Guns N’ Roses Guitarist: Band Has Been “Recording a Lot of Stuff” and “Assembling Ideas” for New Album

Now that Slash and Duff have returned to the fold and Guns N’ Roses are once again grossing more money than most small nations, a new album is an inevitable. Heck, Axl Rose even confirmed last year that the band have begun to exchange some ideas for new music, which is kind of amazing, given the singer’s, errrr, let’s say ‘fear of commitment.’

But apparently, this process is ongoing! Richard Fortus, the band’s rhythm guitarist since 2002 and one of the only Chinese Democracy-era members to survive the reunion, has offered this update to the StageLeft podcast:

“We haven’t started recording anything. I mean, when I say that, as far as in the studio, doing an album… We’ve been recording a lot of stuff, just ideas, sort of assembling ideas, but not going into a studio and actually tracking a new record.”

That may sound like progress on a new album is slow-moving, but keep in mind, GN’R were always slow-moving, even before the whole Chinese Democracy debacle. Given that they’ve basically been on the road for the past year, the fact that they’ve still done any work on a new record is a good sign — it indicates Rose and Slash and Duff are all serious about putting something out together. And sooner or later, they are going to need a new album to tour behind if they wanna keep this gravy train rolling.

Right now, GN’R have no tour dates scheduled beyond 2017. I’d wager they really put their backs into making a new record in 2018 for a 2019 release. In the old days, I’d say “for a 2025 release,” but given the behavior of the new, happier Axl Rose, I don’t think the wait will be too long this time. But who knows, maybe I’m being overly optimistic.

[via Metal Insider]