Happy Birthday W. Axl Rose! You're Amazing, and Chinese Democracy Gets a Bad Rap

Happy Birthday W. Axl Rose! You're Amazing, and Chinese Democracy Gets a Bad Rap

By Nicholas Pell Thu., Feb. 7 2013 at 9:35 AM

Therein lies some of the fun with Guns N Roses; Alt rock squares and indie sophisticates either don't get it or associate GnFnR with some sort of guilty, ironic pleasure. The latest fads in middle-class, college-educated indie rock come and go. But what never goes out of style is balls out, dope-and-booze-fueled rock and roll made by hardcore degenerates who just don't give a fuck what the record industry or rock critics think.

Axl Rose is my Jim Morrison, my Marilyn Manson and my Kurt Cobain all rolled into one. So while Chinese Democracy might be a little silly at moments (I've referred to it more than once as "Axl gets his G.E.D." due to song titles like "Catcher in the Rye," "Madagascar" and "Riad 'N the Bedouins"), it's got way more life than anything you'll see at Coachella this year.

The album isn't the great Guns N Roses record, of course. It's not even a good GnR record. It is, however, a collection of ten years of Axl Rose's personal musical proclivities, dalliances and passing infatuations. What you hear when you listen to Chinese Democracy is less a cohesive statement than Axl's diary. It's the LiveJournal of ~~Guns N Roses~~ Axl Rose solo albums.

And that's what makes it so compelling. In a world where pop music is now made either by computer program or committee, Axl Rose was able to single-handedly shepherd his dream to fruition. Who's going to tell him that he couldn't? He's got too much money for that. If Guns N Roses were the last band that believed in sex, drugs and rock and roll, Chinese Democracy was the last great bloated dinosaur record.

Now go get yourself some Night Train. And bottoms up.

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TheFestivalLawyer

Axl Rose seriously might be the biggest douche bag in rock music alive today. I like some music by douchebags. Heck Morrissey is one of the most annoying fuckers on the planet and I've seen him a lot of times. And I love crazy ass rock n rollers. How many times have I seen Motley Crue or metallica or Jane's addiction. Answer? A metric shit ton. And to be fair Guns n Roses first album is an amazing thing. But the old white dreadlocks fat version of Axl is really an incredible dickhead. Have we forgotten his pasty face, his white corn rowss? His threats to fight Kurt Cobain because they dared ask him to be the kids godfather? Metallica pretty much publicly stated what an incredible jerk he was almost causing a riot because of the time he refused to play. Most recently he reinforced everyones opinion of him by refusing to show up for the Rock n Roll hall of fame. (and rubbed salt in the wound by the stupid letter he wrote explaining his decision). all of this could be forgiven if chinese democracy wasn't a steaming pile of dog crap. But it is and so is he. Don't bother defending this guy. He is really a testament to what happens when you have a little talent and rather than just going out their and rocking you become a self involved jack ass. It's funny cause this is the first mention of his birhthday on any social media or twitter or facebook that I've seen which should show you how utterly hated this guy is. get a new hero dude.

LoveToBiteMoreThanYu

@TheFestivalLawyer Little talented Axl is still making tons of cash so if you don't want anyone to defend him, I guess there's no need cuz it speaks for itself. IMO, he's full of talent, though. He's also been quite the handful...due to being a kid with an overly religious upbringing (a word to the wise). Things like that will F your kid up!

Just so ya know...his birthday was celebrated all over social network and websites around the world. If you did some looking, it's not hard to find.

He may be an asshole to many but he's still got a HUGE following of old and new fans. He has reinvented his career and giving the fans what they want after the soft woody named Chinese Democracy. No worries. I'm sure he has the message and his grit will return. He's not the same man who struggled with the streets, fame, addiction, and addicts. He's grown and has other issues to deal with and people who just don't 'get it' yet.

I guess how you interpret things is with a bias mind. There's always 3 sides to every story.

sarahgordon613

3 Like

enjoyed the article...Axl get's his GED- too funny . You write well. GnFnR is my favorite Rock band and Axl, has always been my fave Rock Star, Ive liked Eddie Veder and Steven Tyler and those bands 'but not for as long or as strong as GNR. Guns N Roses has stood the test of time, even with so few albumns coming out over the years...like u said real, raw, true Rock never goes out of style and Apetite and Illusion records, and a live era are always not too far from anything that plays music around me. Democracy however-not :/