2020.05.07 - The War Room Discord - Voice chat with Fernando Lebeis
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2020.05.07 - The War Room Discord - Voice chat with Fernando Lebeis
by Blackstar Thu May 23, 2024 3:13 am
Note: Fernando was on voice chat talking to fans and also answering questions that were being typed in the main chat room.
Transcript:
Being asked to say something about Hard Skool:
Fernando Lebeis: See what I mean, man. Again, it's not my news to say. It's only my news to share once told to do so. [?] We actually did it on the soundcheck in Miami. Is definitely on the live- [...] But again, Guns N' Roses related business is Guns N' Roses business. And once, once I'm told, okay, we're live, we're going, we're releasing. I am more than happy to share any and all information I'm able.
Being asked if they are working on putting concert footage on YouTube:
FL: Yes, we are. [...] I mean, you know, it should, like I said, it should have been there. [...] we're not gonna do full concerts. I think I definitely like one of the ideas that somebody had where a song-a-week type of vibe. [...] As of now, we're looking to do Not In This Lifetime. And, you know, but we are putting together all of the, you know, all the stuff that we have under one roof, and all the stuff that Slash, Duff, Axl, and we have throughout the years, just so everything is properly planned.
When the videos would be released:
FL: Soon. I mean I say "soon" a lot but obviously I started asking why like 10 two weeks ago, three weeks ago, longer? On Reddit. But we have you know gotten all the hard drives from our from our video people and obviously from other festivals we have played. So we got links and we're downloading. Obviously, it's a lot of content. And we have our sound people doing everything that they need to do to make sure that the sound files matches the video files and come up with an execution plan. We'll see. But it's definitely sooner than soon, I should say. I mean, I know I say "soon" and soon is such a broad fucking... in my world, like soon can be two weeks from now, obviously soon to you is this weekend. So for the sake of saving sanity let's just say in a couple of weeks.
Fernando making a comment about being recorded:
FL: I just don't want, like, if you guys are recording, just don't record it. I don't like my voice sounds. [...] it's pretty easy to record though, but whatever. Do what you will. But obviously if it's like taking out a context. If it kind of comes out and it's recorded, taken out of context from someone or in some way, it just won't make it fun for me to come back. Even though sometimes the news that I share isn't the news that you want or you feel that it is important enough. And I am in no way here just to support myself or just to make myself look bigger and self-promotion. I'm just here just because I can't type as fast as y'all can. And some of these keyboard cowboys, man, are fucking, they're crazy. Like crazy as in like, not like just.... Internet, just pretty fast.
About a new album:
FL: That's information that I can't share. But know that it's coming. I'm able to talk about it when the guys tell me, okay? You know what, we're good or the guys are going to go and talk about it and I'll just [?]. Know what I'm saying? You kind of, you do understand that though, right? [...] I understand you, but it's like the majority. It's like, it's not mine. I understand that I'm the manager and I get that, you know, that title, but this is Guns N' Roses. It's like Axl, Slash, Duff. I mean, this is the guys, this is their band. [...] it's like obviously now given that pretty big fucking company and they're trying to have a lot of shows that they have to account for to make sure that 2021 if everything does happen, does not get postponed to that year, [...] it's gonna be fucking a bunch of different shows and they have to, they're prioritizing everything and obviously availability with stadiums and so on. I mean, shit maybe we should just go fucking play parks.
About postponed shows, especially one scheduled in Portugal:
FL: We're being respectful of Live Nation to come up with a solution. Obviously they know that the show is around the corner and, and they know how important it is to make sure that all the t's are crossed and all the i's are dotted.
Being asked why Hardskool hasn't been played yet?
FL: No, it was just like everything, every day that goes, Axl goes down, Axl knows all the songs that he has in his arsenal and, you know, he picks and chooses what what goes where and how and you know, you account for breathing and the way he feels the concert flows best. Again, this is, you know, it's off the record. It's not to be held... It's from my perspective on the setlist goes, how the setlist goes. And regardless what's on there is it gets played per Axl and the guys.
Being asked about the takedown of YouTube videos and allegedly that a fan called "mojo" had been impersonating UZI Suicidal to do so and that the label had been taking down videos in the name of RIAA:
FL: So, okay. That's a perfect fucking question. So can somebody like quickly tell me like the rundown of what happened? [...] But like in a nutshell, I'm not sure we're talking apples to apples. [...] Okay, so obviously that kind of came about the video killing like it took like a horrible turn like in 2017? [...] Okay, because I remember being on Mygnr two years back, I think, and talking about this somewhat. Obviously, foremost is, the UZI Suicide wasn't an account that we had access to, made by the label, for us to kill any sort of like really bad video or a horrible, you know, that shines a bad light on Guns. [...] So somehow, which is weird to me, so hold on, so based on that, there was three people that knew about this account, right? Me, my assistant at the time, and the guy that used to work at the label, he gave me the account back in fucking, I don't even know 20... I don't know if it was pre 2010 or after. And obviously like the videos we'll kill, you will be just like horrible fucking stupid videos or horrible like not even fan made videos, but like a recording of something that wasn't right to record, something, something [?], because the videos that was getting killed, it never drew any negative attention in a sense. So obviously I guess that account eventually got hacked.
Being informed that Mojo got the login to that account when Mr. Saint Laurent hacked the Beta server.
FL: It can't be because Beta never had that email, never had that login. Yeah, so I don't know honestly how and obviously after all that should happen, we changed all our passwords, the guy that got us the account went to YouTube and had that account deactivated because obviously this is causing a problem. It wasn't properly, it wasn't Guns N' Roses related. [...] So when I asked on Reddit to put together, you know, lists of ideas and of what we as a band could do for the community, right? And then obviously some of the guys said, it's like, "Well, fucking maybe lifting those strikes against those accounts that had really good fan base or fan created videos," or whatever. I had my assistant pretty much summarize everything that was said. I sent it over to our social media people and had them kind of see realistically what's what. And obviously removing these strikes has been something that the community obviously needs and wants and demands. Rightfully so that some of these things were done not on the band's request, but obviously they're basing on, you know, being led by our ask, which is untrue. So our social media people is talking with YouTube to see how a) we can get an account, which obviously allows us to do what we were doing before this thing had got hacked and/or give us a channel to the people in which we can go and have it removed. And then what YouTube said is like, "Fernando, there's nothing, anybody, can go and make a claim. It doesn't even have to be you per se. Somebody that can portray you can go," and obviously YouTube will then just take whatever algorithm, whatever algorithm they have, they'll either say, "Okay, I'm gonna kill this video," or "I'm not gonna kill this video." You made it seem like it wasn't anybody could do it. And obviously this dude, whoever this guy is, took it upon himself to do it even though he was using the UZI Suicide that we didn't even know that he had access to because obviously as you guys know, once we found out that account was canceled, that day on Mygnr, but I think that's kind of when it came to came to light on our world that this is happening. So with YouTube investigating, knowing that this account was deactivated when we found out that this was fraud, their social media team and YouTube are working on how to remedy the situation. Obviously, Universal, our label, has also the right, since they own our publishings and so on, to kill any videos that they feel threatens theirs. However, we being in a long relationship with the label, we can say, "No, these videos are fine to stay up." But we are working on having some of these very positive videos put back online if able. Again, I do not know how YouTube works on if a video is killed and if YouTube then just un-checks, "Hey, this is okay to be live," you know what I mean? I don't know how their process is, but I know that they are, my social media people and YouTube are trying to figure it out, what is the best way to bring this to a fucking closure. Because, you know, it's "yet another strike on the Brazilian family that has ruined the best band in the world." [...] obviously it's like this YouTube thing, it's something that's obviously been haunting us, but it truly, truly is out of our control. If somebody hacks us and takes the account and does it, and then just because it said, "I'm acting on behalf of Team Brazil," or "I'm acting on behalf of Guns N' Roses or the label," that alone doesn't suffice it to be a fact. And it sucks because obviously we are to blame because of communication issues, I suppose. But at the end of the day, we have other shit going on in our lives that it's like, and it doesn't take priority in a sense, but other shit keeps us so busy on making this train keep moving forward. Then, you know, okay, so now that the train's moving forward, let's go ahead and deal with the shit that happened two years ago, which is what we're doing now.
Talking about the bad relationship between Team Brazil and fans:
FL: We're trying to kind of catch up of all the, how you guys say, how, you know, "the bad relationship between brand and the core fans," which, you know, the people that I have been lucky enough to meet throughout 20 years I've been working with Guns, dude. 20 fucking years. And the people I have met along the way, not one human being just fucking went as crazy as people do online. And I probably met some of these people in person and they never ever acted the way they act online. But, you know, and that's why I was a little reserved on coming to say, discord, a discord because it's kind of obviously is in today's world of communication, but it's still hard because you don't know, I don't know what all I'm saying is gonna get shared everywhere else and it fucking sucks. But it's like, it's the least that we can do. And obviously the band is not asking me to do this. I kind of just like, you know what?
About the Sweet Child O' Mine children's book:
FL: I'm talking to Reddit. I got like a very long message that I'm typing, I'm like, "Okay, what, I'm just wasting my time." I move a couple of my calls and I'm like, you know, "I'm going to see if somebody's there and I can just tell that person and that person can go and share it to somebody else." you know, with this whole fucking, this kid's book thing that kind of came out. And this is something I was working on for two years. It has nothing to do with Guns. It was something that I just wanted to do for my daughter. And it was... You guys keep saying that you guys are being long time fans and so on. It's like, I've been here 20 years, you know, my mom has been there, what, 34 years. And it's like, and you guys don't fucking know, you know, it's like up and down. And so this one thing that I did, it was just for me and not the guys, the guys just said, "Okay, you can go ahead," you know, "you can do it, we will give you the license." But then when I see, you know, like just shit bad mouth that which pretty much just I take it personally because [it's] something I'm doing for my kid and it's the only thing that makes a worth of everything that I have done. Or decided not to do because Guns is my family, you know, it's, "Fuck man." You guys been fans, but from that side, I'm here on this side and I'm a fan and you know, I'm family.
Talking about Slash and Duff rejoining the band:
FL: But shit, the guys got back together. We did a fucking shitload of fucking shows though, huh? They're just like catching up, fucking 23 years of just not touring. He's like, "You know what? Let's go ahead and just fucking pack everything into one, to one tour." That was a lot of touring though.
Talking more about videos getting taken down:
FL: Yeah, I think I remember seeing one of the videos like, "Oh shit, that's kind of cool." But again, it had nothing to do with the GN'R or the label. It's fucking some fucking... some very hateful fucking human being. I don't know what you guys did to that guy, by the way, whoever did it. [...] And we are working on it. I'm with you. It's obviously it's like the reason why we are who we are, and I say "we", does not mean that I feel myself as Guns N' Roses, okay, for the people that think so.
Being asked if there is a relaunch of Chinese Democracy planned with the additional artwork and video for Better:
FL: That was a.... From a personal experience we were very happy when Chinese finally came... not came out, but that we were able to get Irving at the time, Irving Azoff was the manager at the time, and Irving did, you know, Irving did some really good shit. But to comment on the release and how it was released and how it was supposed to be released, on artwork wise and so on is... I can't comment on that now but obviously, yeah, there was a video made without our [?]... It was the label that did something. There was a video made for Better, there was a couple of videos made for Better. The first one was done unofficially and that didn't go down well and then we had that killed because the guys, the guys [?] at the time, had no input whatsoever. And then we made another one. But there was so much going wrong with everything else. And the amount of people that was brought into the inner circle of how things gets better executed, what was a huge relief became like a very, like a thorn on our side because Axl finally had the freedom to do how he wanted done, but he was happy that the music was out the way that he wanted it out. You know what I mean? Like the songs were done properly, but artistically wasn't to his liking at the time. But then there was a lot of other other variables. And I can't really, you know, go into much detail because that was so... We're here and then like reliving all this shit that happened then is like you put us backwards, in a sense.
Talking about Chinese Democracy alternate artwork:
FL: You guys got a hold of some pictures of the actual artwork that was supposed to be, right? There was some photos that showed a different cover, no?
And about remixes:
FL: Yeah, yeah, we do have some remixes done. It's up to Axe, [?] to get it. But I think that if we were, personally, if we were to release a remix before the new music in any shape or form. I think we have to just really lead with the music. And then once those gates open, I think that we have freedom to explore other material.
And recording shows:
FL: So yeah, all of our shows are recorded, but they're recorded in a way of like two static cameras, right? And obviously, even though we have six cameras and those six cameras, they rotate, right? What's live and what's not on the iMac screens. So whenever say camera A and D are the ones that's recording 24/7, but then B, C is the ones that's kind of keep floating from, you know, Slash, Duff, Frank, Richard, Melissa, whoever else, you know, once those are on the screen, say camera B is getting Slash doing a solo, that's being recorded. But whatever camera B is doing that's not on the screen, that's not being recorded. So having said that is the footage that we do have of every show, it's a wide angle of the show, which obviously to me, I think it's good enough to have given everything else. So, you know, from whatever, from fucking Coachella to Rock in Rio to...Troubadour. So Troubadour, we have it. Right. And what's that guy's name? And obviously Troubadour is going through some financial issues. [...] People starting one way and then end in another way. Mark [Haefeli] throughout the process, you know, recording, getting, being like, he was super cool and super understandable. And then he just took it upon himself to like start releasing music without our okay. And, and, you know, I kind of get it, I get his side. But yeah, so anyway, so we are looking to see what we can do from from Troubadour that we can share that will also raise awareness for you know Troubadour's Go Fund Me page. [...] I mean, there are a lot of weeks and then we have a lot of fucking content. But obviously we're not gonna do... we're trying to deviate from obviously your, what you core fans feel that it's very redundant of sharing photos from the tour or snippets, but recording or releasing a song, you know, a live song, I think will be cool.
Being asked if they intend to release any old recordings:
FL: You know, it's not even being considered on the first launch of what we're trying to do now. Because I think that by doing, me personally, I think by doing older stuff, I think it's not the right move. But I do understand that obviously, you know, we do have a lot of, I believe we have a lot of stuff that can be shared in the meantime. But unfortunately, and I say that unfortunately, sarcastically, that Not In This Lifetime footage will be the first ones released.
Being asked if there are any pro shots of the Joint 2001.
FL: The infamous 2001! What a fucking show that was. Oh my God. Honestly, I do not know but I know that we have three hampers full of fucking shit that it's like on beta fucking cans like on all these different formats that literally I have to have our video company set up some hardware that's able that allows me to literally be able to play what we have. Realistically, we should have every show we have ever played, with exception of Apollo, because we didn't video that show. I don't believe, do we? No, I think we just recorded it. We didn't have a screen.
Question: So Fernando, what do you think of making a webpage like Metallica with all the shows and selling the recordings of each show?
FL: No, I don't see us doing anything like that.
Being asked about the consistent setlist.
FL: It's up to the guys what they play, how they play. I can't really comment on how the set list is.
Being asked if he is mad at Tom Zutaut for the Locker leaks:
FL: No, I'm not mad. Being mad is something that takes too much energy. But I just think it's wrong. It's just shit that he should never have. I mean, for the label. [?] He stole material from the label and not from Guns. So they're more mad than I am.
Being asked if he knows anything a guy from MTV that was selling tapes of Guns N' Roses, like the VMAs rehearsals. It was 10 years ago. Some guy from MTV stole the VMA rehearsals.
FL: No way. No. What? When was this? [?] The rehearsal sounds a fucking lot better than live. Whoever did the live fucking mix, sucked.
Being asked about Buckethead:
FL: Dude, Buckethead, man! It was so much fun hanging out with Bucket. Dude, I don't even know how many times we went for fucking Hollywood scary nights. It's cool, it's cool, love Bucket.
Being asked if Buckethead was close to rejoining the band after 2004.
FL: I can't comment on that. Don't know.
FL: We're working on a couple of things that we can release that commemorates the tour. There was a couple of different ideas throughout the years. And obviously those ideas then eventually because it was never followed through. Partially blame me, because I was busy with everything else. There's a couple of different things that we're thinking of doing that commemorates.
FL: What do you guys think of the lithographs on the tour, was pretty cool though, huh? I bought many of them. [?] I found out late though that like we're playing the Garden and some fan fucking got a hold of me through email or text message and say, "Dude, this fucking guy just came and bought 30 fucking lithos!" And up until then I was always on the belief that everything was like limited to one or two lithos per person. But I guess that wasn't the case.
Talking about Robert John allegedly selling 14 hours of footage for $200,000:
FL: I can't comment on that either. But you know, I mean Robert John was a dear friend, I mean, I believe he still is. I haven't talked to him fucking forever.
Being asked about all the years without new music:
FL: It's like, the releasing of music and so on, I can't comment on it until the guys do. And by the guys, you know, obviously Axl. [...] If the tours weren't as where they are now, we would have had music by now. I believe. Because of this, well, everything that's happened and it's unprecedented in our world that a priority of people worrying and being scared of the unknown took precedence. But, you know, I think that now that's everything, even though it's not controlled, but it's stabilizing on information on what the virus is and how, and how it can be contained or best...what's the word I'm looking for? [...] So now that it's the guys, everybody has a better understanding. And obviously, there's some testing done, and there's ways of making sure that when the guys are in the same room, there's no issue. And there's no issue from anybody in the crew that has to be there. Unlike a comment on Reddit, "How hard is it to set up a couple of amps?" I mean, it's a little harder when you don't have crew guys. But it's coming. I believe, I truly believe deep down in my heart, that it's coming.
Being asked how he compares Metallica's management with the way he is managing Guns N' Roses.
FL: I do not know how Metallica's manager is dealing with Metallica. All I know is that I feel on my feedback from Axl, Slash Duff, the guys, the promoters, our ticket sales, our presence has been great. Unfortunately, some of the, you know, the more hateful people, unlike yourself, decides to just kind of like, you know, poke the bear to hope for a growl. It fucking sucks. But you can be good at something while being hated for other things.
Being thanked for coming to the discord chat:
FL: I stopped going to Reddit after the first time around because of, you know, that was... it didn't matter what was said. Obviously he's gonna get taken in a way of negativity, which is fine. I completely understand. And it's like, it's a thing that I keep saying is like, I understand. I don't agree with it. I can be mad at a lot of things that I love and, you know, football teams or things I'm fans of, but at the end of the day is, it's up to them to do what they do. And I can't force them doing it any faster just because I want it. And unlike, you know, any other band out there, it's just a way [?]. From my perspective, being outside of an official capacity is, I like the shows, you know, I love talking to Axl, I love talking to Slash, Duff, Melissa, everybody else in the band. I love everybody that I have met throughout these years, you know, it's like... oh man.
Talking about seeing the band live:
FL: Oh dude, it's like, it was the one thing that we were talking. I mean, 20 years on touring a lot of fucking shows. And it's like, you know, people ask me like, "Dude, you get to travel the world." I'm like, "Yeah, it's amazing." First time, like, "Holy shit! I can't believe I'm here." The second time I'm like, "Holy shit, I didn't get to go there." The third, the fourth. I'm like, "Where the fuck are we?" Everything just goes into like. It's it's fucked. I mean, there was times back in the day where we'll be in three countries in two days, where you're like, "Where the fuck am I?" But, you know, I wouldn't change it. I wouldn't change it. I met my first wife working for Guns and my second wife. So pretty wild. I mean, dude, I love Guns. And I do what I can. And I think we're doing good. I think we're doing good. Unfortunately, not for everybody here. Well, not here, but in the fan base. But majority of them are great.
Talking about Fernando previously encouraging fans on Reddit to send him emails with suggestions:
FL: Okay. So in the beginning of this, I had, obviously we had like a lot of emails and I had my assistant just summarize everything and all points and all the ideas. And we took those ideas and kind of broke it down by department and sent the ideas forth. Did I personally read every single email? No, I did not. But if you want to tell me your email and if you want me to read it, I'll have them forward it to me and I'll read it. If there was more than just ideas of how to better Guns and the fan base and build that [?].
Question: On the topic of leaked songs, what was the band and Axl reaction to the leaks? Because these are obviously songs that haven't seen the light of day in 20 plus years, perhaps.
FL: They felt the same way as anybody else would. Regardless of who felt it right for them to hear, is Axl's final say on when it gets released, you know, and obviously understandable that fans have it, people are going to share it, but doing it in a way that is to instigate or to prolong a sour taste. I think it's fucking wrong. So me personally, I think I felt a little kind of wrong, you know, and having said that, I think the band maybe felt the same way.
Transcript:
Being asked to say something about Hard Skool:
Fernando Lebeis: See what I mean, man. Again, it's not my news to say. It's only my news to share once told to do so. [?] We actually did it on the soundcheck in Miami. Is definitely on the live- [...] But again, Guns N' Roses related business is Guns N' Roses business. And once, once I'm told, okay, we're live, we're going, we're releasing. I am more than happy to share any and all information I'm able.
Being asked if they are working on putting concert footage on YouTube:
FL: Yes, we are. [...] I mean, you know, it should, like I said, it should have been there. [...] we're not gonna do full concerts. I think I definitely like one of the ideas that somebody had where a song-a-week type of vibe. [...] As of now, we're looking to do Not In This Lifetime. And, you know, but we are putting together all of the, you know, all the stuff that we have under one roof, and all the stuff that Slash, Duff, Axl, and we have throughout the years, just so everything is properly planned.
When the videos would be released:
FL: Soon. I mean I say "soon" a lot but obviously I started asking why like 10 two weeks ago, three weeks ago, longer? On Reddit. But we have you know gotten all the hard drives from our from our video people and obviously from other festivals we have played. So we got links and we're downloading. Obviously, it's a lot of content. And we have our sound people doing everything that they need to do to make sure that the sound files matches the video files and come up with an execution plan. We'll see. But it's definitely sooner than soon, I should say. I mean, I know I say "soon" and soon is such a broad fucking... in my world, like soon can be two weeks from now, obviously soon to you is this weekend. So for the sake of saving sanity let's just say in a couple of weeks.
Fernando making a comment about being recorded:
FL: I just don't want, like, if you guys are recording, just don't record it. I don't like my voice sounds. [...] it's pretty easy to record though, but whatever. Do what you will. But obviously if it's like taking out a context. If it kind of comes out and it's recorded, taken out of context from someone or in some way, it just won't make it fun for me to come back. Even though sometimes the news that I share isn't the news that you want or you feel that it is important enough. And I am in no way here just to support myself or just to make myself look bigger and self-promotion. I'm just here just because I can't type as fast as y'all can. And some of these keyboard cowboys, man, are fucking, they're crazy. Like crazy as in like, not like just.... Internet, just pretty fast.
About a new album:
FL: That's information that I can't share. But know that it's coming. I'm able to talk about it when the guys tell me, okay? You know what, we're good or the guys are going to go and talk about it and I'll just [?]. Know what I'm saying? You kind of, you do understand that though, right? [...] I understand you, but it's like the majority. It's like, it's not mine. I understand that I'm the manager and I get that, you know, that title, but this is Guns N' Roses. It's like Axl, Slash, Duff. I mean, this is the guys, this is their band. [...] it's like obviously now given that pretty big fucking company and they're trying to have a lot of shows that they have to account for to make sure that 2021 if everything does happen, does not get postponed to that year, [...] it's gonna be fucking a bunch of different shows and they have to, they're prioritizing everything and obviously availability with stadiums and so on. I mean, shit maybe we should just go fucking play parks.
About postponed shows, especially one scheduled in Portugal:
FL: We're being respectful of Live Nation to come up with a solution. Obviously they know that the show is around the corner and, and they know how important it is to make sure that all the t's are crossed and all the i's are dotted.
Being asked why Hardskool hasn't been played yet?
FL: No, it was just like everything, every day that goes, Axl goes down, Axl knows all the songs that he has in his arsenal and, you know, he picks and chooses what what goes where and how and you know, you account for breathing and the way he feels the concert flows best. Again, this is, you know, it's off the record. It's not to be held... It's from my perspective on the setlist goes, how the setlist goes. And regardless what's on there is it gets played per Axl and the guys.
Being asked about the takedown of YouTube videos and allegedly that a fan called "mojo" had been impersonating UZI Suicidal to do so and that the label had been taking down videos in the name of RIAA:
FL: So, okay. That's a perfect fucking question. So can somebody like quickly tell me like the rundown of what happened? [...] But like in a nutshell, I'm not sure we're talking apples to apples. [...] Okay, so obviously that kind of came about the video killing like it took like a horrible turn like in 2017? [...] Okay, because I remember being on Mygnr two years back, I think, and talking about this somewhat. Obviously, foremost is, the UZI Suicide wasn't an account that we had access to, made by the label, for us to kill any sort of like really bad video or a horrible, you know, that shines a bad light on Guns. [...] So somehow, which is weird to me, so hold on, so based on that, there was three people that knew about this account, right? Me, my assistant at the time, and the guy that used to work at the label, he gave me the account back in fucking, I don't even know 20... I don't know if it was pre 2010 or after. And obviously like the videos we'll kill, you will be just like horrible fucking stupid videos or horrible like not even fan made videos, but like a recording of something that wasn't right to record, something, something [?], because the videos that was getting killed, it never drew any negative attention in a sense. So obviously I guess that account eventually got hacked.
Being informed that Mojo got the login to that account when Mr. Saint Laurent hacked the Beta server.
FL: It can't be because Beta never had that email, never had that login. Yeah, so I don't know honestly how and obviously after all that should happen, we changed all our passwords, the guy that got us the account went to YouTube and had that account deactivated because obviously this is causing a problem. It wasn't properly, it wasn't Guns N' Roses related. [...] So when I asked on Reddit to put together, you know, lists of ideas and of what we as a band could do for the community, right? And then obviously some of the guys said, it's like, "Well, fucking maybe lifting those strikes against those accounts that had really good fan base or fan created videos," or whatever. I had my assistant pretty much summarize everything that was said. I sent it over to our social media people and had them kind of see realistically what's what. And obviously removing these strikes has been something that the community obviously needs and wants and demands. Rightfully so that some of these things were done not on the band's request, but obviously they're basing on, you know, being led by our ask, which is untrue. So our social media people is talking with YouTube to see how a) we can get an account, which obviously allows us to do what we were doing before this thing had got hacked and/or give us a channel to the people in which we can go and have it removed. And then what YouTube said is like, "Fernando, there's nothing, anybody, can go and make a claim. It doesn't even have to be you per se. Somebody that can portray you can go," and obviously YouTube will then just take whatever algorithm, whatever algorithm they have, they'll either say, "Okay, I'm gonna kill this video," or "I'm not gonna kill this video." You made it seem like it wasn't anybody could do it. And obviously this dude, whoever this guy is, took it upon himself to do it even though he was using the UZI Suicide that we didn't even know that he had access to because obviously as you guys know, once we found out that account was canceled, that day on Mygnr, but I think that's kind of when it came to came to light on our world that this is happening. So with YouTube investigating, knowing that this account was deactivated when we found out that this was fraud, their social media team and YouTube are working on how to remedy the situation. Obviously, Universal, our label, has also the right, since they own our publishings and so on, to kill any videos that they feel threatens theirs. However, we being in a long relationship with the label, we can say, "No, these videos are fine to stay up." But we are working on having some of these very positive videos put back online if able. Again, I do not know how YouTube works on if a video is killed and if YouTube then just un-checks, "Hey, this is okay to be live," you know what I mean? I don't know how their process is, but I know that they are, my social media people and YouTube are trying to figure it out, what is the best way to bring this to a fucking closure. Because, you know, it's "yet another strike on the Brazilian family that has ruined the best band in the world." [...] obviously it's like this YouTube thing, it's something that's obviously been haunting us, but it truly, truly is out of our control. If somebody hacks us and takes the account and does it, and then just because it said, "I'm acting on behalf of Team Brazil," or "I'm acting on behalf of Guns N' Roses or the label," that alone doesn't suffice it to be a fact. And it sucks because obviously we are to blame because of communication issues, I suppose. But at the end of the day, we have other shit going on in our lives that it's like, and it doesn't take priority in a sense, but other shit keeps us so busy on making this train keep moving forward. Then, you know, okay, so now that the train's moving forward, let's go ahead and deal with the shit that happened two years ago, which is what we're doing now.
Talking about the bad relationship between Team Brazil and fans:
FL: We're trying to kind of catch up of all the, how you guys say, how, you know, "the bad relationship between brand and the core fans," which, you know, the people that I have been lucky enough to meet throughout 20 years I've been working with Guns, dude. 20 fucking years. And the people I have met along the way, not one human being just fucking went as crazy as people do online. And I probably met some of these people in person and they never ever acted the way they act online. But, you know, and that's why I was a little reserved on coming to say, discord, a discord because it's kind of obviously is in today's world of communication, but it's still hard because you don't know, I don't know what all I'm saying is gonna get shared everywhere else and it fucking sucks. But it's like, it's the least that we can do. And obviously the band is not asking me to do this. I kind of just like, you know what?
About the Sweet Child O' Mine children's book:
FL: I'm talking to Reddit. I got like a very long message that I'm typing, I'm like, "Okay, what, I'm just wasting my time." I move a couple of my calls and I'm like, you know, "I'm going to see if somebody's there and I can just tell that person and that person can go and share it to somebody else." you know, with this whole fucking, this kid's book thing that kind of came out. And this is something I was working on for two years. It has nothing to do with Guns. It was something that I just wanted to do for my daughter. And it was... You guys keep saying that you guys are being long time fans and so on. It's like, I've been here 20 years, you know, my mom has been there, what, 34 years. And it's like, and you guys don't fucking know, you know, it's like up and down. And so this one thing that I did, it was just for me and not the guys, the guys just said, "Okay, you can go ahead," you know, "you can do it, we will give you the license." But then when I see, you know, like just shit bad mouth that which pretty much just I take it personally because [it's] something I'm doing for my kid and it's the only thing that makes a worth of everything that I have done. Or decided not to do because Guns is my family, you know, it's, "Fuck man." You guys been fans, but from that side, I'm here on this side and I'm a fan and you know, I'm family.
Talking about Slash and Duff rejoining the band:
FL: But shit, the guys got back together. We did a fucking shitload of fucking shows though, huh? They're just like catching up, fucking 23 years of just not touring. He's like, "You know what? Let's go ahead and just fucking pack everything into one, to one tour." That was a lot of touring though.
Talking more about videos getting taken down:
FL: Yeah, I think I remember seeing one of the videos like, "Oh shit, that's kind of cool." But again, it had nothing to do with the GN'R or the label. It's fucking some fucking... some very hateful fucking human being. I don't know what you guys did to that guy, by the way, whoever did it. [...] And we are working on it. I'm with you. It's obviously it's like the reason why we are who we are, and I say "we", does not mean that I feel myself as Guns N' Roses, okay, for the people that think so.
Being asked if there is a relaunch of Chinese Democracy planned with the additional artwork and video for Better:
FL: That was a.... From a personal experience we were very happy when Chinese finally came... not came out, but that we were able to get Irving at the time, Irving Azoff was the manager at the time, and Irving did, you know, Irving did some really good shit. But to comment on the release and how it was released and how it was supposed to be released, on artwork wise and so on is... I can't comment on that now but obviously, yeah, there was a video made without our [?]... It was the label that did something. There was a video made for Better, there was a couple of videos made for Better. The first one was done unofficially and that didn't go down well and then we had that killed because the guys, the guys [?] at the time, had no input whatsoever. And then we made another one. But there was so much going wrong with everything else. And the amount of people that was brought into the inner circle of how things gets better executed, what was a huge relief became like a very, like a thorn on our side because Axl finally had the freedom to do how he wanted done, but he was happy that the music was out the way that he wanted it out. You know what I mean? Like the songs were done properly, but artistically wasn't to his liking at the time. But then there was a lot of other other variables. And I can't really, you know, go into much detail because that was so... We're here and then like reliving all this shit that happened then is like you put us backwards, in a sense.
Talking about Chinese Democracy alternate artwork:
FL: You guys got a hold of some pictures of the actual artwork that was supposed to be, right? There was some photos that showed a different cover, no?
And about remixes:
FL: Yeah, yeah, we do have some remixes done. It's up to Axe, [?] to get it. But I think that if we were, personally, if we were to release a remix before the new music in any shape or form. I think we have to just really lead with the music. And then once those gates open, I think that we have freedom to explore other material.
And recording shows:
FL: So yeah, all of our shows are recorded, but they're recorded in a way of like two static cameras, right? And obviously, even though we have six cameras and those six cameras, they rotate, right? What's live and what's not on the iMac screens. So whenever say camera A and D are the ones that's recording 24/7, but then B, C is the ones that's kind of keep floating from, you know, Slash, Duff, Frank, Richard, Melissa, whoever else, you know, once those are on the screen, say camera B is getting Slash doing a solo, that's being recorded. But whatever camera B is doing that's not on the screen, that's not being recorded. So having said that is the footage that we do have of every show, it's a wide angle of the show, which obviously to me, I think it's good enough to have given everything else. So, you know, from whatever, from fucking Coachella to Rock in Rio to...Troubadour. So Troubadour, we have it. Right. And what's that guy's name? And obviously Troubadour is going through some financial issues. [...] People starting one way and then end in another way. Mark [Haefeli] throughout the process, you know, recording, getting, being like, he was super cool and super understandable. And then he just took it upon himself to like start releasing music without our okay. And, and, you know, I kind of get it, I get his side. But yeah, so anyway, so we are looking to see what we can do from from Troubadour that we can share that will also raise awareness for you know Troubadour's Go Fund Me page. [...] I mean, there are a lot of weeks and then we have a lot of fucking content. But obviously we're not gonna do... we're trying to deviate from obviously your, what you core fans feel that it's very redundant of sharing photos from the tour or snippets, but recording or releasing a song, you know, a live song, I think will be cool.
Being asked if they intend to release any old recordings:
FL: You know, it's not even being considered on the first launch of what we're trying to do now. Because I think that by doing, me personally, I think by doing older stuff, I think it's not the right move. But I do understand that obviously, you know, we do have a lot of, I believe we have a lot of stuff that can be shared in the meantime. But unfortunately, and I say that unfortunately, sarcastically, that Not In This Lifetime footage will be the first ones released.
Being asked if there are any pro shots of the Joint 2001.
FL: The infamous 2001! What a fucking show that was. Oh my God. Honestly, I do not know but I know that we have three hampers full of fucking shit that it's like on beta fucking cans like on all these different formats that literally I have to have our video company set up some hardware that's able that allows me to literally be able to play what we have. Realistically, we should have every show we have ever played, with exception of Apollo, because we didn't video that show. I don't believe, do we? No, I think we just recorded it. We didn't have a screen.
Question: So Fernando, what do you think of making a webpage like Metallica with all the shows and selling the recordings of each show?
FL: No, I don't see us doing anything like that.
Being asked about the consistent setlist.
FL: It's up to the guys what they play, how they play. I can't really comment on how the set list is.
Being asked if he is mad at Tom Zutaut for the Locker leaks:
FL: No, I'm not mad. Being mad is something that takes too much energy. But I just think it's wrong. It's just shit that he should never have. I mean, for the label. [?] He stole material from the label and not from Guns. So they're more mad than I am.
Being asked if he knows anything a guy from MTV that was selling tapes of Guns N' Roses, like the VMAs rehearsals. It was 10 years ago. Some guy from MTV stole the VMA rehearsals.
FL: No way. No. What? When was this? [?] The rehearsal sounds a fucking lot better than live. Whoever did the live fucking mix, sucked.
Being asked about Buckethead:
FL: Dude, Buckethead, man! It was so much fun hanging out with Bucket. Dude, I don't even know how many times we went for fucking Hollywood scary nights. It's cool, it's cool, love Bucket.
Being asked if Buckethead was close to rejoining the band after 2004.
FL: I can't comment on that. Don't know.
FL: We're working on a couple of things that we can release that commemorates the tour. There was a couple of different ideas throughout the years. And obviously those ideas then eventually because it was never followed through. Partially blame me, because I was busy with everything else. There's a couple of different things that we're thinking of doing that commemorates.
FL: What do you guys think of the lithographs on the tour, was pretty cool though, huh? I bought many of them. [?] I found out late though that like we're playing the Garden and some fan fucking got a hold of me through email or text message and say, "Dude, this fucking guy just came and bought 30 fucking lithos!" And up until then I was always on the belief that everything was like limited to one or two lithos per person. But I guess that wasn't the case.
Talking about Robert John allegedly selling 14 hours of footage for $200,000:
FL: I can't comment on that either. But you know, I mean Robert John was a dear friend, I mean, I believe he still is. I haven't talked to him fucking forever.
Being asked about all the years without new music:
FL: It's like, the releasing of music and so on, I can't comment on it until the guys do. And by the guys, you know, obviously Axl. [...] If the tours weren't as where they are now, we would have had music by now. I believe. Because of this, well, everything that's happened and it's unprecedented in our world that a priority of people worrying and being scared of the unknown took precedence. But, you know, I think that now that's everything, even though it's not controlled, but it's stabilizing on information on what the virus is and how, and how it can be contained or best...what's the word I'm looking for? [...] So now that it's the guys, everybody has a better understanding. And obviously, there's some testing done, and there's ways of making sure that when the guys are in the same room, there's no issue. And there's no issue from anybody in the crew that has to be there. Unlike a comment on Reddit, "How hard is it to set up a couple of amps?" I mean, it's a little harder when you don't have crew guys. But it's coming. I believe, I truly believe deep down in my heart, that it's coming.
Being asked how he compares Metallica's management with the way he is managing Guns N' Roses.
FL: I do not know how Metallica's manager is dealing with Metallica. All I know is that I feel on my feedback from Axl, Slash Duff, the guys, the promoters, our ticket sales, our presence has been great. Unfortunately, some of the, you know, the more hateful people, unlike yourself, decides to just kind of like, you know, poke the bear to hope for a growl. It fucking sucks. But you can be good at something while being hated for other things.
Being thanked for coming to the discord chat:
FL: I stopped going to Reddit after the first time around because of, you know, that was... it didn't matter what was said. Obviously he's gonna get taken in a way of negativity, which is fine. I completely understand. And it's like, it's a thing that I keep saying is like, I understand. I don't agree with it. I can be mad at a lot of things that I love and, you know, football teams or things I'm fans of, but at the end of the day is, it's up to them to do what they do. And I can't force them doing it any faster just because I want it. And unlike, you know, any other band out there, it's just a way [?]. From my perspective, being outside of an official capacity is, I like the shows, you know, I love talking to Axl, I love talking to Slash, Duff, Melissa, everybody else in the band. I love everybody that I have met throughout these years, you know, it's like... oh man.
Talking about seeing the band live:
FL: Oh dude, it's like, it was the one thing that we were talking. I mean, 20 years on touring a lot of fucking shows. And it's like, you know, people ask me like, "Dude, you get to travel the world." I'm like, "Yeah, it's amazing." First time, like, "Holy shit! I can't believe I'm here." The second time I'm like, "Holy shit, I didn't get to go there." The third, the fourth. I'm like, "Where the fuck are we?" Everything just goes into like. It's it's fucked. I mean, there was times back in the day where we'll be in three countries in two days, where you're like, "Where the fuck am I?" But, you know, I wouldn't change it. I wouldn't change it. I met my first wife working for Guns and my second wife. So pretty wild. I mean, dude, I love Guns. And I do what I can. And I think we're doing good. I think we're doing good. Unfortunately, not for everybody here. Well, not here, but in the fan base. But majority of them are great.
Talking about Fernando previously encouraging fans on Reddit to send him emails with suggestions:
FL: Okay. So in the beginning of this, I had, obviously we had like a lot of emails and I had my assistant just summarize everything and all points and all the ideas. And we took those ideas and kind of broke it down by department and sent the ideas forth. Did I personally read every single email? No, I did not. But if you want to tell me your email and if you want me to read it, I'll have them forward it to me and I'll read it. If there was more than just ideas of how to better Guns and the fan base and build that [?].
Question: On the topic of leaked songs, what was the band and Axl reaction to the leaks? Because these are obviously songs that haven't seen the light of day in 20 plus years, perhaps.
FL: They felt the same way as anybody else would. Regardless of who felt it right for them to hear, is Axl's final say on when it gets released, you know, and obviously understandable that fans have it, people are going to share it, but doing it in a way that is to instigate or to prolong a sour taste. I think it's fucking wrong. So me personally, I think I felt a little kind of wrong, you know, and having said that, I think the band maybe felt the same way.
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Re: 2020.05.07 - The War Room Discord - Voice chat with Fernando Lebeis
by Soulmonster Tue Oct 08, 2024 6:33 pm
FL: Yeah that's another thing that you guys were commenting about doing a platform of some sort that has a monthly something like a streaming service. I don't think we're gonna do something or streaming service per se. I like that idea and I'm trying I'm working with Tickermaster. But Ticketmaster is just for load a bunch of people because of this virus, but we were working on how to make it where it's available there, but also there's some that's available in our obviously YouTube channel.
Being criticized for reacting more to negative comments from fans than positive comments:
FL: So without simplifying, when something good happens, that person's going to tell one person. When something bad happens, that person's going to tell 10 people. Right? And obviously given when Axl kind came to mygnr, it was based on personal attacks and that kind of led Axl to get on. [...] So then it's like into the point where obviously there's, you know, when, when, when hateful posts come about, what I like to believe is that in the hopes of having Axl come in and stand up for me and or my mom's. [...] And then at the day it's like this, some of the things that gets put on my plate per you and yours, and meaning, you know, whatever the fan base that best suits. You give me some power that is not up to me. And obviously I know that deep down inside, you guys know that. But you know, it doesn't stop from that person to maybe saying one thing one day, and then five days later, somebody else, or maybe 10 other people are gonna go and say something that echoes that feeling on their own. And then eventually that becomes louder. And then he goes into, if I go and say something, and then he becomes like a bait and then he opens up to trolls. And then he get people that's defending me and or my family and or Axl and whatever. And then the point becomes so far that it's so out of focus that you're like, fuck. And my thing is that I'm fucking 40 years old now. You know what I mean? It's like Axl is not going to stand up for me or... And obviously he will if he feels that there's something that's going on that's within his power. But it's very hard given all the bad that has happened and bad meaning from both sides, obviously. My, I guess, our lack of attention to the fan base and...
Being told that all the hatred comments towards the Lebeis family comes down to them being representatives of a band that doesn't release music:
FL: When I took over managing the band in 2010, you know, there's obviously, there was a lot of, there was a lot of friction on every aspect of what was Guns N' Roses, you know? I mean, obviously you guys knew from a fan perspective and following on what's available online and what's not available, and you guys can come up with your own conclusion, which obviously, [?]. So to come in from where I started, what is it, unprofessional and without experience manager, to come in and fill those shoes. To me, and I am in no way tooting my own horn here, is from what Doug did to Merck to every manager in between from Irving to Doc to Peter Katzis. Everything we did, Team Brazil. And the reason why, you know, the reason why we are called Team Brazil is because Axl labels us Team Brazil. Like fucking when he's talking about us as a whole, it's like, okay, it's team fucking Brazil. [Mentioning how they would speak in Portuguese] "Okay, something's happening and they don't want me to know about." So Team Brazil was working on it and that's kind of how he came about. And, you know, 20 years later, well, I guess, you know, eight years later, how Guns N' Roses was working. I mean, I'm in no way saying regardless of what, however, Doug and every other manager in between said about us. I can never grade what they did right or wrong because me myself at that time, I had no fucking experience. All I know is that I went to fucking school to do computer programming, but I was like, "Holy shit, I'm a kid. I want to fucking see the world. Guns N' Roses is going to tour. I'm going to fucking work for Guns." So my experience I got was from living the shit show that was being in Guns after, you know, everybody left and how many people outside of Axl's world was involved. So the experience I have is the experience that no manager have, Axl is my, he's my mentor in a sense. I met him when I was 10 years old. So everything that I've known is based on me learning from Axl. And I've told Axl this, I'm like, "Axe, the one thing it's, every decision I make is going to be the decision you tell me. And obviously it's like the opportunities that I'm going to present to you are based on what I know it's possible and removing all the impossible things that I know you will never do. And if you do, it's going to hinder any sort of progress that we need to make." So throughout the years, and I keep saying 20 years, 20 years with one band, you know, and one family - and by family, I mean the band, the members and the crew - it's like, it's a lot, you know, it's a lot. And you kind of, and then when you go and obviously the fans, which sees what it's available for them to see, comes up with their own ideas of what, you know, what should be instead of what it is. And then it's hard to combat that because it's like the way that I have to somewhat not defend myself, but explain this side is exposing some things that it's not right to expose. Does that kind of make sense?
FL: So I get it. And again, it sucks, bro, because obviously the only thing I can say is that it's there, it's coming. And until the guys tell me, "Hey," you know, "this is when it's gonna happen," I can't comment on it. I can only make sure that I'm doing everything I can internally that Axl, everybody, has what they need, to make sure that they have all the tools that they need to finish or release the music. And I mean, when I say finish, release the music, I'm not saying that the music is finished, ready to release, but I'm not saying it's not. [...] I'm saying that there's fucking music on the fucking pipeline, and if it wasn't for this fucking pandemic, you know.
Being asked how the pandemic affects releasing music:
FL: Fuck man. [...] There's a lot. It's not as easy as you may think.
Pointing out that other bands are able to do it:
FL: How many bands are Guns though? I don't know how else to explain it without sounding like, you know what I mean? Like the things that really just kind of sets people off, but it's like, it's the only way I got. It's whenever the guy goes, "Okay, here's the fucking CD, get the legal team. Let's fucking put this thing out." How to best fucking do it. Cause at the end of the day, now releasing music, obviously it's like the only way fans are gonna love it, fans are gonna fucking enjoy it, fans are gonna go... But whenever this pandemic comes about, what's gonna be, we need to figure out the driver for a new tour and so on. But there's a lot of things to take into account and-
Pointing out that there's allways been a lot of things to take into account:
FL: Because you wake up, you wake up, you do your life. You do your life. Right. And then you go to sleep. The shit my life is all the shit. That you think about, like, why the fuck isn't this happening? You know what I mean? Or it's like, I have to deal with all of that. And that's you know, it's what we're doing. Fuck, man.
Back to the YouTube takedowns:
FL: We're working on trying to figure it out how to remedy the situation and see if there's a way to remove whatever false [...] strike the account, however YouTube labels it. We're trying to see if there's a way to revert because obviously the account was hacked and the account was then deactivated by YouTube. And YouTube was telling me that anybody can go in and create a ticket that say that this video is against copyright laws. And if it's not based on an official account, there's an algorithm or whatever YouTube does to take into account, if this report is real or not, they just kind of go, "You know what, let's just kill it." I mean, there's nothing I can do to stop it. But obviously now, like I was saying in the beginning, it came to light in my world when we're in Mygnr and we're talking and somebody brought it up to me [...]. I was under the assumption we were talking about some of the videos I know that were killed that were shining a bad light on the band and not the fan created with real skill, like real shit. It was a huge misunderstanding at first, years ago, and then it became, "Wait a minute, there is a guy acting on behalf of the band where we have no idea who this person is. And obviously he's not representing the band, Team Brazil or the label."
Being asked if Reddit is being controlled/invaded by Team Brazil:
FL: So the label, I mean, you guys, Reddit was sharing a bunch of download links for the leak. So it's not the label or the band's priority to make sure that that gets shut down in some way? I'm not talking about removing any content, removing content that allows people to download illegal music. [...] So yeah, I mean, yeah, there's definitely truth because the label was pretty pissed when all this shit came to light. Fuck Rick Dunsford, man. [...] I love Reddit. I've been on Reddit ever. [...] But Reddit was cool because it's not just one community. It's not just like Mygnr, Here Today Gone To Hell, and you know, the other ones. It was, you know what I mean? It's like one place that people can just go and I get it, dude. I get that people are going to say, and some people just kind of lead with [...] hateful content. But it's like, whatever, it's cool. People can say what they wanna say. But it doesn't mean I have to fucking... Every person that literally writes anything that I feel that's offensive to me personally, I just block them and just go on about my day. And if that's somewhat censoring the fan's ability to speak freely, I mean, I'm sorry. There's other ways that they can get their point across.
Responding to a written comment:
FL: No, Here Today Gone To Hell is not "ministry of propaganda". Fucking love the community. I mean like every person that I met that even from there it's fucking cool. It's like they're cool people, regardless on how they portrayed or how they they try to protect the band, it's like, it's cool. I protect the band even, you know, if I feel that they're wrong, I'll still protect the band.
Reading a question about a tour blu-ray:
FL: "Tour blu-ray discussed yet?" No, no, not yet. I don't think so but again, we're looking to release music videos that people can watch during this pandemic.
I think you're so over here. Bernardo. Huh? Can Axel come over here? Axel here? No, no. Why not?
Being asked about Axl's voice between 1999 and 2001.
FL: Well, I know that he, back in 2000, he took some lessons with the vocal coach and that's when we're hanging out with a lot of Sebastian Bach. And we did, I know he did some Sebastian Bach's warmup. Axl is very responsible about his voice.
Being asked if Axl is taking vocal lessons now:
FL: No, but you know, before every show he does a, what is it like an hour, almost two hours of vocal warmup and does an hour and a half to two hours of vocal warm downs. So he's actually, you know, singing for seven hours in a sense.
Did the band rehearse hard school because it leaked or it was planned before?
FL: Axl decided to do that. I don't know. I can't, I don't know what led to, I don't know what led to it.
Being asked which leaked track is his favorite:
FL: [laughs] One you haven't heard.
So whenever the next album is released, or the new music is released, is the pacing for, I mean, are we going to have a better pacing of having new music released or will be...
FL: I hope so.
About Axl's interest in new music:
FL: I think that once the music is released, we'll take one step at a time. Hopefully the next step is releasing another music.
Do you think Axl would do a Q&A like 2008 again? Even if it was like, his questions had to go through like you?
FL: I don't know. I would love for him to talk. I would love for him to talk. Because he's obviously as we all know... Well, as I know, he's the smartest guy I've ever met. I love for him to, you know what I mean, to be able to, to talk, especially direct to the fans and that, you know, they wouldn't be debating, debating or the trolls, or I believe that they, if that comes, I believe that everybody will be very respectful. And I think that would be kind of cool.
Being pointed out that all questions could go through Fernando to weed out the assholes:
FL: Yeah, I definitely agree. I know I've seen a couple of ways. It's a hundred percent agree. I think it'll be cool.
So with the shows in 2001, is there any chance we'll get pro shot for the two ones that haven't been released yet? There's two shows from 2001 that haven't been released yet.
FL: So to answer that question, I believe we have every show that we have ever played that actually had a camera. There's like, I don't know, I think I said like three or four hampers full of shit that I need a different hardware to play it. And obviously I'm not going to set up anything that dates back where I need to have somebody to come to my house and actually install shit that I can view until a little bit later. But it's definitely in the books of trying to figure out what all are on these hampers and categorize them properly. But we do have a lot of shit that we don't even know what we have that dates from like, you know, 2000 onward or up until like 2007 or so or 10.
On whether Fernando actually leaked anything:
FL: I have never given CDs to anybody, ever. I think somebody in Brazil said my friends heard it, I don't remember saying that but obviously if my friends heard it then these friends came over to Axl's house and listened to what he was working on. I have never had... The only time I have had a CD, because we are pretty protective, the only time I've had a CD was when we met with Irving and went to Interscope to release the songs, to release Chinese.
About Chinese Democracy 2 in 2010 being turned down by the label:
FL: That's fake. Label never turned down anything that Axl said, "I want to put this out". [...] the label never turned down anything. The one thing I can tell you for sure is that the label would never turn anything down that Axl creates. [...] [That] rumor is way false. There's no way... And that would be before even Beats[?] came about. That was when Jimmy Iovine was still there.
Was Heart School really called Jackie Chan at some point?
FL: That's Axl, I don't know, it's Axl's world, man. I can't comment on unreleased tracks and names because they're not mine, only represent.
With the information that the label hasn't turned anything down does that simply mean Axl isn't interested in releasing anything?
FL: I can't comment on what Axl is willing or not willing to do. You know what I mean? It's up to him to do so. I'm just telling you that whatever you just said to me, it never happened, because I know that that never happened. So as for releasing music, it's not my story to tell. Sorry about that.
I was reading off of the chat here, someone else said, there was a rumor that Appetite was re-recorded in 1999 with the Chinese Democracy lineup. Is that, it's false?
FL: Yeah. I mean, I think the only, no, yeah. I don't remember that at all.
Being asked about Axl's voice:
FL: I don't know, I mean, to me, I think that he's, I think every show, beginning of the tour, tour is the middle, and then he just gets better. I mean, I think that his voice is very, to me, I fucking love it. I hear it a lot, though.
Being criticized for reacting more to negative comments from fans than positive comments:
FL: So without simplifying, when something good happens, that person's going to tell one person. When something bad happens, that person's going to tell 10 people. Right? And obviously given when Axl kind came to mygnr, it was based on personal attacks and that kind of led Axl to get on. [...] So then it's like into the point where obviously there's, you know, when, when, when hateful posts come about, what I like to believe is that in the hopes of having Axl come in and stand up for me and or my mom's. [...] And then at the day it's like this, some of the things that gets put on my plate per you and yours, and meaning, you know, whatever the fan base that best suits. You give me some power that is not up to me. And obviously I know that deep down inside, you guys know that. But you know, it doesn't stop from that person to maybe saying one thing one day, and then five days later, somebody else, or maybe 10 other people are gonna go and say something that echoes that feeling on their own. And then eventually that becomes louder. And then he goes into, if I go and say something, and then he becomes like a bait and then he opens up to trolls. And then he get people that's defending me and or my family and or Axl and whatever. And then the point becomes so far that it's so out of focus that you're like, fuck. And my thing is that I'm fucking 40 years old now. You know what I mean? It's like Axl is not going to stand up for me or... And obviously he will if he feels that there's something that's going on that's within his power. But it's very hard given all the bad that has happened and bad meaning from both sides, obviously. My, I guess, our lack of attention to the fan base and...
Being told that all the hatred comments towards the Lebeis family comes down to them being representatives of a band that doesn't release music:
FL: When I took over managing the band in 2010, you know, there's obviously, there was a lot of, there was a lot of friction on every aspect of what was Guns N' Roses, you know? I mean, obviously you guys knew from a fan perspective and following on what's available online and what's not available, and you guys can come up with your own conclusion, which obviously, [?]. So to come in from where I started, what is it, unprofessional and without experience manager, to come in and fill those shoes. To me, and I am in no way tooting my own horn here, is from what Doug did to Merck to every manager in between from Irving to Doc to Peter Katzis. Everything we did, Team Brazil. And the reason why, you know, the reason why we are called Team Brazil is because Axl labels us Team Brazil. Like fucking when he's talking about us as a whole, it's like, okay, it's team fucking Brazil. [Mentioning how they would speak in Portuguese] "Okay, something's happening and they don't want me to know about." So Team Brazil was working on it and that's kind of how he came about. And, you know, 20 years later, well, I guess, you know, eight years later, how Guns N' Roses was working. I mean, I'm in no way saying regardless of what, however, Doug and every other manager in between said about us. I can never grade what they did right or wrong because me myself at that time, I had no fucking experience. All I know is that I went to fucking school to do computer programming, but I was like, "Holy shit, I'm a kid. I want to fucking see the world. Guns N' Roses is going to tour. I'm going to fucking work for Guns." So my experience I got was from living the shit show that was being in Guns after, you know, everybody left and how many people outside of Axl's world was involved. So the experience I have is the experience that no manager have, Axl is my, he's my mentor in a sense. I met him when I was 10 years old. So everything that I've known is based on me learning from Axl. And I've told Axl this, I'm like, "Axe, the one thing it's, every decision I make is going to be the decision you tell me. And obviously it's like the opportunities that I'm going to present to you are based on what I know it's possible and removing all the impossible things that I know you will never do. And if you do, it's going to hinder any sort of progress that we need to make." So throughout the years, and I keep saying 20 years, 20 years with one band, you know, and one family - and by family, I mean the band, the members and the crew - it's like, it's a lot, you know, it's a lot. And you kind of, and then when you go and obviously the fans, which sees what it's available for them to see, comes up with their own ideas of what, you know, what should be instead of what it is. And then it's hard to combat that because it's like the way that I have to somewhat not defend myself, but explain this side is exposing some things that it's not right to expose. Does that kind of make sense?
FL: So I get it. And again, it sucks, bro, because obviously the only thing I can say is that it's there, it's coming. And until the guys tell me, "Hey," you know, "this is when it's gonna happen," I can't comment on it. I can only make sure that I'm doing everything I can internally that Axl, everybody, has what they need, to make sure that they have all the tools that they need to finish or release the music. And I mean, when I say finish, release the music, I'm not saying that the music is finished, ready to release, but I'm not saying it's not. [...] I'm saying that there's fucking music on the fucking pipeline, and if it wasn't for this fucking pandemic, you know.
Being asked how the pandemic affects releasing music:
FL: Fuck man. [...] There's a lot. It's not as easy as you may think.
Pointing out that other bands are able to do it:
FL: How many bands are Guns though? I don't know how else to explain it without sounding like, you know what I mean? Like the things that really just kind of sets people off, but it's like, it's the only way I got. It's whenever the guy goes, "Okay, here's the fucking CD, get the legal team. Let's fucking put this thing out." How to best fucking do it. Cause at the end of the day, now releasing music, obviously it's like the only way fans are gonna love it, fans are gonna fucking enjoy it, fans are gonna go... But whenever this pandemic comes about, what's gonna be, we need to figure out the driver for a new tour and so on. But there's a lot of things to take into account and-
Pointing out that there's allways been a lot of things to take into account:
FL: Because you wake up, you wake up, you do your life. You do your life. Right. And then you go to sleep. The shit my life is all the shit. That you think about, like, why the fuck isn't this happening? You know what I mean? Or it's like, I have to deal with all of that. And that's you know, it's what we're doing. Fuck, man.
Back to the YouTube takedowns:
FL: We're working on trying to figure it out how to remedy the situation and see if there's a way to remove whatever false [...] strike the account, however YouTube labels it. We're trying to see if there's a way to revert because obviously the account was hacked and the account was then deactivated by YouTube. And YouTube was telling me that anybody can go in and create a ticket that say that this video is against copyright laws. And if it's not based on an official account, there's an algorithm or whatever YouTube does to take into account, if this report is real or not, they just kind of go, "You know what, let's just kill it." I mean, there's nothing I can do to stop it. But obviously now, like I was saying in the beginning, it came to light in my world when we're in Mygnr and we're talking and somebody brought it up to me [...]. I was under the assumption we were talking about some of the videos I know that were killed that were shining a bad light on the band and not the fan created with real skill, like real shit. It was a huge misunderstanding at first, years ago, and then it became, "Wait a minute, there is a guy acting on behalf of the band where we have no idea who this person is. And obviously he's not representing the band, Team Brazil or the label."
Being asked if Reddit is being controlled/invaded by Team Brazil:
FL: So the label, I mean, you guys, Reddit was sharing a bunch of download links for the leak. So it's not the label or the band's priority to make sure that that gets shut down in some way? I'm not talking about removing any content, removing content that allows people to download illegal music. [...] So yeah, I mean, yeah, there's definitely truth because the label was pretty pissed when all this shit came to light. Fuck Rick Dunsford, man. [...] I love Reddit. I've been on Reddit ever. [...] But Reddit was cool because it's not just one community. It's not just like Mygnr, Here Today Gone To Hell, and you know, the other ones. It was, you know what I mean? It's like one place that people can just go and I get it, dude. I get that people are going to say, and some people just kind of lead with [...] hateful content. But it's like, whatever, it's cool. People can say what they wanna say. But it doesn't mean I have to fucking... Every person that literally writes anything that I feel that's offensive to me personally, I just block them and just go on about my day. And if that's somewhat censoring the fan's ability to speak freely, I mean, I'm sorry. There's other ways that they can get their point across.
Responding to a written comment:
FL: No, Here Today Gone To Hell is not "ministry of propaganda". Fucking love the community. I mean like every person that I met that even from there it's fucking cool. It's like they're cool people, regardless on how they portrayed or how they they try to protect the band, it's like, it's cool. I protect the band even, you know, if I feel that they're wrong, I'll still protect the band.
Reading a question about a tour blu-ray:
FL: "Tour blu-ray discussed yet?" No, no, not yet. I don't think so but again, we're looking to release music videos that people can watch during this pandemic.
I think you're so over here. Bernardo. Huh? Can Axel come over here? Axel here? No, no. Why not?
Being asked about Axl's voice between 1999 and 2001.
FL: Well, I know that he, back in 2000, he took some lessons with the vocal coach and that's when we're hanging out with a lot of Sebastian Bach. And we did, I know he did some Sebastian Bach's warmup. Axl is very responsible about his voice.
Being asked if Axl is taking vocal lessons now:
FL: No, but you know, before every show he does a, what is it like an hour, almost two hours of vocal warmup and does an hour and a half to two hours of vocal warm downs. So he's actually, you know, singing for seven hours in a sense.
Did the band rehearse hard school because it leaked or it was planned before?
FL: Axl decided to do that. I don't know. I can't, I don't know what led to, I don't know what led to it.
Being asked which leaked track is his favorite:
FL: [laughs] One you haven't heard.
So whenever the next album is released, or the new music is released, is the pacing for, I mean, are we going to have a better pacing of having new music released or will be...
FL: I hope so.
About Axl's interest in new music:
FL: I think that once the music is released, we'll take one step at a time. Hopefully the next step is releasing another music.
Do you think Axl would do a Q&A like 2008 again? Even if it was like, his questions had to go through like you?
FL: I don't know. I would love for him to talk. I would love for him to talk. Because he's obviously as we all know... Well, as I know, he's the smartest guy I've ever met. I love for him to, you know what I mean, to be able to, to talk, especially direct to the fans and that, you know, they wouldn't be debating, debating or the trolls, or I believe that they, if that comes, I believe that everybody will be very respectful. And I think that would be kind of cool.
Being pointed out that all questions could go through Fernando to weed out the assholes:
FL: Yeah, I definitely agree. I know I've seen a couple of ways. It's a hundred percent agree. I think it'll be cool.
So with the shows in 2001, is there any chance we'll get pro shot for the two ones that haven't been released yet? There's two shows from 2001 that haven't been released yet.
FL: So to answer that question, I believe we have every show that we have ever played that actually had a camera. There's like, I don't know, I think I said like three or four hampers full of shit that I need a different hardware to play it. And obviously I'm not going to set up anything that dates back where I need to have somebody to come to my house and actually install shit that I can view until a little bit later. But it's definitely in the books of trying to figure out what all are on these hampers and categorize them properly. But we do have a lot of shit that we don't even know what we have that dates from like, you know, 2000 onward or up until like 2007 or so or 10.
On whether Fernando actually leaked anything:
FL: I have never given CDs to anybody, ever. I think somebody in Brazil said my friends heard it, I don't remember saying that but obviously if my friends heard it then these friends came over to Axl's house and listened to what he was working on. I have never had... The only time I have had a CD, because we are pretty protective, the only time I've had a CD was when we met with Irving and went to Interscope to release the songs, to release Chinese.
About Chinese Democracy 2 in 2010 being turned down by the label:
FL: That's fake. Label never turned down anything that Axl said, "I want to put this out". [...] the label never turned down anything. The one thing I can tell you for sure is that the label would never turn anything down that Axl creates. [...] [That] rumor is way false. There's no way... And that would be before even Beats[?] came about. That was when Jimmy Iovine was still there.
Was Heart School really called Jackie Chan at some point?
FL: That's Axl, I don't know, it's Axl's world, man. I can't comment on unreleased tracks and names because they're not mine, only represent.
With the information that the label hasn't turned anything down does that simply mean Axl isn't interested in releasing anything?
FL: I can't comment on what Axl is willing or not willing to do. You know what I mean? It's up to him to do so. I'm just telling you that whatever you just said to me, it never happened, because I know that that never happened. So as for releasing music, it's not my story to tell. Sorry about that.
I was reading off of the chat here, someone else said, there was a rumor that Appetite was re-recorded in 1999 with the Chinese Democracy lineup. Is that, it's false?
FL: Yeah. I mean, I think the only, no, yeah. I don't remember that at all.
Being asked about Axl's voice:
FL: I don't know, I mean, to me, I think that he's, I think every show, beginning of the tour, tour is the middle, and then he just gets better. I mean, I think that his voice is very, to me, I fucking love it. I hear it a lot, though.
Last edited by Soulmonster on Tue Nov 19, 2024 9:15 pm; edited 14 times in total
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Re: 2020.05.07 - The War Room Discord - Voice chat with Fernando Lebeis
by Blackstar Tue Oct 08, 2024 10:02 pm
Soulmonster wrote:@Blackstar, did you ever listen to this and is it worth transcribing? I would think it is, but I won't bother if it isn't.
Yes, I have listened to it and I think it's worth transcribing, at least parts of it (unfortunately I haven't had the time to do it myself).
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Re: 2020.05.07 - The War Room Discord - Voice chat with Fernando Lebeis
by Soulmonster Tue Nov 19, 2024 9:17 pm
Transcribed this. Obviously I don't know who asked all the questions, and some questions were typed in, but I got most of what Fernando responded.
I have to say, Fernando comes across as much more likeable in chats than when he is typing. Or, his laidback, chill persona translated better when chatting like this than in posts where it can easily come across as arrogant and standoffish.
I have to say, Fernando comes across as much more likeable in chats than when he is typing. Or, his laidback, chill persona translated better when chatting like this than in posts where it can easily come across as arrogant and standoffish.
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