Thank you, Walleris, that's exactly what I meant.

@Alphavictim: read my post again, I wrote "the public" not "the fans". For the general public/the masses, G'n'R were Axl and Slash, period, they couldn't/can't name any other member, the GP don't look at album credits, they watch videos and concerts and remember the musicians who have charisma and the interaction/chemistry between certain musicians. Sad but true.

I agree. Slash has an image that has lasted from them till now, he was such a big face of Guns n'Roses regardless of who Axl's actual right hand right actually was.

You really can't compare bands... You would think that you could but the music industry is weird.... Van Halen and ACDC were both able to have continued success with new lead singers while a ton of other bands couldn't. There are also lead singer that go solo, without any band members, and have success, while others flop. When Motley lost Tommy Lee, they were still able to have a success tour. You could analyze this shit to death but it really just depends.

Sure it hurts GnR to not have Slash in the band but I don't think his return would resolve everything. I mean sure, the hype of the album and tour would be huge but once that novelty wears off, will they have the same popularity and success that they once did in the late 80's/early 90's? Hell No!!! They probably couldn't write and have Axl deliver an album vocally like he used to. They won't get mainstream radio air play and lets face it, Axl Rose won't appeal to ladies like he used to either.... Too much time has now past...Their fan-base would be a bunch of people in their late 30's 40's and 50's living in the past.

BTY, a couple of years ago, Slash did an interview and spoke about making a guest appearance at one of the GnR shows (just to check it out as an audience member) but was talked out of it because people would have gone nuts and security wouldn't be able to handle it. That, and I'm sure Axl would have thrown a fit too. Could you imagine?

MC broke up after the album and tour without Tommy, and neither did well.

No album did well since Dr Feelgood but the tour was modest without Tommy

In case there was any doubt, it's a BAND ALBUM:

Quote from David:

"We always do album/tour. We put out an album ['What About Now'] in 2013 and toured all of 2013 - 102 shows to 3 million people," he said. "We're back in the studio and we'll have an album out next year. That's our cycle."

http://www.philly.com/philly/columni...vid_Bryan.html

Well, at this stage I'm fairly indifferent to this news. I'm hopeful that Jon will realise that the WAN was not what the majority of fans had hoped for. He's surely got to know that, if he releases a BJ album that is any less guitar-centric than TC, he'll cop a huge load of criticism - particularly in the wake of the Richie saga.

It is strange that the band returns to the studio when Richie is finishing his album. Maybe he will join them at some point?

I wish I had your optimism. I'm mentally preparing myself for the first Jovi album without Richie on it.

i agree imo its a mistake to release a bj album without richie