2008.04.08 - All Your TV - Is Axl Rose Headed To Reality TV? (& other related articles)

Is Axl Rose Headed To Reality TV?

Written By Rick Ellis, Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

A major music-oriented television channel has pitched an idea for a reality series to Axl Rose, according to sources close to the project.

The show, which would appear on a cable channel that asked not to be identified, would follow the troubled rocker as his continues his decade-long effort to release the Guns N' Roses project "Chinese Democracy."

Rose has been laboring on tracks for the project on-and-off since mid-1994, and in both 2006 and 2007 gave several interviews promising the album would be finished "within the year."

The sound of Chinese Democracy has often reported to be industrial rock music similar to Nine Inch Nails and Ministry, a style that Rose had long been a fan of. But the tracks that have surfaced online show a variety of sounds, with tinges of everything from Ministry to Queen to classic Guns N' Roses.

According to sources at Geffen (Rose's music label) a version of "Chinese Democracy" has been finished and delivered to the label. But there are still outstanding issues between the singer and the label, not the least of which is a recording cost for the project which (depending on who you believe), has reached between $11 and $15 million. Another stickler is the digital rights for the tracks, along with some proposed "bonus" tracks Geffen would like to release digitally.

This reality show project would be part of a larger effort to build buzz for an album which faces a number of promotional hurdles. Rose's recent concert appearances have been erratic at best, and many fans of the classic Guns N' Roses lineup are going to require some persuasion before embracing this new sound. Rose is also not an especially "journalist-friendly" preformer, making promotion for the project even more difficult.

The new (still untitled) reality show would follow Rose and his band as they prepare for release of the album. It would include behind-the-scenes rehearsal and studio footage, as well as interviews with a number of the participants. "There is a lot of footage to choose from," said a network source. "Some of it is incredibly personal and revealing about Axl's life."

According to the network source, the deal for the show is "close, but not signed." Part of the holdup seems to be the timing, as the particpants want to integrate the show into a timeline with the leadup to the album's release, along with the announcment of a limited number of concert dates.

Efforts to get a comment from Axl or his management have so far been unsuccessful.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080411034814/http://allyourtv.com/0708season/news/april/04082008axlrose.html

The Rock Radio, April 9, 2008:
---------------------------------------

Rumors: Axl Rose for reality TV

A report at AllYourTV.com says that a "major music-oriented television channel" has proposed an idea for a reality series revolving around Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose. Sources close to the project indicated that the show would focus on the reclusive singer's efforts to complete and release the long-delayed Guns N' Roses album, Chinese Democracy. The yet-to-be-titled series would follow Rose and the other members of the current Guns lineup through behind-the-scenes rehearsal and studio footage as well as interviews.

The source said, "There is a lot of footage to choose from. Some of it is incredibly personal and revealing about Axl's life."

A deal for the series is reportedly "close, but not signed," with timing said to be a key issue. The series would be geared toward promoting the release of the new album, which still does not have a street date.

Sources at Rose's label, Geffen Records, said that a finished version of Chinese Democracy has been delivered to the company. Rose and the label, however, are still reportedly haggling over money and rights issues.

Neither Rose nor his management have commented on the reality series proposal. Rose recently announced that he and G N' R had signed with powerhouse managers Irving Azoff and Andy Gould, leading to speculation that the arrival of Chinese Democracy was imminent.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080409203226/http://www.therockradio.com/

NME, April 10, 2008:
-----------------------------

Guns N' Roses' Axl Rose to have own reality TV show?

'Chinese Democracy' may be subject of new show

Guns N Roses' Axl Rose may get his own reality TV show focusing on the saga of his as-yet-unreleased album, 'Chinese Democracy'.

According to AllyourTV.com, the show has been proposed, and is set to show footage of Rose and the other current members of Guns N Roses as they go about the recording of the album.

The website explains that a "major music-orientated television channel" is behind the proposal.

It quotes a source as saying: "There is a lot of footage to choose from. Some of it is incredibly personal and revealing about Axl's life."

The series is expected to tie in with the forthcoming release of 'Chinese Democracy'.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080804220221/http://www.nme.com/news/nme/35811

NME, April 10, 2008:
------------------------

Guns N' Roses finish 'Chinese Democracy' album

Axl Rose has finally delivered the album to his record label

Guns N Roses have reportedly finished work on 'Chinese Democracy', the album that Axl Rose has been working on for the past 14 years.

Therockradio.com reports that Geffen Records, the band's record label, have confirmed they have received a finished copy of the album, and are currently haggling over money and rights issues with Rose.

The album is reported to have cost in excess of $13million (£6.5million) to produce.

As previously reported, it is rumoured that a Guns N' Roses reality TV show is set to be broadcast to coincide with the release of the album.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080725080359/http://www.nme.com/news/nme/35812