GUNS N' ROSES' BUMBLEFOOT: 'There's So Much More You Can Do With Three Guitarists Than Two'

Mushie's Blog recently conducted an interview with GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Mushie's Blog: Despite the impatient wait of 15 years for ["Chinese Democracy"] to come out, the band had no efforts to promote the sale, no videos or other promotional matters have been released so far. Do you have any good news on this, shall we expect to have a "Better" video soon? It might be a nice surprise for us to see an official "Better" video incorporating scenes from the "Chinese Democracy World Tour".

Bumblefoot: I don't know the exact reasons why things went the way they did. I would have liked to see promotion, something for the world to get to know the music, and to know the people who made the music. Right now it's just a lot of Twitter and Facebook, tours and YouTube…

Mushie's Blog: Isn't it a problem that you have three guitarists on board? I mean, how do you share parts and roles. From where I see, the band does not have a sole lead guitarist, but all three may be leading depending on the song. This was different when Slash was there. He was definitely the lead guitarist and Izzy seemed to be happy with that. I found it very rich that we have three of you on the crew at the same time. Each of you is bringing a different rhythm and taste to the band's music.

Bumblefoot: We had a fourth guitarist but he forgot his passport at home, we had to tour without him. Three guitarists is easy. There's so much more you can do with three guitarists than two. For example, you can stand in a triangle formation. You can do great old-school metal covers with the double-harmony leads — MAIDEN, PRIEST, QUEENSRŸCHE, or classic stuff like THIN LIZZY and BOSTON. There's almost enough of us to make "lightbulb jokes" (you know, "How many guitarists does it take to unscrew a light bulb…?") And if one spontaneously quits and walks off the stage, you won't even notice. I've tried that, it works!

Mushie's Blog: About Slash, there are always rumors about the reunion. I don't think this would ever be happening, but there are many fans still expecting to see Slash, Duff and Izzy back on the crew. How do you feel about such fans? I mean, does it hurt you that these guys want to see them back?

Bumblefoot: Man, I have so much good stuff going on in my own life, a lot besides GN'R. I'm busy making music and getting things done, my only concerns are about giving my best with whatever I'm doing. When I'm touring with GN'R, I care about the show going well, and what special things I can do for fans, meet-and-greets or contests. When I'm visiting kids at a music school, I care about inspiring them. When I'm in the studio laying guest solos on people's albums or making songs for video games and TV shows, I care about making it fun and intense, or whatever it's supposed to be. When I'm with my family, I care about them, nothing else. I'm about to release a transcription book of my first album from '95 being re-released this year — when working on that my concern was the layout of every page, the quality of the paper, making it the best it can be. When doing lessons for guitar magazines, I care about explaining the parts and writing out the music accurately and ready to be published. When I'm producing and collaborating with people in the studio, I care about getting the best out of them, and making something unique. When I'm mixing and mastering people's albums I care about making it sound better than they thought it could sound. When I'm having those rare moments of "me" time, to exercise or play guitar, I care about staying focused. Then there's hours of fan mail, and eating, shitting, showering, sleeping… So, when am I supposed to sit around crying about people that hope for a reunion? How's Tuesday at 3 p.m.? I think I might have 10 minutes free.

Mushie's Blog: So, we can't really end an interview about GUNS N' ROSES without speaking of Axl. For me, he is God! How is life with Axl? Is he as moody as the old members say?

Bumblefoot: I've got some questions for you, sir. If Axl is God to you, does that mean when you die, Axl will greet you at the pearly gates? Or will some other God be there and turn you away for not accepting *him* as your Lord and Savior? What if Axl's still here when you die? Will you be greeted by GN'R management instead? What if we're in-between managers? It's happened, could be a long wait. What happens when Axl hits the afterlife? Will "matter Axl" be greeted by "anti-matter Axl" and all of creation will implode? And how does Chuck Norris fit into all of this? I've had a lot of fun times hangin' with Axl over the years, I'd rather recall people at their best, not their worst. Actually I can be pretty fucking moody…

Read the entire interview at Mushie's Blog.