For all of the conjecture about why Chinese Democracy didn't meet the many expectations (sales and otherwise) set for it, one avenue that hasn't been pursued is that maybe Mr. Rose has had a sea change in personality. For example, when Brian May expressed disappointment with the heavy editing of his guitar solo for "Catcher N' The Rye," the old Axl would have probably put on his kilt and challenged him, perhaps via song, to a no holds barred boxing match. The new Axl, however, has this to say on his band's blog:

There's a few reasons, and none of them all that big and definitely not in spite or to slight anyone. Brian's solo itself is a personal fave of mine and I really couldn't understand, as he's such a rock legend, why it wasn't openly appreciated more at the time. And though Brian seems to have warmed a bit to it, at least publicly, he was unfortunately none too pleased at the time with our handiwork. I remember looking at Brian standing to my left and him staring at the big studio speakers a bit aghast saying, 'But that's not what I played'. Sean Beavan and I were not in any way trying to mess with Brian, we just did what we do and then try and do our best to stand up for our decisions.

Though it's nice to see that Axl has a conciliatory mode, this vast difference in his public persona is one more indication of how much time has passed between his albums. Maybe next week he'll tape a couple of guest shots on Oprah and The View. 

 [Contact Music]