This might be the last road to China.

While the US tour was a moderate success (as madagas has pointed out in length), in essence the situation is no different from 2002. The band still fares considerably well in population centers and is still able to sell out Madison Square Garden without a hitch. However, once the tour hits the wilderness, so to speak, ticket sales wind down and rows of seats are left vacant. Another related matter is Angel Down, with its three exclusive Axl tracks. After an enthusiastic build-up by Bach, the beloved hyperactive homie, album sales have twindled and more recently, trickled down to a halt. Granted, record sales are dependant of several factors, but even when considering the era of digital downloads (counterbalanced by the fair reception of the CD leaks), one could say being Axl Rose is not what it used to be.

I wouldn't pin the blame on shoddy tour planning solely unto Merck. While he was obviously the one calling a good number of shots (as he was likely the most qualified person in Axl's inner circle to handle this), Merck was also dependant on Axl's commitment. In his own mind, Axl is still very much the rock star he was fifteen years ago. Even though he's had his share of subsequent life experiences, he still enjoys throwing bacchanalian orgies post-show and relishes in having the benefits of a star. He still exercises his prerogative to take the stage only after properly 'zoning' himself, with the correct assumption that his management will shield him from whatever consequences this behavior might have. And he still thinks the record company, along with the rest of the world, will anticipate the new album as much as they did back in 1991.

It gets difficult when leaving US soil.

The only way to make GNR in any way a viable and respectable modern-day is for them to release an album and establish an identity of their own. In today's market, album sales will hardly be stellar (and certainly nowhere near the numbers AFD churned at the height of the analog age). However, if the music's as good as it seems, Axl still has a few good years of heavy touring available to him, and while never really reclaiming the throne of mainstream music, he may still atleast go out with his Guns blazing and leaving a legacy of little more than a man who could've been a contender.

PaSnow wrote:

That's peculiar.. A one off show in Detroit.

I saw that too. I probably won't bother going, but it's good to see them back at the Fillmore instead of trying to fill The Palace again.

The lack of ticket sales wasn't a rumor.  They blocked off large sections of mid size arenas and called the shows sell outs.  russ wouldn't be saying that they blocked off the upper deck in Detroit if it didn't happen.  That wasn't an isolated incident.  The shows that were cancelled early in the tour were due to ticket sales.  The supposed album cancellations were because of lack of ticket sales.  They couldn't even give tickets away or sell them at a huge discount to fill some of the places they played.  The Maine show was because of poor ticket sales no matter what a fire marshall did or didn't say.  The few shows that sold well were never cancelled, yet cancellations happend at a lot of shows that weren't selling well.  You can't possbily think that is coincidental.