2016 Will Be 'A Big Year' For GUNS N' ROSES, Says Guitarist

According to The Pulse Of Radio, two well-established GUNS N' ROSES fan news sites have cautioned that the recent news about singer Axl Rose and former guitarist Slash reconciling after 19 years doesn't necessarily mean that the classic lineup of the band will reunite. But one of the sites also added that the band is "mulling its options," although who is doing the actual mulling remains unclear.

Guns N' Roses News wrote, "Only GNR can speak for GNR, but all that’s happened here is that Axl and Slash are on better personal terms. So far there has been no indication of an immediate plan to do business together. Why would GNR make an official announcement about Axl and Slash communicating if a business model involving the two is yet to be agreed? It doesn't make any sense. GNR is mulling its options. There's no need to fan the flames of any particular possibility at this point."

GNRTruth reported that Axl and Slash actually buried the hatched in 2014 and are on "good terms." But the site added that at the time, Axl was focused on making a follow-up to 2008's "Chinese Democracy" and didn't want news of his reconciliation with Slash to get out since it would fuel the very reunion stories we're seeing now.

On the latest installment of his podcast, "That Metal Show" co-host Eddie Trunk revealed that he was told by Slash's management that the guitarist's recent comments were blown out of proportion by the media and the fans, and that Slash is laying low now when it comes to interviews. Trunk did say that he believes a classic GUNS N' ROSES reunion will eventually happen.

Slash confirmed last Friday (August 21) in a Swedish TV interview that he and Axl were on friendly terms again, saying: "It was probably way overdue, you know. But it's…. you know, it's very cool at this point. You know, let some of that, sort of, negative… dispel some of that negative stuff that was going on for so long."

Asked if the thawing of his friendship with Axl could lead to a reunion of the band's classic lineup, Slash said: "Oh, I couldn't answer that one," before quickly changing the subject.

An Australian club owner told that country's Triple M radio earlier this week that he heard the classic GUNS lineup could be the headliner for next year's Soundwave festival.

Finally, current GUNS guitarist Richard Fortustold a St. Louis radio station last week — possibly before Slash revealed his news — that "there's a lot going on" with the band at the moment, adding, "Next year is going to be a big year for GUNS N' ROSES."

The closest anyone came to a GUNS reunion in recent memory was when the band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. Three original members of the band, including Slash, McKagan and Adler, showed up, but Axl and guitarist Izzy Stradlin were no-shows.

At the time Slash said in several interviews that the Hall Of Fame ceremony gave him a sense of "closure."

GUNS N' ROSES recently parted ways with guitarists DJ Ashba and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal.