AXL ROSE On Working With SLASH Again: 'One Of The Two Of Us Will Die Before A Reunion'

In his first major interview in nine years, GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose answered two series of questions from Billboard.com via e-mail, in which he discussed for the first time the events surrounding the release of the band's latest album, "Chinese Democracy", and his frustrations with the group's record label, Interscope. A couple of excerpts from the question-and-answer session follow below.

Billboard.com: Without sounding presumptuous, what took so long to get the album out?

Axl: And without sounding facetious, what didn't? There aren't too many issues of the hundreds [we ran into] that happened as quickly as anyone would have preferred, from building my studio; finding the right players; never did find a producer; still don't have real record company involvement or support; to getting it out and mixed and mastered.

All that aside, it's the right record and I couldn't ask for more in that regard. Could have been a more enjoyable journey, but it's there now. The art comes first. It dictates if not the course [then] the destination artistically.

For me, once the real accompanying artwork is there with a few videos and some touring, the package was achieved and delivered.

And to do so at this level in terms of quality, both artistic and performance-wise, both on record and live, is something that's a miracle at minimum and something that wouldn't have happened, no matter how anyone tries to convince others, with old GUNS, regardless of anyone's intentions. It was just as ugly in old GUNS, regardless of our success.

Billboard.com: Is there any chance you'll work with the former members of GUNS N' ROSES in the future?

Axl: I could see doing a song or so on the side with Izzy [Stradlin] or having him out [on tour] again. I'm not so comfortable with doing anything having more than one of the alumni. Maybe something with Duff [McKagan], but that's it, and not something I'd have to really get down into, as I'd get left with sorting it out and then blamed on top of it. So, no, not me.

In regards to Slash, I read a desperate fan's message about, what if one of us were to die and looking back I had the possibility of a reunion now, blah blah blah. And my thoughts are, "Yeah, and while you're at the show your baby accidentally kicks a candle and burns your house down, killing himself and the rest of your family."

Give me a fucking break. What's clear is that one of the two of us will die before a reunion and however sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is. Those decisions were made a long time ago and reiterated year after year by one man.

There are acts that, once committed between individuals, they are what they are. To add insult to injury almost day after day, lapsing into year after year, for more than a decade, is a nightmare. Anyone putting his own personal entertainment above everything else is sickening.

Read the entire interview from Billboard.com.

(Thanks: GnrDaily.com)