1996.07.28 - St. Cloud Times - Axl rocks on guitar (Duff)

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Axl rocks on guitar

Guns ’n’ Roses fans who’ve been wondering when the group’s long-talked-about next album would turn up, wonder no more.

“At the very latest, next spring,” reports Duff McKagan, who reveals the group quietly began work on the disc two months ago with “a really cool genuine air of excitement.” McKagan adds that singer Axl Rose has indeed learned to play guitar and “He’s really rockin’ — and it’s great. It brings a whole new element to our writing process; now we’re all there together.” McKagan most certainly has his hands full right now, juggling his Guns work with promo and tour dates for Neurotic Outsiders, the sizzling hot musical entity in which he performs with Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), John Taylor (Duran Duran), and Matt Sorum (Guns ’n’ Roses).

The ad hoc band first formed to do a benefit date at LA’s Viper Room. More dates followed, then a record deal, and — come September — a debut album and tour.

McKagan acknowledges that, now that advance CDs are out, there are already complaints about the Neurotic Outsiders’ raw and decidedly non-PC lyrics. (One song has to do with people who use sexually transmitted diseases as murder weapons.)

McKagan notes that the material was originally intended for in-club play — not mass market.

“Obviously, a lot of it is tongue-in-cheek. We never in any way meant to harm anyone.”