Chico News and Review recently conducted interview with Sebastian Bach, ex-Skid Row. Few excerpts are follows:

Chico News and Review : You have a new album called "Angel Down" due sometime in the next year, correct?

Sebastian Bach : Well, we now have three of the biggest labels in the world at the table that we are talking to ...

CNR: What did you learn about yourself while filming "SuperGroup" ?

Bach: Uhhhh ... maybe I gained a little too much weight. I mean, I lived there for 12 days. They gave me all this wine, and the whole place was stacked with booze, no food ... and then it's like, "How did you feel when your dad died of leukemia? Like really how does it make you feel? Does it hurt? Like, like, how does it feel that he's dead and he's not here anymore? Have another glass of wine." You know, "How does it feel?" Well, it fucking hurts, you fucking pricks!

CNR: It sounds very predatory.

Bach: That's when you see me crying about my dead father. The thing is, it's obviously uncomfortable for me to watch that, but I get e-mails, hundreds if not thousands, that are so long and detailed, and people come up to me in the street and tell me that they cried with me and about the parent or whoever it is that they are relating to in just the most detailed, heartfelt letters and e-mails that are really heavy to read. So, I guess, maybe people dug it, but obviously for me that's hard to watch. The thing is I'm usually pretty astute at how I'm going to get fucked over and the thing is, I said to myself on the plane ride home, I'm going, "Well I cried once about my dad's death in 12 days — that's not so bad," but I didn't think they would play it in three of the 12 episodes, the same clip over and over, and like put it in commercials. I was like, "Oh fuck!" So, if I was to do it again, that might be the most I would give away. But that's reality TV — you sign up for it, that's what it is. What the reality is, is that it does hurt me, it does make me sad, so that's reality, and I'm not ashamed of that ...

CNR: What made "SuperGroup" compelling is that you were the one with enthusiasm that was so infectious, as if it were your first band — you were 16 again. Your love of music was so out there, unfettered by politics or concern for fashion ...

Bach: Yeah, I hate all that ... I fucking hate corporate bullshit. I really do because it's about the fans, and the bands that make the music. I mean, really, you'd be surprised at who my artists are that I look up to. One of my favorites ever is Neil Young , man ... because he just does what he wants to do and is who he is, and fuck it! And he just keeps doin' it! And that's what I do [chuckles]. I'm not puttin' myself in his category, but I don't change what I do because somebody tells me to do that. I mean, I look at rock 'n' roll like a heart full of self-expression. You mean to tell me that Jimi Hendrix wore that hat with the fucking feather in it, and the scarves, and the paisley jackets, and the felt jackets, and the boots, and the bracelets, and the belts because somebody bought it for him and gave it to him, and said, "Wear this?" I don't think so for fuck's sakes! I design my own shit. I like doing that. I dig it. That's what I thought KISS did. That's what David Lee Roth did. Fuckin' Nikki Sixx — guys that I thought looked cool. I thought they designed all their own shit. Maybe I was wrong. I'd like to think it was them that designed it and everything.

CNR: You have stated publicly that your hopes for the new recording ( "Angel Down" ) are to meet or exceed the high standards of the critically lauded SKID ROW album "Slave to the Grind" . What makes this album the standard to beat?

Bach: Just put it on. Listen to it on a set of good headphones. Cruuu-shing! I hear "Monkey Business" and ... I cannot believe how heavy that sounds and cool ... it's just like badass and cool rock [laughs]. I love it! It just sounds great. When I haven't heard that in awhile, and I hear it, "Monkey Business" on a good set of headphones or on a great stereo, I just have to stop and fucking catch my breath, and like hold my fucking head in my hands. Like it's like really fucking heavy to me, man ... it sounds amazing, it just sounds great. You know, certain albums sound great, like "Back in Black" — you can't beat that! Fucking "Led Zeppelin II" , ya' know. I do hold "Slave to the Grind" not maybe quite up with that but it's almost up there [laughs]. It's a great album.

CNR: In the early '90s upon the arrival of NIRVANA , many successful metal bands from the late '80s appeared negative toward the shifting trends (from metal to "grunge/punk") and I don't see that you have been this way at all.

Bach: I'm not because I already knew that in rock! It's show business. That's what it is! It's always been like that, it always will be. The cream rises to the top. I just put my head down like a bulldog and scream my fuckin' ass off as loud as I can, all the time! Like an athlete almost. I just dig it. And me and Axl Rose on the same stage is just nuts! We know how to scream, man ... like, really good [laughs] ... we did last night, "My Michelle" in Winnipeg in front of 20,000 people, and I think it was one of the greatest days in my whole fuckin' life. It was nuts. It was crazy. You know, the voice is a muscle; if you use it properly from the diaphragm and don't, you know, push it so hard that it breaks — it's a fine line between giving it all that you've got and blowing it out. So if you keep doing it, it gets even better, like Steven Tyler or James Brown . There are singers that are singing great, and getting up there in age, you know, so it can be done.

CNR: I was unaware that in 2006 SKID ROW was still around ...

Bach: ... as is the rest of the world.

CNR: Is that relevant in any way?

Bach: You hear a lot of talk in 2006. You know, branding--brand this, brand that. I think they're [ SKID ROW ] wrecking the brand, which sucks. You know, I don't think JOURNEY should tour without Steve Perry . To me, Steve Perry is JOURNEY , and that's like a travesty of rock. Like when Bonzo died, LED ZEPPELIN never played again — it's to be respected, I think. What they're [ SKID ROW ] doing is confusing to the public. I wouldn't go back to them now. I'm playing 20,000-seaters with GUNS N' ROSES on my own. If they would have left that alone, that name, that would be a different story, but now it's fucked! [laughing] There's your headline!

Source BBM

The 1994 and 1995 albums - Ånden Som Gjorde Opprør and Keiser Av En Dimensjon Ukjent - from Norwegian metallers MORTIIS have finally been reissued with with updated artwork, in classy looking digipaks.

These albums have not been in print since 1999 and are available again for the first time in 7 years. You can order the albums here .

Ånden Som Gjorde Opprør was released in 1994 and was also issued as gatefold LP, limited to 300 numbered copies, with posters and 4 postcards. Keiser Av En Dimensjon Ukjent was released in 1995, initial press run of the CD came on golden CD, while the LP version was a picture disc wrapped in a giant poster, limited to 500 numbered copies.

Source Mortiis

Merck Mercuriadis, former Guns N' Roses manager, has issued the following letter after Axl's open letter:

"Along with all of the other GUNS N' ROSES fans around the world I read 'An Open Letter To The Fans From Axl ' this evening with much interest. About half way through it occurred to me that I had read much of this before. In fact, I had written the blueprint for it in an email for Axl 's attention two days ago which I have copied below.

"The reality is all of this year's touring was planned and agreed between Axl and myself, with a view to the album being in the stores before the 31st of December '06. This was confirmed by Axl in numerous interviews — most famously at the MTV Video Music Awards . We planned the tour in February, just after Axl 's birthday and we were supposed to finish the album in May, before it started. We sent our engineers to New York, where we all waited, for over a month, for the muse to come but she never arrived. We then scheduled sessions in London in August and had our engineers meet us there at the end of the English tour. August came and went and once again the muse did not show. We postponed our proposed radio date of Labour Day for the first single and we came back to L.A. and tried to finish before the San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles shows but yet again she eluded us. Axl then asked me to postpone the North American tour which was due to start on 24th of September by a month and finally, early in that period after the euphoria of Inland Invasion , Axl made a breakthrough and got two or three very productive days under his belt.

"At this point we were very excited as Axl 's feeling was that we had two or three days of work left to tidy things up and we still had three weeks before the tour started, so we were in good shape. Unfortunately the muse disappeared just as fast as she came and the tour started with no single at radio to support it and the album still needing two or three days of work. Despite this, it was a break through period as Robin , Bumblefoot and Frank had all made important contributions to the album that made it even stronger. By the way none of the above is meant as a criticism of Axl . It is the reality of trying to create something special under incredible pressure from the public — that wants and DEMANDS the record — and the record industry — that NEEDS it. The creative process is not something you can dictate and Axl is a true artist.

"At this time I seriously considered postponing the start of the tour, again, as the album was of paramount importance but the reality was that our historic track record left us with very little good will with you, the fans, and we needed the money to be able to complete the album and keep the band alive. We scheduled sessions in New York and once again sent the engineers there for the first two weeks of November while the tour was based there — but the hectic touring schedule meant nothing got done. The record company refused to conclude the renegotiation until we were ready to hand over the finished album and refused to prepare a marketing campaign or commission video treatments until they had it in their hands. This is still their position as of this week.

"At this point despite the success of many of the dates on the tour the pressure on all of us became unbearable. While some of Axl 's letter is disappointing — As John Lennon once asked Paul McCartney 'How Do You Sleep?' — until you have walked a mile in his shoes you cannot begin to comprehend the pressure he is under. I know I sleep well at night in the knowledge that when 'Chinese Democracy' hits the streets in March that it is in large part down to my efforts over the last almost 5 years. I found the money and the motivation to keep Axl and the band alive and get the record made when everyone else had given up and walked away. We worked as a team united to make 'Chinese Democracy' a reality. In the end the album will speak for itself but our relationship could not survive the pressure.

"I have no regrets. I believe 'Chinese Democracy' is one of the best albums ever made, Axl Rose is one of the greatest vocalists and frontmen and the new GUNS N' ROSES (which kicks the shit out of the old) is one of the greatest bands. What we accomplished in 2006 only hints at what is to come.

"I believe in Axl Rose . I am the artist's manager and it is my responsibility and job to take the heat. I promise you 'Chinese Democracy' is worth it and you should keep the faith. I will walk away knowing I have done my best and that next year will see Axl recognized not only as a great singer and rock icon but as one of the greatest artists of all time.

"Merry Christmas and all the best to you for 2007!

" Merck Mercuriadis

"P.S.: I apologize to all the fans irked by my facetious comments regarding the release date to Rolling Stone magazine. They were meant to poke fun at a magazine that had announced a definitive release date, causing us all lots of grief, when none had been set. Unfortunately many of you took them to heart and for that I am sorry."

"Begin forwarded message:

From: Merck Mercuriadis
Date: 12 December 2006 14:11:02 GMT-08:00
Subject: Album Press Release

"Regardless of the issues that exist between Axl and myself, I believe it is important for an announcement on the album to be put out this week and at the same time cover the cancellation of the 5 shows in January. Further to this I have thought about the album release date taking into account the issues between Axl and myself and my view is that the album should be set for release on the 20th of March rather than the 6th of February. March 20th is the first day of spring and a positive day. This allows for three months to set it up properly around the world without unmanageable pressure and for it to be well imbedded in the market place before the summer lull sets in. It also allows for the deal to be done with the label and any change in management etc which may be made to be made as well as detailed meetings on the touring which on this basis would start in Dubai just before the album's release. The note will be most effective if it comes from Axl as he will then be seen as the good guy who is giving people the information they want. Having said that it could come from either Howard or myself or both of us. I have presented two options the first not giving a release date and the second one stating it. The message would be posted as the lead story on gunsnroses.com and we would then point all of the media there. I would appreciate it if you would all let me know your thoughts on all of this keeping in mind that this is a work in progress.

"Option 1

"Merry Christmas To You All

"We are into the last week of the tour and Christmas is almost here so I wanted to take the time not only to wish you Merry Christmas but to also explain why 'Chinese Democracy' is not under your tree or in the stores as we wanted it would be. We read the papers and we know you want — demand! — news. We have been in the final stages of renegotiating our deal with our record label and it has been a long slow process — not unlike making the record! The discussion started over a year ago but did not become serious until they started hearing the mixes. Everyone involved has worked hard to get the deal completed so we could get the record out this month but a few weeks ago it became obvious that was not going to happen. We then held out as we wanted to at least be able to give you the release date before Christmas but unfortunately we are still not there yet. This is not meant to spark a hate campaign on the label. This is an unusual and complicated situation as we have worked a long time on this album and it is important to us to make sure that everything including the deal is right. At the same time it is a business that has to work for everyone involved. We have all — you included — waited a long time for this and this is not the time to compromise. The first news you will hear from us in 2007 will be to announce the album's release date. Without the album out it does not make sense to do the 5 shows we have scheduled for January in isolation so they are being cancelled and we will focus on getting the album out. Until that time we want to thank you for all of your support in 2006 and wish you all the best for the holidays and a happy new year.

" W. Axl Rose

"Option 2

"Merry Christmas To You All

"We are into the last week of the tour and Christmas is almost here so I wanted to take the time not only to wish you Merry Christmas but to also explain why 'Chinese Democracy' is not under your tree or in the stores as we wanted it to be. We read the papers and we know you want — demand! — news. We have been in the final stages of renegotiating our deal with our record label and it has been a long slow process — not unlike making the record! The discussion started over a year ago but did not become serious until they started hearing the mixes. Everyone involved has worked hard to get the deal completed so we could get the record out this month but a few weeks ago it became obvious that was not going to happen. We have all — you included — waited a long time for this and this was not the time to compromise. We then held out on making an announcement as we wanted to at least be able to give you the release date before Christmas so here it is. 'Chinese Democracy' will be released on the 20th of March in the US and Canada — the first day of spring and a time for new beginnings! — and on the 19th of March everywhere else in the world. Without the album out it does not make sense to do the 5 shows we have scheduled for January in isolation so they are being cancelled and we will focus on getting the album out. We want to thank you for all of your support in 2006 and wish you all the best for the holidays and a happy new year. We look forward to seeing you in 2007!

Source BBM