Fraters Libertas

The Invisible Head

Fascinating article appearing in the March 6 New York Times (which I just cracked last night) on the never ending, downward spiraling production trajectory of the Guns N Roses comeback album Chinese Democracy. It seems after 11 years (and $13 million worth) of trying, the album is no where close to being finished. So the continuing reports of any "comeback" appear to be greatly exaggerated. At this rate, people actually living in China are more likely to be holding a referendum on adding Viagra to their retirement benefits before this album hits the retail floor.

This excerpt details the low point of productivity and the high point of excess - the Buckethead sessions:

But [Axl] Rose's renewed energies were not being directed toward the finish line. He had the crew send him CDs almost daily, sometimes with 16 or more takes of a musician performing his part of a single song. He accompanied [lead guitarist] Buckethead on a jaunt to Disneyland when the guitarist was drifting toward quitting, several people involved recalled; then Buckethead announced he would be more comfortable working inside a chicken coop, so one was built for him in the studio, from wood planks and chicken wire.

Which just goes to prove an inviolable law of business (I think first identified by Adam Smith in 1778) - never trust a $13 million project to a guy wearing an upside down chicken bucket on his head. Speaking of which, I think Buckethead could use the services of a good career counselor. Forget this rock star thing, if he really wants to work in a chicken coop, for the right price, my cubicle is available.

Read the whole thing (for $2.95 on the NYT site, or, strangely, for free on the Houston Chronicle or International Herald Tribune). It's fascinating and probably a little sad for any late 80's pop metal enthusiasts still holding a torch for the next "Back Off B*tch!"

Then, for the other side of the story, read GNR manager Merck Mercuriadis's heated response. Excerpt:

Sir, I find it remarkable that the New York Times - a newspaper of some repute - has chosen to run an article on the making of the forthcoming Guns N' Roses album, 'Chinese Democracy', without even bothering to talk to anyone who has actually been involved in the making of the album. You quote five people on the record, all of whom, with the exception of Tom Zutaut, have been out of the picture for between six and nine years, and like the author of your article, have never even heard the album! Tom Zutaut himself has not been involved for three years and has heard virtually none of the actual record.

Your journalist Jeff Leeds - is this the return of Jayson Blair under a pseudonym?

Another lesson learned, you hire one guy who makes up stories on the front page for years and years and the next thing you know you're getting ridiculed by the guy who manages a guy with an upside down chicken bucket on his head. I guess everyone gets to be a media critic these days.
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