So who are the original members of Guns N’ Roses? Are you reffering to Axl, Slash, Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin, and Steven Adler? Not really. I don’t think Guns N’ Roses has any original members of the band. But I would say this though, there is only one original member of the band. That is no one other than Axl Rose himself of course. He is the one that created the band and the one that formed the band all by himself.

Those 4 members I listed above may have played on the first two Gn’R albums “Gn’R Lies” and “Destruction”, but they certainly aren’t the original members. Gn’R had different members way before they even went in the studio to record their first album “Lies”.

Gn’R had different members over the years, it wasn’t always Slash, Duff, Izzy and Steven, although those four members created the band’s original sound and became what they became today. Matt Sorum the drummer for Velvet Revolver is not Gn’R’s original drummer, Sorum didn’t join the band until “Use Your Illusion I and II”. That is when Dizzy Reed joined also.

Axl Rose IS Gn’r. His band can still be Gn’r without Slash, Izzy, Steven and Duff. Without Axl Rose, Gn’r would be nothing. Just like Led Zeppelin without Robert Plant would be nothing. A band can always have different members as it pleases as long as it keeps it’s frontman that created the band or a band’s leading hero. Axl Rose is the only important original member ’cause it’s his creation. Think about it and use common sense.

If you create something, you have complete control of everything yourself. Billy Corgan is able to go on with the Smashing Pumpkins with different members because he’s the creator and the band’s leader. The Smashing Pumpkins isn’t always going to be about D’arcy and James Iha. The Rolling Stones had different members over the years, the same for Aerosmith and Van Halen.

All them legendary bands can keep going on with different members as they please as long as they keep their leading heros that made the band for what it is today. For example, the Rolling Stones would be nothing without Mick and Keith. Aerosmith would be nothing without Steven Tyler and Joe Perry but they can keep having different members all they want to. Van Halen can continue to evolve with new members ’cause Van Halen would be nothing without Eddie Van Halen, the band’s main hero. Where would Ac/Dc be without Angus and Malcolm? Queen can go on without Freddie Mercurcy because Brian May is the hero and main man and he has the power to do that if he pleases. Metallica can have different bass players but Metallica would be nothing without James, Kirk and Lars ’cause they are the leaders.

When people say Gn’R is not Gn’R without Slash, Duff, Izzy, and Steven…I just laugh. Axl Rose is Guns N’ Roses, I’ll repeat myself once again. It’s all about moving forward in music. Not backwards. I love the work on “Chinese Democracy” and I personally think the musicians that played on “Democracy” are better musicians than the older Gn’r members.

From what I read on the Blabbermouth website, the former Gn’r members were very approval of “Democracy” and they seem to love Axl’s work with the new album too. So they definitely approve of Axl doing the new album without them. “Democracy” is great work and a piece of art. It is worth the wait in my opinion.

So, those so called “fans” of Guns N’ Roses who keep slamming the band and Axl Rose for recording “Chinese Democracy” without it’s so called original members, have no idea what music is all about. Axl was looking for the right sound, Axl wanted to give what the songs needed. If Axl had Slash, Duff, Izzy and Steven played on “Democracy”, the songs wouldn’t sound like they are now. Axl has different band members over the years for a reason. It’s all about looking for the right musicians who know’s what his songs needs. Fitting the right sound and style of playing.

Maybe that is why Axl cut Bryan May’s guitar tracks off “Catcher in the Rye” and put Bumblefoot’s tracks in there instead ’cause Axl wanted a different feel of the song of what he hears in his head. Axl is just being careful and taking his slow time with the music, to make sure he’s putting out good music. Axl wanted a new sound with the new Guns N’ Roses, evolving into a new sound rather than trying to recapture the classic 80’s sound. The hair metal thing is over and done with. Hair metal is dead. Get over it. It’s all about exploring new sounds and styles. Not all bands want to stay in the same style of music.

Axl is making music and his songs how he wants to make them. Music fans that bash Guns N’ Roses are delusional and need to use common sense. Axl is doing what he wants to do just like all musicians do what they want to do in their careers. Give the man a break. Shhhheeeesssshhhhh…

Kev