i am so fucking over the idea of a hit single or a direction appealing to casual fans.

that's not the way to do it. just keep going w/whatever fucked up visions r running round axl's head & if people get on board they get on board, if they don't then fuckthem.

unfortunately axl's got NOTHING. he's done.

bit rich from JWIII given the amount of NME covers he's been on in his time..

i did catch a little shared feeling w/axl. & i think it's true axl could defend himself better, especially via the internet where he can connect w/the fanbase directly w/o having to go thru the press/journalists/editors.

i dunno i think you're being a bit harsh there. i tend to cut axl a bit of slack on how he answers these types of questions. he really did get the piss ripped out of him for his honesty in his interviews, & it did get blown out of all proportion & guys like mick wall etc. just wouldn't & still won't, let up. almost any article you read on Guns or Axls history they will focus on his perceived weakness - yoda, the abuse, being a hick & maybe they'll mention OIAM if they've space or actual knowledge of the music.

the result is he is media-shy & ultra-sensitive & has taken these precautions. he's learned a lesson in a way, tho it took him a long time. these are the generic answers you'd get from PR-trained pop stars like bon jovi or justin beiber or beyonce.
the benefit is there's no real room for the media to attack you on. the worst they can say is you're boring, at least they're not going to armchair - psycho-analyze you to the the point of hysteria. y'know?

in a way i think axl's right adopting this cautious approach. why would he trust the press/media? he can only lose by coming out & saying oh i'm an atheist/i'm a scientologist/i'm a jedi.

i used to think that maybe axl thought the old quote about "the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about" (oscar wilde again)/'there's no such thing as bad press". but i think now he was maybe naive in the interviews he gave back in the day. of course it's a moot point in many respects as those interviews helped connect him to a lot of people inspite of all the shit slung at him for them. so yea maybe you have a point some people would appreciate the honesty.
me tho? i'd prefer he did NO press EVER again like the good bad old days. unless he's gonna talk about the fuckin' music!

this type of speculation is what being a fan is. it's a concern & an issue. if the band isn't financially viable, how long can it hold out? where is the waste at? what needs streamlined?
the bizarre thing is the answers to those questions seem to be: forever; everywhere; everything.
as with every other aspect to the band, this video thing is something else that doesn't add up or sit right & therefore it's open to speculation & discussion.

fuck that.

there's some gaps there for more dates tba but i don't think he's hitting bfast this time..