respect to you james of course, but I have to disagree about the NIN business model. To me it makes no sence to give stuff out for free, and then charge dollars for the same product elsewhere. To me it's like why would I buy gas at the station, if I could legally get it for free where I buy my milk and bread!

To me the problem with the model is that it limits sales to the hardcore fans...those who respect the band and want to make a positive statement by paying for the album. But you totally loose the 'incidental' and casual type fans.

I'm an example of this with NIN. My only real knowledge of them was the crossover radio hits like "Closer", "The Perfect Drug" and probably 1-2 others. But I was interested to hear this album, partly cos I like what I know of them, and also to see what Robin fink's involvment had led to.

Now normally with albums...I like lossless audio...so i'll buy a physical CD over an itunes release (unless I cant find the CD for a long time) and generally buy stuff over downloading it - so i would have purchased this CD to hear robin. But what does trent do - he gives me a guilt free - 100% legal version of the album - and not just in pissy quality - but in better than CD quality audio options availible from his website. Pretty cool - thanks.

Then the good folks on here link me to the rehersal footage on youtube...which i ripped to watch back on my ps3 via my home theatre. I guess that was wrong technically..but at the time I didn't even realise it was from an offical release..thought it was more of a viral trent thingie.

So...the passage of time...and now finally the CD is avaliable here in the store..for around $29 AUD...with  the bonus DVD. In theory I should buy it. But i'm struggling. It turned out I really dug the song discipline, but was basicly 'take it or leave it with the rest'. Although i'm not much of a fan I enjoyed seeing robin rock out with trent on the rehersal footage. But i'm looking at $29 dollars and thinking - i already have this video on my ps3, and worse, I already have lossless audio of the entire album on my pc - and that's even legal. And I just have to ask myself why would I pay out $29 more. I mean - I dig having physical art and the slips and actual CD and stuff...but not for $30 when i already have everything for free!

So what it came down to...was I could buy it, and have a physical product, and probably a cleaner video rip of the song I liked...but the curiosity fact was gone, i'd basicly be buying only to outright support trent and make a statement. Which no doubt NIN fans will do. But for me - a casual listener with a lossless free version - I just don't have a lot of $ to spend on records per month - and so basicly each month all the generes and artists i'm interested in hearing compete for my dollars- and I can't justify paying for soemthing I already had for free legally, when it means I could spent the same amount on something else new. Yet...had I had no download - i would have purchased this when it hit the stores out of curiosity. And that's my point - I feel that this model will payout for the hardcores that will pay to support the band - but people with only a mild interest or an interest due to an accosiation of another bandmember or other unusal interest in a CD,  will take the free route...and that as a business practise its therefore illogical and flawed. Just my 2c

I don't think a reunion would be brought up if:

1. The new band wasn't basicly imploded. I mean Robin is in NIN and Bucket is gone. So the two main guitar players on the forthcomming album are gone. Although the general public see this as just Axl anyway - its going to be hard to promote an album with half the players missing. Axl's done if before with his AFD tours. But even so - he'll have to work out a new line up.

2. People didn't keep impluing something massive was happening. There is nothing more massive in GNR land than a reunion and so thats what people automaticly think of.

I wonder what is being put together, if not a reunion then what? Finally releasing CD as multiple albums and then assembling a new bumble-led band to perform?

What i'd like to see is a Reunion with recording...as that's what counts in terms of history - shows are awesome for the fans who see them...but at the end of the day the boys have played hundreds of shows together already - its doing something new that would be awesome.

I think most likely would be a one-off kinda thing though - as thats easier for Slash and co to accept without any risk if Axl no-shows etc...all they loose is one night.

Wonder if he again offered Jon the chance to :bj: him ?

Haha..those four guys hanging out = a lot of big personalities and talent in one place though that's for sure!

I'm not sure I really understand the concept of this thread, although that shouldn't be taken to be an insult to CC who is an awesome poster.

It's just that the idea seems to be - wouldn't it be better for everyone - not to be in GNR - and although GNR has some issues that we're all too painfully aware of - as a fan of the music that we do occasionally get - it doesn't make sence to me to wish people out of the band unless you dislike what they do. So it seems like that's what you are saying - that a real fan of these people would want them out of GNR! Which i can see why given GNR uses up time with limited results..but its also kinda wierd.

My thoughts on who I consider to be the standout players:

Axl: Yes...i'll agree its a shame we dont have more as he's like the best peformer in decades to me. then again he does what he can with his own challanges in life. Maybe if we had more he'd be fucked up and thats not good.

Robin: I call him standout cos love him or hate him - he is distinctive in style. You know who is playong. I'm ok with seeing robin in NIN - as IMHO he has always been better suited to that than GNR, although CD may change my mind.

Bucket: I don't care if he releases 200 albums post GNR - i think GNR was his best chance at making music most people will like. yes he will always be an incredible guitarist, but his genre-swapping and advant guarde style while academicly cool and impressive is far too unapproachable for the average listener. He needs structure big time. Now its fine to say not all music should be made for the masses and more power to him. I'm just saying - him releasing loads of albums does not mean they will be something I or others will enjoy as much as we would have hearing him in GNR.

Bumble: GNR is not preventing him from doing solo work. And he is a very capiable guitarist which could lead to interesting projects with GNR one day maybe. So its good to see him around.

The rest:

Richard, Frank, Tommy etc - to me these are just place holder people who don't really add anything unique to the sound that any other professional musician couldn't add...so i have no care if they are in GNR or not.