Likes: 
Faceplams: Yep I find Scott's comments about his involvement with this whole project a wee bit weird. Is he gonna deny that was him in the video next?
Active Member
Yep I find Scott's comments about his involvement with this whole project a wee bit weird. Is he gonna deny that was him in the video next?
Active Member
Axl's plea for the Bali 9 prisoners who were eventually executed
April 27, 2015President Joko Widodo
President of Republic of Indonesia
Istana Merdeka
Jakarta Pusat 10110, Indonesia
Mr. President,
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. In 2012 I and Guns N’ Roses were both fortunate and privileged enough to perform in your country in Jakarta for the Indonesian people where we enjoyed and were taken aback by the incredible warmth of the Indonesian fans during our performance and in meeting fans and people there wherever we went. It was a very special and exciting experience we are fortunate to have had and to have as fond memories. I would like to express our sincere thanks to your country for showing us such warm and enthusiastic hospitality.
The main concern of this correspondence is in regard to the impending executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran of the group referred to as the Bali Nine and of Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso. In following their stories in regard to particular comments made in their regard by the Attorney General of Indonesia that their efforts and those of their representatives through the courts “are just buying time” I feel with all due respect compelled to ask why a government official derides the efforts of anyone trying to save their own life or the lives of others through proper legal channels? And if or why the government of Indonesia condones such comments by its officials?
As all three are still alive these are clearly not cases where nothing can or should be done by those who care to do their utmost in efforts to spare them. Under the circumstances it would seem that if they are executed regrettably the Indonesian government becomes the more offensive criminal.
I appeal to you Mr. President, Mr. Joko Widodo to use your power in ways to strengthen international relationships between your country and others, to show your country’s strength and allow the world to witness an extraordinary act of humanity and bravery on yours and your country’s part.
To show each of us that there can be hope and true redemption in times of hopelessness and despair, that rehabilitation and turning one’s life around is not just for one’s place in what if any afterlife there may be or one believes in but here on this earth where it can do each of us the most good in this life now. Where true justice is better achieved in not killing, not ending the lives of and not destroying others but instead in this case, this situation, right now in this moment in your hands in sparing the lives of these two able bodied young men who’ve proven in the Indonesian prison system they are more than capable of being productive and positive contributors to society.
Their crimes were now long ago, their hearts and minds forever changed by their crimes, their trials, the hurt they’ve caused their loved ones, their countrymen, their rehabilitation, remorse, the lasting and deeply embedded fears of the crushing reality of very real and drastic life and death consequences and their deepest desires to become different and better people and if not to be forgiven to be shown mercy and given the opportunity to prove themselves.
In a world where the bad often outweighs the good and evil and negativity would appear more and more prevalent we need and can use every person choosing to make a difference however that choice came about that we can get, that we can save, that we can salvage and we can spare the lives of including those who have seen and learned from the errors of their ways and in doing so we show the entire world that we are capable of forgiveness and mercy, a much greater sense of courage, strength and humanity and being so much more than that which seeks to overcome and destroy us.
To not do so does not send as much a message of deterrence but rather a cold, cruel and uncaring message of hopelessness and blindness by the powers that be. Please do not be this type of man, this type of individual blinded by rigidity and inflexibility and ignoring your true power and wisdom by not acknowledging true change verified, witnessed and confirmed by virtually all who’ve been involved with either of these men during their incarceration.
It’s true I do not know these men nor have I met them but their story has touched me deeply. I as well as many others could easily have found ourselves in their unfortunate and unarguably self-inflicted position. People make mistakes, sometimes big and horribly regrettable mistakes and sometimes more importantly people learn from their mistakes and make new choices, strive and succeed at true positive change. To not acknowledge and give such change the opportunity to prove it’s value would seem in this case a greater crime than those originally committed.
This is clearly not a case of hardened, unrepentant, violent or greed driven killers with no regard for the lives of others. They are not con men lying and faking their behavior over all these years only to return to the people they once were and are no longer. That these individuals must die purely as an example to others is in my opinion akin to a kidnapper or terrorist killing hostages to make their point and have their demands met. In carrying out their death sentences the example shown here is one of draconian justice where the punishment in this stage of the condemned’s lives by virtue of their rehabilitation and genuine remorse over all these years no longer fits the original crime.
To kill these men under these conditions of their profound and proven change for the better seems a barbaric, backward and truly disgraceful act of pride, ego, fear and prejudice, prejudice against your own system and the souls of anyone who has committed what’s been deemed a crime from one day making amends and having the opportunity to make things right by how they live their lives and not how they are brutally and with disregard executed.
In the case and impeding execution of Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso executing those on the bottom rungs of the ladder in the chain of drug trafficking or those caught in the web of human trafficking who may not have had the luxury of qualified representation or even proper translators during their trial seems more than unfair and proves what? That a government chooses to condemn those that it would appear few if anyone truly cares about or has ever cared about to begin with? A mother who’s quite possibly sincere hopes of making a better life for her and her children have been destroyed in a tragic circumstance and with her execution only makes things worse for her family and the sorrow of those who do care that much greater.
I realize I am no one and no one to get involved with your affairs or those of your government and how this letter reads or anyone other than yourself thinks of it is irrelevant. Only the lives of these three human beings are what’s important now. That said I did not speak in jest or empty flattery when I spoke of how I and my organization were affected by the depth of warmth shown us by the Indonesian people during our performance and stay in Jakarta.
I ask you now to show such great depth of humanity and compassion now to these individuals and to deny your bloodlust in your war on drugs and grant clemency to these three individuals and give them a permanent stay of execution and to change the course of your own life and place in both your country’s and world history. No other can do what you alone have the power to do and that is the power to show benevolence and mercy where mercy can be truly appreciated and given it’s proper respect not only by the condemned but by the entire world and it’s many leaders.
Give them a chance to prove you right by living where their deaths at this stage can only prove tragic and by all involved avoidable and unnecessary. You’ve made your point and struck fear in both the hearts and minds of the condemned and anyone even remotely considering bad choices or already involved in those worlds. Their crimes were not committed on your watch. Life is the only thing important now, not death but life.
Sincerely,
W. Axl Rose
cc:
U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Ambassador Robert O. Blake Jr.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations, His Excellency Mr.Rezlan Ishar Jenie
National Commission on Human Rights of Indonesia (Komnas HAM), Mr. Ifdhal Kasim, Chairman
Ambassador to the United States, Budi Bowoleksono
Active Member
Did Guns N' Roses Steal 'Sweet Child O' Mine' From An Obscure Australian Band?
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/sweet...tralian-crawl/
Active Member
These bums probably need a paycheck
Active Member
The similarties are pretty evident at time.Originally Posted by RhettButler
Active Member
Yeah, but they were pretty obscure. I don't know if GN'R had ever heard them, although they did have one album in the States via Geffen.
You can also hear the riff from "Paradise City" in Sabbath's "Zero the Hero."
Active Member
D.J. Asba has quit GnR, and it looks like Ron left ages ago. So now they have no lead guitarist.
God is an American
Bring back Robin & Buckethead!
Member
hell yeah!!!!!!
Throbbing Member
robin deserves better than gnr... what happened to his solo album btw?
Active Member
Most fans must be delighted with the Ashba news
Active Member
He was fan friendly, not sure how good a guitar player he is.
Active Member
This is too funny, http://www.metalsucks.net/2015/07/28...-guns-n-roses/
Stubby Member
They were a great group in Australia especially when I was a kid growing up. The song does have similarities but I'm not sure if can be proved.
It's like the new MUSE song and Personal Jesus by Depeche MOde and many others...
Active Member
my only concern with Ashba and Ron leaving is that might further delay the next record
Stubby Member
SLASH said he and AXL are friends again. tv.aftonbladet.se/abtv/articles/87561
That's the video, straight from slash's mouth
Reporter: "I heard you made friends with Axl Rose again, how was that possible after all those years?"
Slash: "It was probably way over due but it was very cool at this point. Let some of that...Dispel some of that negative stuff that was going on for so long"
Reporter: So, will the Guns N' Roses ever perform together again?
Slash: (Chuckle) Oh, I couldn't answer that...
Interviewer: Why
Pause
Slash: Let's get off the subject, that's an old one
Active Member
I was reading some guy say they are on talking terms now
While I would love to see the old Guns back, I would be disappointed with Axl for going back on his words. The current Gunners aren't as active but I love the direction of the new material
Active Member
At this point I think Axl should release what's in the vaults. Maybe a four disc set of material from the late 1990's to 2008, all the other Chinese Democracy era tracks. And then reunite the classic era.
Active Member
sounds like a good plan!
but knowing Axl, if they reunite he will keep all that material in the vault and bring them with him to his grave.
Active Member
Looks like Tommy Stinson may be out. I never thought it would happen, but maybe a reunion will happen. I listened to AFD and UYI over the past week and damn, that was a great band.
Active Member
it really does sound like the reunion could very well happen, just not very soon<br><br>I still wanna hear the other stuff from the "Chinese" sessions though
Stubby Member
Slash’s Brother Apologizes for Saying Axl Rose Is a ‘Fat Bastard’
Read More: Slash's Brother Apologizes for Saying Axl Rose Is a 'Fat Bastard' | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/slash...ckback=tsmclip
A day after Slash‘s brother potentially derailed the possibility of a long-awaited Guns N’ Roses reunion, Ash Hudson is trying to put it back on track. Today (Sept. 11), he apologized for remarks he made about Axl Rose.
It appears that Ash, who is seven years younger than Slash, was possibly on the receiving end of a nasty tongue-lashing from his brother because he wrote on Facebook, “I apologize to Axl and his legions of fans who were offended by my post of yesterday. I am sorry I shot my mouth off. I know, or should know, better than to get involved in GN’R business. It has come to me attention that Axl is on a strict diet and losing weight. Unfortunately, my post was very offensive and upsetting to my brother, for which I apologize. To the rest of the world, I had one of these days when people kept asking me about a possible reunion and I had had enough… Again, my apologies.”
Yesterday, Ash went off on fans who have been hounding him about the possibliity of Slash rejoining Guns N’ Roses now that the two are on speaking terms again. After telling them to “grow up” and “get a life,” he set his sights on the singer’s frame. “Axl is a fat bastard and the reunion would only be a disappointment and an action that would result in criticism [...] You loved Axl when he was beautiful now he’s FatElvis.”
Both the apology and the original offending status update have since been deleted from Ash Hudson’s Facebook timeline.
Read More: Slash's Brother Apologizes for Saying Axl Rose Is a 'Fat Bastard' | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/slash...ckback=tsmclip
Active Member
Makes me think that something is in the works.
Active Member
Happy anniversary to USE YOUR ILLUSION!
Active Member
So the buzz is a world tour is being announced tomorrow. My guess is Rhett and our own WAR are already camped out waiting for tickets.
Active Member
this is gonna be a massive tour if it happens
I do crave more material from the "Chinese" sessions though
God is an American
If Slash and Axl want to work together again, that is fine by me, but I cannot see Slash doing his thing on any Chinese tracks. So it'll probably be a continuation of the 21st century lineup — with Duff Mckagan playing bass like he did last year in South America — and then Slash comes out as a guest on a few oldies, right? I think that might be okay.
Last edited by botley; 11-11-2015 at 11:56 PM.
Active Member
I doubt it. GNR have no lead guitarist. Duff and Slash are back, imno.
God is an American
Um, they can find other guys who would be happy to play 70% of the set and then second-fiddle when Slash comes out for the big finale. What else would they do, ignore the only album GnR has put out in twenty-two years?
Last edited by botley; 11-12-2015 at 12:21 AM.
Member
Any idea who is in the band aside from Axl and Dizzy?
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote