Sic, not to be an ass or to quibble, but technically, the Axl Rose solo era started on May 1st 1998 when Slash and Duff were formally considered leaving members of the recording agreement of '92 and were relieved of all costs in relation to the next Gnr album.

"Since 1992, the parties have executed various amendments to the Recording Agreement, including most notably, two amendments dated as of May 1, 1998. One of these amendments, see Froeling Decl. Ex. D, confirmed Slash's and Duff's departure from the band and their status as 'Leaving Members' under the 1992 Recording Agreement, thereby relieving them of charges against their royalty accounts for the enormous recording costs and other expenses being incurred by Axl Rose (the only 'Remaining Member'[FN1] of Guns N' Roses) in connection with the recording of the new Guns N' Roses studio album. Hoffman Decl. ¶ 3. Slash and Duff, like Stradlin and Adler before them, retained a royalty interest in masters created under the Recording Agreement prior to their departure from the band. Id In the other May 1, 1998 amendment, see Hoffman Decl. Ex. A, Axl Rose agreed, among other things, to deliver that new studio LP (which was even then long overdue under the Recording Agreement) no later than March 1, 1999 and received a substantial advance from Geffen in return. Hence, although other individuals have joined Axl Rose in performing under the name 'Guns N' Roses' since 1998, Rose is the only principal in the band. Id.

Like I continue to say, nobody is in the band now except Axl. 100% guarantee nobody is under contract at present. It's anyone's guess as to which direction this thing will go in, who is actually on the record, or who will show up for the next tour. I truly believe a TON hinges on reaction to Shackler's Revenge. Again, I do find that kind of exciting as we are only a few weeks away from an actual officially released track.

That is what I think makes Axl an original and this new material very different than what most bands do today. Nobody has the skills to do that much variety. Throw in some Elton John piano ballads and hopefully a few old school type Gnr tracks and you have an interesting mix. Now, the problem comes when you have to tracklist the material and make an actual album. Tough to do with a ton of very different material.:wtf:

What exactly is there to be in? It is easy to be in a band that doesn't do anything. No release date for an album and no tour dates.

digital downloading wasn't tracked by Nielsen/Soundscan until the last few years. The list shows you the most PAID for downloads since they started tracking it and keeping an actual chart of the top 200 paid for downloaded songs of all time. With all music included from all years SCOM is ranked 137th most downloaded song ever and Jungle was 172.:peace: looks like they started in 2003.....

Nielsen Soundscan to report digital download music sales
Friday, 4 July 2003
Press release

Nielsen SoundScan, has announced that effective July 2nd it will begin reporting permanent digital music downloads that are sold through online services including Apple, Pressplay, Listen.com, MusicNet and Liquid Audio.

Upon the anticipated re-launch of the Napster service, they will also provide digital download data to Nielsen SoundScan. This data as tracked by Nielsen SoundScan will enable the recording and entertainment industries to measure and monitor sales of digital music.

Digital downloads will be reported under the "Non-Traditional" Nielsen SoundScan category that compiles Internet, mail order and concert venue sales. Despite total overall CD sales in 2002 being down 8.7%, the Non-Traditional category segment has shown a dramatic increase in sales increasing from 2.2 million sales in 1997 to more then 22 million in 2002. Additionally, sales of albums via Internet retailers accounted for 79% of all Non-Traditional sales in 2002.

Digital download sales of recorded albums and singles will be included in the Nielsen SoundScan album and singles sales charts respectively. Nielsen SoundScan will also debut a digital download tracks chart defined as songs purchased individually or as part of a retailer-defined bundle. These tracks may come from an album, a single, or a standalone recording.

"We've been closely watching the explosion of online music, and the various formats that are driving it," said Rob Sisco, president Nielsen Music, and COO Nielsen Entertainment East Coast Operations. "'Purchasing digital downloads has proven to be a viable emerging technology among a rapidly growing segment of music fans. Nielsen SoundScan has worked diligently to develop the research matrices necessary for our clients to monitor this exciting trend."