They are separate stories with different characters.

However, I recommend S1, best TV in a long while, aside the ending, of course

The opening lyrics

Don't know where we're goin',
don't care if it's wrong

differ from Axl's published back catalogue. So, if it's a case of sampling his vocals, it's something other than released studio content.

Yup. He noted the 80s sound, and remained unconvinced it was Axl.

Other forum members recall this as a snippet of something that circulated a few years back as 'Blue Rose'.

Unless TB reacts, it's a hoax...?

I think Axl'd agree with you on that.

I have re-recorded "Appetite" and -- Well, with the exception of two songs, because we replaced those with "You Could Be Mine," and "Patience," and why do that? Well, we had to rehearse them anyway to be able to perform them live again, and there were a lot of recording techniques and certain subtle styles and drum fills and things like that that are kind of '80s signatures that subtly could use a little sprucing up... a little less reverb and a little less double bass and things like that. - Axl, 99

I wouldn't mind re-mastering it [AFD] sometime. - Axl, 13

Bob more or less admitted to it, but the actual quote came from Alice Cooper.

He just came off Fragile, with Reznor. Hardly irrelevant.

That's right. The record labels are like Hollywood film studios, a bunch of scared suits running around in circles fretting about the almighty $.

In the US, it opened with less than a third of CD (83,000 copies). The sales dropped 74% on the 2nd week (~21,000). A 100K records in two weeks is a lot on one hand, a bit lightweight on the other.

In terms of business, Axl alone blows away a Soundgarden reunion. CD sold more on the first week in the US than King Animal did in over six months.

Because there were huge financial liabilities. This article came out following the Philly riot.

"The tour, more than a year and a half in the planning [dating back to the Sanctuary/Big FD merger], was hobbled before it started by the failure of band leader Rose to deliver "Chinese Democracy," the tie-in album that has been promised for years. [...] In recent days, all involved have huddled to broker the messy cancellation. Among the issues: The $1-million advance given to Rose last year to secure the tour...

For this tour, Rose even traveled with his own psychiatrist, whose major responsibility apparently was convincing him it was important for his mental health to get onstage nightly and perform." (Chicago Sun-Times, 12/11/02)

Doug Goldstein took Guns to Merck Mercuriadis at Sanctuary, in a move that was almost replicated when Merck was taking Guns over to Irving Azoff at Front Line in 2006. The Sanctuary muscle allowed for the big US tour to be put into place, and the wheels started churning on it in the summer of 2001. The deals were made, itinerary drawn up (with a bit slapdash tour routing, if you ask me) and yes, it does look like the VMAs were booked for the unveiling of the first single and introducing the new lineup to American audiences.

Axl, for his part, actually appeared to share your sentiments. 'Why are we touring? I should be at home, finishing up the album.' He appeared rebellious and dragged his feet from Day 1 (Vancouver), because he knew what was coming for him. AFD setlists and nagging about how there's no album. The US comeback tour had whittled down into a nostalgia trip, which obviously made him displeased; there he was, standing on the shoulders of the old lineup, night in, night out. Hardly the outcome he signed up for.

Pretty much.

"Guns 'n' Roses 'Chinese Democracy' has been rescheduled for release September 2, almost three years after the original release date. Axl Rose has recorded over 70 songs for this record with various producers." (Undercover News, 06/24/02)

"Guns N' Roses' record company and management has told Launch that rumors that the band's forthcoming album, Chinese Democracy, was to be released Labor Day weekend are untrue. A spokesperson for Interscope/Geffen spoke to the band's management, who replied to the unsubstantiated rumor, 'Where are they getting this from?'" (Launch, 06/25/02)

I think the Sep 2nd scoop came via Paul Cashmere, an Australian journalist, who's always had a good nose on the Guns front. He's more recently touched base with Fortus & co through Noise11. If anyone could've gotten the date right, I'd say it would've been him. Of course, the minute it went out, it was probably old news, which is why the label people were quick to rebutt the date. Does this mean the date was always just dust in the wind? Hardly, the more plausible explanation is that things changed.

"I thought [the album] was coming out [in] September [2002]." (Marco Beltrami, IGN, 07/20/03)

Oops. Beltrami acquitted Cashmere's source, right there. Also, the US tour was supposed to kick off right after the VMA's.

"Guns n' Roses will begin an overseas tour on August 14th in Hong Kong, which will include the Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo and Osaka. The band will then head to Europe to play the Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium, the Carling Festival in Leeds, and two additional shows in London. G n' R are then planning to return to the U.S. for a tour to run from September to December." (Rolling Stone, 06/14/02)

"It doesn't look like Guns N' Roses will be touring North America in September after all... The popular rumor had been that a U.S. tour would be kicking off Sept. 2." (CDNow, 08/05/02)

September 2nd, again. An album launch on the eve of the comeback tour. That was seemingly the plan.

"Gunners had hoped to release the album in September but the record is now scheduled for November, according to Pratama." (Undercover News, 08/12/02)

The US tour start was postponed so that it would coincide with the album launch, again, in November.

"We've sorted it down to what songs are on the record. What the sequence of the songs is. The album cover art is ready. Blah, blah, blah. If you're waiting...don't.

... 'I gave into a lot of pressure on Illusions both internally in Guns and externally in the press, those albums suffered as a consequence, it's not something I'm too excited to have to live with again." (Axl, GNROnline, 08/15/02)

As you can see, someone just threw down the gauntlet. 'I'll say when it's done.' Typical Axl, when he feels the powers that be are putting the onus on him, he shuts down and point blank refuses to play ball, if he feels the work is compromised as a consequence. That interview was damage control, an almost done album dangling in front of everyone like a carrot, but Axl's now holding onto it, saying he'll get around to finishing it on his own clock.

I agree with you on that  whatever happened, it seemingly went down in between June and August. The tour was about to happen and the pressure was mounting. Unfortunately, this leaves us with the same basic question; why was the album pulled from the tentative September 2nd slot?

The label rejection, while possible, seems a bit awkward. Interscope was in the game for the money, frankly. The tour and the media hype would've surely sold them enough copies of the album to warrant a release, if only Axl was happy to give to them. Instead of a strong album, Interscope would've sufficed to a strong single, which they could've touted to panhandle the album.

Cold feet due to a lack of a single is possible, but you'd think they would've cut to the chase at this point, regardless.