GUNS N' ROSES Guitarist BUMBLEFOOT Says 'Chinese Democracy' Release Is 'In Negotiations'

May 12, 2008

Jason Price and Steve Johnson of Live-Metal.net recently conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal about his upcoming solo album, his work for Rock Against Diabetes and GUNS N' ROSES. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

Live-Metal.net: When do you think you will be releasing [your new solo album] "Abnormal"?

Bumblefoot: Well, I would like to get it out there as soon possible. It's a plus and a minus that I am doing things all by myself. It's a plus in the sense that I don't have to organize and wait and work it out. I can just put it out as it comes out, which is also a minus because there is no big bang when it comes out. Suddenly it is just there, but I kinda like that. So I am just making it available as I can and hopefully people will discover it and they have the option of deciding whether they like it ot not when it is there.

Live-Metal.net: A lot of people might have become familiar with you by way of GUNS N' ROSES. How did your involvement with the band come about?

Bumblefoot: It was about four years ago that we started talking. Joe Satriani recommended me and then I got a funny email from Chris Pitman, the keyboard player, and we all just started talking. It took a minute for us to get it together but we started touring in 2006. We just started jammin' and the next thing you know we are doing it in front of people, then we are doing it in all different places, then I am laying guitar tracks on the album and then here we are in New Jersey!

Live-Metal.net: Did you know any of the others in the band before joining?

Bumblefoot: Pretty sure most of the guys had a previous relationship, except for me, haha. Tommy [Stinson] and Richard [Fortus] worked with Frank [Ferrer], things like that. Funny thing about Frank is that we had all these mutual friends, going back 20 years, but Frank and I had never met. Or maybe we did but just didn't realize it. So relationships developed. Frank and I get together whenever we can.

Live-Metal.net: How did you react to the news that Robin Finck was leaving GUNS N' ROSES to rejoin NINE INCH NAILS?

Bumblefoot: He's playing the 27th of August up at The Meadowlands, which I will always call it. I don't give a fuck if they are calling it Izod Theater or Continental or whatever they want to fucking call it. It's the Meadowlands! Bring the name back, dammit! [laughs] That's all I'm saying, haha.

Live-Metal.net: Do you ever tire of being asked what is slowly turning into the million-dollar rock journalism question, "When is 'Chinese Democracy' going to be released?"

Bumblefoot: How can you not ask that question? It's like, "Doesn't anyone notice that elephant in the room?!" We have new management and they are good guys, and it's in negotiations.

Read the entire interview at Live-Metal.net.

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