Thank you Ron for taking the time to do this. The questions are made up from the ChineseDemocracy.com Team and from the members of our community. Come back at 2:00 PM EST New York time where Ron will talk to you LIVE! in our forum CHAT!  (CHAT OVER - Find PDF)

Please cont. to the interview

 3.   Will you tour behind this release?

Not sure - maybe a show here and there, but really wanna get to doing more video stuff - been wanting to do an instructional DVD for years.

4.   What types of amplifiers do you use?

Been using the Line6 Vetta2 for a while now........

5.   How many hours do you practice on a daily basis?

NOT ENOUGH.  Never enough time.    Sometimes days without, at most 2 or 3 hours in a day.

6.   Out of all of your guitars which would you say is your favorite and
most treasured guitar (except the bee one :P)

The Swiss Cheese guitar...  and hopefully the double-neck that's being built by Vigier Guitars in France, hoping that'll become my new favorite.

7.   When you sit down to write music, are you waiting for inspiration to hit or is there any method you follow?

I'll usually be dry for a year, then I start turning into a ticking time-bomb, then I snap and half-a-dozen songs come out of my head at once, all arranged, instrumentation, melodies, everything.

8.   What can we look forward on the next album?

I don't know....   I never plan it.

9.   What was the record that changed your life?

KISS Alive!  It fucked my 5-year-old life up and made me want to start a band and play guitar.

10.   In your opinion name an over-rated band.

None - every band is the best band in the world to their fans, and I'm nobody to say they're all wrong.

11.   Name your five favorite albums.

I can name 500 favorites...   five off the top of my head, Beatles - Rubber Soul, Manowar - Battle Hymns, Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny, Yes - Going For the One, Jethro Tull - Aqualung

12.   If this was the 60’s, what great band would you love to have asked you to be a joining member? If it can be any band?

Cream, Beatles, Stones, Young Rascals...

13.   Who made you want to be a musician? Any one you would love to work with in the future if given the chance?

Hearing KISS as a kid got me into music.  Would like to work with Mike Patton.

14.   Who is your favorite singer?

Stevie Wonder, Axl, Eric Adams (Manowar)...

15.   What inspired you to play the guitar?

Kiss got me to wanna play music, and I was a very Angus Young style player, but Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen got me really into pushing the limits guitar-wise.

16.   Are there more instruments you can play beside guitar?

Bass, a little singin', mediocre drumming, can play cello and flute if I practice.

17.   In your entire career, what has been the best time for you and what the worst?

I put a lot of effort into trying to forget the bad shit - there's been too much of it, too much to live with if I bring it to the front of my head - so I'm not gonna drudge up the bad stuff.  Japan was the best - it was one of those things where you want to enjoy yourself, so you do.   And I did...   

GNR RELATED

18.   Were you feeling your way around in terms of sound when you were recording for Chinese Democracy? Explain

When it comes to GNR stuff, there's a lot of things I'm gonna hold off on talking about.  Let me clear up, it's not about being "allowed" to say things - I'm not under any contract that says what I can say or not.  And I'm not under any contract that says I have to say I'm not under any contract.  I *choose* to respect that this is a band, a team, and I'm not gonna disrespect my bandmates by talking about things they may not want shared.  It kills me when I say something and then realize that it made a friend feel violated or betrayed - I do my best to be thoughtful when I say or don't say something.  It sucks that my integrity is attacked by people (the whole "he's just saying something nice because he HAS to" or "he didn't answer because he's not allowed to") but I also understand that the response is just the frustration of not getting the info they want, when they want it. 

I'll hit a chatroom with you guys or post on my forum because that's who I am and I'm gonna keep being who I am.  If anyone from any band *doesn't* do that kinda stuff, it's because that's who they are and they should keep being who they are, and it should be respected that that's who they are.   Doesn't mean they love their fans any less, and they should have the right to be who they are, without it being misconstrued or judged too harshly.  Just somethin' to think about.

When it comes to talking about the album, I'd much rather wait until after it's released, and then talk details.

19.   What has been your most memorable moment while touring with GNR? Besides London

Sooooooooo many.  The jam at a small club in Osaka at the end of the tour, that was a fun one.  And yeah, London was fantastic.  Eating spicy curry with you guys after shows...

20.   Do you think you fit, musically, in GNR, or not?

Yes.

21.   Which GNR song(s) do you enjoy performing most live and why?

I like Chinese, the whole fretless thang...    Used To Love Her, fun one.  Better, Paradise, Don't Cry...   I like when you guys like somethin' we're doin'.

22.   SHACKLER’S REVENGE did you take part in the making of? Explain

I played on it, I came up with what I played, but all the songs were around from before I was - credit goes to everyone who put years into this stuff.

23.   Will it be the first CD Single?

What's a CD single?  Oh, you mean those round MP3 things from the 90s...?   (that's called *avoiding the question*)

24.   Will it be in the actual album?

Will what be on which album?? (more skillful question-avoiding....)

25.   How much has being in GN'R changed your life, and were you prepared for these changes?

I had a good idea of what kinda mayhem I was getting into, haha...  life changed in some ways, but overall things are the same.  The biggest change is in other people - it's always like that.  I have friends who had some major event happen in their life - they didn't change at all, but everyone around them changed and treated them differently.

26.   There were many GNR fans that you met when you were on tour and you were hanging out with them after the shows. Now, 2 years later are you still going to do that? Go into the crowd after the show, without being afraid that GNR fans will tear you apart or are you gonna have a bodyguard?

haha, yeah, I still do it, and don't plan to stop huggin' ya's.

27.   Was it hard to join GN'R and learn so many songs so quickly?  What was the song that was most tricky for you?

Hardest thing was remembering how the new stuff went - I didn't have a copy of the songs, so I'd listen on someone's laptop at rehearsal, take some notes, then go into the next room and try to remember the TWAT solo note-for-note, or the arrangement to Rhiad.  First few shows were about making sure the music was right, didn't want to botch the songs up on ya's. 

28.   Many fans comment that the set list includes mostly songs from Appetite For Destruction, did you rehearse many songs from the "Use Your Illusion" albums (ie Civil War, Estranged, and Coma)?

When I started rehearsin' for the tours in '06, we did mostly what was played during the show...

29.   If you could play any song from your solo career on a GNR tour what would it be?  Also what GNR song that is not on the normal set list would you most like to play?

Maybe Guitars Suck for the solo?  I'd be curious to hear GNR playin' any of my solo stuff...     if I was gonna pick a GNR song to add to the set I'd go with Estranged, because you guys have told me you'd like to hear that one.

30.   What is your all-time favorite Guns N' Roses song, from any of the albums?

One I'm not gonna name from an album that didn't come out yet.  :P   There's some GREAT fucking stuff on Chinese.  Man..........

31.   Have you ever met or played with Buckethead? What do you think of him as a guitarist? What comes to your mind about his Technique?

Met Bucket years ago, before he played with Guns.  He's great.  I respect all he did with GNR, and hope that in the process of doing what I do, I'm honoring what he did with Guns, if that's coming out the right way and making any sense.  I'm not looking to un-do history, or minimize anything anyone contributed - I'm lookin' to do right and honor what's been done, and give what I can to everything from here on. 

32.   Will you go see Buckethead live in NJ on October 8th at the Stone Pony?

If he let's me sing an Iron Maiden song with him.   I'm serious.

GNR RELATED FROM SPANISH COMMUNITY

33.   CCC: what work related plans do you have from September on?

Want to record some alternate versions of songs from Normal & Abnormal, organize more charity concerts, and start some video projects (instructional DVD, things like that...)

34.   Monique: How do you handle the constant speculation, guessing and administrative advice from some of the fans? Does it bust your balls or does it entertain you?

Both.  It can be disheartening at times.  What I've realized is that many people don't want the truth, they just want to be entertained.  And they'll run with whatever idea is the most entertaining.  I've seen people post the right information and nobody is interested, then somebody comes up with something totally wrong and everyone decides they like it better.  It sucks when people are just out to assassinate other people's character, it's like an old witch hunt.  That kinda shit will poison your souls - be careful, that stuff is contagious and will make you less of a person.  Not even talking GNR-related, I'm talking how you live your life, and what you contribute to this world.  Don't spread hate - be stronger than that.

35.   Gaby: What do you feel when some people post in forums that the “NEW” GNR are just hired Hands and that this band is not GNR?

I didn't realize that the "old GNR" printed their own money, and nobody had to pay anyone...!   I think those people are very naive, and are blinded by their own perception.  How can you say a bassist, for example, who's been in the band a dozen years, who wrote music, played on the recordings and did tours, is just a "hired hand?"  There are people who won't acknowledge "new GnR" until Chinese is released, there are people that won't acknowledge "new GnR" as any kind of GnR - if they were Fleetwood Mac fans, they wouldn't acknowledge anything with Buckingham and Nicks no matter how monumental the Rumours album was, because it wasn't the original line-up.  If they can't handle change, their loss, they're missing out.  But if they ever decide they wanna give it a shot, they know where to find us, it's cool.

36.   Miss Rain: What has been the best thing and the worst thing about being in a great band like Guns N' Roses?

Best thing is all of you.  I won't say the "worst" thing, I'll say "what I miss most" is the hangin' out and winding down with friends after a show.  The toughest thing is coming home after a tour and adjusting to 'normal' life, going from such a defined purpose to not knowing what to do with myself each day.

37.   Chinese Democrat: When and how did you find out Axl Rose Wanted to work with you, and how did that make you feel?

In 2004, Joe Satriani sent me an email saying he recommended me.  Was of course happy about it...    4 years later, no complaints. 

FUNNY & VARIOUS

38.   Who would win in a fist fight? You or Robin Finck?

Terrible...    not answering.  lol

39.   Who would win in a fist fight? You or Slash?

What are we, fucking pitbulls?  C'MON!   lol

40.   Do you have any stalkers (besides dark angel)?

Nobody comes close to my Danish Bunny Boiler!!!  She's got 'em all beat!

41.   What was the last live concert you went to?

Judas Priest, a few nights ago.

42.   Have you ever felt bored while playing a lengthy guitar solo?

It's not that I get bored, I just prefer songs over solos...  would rather do something like Don't Cry where y'all get to sing along and be part of it.

43.   What are your worst and best personal characteristics?

Best - I don't know, I'm still working on getting there...

Worst - homicidal rage that can last for 3 days where I need to be away from all living things, once I'm pushed to that place.

44.   What is the best advice someone ever gave you?

When I was obsessing over mixing the Normal CD, someone gave me the advice that was given to them when they were obsessing over their CD.  Their producer said "Do you know when an album is done?"  No, when?  "When you stop working on it."   An album is never done, you just pick a point where you say 'ok, I can't stay in this place any longer, it's eating my insides' and you *let go*.  Otherwise it's like holding a piece of shit half out of your ass for a year - that's not doing you or the world any good.  Any time I start obsessing I remember those magic words, and I reel myself in from caring too much, before it becomes toxic.

45.   How old were you when you lost your virginity.. what was her name?

Just turned 15 (not gonna say her name...)

46.   What’s your usual order in a New Jersey diner? Besides Sweet Potato Fries!

haha!  Grilled chicken with roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and tzatziki sauce on pita bread...  shit, it's 1:30am and I'm hungry now.

47.   How big is your Telly (tv)?

Same old TV I've had - 27" (diagonal)

48.   Have you ever got in an argument with a NJ police officer? Some of them are real bastards.

I don't argue with them - too many times I've had guns drawn, been arrested, been in too many courtrooms.  Have met some cool ones...  the last ones that stopped me with guns out (for robbing a bank - don't ask) were cool, haha.

49.   Do you go to the beach? When was the last time?

A few weeks ago, but it was at night, the very end of Long Island, NY - left early in the morning to go shark fishing in the Atlantic.

50.   Do you recycle? Do you think it’s important?

I recycle (it's the law in NJ...)  It's important to be thoughtful of the land, and not litter all over it.  I think the concept of recycling is good, but I don't know for sure if the recycling program is set up to be as efficient as it could be, haven't done my homework about it.

51.   What’s your biggest dream yet to achieve in life?

To do stupid voices for cartoons.

52.   Is your skin green, and do you have a spleen?

HEY!  Don't listen to my solo stuff, man - it'll rot your brain...!

SOME LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS I  NOTICED IN THE THREAD...

53. Ron, What is your favorite guitar brand and why.

Vigier and Gibson.  Vigier - the necks feel amazing.  Gibson - the sound, the classic style of them...   both kick ass.

54. You mentioned meeting buckethead and talking about recording on your forum, how did he act, and do you think we will ever see a Bucket and Bumble collaberation?

He was very nice when we met.  Will "Bucketfoot" or "Bumblehead' ever happen?  Who knows...

55. How many songs did you yourself work on? More then 5? More then 10? more then 20?

Don't remember exactly - definitely less than 218, that I know.

56.   What makes a good pair of socks?

A good sock should be cushiony yet breathable, absorbent yet moisture resistant, elastic yet relaxed.  You'll know when you've found a good pair.

Ron